Chapter 05: Celebration

In the evening, Ming Zheng wanted Ming Can to stay home and sleep, but Ming Can insisted on returning to school to do her homework. Ming Zheng couldn’t persuade her otherwise and had no choice but to let her go.

Ming Can quickly walked to the entryway to change her shoes, as if she didn’t want to stay there a moment longer.

“Cancan,” Ming Zheng suddenly called out to her, “For the art exhibition we’re holding on the anniversary of your mother’s death, where are the paintings?”

“Oh, I misspoke earlier,” Ming Can said casually, her tone full of perfunctory indifference. “The art exhibition will be handled by my aunt and me. She’s an expert in this field, so there’s no need for you to get involved.”

Ming Zheng frowned. “I’m your father. Matters concerning your mother should naturally be handled by me.”

A hint of disdain flashed in Ming Can’s eyes.

Back then, when her mother was sick and bedridden, what was he doing? Had he ever truly cared about their marital bond?

Now that she was gone, what was the point of pretending to be so sentimental?

Thinking of the past, Ming Can’s chest heaved slightly. She gave Ming Zheng a smile that was neither warm nor cold and said, “Just remember the promises you made to me before.”

When Su Zhi Ning had just passed away, at her grave, Ming Zheng had once promised Ming Can that without her consent, he would never let another woman enter the Ming family home or take her mother’s place.

Hearing her words now, Ming Zheng’s gaze flickered. He could only watch as his daughter stepped out of the entryway and closed the door behind her.

Growing further and further away from him.

–

When Ming Can arrived home, Aunt Zhang had just finished putting Miaomiao to sleep.

“Aunt Zhang, I have something to attend to tomorrow evening, so I might need you to stay and look after Miaomiao until he falls asleep,” Ming Can said apologetically. When hiring the nanny, she had explicitly stated it would only be a daytime job and wouldn’t require nighttime hours. “I’ll compensate you at three times your hourly rate. I’m really sorry for the inconvenience.”

Aunt Zhang smiled and said it was no problem.

After seeing Aunt Zhang out the door, Ming Can leaned against the partition in the entryway, staring blankly at the warm yellow wall lamp.

It seemed that hiring only a daytime nanny really wasn’t enough.

But Ming Can didn’t want outsiders staying at her home overnight. That would take away Miaomiao’s freedom to call out for his mother.

Sigh.

She let out a soft sigh, rubbing her stiff neck as she headed back to her bedroom.

After showering, it was already past ten. On a whim, Ming Can slipped into Miaomiao’s room and lay down beside his sleeping figure.

“Miao ah,” Ming Can gently poked her son’s soft, rosy cheek and whispered, “I think I know who your dad is.”

In his sleep, Ming Miao smacked his lips.

Ming Can took it as him asking, “Who is it?” Her lips twitched, and she replied irritably, “An idiot.”

The air was filled with the soothing scent of a sleep-inducing fragrance. Ming Can slowly lay down flat, her gaze tracing the astonishing length of Miaomiao’s eyelashes.

He was truly beautiful, perhaps the most handsome little boy in the entire world.

Ming Can didn’t consider herself a particularly gentle person; in fact, she could even be described as tough and stubborn. But in front of Miaomiao, her heart would soften involuntarily, becoming calm and peaceful.

Was this the power of maternal love?

Her gaze fell on Miaomiao’s nose. From the side, it still bore a striking resemblance to someone.

After tonight’s dinner, Ming Can was almost certain that nine times out of ten, Miaomiao’s father was Chi Yao.

Although the Chi family rose to prominence relatively late, only emerging after the turn of the millennium, their growth rate was unparalleled. In recent years, Xingchi Group’s revenue and tax contributions had ranked among the top three private enterprises in Beicheng, securing a spot on the Fortune Global 500. They were undeniably a supergiant, quickly becoming the most sought-after powerhouse in Beicheng.

With such dominance, what family wouldn’t want to form an alliance of equals with them?

The elders had arranged for Ming Can to attend tomorrow’s celebration with the underlying intention of setting her up with Chi Yao.

