Chapter 305: Birthday Banquet
Xia Fei had never seen a more illuminated nightscape; Half Moon Hill and Half Moon Lake had countless spotlights that shot forth, nearly turning night into day. Even that moon, which shone brilliantly above his head, became a dispensable decoration in contrast. Actually, the moon was very beautiful and bright, but it simply could not compare to the tens of thousands dazzling lights around the Sunset Villa compound.
Xia Fei suddenly felt that it would be more apt to call the place Sun-never-set Villa than Sunset Villa.
The huge banquet would continue, non-stop, for the next three days starting from today.
Xia Fei had no idea how much was being spent in these few days or just how many high-ranking officials and relatives of royalty would be attending. He was only attending such an extravagant banquet all for the sake of one person, and it was Avril.
Dusting his fitting suit, Xia Fei lit a cigarette and stood right outside the Sunset Villa as hordes of pretty men and women walked past him, chattering while taking light elegant steps to the glitzy Half Moon Hill.
A very stylish sports hovercar roared into view, the driver opening the door for a young lady in a purple, evening dress. This woman was evidently unaccustomed to her high heels and the c.u.mbersome cla.s.sic long skirt. She swayed as she walked, seemingly going to fall at any time.
The lady took a few steps and realized what the problem was. Had she kept going on like that, perhaps she would have first ended up displaying her gymnastic skills before she even reached the peak of Half Moon Hill.
Looking around, her eyes spotted Xia Fei standing by the side. Due to his cultivation of the Sly Thrust technique over such a long time, he always liked keeping himself hiding in the most inconspicuous corner, and for this lady to have discovered Xia Fei at a glance was a testament to her sharp eyes.
The lady waved to Xia Fei, gesturing for him to come over.
Xia Fei pointed to himself, confused.
The lady was displeased, opening her mouth to say, “Yes, you. Come over here.”
Xia Fei walked over with a smile, and the lady covered her nose with her hand, for she was not used to the strong scent of tobacco on him.
“Toss that thing away and then carry my clutch for me,” said the lady somewhat curtly. “Not even a bit of discipline. Truly, I wonder why would the Jian Family hire a bodyguard like yourself.”
That was when Xia Fei realized that the woman had mistaken him for a guard, which was why she was giving him orders left and right.
Taking the lady’s clutch and tossing his cigarette b.u.t.t to the side, Xia Fei lowered his head and inspected his suit. This was what Avril had personally picked out for him, so how could he have been mistaken for a mere bodyguard?
The lady very nimbly took off the high heels from her feet and examined them in her hands, like a very experienced cobbler looking at her creation.
Xia Fei used this chance to look at the lady through the corner of his eye and noticed that she looked to be about eighteen years of age, with fetching features and a cute b.u.t.ton nose.
Actually, all the ladies who arrived at the banquet tonight were also very beautiful, but it just so happened that Xia Fei did not particularly favor their thick foundation and dazzling jewelry, and it was instead this young lady with her light makeup and spa.r.s.e adornments that he found more pleasing to the eye.
“Reduce the length of each shoe heel by 2.4 centimeters and smoothen the curvature of the sole as well.”
Xia Fei frowned, “Lady, I—”
He never would have thought the lady would raise her eyebrow before Xia Fei even finished. “I don’t care what excuse you’re going to give. In short, the role of a bodyguard is to help them with all their problems aside from ensuring the safety of the guests. This is your job. Now, immediately make the necessary adjustments to my shoes as per my request.”
Xia Fei helplessly smiled and pulled out the dagger specifically given to members of the Adjudicator Union.
He instantly removed exactly 2.4 centimeters from the high-heel shoes, modifying the soles accordingly, even carving ten crossmarks to make them more comfortable when worn.
The lady was quite surprised by the skills Xia Fei demonstrated. Taking her shoes back and wearing them, she took a few steps with the heels and realized that the modifications made were even better than what she had imagined, especially now that the originally stiff soles were made softer, as comfortable as wearing a pair of trainers.
