C7 Late Night Party

The Eastern Suburbs Mansion was the hub for Summerwood's wealthy elite!

Renowned for its exorbitantly priced villas, each complete with its own garden, it was the epitome of an affluent neighborhood.

Indeed, it wasn't just Summerwood's rich who were drawn here; businessmen from neighboring cities also flocked to purchase villas, eager to indulge in the exhilarating sensation of lavish spending.

For Xiao Nan, stepping into the Eastern Suburbs Mansion for the first time was an eye-opening experience. Despite having glimpsed it on television and in brochure images, nothing compared to the firsthand encounter.

With green spaces making up 70% of the area, the villas were few and far between—just a handful dotted throughout the estate.

Ai Xiaohan's residence was the grandest villa in the Eastern Suburbs.

Luxury cars of every make lined the driveway, while two young men in black suits stood guard at the entrance, meticulously checking the invitations of arriving guests.

At the sight of Ai Xiaohan's car, the duo quickly stepped aside to grant her access.

After parking, Ai Xiaohan stepped out and turned to Xiao Nan, "Come on, I'll show you inside."

The garden party was a sea of elegantly dressed guests: men in sharp suits and women in lavish evening gowns, all mingling with grace.

Xiao Nan glanced at his own attire, clearly mismatched for the occasion, yet it didn't seem to bother him.

Ai Xiaohan caught his confident demeanor and paused, taken aback. She had already realized that Xiao Nan's outfit wasn't quite right for the birthday celebration, but his poise suggested he had a strong sense of backing.

Little did she know that since acquiring the system, Xiao Nan had become quite worldly. He was no longer the man he used to be.

"Just as Grandfather said, there's something special about this young man."

Ai Xiaohan was perceptive, having encountered many exceptional young men before. She couldn't help but feel a tinge of surprise and respect for her grandfather's discerning eye.

With a nod, Xiao Nan followed Ai Xiaohan into the villa.

As they entered, all eyes were on them. Ai Xiaohan was well-known, and guests approached to offer nods and greetings.

Despite their surprise at seeing Xiao Nan off to the side, the guests couldn't place who this plainly dressed young man was or why he would attend the banquet in such simple attire. Yet, since he was accompanied by the Ai family's young lady, no one dared to comment.

Xiao Nan paid no mind to the astonished looks he received, casually making his way into the room. Ai Xiaohan guided him to a solitary table, instructing, "Wait here for me. I'm going to change into something more appropriate and then I'll introduce you to my grandfather."

"Understood."

Being the Ai family's young lady meant Ai Xiaohan had to dress the part for her grandfather's birthday celebration. She had thrown on casual wear to fetch Xiao Nan, foregoing makeup in her rush. Now, she needed to dash upstairs to slip into formal attire and apply her makeup.

Once Ai Xiaohan departed, a waiter presented Xiao Nan with a glass of red wine. He accepted it, savoring a gentle sip. The wine, true to the Ai family's reputation, was sweet upon entry with a distinctive aroma that lingered on the palate—a glimpse into the lifestyle of the wealthy.

While enjoying his wine, Xiao Nan pulled out his new Apple phone and began scrolling through his social media feed. A recent update from Su Xiaoyan caught his attention, and his eyes sparkled with intrigue.

"Fortunate to be at a high-end banquet, wishing my friend's grandpa a very happy birthday!" Su Xiaoyan's post read, accompanied by several glamorous selfies.

She looked stunning in the photos, dressed provocatively in a black evening gown that revealed a generous portion of her décolletage, her face adorned with a heavy layer of makeup, and a wine glass in hand with a splash of red wine.

What truly caught Xiao Nan off guard was the background in one of Su Xiaoyan's photos—it looked strikingly familiar. Glancing around, he recognized it as the very hall of the villa they were in. She was here as well?

Recalling Zhao Fei mentioning he'd bring her to the party, Xiao Nan pieced it together—they were all at Ai Xiaohan's grandfather's birthday celebration.

"Talk about a small world," Xiao Nan muttered to himself with a wry chuckle.

"Hey, if it isn't Xiao Nan! What brings you here?"

Suddenly, a man's sneering voice cut through the air. Xiao Nan looked up, his pupils narrowing sharply.

There stood Zhao Fei, arm wrapped around Su Xiaoyan's waist, right in front of him.

Su Xiaoyan was clad in the same black evening gown from the photo, while Zhao Fei sported a wine-red suit. Visually, they made quite the pair.

Upon spotting Xiao Nan, Su Xiaoyan's brow furrowed, and she demanded with evident irritation, "How did you find us? Were you following us?"

