Chapter 46: The Banquet

The Pei family’s parents currently lived in a standalone villa in the southern part of the city, nestled in a quiet, scenic neighborhood.

As the driver steered the car through the front gates, the villa’s bright lights could be seen from a distance, illuminating the night as if it were daylight.

Upon stepping out of the car, the guests were greeted by the soft, elegant strains of piano music, weaving seamlessly through the air.

The night breeze carried the mingling fragrances of flowers from the garden, brushing gently against the hems of the guests’ clothes.

As they moved further in, the hum of conversation and greetings grew louder.

Pei Heng’s father stood as dignified as ever, accompanied by Pei Heng’s stepmother. She was dressed in a form-fitting red cheongsam that accentuated her waistline, her crimson-painted nails resting lightly on her lower abdomen. Every now and then, she covered her mouth with her hand, laughing delicately.

Soft whispers of congratulations could be heard.

“…Still so full of life, having a second child at this age… Impressive, truly impressive…”

Wei Rou, slightly embarrassed, playfully hit Pei Linhai’s shoulder, speaking with a coy tone,

“It’s all your fault! Making me the subject of gossip at this age!”

Yet, despite her words, she had taken great care of her appearance over the years and didn’t look much older than her early forties.

Pei Linhai, on the other hand, was completely unfazed, pulling her into his arms with a possessive air.

“We’ll have a child if we want to! It’s not like we can’t afford to raise one!”

The well-wishers chimed in with more compliments.

“With the family’s business thriving and a capable successor already in place, Old Pei now has all the time in the world to spend with you. When the baby is born, you’ll be able to enjoy plenty of quality family time together!”

While the words were meant as flattery, they struck a nerve with Pei Linhai.

Even Wei Rou’s smile faltered slightly.

Everyone knew that almost all of the Pei family’s power had fallen into Pei Heng’s hands. Despite their outward appearances, Pei Linhai and Wei Rou were little more than paper tigers.

Most of the guests attending tonight’s banquet were here for Pei Heng, not them.

Awkward smiles stretched across Pei Linhai and Wei Rou’s faces, but Pei Linhai was the first to recover.

“The wind is picking up outside. Let’s head in and continue our conversation inside—”

Before he could finish his sentence, a voice called from behind,

“Young Master!”

The guests who had been chatting with Pei Linhai immediately turned their attention away, practically rushing toward Pei Heng. In an instant, both Pei Linhai and Wei Rou were forgotten.

Pei Linhai was left standing there with his hand still half-raised, stranded mid-motion.

The arm around Wei Rou loosened slightly, and he quickly withdrew his other hand, pretending as if nothing had happened.

However, the displeasure in his eyes as he looked at Pei Heng only deepened.

Wei Rou’s expression had also stiffened.

Her fingers, which had been resting lightly on her lower abdomen, curled slightly, a trace of hatred flickering in her gaze.

But at this moment, inside the grand front hall, no one was paying them any attention.

Guests bustled back and forth, all making their way toward Pei Heng.

Their faces were adorned with sycophantic smiles, each word carefully measured to align with Pei Heng’s mood.

Their demeanor was entirely different from when they had been speaking to Pei Linhai and Wei Rou just moments ago.

Wei Rou clenched her teeth so hard she nearly shattered them.

Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps came from behind, followed by a deep male voice.

“Auntie.”

Wei Rou turned her head and saw her nephew, Wei Mingsheng.

Despite calling her “Aunt,” the man was clearly over a decade older than her.

The Wei family’s patriarch and matriarch had their last child, Wei Rou, in their later years when they were already elderly.

By the time Wei Rou was born, many of her nephews were already older than she was.

But when it came to contributions to the family, no one could compare to Wei Rou.

She had once been just a lowly nurse at a hospital, but fate had led her to Pei Linhai, whose business was flourishing at the time. While her methods of securing him were not the most honorable, the benefits she had brought to the Wei family were undeniable.

