After entering the manor, aside from the guests from the variety show 《Hi, My Friend》, several other invited guests also arrived one after another.

The guests strolled around the spacious and magnificently decorated hall, which had been arranged with impeccable taste. Of course, once someone reached a certain level of wealth, taste often came naturally. And even if it didn’t, the team of assistants around them would always be ready with all sorts of suggestions.

Each of the four corners of the hall had been set up with a variety of snacks and beverages, free for the guests to help themselves.

At first, Xi Rui and the others had walked around calmly, but gradually, their composure began to crack.

Because the guests who came to this birthday party were increasingly high-profile, each one more impressive than the last.

They even spotted several familiar faces who often appeared on financial news channels.

Xi Rui instinctively covered her mouth and whispered, “A birthday party like this…… is something I can actually attend?”

Meanwhile, the online viewers had started joking around.

【A birthday party at this level, and I get to watch it?】

【A birthday party at this level, and I get to indirectly participate?】

【This is Xiao Yu’s birthday party, right? Right???】

【Mom! Our Xiao Yu really made it big!】

Xu Cheng and the others stood frozen in place.

This scene was completely different from what they had imagined.

No, there wasn’t a single part of it that matched what they had envisioned.

They had thought it would be nothing more than a small birthday dinner. A few people gathering casually, having some food, sharing a birthday meal, and then leaving.

But what they were seeing now was clearly a grand, high-profile birthday banquet.

Shen Yueyue pressed her lips together and muttered, “What do I do? The gift I prepared suddenly feels too embarrassing to give.”

The other guests fell silent when they heard her words.

At least Shen Yueyue had prepared a gift for Ning Xiaoyu. As for them? They had shown up empty-handed, with absolutely nothing prepared.

What’s more, they were dressed plainly today, without any special effort. Compared to the elegantly dressed guests in suits and gowns, they stood out awkwardly. The others were confidently mingling with drinks in hand, while they were left bewildered on the sidelines.

It was painfully awkward.

Well, not everyone had come unprepared.

Lu Jingdu, for one.

He was dressed in a deep navy suit, his leather shoes polished to a shine. His hair had been styled with wax, and he looked every bit the handsome gentleman.

He fit right into the banquet atmosphere and there was nothing incongruous about him at all. It was as if he had prepared for this event well in advance and could easily blend in with the crowd, toasting and socializing with ease.

Xu Cheng couldn’t help but tease with a laugh, “Movie King Lu, don’t tell me you already knew?”

What exactly he might have known was left unsaid, but everyone understood.

After all, in this variety show, aside from Shen Yueyue, Lu Jingdu was the one most familiar with Ning Xiaoyu.

If he had known in advance that this birthday banquet would be extraordinary, it made perfect sense that he had come prepared.

Lu Jingdu tugged the corners of his mouth into a faint smile.

His tone was calm, yet somehow carried a trace of mockery, “When attending someone’s birthday party, dressing up a little is basic courtesy.”

The unspoken implication was that if they hadn’t dressed properly, that was their own faux pas.

【Whoa, the so-called ‘kept man’ is standing up for himself!】

【That clapback was on point! Attending our Xiao Yu’s birthday banquet— even if it were held at a roadside diner— you should still put some effort into your appearance!】

【LOL, you dress like you’re going grocery shopping, and then complain the movie king’s too formal?】

【These people are so shameless.】

Xu Cheng gave a sheepish laugh, clearly embarrassed by Lu Jingdu’s words.

He had assumed Ning Xiaoyu’s birthday party would be held in some ordinary little restaurant and hadn’t even considered dressing up.

There was no need. If he had worn something fancy, it would’ve just gotten ruined anyway.

And yet……

Ning Yuwei bit her lip. At this point, she just wanted to see Ning Xiaoyu in person and ask her what was going on. “Where is Teacher Ning? Why hasn’t she come out to greet us?”

Just then, Xiao Xiang, who had been standing nearby, spoke lightly, “Young Miss Ning is probably busy right now.”

────ρя

And indeed, Ning Xiaoyu was busy— busy listening to a group of elderly men sharing all sorts of fishing stories.

“My best haul was catching two giant koi in a single afternoon.”

“I’m not as lucky. I usually just get small fish.”

“Xiaoyu, since you’re so patient, why not join this old man for a round of golf sometime?”

With a deadpan expression, Ning Xiaoyu replied, “I don’t know how to play.”

“That’s fine, Grandpa will teach you.”

Old Master Ning deliberately put on a stern face and grumbled, “Who’s the real grandpa here, huh?”

This group of elderly gentlemen, all well over seventy, had decades of revolutionary friendship behind them. It was normal for them to tease one another now and then.

The others quickly played along. “You, it’s you, alright?”

Old Master Ning glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late. Time to head down.”

The stylist, who had been quietly standing by like background decor, immediately stepped forward to touch up Ning Xiaoyu’s lipstick, then adjusted her overall makeup.

Once the touch-up was done, Old Master Ning extended his arm toward Ning Xiaoyu.

For a moment, she didn’t move. She blinked, looking at him.

Old Master Ning put on his stern face again. “Come on now.”

That was when Ning Xiaoyu realized he wanted her to link arms with him.

It was her first time walking arm in arm with someone.

She’d never had the opportunity before.

For Ning Xiaoyu, linking arms with a family member like this was a novel experience.

The other elderly men had taken the elevator down on the other side. Ning Xiaoyu, holding onto Old Master Ning’s arm, began descending the grand spiral staircase slowly from the second floor to the first.

