278: Chapter 278 The Cocktail Party Incident (2)

Qin Yi was momentarily stunned, but he quickly reacted, reaching out to give Chu Muxue's hand a brief squeeze before letting go.

Chu Muxue gave a faint smile. Although she had already learned a lot about Qin Yi from Xing Zhenkun and Chu Muyun, she still feigned ignorance and asked with great concern, "Qin Yi, this is the first time we've met since you took a leave of absence from school. Have the issues at your home been resolved?"

"Yes, they've all been settled," Qin Yi nodded, a smile appearing on his face. "Speaking of which, I haven't properly thanked you for speaking up for me in the class group chat."

"Don't mention it. What Wang Hao did was indeed a bit much; I was just saying what was fair." As Chu Muxue spoke, her gaze turned toward Xu Qian, and she asked with a smile, "Is this beautiful lady your girlfriend?"

Hearing Chu Muxue's inquiry, Xu Qian didn't wait for Qin Yi to introduce her. She proactively reached out her hand and introduced herself with a smile, "Hello, I'm Xu Qian. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Chu Muxue looked at Xu Qian's extended hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally reached out to shake it. "Hello, I'm Chu Muxue, Qin Yi's college classmate."

While speaking, Chu Muxue sized up Xu Qian, and the hand she held unconsciously tightened a bit, with no intention of letting go. Xu Qian naturally felt the subtle change in Chu Muxue, and out of a woman's sixth sense, she vaguely sensed something.

Xu Qian's heart couldn't help but tighten. Could this Chu Muxue also like Qin Yi? But Young Master Qin had never mentioned this Chu Muxue to her...

Thinking this, Xu Qian couldn't help but turn her head to look at Qin Yi beside her, a look of confusion in her eyes.

Shen Jianan, who was lightly holding Ye Ziming's arm nearby, also noticed Chu Muxue's abnormality. Her gaze drifted between Chu Muxue and Qin Yi as she thought to herself: Could this Chu Muxue also have feelings for Qin Yi? No, I have to find a chance to ask Xing Zhenkun later. This Qin Yi really is a lady-killer; it's truly infuriating.

Just then, Xing Zhenkun, who was standing nearby, secretly nudged Chu Muyun's arm, signaling her to step in and defuse the situation.

Chu Muyun immediately understood. She stepped forward and skillfully took hold of Chu Muxue and Xu Qian's tightly gripped hands, separating them. With one arm around Chu Muxue and the other around Xu Qian, she said with a bright smile, "It seems you two really hit it off! But this isn't the best place for a long chat; more guests will be arriving soon. Let's head into the cocktail party first."

"That's true," Xing Zhenkun quickly agreed. "Young Master Qin, let's go inside together."

"After you, Brother Kun~" After some pleasantries, the group walked into the hotel, accompanied by the hotel's receptionists.

...

At this moment, the banquet hall on the third floor was already bustling with noise, with people from all walks of life gathered together.

In a corner of the banquet hall, the host of this cocktail party—Fu Chuanxi, the president of the China Merchants Bank Modu Branch—was talking in low tones with Xu Jiyou, who had just been promoted to vice president, introducing him to the high-society celebrities in the room.

Xu Jiyou would be Fu Chuanxi's right-hand man from now on, primarily in charge of investment business, which inevitably meant dealing with these wealthy businessmen.

Xu Jiyou listened intently, but his eyes occasionally drifted toward the entrance of the banquet hall, anticipating Qin Yi's appearance.

He owed his position as vice president to Qin Yi's help. He had already decided that as soon as Qin Yi arrived, he would take the opportunity to bring the president and Qin Yi closer together.

Just as he was thinking this, the figures of Qin Yi and his group entered President Xu's field of vision at the banquet hall entrance.

Xu Jiyou's spirits immediately lifted, and he whispered to Fu Chuanxi, "President, look at the young man at the entrance who is having his invitation card verified; that's Mr. Qin, Qin Yi."

"Oh?" Fu Chuanxi looked over, and his pupils suddenly constricted.