With Pei Linhai’s support, the Wei family, which had once struggled even to be considered wealthy, suddenly rose to prominence. Over the years, with the efforts of multiple generations, they had carved out a place for themselves in the capital.

Especially the youngest member, Wei Changze, who had entered the entertainment industry at a young age and was already making a name for himself.

His future was full of promise.

With the backing of her family, Wei Rou’s confidence only grew stronger.

Wei Mingsheng, despite being over ten years her senior, was technically her nephew, though in reality, he was more like an older brother.

Wei Rou gestured with her chin toward the crowd gathered around Pei Heng, her tone laced with disdain.

“They’re not here to see us—their real target is over there.”

“What an eyesore!”

Wei Rou shook off Pei Linhai’s hand and was about to walk away.

Pei Linhai, however, quickly grabbed her arm. “Don’t get angry. It’s bad for the baby.”

At the mention of the baby, Wei Rou’s expression softened slightly.

She had been with Pei Linhai for over twenty years. There had been times when she was pregnant before, but unfortunately, she had miscarried.

In high society, people often mocked her behind her back, saying that she had used underhanded means to marry into the Pei family, and now karma had come for her through her inability to bear an heir.

Wei Rou had been holding in her frustration for years.

But this year, she was finally pregnant again.

The doctor had assured her that the embryo was developing well and that the baby was healthy.

This time, she would finally have a source of security—she could rightfully fight for a share of the family inheritance.

Wei Mingsheng, standing beside her, also spoke a few words to calm her down.

Wei Rou gently touched her belly. Though her stomach had yet to show, it didn’t stop her from indulging in the joy of impending motherhood.

“Where’s Xiao Ze?”

Wei Rou asked, “I heard he recently joined a major film production. Has he been busy? Did he come today?”

“Auntie, for such a big occasion, even if he were filming in the most prestigious production—or if knives were falling from the sky—he’d still make it here!”

Wei Mingsheng’s words pleased Wei Rou even more.

“Auntie, I also wanted to introduce someone to you and Uncle tonight—”

After speaking, Wei Mingsheng gestured to someone nearby. A woman in a red velvet gown walked toward them.

She was young and beautiful.

The deep neckline of her dress accentuated her curves, exposing large areas of smooth, creamy skin.

Her face had an innocent look, yet her outfit was overly seductive.

Wei Rou felt immediate disdain.

It was obvious that this woman had her sights set on their family’s wealth and power—just another social climber trying to latch onto them for benefits.

A gold digger!

After forming her judgment, Wei Rou finally gave a condescending nod and a perfunctory smile, as if bestowing a favor upon the woman.

The young woman was quick to adapt, returning a sweet smile and bowing slightly.

“Hello, Sister. My name is Yan Leyao, but you can call me Yaoyao. I also work in the entertainment industry.”

Yan Leyao was well-versed in dealing with wealthy women like Wei Rou.

All she needed to do was flatter them, shower them with praise, and sweet-talk them. A few well-placed compliments, and they would quickly let their guard down.

But strangely, after she introduced herself, Wei Rou gave a slight sneer, as if looking down on her.

Yet when Yan Leyao looked again, Wei Rou’s expression had already returned to normal.

Following Wei Rou’s gaze downward, Yan Leyao quickly realized what had triggered her disdain.

She was young and attractive, and to cater to Wei Mingsheng’s taste as an older man, she had purposely chosen a low-cut red dress.

When she had bowed just now, perhaps she had revealed too much.

Wei Rou’s reaction made it clear—she wasn’t worried about anything else, but rather, she was afraid that Yan Leyao might try to seduce Pei Linhai.

Yan Leyao was just about to say something to smooth things over, but Wei Rou had already lost interest and dismissed her entirely.

“Where’s Xiao Ze? Where is he?”

Wei Rou asked again, “I haven’t seen him in so long. I miss him.”

Just then, Pei Linhai’s cold, displeased voice cut through the conversation.

“Isn’t he off looking for Pei Heng?”