It was a bit of a struggle for her to support Old Master Ning on her own. Seeing this, Ning Xuchen, who had been waiting nearby, immediately stepped up to help, taking the other side.

The trio moved slowly down the stairs. Halfway down, someone from the crowd below suddenly shouted, “She’s here!”

That one announcement was like flipping a switch and everyone at the venue immediately turned their heads toward the spiral staircase.

And with just a single glance, many of the guests were utterly stunned.

The crystal chandelier overhead shone with dazzling brilliance, and the hall was magnificently decorated. Yet even that splendor paled in comparison to the diamond crown atop Ning Xiaoyu’s head and the shimmer of tiny diamonds adorning the hem of her gown.

Ning Xiaoyu was dressed in an intricately designed, luxurious gown. The hem was studded with countless tiny diamonds, and as she walked, it was as if the Milky Way itself was flowing behind her. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, her makeup flawless, and with the diamond crown on her head, she looked just like a princess slowly stepping into everyone’s line of sight.

The guests of 《Hi, My Friend》 didn’t recognize Ning Silang.

But they knew CEO Ning.

After all, the production team had previously done a crossover with 《Hello, Dad》.

CEO Ning had appeared with Ning Xiaoyu, supporting an elderly man as they entered the scene together.

Shi Chao murmured instinctively, “This……” This situation was completely different from what he had imagined.

He had previously thought Ning Xiaoyu must have latched onto some wealthy benefactor for the sake of resources.

But judging by this setup, it clearly wasn’t that simple.

Apparently, he had completely misjudged things before.

Shen Yueyue immediately glanced down at her cocktail dress. It was formal enough and certainly appropriate for a birthday banquet like this.

Then she took a small mirror out of her purse to check her makeup.

To attend Ning Xiaoyu’s birthday banquet, she had woken up early that morning to get ready.

Good, no smudged makeup. Only her lipstick needed a slight touch-up.

She promptly pulled out a tube of lipstick and applied a quick layer.

Lu Jingdu stood with both hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. But his gaze quietly followed Ning Xiaoyu the entire time.

The other guests of 《Hi, My Friend》 instinctively took a small step back.

If it were at all possible, they would’ve had their managers deliver more formal attire right that second to change into on the spot.

Everyone else looked sharp and radiant, yet they were the only ones still in casual wear. What kind of impression did that give?

At that moment, Xiao Xiang smiled and announced, “Chairman Ning and Young Miss Ning are coming down.”

Ning Yuwei responded instinctively, “Chairman Ning?”

Xiao Xiang nodded slightly. “Yes, Chairman Ning. The man on his left— you should be more familiar with him. That’s CEO Ning.”

Chairman Ning. CEO Ning. Ning Xiaoyu.

Three people with the same surname— Ning. The guests of 《Hi, My Friend》 couldn’t help but connect the dots.

What was the relationship between these three? Everyone began to speculate inwardly.

But no one dared to believe it outright.

What the hell? This wasn’t some melodramatic idol drama…… right?

Xi Rui pursed her lips, face full of curiosity. “So, what’s the relationship between CEO Ning and Chairman Ning?”

Some things no longer needed to be kept hidden. After all, they were all going to find out soon enough anyway.

Xiao Xiang smiled and replied, “They’re grandfather and grandson.”

Then what about Ning Xiaoyu and Chairman Ning?

A certain answer was already surfacing, on the verge of becoming obvious.

Shi Chao asked aloud, “How come I’ve never heard of Chairman Ning before?”

Xiao Xiang replied cheerfully, “Chairman Ning only shifted the company’s focus back to the domestic market this year. Before that, Ning Group operated mainly in Europe.”

Then he added, “You might not follow the financial world too closely, so you probably didn’t know this— Ning Group’s overseas registered company name is Ningface.”

Most guests of 《Hi, My Friend》 didn’t know much about Ning Group.

But once Xiao Xiang mentioned Ningface, everyone suddenly knew what he meant.

There was no way anyone there wouldn’t recognize such a famous company.

Ningface was a globally renowned conglomerate.

Its chairman was Chinese.

But while many people were aware of the company, they had no idea that the chairman was Ning Silang.

After all, in media coverage, this powerful figure was always introduced as David.

Who would’ve known his Chinese name?

So…… no way, right? No way? It couldn’t really be that melodramatic?

Was Ning Xiaoyu really connected to the founder of Ningface?

As it turned out, real life could be even more dramatic than the cheesiest idol drama.

Scenes and plots that had never shown up in TV shows were now unfolding in reality.

When Ning Xiaoyu walked arm in arm with Old Master Ning to stand on the elevated stage at the front of the hall, the entire room instantly quieted.

The guest of honor had arrived. Out of respect, everyone stopped their conversations and turned their attention toward the trio on the stage.

Ning Xuchen immediately stepped back, giving the spotlight to Ning Xiaoyu and Old Master Ning.

Old Master Ning stood before the microphone and smiled as he said, “Thank you all for giving this old man the honor of your presence, and for attending my biological granddaughter’s twenty-third birthday banquet.”

That one sentence exploded like a thunderclap and every guest of 《Hi, My Friend》 present stood stunned.

What?

Biological granddaughter?

Ning Xiaoyu was the biological granddaughter of the founder of Ningface?

Then did that mean this entire birthday banquet, hosted by Chairman Ning himself, was a public display of recognition?

Was she also being acknowledged as a heiress?