The Wan Family, East Sea.

Wan Yuanshan, the head of the Wan Family, looked at the address on the invitation with an expressionless face.

Although he felt a hidden rage, he knew the Su and Jiang Families hadn't chosen East Sea to deliberately mock the Wan Family, the event's previous organizers.

It's probably to curry favor with Xu Lai of East Sea! Xu Lai's real identity must be anything but simple. Otherwise, that sly old fox Old Jiang Ba would never be so eager to please and flatter him.

Wan Yuanshan furrowed his brows. He was somewhat puzzled. When did a Martial Dao prodigy of this caliber emerge in East Sea City? Why hadn't there been a single whisper about him over the past few decades?

Wan Yuanshan was completely baffled. He suddenly remembered something from the Sea Temple Festival, back when they were preparing to leave the cruise ship. Martial Ancestor Xu Huang had almost gotten into a conflict with Ruan Lan, Xu Lai's sister-in-law.

Ruan Lan…

A flash of insight struck Wan Yuanshan. Could it be that Ruan Family, the one that was once the laughingstock of the entire city?

"Quick!" he said excitedly. "Get me all the information on the Ruan Family of East Sea! The more detailed, the better!"

Less than ten minutes later, a file on the Ruan Family was placed before him.

Looking at the photos and descriptions of Ruan Tang and Ruan Lan, Wan Yuanshan was overjoyed. "It really is that Ruan Family."

"Family Head, according to the investigation, the Ruan Family's current shares are almost entirely controlled by the first branch, led by Ruan Qingshan. The second branch… that is, Ruan Tang and Ruan Lan's parents, have nothing." The investigator hesitated before adding, "There seems to be internal conflict within the Ruan Family, possibly related to Ruan Tang being expelled from the family five years ago."

"Oh?" Wan Yuanshan raised an eyebrow, an indescribably strange expression on his face.

The Ruan Family surely never expected it. The man belonging to Ruan Tang—the woman they had expelled from the family and viewed as a disgrace—was actually a Grandmaster of unparalleled Martial Dao.

The Ruan Family had the chance to become true wealthy nobility. What a pity.

Wan Yuanshan said it was a pity, but he was actually smiling. His smile held no regret, only immense relief at the Ruan Family's incredibly foolish actions. Otherwise, the Leading Family of East Sea City today wouldn't be the Wan Family. It would be the Ruan Family!

The Niu Family of Hua City, for instance, only became one of the Leading Families because their clan produced a Grandmaster, Niu Taishan.

I must curry favor with Xu Lai. After all, even Martial Ancestors like Xu Huang, Feng Lang, and Niu Taishan are all deeply wary of him.

Wan Yuanshan narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling on the file about the Ruan Family. An idea began to form.

"If I remember correctly, Wan Yan's real estate project has a recent partnership with the Ruan Family, right?" Wan Yuanshan asked his secretary, who stood a few steps away.

Seeing the secretary nod, Wan Yuanshan picked up his teacup and took a sip before continuing, "Tell Wan Yan to terminate the partnership with the Ruan Family. Also, prepare a check for two hundred million. I want to buy a few Magic Artifacts tomorrow night. This is the last year the Daoist of The East will be attending the Longyun Tea Party, so I need to stock up on treasures. Even if I just resell them, I can make a huge profit!"

In just over ten minutes, Wan Yuanshan made two decisions that would have a significant impact on the Wan Family's future.

...

「Evening, one day later.」

Although Old Jiang Ba had offered to pick Xu Lai up, he had refused. Instead, he went to get Yiyi from kindergarten. This was mainly because his sister-in-law, Ruan Lan, had tutoring in the evening and had no time to look after the child, while Ruan Tang was also extremely busy with her partnership with the Dreamland Company from Europe.

"Uncle Xu, take me with you! I'll carry your bags!" Qian Xiao cried out, growing excited when he heard Xu Lai was taking the big boss to an auction.

"No," Xu Lai said seriously. "You can't go with strangers other than your parents."

Qian Xiao's voice immediately choked up. "Uncle Xu, you've changed. You were never like this before."

