Chapter 64-Part 1

The banquet hall was bustling with activity, with guests arriving in waves.

Here and there, groups of old acquaintances gathered, chatting amiably.

In the center of the hall, a massive crystal chandelier casts a soft, bright light, illuminating the room in a golden splendor.

Ji Ran quietly entered the banquet hall, following closely behind Ji Qingli.

Shen Yue initially wanted to greet her, but one sharp glance from Ji Ran stopped him in his tracks.

He also noticed her weighing the evening clutch in her hand, which made him even more hesitant.

To be honest, he was somewhat intimidated by this girl.

Despite her delicate and sweet appearance, which seemed entirely non-threatening, Shen Yue had been fooled by her looks before.

Ji Qingli met several acquaintances as he walked in.

Eventually, he greeted a middle-aged couple with whom he seemed quite familiar.

At this moment, Jiang Liqi was holding Ji Qingli’s arm, exuding the demeanor of the hostess.

Ji Qingli, a man who valued appearances, introduced Ji Ran to them after the greeting, “Ranran, this is one of your father’s good friends in business.”

“Hello, Uncle Zhang, hello, Auntie,” Ji Ran greeted them obediently.

Ji Qingli smiled and introduced, “This is my daughter, Ji Ran.”

However, after a quick glance at Jiang Yi, who stood nearby, he introduced her as well to avoid showing favoritism: “And this is Jiang Yi.”

Mr. Zhang and his wife were aware of Ji Qingli’s remarriage, especially since Mrs. Zhang had met Jiang Liqi before.

Upon hearing Jiang Yi’s name, they quickly understood that she was Jiang Liqi’s daughter.

The couple exchanged a few polite compliments, but most of their attention remained on Ji Ran, the legitimate daughter of the Ji family.

The young man standing beside the couple couldn’t help but look up at Ji Ran.

He asked softly, “Are you Ji Ran?”

“Xiao Kai, do you know Ranran?” Mrs. Zhang asked with a smile.

Zhang Kai, still staring at Ji Ran with interest, asked, “You’re from No. 4 middle school, right?”

Ji Ran noticed his persistent gaze and, not wanting to appear rude but also not wishing to be overly enthusiastic, simply nodded.

Zhang Kai continued to look at Ji Ran with great interest.

Seeing this, Mrs. Zhang smiled and asked, “Kai Kai, do you know each other?”

“Yes, she’s the school beauty of No. 4 High School,” Zhang Kai replied with a playful grin.

His overly casual tone slightly displeased Ji Qingli.

After all, in the eyes of the elders, being a “school beauty” wasn’t something particularly admirable.

Jiang Yi, standing nearby, was visibly upset.

The boy was around the same age as them, but he hadn’t glanced at her once.

Instead, his attention was entirely focused on Ji Ran.

Jiang Yi had always considered herself good-looking, and as a young girl, she couldn’t help but feel slighted when someone ignored her in favor of someone else.

Mrs. Zhang noticed the displeasure in Ji Qingli’s eyes and immediately scolded her son, “Kai Kai, don’t speak so carelessly.”

Zhang Kai, unfazed by his mother’s words, continued to smile playfully.

“What did I say wrong? She really is the school beauty of No. 4 Middle School, and she’s also very good at her studies.”

Mrs. Zhang’s interest piqued.

“Ranran, you’re also good at your studies?”

For the elders, academic performance was the most important thing for children at this age.

Ji Qingli’s face showed a faint smile, and he modestly waved it off, “She’s doing okay, just okay.”

“Wow, Uncle, you’re too strict! Didn’t Ji Ran place second in the entire city in the last final exams?” Zhang Kai exclaimed.

Ji Ran looked at Zhang Kai in silence, puzzled by how a guy could be so gossipy.

He seemed like someone she had paid to praise her.

Mrs. Zhang, surprised by her son’s words, looked at Ji Ran with newfound respect.

Initially, she had thought that a girl as beautiful as Ji Ran might not excel academically, as there was a stereotype that exceptionally pretty girls often got distracted in school.

But she hadn’t expected Ji Ran to be so academically accomplished.

Mrs. Zhang marveled, “Ranran’s grades are so good! If you’re second in the city, aren’t you a candidate for Tsinghua or Peking University?”

Her tone was filled with both surprise and admiration.

Even in affluent families like theirs, they hoped their children would be successful.

After all, no matter how wealthy the parents were, a wayward child could squander it all.

“Mr. Ji, you must tell me how you educate your children,” Mrs. Zhang said to Ji Qingli, her voice full of genuine interest.

Ji Qingli, always eager to save face, couldn’t hide the pride in his eyes.

“Ranran has always been sensible and obedient. She’s been a joy to raise, never giving me much to worry about.”

Ji Ran’s lips twitched in silent exasperation.

It was true that Ji Qingli hadn’t been very involved in raising her.

Whether it was her education or her daily life, most of it had been handled by Pei Yuan.

Yet here he was, shamelessly enjoying the fruits of Pei Yuan’s labor.

Ji Ran realized that to get through life, one really needed to learn a bit of this shamelessness.

Mrs. Zhang continued to shower Ji Ran with praise.

The girl’s many virtues were so evident that even Jiang Liqi, standing nearby, felt somewhat overshadowed.

She didn’t dare engage Mrs. Zhang in conversation, fearing that she might ask about Jiang Yi’s academic performance.

What would she say?

In the past, it was okay, but now, her grades were consistently at the bottom of her class.

With this thought, Jiang Liqi glanced at Jiang Yi, her face full of disappointment.

Fortunately, more people began to arrive, and soon others came over to greet them.

Ji Ran finally had a chance to slip away from Mrs. Zhang’s endless praise.

She excused herself, saying she needed to use the restroom, and walked away.

The restroom was outside the banquet hall.

As Ji Ran left the hall, she scanned the room but didn’t see any sign of Shen Zhi.

She knew that his relationship with the Shen family was strained, so perhaps he hadn’t come this time.

The thought disappointed her.

As she reached the restroom and closed the door, she heard footsteps outside.

“I’m serious, Shen Min; don’t refuse this time. I really want to meet your cousin,” a coquettish voice said playfully.

The sound of high heels clicking on the smooth restroom tiles was both chaotic and crisp.

It seemed like two or three people had entered together.

A moment later, another voice, with a pleasant but slightly sharp tone, responded, “Can’t you stop being so infatuated? He might be good-looking, but he’s got a terrible personality, and he’s an illegitimate child. Are you really thinking about dating him?”

Ji Ran had no intention of eavesdropping, but they made no effort to lower their voices despite being in a public restroom.

“Yes, I’m just after his looks. I’m not planning to marry him. Can’t I just date him?”

Shen Min put away her powder compact and glanced at her friend in the mirror, letting out a short, derisive laugh.

“Date him? With someone like Shen Zhi? Have you lost your mind?”

Ji Ran clenched her fist tightly.

The conversation outside continued.

Shen Min, who had always been both fearful and disdainful of her cousin from her uncle’s side, spoke with a voice that was sharp and bitter, “Who does he think he is? Just because he has the surname Shen, does he think he’s one of us? No matter what, we’re legitimate heirs, and he’s just a bastard that Uncle brought home to fight for the family inheritance.”