Ma Lianhao worked quickly, finding a house near Yanjing University—a small courtyard formed by a few connected bungalows.
Jiang Feng looked around.
Though simple, the environment was pleasant, far from the road, with few passersby, making it peacefully quiet.
He was very satisfied.
“This is it,” Jiang Feng said.
Ma Lianhao, worried Jiang Feng might find it too basic, was relieved and immediately called the landlord.
Learning there were other tenants, he had them all evicted, paying double the rent to secure the entire courtyard.
Jiang Feng knew spending money was Ma Lianhao’s pleasure, so he didn’t insist on paying. He’d help Ma Lianhao out later anyway.
The place needed decorating and furniture, which Jiang Feng left to Ma Lianhao.
After settling things, Ma Lianhao leaned in mysteriously. “Young Master, tomorrow’s Chen Siran’s birthday.”
“Hm?” Jiang Feng paused.
Ma Lianhao chuckled. “Knew you wouldn’t know. Shame she didn’t invite me.”
Jiang Feng smiled. “I didn’t know. Why mention it?”
Ma Lianhao looked exasperated, handing over an invitation with a sour tone. “See for yourself.”
Jiang Feng glanced at it—Chen Siran’s birthday party invitation.
He realized her recent attempts to reach him were likely about this. But he wasn’t close to Chen Siran, and she didn’t seem fond of him. Why was she so insistent on inviting him?
“Why’s it with you?” Jiang Feng asked.
“Ran into Guo Conghu this morning,” Ma Lianhao explained. “That hothead charged at me, thought he’d beat me up, but he gave me this. Young Master, when did you get so close to Miss Chen?”
Jiang Feng had fought Guo Conghu before, who likely resented his cunning tactics. The invitation was meant for Jiang Feng but ended up with Ma Lianhao.
“Nothing special,” Jiang Feng laughed.
Ma Lianhao didn’t buy it but gave up after a few unanswered questions. “So you are going?”
Jiang Feng hesitated. He had a decent impression of Chen Siran, and attending her party was fine, but gifts were tricky. He had some money, but he’d only use it as a last resort.
After a moment, he nodded. “I’ll go.”
*****
Chen Siran’s birthday party was held at a private club owned by the Chen family, poetically named Liuli Club.
Jiang Feng’s taxi was stopped at the club’s entrance, so he paid and got out.
He was still unaccustomed to society’s high-tech tools. His car sat unused in the garage, and he rarely used his phone since he had few contacts. He knew driving one of his garage cars would’ve let him enter directly.
“Sir, tonight is Miss Chen’s birthday party. No invitation, no entry,” the security guard said, sizing him up.
Jiang Feng’s decent attire earned him a polite tone. Unfazed, he reached for the invitation.
Just then, a flashy red Ferrari pulled up behind him, the window rolling down to reveal Jiang Hao’s face.
Jiang Hao, here for Chen Siran’s party, was surprised to see Jiang Feng. He parked behind him, smirking.
“Jiang Feng, you’re here for Chen Siran’s party too?”
“Yeah,” Jiang Feng replied curtly. He and Jiang Hao didn’t get along, so he ignored him.
Jiang Hao got out, grinning. “What a coincidence. Did Chen Siran really invite you? No way.”
He looked Jiang Feng up and down, exuding arrogance.
The guard, hearing Jiang Feng’s name, recalled his reputation and grew wary.
Jiang Feng saw through Jiang Hao’s intent to mock him. If he lacked an invitation, he’d not only be barred but also ridiculed by Jiang Hao.
He handed over the invitation. The guard checked it thoroughly, glanced at Jiang Feng, and said, “Young Master Jiang, please enter.”
Jiang Feng nodded and walked in.
Jiang Hao’s face darkened. He hadn’t expected Jiang Feng to have an invitation. His own had cost him dearly, obtained through a friend. In his mind, only he, among the Jiang family’s younger generation, deserved to attend—not even his brother Jiang Ping, let alone “trash” like Jiang Feng.
“Jiang Feng, stop! Who let you in?” Jiang Hao shouted.
Jiang Feng paused, turning back. “Jiang Hao, what do you want?”
“I think your invitation’s fake,” Jiang Hao declared, lunging for it. He couldn’t accept that Chen Siran invited Jiang Feng, making him feel inferior within the Jiang family.
Jiang Feng laughed coldly, and casually kicked Jiang Hao to the ground. “For your Jiang surname, I’ll tolerate you once more. Next time, don’t expect mercy.”
He’d long suspected the odd car accident outside the police station was an inside job by someone in the Jiang family, as only they knew Zhao Wuxia was bailing him out. Lacking proof, he held back, but if Jiang Hao kept pushing, he’d collect interest first.
Jiang Hao, sprawled on the ground, recovered only to see Jiang Feng already inside. Furious, he yelled at the guard, “What’s wrong with you? Didn’t you see his invitation was fake? I’ll have you fired!”
The guard gave him a cold look. “Young Master Hao, Young Master Jiang’s invitation is real, with Miss Chen Siran’s signature. Stop wasting effort. And fire me? I doubt you have the power.”
*****
Inside the club’s second-floor banquet hall, many guests had arrived.
Jiang Feng scanned the room, not seeing Chen Siran but spotting familiar faces, including Ye Qingxuan.
Ye Qingxuan wore a fitted light purple gown, accentuating her graceful figure, drawing eyes. Her light purple hair cascaded loosely, adorned with a vibrant butterfly hairpin that seemed ready to take flight. Ethereal and unreal, she was stunning.
Jiang Feng’s gaze lingered briefly.
Though still youthful, Ye Qingxuan would surely become a breathtaking beauty in a year or two. No wonder the old Jiang Young Master had been obsessed, undeterred by over thirty rejections.
His arrival drew attention.
Bai Pojun, holding a wine glass and chatting with a young man in a white suit, spotted Jiang Feng. His eyes darkened, teeth gritted. “Young Master Li, look, Jiang Feng’s here.”
Li Yuanbai glanced over, eyebrow twitching slightly, smiling faintly. “Didn’t expect him at such an event. Who invited him?”
“Who knows? Maybe he snuck in shamelessly,” Bai Pojun sneered.
Yesterday, Jiang Feng broke his finger at Huatian Club. Though bandaged and treated, the pain lingered, fueling his hatred. He’d planned to deal with Jiang Feng later, not expecting to see him here.
Li Yuanbai, unaware of their conflict, sensed the tension and smiled. “Tonight’s Miss Chen Siran’s birthday. Only people of status come here, not just any riffraff, right, Young Master Bai?”
Bai Pojun laughed. “Exactly. If trash could waltz in, wouldn’t that drag us down to their level?”
Ye Qingxuan also noticed Jiang Feng, who entered alone and stood aside, looking out of place.
Puzzled why he was here, she overheard Xu Minmin, dressed in fiery red, say, “Qingxuan, Jiang Feng’s here. What’s he doing?”
Ye Qingxuan smiled wryly. “How would I know? Maybe Siran invited him.”
Even Jiang Feng wondered why Chen Siran invited him, so others were naturally more curious. Few knew Chen Siran had approached him, except a handful in the Chen family.
Xu Minmin glanced at Jiang Feng, then Ye Qingxuan, giggling suddenly. “Qingxuan, I’ve got a bad feeling. What if Young Master Jiang heard you’d be here and crashed the party uninvited?”
Ye Qingxuan’s heart skipped. “Minmin, don’t talk nonsense.”
Xu Minmin fell silent, her eyes darting toward Jiang Feng, scheming something.