C8 Old Mr Ai

All eyes in the room turned to the source of the voice, and there stood Ai Xiaohan, resplendent in a bright red gown. Her makeup was so delicately applied that her already stunning beauty was amplified to an ethereal level. The red dress, cinched at the waist, highlighted her shapely figure, and she descended gracefully on her long, elegant legs, clad in high heels. In that moment, she eclipsed every other woman in the room.

Approaching the small group, Ai Xiaohan appraised Zhao Fei and Su Xiaoyan with a smile, asking, "Who's trying to send away my guest?" Her smile was gentle, yet her voice carried an icy chill that was unmistakable.

The waiter finally caught on. The unassuming young man he'd overlooked was none other than the young lady's guest. He shot Zhao Fei and Su Xiaoyan a covert, reproachful look, cursing his luck for getting mixed up with them.

Driven by a strong instinct for self-preservation, the waiter pointed at Zhao Fei and blurted out, "Miss, he's the one!"

Ai Xiaohan fixed her gaze on Zhao Fei and inquired, "And you are?"

Zhao Fei was momentarily speechless, utterly captivated by Ai Xiaohan. He had known of the Ai family's young lady, but her beauty had taken him by surprise, leaving him spellbound.

Comparing her to Su Xiaoyan, who now seemed as insignificant as a weed by the roadside, Zhao Fei quickly mustered a flattering smile. "Miss Ai, I'm Zhao Fei. My father is the chairman of the Summerwood Hotel."

The Summerwood Hotel was a prestigious establishment in Summerwood City, and their owner had a portfolio of other dining ventures in the city. Yet, they paled in comparison to the Ai family.

Zhao Fei's jaw dropped even further when Ai Xiaohan turned her attention to Xiao Nan. "Who dares to be impertinent to a guest I personally brought? Xiao Nan, I want a full account of what just happened," Ai Xiaohan demanded, her voice resonating with authority.

Her words not only took Zhao Fei and Su Xiaoyan aback but also set the room abuzz with speculation about her relationship with Xiao Nan. Could this be the Ai family's young lady's boyfriend? He looked young, and his attire wasn't that of a typical scion.

Xiao Nan chuckled and replied, "It's nothing serious, Xiaohan. These two are just classmates of mine; we were catching up."

"So they're your classmates, huh? But why do I get the feeling they're giving you the cold shoulder?"

Ai Xiaohan shot a glance at Zhao Fei and Su Xiaoyan, sending Zhao Fei into a panic, his skin breaking out in a cold sweat.

He was attending the party in place of his father, with the primary goal of rubbing elbows with the elite and, ideally, getting in good with the Ai family. If the Ai family's daughter took a disliking to him, he'd be done for. How could he face his father's wrath when he returned?

He hastily clarified, "Xiao Nan and I are classmates, and we get along really... really well. I was just making a joke earlier."

But Su Xiaoyan's next words nearly sent Zhao Fei over the edge: "Good relationship? Let me tell you, this guy just followed us here. He doesn't even have an invitation. Who knows if he's here to steal something?"

Su Xiaoyan's accusation nearly gave Zhao Fei a heart attack!

How could Su Xiaoyan be so clueless? Miss Ai herself had mentioned Xiao Nan by name, and still, she couldn't read the room?

Zhao Fei was starting to regret bringing her to the party.

Ai Xiaohan turned to Su Xiaoyan and asked, "And who might you be? I don't believe we've met."

Oblivious to her blunder, Su Xiaoyan snuggled up to Zhao Fei proudly and declared, "I'm his girlfriend."

In her eyes, Zhao Fei was the epitome of wealth and sophistication. Being seen with him was a status symbol.

Zhao Fei, however, nudged her aside and gave Ai Xiaohan a wry smile, his intention to distance himself from Su Xiaoyan couldn't be clearer.

Xiao Nan chimed in, "Weren't you here for your friend's grandfather's birthday celebration? How come your friend doesn't recognize you?"

Xiao Nan, taken aback by Su Xiaoyan's audacity to badmouth him, simply smirked and pulled out his phone. He opened his WeChat Moments, located Su Xiaoyan's recent post, and displayed it for all to see.

