Yuan Liangping's expression changed slightly.
Luo Jiuzhang was a man of many businesses, with considerable influence among the wealthy and prominent figures in Hangzhou. He had just tried to win him over.
Now, unexpectedly, besides Tang Qingying, Luo Jiuzhang had also come forward to speak for Chen Fan.
Why did this son-in-law, kicked out by the Su family, have such connections?
If only Tang Qingying had appeared, he might have hesitated, but now he had no choice.
Chen Fan himself was insignificant in his eyes, but offending Luo Jiuzhang and Tang Qingying because of him would be a loss.
Just as he was about to speak, another voice interjected, "Young Master Yuan, I've also had dealings with Mr. Chen. It's a small matter, perhaps you could grant him some face."
This was the third person to speak up and plead for Chen Fan!
The assembled guests murmured among themselves, filled with surprise.
"This Mr. Chen actually knows so many important people?"
"Is it the Su family's influence? Even the CEO Lu of Yuanfa Group is speaking for him?"
"What influence does the Su family have? They're just a declining third-rate family. I think this useless son-in-law seems a bit unusual. Could he have caught the eye of some influential figure!"
...
Yuan Liangping glanced at Lu Zecheng and felt somewhat speechless.
He suspected he might have underestimated the owner of that villa behind Chen Fan.
To have Luo Jiuzhang and the others step forward in such a setting to plead for a subordinate, the identity of the villa owner was likely beyond his imagination.
He no longer hesitated. He waved for the security guards to stand down and said with a smile, "Mr. Luo, Miss Tang, and Mr. Lu, how could Yuan not give you face? Let's consider this matter closed then!"
"It's about time. Please proceed to the private auction hall. The auction will begin in ten minutes. We won't disappoint you, and we hope for your enthusiastic participation!"
Seeing Yuan Liangping back down, Chen Fan remained neither happy nor sad, his expression placid.
The crowd dispersed, but many guests continued to discuss, casting curious glances at Chen Fan.
Xiao Xuan, standing behind Chen Fan, found it hard to believe.
The matter was just going to end like this?
This ordinary-looking man had beaten up the aggressive man who claimed to be Young Master Yuan's brother so badly, and in the end, nothing happened to him?
Yuan Liangping said to Chen Fan, "You're very lucky!"
"Perhaps it's not just my luck," Chen Fan said leisurely.
Yuan Liangping scoffed, chose to ignore him, and turned to Luo Jiuzhang, smiling, "Mr. Luo, you and this Mr. Chen know each other?"
Luo Jiuzhang glanced at Chen Fan discreetly. Seeing that the latter showed no reaction, he said in a low voice, "I thought Young Master Yuan knew. We met at the Silver City Club that day."
Yuan Liangping suddenly understood and felt a touch of self-mockery.
This explained why Luo Jiuzhang would speak for Chen Fan.
They had no deep friendship; Luo Jiuzhang was merely wary of Chen Fan and didn't want to offend him.
Chen Fan's considerable stir at the Silver City Club was indeed somewhat intimidating.
Or perhaps Luo Jiuzhang didn't want the banquet to turn into a scene and was merely mediating?
But Yuan Liangping still asked, "So, Mr. Luo, you don't know who this person's boss is?"
Luo Jiuzhang was taken aback by this question and couldn't help but glance at Chen Fan, who had already sat down again.
Mr. Chen's boss?
In this world, who dared to be Mr. Chen's boss?
What did this Young Master Yuan mean? Was there some misunderstanding?
Luo Jiuzhang shook his head.
Yuan Liangping was somewhat disappointed.
He genuinely wanted to know who the owner of Villa No. 1 was.
That villa wasn't particularly remarkable in his eyes, but the power and influence displayed by its owner made him wary.
He considered how Chen Fan, a discarded son-in-law, after being noticed by the villa's owner,
could actually act like a fox borrowing the tiger's might, killing He Yifeng of the Silver City Club and the young master of the Wu family, among others.
Thinking about it, it was quite astonishing.
"Excuse me."
Luo Jiuzhang did not wish to converse further with Yuan Liangping and left after saying this.
In his heart, he worried that Chen Fan might misinterpret his conversation with Yuan Liangping.
Yuan Liangping shook his head, feeling somewhat more relaxed, but he was still pondering how to deal with Chen Fan.
"Chen... Chen Fan, do you know the people who spoke for you?"
Having returned to the re-arranged dining area, Xiao Xuan looked somewhat nervous, yet also expectant.
"Hmm?" Chen Fan looked at her.
"That..." Xiao Xuan started and stopped, then shook her head with a sigh, saying, "It's nothing."
She seemed distracted and forced herself to say, "I thought we were going to be chased out disgracefully."
Chen Fan smiled and said, "The auction is about to start. Why aren't you eating more?"
"What does the auction have to do with me?"
Xiao Xuan said with a bitter smile, "I'm just here to watch the fun, to see people spend money we could never earn in a lifetime, buy a trinket, and then feel sourly envious, highlighting their wealth and superiority."
This was a rather apt observation, and Chen Fan smiled, "You're quite clear-headed."
Xiao Xuan's eyes twinkled, "How about we stay and eat? I wonder if it's allowed?"
"Haven't you eaten enough?" Chen Fan asked with interest.
"I just regret my stomach is too small!" Xiao Xuan patted her stomach and said with a grin, "I can only rest and then eat more."
"What does 'behind vermilion gates, wine and meat go to waste' refer to? Isn't this it? So many expensive lobsters, caviar, and seafood. It's a waste not to finish them?"
Chen Fan chuckled at this.
This Xiao Xuan was quite an interesting person. Meeting her in this tedious banquet added a little bit of amusement.
As they were chatting, a figure strode over purposefully.
Upon reaching them, the person looked Chen Fan up and down, appearing somewhat suspicious.
"Big sister!" Xiao Xuan greeted her.
It was Xiao Xuan's elder sister, in her early thirties, with a full figure. Her attire was much more elegant than Xiao Xuan's.
However, her temperament was still somewhat inferior to that of the socialites, carrying a touch of vulgarity.
"How should I address you, sir? What is your profession?"
Extending her hand to Chen Fan, Xiao Xuan's elder sister asked with a smile.
"Chen Fan, no profession to speak of!"
Chen Fan did not refuse the handshake and shook her hand.
Xiao family's eldest sister's brow immediately furrowed. "My name is Xiao Wei, Xiao Xuan's eldest sister. May I ask how you obtained your invitation?"
Chen Fan said with a half-smile, "Yuan Liangping delivered it himself."
Xiao Wei's expression soured further.
She thought Chen Fan was bragging. Yuan Liangping personally delivering an invitation was too extravagant; only a handful of people in Hangzhou had such qualifications.
And Chen Fan, by all appearances, did not seem like one of them.
She was busy socializing and had missed the conflict that had just occurred.
"Mr. Chen, please excuse me. I need to introduce some friends to my sister. I must take my leave."
Xiao Wei maintained basic politeness and took Xiao Xuan's arm to leave.
"Big sister, what are you doing?"
Xiao Xuan knew her sister's intentions. She pulled her hand away and said, "Tonight, I am Mr. Chen's companion!"