“Very well done!” The lady nodded in delight. She took her golden clutch back and rummaged inside for a pen and paper, hastily scrawling some words on it before handing it to Xia fei.
“If you’re unhappy with your work here in the Jian family, you may choose to work for me. No matter what they are paying you, I’ll pay you double.”
With that, she took long and purposeful strides up the steps of Half Moon Hill, though she still walked slightly awkwardly, as if she did not usually dress like this
Phantom had a mischievous smile on his face. “What did she write on it? Perhaps she’s offering you a good job.”
Xia Fei’s fingers flicked and tossed that slip of paper away, plainly saying, “Not interested.”
…
Some time later, Thuram and the other department heads of the Adjudicator Union arrived at Sunset Villa.
Thuram did some simple introductions for everyone, and all these key members of the Adjudicator Union looked at Xia Fei with strange gazes. Xia Fei guessed that it must be due to his relations.h.i.+p with old man Qin Mang, for some of these looks were friendly, like that from Thuram, while others harbored ill intent, like what he got from the headhunters department head Mata. He had a very unpleasant clash with Xia Fei the last time they met at the hospital where old man Qin Mang had previously been confined.
“Let’s go.” Thuram patted Xia Fei on his shoulder.
The group of men pulled out their own moth orchids corsages and pinned them on their chests. Xia Fei was completely flabbergasted. This was the reason why that lady before had mistaken him for a bodyguard.
…
The Jian family had given every distinguished guest an exquisitely crafted moth orchid corsage; this expensive flower was made of expensive and colorful metal alloys, with a crystal clear sapphire inlaid. Anyone who wore it would be easily admitted into Sunset Villa, receiving the highest level of courtesy.
Actually, all these corsages had plenty of sophisticated monitoring mechanisms. Ever since Avril got ambushed, the Jian family had stepped up the safety precautions of their family, which was why they had thought up such a covert manner to secretly observe their guests for any peculiarities. After all, it was easy to fish in troubled waters when there were tens of thousands of guests gathering for this banquet; it was best to play things safe.
Xia Fei was not wearing a corsage just then, and with how the style of his suit was kept simple, the only difference between what he wore and a bodyguard’s uniform lay in just the texture and its detail. Since the Jian family was rich and generous, the uniforms that their bodyguards wore were also made of top-grade fabrics. It was hard to differentiate the difference between the two, which was why that lady before had made the mistake.
Xia Fei and Thuram walked at the back, the group of them taking the escalator, slowly making their way to the main venue atop Half Moon Hill.
Xia Fei behaved very naturally as he pa.s.sed many high-ranking officials as though he was uninterested with who these people were or their background. He was part of the crowd making their way up, yet he was also separate from the crowd.
The top of the hill had been colorfully decorated, looking very festive, and there were too many plants that Xia Fei could not recognize. The last time Xia Fei had been here, he had not seen so many, so they must have been transplanted from elsewhere at the request of the Jian family.
A huge energy s.h.i.+eld surrounded the hilltop. The wind was strong here at night, and it became quiet after the energy s.h.i.+eld was activated, with not even a bit of wind blowing any longer.
Countless waiters shuttled through the crowd, bringing along scrumptious hor d’oeuvres and wines of different color. Thuram got himself a dark Herbanian ale, while Xia Fei took a gla.s.s of champagne.
All of sudden, he sensed that someone wanted to grab him from behind. His instinctive reaction had him taking a sidestep, and all he saw was a snowy-white hand grabbing nothing but air. Xia Fei’s keen senses noticed that there was a pale scar around her wrist as if it had been injured before. Though she had used a gold chain to obstruct its view, it was not able to get past Xia Fei’s eyes.
