Chapter 113: A Certain Important Figure

“Crack—”

The sudden sound of a shattering wine glass echoed abruptly somewhere in the banquet hall.

Ruan Mianmian snapped back to attention and immediately saw that Zhong Yu’s elbow was stained with a patch of wine. Beneath their feet lay shards of broken glass and spilled wine scattered everywhere.

“Sorry, sir! I didn’t mean to! I’m very sorry!”

A person dressed in a waiter’s uniform was bowing their head, apologizing profusely to Zhong Yu.

It turned out that this waiter had accidentally bumped the wine glass onto Zhong Yu. The wine had splashed all over him, and the glass had shattered on the floor.

The scene was rather chaotic, drawing the attention of several onlookers.

Zhong Yu’s expression was displeased, but years of composure prevented him from losing his temper on the spot. He cast a disdainful glance at the stain on his clothes.

“It’s alright. Just be more careful next time. I’ll go change my clothes.”

After speaking, Zhong Yu looked at Ruan Mianmian and smiled, “I’ll take my leave first.”

Ruan Mianmian waved her hand. “Go ahead.”

“You brat, how could you be so careless? Didn’t you see? You’ve caused trouble! Who here do you think you can afford to offend?”

The banquet supervisor, noticing the commotion, hurriedly scolded the waiter.

The clumsy waiter was then dragged away while muttering curses under the supervisor’s stern reprimand.

Just then, the waiter who had been hanging his head suddenly turned back and winked slyly at Ruan Mianmian, a triumphant smile lighting up his face.

Ruan Mianmian was momentarily stunned.

Why was it A-Kuan?

And judging by A-Kuan’s mischievous expression, could it be that he had deliberately spilled the wine on Zhong Yu?

Ruan Mianmian’s lips pressed into a thin line. For some reason, she suddenly felt as if she were being watched.

That damn Jiang Ce had promised to have A-Kuan protect her, but in reality, it was just to keep an eye on her!

Thinking this, Ruan Mianmian was about to take out her phone to question Jiang Ce when a shadow fell before her.

Jian Yanzhi stood quietly in front of her.

His gaze turned toward the direction Zhong Yu had left, and he asked, “Do you know him?”

“Yeah.”

Ruan Mianmian nodded, showing no desire to elaborate.

Jian Yanzhi’s eyes darkened, an unmistakable trace of displeasure lingering on his face.

Zhong Yu, the youngest son of the Zhong Corporation, had spent many years studying abroad and had only recently returned to Jiang City.

He was considered the most enigmatic heir of the Zhong family. Jian Yanzhi himself had only met him once at the old master Zhong’s birthday banquet a few years ago.

Unexpectedly, Ruan Mianmian was his friend.

Moreover, judging by how familiar they seemed with each other, they must be quite close.

“How do you two know each other?”

Jian Yanzhi hesitated before finally asking.

Ruan Mianmian glanced at him, irritation evident in her voice. “What’s it to you?”

“I’m just asking, isn’t that allowed? After all, we grew up together. If there’s someone new by your side, I have to ask, right?”

Ruan Mianmian rolled her eyes. “Save it. You’d be better off spending that time on yourself.”

As she spoke, other waiters began tidying up the mess on the floor.

Taking the opportunity, Ruan Mianmian slipped away. Someone immediately stepped forward to chat with Jian Yanzhi, giving her freedom.

Zhong Yu emerged from the lounge, now dressed in a fresh outfit.

Seeing Ruan Mianmian, he took a glass of champagne and approached.

“Miss Ruan.”

Ruan Mianmian turned at the voice, eyeing him before smiling. “You guys brought two sets of clothes to a wedding banquet?”

“No, no,” Zhong Yu smiled gently, lowering his gaze. “I borrowed them from the hotel. I have to return them later.”

That made sense.

Ruan Mianmian smiled knowingly.

Suddenly, Zhong Yu leaned in and clinked glasses with her, shortening the distance between them.

Ruan Mianmian felt a bit awkward.

Zhong Yu asked, “Are you free tomorrow? I know a Japanese restaurant with good food. Would you care to join me?”

What was going on? A dinner invitation?

Ruan Mianmian blinked and asked, “Oh? Is there something you want to discuss?”

Zhong Yu smiled. “Nothing much. I just got back not long ago and don’t have many friends. I thought since we’re acquainted, maybe we could get together sometime.”

“Oh, Chen Ci and the others will be there too,” Zhong Yu added.

Such thoughtful consideration made Ruan Mianmian smile.

She awkwardly grinned, realizing she had misunderstood.

“Alright,” she nodded.

Zhong Yu’s face brightened, and in a low voice he said, “You don’t have to be so scared. I don’t look like someone who’d bite. Even if I’m inviting you alone, it’s pretty normal. After all, Miss Ruan is beautiful and pleasant.”

This unexpected flattery left Ruan Mianmian a little unsettled.

Still, she smiled and nodded in agreement. “Makes sense.”

Meanwhile, A-Kuan, who had just been sternly scolded by the supervisor and returned to the banquet hall, felt a deep sense of refusal witnessing the scene before him.

At that moment, he wondered if spilling wine again would be too deliberate.

Just then, a sudden uproar arose in the banquet hall.

Ruan Mianmian followed the sound and saw that several pairs of eyes were looking toward a lounge on the second floor.

The expressions on people’s faces ranged from curiosity to surprise, as if anticipating the arrival of a VIP.

Even tonight’s host, Zhou Kai, wore a look of eager expectation.

“Is there a VIP in the second-floor lounge who hasn’t appeared yet?” Ruan Mianmian teased.

Zhong Yu glanced over and said, “I heard someone from Chenxing Group is here too. Probably people from Chenxing.”

“Chenxing Group?”

Ruan Mianmian’s mouth dropped open in surprise. Could the VIP in the lounge be Jiang Ce?

Zhong Yu raised an eyebrow, smiling. “No need to be so shocked. Do you know someone from Chenxing Group?”

“Well... it’s hard to say.”

Ruan Mianmian awkwardly withdrew her gaze.

Jiang Ce’s identity was not publicly known, so few in Jiang City knew the truth.

He also seemed unwilling to reveal his real identity now, so the person in the lounge might not be Jiang Ce after all.

Besides, when Ruan Mianmian mentioned this yesterday, Jiang Ce didn’t react.

He probably didn’t like these kinds of occasions.

With that in mind, Ruan Mianmian began scanning the crowd for A-Kuan’s figure. He surely knew what was going on.

Zhong Yu noticed her looking around and asked, “What are you looking for?”

“Someone.”

Ruan Mianmian fixed her target and handed her wine glass to Zhong Yu.

“Hold this for me.”

Zhong Yu was a bit taken aback by the sudden gesture, but Ruan Mianmian had already turned and headed toward a corner where A-Kuan stood.

Zhong Yu’s eyes flickered. He set the glass aside and smiled as he engaged with someone who approached to chat.

A-Kuan held an empty tray tightly in front of his face, shielding it. Ruan Mianmian quietly glanced at him.

She asked, “What’s going on on the second floor?”

“I don’t know.”

A-Kuan shook his head, still clutching the tray.

Ruan Mianmian yanked the tray down, grinning, and asked, “Is Jiang Ce inside?”

“You can go up and see for yourself.”

A-Kuan’s dark eyes shone with an innocent, pure look.