Just as Gui Xiaoxu and Yu Xiangyu were observing each other, the guests began to discuss in low voices.
"Looks like the rumors are true," one of them commented.
Hearing this, one of the young ladies standing with Bai Li nudged her and teased, "Li Li, you are so lucky. Even CEO Gui is attracted by your beauty, talent, and charm."
Bai Li blushed slightly at her words and shyly retorted, "Don’t talk nonsense. Elder Brother Xiaoxu and I are just friends."
Hearing her calling Gui Xiaoxu so intimately, the other young ladies exchanged looks, then one of them said, "Li Li, you are already calling CEO Gui so intimately. Just tell us the truth. Are the two of you dating?"
Bai Li’s face turned redder at the teasing, causing the young ladies to chuckle and speculate on her relationship with Gui Xiaoxu.
Meanwhile, standing two steps behind Gui Xiaoxu, Ke Ting secretly rolled his eyes and thought, ’Boss, you are really shameless to say you are acquaintances with Miss Bai Hanyun when you two haven’t even exchanged a word before.’
While everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts, Gui Xiaoxu said expressionlessly, "I have never heard of any cooperation between the Yu Group and the Bai Group, so it’s quite surprising to see CEO Yu here tonight."
Yu Xiangyu chuckled when he heard this. With a slight smile on his lips, he calmly responded, "Maybe CEO Gui didn’t know, but I’m a close friend of the Bai family’s Second Young Lady, Miss Bai Hanyun."
"I came today to invite her to our house. My grandfather misses her very much, and said that if I don’t invite Miss Bai Hanyun to dinner, he will refuse to eat."
When Yu Xiangyu’s words fell, Gui Xiaoxu narrowed his eyes slightly, studying Yu Xiangyu’s expression.
Finding no trace of deceit in Yu Xiangyu’s calm demeanor, he replied, "So that’s it. Looks like we are both here for the same person."
As soon as he said this, murmurs filled the ballroom.
While the guests’ gazes drifted toward Bai Li’s stiffened smile, she was boiling with jealousy and anger. Clenching her purse, Bai Li gritted her teeth.
’Bitch! Why are they all looking for you?! I’m supposed to be tonight’s protagonist! Bai Hanyun, since you dare to steal Elder Brother Xiaoxu’s attention, don’t blame me for being ruthless!’
While tension rose in the ballroom, in the presidential suite, Bai Hanyun suddenly sneezed. "Achoo! Achoo!"
"Miss Bai, are you alright? Did you catch a cold?" Hua Yuyu asked, watching her rub her nose.
Bai Hanyun shook her head and replied, "One sneeze means longing, two sneezes mean scolding, and three sneezes mean blessing. Someone is scolding me just now."
Bao Shengjie looked up from his phone, then said with a hint of disgust in his voice, "It must be someone from the Bai family."
"I think so too," Bai Hanyun nodded in agreement.
Just then, the system suddenly announced, "Triple kill!"
Hearing this, Bai Hanyun quickly looked at her phone. "Bao Shengjie! You stole my kill!"
Bao Shengjie smirked as he controlled his character and leisurely replied, "Miss Bai, you need to focus. Otherwise, the MVP is mine."
Rolling her eyes, Bai Hanyun shot back, "Just wait. This grandaunt will show you the art of professional kill-stealing!"
With that, she focused on her game.
While Bai Hanyun and the others played happily, in the ballroom, Ruan Hanlin glanced at his watch and saw that it was already 6 o’clock in the evening.
Scanning the ballroom, he frowned slightly, then unlocked his phone. Opening WeChat, he tapped on Jiang Yinqi’s name and sent him a message: [Attorney Jiang, where are you?]
A few seconds later, Jiang Yinqi replied: [On my way. Has the banquet started?]
[Not yet.] Ruan Hanlin replied.
Shortly after, Jiang Yinqi sent another message: [Good. I will arrive on time.]
Seeing this, Ruan Hanlin put away his phone and scanned the room. Spotting a few familiar faces among the staff, he clenched his fists and took a deep breath to calm down.
’Please, don’t let anything happen tonight.’
Ten minutes later, Bai Yansheng stepped up to the podium and smiled at the guests. "Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Bai Group’s special banquet."
At that moment, Ruan Hanlin took out his phone and messaged Bai Hanyun: [Eldest Young Lady, the banquet is starting.]
A second later, Bai Hanyun received the message. After reading it, she stood up, placed her phone into her green pouch, took out the light green folding fan, and said, "Let’s go. It’s time for action."
Hearing this, Hua Yuyu and the others also put away their phones, stood up, and followed her out of the presidential suite. As they made their way down to the ballroom, Jiang Yinqi finally arrived at the hotel.
Tossing his keys to the valet staff, he rushed toward the ballroom, carrying the documents he had prepared.
Just as he arrived at the entrance of the ballroom, he saw Bai Hanyun and her bodyguards step out of the elevator.
Noticing him from a distance, Bai Hanyun walked up to him with a smile. Looking at Jiang Yinqi’s slightly messy hair and sweat on his forehead, she handed him a tissue and asked, "Elder Brother Yinqi, are you alright?"
Jiang Yinqi nodded, accepted the tissue, and wiped away his sweat. After discarding it in the near trashbin, he fixed his hair and adjusted his breathing.
When his breathing slowed down, he said, "Hanyun, these are the chairman’s appointment documents and the record of the shareholders’ meeting where we decided on the new chairman. I think you might need them later."
Bai Hanyun’s eyes lit up when she heard this. "Great! With this evidence, Bai Yansheng won’t be able to stop me. Thank you, Elder Brother Yinqi."
Jiang Yinqi nodded and said, "Hanyun, although we have evidence, we can’t underestimate Bai Yansheng. More than half of the company’s shareholders are his people."
"Got it." Bai Hanyun responded.
Just when her words fell, Bai Yansheng’s voice rang out from the other side of the closed door.