Wan Yunting, exiting the alley, hailed a designated driver. Without much thought, he instructed the driver to head directly to the Chang'an Club. Tonight, he had a crucial mission: to personally test Ouyang Liqun!
The Chang'an Club, a renowned high-end private club in the capital, naturally possessed a high threshold for entry. Its luxury was well-earned, with a grand, palatial style exuding elegance and opulence – the club's immediate impression.
Numerous valuable huanghuali screens, ornaments, and other collected pieces served as ubiquitous scenery within the club, projecting an aura of extreme luxury, as if anyone entering could feel their inner confidence swell involuntarily.
The Chang'an Club placed great emphasis on private event spaces and thoughtful, humanized service, while also providing members with an excellent platform for business exchange.
Consequently, the Chang'an Club became a venue for high-society networking, bringing together the crème de la crème of the capital's business circles, including distinguished figures and elegant socialites. Business magnates were often seen, arm-in-arm with sumptuously dressed, graceful socialites and beautiful ladies – a world inaccessible to ordinary people.
Tonight, however, the Chang'an Club was exceptionally lively. The Ouyang family, the second most prominent family in the capital, was holding a gathering. In addition to their own descendants, they had also invited young scions from other families.
Among the attendees were members of the Kong family, such as Kong Chaoyu and Kong Xuefeng, from the younger generation, and the Xia family's Xia Yunyu and Xia Xiangxue.
The Chen family was also represented by Chen Shuai, whose handsome looks lived up to his name. Dressed in a pristine white suit, he exuded a gentlemanly charm, currently engrossed in conversation and perhaps romance with young ladies from other prominent families.
Just then, the main doors of the venue opened. Ouyang Liqun, clad in a blue suit, entered with Ji Ruxue on his arm. She wore a wine-red evening gown with a tailored design that impeccably showcased her graceful waistline and curvaceous hips.
Her captivating, faintly green, fox-like eyes held a bewitching allure. Coupled with her fiery red lips and unparalleled beauty, she radiated a noble elegance, yet her sensual charm was undeniable, commanding a desire for conquest in men, much like a queen.
"Wow, who is this beauty? So stunning..."
A murmur of surprise rippled through the young men and women present. They gazed at Ji Ruxue, who appeared on Ouyang Liqun's arm, marveling at her. Though unaware of her identity, her exceptional beauty and demeanor instantly captivated the hearts of the young men, and even the socialites and daughters of prominent families felt a pang of jealousy, a sense of inadequacy.
"Brother Qun, who is this beautiful lady?"
A handsome young man in a sharp suit, Ouyang Xinyuan, approached Ouyang Liqun, his gaze fixed on Ji Ruxue. However, the moment Ouyang Xinyuan's eyes met her strangely alluring, faintly green gaze, his heart skipped a beat, his senses jolted as if struck by electricity.
"Heh heh..."
Seeing Ouyang Xinyuan involuntarily step back, utterly stunned, Ji Ruxue covered her mouth with a delicate hand, chuckling charmingly. Her voice, like that of a seductive vixen, purred, "So cute..."
"Too beautiful..."
The young men around were mesmerized by Ji Ruxue's inherent seductiveness. Every movement and gesture stirred the hearts of the men, making them pound. They were all left spellbound. Glancing at the socialites in their arms, they felt an stark contrast, as if comparing a common sparrow to a phoenix.
Alas, the companions in their arms suddenly seemed less appealing!
This was the unspoken sentiment of the young lords and masters present, their arms around socialites.
"Allow me to introduce."
Ouyang Liqun, holding Ji Ruxue's left hand, addressed everyone present, "This is my girlfriend, Ji Ruxue, of Thai-Chinese descent!"
"Wow, so she's Young Master Qun's girlfriend! Envious, envious..."
Chen Shuai of the Chen family was the first to step forward, clapping his hands and openly ogling Ji Ruxue with wide eyes. He thought to himself, "A beauty this exceptional is truly unparalleled in the entire capital."
Ouyang Xinyuan, recovering his composure, blushed, feeling a bit embarrassed to look at Ji Ruxue again. He remarked, "Brother Qun, when did you get a girlfriend? You've kept her hidden so well until now."
"Exactly."
Other descendants of the Ouyang family also came forward. Especially the younger men, who gazed at Ji Ruxue with immense envy. The young women, too, felt a surge of jealousy, marveling at how beautiful Ji Ruxue was. Her demeanor and looks were undoubtedly those of an exceptional beauty.
"Heh heh, Brother Qun has always been low-key in his actions. It's only natural we wouldn't know he has a girlfriend!"
At this moment, a casually dressed young man approached. He was Ouyang Xiuxian, robust and handsome with rugged features, exuding a palpable aura of masculinity, which stood in stark contrast to the aristocratic bearing of the other young men present.
"When did Brother Xian return?"
Responding to Ouyang Xiuxian's subtly challenging tone, Ouyang Liqun maintained his usual calm demeanor.
Ouyang Xiuxian did not reply. Instead, his gaze was fixed intently on Ji Ruxue's strange, faintly green eyes for a full thirty seconds. Then, Ouyang Xiuxian's thick brows furrowed slightly. He turned to Ouyang Liqun and asked, "Brother Qun, do you intend to marry this woman?"
His words caused Ouyang Liqun's lips to curve into a smile. Ouyang Xinyuan and Ouyang Yumeng, along with other Ouyang family descendants, immediately sensed a palpable tension between the two men.
However, the Ouyang family's descendants were long accustomed to this. They knew that Ouyang Xiuxian and Ouyang Liqun had been at odds since childhood, and their meetings invariably led to verbal sparring.
"Yes."
