301: Banquet

The truth behind 'fairy tales' was often cruel.

They also didn’t tend to last long; Emily abandoned Auston midway for another interesting man. Wang Cheng had been following along with them, and when he saw this, subconsciously glanced at Duke Auston. However, the duke’s expression was beyond his expectations, with not a hint of embarrassment or disappointment to be seen, as if this was all quite normal.

Not long after Duke Auston brought Wang Cheng and Chu Yifeng in, business partners and noblemen began to approach, holding glasses of wine. Duke Auston introduced these people to Wang Cheng one by one.

Some had already heard of the Zhou Group, since they’d done some advertising in preparation for developing in the UK. Although the advertisements couldn’t be found often, because they didn’t intend to have a widespread influence, others were able to look up information on the internet. This foreign company actually knew the heir of the Eimer family and Duke Auston? Then they wouldn’t dare to take the Zhou Group lightly. They quickly put Wang Cheng on their lists of people to befriend.

After a couple of back and forth exchanges, Wang Cheng had been smiling for so long that his face was stiff. He sent the last nobleman away and immediately changed positions with Chu Yifeng, relieved to finally have time to himself.

"This is killing me. Who knew socializing would be so tiring?" Wang Cheng pulled at the knotted tie around his neck, feeling as if he didn’t have room to breath.

Chu Yifeng handed him a glass of red wine. "It isn’t, with more experience."

Wang Cheng took a sip from the glass of wine, and said, "I really don't want this kind of experience. Anyways, it looks like Mama Emily is pretty powerful. She has switched between no less than twenty people since she came in, all of them men. Are they also her former lovers?"

"Of course not, she is very picky with men. Most of these men have a one-way admiration towards her."

All the men who were able to be Emily's guests had some outstanding feature, or trait, . So, if they were only rich, it was impossible for them to attract Emily. Many men were crazy about Emily, but few could really enter her gaze.

Wang Cheng said with a smile: "I see. Fortunately, Mama Emily has no plans of remarrying. Otherwise, with her perception of feelings and ideas, you might have had many stepfathers or younger brothers by now."

Chu Yifeng raised an eyebrow and was about to answer, when the lights around them suddenly dimmed. A bright light shone on the stairs leading to the second floor, and the host's loud, clear voice immediately sounded.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome the bride and groom tonight, Master Fitch, the heir to the Rolle family, and Miss Mary, the daughter of the Duke Auston."

Two figures appeared under the light, Mary and her groom, Fitch. The newly wedded couple held hands and slowly walked down the stairs. The lights moved with their steps, making their every move for everyone in the banquet hall.

Wang Cheng narrowed his eyes and stared at the beautiful, noble bride. It was rumored that she had liked Chu Yifeng's for over ten years. She looked as noble as a white swan, and though she was smiling, she still gave a sense of condescension. However, no one felt that there was anything wrong with her condescension - as the daughter of the duke, she certainly had the justification.

"Interested in her?" Chu Yifeng saw that he had been staring at Mary.

Wang Cheng withdrew his gaze. "It’s more like she is interested in you."

Chu Yifeng immediately understood. "My mother told you?"

"It doesn't matter anymore." Wang Cheng spread his hands. He’d noticed as he was staring at Mary that she seemed to be looking in their direction, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Wang Cheng’s felt as if Mary knew Chu Yifeng was here, and he suddenly began to believe Mama Emily’s story a little bit. "I think it's better for us to stay in China. There seem to be a lot of women abroad who like you - Sophie is a miraculous exception.”

Chu Yifeng circled an arm around his waist and whispered in his ear, while lowly laughing, "You can go back if you want. "

When the lights returned to the banquet hall, Chu Yifeng did not let go of Wang Cheng. Those around them only needed a moment before they adapted. There were no strange expressions on their faces. In this country, homosexuality had long been legalized. There were others similar to them in other corners of the room, but they were all more low-key.

Wang Cheng was laughing, when he suddenly felt a burning gaze. However, when he turned back, he found nothing.

Emily happened to be nearby. She said goodbye to a man who was reluctant to part with her, before coming over and asking them to accompany her in greeting the bride and groom.

Mary's husband, Fitch, was a very handsome man who seemed to love Mary very much. He had an arm wrapped around Mary’s waist and refused to let it go. As the heir of the Rohr family, his upbringing was very good and his every move held a certain charm.

