Love You Till the End-Chapter 784 - 782: The Birthday Banquet Begins (1)
At this moment, the castle’s grand hall.
The number of guests kept growing, all toasting and greeting one another warmly. Some were discussing the current situation of the Shi Family, while others were talking about today’s protagonist.
Almost everyone attending the birthday banquet today knew Mr. Shi. In their eyes, Old Master Yezi was a respected strongman who began engaging in charity work since retiring from business.
It is said that he donated up to eighty million this year, and although that is not an astronomical figure, he has been involved in charity for twenty-two years, donating a sum often less than eight digits each year. Accumulated over five years, it is definitely not a small amount.
Due to the architectural style of the castle, the lighting in the hall is quite dim. Even during the day, lights are needed to brighten the space. The crystal chandeliers suspended above shed a bright yellow hue that bathed the entire hall in a dazzling glow.
Suddenly, the lights in the living room dimmed, leaving only a spotlight illuminating the spot on the steps in the very center.
Shi Yaonan, the elder uncle of Shi Yu and a patriarch of the Shi Family, walked up steadily.
"First of all, I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend my father’s eightieth birthday banquet. On this occasion, on behalf of our entire family, I wish my father happiness as vast as the Eastern Sea and a life as enduring as the Southern Mountains. I also wish everyone here happiness and good health!"
The courteous opening remarks were met with generous applause from the audience, loud as thunder.
"And now, please welcome my father..."
Mr. Shi, with the help of a servant, slowly emerged. At eighty years old and due to his wealth, his actual age did not show.
In his hand, he gripped a dragon-head cane, smiling, his eyes clouded with age, yet the air about him was still impossible to ignore.
In Du City, he could certainly be considered a strongman, a self-made man who accumulated vast wealth for the Shi Family, benefited his children, and also contributed to society.
Although time had left its mark on him, creased his face with wrinkles, the stature and bearing acquired over the years remained undiminished.
Standing a few meters to the left of the old man was Wen Wan, smiling and applauding together with the guests below.
When Wen Wan married into the Shi Family, the old man had been opposed. Perhaps he feared that one day the vast family business would fall into the hands of such a strong-willed woman.
However, as he got to know Wen Wan over time, he accepted this daughter-in-law. He saw her kindness towards him and took it to heart, which is why Mr. Shi fell gravely ill when Yaoguang proposed divorce to Wen Wan.
Since then, the relationship between Mr. Shi and Yaoguang became somewhat estranged. The reason being, the old man was heartbroken that Wen Wan had given the Shi Family two sons and yet found herself in such a situation.
Wen Wan did not attend the birthday banquets in previous years, merely sending a gift through someone else, which greatly disappointed the old man. Therefore, this year, Yaonan asked Shi Keke to intervene early, persuading Wen Wan to attend the banquet. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
This time, she did not absent herself, though her presence was rather awkward.
Perhaps hidden beneath that smile was a sense of loss...
After going on stage and uttering a few brief words, Mr. Shi stepped down and mingled with the guests, accepting their toasts. Throughout that time, a warm smile remained on his face.