Xu Lai was speechless. It was one thing for Ruan Tang to use this trick on him, but this little brat... was he asking for a spanking?

He kicked at him in annoyance. "Get in the car."

"Alright!" Qian Xiao's mood instantly shifted from cloudy to sunny.

Beibei scoffed, "Tsk, a boy crying and sobbing. So spineless."

"Beibei, you're wrong there. Whether a person has a backbone isn't determined by their tears," Qian Xiao said with the utmost seriousness. "Take Uncle Xu, for example. He's probably cried before, but that doesn't in any way affect my image of him as a steadfast giant, a handsome and dashing man, the perfect father."

"My goal is to be one hundred-millionth as excellent as Uncle Xu. That would be more than enough!"

This stream of compliments made the corner of Xu Lai's mouth twitch. This kid, Qian Xiao, definitely has a promising future. Just this thick skin alone is something few people can match. However... what Qian Xiao said was all true.

"We're going to a charity auction today, so you two need to be on your best behavior," Xu Lai said calmly.

"Yes!" Qian Xiao's little face was a picture of seriousness.

Yiyi blinked her big eyes. "Daddy, why don't we have any cloud candy today?"

Xu Lai looked up at the sky. A perfect number of clouds, illuminated into a golden yellow by the sun, cast a beautiful twilight glow.

He smiled. "We're not eating clouds today."

"Then are we eating rainbows?"

"Not rainbows either. We're eating Wanxia."

With a wave of Xu Lai's hand, two golden-yellow lollipops appeared in Yiyi's and Qian Xiao's hands.

Yiyi took a big, happy bite, her clear eyes narrowing into crescents. "It's delicious!"

Qian Xiao also choked up with emotion. "How can it be so delicious? This is the taste of first love!"

Xu Lai was silent.

How can your first love have so many flavors! Clouds, rainbows, and even Wanxia all taste like her.

At that moment, Qian Xiao was secretly watching Xu Yiyi. Seeing the big boss's happy smile, he couldn't help but smile happily himself.

For Qian Xiao, it was simple: whatever the big boss liked, he liked too.

...

「Mingyue Tea House.」

This distinctive tea house was one of the Su Family of Hangcheng's highest-priority industries in East Sea City, and not just because of its high membership fees. More importantly, Mingyue Tea House brought the Su Family countless connections and business deals.

The Longyun Tea Party was being held here tonight.

The tea house's parking lot was filled with all kinds of luxury cars. Anything worth less than five hundred thousand wouldn't dare to park there. At the sight of it, Song Ru, who had been grumbling the whole way about "why did we park hundreds of meters away," finally fell silent. Though a woman, she paid plenty of attention to cars, eagerly awaiting the day her son, Ruan Jin, or her husband, Ruan Qingshan, would take full control of the Ruan Family so they could get a luxury vehicle.

Ruan Su gazed at Mingyue Tea House, his spirits high. For the past decade, the Ruan Family had never received an invitation to the Longyun Tea Party. Receiving one this year could only mean one thing. It meant the Ruan Family had thoroughly entered high society! After all, everyone attending the charity auction today was a prominent figure from the thirteen cities of Jiangnan.

Ruan Su was filled with gratification. It was all thanks to Ruan Jin's capabilities; he was truly the heir Ruan Su had high hopes for. Ever since the incident with the Fang Family of Hangcheng left him worn out, he had gradually delegated his authority. He had thought it would be enough if Ruan Jin and Ruan Qingshan simply held onto what they had. He never expected Ruan Jin to connect with Wan Yan of the Wan Family, the leading family in East Sea City. Wan Yan was even rumored to be a strong contender to be the Wan Family's future successor.

Not only were Ruan Jin and Wan Yan on good terms, but Ruan Jin had also used the connection to secure a large loan from the bank and venture into the real estate industry.

In just five years… no, three years, the Ruan Family would be making a killing!

Ruan Qingshan said with a chuckle, "Dad, just relax and enjoy your retirement. In a couple of years, the four of us will move to the villa district at the foot of Mount Haitang."

Ruan Jin deliberately added, "What about Second Uncle's family..."

"Don't mention those good-for-nothings!"

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