If the Ming family could secure a marriage alliance with the Chi family, it would benefit not just the entire Ming family but also significantly elevate Ming Zheng’s standing within the family. He would gain more leverage to compete with his elder brothers. Meanwhile, the Chi family would gain access to the Ming family’s well-established connections in Beicheng’s political and business circles. It was a perfect match, offering mutual benefits with no downsides.

Ming Can had long known this day would come, though she hadn’t expected it to arrive so soon.

Even more unexpectedly, the child she had with her future arranged-marriage husband was now inexplicably lying beside her.

Pretending to be completely unaware of the future was no longer an option, but fortunately, Ming Can’s mindset was remarkably steady—

What did her future marriage have to do with her current self? In any case, she and that future husband were most likely going to end up divorced, with the child staying with her. Whether now or in the future, the outcome was the same—she’d still be raising the child on her own. So, that man might as well be nothing more than a fleeting cloud passing by. For now, she would live her life exactly as she wanted.

After composing herself, Ming Can began to think about the celebration she would attend tomorrow.

No child from a prominent family enjoyed the idea of an arranged marriage, and Ming Can was no exception. However, as part of the family, one could not ignore the interests of the family as a whole.

Although Ming Can did not get along with her father, she hoped more than anyone else that he could take control of the Ming Group, expand its wealth, and eventually pass it on to her. Therefore, she was willing to accompany her father to the celebration and, even if reluctantly, meet Chi Yao for the arranged match.

As for how reliable the arranged marriage was and whether it would succeed in the end, that was up to fate.

–

The next evening, Ming Can didn’t go home to meet up with her father. Instead, she took a taxi alone to the Xinghe Bay Hotel, where the celebration was being held.

Beicheng’s Xinghe Bay Hotel was the largest flagship hotel of the Xinghe Bay Group in the country. Located in a bustling commercial district and backed by a serene city park, it offered a perfect balance of liveliness and tranquility. With its elegant ambiance, it was highly favored by the city’s social elite.

Ming Can had stayed at this hotel a few times before, but it was only recently that she learned Xinghe Bay was owned by the Chi family. Moreover, it was merely one part of the group’s diversified portfolio, a testament to how this rising star had grown into a colossal powerhouse.

After crossing through the crowded cultural street, she arrived at the hotel.

The taxi crawled forward, stopping and starting repeatedly. Ming Can, feeling utterly bored, gazed out at the street scenery. Her eyes were suddenly drawn to a toy store.

What a huge plush alpaca!

Miaomiao had been obsessed with alpacas lately, even mimicking their sounds in his dreams. If she bought him an alpaca plush, he would undoubtedly love it.

The taxi pulled over, and Ming Can got out, walking to the entrance of the toy store. She found herself stuck in a dilemma in front of four alpaca plush toys in different colors.

She really wanted to buy them all, but she couldn’t carry that many on her own.

Remembering a photo of Miaomiao with an alpaca, she pulled out her phone, intending to buy the one closest in color to the alpaca in the picture.

Not far away, amidst the stagnant traffic, the window of a dark gray Cayenne rolled down. Moments later, the car pulled over, and someone in the back seat swiftly jumped out, heading toward the toy store.

“Hey, class rep.” Chi Yao tapped Ming Can’s right shoulder, then casually appeared from her left side with a lazy grin. “What a coincidence. Why are you here picking out toys?”

Ming Can’s eyelids twitched.

This ill-fated connection—why was he everywhere?

“Just passing by, taking a quick look,” Ming Can replied casually.

She picked up the light beige alpaca and carefully ran her fingers over its surface, checking if there were any sharp objects hidden in the fur.

The way she acted didn’t seem casual at all—she looked as though she really liked alpaca plush toys.

Chi Yao poked a brown alpaca on the shelf. “This thing looks so silly. You’ve got a pretty unique taste.”

Ming Can replied, “It’s not for me.”

Chi Yao asked, “Then it’s for a kid? Little brother or little sister?”

“…” Ming Can was momentarily speechless. “What does that have to do with you?”

Chi Yao raised his eyebrow. “I’ll buy one for him too. Actually, no, I’ll buy three. I’ll take the rest of the colors as well.”

