While Madam Hu and the servants were busy entertaining the guests, Bai Hanyun arrived with Jiang Yinqi, followed by Hua Yuyu and Gao Gong.
After they stepped out of the car, Jiang Yinqi and Hua Yuyu handed their keys to the servants. With her hand resting on Jiang Yinqi’s arm, Bai Hanyun walked up the stairs.
When they reached the entrance of the main hall, they encountered Hu Chaoyang and Hou Zuquan.
Looking at Bai Hanyun, Hou Zuquan asked, "Yinqi, who is this?"
Jiang Yinqi turned to Bai Hanyun and said, "Hanyun, these two are my friends from middle school—Hu Chaoyang and Hou Zuquan."
Reaching out to Hu Chaoyang, Bai Hanyun smiled and said, "My name is Bai Hanyun. CEO Hu, it’s an honor to finally meet you in person."
The moment Hu Chaoyang and Hou Zuquan heard her name, they exchanged a quick look at Jiang Yinqi.
After a brief silence, Hu Chaoyang shook Bai Hanyun’s hand and responded, "Chairwoman Bai, it’s my pleasure to meet you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as the Bai Group’s CEO."
Bai Hanyun felt a twinge of guilt when he heard this, knowing Jiang Yinqi had tricked him.
She shook her head and replied, "As the second young master of the Hu family, your willingness to accept our invitation is truly the Bai Group’s fortune. Thank you for joining us, CEO Hu. I’m looking forward to our future development together."
Hu Chaoyang nodded and said, "Likewise."
After introducing herself to Hu Chaoyang, Bai Hanyun turned to Hou Zuquan and said, "You must be the famous Assistant Hou, right? It’s my pleasure to finally meet you tonight."
Shaking her hand, Hou Zuquan chuckled. "You flatter me, Chairwoman Bai."
Seeing that they had introduced themselves, Jiang Yinqi said, "Alright, let’s head inside. Aunty Hu must be eager to see Chaoyang."
When he said that, Hu Chaoyang sighed inwardly. Though reluctant, he had no choice but to follow them into the main hall.
Inside the main hall, everyone turned to the entrance at the same time when the servant announced, "Second Young Master has arrived."
Sensing the guests’ gaze, Bai Hanyun pulled Jiang Yinqi’s arm and whispered, "Elder Brother Yinqi, wait."
Leaning closer to her, Jiang Yinqi bent down slightly and asked, "What’s wrong?"
"Everyone is staring at CEO Hu." Bai Hanyun said while glancing at the guests.
When Jiang Yinqi heard this, he knew that Bai Hanyun didn’t want to be the center of attention and said, "I see. Then let’s find something to eat first."
With that, the two of them, along with Hua Yuyu and Gao Gong, walked to the side and began browsing the food while maintaining a distance from Hu Chaoyang and Hou Zuquan.
Seeing that Jiang Yinqi and the others walked away, Hu Chaoyang’s expression darkened slightly.
Noticing his unhappiness, Hou Zuquan sighed and whispered, "Brother, it’s understandable that Yinqi and the others didn’t want to be the center of attention. Your mother this time is really going all out. There must be at least five hundred guests who have arrived here now."
Listening to what he said, Hu Chaoyang replied in a low voice, "I also want to stay away from the attention."
Hou Zuquan chuckled at his words and shook his head helplessly.
While the two of them were whispering, Madam Hu beamed at her second son. "Ah, here he is. Yang Yang, come and greet your aunties."
The moment Hu Chaoyang and Hou Zuquan heard what Madam Hu just said, both of them thought the same thing at the same time.
’Here we go. The dreadful, hungry pack of aunties.’
Although both of them had this in mind, they still kept their expression calm and polite.
After nodding at the aunties as a greeting, Hu Chaoyang turned to his mother and whispered with a hint of anger in his voice, "Mother, what are you doing? I thought you said it’s only a simple welcome banquet."
Unhappy with her son’s words, Madam Hu glared at him and whispered back, "It is a welcome banquet."
Rolling his eyes secretly, Hu Chaoyang gritted his teeth and asked in a low voice, "Then how do you explain those hungry-looking aunties and their pretentious daughters?"
Slapping his arm lightly, Madam Hu narrowed her eyes and threatened, "If you dare to make trouble, I will tie you up and send you to the civil affairs bureau."
Having no way to deal with his mother, Hu Chaoyang could only shut up and let her introduce the young ladies from prominent and wealthy families one after another.
Watching everything from afar, Bai Hanyun and Jiang Yinqi shook their heads with pity in their eyes.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. What a pitiful man. Look at those ladies’ eyes. They look like they want to eat him alive." Bai Hanyun commented, then took a big bite of her cupcake.
Nodding in agreement, Jiang Yinqi added, "Fortunately, we don’t need to suffer like him."
Just as his words fell, the main hall, once buzzing with chatter, seemed to freeze for a heartbeat. A chill swept through the air, silencing the crowd just before a deep, cold voice cut through the silence. Original content can be found at novel★fire.net
"Isn’t this Miss Bai? What a coincidence."
Bai Hanyun felt chills run down her spine when she smelled the faint blood smell in the air. Instantly, her hand paused mid-air as her fingers tightened around the small fork.
Before she could react, Hua Yuyu and Gao Gong had already stepped in front of her protectively.
After a moment of silence, she slowly turning around, and her eyes met Gui Xiaoxu’s.
As Gui Xiaoxu moved forward, the crowd instinctively parted, their hushed whispers tinged with fear, awe, and greed.
Looking at Gui Xiaoxu’s cold eyes, Bai Hanyun cursed inwardly, ’Damn it! I must have forgotten to look at the almanac today. How could I meet this living Yan Wang even in here?’
Although she was cursing her bad luck in her heart, Bai Hanyun still put on a smile as she calmly said, "CEO Gui, what a surprise to see you here."