The Lady of the Prestigious Family is a Big Boss-Chapter 36 - 0, why don’t I see your little granddaughter?
Those who mix in the circles of noble families are far from foolish, a mere director of Beisen Academy, how could he possibly make everyone in the capital fear Li Mochan to the extent of treading cautiously around him and respectfully addressing him as ’Fifth Master’? The backing behind him is solid, and no one who has crossed him has come out unscathed.
"All the Ye Family members have arrived, it seems the engagement between the Ye and Li families is set in stone."
"Li Jingjie and Ye Xin really make a handsome couple. Their family backgrounds are equal, and their marriage alliance is a joining of two powerful forces, further solidifying the status of both major family dynasties."
"Just look at how happily the old masters of the Ye and Li families are conversing—it looks like their wedding matters won’t be far off."
The people around were observing in all directions, whispering to those beside them.
"Mr. Ye, how come we haven’t seen your little granddaughter?" Perhaps due to it being Li Mochan’s birthday, the old master of the Li family had a rare smile on his face throughout.
Caught off guard by his old friend’s question, Mr. Ye appeared somewhat embarrassed, "Jiuliang isn’t feeling well, she’s resting at home."
Hearing that, the old master of the Li family didn’t press further and changed the subject to discuss other matters with Mr. Ye.
Nearby, Ye Xin and others gathered to chat.
"Ye Xin, didn’t Ye Jiuliang come with you?" Li Jingxuan asked.
Ye Xin pretended to sigh helplessly, "All her dresses and jewelry were prepared, but when I went to her room, she was nowhere to be found. Who knows where she ran off to? Grandfather has reminded her several times to come with us today, who knew..."
"This Ye Jiuliang really doesn’t know what’s good for her. She even dares to put on airs and not attend my uncle’s birthday banquet. Better she didn’t come, it spares me the irritation of seeing her." Li Jingxuan said, clearly agitated.
"Jingxuan, keep it down," Li Jingjie lightly flicked her head, "Why bother getting angry over a little girl?"
"Big brother, you haven’t seen Ye Jiuliang’s arrogance; she’s so annoying. If you don’t believe me, ask third brother," Li Jingxuan said hatefully, feeling the itch in her teeth at the mention of Ye Jiuliang.
That damn girl was like nobody had ever taught her how to behave—the very picture of poor upbringing.
"Enough already, stop making a scene. She’s not here anyway. Today is uncle’s birthday banquet, and it would be trouble if any chaos ensued." Li Jingjie was still clear-headed in public settings.
At Li Mochan’s birthday banquet, who would dare upset him?
It would be looking for trouble.
The banquets of the aristocracy are merely an exchange of toasts amidst everyone’s hidden agendas, bathed in the brilliant light that casts even more insincere smiles on everyone’s faces.
"Didn’t I say so? Ye Jiuliang isn’t one to appear at one’s beck and call." Feng Yi held a glass of red wine, gazing in the direction of the Ye family members, with a mocking smile on his thin lips.
By his side, Jiang Yisheng was dressed in a white suit, tall and slender, his presence ineffably graceful and otherworldly.
"Could it be she’s unaware that today is cousin’s birthday banquet?" He glanced around the banquet hall and couldn’t find Ye Jiuliang either.
Feng Yi shook his head, certain, "Impossible, she clearly doesn’t want to come of her own accord."
He had asked Wei Bei before, the invitation sent to the Ye Family was to invite all members; with Ahan’s birthday being so grandly celebrated, how could anyone in the circle be unaware.
"Then... if she doesn’t come, won’t cousin be very disappointed?" Jiang Yisheng’s delicate brows furrowed, worry for Li Mochan creeping in.
His cousin rarely agreed to hold a birthday banquet, and he suspected a large part of the reason was to have Ye Jiuliang attend.
With a smile that was not quite a smile, Feng Yi said, "What you should worry about is, with Ye Jiuliang not coming, given Ahan’s temper, he might just leave all the guests here today and play disappearing act."
