Chapter 24: Gathering Together

For Mr. Ji’s 80th birthday party, every guest and detail had been carefully considered to avoid any mishaps that might upset the old man. While some guests brought a plus-one or two, they were all carefully vetted. No one would dare bring someone tactless or prone to causing trouble.

As the second daughter of the Wang family, Wang Chenxi knew better than to make a scene at such an important event. Ruining Mr. Ji’s birthday would mean making enemies with the Ji family, and her parents would never forgive her for that. As for Zhang Sheng, their engagement was purely business—how reliable could it be?

With a charming smile, she took Zhang Sheng’s arm and asked, “Ah Sheng, who are these ladies?”

There were four women around Zhang Sheng, none of whom Wang Chenxi recognized. Except for the second one on the left, who seemed somewhat natural, the other three looked overly dramatic. The one on the far left even seemed timid. Wang Chenxi wasn’t impressed.

“Let me introduce you. This is my cousin, An Yuan. She came with my cousin. These are Song Yang’s college classmates,” Zhang Sheng explained, distancing himself from the women. He gently combed Wang Chenxi’s hair and looked at her lovingly. “This is my fiancée. You can call her Chenxi.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Wang Chenxi. Since you’re Ah Sheng’s cousin, you’re my cousin too. Are you Song Yang’s classmates?” Wang Chenxi smiled sweetly. “Where is Song Yang? It’s not very gentlemanly of him to leave such lovely ladies alone.”

“He had something to do, so he asked me to look after them,” Zhang Sheng said, laughing. “Speaking of the devil, here he comes.”

When Zhang Sheng mentioned Song Yang, Wang Chenxi believed him. No one here was as unreliable as Song Yang. Bringing such classmates to such an important event—three of them, no less—was just like him. If Aunt Song found out, she’d be furious.

“Hey! My sister-in-law is here!” Song Yang and Wang Chenxi were already acquainted, so introductions weren’t necessary.

“Since you’re back, let’s go celebrate Mr. Ji’s birthday first,” Wang Chenxi said gracefully.

Paying respects to Mr. Ji on his birthday was important, so Song Yang quickly let them go.

Wang Chenxi glanced at the women, smiled, and nodded before leaving with Zhang Sheng.

“Song Yang, who is she? She’s so beautiful and kind, not like those arrogant rich girls who look down on everyone,” one of the women asked.

“Wang Chenxi, the second daughter of the Wang family,” Song Yang replied. He knew these women well—they were close to him but mostly for mutual benefit. They had convinced him to bring them to the party after learning about Mr. Ji’s 80th birthday celebration. He trusted them not to cause trouble but still felt the need to warn them.

“The people here are from influential families. Don’t provoke anyone. Zhang Sheng, for example, is already in a relationship. And Wang Chenxi… you can’t afford to mess with her. Most men here are either married or engaged. Even the single ones are spoken for. Stay away from them, or you’ll face consequences. Don’t expect me to save you.”

“Don’t worry, Brother Song. We just chatted with Zhang Sheng. Nothing inappropriate. We’re here to see the world, not cause trouble,” the woman on the left assured.

“Good. Go around, but remember—don’t get too close to anyone, especially men, and watch what you say,” Song Yang warned before letting them go.

The woman on the far right kept her head down, only raising it after Wang Chenxi left. Her hands trembled slightly, relieved that Wang Chenxi hadn’t recognized her.

“Nana, what’s wrong?” another woman asked.

“I’m fine, just feeling a bit cold. Let’s sit over there for a while,” Wang Nana said, forcing a smile and leading her to a quiet spot.

Her real name wasn’t Wang Nana but Wang Qian. She had been Wang Chenxi and Wen Ya’s classmate in high school. Even if she hadn’t changed her name, her altered appearance would have made her unrecognizable.

Their high school was an elite institution for the wealthy or academically gifted. Some students, like Wang Qian, were sponsored by wealthy families. Wang Chenxi’s mother had sponsored her, tying her to Wang Chenxi’s circle.