“No need.” Ming Can firmly rejected him. “What does my… brother have to do with you? Just mind your own business.”

“How does it not matter?” Chi Yao replied with conviction. “You’re my most respected class rep. Of course, I have to win your favor—and your whole family’s too. That way, you’ll treat me better at school in the future.”

Ming Can felt like he was painting her as some kind of tyrant. Too lazy to argue, she simply shot him a glare with her beautiful, dark eyes, as if she wanted to bore a hole through his face to measure the thickness of his skin.

How could such a rotten bamboo stalk produce a perfect shoot like Miaomiao?

The corner of Ming Can’s lips twitched slightly. “I’d advise you not to ask for trouble. Move aside.”

Chi Yao obediently stepped aside. Ming Can, clutching the beige alpaca, brushed past him and headed to the cashier to pay. Meanwhile, Chi Yao casually scooped up the remaining three alpacas with a wave of his hand and leisurely followed behind her.

One after the other, they paid for their purchases and left the toy store.

Night had fallen, and the city was bathed in neon lights. The bustling evening breeze swept by, lifting the hem of the girl’s flowing dress.

Ming Can pressed down her skirt with the alpaca plush.

Tonight, she wore a rather formal velvet gown. The dark fabric accentuated her snow-white skin, and her long hair, styled in loose waves, cascaded over her shoulders. The strands danced lightly in the breeze, carrying a faint woody fragrance, like a black baccara rose stored in an ebony box.

Chi Yao, carrying three alpacas in one hand, strode forward to catch up, walking side by side with Ming Can.

The cultural street was not far from the hotel—just a ten-minute walk.

Chi Yao, in high spirits, hummed an off-key tune as he walked. The streetlights stretched his shadow long, making him appear tall and carefree. Ming Can glanced at him unintentionally and could only think he looked like a typical idle rich heir.

Upon entering the hotel, the grand ceiling gleamed with radiant light, and every corner exuded opulence and splendor.

In the first-floor lobby, Ming Can spotted a familiar figure and stopped to greet him.

“Uncle, why are you here alone? Where’s my dad and the others?”

“I was here taking a call. They’ve already gone up,” replied Ming Can’s uncle, Ming Mo.

Ming Mo’s slightly plump figure was concealed beneath an elegant, custom-made suit. His features were proper, with a square forehead and straight brows. However, his seemingly genial eyes always carried a hint of condescension. According to Aunt Ming Shu, he always exuded a kind of inexplicable “crown prince’s naive confidence.”

His gaze lingered briefly on the young man standing next to Ming Can before he asked, “Cancan, who is this?”

Ming Can replied, “I don’t know him.”

Chi Yao casually shifted the alpacas in his hand and said cheekily, “Hello, Uncle. I’m Ming Can’s follower.”

Ming Can: …

What a lunatic.

Ming Mo gave a faint smile and ignored Chi Yao, addressing Ming Can in a lecturing tone. “Didn’t your father tell you? This occasion isn’t really appropriate for bringing friends along.”

“He’s not a friend. I have no idea why he’s following me.” Ming Can’s brows knitted slightly, feeling a sense of helplessness as if she were being haunted by a ghost.

She glanced at the hotel reception desk ahead and politely said to Ming Mo, “Uncle, you go on up first. I need to leave something at the front desk.”

“Alright.”

Ming Mo watched as Ming Can walked away, with the young man trailing close behind her. Both of them were holding alpaca plush toys, looking very much like a pair of bickering young lovers.

After leaving the alpacas at the front desk, Ming Can and Chi Yao took the elevator to the floor where the celebration was being held.

As the elevator doors closed, the air grew quiet. Chi Yao suddenly touched the tip of his nose and asked Ming Can, “Do you not like your uncle very much?”

Ming Can tilted her head to look at him, her expression wary. “What makes you say that?”

Chi Yao said, “Just now, I thought you’d use him as an excuse to ditch me. But you’d rather stay with me than go with him. I’m honestly a little touched.”

Ming Can replied, “…Your imagination is quite impressive.”

