Chapter 52: The Banquet (1)

As soon as Lin Fan finished speaking, a blush crept onto Zhao Ying’s cheeks, clearly recalling the wildness of that night. When they reached the underground parking lot, Zhao Ying hurriedly tossed the car keys to Lin Fan. “Um, you drive,” she said, her face still flushed as she slipped into the passenger seat.

Lin Fan agreed readily—he hadn’t driven a top-tier sports car in ages, and Zhao Ying’s car was obviously modified, probably worth nearly ten million. He hadn’t expected to actually hook up with such a wealthy woman!

What Lin Fan didn’t know was that Zhao Ying wasn’t one to show off. Being a woman, she didn’t care much for cars, and ever since she’d acquired this Lamborghini Bat, it had mostly sat gathering dust in the garage. She’d only brought it out today for the auction.

Like most men, Lin Fan loved cars. Back when he was with Falcon, his driving skills had been top-notch. During missions, they often had to plan escape routes, so he’d learned to pilot almost anything—helicopters, planes, ships, even fighter jets—but his true mastery was with cars.

Given such an opportunity, Lin Fan wouldn’t let it slip by. Driving a car like this was pure enjoyment!

He adjusted the speed, and the Lamborghini surged into the flow of traffic like a wild beast unleashed. The sudden acceleration pressed Zhao Ying back in her seat, leaving her dizzy and breathless, as though she’d taken flight. By the time she came back to her senses, the Lamborghini was weaving through the cars like a streak of lightning.

It was nearly six o’clock, the peak of rush hour, and the streets were crowded. Lin Fan couldn’t unleash the full power of the Lamborghini Bat, but even at this speed, Zhao Ying’s heart pounded wildly as she clung tightly to Lin Fan’s arm.

She didn’t know why, but seeing the quiet confidence at the corner of Lin Fan’s lips reassured her. She leaned against his shoulder, her hand encircling his arm.

Since she had chosen to love, no matter what happened, she would press on, without hesitation. Zhao Ying told herself this silently.

A little over ten minutes later, the Lamborghini Bat glided to a stop in front of the Junyue Hotel, a property under the Zhentian Group! What should have been a half-hour journey, Lin Fan had whittled down to ten minutes flat, leaving no shortage of stunned faces along the way.

A supercar paired with a stunning beauty like Zhao Ying naturally drew every gaze in the vicinity.

Lin Fan tossed the keys to the valet, asking him to park the car. The valet was beside himself with excitement. There were plenty of guests at Junyue Hotel today, but few who arrived in a Lamborghini. He couldn’t believe he’d get to drive such a world-class car himself.

Tonight’s auction was being held on the hotel’s top floor, while the pre-auction cocktail party was in the lobby. Zhao Ying gently held Lin Fan’s arm as they walked towards the entrance, all eyes upon them.

The Junyue Hotel, belonging to Zhentian Group, was a place Lin Fan had never set foot in since returning to China—he hadn’t even been to Zhentian Group itself. If not for tonight’s auction, he doubted he’d ever have come here.

Lavish didn’t even begin to describe the hotel’s interior. The entire first floor was blanketed in red carpet. As Lin Fan and Zhao Ying entered, the lively conversations in the hall fell silent; everyone turned to look. Though they were slightly late, they weren’t tardy, but most guests had already arrived.

“Brother, what took you so long?” A girl in a white dress darted over to Lin Fan, smiling brightly. Behind her trailed a young man whom Lin Fan recognized instantly—it was Wei Liang, the same man he’d beaten up twice!

One had to admit, Feifei was exceptionally beautiful today, like a graceful white swan. Yet there was none of the allure of a mature woman; instead, she appeared petite and sweet.

That morning, Lin Fan had called to invite her to the auction, and the girl had been giddy with excitement all day, putting great care into her appearance. She’d assumed Lin Fan was only bringing her, so when she saw Zhao Ying on his arm, a trace of disappointment flickered in her eyes. Still, she smiled sweetly at Zhao Ying. “Sister Ying, you look beautiful tonight.”