"Mr. Eimer, it's a pleasure to meet you. I've admired you for some time. My father often mentions you, reminding me to learn from you. Thank you for taking the time to attend my and Mary’s wedding banquet."

‘Other people's children’* was always Chu Yifeng. Fitch himself was also a very good person, otherwise Duke Auston wouldn’t let him marry his daughter. However, Chu Yifeng was just better than him.

[T/N: *meaning children parents always compare their child to. Instead of a specific name, the phrase ‘other people’s children’ can be used]

"Thank you for the praise." Chu Yifeng shook hands with him, but when he was about to withdraw his hand, he found that his hand was being gripped harder than usual. He glanced at Fitch’s blue eyes, which were staring straight through him, as if to convey some hidden meaning. Such a grip didn’t mean anything to Chu Yifeng. He returned the same treatment, causing the other party's face to change slightly. After a few seconds, Chu Yifeng withdrew his hand, without a change in his expression throughout the whole process.

When he was being introduced to Wang Cheng, Fitch obviously had no interest in him, that was, until Emily mentioned that Wang Cheng was Chu Yifeng's partner. Then, he seemed to be lost in his thoughts for a moment. Mary, on the other hand, solidified a burning gaze on Wang Cheng.

Fitch suddenly became enthusiastic, while Mary was left acting salty. She didn’t even get excited when she was talking with Chu Yifeng.

After greeting them, Emily and Auston left together.

The bride and groom were soon pestered by other guests who came over to congratulate them. Wang Cheng and Chu Yifeng walked away to an empty corner.

"What just happened?"

Others might not have noticed it, but Wang Cheng was sensitive to the fact that when Chu Yifeng and Fitch shook hands, although short-lived, it was like a fight.

"The groom probably knows about Mary liking me, so he was hostile towards me." Chu Yifeng took a sip of wine, and the corners of his mouth curled up after swallowing, as if amused.

"What, are you happy?" Wang Cheng glanced at the smile on his face.

Chu Yifeng replied: "The marriage of the Fitch and Mary is actually the marriage of their two families."

Wang Cheng suddenly reacted, "You mean to say, it was a family arrangement, but Fitch still fell in love with Mary?" He suddenly understood what Mama Emily was telling him at the hotel. It turned out that the reason why they couldn't divorce was because this was a matter of their families’ interests. If they divorced, the two families would become involved.

"If a man has no feelings for his partner, he won’t bother feeling hostile towards someone his partner likes, let alone demonstrate it. It’s impossible for him to do this without liking Mary." Chu Yifeng still remembered his hostile gaze.

Wang Cheng thought for a moment and then smiled. "Today, Mama Emily told me to beware of Mary at the hotel. It turns out that women really do understand women."

"We’ll go back to Italy tomorrow, don't worry about Mary," Chu Yifeng said.

Wang Cheng said, "Aren’t we going to visit Duke Auston's mansion tomorrow morning?" He was still concerned about the meaning of Mama Emily's last sentence. Was Mary not going to take her husband seriously, now that she was married? Then he’d better stay vigilant. Before Chu Yifeng could answer, he himself refused. "Forget it, tonight is a good enough opportunity, I'll go get to all the bigwigs first.”

Chu Yifeng put down his wine glass. "Let's go together."

That night, with the help of Chu Yifeng, Wang Cheng made connections with a lot of 'like-minded' people. In just one night, almost everyone in the upper-class circles of the UK knew about the Zhou Group and Jinding Hotel. Later on, many rich and aristocratic visitors would subconsciously choose to stay at Jinding Hotel when in China, causing an excellent reputation and increasing the prospects for the foreign development of the Zhou Group.

The dinner didn't end until twelve o'clock, but some people went back early, including Chu Yifeng and Wang Cheng, while Emily came back later. At around midnight, Emily was sent back by Duke Auston himself. She had drunk some wine, so her beautiful cheeks were flushed and her whole body weakly leaned on Duke Auston's body. The man was provoked and couldn't help but kiss her fiercely at the door. Wang Cheng felt as if someone was outside, so when he opened the door, he was met with this scene.

Fortunately, Duke Auston was quite a restrained gentleman - he would never take advantage of Emily when she was drunk. He left Emily with Wang Cheng and Chu Yifeng before departing.

***

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