21: Chapter 22 Cocktail Party Clash and the "Thoughtful" Cousin

The Waldorf Astoria in Jiangzhou hosted a top-tier business cocktail party. Crystal chandeliers shimmered with brilliant light, and the air was filled with the scent of perfume and the rustle of fine clothing.

Yin Tianxue, dressed in a champagne-colored haute couture gown, walked through the crowd with her arm linked with Yu Bo's. Yu Bo wore a well-tailored dark suit, his posture upright and his expression calm. He maintained a subtle sense of distance from the surrounding vanity, yet he drew significant attention due to his companion.

"Is that Yin Tianxue's new boyfriend? He looks decent enough, but who knows where he comes from."

"I heard he's doing his own investments, something called 'Tinglan Capital'—just starting out."

"Ha, another one trying to ride the Yin Family's coattails to success?"

Vague whispers drifted over, but Yin Tianxue acted as if she hadn't heard them, and Yu Bo remained completely unperturbed.

"Tianxue!" A voice filled with a certain warmth and an undeniable sense of presence rang out.

A few people walked over, holding wine glasses. The young man in the lead was in his early thirties, wearing an expensive custom-tailored suit. His wristwatch refracted a cold, hard light under the lamps; it was Yang Junyi, the boyfriend Father Yin had selected for Tianxue. Beside him followed two lackeys, equally well-dressed and wearing arrogant expressions.

Yang Junyi's gaze was practically glued to Yin Tianxue, filled with undisguised possessiveness. Only at the very end did he seem to notice Yu Bo, raising an eyebrow: "And who is this? You look very unfamiliar."

"My boyfriend, Yu Bo." Yin Tianxue's voice was cool, her introduction brief.

"Yu Bo?" Yang Junyi repeated the name playfully, looking him up and down. "What line of work are you in?"

"Small-scale business, doing some venture capital," Yu Bo replied in a flat tone.

One of the lackeys beside Yang Junyi immediately sneered: "Venture capital? Has the barrier to entry become so low now? Any Tom, Dick, or Harry dares to call themselves 'Capital'?" The other chimed in: "What projects has Mr. Yu invested in? Why not let us broaden our horizons?"

The provocation was palpable. Many people around them looked over.

Yin Tianxue's expression darkened, and just as she was about to speak, Yang Junyi raised a hand as if to stop his lackey's "rudeness," a smile of feigned tolerance but actual arrogance on his face.

"Hey, you can't say it like that." Yang Junyi looked at Yu Bo, his tone carrying the air of a senior mentoring a junior. "It's good that Mr. Yu is young and driven. But the venture capital industry is deep; drive alone isn't enough—you need real substance. I worked at Goldman Sachs on Wall Street for five years, and later participated in several cross-border M&A deals at KKR. I've seen many projects; if one out of ten succeeds, that's considered good. The environment in China is hot right now, but the bubble is also huge. Many so-called 'innovations' have long been proven to be dead ends abroad."

He took a sip of wine and continued, though his gaze rested more on Yin Tianxue, as if he were "educating" her: "For example, when I was studying at LSE, I formed an early blockchain research group with a few classmates. That was the real cutting edge. Tianxue, you were an exchange student at LSE at the time; you must have heard of the 'Deep Blue Group,' right? The things we discussed back then are still treated like treasures by many projects in China today."

Yu Bo listened quietly, his face expressionless, merely tapping his fingertips lightly against his wine glass.

Seeing that he didn't respond, Yang Junyi's smile became even more confident, carrying a condescending sense of charity. He turned his gaze gently toward Yin Tianxue: "Tianxue, there's a small summit in New York next month. It's very exclusive, and the people attending are all partners from truly top-tier institutions. The theme is global trends in hard-tech investment, and I think it's perfect for you. I'm very familiar with the organizers; shall I get you an invitation?"

He paused, as if he had just remembered Yu Bo, glanced at him, and said casually: "This kind of summit has a high barrier to entry. Since Mr. Yu has just started, it might not be quite suitable. But that's okay. After Tianxue and I return from attending, she can tell you all about what she saw and heard. You can learn a thing or two and broaden your horizons."

These words were spoken extremely naturally, yet they completely excluded Yu Bo from the circle.

Yin Tianxue's fingernails nearly dug into her palms, her face cold as frost. Yang Junyi's attitude—viewing Yu Bo as a mere appendage who needed "guidance"—angered her more than a direct insult. Just as she was about to speak, Yu Bo gently squeezed her fingers.

"Young Master Yang, you're too kind," Yu Bo finally spoke. His voice remained calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, though his gaze met Yang Junyi's. "However, Tianxue has been busy with 'Listening to the Waves's' first hard-tech project lately, and her schedule might be full. As for the New York summit, there's no need to trouble Young Master Yang."

The smile on Yang Junyi's face faded slightly: "Oh? What kind of project could make Tianxue care so much that she'd turn down a summit of this level?" His tone carried disbelief and probing curiosity.

Just as Yin Tianxue was about to refuse again with a cold face, a smiling, slightly reproving female voice chimed in, breaking the delicate standoff.

"Oh my, I was wondering why I couldn't find our Tianxue the moment I turned around. So it turns out you're here having a private meeting with Young Master Yang?"

Su Man walked over, holding a wine glass and smiling radiantly. She was wearing a smoky pink silk slip dress today, paired with a matching short cardigan. Her long hair was loosely pinned up, revealing her beautifully lined neck. The dress was tailored perfectly to fit her figure, outlining the voluptuous grace unique to a young married woman in her early thirties. As she walked, the hem of her skirt swayed, exuding charm in every movement. Her makeup was exquisite but not heavy, and her eyes and brows carried a natural, mature charm. Compared to when they first met, she seemed less deliberate and more poised, but that womanly allure—nurtured by time and emanating from her very bones—was even more dazzling.

She seemed not to notice the delicate atmosphere, walking naturally to Yin Tianxue's side and affectionately linking her arm. Her gaze, however, turned smilingly between Yang Junyi and Yu Bo: "Young Master Yang, you just got back and you're already dragging our Tianxue off to talk about work? That's not very considerate. And Yu Bo, all you know is talking about projects; look how tired you've made Tianxue." Her tone was familiar, carrying the teasing of an older sister, instantly pulling the previously tense "standoff" atmosphere back into the realm of "acquaintances chatting."

Seeing Su Man, Yang Junyi's expression softened slightly, and he forced a smile: "Su Man, long time no see. You look even more radiant than before. I just saw that Tianxue was interested in cutting-edge trends, and it just so happens there's a great opportunity."

Su Man covered her lips and laughed lightly, her eyes sparkling: "I know you have our Tianxue's best interests at heart. But our Tianxue is different now; she has a capable assistant, and her standards are high, right, Yu Bo?" As she spoke, she naturally threw the conversation over to Yu Bo, while simultaneously tilting her body slightly toward him, as if waiting for his answer.

Just at the moment she turned to speak, because she was holding onto Yin Tianxue, the movement was slightly larger. Her full, firm chest, separated only by the thin silk fabric, very briefly and almost imperceptibly grazed the arm of Yu Bo, who was standing on the side closer to Yin Tianxue.

The touch was warm, soft, and resilient. It was gone as soon as it made contact, as quick as an unintentional accident. Accompanying it was a wisp of a faint fragrance, unique to a mature woman, a mixture of perfume and body heat.

Yu Bo's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, then immediately returned to its natural state.

His expression remained unchanged. He nodded at Su Man, his tone flat: "Older Female Cousin is too kind. Tianxue has her own judgment."