Curiously turning around to find the owner of this hand, Xia Fei saw that lady whom he had met down by the foot of the hill. Her purple skirt splashed from champagne, which must have spilled when Xia Fei dodged, so she ended up coming away empty-handed.
“I was just looking for you, help me again with—”
The lady caught herself from finis.h.i.+ng her sentence because Xia Fei was also wearing an exquisite moth orchid corsage, the same as the one she was wearing. It was obvious that Xia Fei was not some bodyguard but a guest of the Jian family as well.
Xia Fei smiled. “How are your shoes?”
The lady was slightly embarra.s.sed as she answered, “Not too bad.”
“As long as they’re comfortable.” Xia Fei raised his gla.s.s in hand before jokingly commented, “Actually, I’m not used to wearing high heels, too.”
“It’d be weird if you do.”
Thuram saw Xia Fei with the lady and interrupted, “Oh? Do the two of you know each other already?”
Xia Fei shook his head. “Not really.”
Thuram chuckled, “Seriously, how is it that you’d have all the luck; this is the chairwoman of Gaia Industries, Nicole Sawyer. Nicole, this is Xia Fei.”
Xia Fei was shocked. The lady before him did not even look to be twenty yet, but she was actually the chairwoman of Gaia Industries, one of the four major wars.h.i.+p manufacturing companies?
“Is your father still doing okay?” Thuram asked.
Nicole nodded, using her hand to stroke her brown hair. “He’s hanging in there. He has already recovered half his strength, and if not for the doctors stopping him, he might’ve already rushed back to work.”
Thuram burst out into laughter. “That guy… Isn’t it good that he handed the company over for you to look after? Isn’t it better to rest and enjoy his twilight years at home than running left and right, putting fires? Besides, the company has been doing well since you took over two months ago; that old fella ought to just take it easy in his retirement.”
Nicole merely placed her hand over her mouth and t.i.ttered. “Uncle Thuram really knows how to jest; it’d be great if my father had half of your casualness. I’ve just started my job at the company, though, and there’s so much I still have no clue about. Please take care of your little niece.”
Thuram laughed. “You really know how to talk, but you’ve actually increased the price of the last batch of Megathron-cla.s.s by five percent The way I see it, you’re much better at doing business than your old man.”
Nicole replied unhurriedly, “Esteemed elder, it’s not like you don’t know that the price increase is due to the price hike of silverite. We are but the third out of the four companies to have raised the price. You didn’t hear this from me, but I have something pretty good coming down the line soon. I’ll be sure to send something over to you in a few days.”
Thuram was mildly surprised. “Do you mean that thing?”
Nicole mimed placing a finger over her lips. “Ah, Uncle Thuram, good that you know what I’m talking about. You’re the first I’m telling about this; even the military is behind you on this.”
Thuram was elated as if what Nicole had just told him delighted him greatly. “Yes, that’s how you do business. Don’t worry; your company will most definitely be well treated with me around.”
Xia Fei suddenly realized that this lady was very shrewd despite her age. Words and business flowed out of her lips with such ease that she could smooth-talk her way over the price increase matter raised a few sentences ago, even making Thuram so gleeful in the process. It was evident that she was no simple character.
Someone came over to speak with Thuram, and because Xia Fei did not know anyone, he began to retreat to a more secluded spot, leaning over the railing as he looked down the valley.
“This must be where you saved Avril Jian from the hands of the abductors last time, right?” Nicole took the initiative to start a conversation as she approached Xia Fei.
Xia Fei furrowed his brows. “How did you know about that?”
Nicole took a sip of her wine. “This circle isn’t exactly too large, so there are some things that can’t stay hidden no matter how much they are buried. I heard that you got severely injured in the process.”
Xia Fei lit a cigarette, though this time Nicole did not say a word, much less commanded him to toss the cigarette away. “You yourself said that this circle isn’t large, so why ask something you already know the answer to, Miss Nicole?”
Xia Fei had thrown the question back with just a single sentence.