However, his surprise was not because of Qin Yi, but because of Chu Muxue, who was standing two paces away from the young man.

"Miss Chu? Why is she here?" Fu Chuanxi was secretly shocked. "The chairman of Hongtian Group has already confirmed his attendance for tonight's cocktail party, and Chutian Group and Hongtian Group have always been like fire and water. For Chu Weiguo to let his daughter attend this party, could he be trying to use this opportunity to make peace with Hongtian Group? Moreover, I heard that Hongtian Group's recent easing of its capital chain seemed to be related to that young man named Qin Yi. Could it be that Chu Weiguo also wants to curry favor with that Mr. Qin?"

While he was lost in thought, Xu Jiyou reminded him, "President, shall we go over and say hello?"

Fu Chuanxi nodded and walked toward Qin Yi and the others with Xu Jiyou. At the same time, Qin Yi's group had finished their identity verification and stepped inside.

"Haha, Mr. Qin, good evening!" Xu Jiyou quickly stepped forward, enthusiastically reaching out to shake Qin Yi's hand, his face beaming with a smile.

"President Xu, you're here early tonight," Qin Yi responded with a smile, his gaze shifting naturally to Fu Chuanxi standing beside Xu Jiyou as he asked curiously, "Who is this gentleman?"

"Oh, Mr. Qin, please don't call me President Xu anymore. I've been transferred to the Modu Branch; I'm no longer the president of the Jingnan Branch." Xu Jiyou waved his hand quickly, then introduced attentively, "This is the true president of our China Merchants Bank Modu Branch—President Fu Chuanxi."

Qin Yi nodded in greeting, then shook hands with Fu Chuanxi, saying politely, "President Fu, hello! I've heard President Xu mention your great name many times; it's truly an honor to finally meet you today."

Fu Chuanxi laughed heartily, "Hahaha, Mr. Qin is too kind. I've also heard Jiyou mention some things about you, which were a bit hard to believe at first. I didn't expect you to be even more young and promising than I imagined; truly a talented youth, a hero among the young!"

"The president overpraises me; it's just a bit of luck," Qin Yi responded modestly.

...

After a pleasant round of business flattery between the two, Qin Yi enthusiastically introduced his companions to Fu Chuanxi and Xu Jiyou.

As the host of the cocktail party, Fu Chuanxi naturally had a thorough understanding of the background of every guest in attendance.

When he heard Xing Zhenkun's name, Fu Chuanxi immediately showed an elder's warmth, proactively reaching out to shake Xing Zhenkun's hand and greeting him warmly, "So you are Nephew Zhenkun. You truly are elegant and a man of great talent."

Xing Zhenkun asked curiously, "President Fu, do you know my father?"

"Haha, to be honest, before I was transferred to the Modu Branch, I worked in the Xishan Province branch for a long time. I had many business dealings with Qiangsheng Group and was good friends with your father," Fu Chuanxi explained with a smile. "Before my transfer, I even had dinner with your father. He specifically told me to look you up on his behalf once I got to Modu."

"Since there's such a connection, I should have visited Uncle Fu earlier," Xing Zhenkun responded politely, though he couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled. "Is this President Fu really an old acquaintance of my father? Why haven't I ever heard Dad mention him? I'll have to ask clearly the next time I call the old man."

"Oh, no need to be so polite. I just arrived in Modu myself and was planning to find time to visit your car dealership. I heard from your father that your dealership business in Modu is also thriving; truly, a tiger father has no cowardly sons," Fu Chuanxi praised.

"Uncle Fu overpraises me; it's just a small business, nothing to boast about," Xing Zhenkun said modestly.

"Nephew, you're too humble," Fu Chuanxi said, shaking his head with a smile.

After the pleasantries with Xing Zhenkun, Fu Chuanxi's gaze turned to Ye Ziming beside him. He reached out to shake Ye Ziming's hand and said courteously, "This must be Mr. Ye Ziming, right?"

"It is. Hello, President Fu," Ye Ziming responded politely.

"Mr. Ye is too polite. Regarding your matters, the higher-ups have already given special instructions. If you have any needs, we will certainly go all out and not refuse," Fu Chuanxi stated solemnly.