“Thank you, you’re lovely too,” Zhao Ying replied with a gentle smile. They were still a bit unfamiliar with each other, which Lin Fan found perfectly natural—they’d only met once before.

“Ying, you’re finally here. I thought you weren’t coming,” Wei Liang, who’d followed Feifei, seized the moment to greet Zhao Ying anxiously.

Seeing that Zhao Ying had no interest in talking to him, Wei Liang turned to Feifei. “Feifei, is this your brother?” He’d just watched Feifei greet Lin Fan, and couldn’t believe it. How could someone as beautiful and charming as Feifei be Lin Fan’s sister?

The two looked nothing alike. If Feifei was a lovely princess, then Lin Fan, even decked out in designer brands, looked nothing like a prince—more like a streetwise rascal, exuding a roguish air. Of course, this was only in Wei Liang’s eyes.

Lin Fan hadn’t expected Wei Liang to know Feifei. The truth was, it all traced back to this young master himself. Since graduating from university, Wei Liang had kept tabs on every “beauty” at his alma mater. The moment Feifei enrolled, he found out. Because of the injury to his nose, he hadn’t acted right away.

Now that he’d recovered, he’d launched a relentless pursuit of Feifei. For a rich playboy like him, women were all that mattered.

Wei Liang had specially invited Feifei to tonight’s auction. She’d originally refused, but since Lin Fan had also told her about the event, she changed her mind at the last minute.

Feifei frowned slightly. “You know my brother?” She really couldn’t stand Wei Liang, having long heard about how he used Pujiang Group’s influence to ruin the reputations of many girls at her school. There was no way she’d get involved with someone like him.

“Yes, yes, I know him,” Wei Liang replied awkwardly, sneaking a glance at Lin Fan, unsure how to explain their relationship—he certainly couldn’t say they were rivals in love.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the crowd—a slightly awkward, but arrogant Mandarin. “Hey, Ying, I didn’t expect to see you here. I was just about to call you.” A young man, a full head shorter than Lin Fan, parted the crowd, beaming as he walked over with a glass of wine.

People in the hall mingled in small circles, but this young man was surrounded by more than anyone else. Clearly, he held a prominent position among them; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so popular.

Sure enough, at the sight of him, Zhao Ying’s brows knitted in distaste. In a low voice, she introduced him to Lin Fan: “That’s Jin Million, heir to the Haitian Group in SH City. Haitian Group has extensive dealings with overseas companies and ranks among the world’s top hundred enterprises. I’m surprised he showed up at this auction.”

Most guests tonight were representatives of major domestic companies, some foreign executives, and a number of local tycoons. After all, the auction was organized by Zhentian Group, whose international reputation was formidable.

But Lin Fan and Zhao Ying clearly knew nothing about the auction’s details. Lin Fan was here simply to teach that second-generation brat, Wei Liang, a lesson, while Zhao Ying was only here to accompany Lin Fan. If not for him, she wouldn’t be caught dead at such a tedious event.

Lin Fan, of course, had heard of Haitian Group, which had some global recognition. What puzzled him was how Zhao Ying, a mere police officer, knew so much about the business world, especially about a company as far away as Haitian Group in SH City. Still, since Zhao Ying didn’t volunteer any information, Lin Fan didn’t press her. Trust was the key to any relationship, and he understood that well enough.

Seeing Jin Million approach, Wei Liang figured he was after Zhao Ying as well. That was just as well—perhaps he and Lin Fan would tear each other apart, and Wei Liang could sit back and enjoy the show. In his mind’s eye, he could already picture Lin Fan’s embarrassment. At the same time, he knew there was no chance for himself with Zhao Ying—not just probably, but definitely none.

Jin Million was not someone he could afford to offend. Though Pujiang Group was famous, it still lagged behind Haitian Group.

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