At seven-thirty in the evening, the main guest courtyard of the Ouyang family's ancestral home had been transformed into a banquet hall. It offered both Western-style cocktail receptions and Chinese-style banquets for the invited guests.
This grand banquet was held to celebrate Ouyang Zhixin's succession as the fifth-generation head of the Ouyang family. The guests invited were all prominent figures from the capital.
Therefore, the attendees were no ordinary people. Representatives from the five major families of the capital were present. The Kong family was naturally represented by Kong Jingguo and his daughter, Kong Chaoyu.
The Xia family sent Xia Xinhou, the deputy director of the Health and Health Commission, who was also a maternal relative of Wan Yunting's mother. He brought along a group of young disciples from the Xia family, primarily aiming to build a good relationship with Wan Yunting.
The Fang family was personally led by their old patriarch, Fang Chenghe, along with his two sons. The elder son, Fang Yongjun, was also the next patriarch of the Fang family.
The other son, Fang Jianzhong, was the manager of the Fang family's enterprises. He also brought a group of young men and women from the Fang family, demonstrating their family's serious approach to the celebration banquet.
The Chen family was also personally attended by their old patriarch, Chen Xuemin, who brought his son, Chen Tianlu, and a group of talented young men and women from the Chen family. Like the Fang family, they treated the banquet with great formality.
It wasn't just these few major families that took it seriously; the upper-class figures from all sectors of the capital paid great attention to the banquet hosted by the Ouyang family. Most attendees were dressed in suits and evening gowns, appearing very grand and formal. The CEOs were accompanied by their partners, while the elder guests chose the Chinese banquet in the main courtyard.
The younger generation opted for the Western-style cocktail party in the Western courtyard garden next door.
This separation was primarily because the younger generation tended to be more boisterous, and some elders preferred quieter venues.
At the banquet tables in the main courtyard, Ouyang Shenhe and Ouyang Xingten, along with several other elders of the family, personally entertained the invited guests. Kong Jingguo, Xia Xinhou, Fang Chenghe, and Chen Xuemin were seated at the main table, while everyone else sat at secondary tables.
As the protagonist of the evening, Ouyang Zhixin, along with his wife Xia Xiangyun, was busy receiving the guests who were arriving one after another. Seeing Gu Shiren arrive with the support of his grandson Gu Zichen, Ouyang Zhixin stepped forward to greet him respectfully: "Elder Gu, thank you for attending."
"Haha, I was brought here by young Wan to join the fun. Congratulations," Gu Shiren congratulated Ouyang Zhixin.
"Thank you, Elder Gu."
Knowing that Gu Shiren was invited by his son Wan Yunting, Ouyang Zhixin had his wife Xia Xiangyun personally escort Gu Shiren and his grandson to the banquet in the main courtyard. Upon seeing them, Ouyang Shenhe rose and said with a smile, "Ah, Elder Gu, please come this way..."
Gu Yuanbai was already seated at the main table. Seeing his teacher Gu Shiren arrive, he personally rose and pulled his teacher over to an empty chair next to him. The others present knew that Gu Shiren was a highly respected figure in the capital's traditional Chinese medicine circles. Most of them knew him and had sought his medical advice, so there was no need for introductions.
Ouyang Zhixin, still at the entrance greeting guests, saw Fan Liren arrive with his granddaughter Fan Shuyuan and greeted him respectfully: "Elder Fan, please come in..."
"Haha, Zhixin, why are you, the family head, personally welcoming guests?" Fan Liren joked.
Ouyang Zhixin smiled and replied, "I have no choice. Everyone attending tonight has given me, Ouyang Zhixin, some face, so I naturally must welcome them personally."
"Haha, you are truly humble. No wonder you have produced a son as humble as yourself. You truly are father and son," Fan Liren said, pointing at him and then scanning the surroundings for Wan Yunting, asking, "Isn't young Wan here?"
Ouyang Zhixin's face showed a proud smile. "Young Wan is currently entertaining the youngsters in the Western courtyard."
"Grandfather, I'm going now."
Fan Shuyuan, dressed beautifully, was immediately led by an Ouyang family servant towards the Western-style cocktail party in the Western courtyard.
Fan Liren was personally escorted by Ouyang Zhixin into the main courtyard to join the elders...
Meanwhile, Wan Yunting, dressed in casual attire, was in the Western-style banquet in the Western courtyard with his cousin Ouyang Xinyuan and others. Surrounded by young talents in suits and young socialites dressed in elegant evening gowns, like butterflies, they all seemed to be revolving around Wan Yunting...
After all, Wan Yunting was currently the most outstanding talent among the younger generation of the Ouyang family and the chairman of the Chinese Medicine Association. He was adorned with various titles at such a young age, making him the most dazzling star of the evening.
Consequently, the beautiful socialites and young ladies from prominent families present looked at Wan Yunting with intense gazes. Some even boldly confessed their feelings to him in public, eliciting envious expressions from the young talents present.
Although a few were jealous of Wan Yunting in their hearts, they dared not show it!
Regardless of Wan Yunting's multiple identities, simply being the son of the current Ouyang family head was enough to make the young talents present dare not offend him, and they could only brazenly try to curry favor and build connections.
Thus, Wan Yunting felt weary. He disliked such occasions the most, and he understood that these fluttering butterflies surrounding him had their own agendas. The young talents flattering him were merely trying to please him and board the Ouyang family's grand ship...
"Wow, what a beautiful lady!"
Suddenly, shouts of surprise from many men were heard from a distance.
Gu Luotang, dressed in an elegant pale blue Hanfu dress, had clearly made an effort with her appearance. The moment she appeared, she completely stunned the young talents present. Her gaze, along with that of her junior sister Qi Miaomiao, attracted fervent looks from the young men and jealous glances from the socialites as they walked towards Wan Yunting.
