7: Chapter 7 Birthday Party Begins

After Chu Men entered the door, he was led by Lin Zhou to the Lin Family's reception hall.

At this moment, Patriarch Lin Zhen, having been informed of Chu Men's arrival by a servant, was waiting there.

"You are… the esteemed disciple of Senior Qing Yuanzi?"

Inside the reception hall, Elder Lin asked Chu Men, who was standing there and looking around.

Chu Men reacted, cupped his hands, and tried his best to put on a respectful appearance: "Junior Chu Men, greetings, Elder Lin. Fifteen years ago, my master saved your life, and today I have come specifically to pay a visit regarding the arranged marriage made back then."

Upon hearing this, Patriarch Lin Zhen did not expect Chu Men to speak so bluntly; he could only nod and instruct the servants to serve tea.

He sized up Chu Men. His appearance was decent enough, but his eyes were shifty, staring straight at any pretty maid he saw, which made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"Is Senior Qing Yuanzi… doing well?" Patriarch Lin Zhen asked Chu Men again.

"My master is very well. He told me to come down the mountain to gain experience first, and when the time is right, he will come to visit in person."

Chu Men grinned and said: "By the way, Elder Lin, where is my wife? I am her fiancé now, why hasn't she come out to see me?"

Patriarch Lin Zhen frowned. "You mean Lin Wanqing." He paused, "Lin Wanqing is a proud child; regarding the arranged marriage, she only knows the general idea, and I haven't explained the details to her yet."

"No worries, no worries!" Chu Men waved his hand, "Master said that women just need a bit of coaxing. Don't worry, I have plenty of ways!"

Patriarch Lin Zhen felt a faint sense of unease in his heart, but due to the debt of gratitude for saving his life back then, he couldn't say much and had to arrange for him to stay first.

Meanwhile, Lin Wanqing also learned that her nominal fiancé had arrived. She was shocked, not expecting him to come so quickly, but she did not go out to show herself.

At night, Patriarch Lin Zhen planned to host a banquet to entertain Chu Men, and Lin Wanqing finally emerged from her bedroom at this time.

From the moment Chu Men saw Lin Wanqing, his eyes never left her face and body, and he almost drooled. He had never seen such a beautiful woman.

Her skin was as white as the snow on the mountains; her features were even more beautiful than a fairy in a painting; her temperament was cold and noble, forming a sharp contrast with his image as a bumpkin from the mountains.

The thought arose in his mind— "The old man really didn't lie to me; such a beautiful woman is my wife!"

Lin Wanqing felt completely uncomfortable being stared at, but she still braced herself and asked, "Grandfather, is he the disciple of that expert?"

"That's right, he is the disciple of Senior Qing Yuanzi, named Chu Men."

Chu Men said excitedly: "You must be my wife, right? You are so beautiful."

"Shut up, who is your wife? We just met today, don't act so familiar. Besides, I already have someone I like, and I do not acknowledge this so-called marriage contract."

Upon hearing Chu Men's address, Lin Wanqing immediately gave him a cold look.

When Chu Men heard this, the smile on his face froze instantly, the burning heat in his eyes faded away rapidly, and was replaced by a cold, sinister look.

He had always been fond of beauty, and he was determined to have a stunner like Lin Wanqing. He had come down the mountain full of joy to fulfill the appointment, never expecting to be met with Lin Wanqing's blatant disdain.

Chu Men slowly raised his eyes. There was no rage in his pitch-black pupils, only a bottomless cold glint, and a faint, cold curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He didn't speak, but the hatred in his heart grew like wild grass.

What a Lin Wanqing. So what if you have someone you like? With the marriage contract in place, you are my, Chu Men's, person.

This hidden hatred coiled in his heart like a dormant viper, waiting for the day to strike, to crush this cold and beautiful woman, along with her pride, into pieces.

"Alright, Wanqing, how are you speaking to a guest? Apologize quickly." Patriarch Lin Zhen scolded at this moment, which also interrupted Chu Men's sinister thoughts.

Hearing her grandfather's reprimand, Lin Wanqing did not intend to tangle with Chu Men, so she reluctantly said sorry and then turned around and left.

Patriarch Lin Zhen sighed: "This child has been like this since she was young, very resistant to things she doesn't want to do. Don't take it to heart. Tomorrow is Wanqing's birthday banquet, you should come and attend."

"No problem!" Chu Men instantly recovered his expression and chuckled, "Master said that women will always resist at first, and it will be fine after more contact. Since tomorrow is Little Sister Wanqing's birthday banquet, I will prepare well."

The next evening, the street next to the Lin Family's estate was already congested with heavy traffic.

Today was the eighteenth birthday of the Lin Family's eldest daughter, Lin Wanqing, and also her coming-of-age ceremony.

As a top-tier noble family in Hai City, rooted in Hai City for a hundred years with deep foundations, and with Lin Wanqing being especially favored by Elder Lin, the scale of this banquet could be imagined.

From the main gate to the main building, a red carpet was laid out for three miles. The sides were filled with cars; seeing Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, and Maybachs here was nothing unusual.

"Young Master Qin, please this way." Qin Yi arrived at the Lin Family as promised.

Welcoming him was the Lin Family's head butler, an old man with graying hair, who was personally guarding the entrance.

This detail was noticed by many guests; the Lin Family's head butler personally greeting a guest—who was it that had arrived?

Qin Yi nodded and followed him inside.

The main hall of the main building had been converted into a banquet hall, and the space, which could accommodate hundreds of people, was almost full.

The chandeliers were custom-made, with thirty-six crystal lamps hanging from the dome, their light brilliant but not dazzling.

A band was playing soothing music in the corner, but almost no one was listening—everyone was socializing.

"President Li, you've come too? I heard you've been negotiating a big project recently?"

"Don't mention it, that project was snatched by the Wang Family. But we aren't talking about business today; everyone is here to wish Miss Lin a happy birthday."

"Yes, yes, yes, today is Miss Lin's birthday banquet; we must give the Lin Family face."

These CEOs, who usually dominate the business world, were peaceful and low-key at the Lin Family residence.

In the corner, a few young people gathered together, discussing topics related to Lin Wanqing's birthday banquet.

"The Lin Family is truly grand; half a birthday banquet has brought almost all the powerful figures in Hai City to attend."

"That's for sure. With the scale of the Lin Family in Hai City, who dares not give the Lin Family face? I just don't know how beautiful the eldest Miss Lin will look today."

"By the way, do you think Young Master Qin will come today? Young Master Qin was absent from last year's birthday banquet; I heard that Miss Lin looked bitter the whole time after finding out."

"That's not something we should be concerned about."

"Hey! Look, isn't that Young Master Qin? He came this time!" one person said excitedly.

The appearance of Qin Yi instantly became the focus of the entire venue. After all, Qin Yi was the heir of the Qin Family. In Hai City, and even in the whole of China, who didn't know the name of the Qin Family? Stomping their feet could cause a tremor in China.