Ma Lianhao worked quickly, finding a house near Yanjing Universityâa 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.
âThis is it,â 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 Lianhaoâs pleasure, so he didnât insist on paying. Heâd 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. âYoung Master, tomorrowâs Chen Siranâs birthday.â
âHm?â Jiang Feng paused.
Ma Lianhao chuckled. âKnew you wouldnât know. Shame she didnât invite me.â
Jiang Feng smiled. âI didnât know. Why mention it?â
Ma Lianhao looked exasperated, handing over an invitation with a sour tone. âSee for yourself.â
Jiang Feng glanced at itâChen Siranâs birthday party invitation.
He realized her recent attempts to reach him were likely about this. But he wasnât close to Chen Siran, and she didnât seem fond of him. Why was she so insistent on inviting him?
âWhyâs it with you?â Jiang Feng asked.
âRan into Guo Conghu this morning,â Ma Lianhao explained. âThat hothead charged at me, thought heâd beat me up, but he gave me this. Young Master, when did you get so close to Miss Chen?â
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.
âNothing special,â Jiang Feng laughed.
Ma Lianhao didnât buy it but gave up after a few unanswered questions. âSo you are going?â
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 heâd only use it as a last resort.
After a moment, he nodded. âIâll go.â
*****
Chen Siranâs birthday party was held at a private club owned by the Chen family, poetically named Liuli Club.
Jiang Fengâs taxi was stopped at the clubâs entrance, so he paid and got out.
He was still unaccustomed to societyâs 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 wouldâve let him enter directly.
âSir, tonight is Miss Chenâs birthday party. No invitation, no entry,â the security guard said, sizing him up.
Jiang Fengâs 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 Haoâs face.
Jiang Hao, here for Chen Siranâs party, was surprised to see Jiang Feng. He parked behind him, smirking.
âJiang Feng, youâre here for Chen Siranâs party too?â
âYeah,â Jiang Feng replied curtly. He and Jiang Hao didnât get along, so he ignored him.
Jiang Hao got out, grinning. âWhat a coincidence. Did Chen Siran really invite you? No way.â
He looked Jiang Feng up and down, exuding arrogance.
The guard, hearing Jiang Fengâs name, recalled his reputation and grew wary.
Jiang Feng saw through Jiang Haoâs intent to mock him. If he lacked an invitation, heâd 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, âYoung Master Jiang, please enter.â
Jiang Feng nodded and walked in.
Jiang Haoâs face darkened. He hadnât 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 familyâs younger generation, deserved to attendânot even his brother Jiang Ping, let alone âtrashâ like Jiang Feng.
âJiang Feng, stop! Who let you in?â Jiang Hao shouted.
Jiang Feng paused, turning back. âJiang Hao, what do you want?â
âI think your invitationâs fake,â Jiang Hao declared, lunging for it. He couldnât 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. âFor your Jiang surname, Iâll tolerate you once more. Next time, donât expect mercy.â
Heâd 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, heâd collect interest first.
Jiang Hao, sprawled on the ground, recovered only to see Jiang Feng already inside. Furious, he yelled at the guard, âWhatâs wrong with you? Didnât you see his invitation was fake? Iâll have you fired!â
The guard gave him a cold look. âYoung Master Hao, Young Master Jiangâs invitation is real, with Miss Chen Siranâs signature. Stop wasting effort. And fire me? I doubt you have the power.â
*****
Inside the clubâs 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 Fengâs 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. âYoung Master Li, look, Jiang Fengâs here.â
Li Yuanbai glanced over, eyebrow twitching slightly, smiling faintly. âDidnât expect him at such an event. Who invited him?â
âWho knows? Maybe he snuck in shamelessly,â Bai Pojun sneered.
Yesterday, Jiang Feng broke his finger at Huatian Club. Though bandaged and treated, the pain lingered, fueling his hatred. Heâd planned to deal with Jiang Feng later, not expecting to see him here.
Li Yuanbai, unaware of their conflict, sensed the tension and smiled. âTonightâs Miss Chen Siranâs birthday. Only people of status come here, not just any riffraff, right, Young Master Bai?â
Bai Pojun laughed. âExactly. If trash could waltz in, wouldnât that drag us down to their level?â
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, âQingxuan, Jiang Fengâs here. Whatâs he doing?â
Ye Qingxuan smiled wryly. âHow would I know? Maybe Siran invited him.â
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. âQingxuan, Iâve got a bad feeling. What if Young Master Jiang heard youâd be here and crashed the party uninvited?â
Ye Qingxuanâs heart skipped. âMinmin, donât talk nonsense.â
Xu Minmin fell silent, her eyes darting toward Jiang Feng, scheming something.