Make no mistake, that gentleman is certainly capable of such a thing.
At those words, Jiang Yisheng was at a loss for words.
"Feng Yi, brother."
The woman’s tender voice carried a sweet stickiness as it fell into his ears, Feng Yi’s mouth twitched slightly.
He subtly turned his head away, trying to pretend he hadn’t heard.
"Feng Yi, brother, why are you ignoring me?" Approaching slowly in a sky-blue gown, with rosy cheeks and a pair of watery, almond-shaped eyes gazing earnestly at Feng Yi, was the woman.
Xiao Mengxue affectionately hooked her arm around Feng Yi’s, her tone filled with a touch of grievance, "It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other, why are you so cold to me?"
"The courtesy forbids any familiarity between men and women." Feng Yi withdrew his hand, the hook of his lips taking on a few degrees of aloofness.
Clearly, he held little fondness for Xiao Mengxue.
The brightness in Xiao Mengxue’s eyes gradually dimmed as she gracefully pulled back her hand, "Brother Feng Yi, our families have been friends for generations, and we’ve grown up together since childhood. There’s no such thing as improper intimacy between us."
Feng Yi’s expression remained indifferent, "That was when we were children."
With repeated coldness, Xiao Mengxue couldn’t help feeling aggrieved.
"The fifth young master of the Li Family has arrived."
"Xiao Lingchen is here tonight as well. It’s going to be quite a spectacle when those two meet."
"Didn’t expect the eldest young master of the Xiao Family to attend Li Mochan’s birthday celebration tonight, but here he is."
Descending the spiral staircase amid dazzling lights, Li Mochan wore an exquisite black suit, his long legs taking steady strides.
He barely lifted his eyes, his gaze deep and cold like an icy pond, unapproachable, and every move he made was dominated by an aura fit for a king.
Within the crowd, an admiring gaze looked upon him from afar, the heart behind it racing.
Su Yishan clutched her wine glass tightly, love burning intensely in the depths of her eyes.
He was the man she dreamed of marrying ever since she was a child, and she had imagined countless times the day she could stand proudly by his side.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, people hurried to clear a path for him.
"Happy birthday, Li Mochan," Feng Yi said as he approached, playfully punching his shoulder and joking with a smile.
Li Mochan gave him a cold glare, filled with contempt.
Jiang Yisheng chuckled and handed Li Mochan a glass of wine.
"Li Mochan, never thought you’d enjoy such pageantry. This birthday party is quite interesting," he said.
A magnetic and deep voice came from the front, drawing the attention of the crowd to the tall and imposing figure of the man approaching.
His eyebrows slanted boldly above his piercing eyes, his thin lips were taut, and the silver-gray suit made him look both elegant and captivating, like a dangerous leopard, arrogant and flamboyant.
Men from the Xiao Family traditionally joined the military. Xiao Lingchen was no exception, and the merits and honors he had earned at his young age were countless.
In the circles of the capital’s elite families, there was an unofficial ranking: the fifth young master of the Li Family was the undisputed first, followed by Xiao Lingchen of the Xiao Family, and then Feng Yi in third place.
Li Mochan’s chilly eyes glanced at him, but after just a few seconds, withdrew his gaze indifferently, his voice both cold and magnetic, "Interesting. Drink a few more glasses today, young master Xiao."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Lingchen’s eyes narrowed slightly.
In that moment, the air around them seemed to freeze.
The eyes of those around shifted between the two men, none daring to even breathe too loudly.
The next moment, Xiao Lingchen’s voice rose again, "Of course, Li Mochan’s birthday is an occasion I naturally have to honor."
Li Mochan ignored him, his cold eyes sweeping over the banquet hall as though searching for something.
Jiang Yisheng, who was closest to him, noticed and whispered, "Cousin, she’s not here."
His words met suddenly with those icy eyes.
"..."
Those glacial eyes were terrifying.
It wasn’t his fault Ye Jiuliang didn’t come, Jiang Yisheng thought defensively.