"Me, follow?"

Xiao Nan was about to clarify when Su Xiaoyan cut him off with an icy tone, "Xiao Nan, I'm Zhao Fei's girlfriend now. You and I have nothing to do with each other. Mind your own business and leave. Don't make this awkward for our host."

"You've become someone I can hardly recognize, Su Xiaoyan. It truly saddens me."

Xiao Nan's voice was frosty as he addressed Su Xiaoyan.

Zhao Fei watched the exchange with a smirk, taunting Xiao Nan, "Sad? Please, spare me. Look at yourself. Why are you still bothering Su Xiaoyan? And those clothes—do they even cost more than two hundred yuan? You've got some nerve showing up here."

He casually adjusted his tie, adding, "Know what this is worth? Five thousand yuan. It could buy over twenty sets of whatever you're wearing. Know your place and stop dreaming about punching above your weight."

His voice boomed, drawing the gaze of many onlookers.

Xiao Nan shot Zhao Fei a dismissive glance and responded coolly, "What concern is it of yours why I'm here?"

Murmurs spread among the crowd. Su Xiaoyan, feeling the weight of their stares, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment, raised her voice at Xiao Nan, "Do I even know you? Stop trying to cozy up to me, you pauper."

Clearly agitated, Su Xiaoyan nearly screamed the words, desperate to distance herself from Xiao Nan.

"How low-class."

The guests around them frowned in disapproval. Such outbursts were out of place at an upscale gathering.

"Fine!" Xiao Nan retorted with a sneer, "I may be a pauper, but from now on, you walk your sunny path, and I'll cross my log bridge. Let's act as strangers from here on out. I just hope, when you finally become a wealthy lady, you won't turn your back on your past."

Xiao Nan's voice was icy, chilling the air around him as if the temperature had plummeted several degrees. His gaze was laden with a murderous intent that made Su Xiaoyan shiver uncontrollably.

Terrified, Su Xiaoyan flung herself into Zhao Fei's arms, weeping, "Hubby, he had the audacity to insult me. Why should someone like that be allowed to stay? Get this vagrant out of here, now!"

She seemed to have forgotten that she had no stake in this event, and that not so long ago, she too had dressed simply, attending school and working just like Xiao Nan.

Zhao Fei turned to Xiao Nan with a menacing glare. "Didn't you hear? Leave!"

But Xiao Nan stood his ground, unfazed.

In another's home, Zhao Fei couldn't resort to violence, so he gestured for a servant to come over.

Recognizing Zhao Fei, the servant promptly inquired, "What can I do for you, Young Master Zhao?"

"How do you run things here, letting just anyone in? Does he have an invitation?"

The servant gave Xiao Nan a once-over, his demeanor turning sour. Unaware that Xiao Nan had been escorted in by the Ai family's young lady, he demanded icily, "Sir, your invitation, please."

Xiao Nan, of course, had no invitation. He patted his pocket and began, "I don't have one, but..."

He was about to explain that Ai Xiaohan had brought him, but Zhao Fei cut him off.

Zhao Fei's sneer was cutting. "But nothing. No invitation means you need to leave. Do you even belong here? Do you know who tonight's host is? He's the real estate magnate of Summerwood. Every guest here is worth millions. Could you even produce a thousand yuan?"

A thousand yuan? Hardly worth mentioning.

Xiao Nan looked down on Zhao Fei's contemptuous attitude with disdain. "It's not your place to send people away. That's for the host to decide. Or are you just the owner's lapdog?"

Zhao Fei was momentarily speechless, his retort delayed. Finally, he deflected, "Don't think I'm unaware that you followed us here. And I have no idea how you managed to slip in!"

Su Xiaoyan timely added her voice to the mix, "Exactly, this man has been tailing us. We have no clue why he's here. What if his intent is to steal? Have you checked to see if anything's missing?"

The mention of theft sent a jolt through the waiter, who was visibly alarmed. The thought of something being stolen on his watch was unthinkable; everything in this place was worth a fortune.

Instinctively, everyone around patted down their pockets.

The waiter, observing Xiao Nan's failure to produce an invitation, adopted an even firmer stance, "Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave now, or I will be forced to call security."

Xiao Nan glanced at the time, guessing that Ai Xiaohan would be arriving shortly, and feigned vulnerability, "Oh, I'm so frightened. Why don't you call the security guards to throw me out?"

Amidst the tense standoff, a woman's icy voice cut through, "Who dares to throw out my guest?"

Her words hung in the air, and an immediate hush fell over the crowd.