"By the way, Xiao Zhi, the Meng family is hosting a banquet tomorrow evening. Why don't you come with me?" Cheng Yi suggested.
"Huh?" Ye Zhi looked a bit bewildered. "But they didn't invite me..."
Cheng Yi teased, "Everyone in the capital knows that Mr. Ye from Taoxun only attends business-related banquets. It's not that others don't want to invite you; they're afraid to."
"Oh, this..." Ye Zhi was taken aback. It seemed to be true. She said with a hint of guilt, "This is definitely a misunderstanding!"
"Then come with me! Liu Fei... that is, Mrs. Meng, is my best friend. She's been telling me for a long time that she's been wanting to meet you. If you'd be so kind as to grace us with your presence tomorrow, it'll definitely make her happy for half a year!"
"Half a year is a bit exaggerated, isn't it?" Ye Zhi chuckled.
"Not at all," Cheng Yi waved her hand. "Mr. Ye's first non-business banquet is the Meng family's. This is giving them face, enough for her to brag about for half a year! Mr. Ye, won't you do me this favor?"
Seeing that Cheng Yi had put it this way, Ye Zhi agreed with a wry smile.
Cheng Yi cast a triumphant glance at Qi Xuan. This was her method of clearing up the rumors.
When it came to rumors about relationships, directly refuting them could often backfire. The more she clarified, the more people would believe it was true.
Therefore, Cheng Yi chose to directly bring Ye Zhi to a banquet in the capital.
The reason many people were spreading this rumor was simply for novelty. After all, the union of Ye Zhi and Qi Xuan was a powerful one that attracted a lot of attention.
As long as they appeared together, and she casually chatted with her friends at the banquet, people would know that the two families were already very close. Then, it would be perfectly normal for Ye Zhi and Qi Xuan to watch a movie together and leave together if their relationship was a bit closer.
As long as they were so open and straightforward about it, people would soon lose interest.
Qi Xuan understood her intentions and gave her a thumbs-up.
Seeing this, Cheng Yi pointed to her necklace, feigning distress, "Son, don't you think the diamond on this necklace isn't big enough? It doesn't look bright enough."
Qi Xuan: ...He understood.
"Then Mom will go pick out a brighter one. I'll transfer the money to you."
"You're truly my good son!" Cheng Yi said happily.
"You two have such a good relationship," Ye Zhi remarked with emotion.
"Hahaha, absolutely! It's not like I raised this son in vain!" Cheng Yi laughed even more heartily.
Qi Xuan felt a surge of melancholy. Good relationship? He was being fleeced.
He understood. He seemed to have a bit of a sucker's constitution.
***
The next day, Cheng Yi visited the villa on the mountainside again and picked up Ye Zhi to head to the Central Hotel together.
The Meng family's banquet was being held there. However, as soon as Ye Zhi arrived at the hotel lobby, she heard someone call out, "Mr. Ye?"
Ye Zhi turned around in surprise, "Director Jin, what a coincidence. Are you also here for the Meng family's banquet?"
"No, I'm here to see some friends." Jin Kaiyuan first greeted Cheng Yi with a smile, then said to Ye Zhi, "Mr. Ye, I happen to have something to discuss with you. Taoxun Games' 'Revisiting the Journey to the West' is becoming more and more popular. We'd like to do a collaborative product with 'Revisiting the Journey to the West'..."
Seeing Jin Kaiyuan launch into a lengthy explanation, Ye Zhi interrupted him awkwardly, "Director Jin, please wait a moment."
She turned to Cheng Yi and said apologetically, "Auntie, why don't you go up first? I'll chat with Director Jin for a bit?"
"That's fine," Cheng Yi agreed.
She finally understood how busy Ye Zhi was, as business opportunities were coming her way even as she attended a banquet.
Cheng Yi entered the elevator, and Ye Zhi and Jin Kaiyuan walked towards the nearby lounge area.
However, just as the elevator was about to close, someone outside called, "Please wait."
Soon, the elevator doors opened, and a man and a woman entered.
The woman in front of them was dressed luxuriously, in a pink gown adorned with sparkling rhinestones. On the hem of the skirt, vibrant red flowers swayed gracefully as she moved.
The eye-catching dress made Cheng Yi glance at her a few more times.
The woman was quite attractive, with a pure, innocent look. Noticing Cheng Yi looking at her, she slightly turned her face, revealing a shy yet proud smile.
Cheng Yi turned her head away, but she was surprised that they were going to the same floor.
When the elevator doors opened, the man and woman stepped out and entered the banquet hall booked by the Meng family.
Cheng Yi was taken aback and felt somewhat speechless.
Her best friend, Mrs. Meng, loved liveliness and often found various excuses to host banquets.
This time, the reason was that her niece was starting high school, so a banquet was being held to celebrate.
While this was a rather ordinary banquet, it was the Meng family's home ground! How could someone dress so extravagantly to attend? Didn't they feel they were stealing the spotlight?
As soon as the two entered the banquet hall, they immediately drew the attention of countless people, becoming the focus of the entire event.
Mrs. Meng was momentarily stunned and walked towards them. "You two..."
"Mrs. Meng, this is Cen Ya, the daughter of the Duke of Country K. I am her friend, Gu Sheng." Gu Sheng presented an invitation.
Cen Ya smiled faintly. "Thank you for your invitation, Mrs. Meng. The Cen family received your invitation a few days ago, and we all attached great importance to it. Therefore, my brother sent me to attend the banquet."
Mrs. Meng's lips twitched. She now truly regretted sending an invitation to the Cen family.
At the time, she had just wanted a lively occasion. The Duke of Country K sounded quite prestigious, so she sent an invitation, not really expecting them to come.
They did come, but was she attending the banquet? This was clearly an attempt to disrupt the event!
"Miss Cen, I'm delighted you could attend this banquet," Mrs. Meng forced a smile and maintained her politeness. "Please feel free to mingle. I need to greet some other guests..."
Suddenly, Mrs. Meng's eyes lit up, and she hurried towards Cheng Yi.
"Cheng Yi, you're finally here!"
Seeing that the other party was ignoring her, Cen Ya didn't seem to mind much. She lifted the hem of her skirt and walked towards other guests. Cen Xiucheng had told her to socialize with the guests at the banquet.
In fact, when she was at the Ye family before, Ye Yongxian had also taken her to similar banquets, but she disliked them.
Because Ye Yongxian never let her wear anything too flashy, she always felt like she was being forced to perform for elders during the New Year's celebrations. She disliked it, so she later made excuses to decline.
However, it felt so good to be the center of attention at a banquet. Now, she seemed to enjoy attending banquets.
Seeing Cen Ya proactively greet her, other guests also politely complimented her dress.
Cheng Yi glanced in Cen Ya's direction and said speechlessly, "You really invite anyone, don't you?"
"I didn't know it would be like this before I invited them!" Mrs. Meng regretted it deeply.