Sheng Shixun is the most famous antique appraisal expert and ancient architecture restoration expert in Huaguo.
He is not only renowned but also wealthy. Many national - level ancient building renovation and maintenance projects invite him as a guiding teacher.
Half a year ago, Expert Sheng received an invitation from a not - so - well - known temple in the Tibetan area to participate in the work of repairing the ancient temple.
The Tibetan area is extremely cold, and various historical relics are not well - protected. Sheng Shixun was heart - broken to see these once - magnificent art treasures gradually decaying and dilapidating.
After returning to the capital from the Tibetan area, he used his influence to organize this grand dinner party in his manor on the outskirts of the capital. The main purpose was to get some money from the pockets of these wealthy tycoons and celebrities to protect those ancient human relics that date back thousands of years.
At this banquet, the most eye - catching figure was Si Jiangchen, the boss of the Lengshan Financial Group, who was good at capital operation.
Sheng Shixun intended to entrust the fundraising from the charity auction at this banquet to Lengshan Capital for operation in the hope of obtaining more proceeds.
So, in the afternoon before the banquet started, Sheng Shixun had already dragged several big names in the financial and antique circles to approach Si Jiangchen and pestered him to discuss the distribution and arrangement of those funds.
Si Jiangchen arranged for his assistant, Ji Chen, to pick me up from the hospital. Unexpectedly, Bai Wei insisted on going along, which led to this little trouble.
Now, when I heard that Du Peiyun, the head of the Du family, would also appear here, I immediately wanted to back out.
I had never formally met this sly and venomous head of the Du family. I really didn't know whether I should give him a slap in the face or a kick in the stomach when I saw him.
When Si Jiangchen led me by the hand into the banquet hall, the resplendent clock in the hall just struck...
"Jiangchen, is this... your female companion?!" An old man with gray hair but a ponytail at the back of his head walked over with a glass of champagne.
"Old Sheng, you're asking a question you already know the answer to," Si Jiangchen said with a faint smile. "Making it seem like bringing a female companion to a charity dinner means we attendees should donate double, right?"
"You know what," Sheng Shixun replied, "that's exactly our plan. Otherwise, there won't be the exciting screams from the girls when you guys are splashing out money!"
This Sheng Shixun seemed to be on very familiar terms with Si Jiangchen. As soon as they met, they started joking again. "If I hadn't come up with this idea, I wouldn't have known that General Manager Si has been hiding such a beautiful girlfriend in his golden house! You should be punished to drink three big glasses!"
Saying this, Sheng Shixun took a glass of wine from a passing waiter's tray and handed it to Si Jiangchen. "Moreover, up until now, I still don't know the name of this beautiful lady!"
"Um, my name is Du Xinghe. Nice to meet you," I said.
They seemed to be very familiar with each other, but I felt a physical fear of this old man.
This kind - looking old man in front of me seemed amiable, but his back was covered with countless pale spirits of infants, which made the hairs on my body stand on end.
"On this wonderful night, I have no one to share it with. Lying down, I watch the stars shine brightly... Xinghe, what a beautiful name!"
Sheng Shixun, unaware that my hair was standing on end, nodded with a smile and said to Si Jiangchen, "Jiangchen, where did you find such a lovely and understanding girl?"
"She came of her own accord," Si Jiangchen said, glancing at me sideways.
"Hehe, this is truly a marriage predestined by fate," Sheng Shixun said with an ambiguous smile. Of course, he didn't think that I was caught by Si Jiangchen while trying to catch ghosts.
He thought that I was just like those girls who were eager to enter the upper class, trying to offer myself to Si Jiangchen. In his eyes, I was just an ordinary bed partner.
Sheng Shixun still had something to discuss with Si Jiangchen, so he said to me, "Xinghe, you can chat more with those socialites. You know, you need to interact with friends to expand your network."
Saying this, he waved to a group of well - dressed women. "Susu, come and meet a friend."
A woman in a burgundy evening dress answered and walked gracefully towards us. "This beautiful lady is a new face!"
She was a bit older, but well - maintained. The faint lines at the corners of her eyes only added to her charm.
"General Manager Si's female companion, Du Xinghe," Sheng Shixun introduced.
"Ah!" The woman named Susu opened her mouth slightly exaggeratedly. "Goodness! Is this still the General Manager Si who used to be a ladies' man? I have to see what kind of beauty has managed to capture General Manager Si's heart!"
After saying that, Susu took my hand. "Miss Du, don't hang out with these men. What they talk about, like finance and stocks, is really boring. Come and have fun with Sister Susu."
"Si..." I looked at Si Jiangchen for help, only to find that he was already surrounded by several old men and chatting merrily about something.
"Don't mind those stinky men!" Sister Susu said with a giggle, putting her arm around mine and pulling me into the group of women. "We women should talk about how to take care of our skin and how to go to fashion shows abroad. Life should be full of fun."
"Sister Susu, who is this?" A girl had already become curious about me.
My evening dress was not made of the commonly seen silk or chiffon fabrics. Instead, it was made of a rarely - seen dark velvet. The conservative small stand - up collar with a pearl necklace made me look rather different.
"She's the female companion brought by General Manager Si of Lengshan Capital," Susu said with a smile. "We haven't seen Miss Du at previous gatherings. May I ask what business your family is in?"
"I'm..." Just as I was about to speak, I heard Bai Wei's sarcastic voice from behind. "This Miss Du Xinghe's family runs a fortune - telling shop in a small alley. She just makes a living by sweet - talking people every day."
The group of women quickly turned around. Sure enough, it was Bai Wei, who had already taken off her outer suit. Inside, her champagne - gold evening dress with a diamond necklace made her look both noble and sexy.
"Oh, isn't this Weiwei?" Bai Wei should be a regular at socialite gatherings. Many people present recognized her and immediately greeted her. "We thought you would come with General Manager Si. What's going on? Everyone is really surprised!"
"Jiangchen is just being fresh for a while. She's just a low - class girl who uses her looks to serve men," Bai Wei said. "I'm different from her. I rely on my father. My father brought me here... Du Xinghe, besides Si Jiangchen, who else can you rely on? Your old - fashioned fortune - teller grandfather?"
As Bai Wei spoke, all the women's eyes were focused on me, full of contempt, curiosity, and more of a schadenfreude attitude.
"Hey, what's wrong with running a fortune - telling shop?!" Suddenly, among the group of women, a girl in a light - blue evening dress frowned. She had a round face with a bit of cute baby fat. Her almond - shaped eyes looked sideways at Bai Wei and said, "Don't you understand the concept of the great hermit hiding in the city? My good friend's family runs a fortune - telling shop next to the Daguanyin Temple in Lucheng. Even super - rich tycoons from Hong Kong go there to ask for feng shui advice!"