The Supreme Young Master

Chapter 21:

The next morning, Yang Ruoxi woke up early. She changed into a black short-sleeved T-shirt, tied her hair into a ponytail, and her fair face, without any makeup, still looked beautifully fresh. She then drove towards the remote Youyuan Villa, where Mr. Wang’s 80th birthday celebration was being held. This grand event was expected to gather the top elites of Jiangcheng, including the municipal party secretary, making security an utmost priority. Yang Ruoxi knew she had to be on high alert.

Half an hour later, she arrived outside the villa, where Zhou Kai and over a dozen team members were already present. Dressed in plain clothes for the occasion, they exchanged greetings and put on their Bluetooth earpieces before splitting into pairs.

Naturally, Zhou Kai partnered with Yang Ruoxi. As they stepped through the grand entrance of the villa, they were immediately struck by its grandeur. The vast bluestone plaza had at least two hundred neatly arranged tables, each adorned with 30-year-old Feitian Moutai and premium Da Chong Jiu cigarettes.

Even though Zhou Kai’s family had some influence, he couldn’t help but shake his head in awe and click his tongue. “What a spectacle. But I heard these tables are just for the regular guests. Only real VIPs can dine inside the main hall. There are only eight seats in there—aside from Mr. Wang, just seven others. I wonder who those big shots are that get to sit with him.”

“They must be some of the most powerful figures in Jiangcheng,” Yang Ruoxi said with a bitter smile. She had hoped someone she knew would be invited inside so she could seize the opportunity to meet Mr. Wang and ask for his help. However, everyone around her had already expressed that just having a seat in the plaza was an honor in itself. Those coveted spots inside were out of reach for ordinary people.

She felt a pang of helplessness. Even as a captain of the criminal investigation team, she didn’t have the qualifications to meet Mr. Wang in person. Would she really have to resign and take her father abroad for treatment?

Suppressing her emotions, Yang Ruoxi took a deep breath and focused on scanning the crowd with Zhou Kai.

Half an hour later, guests began arriving one after another. The men were all distinguished and elegant, while the women exuded grace and opulence. This gathering was less like a birthday banquet and more like a grand competition of social standing among Jiangcheng’s upper class. Everyone held their heads high and wore polite smiles, treating their invitation as a badge of honor. Despite the grandeur, they maintained their composure and refrained from loud chatter.

“Ruoxi, isn’t that Zhao Zhongyi?” Zhou Kai nudged her, pointing to a man stepping out of a Bentley.

“I don’t know him,” Yang Ruoxi replied absentmindedly.

“He’s one of the wealthiest businessmen in Jiangcheng. Hey, that girl next to him looks familiar…” Zhou Kai scratched his head. When he recognized Zhao Muxin, his eyes lit up. He had never imagined that the girl who was kidnapped that day was actually the daughter of such a wealthy tycoon. If he had known, he would have been more attentive back then—perhaps even earning Zhao Zhongyi’s favor.

As more high-profile guests arrived, even the municipal party secretary and several provincial officials made an appearance. Yet, none of them entered the main hall. They all waited outside, as Mr. Wang, the birthday star, had yet to arrive.

Another half-hour passed before a limited-edition Rolls-Royce appeared, sporting the impressive license plate “Jiang A99999.” That plate alone was worth as much as a Mercedes-Benz 600. Yang Ruoxi’s heart skipped a beat when she saw it. She remembered seeing the same car the other day when an old man had offered Qin Fei five million for his “scrap metal.”

Could that old man really be Wang Houde? If Qin Fei had such connections, why would he deceive her with fake medicine? She shook off the thought, suspecting the previous car might have been a fake plate.

Soon, Wang Houde himself stepped out, his hair snow-white yet his posture energetic. He was dressed in a red Tang suit and leaned on a cane as he greeted the crowd. The plaza erupted in applause.

To the gathered elite, Wang Houde was a living legend. As long as they were still alive, they would inevitably fall ill at some point—and as long as they weren’t dead, Mr. Wang could cure them. Naturally, everyone wanted to build a good relationship with him.

He smiled warmly and exchanged pleasantries with Zhao Zhongyi, the party secretary, and a burly older man who was rumored to be the president of the Traditional Martial Arts Association, often called the “Martial Alliance Leader.” The other three individuals who entered with him were from the provincial capital, all influential figures in their own right.

With seven seats now filled at the exclusive table, there was still one spot left. The crowd whispered among themselves, speculating about who the final distinguished guest might be. After all, showing up late was quite disrespectful.

Just then, a young man in a T-shirt and jeans limped into the villa. He looked decent but walked with a noticeable limp. Scratching his head, he casually found an empty seat in the plaza and sat down. Naturally, this man was Qin Fei.

Having been invited by Wang Houde, Qin Fei had no idea about the VIP seating inside. Seeing that the plaza was filling up quickly, he grabbed the nearest available spot.

Yang Ruoxi sighed deeply when she saw him. What was this fraud doing here? Did he think this was a place where he belonged?

Thankfully, they had nothing to do with each other anymore. If he embarrassed himself, she wouldn’t have to suffer the humiliation alongside him.

After settling down, Qin Fei wiped the sweat off his forehead. Spotting a cake on the table, he picked one up and took a bite. He had taken a taxi only as far as the main road, but the rest of the way had to be walked due to the heavy traffic. Feeling hungry, he decided to eat first.

The others at the table gave him disdainful looks, secretly wondering where this freeloader had come from. Even if he hadn’t had breakfast, eating before everyone else had started was simply rude.

Yang Ruoxi frowned as well. Qin Fei was still the same—always thinking about food. How embarrassing.

Just then, a panting overweight woman in a black Chanel dress, weighing at least 200 pounds, stormed into the villa. Her eyes swept over Yang Ruoxi with a look of contempt before she marched toward Qin Fei’s table.

This woman was Li Meimei. Delayed by an errand, she had arrived late and intended to deal with Yang Ruoxi later. Right now, she just wanted to eat first.

“Here, Meimei!” A wavy-haired woman at the table waved at her. They were close friends, and she had saved a seat for Li Meimei, only to have it taken by Qin Fei after a bathroom break. Instead of confronting him, she waited for Li Meimei to handle it herself.

“Rongrong, where’s my seat?” Li Meimei asked with irritation, noticing the table was full.

“That guy took it,” her friend pointed her lips in Qin Fei’s direction.

Li Meimei’s eyes darkened when she saw Qin Fei, a scruffy man in jeans daring to sit in her spot. Anger surged in her chest, and she pointed at him, shouting, “Get lost! That’s my seat!”