C6 A Fraudulent Buffet

Ling Yifei instantly recognized the man before him – Chen Tianxing.

Six months prior, it was Chen who had placed a substantial order at his father's factory. But it turned out to be a setup; the contract was a trap that led to Ling Zhiyu being accused of unilateral breach, resulting in massive losses and a hefty fine that ultimately crippled the factory.

Unexpectedly, Ling Yifei found himself face-to-face with his adversary here. He gathered his belongings and joined the three individuals as they entered the buffet restaurant.

Soon after their arrival, a diverse crowd followed suit, swelling the number of patrons to over thirty. Despite the influx, the restaurant still felt eerily vacant.

Amidst the crowd, Ling Yifei could feel Chen Tianxing's presence. Seated on the couch, he focused intently on that feeling, oblivious to the conversation of the trio beside him.

"Happy birthday!" Liu Susu exclaimed, clapping her hands in Situ Yun's direction as she took her seat.

Situ Yun offered a crooked smile in response. "What kind of birthday present did you get me? It's not yourself, is it?"

Liu Susu playfully punched Situ Yun on the arm. "Are you out of your mind?" she retorted before presenting a box. "This is your real gift."

Situ Yun examined the watch with a pout. "You're giving me this? I use my phone to tell time."

"You have no idea, do you? This watch is worth a hundred grand!" Liu Susu boasted with a hint of pride. "I had to beg my dad for it; he wouldn't have bought it otherwise!"

"Alright, alright, thank you!" Situ Yun quickly strapped on the watch, though he privately questioned its appeal.

"Who are all these people who've come today?" Liu Susu wondered aloud, surveying the room after handing over the gift. "It seems we don't know a single one of them."

Apart from their small group, the majority of the attendees were in formal attire, looking more suited for a funeral than a birthday celebration. They chatted and laughed, yet their demeanor was stiff, hardly indicative of a festive occasion.

"How should I know who they are?" Situ Yun replied with an eye roll. "They're all business associates of my dad's, using my birthday as an excuse for some networking event."

Liu Susu nodded in agreement.

"Let's go somewhere else tomorrow to have some fun. We really should find a great spot to celebrate properly," Situ Yun suggested before turning to Jiaang Xueer. "Xueer, have you gotten me a gift?"

Jiaang Xueer nodded coolly, reached for Ling Yifei's bag beside her, and pulled out the outfit she had purchased that afternoon. At eight thousand yuan, it was a bargain compared to what Liu Susu had brought. Of course, this was all part of Liu Susu's strategic play.

Situ Yun accepted the bag and examined the clothes inside. "Wow, this is great, I really like it!"

Meanwhile, Ling Yifei glanced over at the trio's conversation and caught sight of the clothes in Situ Yun's hands. He was confused once more. Were the clothes not meant for him? But he wasn't in the mood to dwell on it; his focus was entirely on Chen Tianxing.

"By the way, you haven't introduced me to your friend here," Situ Yun said, gesturing toward Ling Yifei.

"Oh, he's the son of a friend of Xueer's mother. Xueer calls him Ling Yifei now!" Liu Susu said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she uttered 'brother.' "Isn't that right, Xueer?"

After her remark, Liu Susu gave Jiaang Xueer a conspiratorial wink, signaling it was time to make a bold move.

Jiaang Xueer nodded and casually took Ling Yifei's hand. "Ling Yifei, could you grab some food for me?"

Despite Jiaang Xueer's soft chest brushing against his hand, Ling Yifei was laser-focused and oblivious to the incident.

The atmosphere in the room began to shift as more people entered, diluting the air with a mix of energies. Although Ling Yifei could sense Chen Tianxing's presence, his perception wasn't sharp. He had no choice but to weave through the crowd in search of Chen Tianxing.

Ling Yifei stood and made his way into the throng. Liu Susu and Jiaang Xueer waved him off before turning their attention to Situ Yun's reaction.

Situ Yun's smile, which had been quite joyful, suddenly froze on his face. As he watched Ling Yifei walk away, a slight twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Jiaang Xueer and Liu Susu exchanged glances, both thinking the same thing: "This is getting interesting."

Once he blended into the crowd, Ling Yifei casually picked up a plate, helped himself to some food, and started meandering through the throng of people. He did his utmost to avoid any unwanted encounters that might lead to being questioned, all the while keeping a close watch on Chen Tianxing.

In such a setting, given his attire, it was unlikely anyone would approach him for a conversation.

Chen Tianxing seemed to be enjoying a lively discussion with others. Ling Yifei concentrated, channeling his Vital Spirit to enhance his focus. With this heightened state, he could easily overhear Chen Tianxing's conversation amidst the noisy crowd, even from a distance.

Chen Tianxing was merely discussing some inconsequential business matters. After a short time, Situ Yun approached Ling Yifei.

"Ling Yifei, isn't it?" Situ Yun asked with a less than friendly tone.

Ling Yifei turned, gave Situ Yun a brief glance, and nodded, not bothering to speak. For some reason, he took an immediate dislike to this affluent heir.

"What's your relationship with Xueer?"

"Nothing," Ling Yifei thought, "Can you please leave?" He had no desire for this rich kid to intrude on his space.

Situ Yun, taken aback by Ling Yifei's dismissive response, scrutinized him.

"He looks like nothing but a pauper," Situ Yun thought to himself.

"I don't care what your relationship with Xueer is, but I suggest you stop bothering her," Situ Yun said, continuing to load his plate with food. "Someone as destitute as you could never provide the happiness she deserves."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Ling Yifei thought, rolling his eyes in exasperation. "Look, I really have nothing to do with Xueer, so please, don't concern yourself with me. Thanks."

Situ Yun seized Ling Yifei's arm firmly. "Listen, kid, the Situ family isn't to be trifled with. It's in your best interest not to cross me."

Ling Yifei's Vital Spirit had surged to his fingertips. With just a burst of this energy, he could obliterate Situ Yun in an instant. Yet, Ling Yifei managed to hold back.

"Big brother, please spare me. I won't cross you again. I'm terrified."

Situ Yun responded to Ling Yifei's plea with a scornful smile and walked away. Watching him go, Ling Yifei rolled his eyes, thinking to himself, "Moron."

But Situ Yun's arrogance couldn't go unpunished. How could Ling Yifei let that slide? Nonchalantly, he grabbed a chicken wing from a nearby plate and flicked it at Situ Yun's ankle.

Situ Yun was sent flying, his plate flinging its contents onto the back of an unsuspecting man. The man lurched forward, face-planting in a spectacular fashion, his toupee landing atop a woman's bustier. The woman's white wine splashed onto another man's face, who, in shock, hurled his dessert at yet another guest.

The room descended into pandemonium. Ling Yifei couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Situ Yun's embarrassment.

However, in the midst of the chaos, Chen Tianxing had disappeared.