Chapter 1331: THE PARTY (I)

JIANG YUE walked into the hotel lobby with Shen Yi Mu and Shen Ji Yun close beside him. They were in The Peninsula, one of the most well-known luxury hotels in B City. Everyone who was anyone in the city’s high society had held an event here at some point. The building itself radiated a quiet elegance, its marble floors and high ceiling creating an open, airy feel throughout the entire space.

He let Shen Yi Mu lead the way through the lobby. A few guests stood in small groups, talking in low voices, their formal wear signaling they were here for the same event. The hallway leading to the banquet hall was wide, with cream walls and dark wood trim.

When they reached the entrance, Jiang Yue paused to take in the banquet hall. It was spacious but not overwhelming, filled with neat rows of round tables draped in white cloths. Each was set with fine china, silverware, and a small floral arrangement. A large open space in the middle was clearly meant for dancing, while a small stage with a microphone stood near the windows. Waitstaff in crisp uniforms moved quietly between the tables, setting out water glasses and adjusting chairs.

The decorations were simple but tasteful. White flowers, pale gold accents, soft lighting. It looked expensive without being flashy.

Jiang Yue glanced around at the guests. He didn’t recognize anyone. But the women wore elegant dresses. The men were in tailored suits with watches that probably cost more than most people’s yearly salary. Everyone looked comfortable in a way that only came from being used to this kind of event. These were the elite of B City.

"Uncle Yi Mu!"

Shen Yi Mu, Shen Ji Yun, and Jiang Yue all turned toward the voice. Bai Ze was walking over to them, a grin on his face. He wore a dark navy suit with a white dress shirt underneath, no tie. His hair was styled back neatly. He looked excited, his steps quick as he closed the distance between them.

"You clean up pretty well, Xiao Ze," Shen Yi Mu said, a teasing grin on his face.

Bai Ze puffed out his chest. "I always clean up nicely, Uncle Yi Mu." Shen Yi Mu and Jiang Yue both chuckled at that. "Come on, your table is over here."

"Wait, Bai Ze," Shen Ji Yun said. "We should go greet your parents and Uncle Wei Tian first." After what had happened the night before, he didn’t want to risk appearing disrespectful.

Bai Ze stopped mid step and turned to look at Shen Ji Yun. He tilted his head, confused by his friend’s sudden enthusiasm. But he shrugged it off, figuring Shen Ji Yun just wanted to make a good impression on Uncle Wei Tian. After all, the man was the father of his boyfriend.

"Then follow me," he said, already walking. "Dad and Uncle are already over there." He pointed toward a group of people near the side of the room. "Mom is with Xiao Yan and Xiao Jin. Xiao Ye is with her too. She wanted to introduce my cousins to the guests." He glanced back at them with a small smile. "They’re just going along with it to make her happy, I think."

"Are they somewhere in the hotel?" Shen Ji Yun asked as they followed Bai Ze through the crowd.

"Yeah, they’re in a suite upstairs," Bai Ze answered. "But I think they’ll be coming down soon."

As they walked, a few guests recognized Shen Yi Mu. Some nodded in greeting. Others stepped forward with warm smiles, clearly eager to exchange a few words. Shen Yi Mu handled them with ease. He returned their greetings, exchanged a few pleasantries, and kept moving. When one man tried to pull him into a longer conversation, Shen Yi Mu gave a polite smile and gestured toward the others with him, saying they had to greet the hosts.

As they got closer to where Bai Chen, Luo Wei Tian, and Luo Ren were standing, the murmur of conversation grew clearer. Most of them came from the small group of guests that had gathered around the three.

"President Luo, I heard your company is looking at opportunities in B City. Is that true?"

Luo Wei Tian gave a measured smile. "We’re always exploring possibilities. There’s nothing concrete yet."

Another guest glanced between Luo Wei Tian and Bai Chen. "With your family connection, it would make sense for the Luo and Bai groups to work together more closely. Maybe a joint project?"

Bai Chen shook his head lightly. "We keep family and business separate."

A woman near the front of the group smiled and looked at Luo Ren. "President Luo, your son is very handsome. I have a daughter about his age. She just graduated. Maybe they could meet sometime."

Luo Ren kept his expression neutral and didn’t respond.

Luo Wei Tian gave a polite nod. "That’s very kind of you to say."

Bai Ze waited for a brief pause in the conversation, then stepped forward. "Dad, Uncle," he callled. "Ji Yun, Uncle Yi Mu, and Uncle Yue are here."

Bai Chen glanced at them, smiling at Shen Ji Yun before shaking hands with Shen Yi Mu. "Xiao Mu, it’s nice of you to come."

"Brother Bai, thank you for having us," Shen Yi Mu said. He placed a hand on Jiang Yue’s back and guided him forward to stand beside him. "By the way, this is Ah Yue. Someone very important to me."

Jiang Yue felt his cheeks grow warm. He could already sense the eyes of the people around them turning his way. He shot Shen Yi Mu a small glare. The other had wanted to introduce him to everyone at the party as his boyfriend, but Jiang Yue had said no. Not that he didn’t want that. He just wasn’t ready for what it might mean for Shen Yi Mu’s life and career. Especially now, when his company was doing so well.

He forced a smile and gave Bai Chen a polite nod. "Nice to meet you, President Bai"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.