Ming Can didn’t interact with her uncle much; they weren’t close, but she wouldn’t say she disliked him either. The undercurrents of power struggles among the elders hadn’t reached her yet. She hadn’t chosen to accompany her uncle earlier simply because, on an instinctual level, she felt uneasy around such calculating and inscrutable adults.

By comparison, being around Chi Yao, annoying as he was, did feel a bit more comfortable.

The shifting light from the elevator’s ceiling lamp fell onto their skin like a warm, flowing river. Chi Yao glanced sideways at Ming Can for a moment before leisurely asking, “There’s still some time before the celebration starts. Have you had dinner yet?”

Ming Can thought for a moment and replied, “I’m not going anywhere else.”

“In the banquet hall,” Chi Yao raised an eyebrow. “I’ll take you to find the good food.”

As the eldest young master of Xinghe Bay, he was well-acquainted with the hotel’s dining services. After entering the banquet hall, he navigated the crowd with confidence, leading Ming Can straight to the food stations. At the cold and hot buffet tables, as well as the dessert counter, he skillfully picked out the best dishes. He even mixed a glass of well-paired wine for Ming Can.

Ming Can was indeed a bit hungry and held a white porcelain plate, taking small bites of the hot food.

Just then, the young man beside her suddenly broke the unspoken social distance, leaning close to her ear to ask if the food was any good.

Ming Can immediately took a step back.

From a young age, she had grown accustomed to the attentiveness of the opposite sex. Small gestures of kindness didn’t move her in the slightest, let alone make her tolerate any frivolous behavior.

“Stay away from me.”

“Got it,” Chi Yao replied, his gaze drooping like a dog that had just been kicked. “Don’t be so harsh.”

Ming Can ignored him and picked up her phone to check her messages.

This semester, she had joined a startup team recommended by her senior, taking charge of finances and fundraising planning. Just now, the project leader had sent her a funding application form for an entrepreneurship competition, asking her to fill it out as soon as possible.

“Is there a quiet lounge here?” Ming Can asked Chi Yao.

“There is…” Chi Yao glanced at Ming Can’s phone screen. “You’re so rich, and you’re still into startups?”

“Just because I’m rich, I can’t start a business?” Ming Can felt that familiar sense of futility when talking to an idiot. “Being part of a startup team lets me experience the process of building a company firsthand, and gain an in-depth understanding of its structure, strategy, and operations. You’re the only child of your parents, so you’re obviously going to inherit the family business someday. Don’t tell me you’ve never thought about any of this.”

After speaking, Ming Can suddenly realized she sounded oddly like she was lecturing him, as if frustrated at his lack of potential.

Whether this piece of scrap metal could turn into steel had nothing to do with her!

Chi Yao was momentarily stunned by her tone. A moment later, he shrugged nonchalantly. “They’ve mentioned it to me before, but I think it’s boring.”

Ming Can: “…Alright.”

Chi Yao: “Anyway, having one ‘model child’ in the family is enough.”

Ming Can: “What do you mean?”

“No particular meaning,” Chi Yao said, turning his head to look into the distance and quickly changing the subject. “I’ll help you find a lounge.”

“Not now,” Ming Can replied. “I still have to deal with today’s task first.”

…

In the center of the banquet hall, the crystal chandelier cast a dazzling glow. The three brothers of the Ming family walked amidst the glittering light like a forest of towering trees, standing out conspicuously among the many elite figures present.

The Ming family’s status ranked at the very top of the social hierarchy. Around the three brothers, groups of people rotated regularly, offering flattery. Yet, many more dared only to observe from a distance, quietly discussing their distinguished appearances and imposing demeanors—

“The eldest of the Ming family does seem to have the demeanor of someone in charge. What a shame, though—I’ve heard he’s an inept good-for-nothing.”

“The second one looks sharp. Those phoenix eyes and that slender face—he’s actually quite handsome.”

“Handsome? Then you clearly haven’t seen the youngest.”

“He’s got his back to me… Oh, he’s turning around… Wow, he really is handsome!”

“With that face, he could easily be a celebrity. Otherwise, how could he have so many tabloid stories?”

