305— The Banquet (2)

Standing on stage with over a hundred pairs of eyes on her, Pei Yueran's palms were sweating, but she appeared even calmer.

Between standing in a room full of strangers and being aware of the all-too real danger she was probably in, she was trying her best not to panic.

So she turned back slightly, hoping to catch a pair a hazel eyes with hers. Li Chuanmo —who was still watching her from backstage—found her eyes, smiled and nodded, as if to say, "You've got this."

Taking a silent breath, she found her confidence, stood straighter and squared her shoulders as she spoke into the microphone, "Good evening everyone. I am Gao Tingyue, and it's an honor to be here."

Her opening statement was accompanied by more applause.

She continued, "Since this is an introductory banquet, I guess I need to talk about myself a bit, but I'll drop the microphone in a moment."

The guests smiled as they listened as she told them about her work and life. She didn't give many details, but she spoke with ease, elegance tingeing her every word.

A few madams that were close to Qiao Mingran felt their fingers itch.

If they could get her, a lady from such a distinguished family as a daughter-in-law, it would be worth celebrating.

As the only previously known daughter, Gao Tingxiu was highly sought-after in the Capital.

The only reason why she had not been thrown into an arranged marriage yet was because Qiao Mingran was unwilling to force her into anything she didn't want to do. That was also why she loved acting.

Being almost always on a filming set meant she could hide away and not have to be seen on occasions where eager mothers tried to sound her out for their sons.

None of the guests were fools. Everyone had already thought far ahead. Now that another daughter had appeared on the scene, they set their sights on her as well.

Since she didn't grow up with them, the Gao couple were bound to feel a bit guilty towards her and therefore treat her better.

Even if she could not inherit the group of companies, her inheritance wouldn't be small at all, not to mention the various concessions they would be willing to make for her sake.

The benefits were huge.

One could almost hear the abacus in their heads clacking.

Pei Yueran was bringing her speech to a close, "I want to use this medium to thank my parents for all their love and care. It's because of them that I can stand here today. Lastly, thank you all, for coming. Please enjoy the rest of the evening."

She bowed slightly and turned to walk down as deafening applause resounded in the well-lit hall. The energy was at an all-time high.

The madams that had their seats farther away from the main table could not wait to rush over and strike up a conversation.

In the surging atmosphere, only Han Leifeng sat, frozen in his original posture. When he heard her voice, he thought he was just imagining things, but on looking up, it was the same person he had been waiting for, yearning for all these years.

He couldn't believe his eyes.

The person he was desperate enough to travel to City M to see, unexpectedly showed up here. What blew his mind further was the manner she appeared.

Like a slow motion picture, images began appearing in his mind.

How she looked a vision in the red gown. How confident she sounded as she introduced herself —

Then it clicked.

What did she introduce herself as? Gao Tingyue?

Gao Tinghua's long-lost eldest sister?

The one who was married????

The haze suddenly shattered as his head and heart began pounding in sync.

Impossible!

His Yueran could not possibly be married to someone else, it could not—

He was brought out of his thoughts by the unusual hush that descended on the hall.

When he looked up to see what was happening, his heart, quite literally, stopped for a moment.

It was because Pei Yueran —Gao Tingyue had returned to take her seat in the hall, but she didn't come alone. Instead, she walked in, fingers lightly placed on a young man's arm.

One look at them, and Han Leifeng's heart resumed pumping, albeit painfully.

The gossip tabloids were right after all.

Both walked in tandem, dressed in matching shades of red. Together, they exuded an irresistible aura. The effect was almost reverential.

The guest watched as the man pulled out a seat for her and she smiled at him before sitting down gracefully.

Once the man sat down beside her, the noise resumed again, but this time as urgent whispers all across the hall.

The topic of conversation was, "Is she already betrothed?" And, "Who is that man?"

Han Leifeng felt like something was clawing at his heart, as if at any moment, he would look down to see blood seeping out of his chest and staining his dark suit.

He got up abruptly and stumbled out of the hall, trying to clear his head.

His back disappeared out of the hall just as Pei Yueran turned in his direction, brows furrowed. Beside her, Li Chuanmo asked, "Is something wrong?"

Pei Yueran hesitated but eventually shook he head, "I thought I saw someone I know. But maybe I made a mistake."

Li Chuanmo held her hand and caressed it, "It's possible. Maybe an old schoolmate?"

Pei Yueran wasn't sure but she answered, "Maybe." She didn't mention that she suddenly felt cold all over, as if she had just encountered a ghost. She didn't want to trouble him.

Li Chuanmo was already on high alert as he didn't know how and when the Black Shadows gang planned to strike. He had made all the preparations he could think of, but as long as there remained even the smallest possibility of sudden harm, he could not relax his guard.

While they whispered to each other, the guests continued to discuss and guess wildly.

When she introduced herself earlier, she didn't mention anything about her love life or if she was in a relationship, that was why many families were ready to butt heads together to get her.

But now that there was a variable, they whispered hotly amongst each other, wanting to convince the other person to go up and ask.

The people of the Capital were very shrewd. Most people didn't actually believe the story of her being left abroad all these years, but no one said it to the Gao family's faces.

Anyway, whether she was abroad, or abandoned, or even lost, it didn't matter much.

The most important thing was to squeeze as much benefits as they could from the Gao family on her account.