90: I will catch up with you

When Zhao Tieying and Lin Feng finished their conversation, and the isolated air bubble around them silently burst, allowing the sounds and lights of the banquet hall to flood back in, representatives from various forces, who had long been unable to restrain themselves, swarmed forward like sharks smelling blood!

Although these people were all greeting Councilor Zhao politely, their peripheral vision never left Lin Feng.

Councilor Zhao naturally saw through their little schemes, but he did not stop them; in fact, he even welcomed it.

After stating that he was feeling a bit tired, he led a somewhat reluctant Qin Zhenyue out of the banquet hall.

As soon as Councilor Zhao and Qin Zhenyue left, representatives from various forces immediately rushed forward, surrounding Lin Feng.

"Student Lin! You are truly young and accomplished! I am Zhang Yuanshan of Zhang Group. This is my business card. If you ever need anything in Weiyang City, just say the word!"

"Young Friend Lin! I am Zhou Zhengqing of the Zhou Family. There were too many people earlier, so we couldn't talk in depth. Our Zhou Family operates the largest auction house in Weiyang City, and we have several ancient formulas in our private collection that are highly beneficial for Summoners to train their magic pets. I wonder if Young Friend Lin would be interested in appreciating them?"

"Young Friend Lin Feng, do you still remember me? I'm Li Rongfa from the Li Family! Our Li Family also has some businesses and connections in Dragon Capital. If Student Lin decides to develop in Dragon Capital, the Li Family is willing to assist with all our might and provide every convenience! Including... the most top-tier cultivation environment!"

"Student Lin, may I ask if you are married? My daughter..."

Various enthusiastic greetings, overt promises, and veiled hints, like a tide, engulfed Lin Feng, who had just emerged from the tense conversation with Councilor Zhao.

These prominent figures, usually so high and mighty, now wore smiles that were almost fawning, scrambling to shove business cards, tokens, and even photos of young women from their families into Lin Feng's hands.

Power, wealth, beauty... all the means of enticement they could think of were displayed without reservation.

Lin Feng only felt a buzzing in his ears, and all he saw before him were various eager, even greedy, faces.

He was annoyed but had to maintain a facade of politeness, dealing with this sudden "enthusiasm."

He clearly felt that Councilor Zhao's words and the act of a private conversation had acted as a powerful catalyst, completely igniting these people's desire to "invest" in him.

Outside this vortex of clamor and solicitation, Qin Yuyan stood quietly in the shadows of a corner, like a forgotten narcissus.

She watched Lin Feng, surrounded like a moon by stars, calmly handling promises that would drive ordinary people mad, and observed the composure and subtle aura of power on him that belied his age.

The brilliant lights of the banquet hall fell upon him, yet seemed very far from her.

An indescribable sense of bewilderment and powerlessness, like a cold tide, quietly washed over her heart.

She recalled the Barren World, and the overwhelming beast tide.

Lin Feng stood on high, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's, and with a wave of his hand, hundreds of ferocious and terrifying Gold-level xenomorphs, like a black torrent of steel, charged fearlessly into the beast horde, forming a wall of flesh and blood for the examinees.

At that moment, he shone brightly, like a deity on the battlefield.

And what about herself?

She could only be protected within the crowd, watching his back; the Ice Phoenix, not yet fully grown, seemed so insignificant before the endless beast tide.

Her proud nine-star talent and the title of Divine Beast Summoner also seemed to dim in the face of such an absolute disparity in strength.

Lin Feng, by himself, had almost crushed the Qin Family's centuries of heritage and foundation!

A vast gap, like an invisible chasm, lay between the two of them.

Her grandfather's probing, Councilor Zhao's Pay attention to, the frantic overtures from the major families... all of this clearly indicated: Lin Feng had taken flight, soaring to a height she could not yet reach.

"Do I... still have the right to stand by him?"

A new thought, filled with self-doubt, like a poisonous vine, coiled around Qin Yuyan's heart.

