Chapter 80: Heading to the Banquet
Chapter 80: Heading to the Banquet
Shocking words echoed inside the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, yet the three people inside remained as calm as if they were discussing a trivial matter.
"Have you and Xixi done it yet?"
I shook my head. "No, Xixi is still too young."
"At least you have a shred of a conscience left."
"Auntie..."
"Hmm?"
I lowered my head and asked, "Does this mean you’ve accepted my other women?"
My maternal aunt gave a dejected smile. "If I don't accept it, what else can I do?"
Recalling how she had urged me to push Chi Yan down earlier that afternoon, I suddenly understood why she had made such a comment.
Outside the window, raindrops were like notes gone rogue, drumming frantically against the glass in a hurried symphony. In the blink of an eye, a torrential downpour had swept in.
The windshield wipers swung rapidly, but Chi Yan only drove faster. Her cold, clear eyes held a faint glimmer of excitement and madness.
My maternal aunt gazed out at the curtain of rain and said softly, "Incest is like a poppy. Those who have never tasted it find it abhorrent, but those who have find themselves lost in its intoxicating embrace."
I fell silent for a moment, thinking of the images on her phone. I asked in a low voice, "Auntie, on your phone..."
She reached out a slender hand and stroked my cheek. "Don't worry, it was a female detective. Besides, she’s a friend of mine. I didn't let her do anything too excessive."
I breathed a small sigh of relief. If my sexual encounters with Chen Xiao and Chu Ning had been seen by a stranger, it would have been truly unbearable.
"And the video of me and Xixi in the elevator?"
"The one on my phone is the only copy in the world."
"Auntie... thank you."
She smiled tenderly. "I don't want your thanks. Just love me."
"I will."
The car's speed gradually decreased, and before long, we pulled up to the entrance of a manor.
A waiter braved the storm to come to the car, opening an umbrella to shield the three of us from the rain, completely ignoring the fact that he was being soaked to the bone.
Stepping onto the sodden red carpet, my maternal aunt, Sister Chi Yan, and I entered the manor and headed toward the banquet hall.
Nearly everyone in the hall was standing near the entrance to welcome us.
When Chi Yan appeared in her high ponytail and jeans alongside my maternal aunt in her qipao, the sight of these two tall, stunning beauties—both with faces free of makeup—instantly captured the attention of the entire room.
A woman roughly the same age as my maternal aunt took an umbrella from a waiter and hurried over, her face beaming. "Qingqiu, Yanyan, you’re finally here!"
The woman’s eyes brightened when she saw me, and she exclaimed in surprise, "You even brought a little handsome guy with you?"
My maternal aunt’s gaze swept over the crowd, her brow furrowing slightly. "Why are all these people here?"
The woman’s expression stiffened for a moment before she quickly said, "They’re all friends. I thought inviting them would make things more lively."
My maternal aunt’s face turned cold, and she stood rooted to the spot, unwilling to move.
Rain continued to lash down. To accommodate my maternal aunt, the woman held the umbrella almost entirely over her, leaving half of her own body drenched.
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on us, wondering why my maternal aunt had stopped.
The woman whispered urgently, "Qingqiu, everyone is watching. Give me some face, okay?"
My maternal aunt remained silent. The woman turned a pleading gaze toward Sister Chi Yan, but Chi Yan also kept a cold face and said nothing.
Looking at the woman standing in the rain, my maternal aunt eventually softened. She finally took a step forward and headed into the banquet hall.
The woman let out a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted and hurried to follow with the umbrella.
Inside the banquet hall, magnificent crystal chandeliers cast a soft yet dazzling glow, making the entire space feel like a dream.
Exquisite silk tablecloths covered massive dining tables set with sterling silver cutlery and crystal-clear glasses.
Course after course of fine cuisine was already prepared: top-tier seafood, tender steaks, precious truffles... paired with aged vintage wines. It was, without a doubt, a lavish banquet.
Nearby, someone was playing the piano, the elegant music flowing through the air.
I was surprised; this banquet was vastly different from the party-like gatherings I had attended in the past.
Many people flocked to us, surrounding the three of us in the center. Most were welcoming my maternal aunt back to the country.
After dealing with them for a while, we pushed through the crowd and found a random spot to sit down.
The woman, having changed out of her wet clothes, came over to my maternal aunt and asked with a light smile, "Qingqiu, Yanyan, what would you like to drink?"
My maternal aunt’s expression was indifferent. "Whatever."
Chi Yan didn't answer immediately. She scanned the room and frowned. "Is there any beer?"
I glanced at Chi Yan, thinking to myself: Big sister, if you drink, how are we supposed to get back?
"One moment."
The woman left and returned shortly after, handing a pop-top can of beer to Sister Chi Yan. She offered an apologetic smile. "We only have cans left."
Chi Yan didn't mind. She pulled the tab, and with the sharp hiss of escaping gas, she was already comfortably sipping the chilled beer.
Watching her look so relaxed, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of dissonance.
I looked around at the "high-class" atmosphere of our surroundings. Drinking canned beer in a place like this?
Throughout the day, Chi Yan had been a study in contrasts.
Horseback riding, driving a G-Wagon, drinking beer, the high ponytail, the jeans...
Chi Yan really was unlike anyone else.
