"Are you going to the banquet hosted by the Qi family?" Su He asked, knocking on the study door with the red invitation in her hand.
Lu Yanbei nodded earnestly. "Of course I am."
"Are the Lu and Qi families cooperating?" Su He pondered, it seemed to be the only logical explanation. Given Lu Yanbei's current status, not everyone could invite him.
Lu Yanbei shook his head. "Not at all. It's just that, on Qi family's territory, one must show some respect."
With this explanation, Su He instantly understood.
The Qi family was the overlord of South City; one didn't have to befriend them, but at least one shouldn't offend them.
"Will you accompany me tonight?" Lu Yanbei extended his hand to her.
Su He obediently stepped forward and placed her hand in his.
Lu Yanbei pulled her into his embrace with a slight tug, trapping her between his body and the desk. "Thank you, Mrs. Lu, for your hard work!"
"You're welcome!" Su He replied with a smile.
"Su Chen will likely be at today's banquet as well," Lu Yanbei said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Remember to keep your distance from him when we get there."
"Why?" Su He asked, confused.
"For his own safety," Lu Yanbei offered a valid reason, unwilling to admit that he simply found the young man disagreeable.
Su He, a creative comic artist, quickly grasped the situation.
The Qi family's banquet was ostensibly to celebrate Old Master Qi's birthday, but in reality, it was a test. The Qi family wished to collaborate with Lu Yanbei, and they needed a catalyst. Whoever could achieve this collaboration would have a strong chance of becoming the next family head.
Among the many children of the Qi family, only Su Chen knew Lu Yanbei, making him a prime target. The closer Su He appeared to be to Su Chen, the greater the pressure on him.
Considering this, Su He had to agree with Lu Yanbei's assessment. "I understand what to do."
In the afternoon, Su He spent several hours at her studio getting styled and choosing a gown before heading to the Qi family banquet at Jinjiang Grand Hotel.
"Mr. Lu, your reputation precedes you. Meeting you in person today, you are truly an extraordinary talent."
"And this must be Mrs. Lu? She looks like a woman blessed with good fortune."
As they entered the banquet hall, members of the Qi family flocked to greet them.
Their words flowed like honey, praising the couple to the heavens. Su He couldn't help but think: As expected of a wealthy family renowned for its internal strife, the Qi family's ability to speak falsehoods with a straight face was truly unparalleled.
Facing the Qi family's overtures, Su He maintained a graceful smile, nodding occasionally. However, it was hard to tell how much sincerity lay behind her smile.
Not everyone from the Qi family, however, was eager to approach Lu Yanbei.
Su Chen, for instance.
"I didn't expect Mrs. Lu to be so young!"
"A'Chen, isn't she your sister? Why aren't you going over to say hello?"
Su Chen, holding a champagne flute, stood in a corner of the banquet hall, looking rather indifferent. "A sister by name, not by blood, how close can we really be?"
"Really? But I heard that you four siblings have always had a good relationship? Last time, when Mrs. Lu was targeted with negative rumors, you even stepped forward to clarify things." A young man with a slicked-back hairstyle, Qi Ying from the Qi family's second branch, eyed Su Chen with a squint.
Compared to the older generation, the younger ones paid more attention to social media and had more avenues for information.
Su Chen calmly took a sip of his wine and said loudly, "It was merely a matter of mutual benefit. If her reputation was ruined, we would all be implicated. I worked hard to get my company listed; I don't want it destroyed because of her."
"Oh, is that so?" the Tenth Young Master Qi scoffed, a cold glint in his eyes.
He had been the most outstanding among the younger generation of the Qi family, a prime candidate for family head. But with Su Chen's arrival, his position was severely threatened.
Old Master Qi had praised him more than once for his courage and strategic thinking, clearly deeming him capable of great responsibility. Yet, Su Chen remained aloof, feigning humility, and unwilling to acknowledge his lineage. Ironically, the old master seemed to fall for this act, believing that Su Chen's self-made achievements were even more commendable.
Now, the old master was allowing Su Chen to interact with some of the Qi family's businesses, making Qi Ying anxious.
If a bastard were to become the family head, what would become of their dignity?
With this thought, Qi Ying wished he could eliminate Su Chen.
Su Chen, noticing the cold flicker in Qi Ying's eyes, knew he harbored ill intentions.
He cast a cold glance at him and said, "If, as you say, we are so close, why wouldn't she come over to say hello? After all, I've been her brother for over twenty years, haven't I?"
Qi Ying glanced in the direction of Lu Yanbei and Su He, observing them mingling with several elders, neither of whom spared Su Chen a glance.
He felt a sense of relief and then sneered, "It seems that even though you had the first move, you gained no real advantage!"
Su Chen allowed his ridicule without comment.
He knew that the more he spoke, the more he would err. Silence was the best course of action.
Su He, on the other side, was similarly composed.
She maintained a steady pace with Lu Yanbei, her smile gentle but reserved for greetings, showing no inclination for extended conversation.
"Mrs. Lu seems quite shy." After several fruitless attempts to engage her, someone concluded.
"A young woman with no background or family connections, how could she possibly handle such an occasion?" the Fourth Madam Qi said sarcastically, tugging at her fur shawl.
"As if you have such a distinguished background," retorted Qi Ruohan, the eldest daughter of Qi Siyuan, covering her mouth with her hand. Her mother had been angered to death by this woman; seeing her enemy was like fanning the flames of hatred.
However, the Fourth Madam was favored, and no matter how much Qi Ruohan slandered her to her father, the old master was always lenient with her.
"How dare you speak to me like that? Do you have any respect for me as an elder?" The Fourth Madam was no easy opponent. Seeing Qi Ruohan's blatant mockery, her expression darkened.
"Did I say something wrong?" Qi Ruohan replied coldly. "Weren't you the one who used to solicit customers in nightclubs?"
The Fourth Madam clenched her fists in anger.
However, in such a setting, she couldn't afford to escalate the situation. If she disrupted the old master's affairs, he would surely not spare her. Despite the old master's indulgence, it was limited to generously gifting her jewelry and properties. When it came to matters of importance, he was unwavering.
"You just wait, I'll have plenty of opportunities to deal with you later!" The Fourth Madam huffed and turned away, leading her branch of the family to flatter the old master.
Ultimately, the decision of who would become the next family head rested with the old master. As long as he was pleased, everything else would naturally fall into place.
Qi Ruohan watched them leave, her heart churning with rage. If only her mother were still alive, she wouldn't have to see that vixen steal the spotlight at the banquet!
Compared to the other branches, the eldest branch was in decline, with members either dead or incapacitated.
She truly hated herself for not being born a man.
Otherwise, she could have vied for the position on behalf of the eldest branch.