She looked at Lin Feng, surrounded by the crowd, and several times wanted to muster the courage to step forward, to call out "Hey, Lin Feng!" as she usually would, or to complain, "Why are so many people bothering you?"

But her feet felt as heavy as lead, unable to move.

She was afraid that her approach at this moment would be drowned out by the flattery, appearing so out of place, even... cheap.

She could only lower her head, unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt, her fingertips cold, her mind a mess.

The clamor of the banquet seemed separated from her by a thick pane of glass; she only heard her own lost heartbeat.

Just as Qin Yuyan was about to be consumed by her negative emotions, a familiar voice cut through the noise and reached her ears.

"Why are you hiding here alone? Even Miss Qin finds it boring?"

Qin Yuyan suddenly looked up, meeting Lin Feng's clear, smiling eyes, which held a hint of imperceptible weariness.

He had, at some point, shaken off the crowd and walked over to her.

"I... I..."

Qin Yuyan was speechless for a moment, her cheeks slightly flushed, all her prepared words stuck in her throat.

She looked at him with complex emotions: surprise, a sense of grievance, and more, an indescribable bitterness and self-abasement.

"Nothing, it's just... a bit noisy."

She finally mumbled softly, avoiding his gaze.

Lin Feng looked at her slightly reddened eyes and her attempt to appear calm, understanding her feelings.

He smiled, his tone as relaxed and casual as ever.

"Yes, it's so noisy it gives me a headache."

"It's much quieter talking to you. How is it, do you like the food at this banquet? I noticed you haven't eaten much."

He deliberately avoided the awkward topic from earlier, and also the halo surrounding him, chatting instead like two ordinary Students.

However, the atmosphere was ultimately different.

Qin Yuyan could feel that Lin Feng's "as usual" contained a hint of imperceptible comfort and distance.

He was no longer the unknown Lin Feng who needed her to "look out for him."

Between them, there seemed to be an invisible, thin veil called "reality" and "disparity."

Although Lin Feng had approached her and his words were still gentle, the bewilderment and inferiority in Qin Yuyan's heart did not dissipate; instead, this ordinary interaction was shrouded in a subtle, indescribable sense of detachment and heaviness.

"I will catch up to you!"

Sitting beside Lin Feng, Qin Yuyan finally mustered the courage to speak her mind.

Without giving Lin Feng a chance to agree or refuse, Qin Yuyan, like a wounded fawn, darted through the crowd and disappeared.

Although he hadn't interacted much with Qin Yuyan, Lin Feng knew her feelings for him. He actually quite liked Qin Yuyan, it was just that the feeling between them hadn't quite reached the level of 'love' yet.

"Then you go for it."

Lin Feng silently responded in his heart.

This banquet, filled with probing, solicitation, shock, and subtle emotions, finally drew to a close as night deepened.

Guests, each with their own thoughts, departed with feelings of excitement, disappointment, or anxiety.

As the clamor faded, the vast banquet hall was left with only the waiters cleaning up the aftermath.

Lin Feng politely declined Qin Zhenyue's invitation to stay overnight and also refused Councilor Zhao Tieying's suggestion to depart immediately, stating that he needed some time to handle private matters.

Councilor Zhao did not insist, merely giving him a deep look.

When the last guest left, the heavy gate of the Qin Family slowly closed.

The bright lights extinguished one by one, leaving only a few corridor lights casting a faint, warm glow.

Deep within the Qin Estate, in a secret chamber equipped with powerful isolation arrays, so strong that not a single ray of light could penetrate, Qin Zhenyue's smile had long vanished, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.

He personally poured a cup of hot tea for Councilor Zhao, who sat opposite him, the fragrant steam filling the confined space.

"Councilor Zhao, please."

Qin Zhenyue's voice was low.

Councilor Zhao picked up the teacup but did not drink. His sharp, hawklike eyes appeared even deeper and more inscrutable in the dim light.

He nodded slightly, and the secret chamber fell into silence, with only the faint sounds of their breathing.

A significant and highly confidential conversation quietly began in this absolutely secure secret chamber...