I surveyed the surrounding crowd and couldn't help but lean in and whisper in my maternal aunt's ear, "Auntie, you really are quite charming. So many men are stealing glances at you."
In that qipao, my maternal aunt was truly a showstopper. Her natural beauty, even without a trace of makeup, outshone everyone in the room.
My maternal aunt, feeling somewhat irritable, snapped, "Get lost."
Just then, someone stepped up to the front and took the microphone. "Dear friends, at this wonderful banquet today, we welcome a very special person—Chi Qingqiu! Let us welcome her back home! Your return fills our hearts with joy. During your time abroad, you must have experienced so much..."
Thunderous applause broke out. Chi Yan and I couldn't help ourselves; we were desperately stifling our laughter.
My maternal aunt forced a smile in response. Once the applause died down, the person invited her to the stage to say a few words, but she politely declined.
As the crowd's attention shifted elsewhere, my maternal aunt couldn't help but curse under her breath, "Where did they find this dumbass? That was so fucking awkward! Anyone would think I’d come home after some world-shattering achievement..."
I fought back a smile and inadvertently locked eyes with Sister Chi Yan. A second later, we both looked away in perfect unison.
Ever since all the secrets had been exposed, I had been trying to avoid interacting with her. Now that she knew everything about me, I truly didn't know how to face her.
The woman who had held the umbrella for my maternal aunt came over to me and extended a fair hand. "Hello, little brother. What's your name?"
The woman before me was about the same age as my maternal aunt, roughly thirty—a beautiful woman in her own right.
While she was attractive, she fell far short of my maternal aunt and Sister Chi Yan. Her beauty was beginning to fade, with fine lines appearing at the corners of her eyes. In terms of maintaining her looks, she was nowhere near my maternal aunt’s level.
The women of the Chi family were like ageless goddesses, perpetually youthful, while this woman already showed the slight wear and tear of time.
"What are you doing?"
My maternal aunt slapped the woman’s hand away. "How old do you think my nephew is? You have the nerve to make a move on him?"
"Nephew?"
Surprise flashed in the woman’s eyes. A moment later, she asked in shock, "Is he Sister Qinglan’s son?"
My maternal aunt gave a curt "Mm" and didn't say more.
"So you’re Sister Qinglan’s son. No wonder you’re so handsome. Let me introduce myself: I’m Qi Ji, your aunt’s best friend."
With that, she extended her hand toward me again.
Out of politeness, I shook it briefly. "Hello, Sister. My name is Lin Yuan."
Qi Ji giggled. "Sister, huh?"
My maternal aunt said displeasurably, "Yuanyuan, call her 'Auntie' from now on, you hear? This old woman actually wants to be your 'Sister'?"
"What? I’m not old!" Qi Ji huffed, her eyes bright as she looked me over. "Interested in a dance with your sister?"
I glanced at my maternal aunt and declined with a smile. "I’d love to, but unfortunately, I don't know how to dance."
In truth, my maternal aunt had taught me how to ballroom dance when I was very young.
Qi Ji winked at me. "I can teach you."
I shook my head. "I’m afraid I’d step on your toes. I’d better not."
Qi Ji was about to say something else when my maternal aunt finally lost her patience. She said coldly, "Qi Ji, if you keep harassing my nephew, don't blame me for not being polite."
Qi Ji looked aggrieved. "I only invited Wei Yuan, was it really worth this attitude? You’re acting like you’ve got a fuse lit."
My maternal aunt snorted. "So you do have some self-awareness?"
Qi Ji began pleading for forgiveness like a spoiled child. My maternal aunt ignored her, so Qi Ji turned back to me. She pulled out her phone and asked, "How old are you, little brother? Add me on WeChat."
I replied politely, "Sixteen."
"Get away from him." My maternal aunt pushed Qi Ji aside. "Go get me some alcohol."
Qi Ji knew that as long as my maternal aunt was there, she wouldn't be getting my WeChat. She asked grumpily, "You lazy woman, what do you want?"
"Whatever."
Qi Ji turned to leave, muttering under her breath, "Why do I feel like a maid serving you and Yanyan?"
My maternal aunt watched her back and let out a soft, cold laugh. "An old cougar looking for fresh meat."
"Auntie, she’s about the same age as you, isn't she?"
My maternal aunt tilted her head, looking adorable as she asked, "Are you saying I’m old?"
I studied her face carefully. At thirty, she had only gained more charm and the sophisticated allure of a beautiful woman; her face showed no signs of age.
I answered seriously, "Not old. You’re very, very beautiful."
Suddenly, my maternal aunt gave me a look. I followed her gaze and saw a succession of men approaching Chi Yan to ask for a dance.
At first, Chi Yan declined politely, but as the invitations kept coming, she eventually stopped even blinking. She completely ignored everyone around her.
Seeing this, I couldn't help but chuckle. "Sister Chi Yan really is popular."
*
As my maternal aunt and I chatted quietly, a voice suddenly came from behind me:
"Lin Yuan, come dance with me."
I turned around to see Chi Yan standing behind me, expressionless, extending an invitation.
I hadn't expected the taciturn, cold Chi Yan to take the initiative to ask me to dance.
I looked at the crowd of men gathered near her seat and realized she was likely so annoyed by them that she had decided to take matters into her own hands.
I didn't react immediately and remained silent for a long moment. Chi Yan likely thought I was unwilling, as her fine brows began to knit together.