Ouyang Liqun nodded, smiling at Ouyang Xiuxian. "I'm not getting any younger. I've brought Ruxue back this time with the intention of marriage!"
"Wow, congratulations, Young Master Qun..."
Upon hearing his words, the surrounding guests offered their felicitations.
Ouyang Xinyuan, Ouyang Yumeng, and other Ouyang family descendants exchanged astonished glances before also extending their congratulations. They hadn't expected that the focus of the evening's gathering, initially meant to be the yet-to-arrive Wan Yunting, would now shift to Ouyang Liqun.
"Heh heh."
Ouyang Xiuxian responded with a cold chuckle, casting a challenging glance at Ouyang Liqun. He then couldn't resist looking at Ji Ruxue again, remarking, "It's not that easy to marry into our Ouyang family!"
His words caused Ouyang Liqun's expression to darken slightly. Ji Ruxue, her strangely alluring, faintly green, fox-like eyes, also cast an amused glance at Ouyang Xiuxian. Her fiery red lips curved into a smile, and her captivatingly pleasant voice chimed, "Interesting...!"
"Alright, alright, Brother Xian, let's go have a drink over there."
Sensing the change in Ouyang Liqun's demeanor, Ouyang Xinyuan quickly pulled Ouyang Xiuxian aside, offering him a drink. However, Ouyang Xiuxian declined, stating, "Although I haven't taken holy orders, as a lay disciple of the Shaolin Sect, I cannot drink."
"Alright."
Ouyang Xinyuan and Ouyang Yumeng knew that their cousin, Ouyang Xiuxian, had gone to the Shaolin Temple to train as a lay disciple immediately after retiring from the army. His gaze remained fixed on Ji Ruxue, who was standing with Ouyang Liqun in the distance. Ouyang Xiuxian narrowed his eyes and remarked, "That woman is not simple!"
Ouyang Xinyuan looked puzzled, glancing back at Ji Ruxue. He asked, "Brother Xian, are you perhaps jealous that Brother Qun has found such a beautiful girlfriend?"
Ouyang Xiuxian glared back at him, exasperated. "You don't understand. When I say she's not simple, I mean she's very dangerous!"
"Ah, dangerous?"
These words startled Ouyang Xinyuan and Ouyang Yumeng.
In fact, the three of them belonged to the Ouyang Xing Teng lineage. Ouyang Xinyuan and Ouyang Yumeng were the children of Ouyang Zhihui, while Ouyang Xiuxian was the second son of Ouyang Xing Teng and the son of Ouyang Zhiguo.
Since Ouyang Xiuxian had been a lay disciple at the Shaolin Sect for several years, his return this time was naturally due to Wan Yunting!
Ouyang Xiuxian's sharp gaze remained fixed on Ji Ruxue, who was beside Ouyang Liqun in the distance. He stated, "In conclusion, this woman definitely has ulterior motives for entering our Ouyang family!"
Hearing this, Ouyang Xinyuan and Ouyang Yumeng were taken aback. They exchanged glances, believing it was merely Ouyang Xiuxian and Ouyang Liqun's usual animosity and rivalry.
"By the way, why hasn't Wan Yunting arrived yet?" Ouyang Xiuxian then asked.
Ouyang Xinyuan checked his watch; it was already 8:15 PM. He shook his head and replied, "I don't know. Brother Qun arranged to meet him at 8:00 PM. He should be arriving soon."
Ouyang Xiuxian nodded and added, "I've heard he's a martial arts prodigy. This is a good opportunity for me to spar with him!"
"Sigh."
Ouyang Xinyuan gave a wry smile, knowing his cousin was a martial arts fanatic. Otherwise, he wouldn't have retired from the army and immediately gone to the Shaolin Temple to train as a lay disciple.
Meanwhile, with Ouyang Liqun and Ji Ruxue, Chen Shuai, Fang Zhuming, and other young scions from prominent families surrounded them, offering a torrent of flattering pleasantries. Chen Shuai then asked, "Young Master Qun, I hear that Wan Yunting is quite extraordinary!"
Ouyang Liqun held a wine glass in one hand, with Ji Ruxue's left arm linked through his right. Facing Chen Shuai, Fang Zhuming, and the others, he smiled, "It seems you all know my cousin quite well."
A young man named Fang Ji chuckled, "The major media outlets in the capital have been filled with news about him lately. It's hard not to know about him."
"Indeed."
Chen Shuai, with a beautiful socialite in each arm, leisurely swayed the wine in his goblet. His lecherous gaze frequently drifted to Ji Ruxue beside Ouyang Liqun. It was impossible not to stare at such a captivating woman, who drew the eye involuntarily.
"Doesn't Young Master Qun worry that Wan Yunting's appearance might make your grandfather change his mind and bestow the Ouyang family headship upon his father, Ouyang Zhixin?" Chen Shuai teased with a laugh.
His words elicited a smile from Ouyang Liqun. He personally had no interest in family matters, as he disdained the family's modest assets!
However, his father, Ouyang Weizhi, was different. Ever since he saw Ouyang Shen accompany Wan Yunting to the Wudang Sect, their grandfather-grandson relationship had deepened, causing Ouyang Liqun's father to pace anxiously at home like a cat on a hot tin roof, fearing the old man might truly pass the family headship to Ouyang Zhixin.
"Gentlemen, please do not concern yourselves with our Ouyang family's affairs."
Ouyang Liqun noticed Chen Shuai's lascivious gaze lingering on Ji Ruxue beside him, and a sharp glint appeared beneath his eyes.
His words caused Fang Ji and the other young men and women to exchange glances. Chen Shuai also felt Ouyang Liqun's warning gaze, shrugged, and offered a polite smile, falling silent and refraining from any further imprudent remarks or stray glances...