…

“Why isn’t Cancan here yet?” Ming Zheng glanced at his watch, a hint of worry showing on his face.

Second brother Ming Xuan patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. Cancan is sensible. She won’t make a mistake at such an important occasion.”

Eldest brother Ming Mo sighed softly and said with a meaningful tone, “Girls grow up and stop listening to their fathers. A top student like Cancan has her own ideas. You shouldn’t keep forcing the family’s interests onto her. As for the collaboration with the Chi family, Ming Xuan and I will handle it.”

Ming Zheng frowned. “Brother, what kind of riddle are you trying to spin?”

Ming Mo decided to be more straightforward. “I know you really want to form a marriage alliance with the Chi family, but as for Cancan… it seems she’s currently with her boyfriend.”

Before Ming Zheng’s expression could change, a cheerful female voice suddenly interjected, “Who’s with their boyfriend? Ming Can?”

Ming Zheng turned around, his handsome face instantly stiffening even more. “Ms. Li? And Mr. Chi? What brings you here?”

The newcomers were none other than Chi Yanyue, the president of Xinghe Bay, and his wife, Li Ran.

Ming Zheng couldn’t help but maliciously speculate whether his eldest brother had intentionally said those things knowing they were approaching.

What a complete failure—ruining things instead of helping!

Ming Zheng forced a smile. “Ms. Li, you must be joking. Cancan doesn’t have a boyfriend.”

“Is that so?” Li Ran seemed a bit disappointed. “I thought the two of them sticking together all evening meant something was going on.”

Ming Zheng was puzzled. “Who are you talking about?”

Li Ran smiled. “Chi Yao and Ming Can, of course. They’ve been here for a while, avoiding us adults. The two of them have been eating their way from one end to the other… Luckily, I spotted them.”

Upon hearing this, Ming Mo’s face turned awkward. He never would have guessed that the boy who called himself Ming Can’s “follower” and was trailing after her like a puppy was actually the Chi family’s young master.

Ming Zheng was also surprised. His daughter had arrived but hadn’t sought him out right away. Though he kept a smile on his face, and a strange bitterness stirred in his heart.

As the lights in the banquet hall dimmed and the celebration officially began, Ming Can arrived just in time. She greeted the elders one by one with poise and grace.

Chi Yao’s mother, Li Ran, was a staunch sapiosexual^[1]Sapiosexual refers to a person who is attracted to intelligence rather than just physical appearance.. Unfortunately, she hadn’t managed to raise a son who loved studying. Her most heartfelt requirement for a daughter-in-law was that she be intelligent and highly capable. After looking into Ming Can’s academic record and achievements, Li Ran was utterly delighted with the prospect of having her as a future daughter-in-law.

“Good child, I heard you won a national scholarship in your freshman year, scored full marks in every subject, and can even play basketball?”

Ming Can gave a dry laugh and said, “Basketball… I only know a little.”

How could Chi Yao tell his mom everything! That co-ed basketball game in her freshman year was Ming Can’s lifelong nemesis. Not only was her class utterly crushed by the neighboring class, but she also made a complete fool of herself on the court. Thinking back, it seemed like Chi Yao started clinging to her even more after that game… He was so infuriating!

Li Ran asked, “By the way, why are you here alone? Where’s Chi Yao?”

Ming Can replied, “He just got a call and said he needed to step out for a bit.”

“Running off at a time like this…” Li Ran muttered disapprovingly.

After a few more polite exchanges, Chi Yanyue and his wife were called away by an assistant, seemingly to handle some business matters.

As Chi Yanyue took a few steps forward, he suddenly seemed to remember something and said to his wife, “Chi Yao is probably going to pick up his brother.”

“Ah Xiao is coming?” Li Ran said in surprise. “Doesn’t he usually dislike attending events like this?”

Chi Yanyue replied, “He’s probably just passing by and decided to stop in to say hello.”

---

Author’s Note:

Cancan is an ENTJ, highly ambitious and drawn to strength. Being around people who are too incompetent makes her head buzz…

(ENTJ is one of the 16 personality types in the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator). It stands for Extraverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Judging.)