The others present already understood the situation upon hearing Fu Chuanxi's words. Only Xu Jiyou was a bit confused, as only the head president, Fu Chuanxi, had the authority to view the cocktail party's invitation list.

Ye Ziming nodded with a smile, "President Fu is too kind. I'm just here to attend the cocktail party; you don't need to give me any special treatment. Just go about your business."

Fu Chuanxi picked up on Ye Ziming's underlying meaning and nodded in acknowledgment with a smile. Then, his gaze turned to Chu Muxue.

"Miss Chu, it is truly a stroke of luck to meet you here tonight. How is your father, Mr. Chu Weiguo, doing lately?" Fu Chuanxi smiled as he reached out his hand to Chu Muxue, giving it a light squeeze as he asked in a warm tone.

Chu Muxue responded elegantly to the handshake, maintaining a perfect smile as she said softly, "Thank you for your concern, President Fu. My father is doing well, but he has other arrangements tonight and couldn't come in person. Please don't take offense, President Fu."

"Haha, Miss Chu, you're being too formal. Your father manages Chutian Group and is busy with a thousand things; your presence here is enough to show the importance he places on our cocktail party. However, the chairman of Hongtian Group will also be arriving later; I hope Miss Chu won't mind," Fu Chuanxi said with a smile.

Chu Muxue nodded slightly, seeing through Fu Chuanxi's subtle hint, and replied, "Don't worry, President Fu. My coming here this time isn't for Hongtian Group."

"That's good, that's good," Fu Chuanxi laughed loudly.

Speak of the devil!

As they were talking, two more people walked into the banquet hall entrance. It was Zhang Hongtian, the chairman of Hongtian Group, and his son, Zhang Gang.

As soon as Fu Chuanxi saw these two, he immediately apologized to Qin Yi and the others, "Everyone, excuse me, I'll be back in a moment."

"President Fu, please go ahead~" the group responded with smiles.

Fu Chuanxi then quickly hurried toward the entrance, and Xu Jiyou, after apologizing repeatedly, followed close behind.

Xing Zhenkun also turned to look at the banquet hall entrance. Upon seeing the newcomers, he immediately explained to the group, "Oh~ so the chairman of Hongtian Group is here. No wonder President Fu is so tense. Look, the older one is Zhang Hongtian. The young man with him is his youngest son, Zhang Gang. I heard that Zhang Hongtian intends for this youngest son to take over."

"Oh~ so he's Zhang Hongtian. Seeing him is truly better than hearing of him," Ye Ziming remarked with emotion.

"Oh, right." Xing Zhenkun seemed to remember something and turned to Qin Yi, asking, "Young Master Qin should already know him, right? After all, Shenjiang Bay Community was developed by Hongtian Group~"

Qin Yi smiled and replied calmly, "Actually, we're not really acquainted. You could say I know the name but haven't met the man."

Seeing that Qin Yi didn't want to discuss the topic further, Xing Zhenkun smiled and changed the subject, "In that case, let's go get something to drink first. While we're at it, I'll introduce a few friends to Young Master Qin and Young Master Ye."

"Mm~ it's my first time attending this kind of cocktail party, so I'll follow Brother Kun's lead," Qin Yi responded with a smile.

Afterward, Qin Yi and his group walked toward the stage area of the banquet hall.

Shen Jianan lightly held Ye Ziming's arm, following at the end of the group, but her gaze occasionally drifted toward another corner.

Suddenly, Shen Jianan tightened her grip on his arm, and the distance between her and Ye Ziming shortened by a few inches. Just as Ye Ziming's imagination began to run wild, he heard Shen Jianan whisper, "Captain, target spotted! Southeast corner of the banquet hall, ten o'clock position."

Ye Alluring's voice then sounded in Shen Jianan's ear, "Received! Be sure to act with caution and don't make any rash moves!"

...

At that moment, in that corner, Zhang Min was in a black evening gown, holding a glass of champagne and talking with a man, but her gaze also occasionally drifted toward Qin Yi's side.