All the male guests were captivated by her alluring figure and demeanor.
Instantly, a wave of enthusiastic applause filled the venue.
The protagonist of the day had officially arrived!
And she was none other than Qin Yuyan, who had appeared at Longhua First Hospital yesterday.
Meanwhile, Chen Mo and Tian Mengyao were not present. They were standing on the terrace, holding champagne flutes, enjoying the evening breeze and the beautiful night view of Longhua.
Qin Yuyan stopped, bathed in the spotlight, looking like a goddess descended from heaven.
"Today, I welcome everyone to this reception."
"Before the reception officially begins, I have an announcement to make."
Everyone turned their gaze, unblinking, towards Qin Yuyan. They knew that any word from this "Queen of Investment" could reshape their current standing.
"Xue's Investment Group will be excluded from our list of potential partners. Today's reception is off-limits to any personnel associated with Xue's Investment Group."
A gasp!
The entire venue erupted in a clamor.
Xue's Investment Group was second only to the Mo family. It was unexpected that they wouldn't even have the chance to cooperate with Qin Yuyan!
A middle-aged man standing among the audience had his smile freeze instantly. He stared at Qin Yuyan in disbelief.
At that moment, several men in black security uniforms approached the middle-aged man.
He was Xue Yongcheng, the chairman of Xue's Group!
"Ms. Qin, there must be some misunderstanding, right?" Xue Yongcheng was bewildered but still needed to clarify.
Qin Yuyan glanced at Xue Yongcheng. "There is no misunderstanding. If you want to know anything, go ask your good son."
Xue Yongcheng's heart sank. Could it be? Had his unpromising son offended Qin Yuyan?!
A surge of anger coursed through Xue Yongcheng as he scanned his surroundings.
But he realized his son was not present!
Recalling Qin Yuyan's attitude, he became absolutely certain that his son must have provoked Qin Shuran.
"This beast!" Xue Yongcheng gritted his teeth in fury.
All the goodwill he had painstakingly earned from Qin Yuyan was now gone!
"Mr. Xue, please." One of the men in black made a gesture towards Xue Yongcheng.
He noticed the gazes of everyone around him.
There was shock, but more than that, there was mockery. After all, many people relished the opportunity to see a prominent figure like Xue Yongcheng in such a predicament.
With a grim expression, Xue Yongcheng walked towards the elevator of the sky restaurant.
Despite the minor disruption, it did not affect the overall flow of the reception. Without Xue's Investment, the Mo family was once again in a dominant position. Many congratulated the Mo family, confident that they would secure greater benefits in their collaboration with Qin Yuyan.
Meanwhile, at the Xue family villa.
Upon his return, Xue Yongcheng's face was darker than ever.
He had intended to leverage the cooperation with Qin Yuyan to surpass the Mo family. However, he never anticipated this turn of events. It was as if the Mo family was being handed an advantage for free!
Xue Yang, who was watching television on the sofa at home, was startled by Xue Yongcheng's sudden arrival.
"Dad, why are you back so early? Is the reception over?"
Xue Yang asked with a puzzled expression.
"Yes, it's over." Xue Yongcheng gritted his teeth, pulled out his belt, and slowly approached Xue Yang.
Xue Yang stared blankly at his father. "Dad, why do you look so upset?"
"Slap!"
The moment Xue Yang finished speaking, Xue Yongcheng's belt lashed out, striking Xue Yang.
"Ouch!"
Xue Yang's pained cry echoed thunderously.
He instantly jumped up from the sofa.
His face contorted in pain as he demanded, "Dad, why are you hitting me?"
"You still have the nerve to ask me? Tell me, why weren't you at the reception today?!"
Xue Yang's expression immediately tensed. "I, I just got back. I thought since you were there, I didn't need to go."
"Slap!"
Xue Yongcheng delivered another lash with his belt.
Tears welled up in Xue Yang's eyes from the pain. He scrambled behind the sofa to hide.
At this moment, Xue Yang's mother heard the commotion and rushed out of her room.
Seeing the scene, she immediately shielded Xue Yang and glared at Xue Yongcheng furiously. "Xue Yongcheng, are you crazy?! Do you have to beat your child like this?!"
Xue Yongcheng pointed at Xue Yang in anger. "Why don't you ask this unfilial beast what he's done?!"
"Whatever he's done, you can't hit him! He's your own son!"
Xue Yang also protested, "Dad, what did I do wrong?"
Xue Yongcheng retorted angrily, "Do you know that because of you, Qin Yuyan directly announced she won't cooperate with our group!"
"What?!"
"Because, because of me?!" Xue Yang's jaw nearly dropped as he pointed at himself.
Xue Yang's mother also disbelieved him. "Xue Yongcheng, what nonsense are you talking about? Would someone of her stature bother with our son?"
"Hmph! Otherwise, why would I be back now?! Xue Yongcheng, I've never been so humiliated as I have today! Qin Yuyan personally kicked me out, and she said I should come back and ask this unfilial beast why. Do you think this matter has nothing to do with him?!"
Xue Yang was stunned, and so was Xue Yang's mother.
They both knew what Qin Yuyan represented – wealth!
She was the only path for Xue's Investment to surpass the leading Mo family. And now, that path was blocked!
"How, how is this possible? I, I've never even met Qin Yuyan," Xue Yang hastily defended himself.
"You really haven't met her?" Xue Yongcheng asked.
He knew his son likely wouldn't dare to lie to him.
"Dad, I really haven't met her." Xue Yang nodded affirmatively, though the whip marks on his body still stung.
"Then I'll have someone investigate further," Xue Yongcheng could only say.
Xue Yang's mother glared resentfully at Xue Yongcheng. "Honestly, hitting the child without even clarifying the situation! Is this how a father should be?!"
After applying some medicinal oil, Xue Yang limped back to his room.
"Bang!"
"Chen Mo!"
Xue Yang punched the wall, his eyes blazing with fury.
Today, he had not only been humiliated but also severely beaten by his father for not attending the reception. Xue Yang could not swallow this anger!
"Chen Mo, Tian Mengyao, I, Xue Yang, will make you pay!"
Late at night.
The reception had long since concluded.
In the presidential suite of the Longhua Five-Star Hotel, Qin Yuyan sat on the sofa, listening to her female secretary's report.
"Boss, Young Master Chen appeared today because of this girl."
As she spoke, a photograph was placed before Qin Yuyan.
Glancing at the photo, Qin Yuyan nodded. "I know her. She's Mo Mo's colleague."
She then asked, "Have they started dating?"
"It seems so, but."
"But what?"
"But Tian Mengyao's parents apparently don't like Young Master Chen and want to interfere."
Suddenly, a glint of coldness flashed in Qin Yuyan's eyes.