Several onlookers gathered around, and upon recognizing the backdrop of luxury cars, opulent villas, fine wines, and gourmet food—and spotting themselves in the photos—they erupted into hearty laughter.

Isn't that the kind of post you'd expect from a woman obsessed with vanity?

Ai Xiaohan's voice dripped with sarcasm as she said, "You do realize that my grandfather is the honoree at tonight's birthday banquet, right?"

"Ah?" Su Xiaoyan was taken aback, her face flushing with embarrassment. She had no idea she was in the presence of the banquet host's granddaughter!

"Just escort her out," Ai Xiaohan commanded succinctly. At her word, several security guards moved in, ready to usher Su Xiaoyan out with firm hands.

In the same icy tone, Ai Xiaohan turned to Zhao Fei, "Since you brought her, you can accompany her on the way out."

"But... Miss Ai... Miss Ai... I don't even know her!" Zhao Fei protested.

Despite Zhao Fei's pleas, the burly security guards escorted both of them out.

Xiao Nan couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction watching the scene unfold.

This was the fate of those who courted vanity and snobbery!

With the two disruptors gone, the guests returned to their wine and business discussions, awaiting the start of the banquet.

"Xiao Nan, I apologize for the interruption earlier. I didn't expect those two to spoil your evening," Ai Xiaohan said, her tone laced with regret.

Xiao Nan simply smiled and replied, "No worries."

Mid-conversation, a waiter's voice cut through the din of the hall, "Ladies and gentlemen, please quiet down. Old Mr. Ai has arrived!"

The chatter ceased as all eyes turned toward the staircase.

Descending with dignified grace was Old Mr. Ai, the man of the hour, clad in a traditional Tang suit, his face beaming with vitality.

As he made his way through the crowd, warm greetings were exchanged, and he addressed the assembly with a booming voice, "Good evening to you all! I'm deeply grateful for your presence at my humble birthday celebration. Thank you for your efforts!"

"Tonight is not just about sharing a meal; we have another significant event planned."

"The Ai family is deeply committed to charitable causes, so we're hosting an auction this evening. All proceeds will go directly to charity organizations."

"Let's begin the auction now."

The charity auction was expected news to the attendees, so there were no surprises there.

The most surprised, however, was Xiao Nan.

He hadn't anticipated that the auction he was instructed to attend would be part of Old Mr. Ai's birthday celebrations!

"So, everyone, please enjoy your meal tonight. We'll dine and bid as the auction unfolds."

Old Mr. Ai boomed the commencement of the evening's festivities, and the assembled guests promptly settled into their seats. The spread of sumptuous dishes before them went largely untouched, as all eyes were riveted on the impending auction.

With fervor, the auctioneer took to the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's treasures have been generously provided by the esteemed business community of Summerwood. There is no cap on the bids tonight. Our first lot is a gift from CEO Wang of Summerwood Real Estate Company."

A murmur swept through the crowd. "What exactly is the Mount Tai Stone?"

"And what sort of collectible is it?"

The buzz of conversation grew as the auctioneer elaborated, "This particular piece was acquired by CEO Wang on a trip to Mount Tai. Its unusual shape and vibrant patterns lend it a certain collectible allure."

A vision in qipao glided forward, presenting the stone on a sandalwood tray. A collective sigh of disappointment rose; it was nothing more than an ordinary rock, hardly the vaunted Mount Tai Stone.

Yet Xiao Nan's heart skipped a beat. This stone was the spitting image of the jade raw stone listed in the software.

"Let's start the bidding at five thousand!" The auctioneer didn't miss a beat as he set the price.

Despite the modest opening bid, the crowd's enthusiasm was noticeably absent. To them, such stones were a dime a dozen, likely available at any roadside stand along Wenxuan Road.

But Xiao Nan's gaze flickered with intent; he was resolute in acquiring this stone.

"There's more to this auction than just this stone. There must be plenty of overlooked treasures here," he thought, watching the indifferent crowd. Xiao Nan inhaled deeply, sensing the auction was his golden ticket to a windfall.

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