Though the school banned cliques and bullying, it still happened. Sponsored students like Wang Qian had no choice but to obey. She followed Wang Chenxi for three years, witnessing her cruel side masked by a gentle facade. In their second year, Wang Chenxi orchestrated an incident that scarred Bai Yunzhu’s face, forcing Wen Ya to leave the country. Wang Chenxi emerged unscathed, even praised for helping Bai Yunzhu find a top plastic surgeon.

Only Wang Qian knew the truth. The guilt haunted her, and she left for college in another province. During her sophomore year, an accident disfigured her, leading to plastic surgery. To pay off her debts, she became a peripheral figure in the social scene, meeting Song Yang.

Now, at her first major party, she ran into Wang Chenxi. Seeing her smile brought back memories of past manipulations. Wang Qian knew to be cautious—Wang Chenxi’s kindness often hid darker intentions.

“Nana, look at that woman! She’s stunning, even more than Wang Chenxi. Her eyes are mesmerizing. I need to take a photo and ask a doctor if I can get mine like hers,” Sisi said, reaching for her phone.

“Don’t cause trouble,” Wang Qian stopped her. “That’s Wen Ya, the eldest daughter of the Wen family. If we’re caught, being kicked out is the least of our problems. Song Yang could get in trouble too.”

Wen Ya, as famous as Wang Chenxi, was proud and domineering. Though not as ruthless, she wasn’t someone to cross. They couldn’t afford to offend her.

“Isn’t Wen Ya the one connected to Gu Chengze?” Sisi asked, staring at Wen Ya. “How beautiful must Xu Qingqing be to make Gu Chengze ignore Wen Ya?”

Wang Qian followed her gaze. Wen Ya wore a sleek black dress, her hair elegantly styled, a few strands framing her face. She exuded confidence and charm, engaging gracefully with guests.

As the center of attention, Wen Ya handled herself with poise. She smiled at greetings but left business discussions to Huang Jingyang and others. She focused on maintaining good relations with families close to the Wen family.

After chatting with the ladies from several families, Wen Ya was about to find a quiet spot to rest when she heard a commotion nearby. She turned toward the noise and saw a woman’s dress stained with red wine. Spilling wine on a white dress was certainly embarrassing, and the woman was understandably upset. However, she seemed to hold back her anger, likely out of respect for the Ji family.

Oh! They were both familiar faces.

The one who had spilled the wine was He Peiyu, Wang Chenxi’s most loyal follower—the type who would attack at a single glance from Wang Chenxi. The other woman was Ye Xinrui, the third female lead from the original novel.

Just as the two were at a standoff, a man with glasses and a gentle demeanor stepped in to mediate. He then escorted Ye Xinrui away to change her clothes.

If Wen Ya remembered correctly, the man with glasses was Wu Xianrang, the fourth male lead in the original novel.

This was getting interesting. The male lead, the third male lead, the fourth male lead, the villainess, the third female lead, her cannon-fodder fiancé, and a few other minor characters were all gathered here. The old man’s party was truly lively.

“What are you laughing at?” Ji Ming appeared beside Wen Ya without her noticing.

“Nothing, I just think this cake is delicious,” Wen Ya replied, taking another bite.

“I thought girls didn’t eat cake,” Ji Ming said, eyeing the cake in her hand and making a mental note of it.

“What can I do? I’m naturally beautiful and don’t gain weight,” Wen Ya said proudly, shaking her fork before taking another bite. She glanced around and noticed that Female No. 4 and the cannon-fodder woman were gone.

“Girls look better with a little more flesh,” Ji Ming said seriously.

Wen Ya: Oh! Men!

“You don’t have to stay with me. We’re old acquaintances. Go entertain others,” Wen Ya suggested. She already attracted enough attention on her own, and with Ji Ming by her side, most of the guests were glancing their way. Though she didn’t mind, it made her slightly uncomfortable.

“No need,” Ji Ming replied, watching Wen Ya finish her cake and fetching her another piece. “I’ve been ordered to entertain you. It’s my grandfather’s personal request. He’s the birthday boy today—how could I disobey him?”

Wen Ya said “oh,” then looked at the cake and teased, “This cake is so high in calories. Are you trying to make me fat? Oh, I get it—you must not like me and want to ruin my figure.”

Ji Ming: Oh! Women!