Being stared at by so many people caused the shy and reserved Gu Luotang's pretty face to flush slightly. Like a delicate fairy, she dared not look at the surrounding crowd and quickly walked to Wan Yunting's side, nervously saying, "So many people..."
Wan Yunting secretly took her delicate hand and smiled, "Not used to it?"
"Don't say I'm not used to it, even I feel uncomfortable."
Qi Miaomiao was also dressed beautifully that evening, especially with her lively and playful demeanor. She wore a set of gorgeous red Hanfu attire. However, facing the young men and women in suits and evening gowns, her and Gu Luotang's Chinese attire seemed out of place.
"Why don't you go sit in the next room? Elder Fan's granddaughter, Fan Shuyuan, and Gu Siruo are in a study room in the Western courtyard." Wan Yunting knew women disliked such scenes and naturally wouldn't force them.
"Okay, and what about you?" Gu Luotang asked.
Wan Yunting looked helpless and shrugged with a smile, "I have to entertain guests. I'll come find you later."
"Mm, we'll go ahead then."
Gu Luotang truly disliked such occasions, so she took Qi Miaomiao to find Fan Shuyuan and the others.
"Sister Luotang, Miaomiao, where are you going?"
At this moment, his younger sister Ouyang Fanmeng entered and asked as she saw Gu Luotang and Qi Miaomiao about to leave.
"This place isn't suitable for us. My senior sister and I are going to play with Fan Shuyuan and the others," Qi Miaomiao replied.
Ouyang Fanmeng nodded and smiled, "Sister Shuyuan and the others are in the study room next door. You go ahead, and I'll come find you later."
"Okay." Gu Luotang smiled and nodded, then left with Qi Miaomiao.
Ouyang Fanmeng then went to find her elder brother. Upon seeing her, the young talents present exclaimed, "Look quickly, it's the Ouyang family head's daughter, Ouyang Fanmeng! We've finally seen her in person!"
"Yes, I didn't expect the Ouyang family head's daughter to be so beautiful!" A young talent from the Fang family looked at Ouyang Fanmeng with sparkling eyes.
"It's also thanks to her elder brother, Wan Yunting. If he hadn't cured Ouyang Fanmeng's 'stinky fish disease,' we wouldn't have seen her true appearance!"
"Indeed..."
The young talents present gazed at Ouyang Fanmeng with fervent eyes, while the socialites could only feel envious and jealous in their hearts.
"Brother..."
Ouyang Fanmeng went up and linked her arm with Wan Yunting's, also greeting the guests he was conversing with. Then, she pulled Wan Yunting, "Brother, I have something to tell you. Come here for a moment..."
"Mm, what is it?" Wan Yunting asked suspiciously, being pulled aside by his sister.
Ouyang Fanmeng looked at him with her bright eyes and asked, "Why hasn't Sister Yan Xi returned yet?"
Wan Yunting glanced at the time and smiled, "She's still in a meeting and will be back later."
Ouyang Fanmeng raised an eyebrow and said, "Brother, Sister Yan Xi is also here, so why did you ask Sister Luotang to come tonight? Won't it be awkward if they meet tonight?"
Wan Yunting's expression froze. He hadn't expected his sister to worry about him. He smiled and said, "Little girl, you worry quite a lot."
"Oh, brother, you can still smile."
Ouyang Fanmeng rolled her eyes speechlessly and said urgently, "Did you deliberately let them meet tonight?"
"Of course not deliberately."
Wan Yunting shook his head, appearing helpless, and said, "Your Sister Yan Xi and Sister Luotang are both in the capital, and our family is holding such a grand celebration banquet tonight. If I didn't invite both of them, wouldn't it be even more difficult?"
Ouyang Fanmeng rolled her eyes and said coquettishly, "That's still because you're a player with many romantic entanglements."
Being retorted by his own sister, Wan Yunting scratched his head, feeling a bit awkward. Ouyang Fanmeng raised an eyebrow and said, "I'm mainly worried that Sister Luotang will be at a disadvantage!"
Wan Yunting looked surprised and asked, "What, do you like your Sister Luotang and not your Sister Yan Xi?"
"Oh, it's not like that."
Ouyang Fanmeng explained, "You know as well as I do, Sister Yan Xi is a strong woman with her own aura, while Sister Luotang is a pure fairy. How can she withstand Sister Yan Xi's attacks?"
Wan Yunting nodded and smiled, "I understand. So you're worried about this, right?"
Ouyang Fanmeng glanced at him, shaking Wan Yunting's arm, "Brother, I'm worrying myself sick over your affairs. You should think of a way to prevent them from meeting."
Wan Yunting shook his head and smiled, "This cannot be avoided."
Ouyang Fanmeng glared at him, "So, you're just going to watch them cause trouble for you?"
Wan Yunting shook his head and smiled confidently, "Don't worry, they won't."
Ouyang Fanmeng looked at him suspiciously, "So sure?"
Wan Yunting placed his hands on her shoulders, turned her around, and pushed her back, smiling, "Alright, you should go find your Sister Luotang quickly, to avoid awkwardness."
Ouyang Fanmeng still didn't quite believe him, but since he had said so, she could only go look after Sister Luotang first...
However, she soon found herself in a dilemma. If Sister Luotang and Sister Yan Xi really started fighting tonight, whom should she help?
"Forget it, why am I worrying about this..."
Unable to choose, Ouyang Fanmeng pouted and huffed, "It's his romantic debt anyway, it has nothing to do with me. If they really start fighting, I'll help whoever loses..."