Nicole regarded Xia Fei with an odd gaze. “You really like Avril? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been so willing to lay down your life for her.”
Xia Fei laughed. “Trust me. There are some things that needn’t be chosen because they’re not a choice to begin with.”
Nicole’s cheeks suddenly paled slightly, muttering to herself, “Avril sure is lucky.”
Xia helplessly shrugged. “I wouldn’t say that Avril almost getting kidnapped is lucky, though.”
It was unknown why Nicole appeared to be very despondent. Xia Fei glanced at her wrist again and noticed that she was wearing a bracelet in one, while a silk handkerchief was tied around the other, as if she was intentionally covering both her wrists. Xia Fei guessed that they must be hiding scars below, and judging from the color and state of the scars, they ought to have been from when she was younger.
“Indeed, being kidnapped is definitely not considered lucky,” Nicole said softly. She raised her gla.s.s of wine and finished it in one go before calling for a waiter to get her a fresh gla.s.s.
“I’m off to socialize now. Let me leave you a little information; consider it my way of repaying you for mending my shoes.” Nicole’s eyes scanned the crowd once, then she whispered, “There are some people here who aren’t really happy about your relations.h.i.+p with Avril.”
With that, Nicole strode into the crowd with a face full of smiles, very skillfully mingling and engaging in conversations with the older people, looking as if she was completely in her element.
“People who aren’t happy? Could it be Li Mo again?” Phantom asked.
Xia Fei exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes searching for Avril amidst the crowd. He replied with ease, “Take things as they come; let them bring it on.”
…
More and more people arrived, and going by the practice of high society, the banquet would only begin after midnight. After all, none of these wealthy socialites would need to get up early and work the next day, and their night activities would last until daybreak.
Avril had yet to appear this entire time, and even Pang Xing was nowhere to be found. Xia Fei continued to stay in his obscure corner, quietly drinking the champagne in hand as he smoked.
The only person he was looking forward to meeting in this c.o.c.ktail party was Avril. Even her grandfather, Ernst, was just a supporting character, and all the strangers in front of him were not even worth being recognized as supporting characters.
That was when the crowd suddenly made a path, and three military men in their general attires walked past. Xia Fei’s eyes trained on these newcomers, noting that they were the distinguished military triumvirate. Not only were Layton and Williams there, even the elusive and rarely seen Tai came.
…
Xia Fei had learned many details about the military triumvirate. After all, Quantum Holdings making it as an A-list supplier for the army would all depend on these three men. Xia Fei had already interacted with Layton and Williams, but this was the first time he was seeing Tai. For him to personally attend this birthday banquet of the Jian family only demonstrated the huge influence Avril’s family possessed.
Every family in this business world was pretty much present. The Jians were a family that dealt in business, so it was only natural for these people to show their faces accordingly, but it was very intriguing for the military triumvirate to show their faces here. Xia Fei thought that this was probably because the military relied on the Starlink Corporation’s line for most of their communications. Though the Jians did not have the plaque which stated that they were an A-list supplier of the military, they did provide a most favorable a.s.surance in terms of communication for the military, which was why the latter would attach such importance to Ernst’s birthday banquet.
Since times of old, merchants and businessmen alike would lower their heads when they met officials, and this was no exception with the highly developed Pan-human Alliance. The appearance of the military triumvirate instantly caused quite the stir among the crowd present. Everyone politely came forward to greet the trio, with many even demonstrating a trace of humility.
Xia Fei continued to sip his champagne, not at all taking the initiative to strike up a conversation with them. This was not because he was being aloof but that there were simply too many people surrounding the three. It was difficult to squeeze in.
The three smiled at the lot as they looked around. Williams’ eyes sharpened and noticed Xia Fei quite a distance away. He tugged at Tai’s sleeve and the three headed toward the corner as if they were heading straight for Xia Fei.
Before they arrived, Tai’s eyes first checked out Xia Fei. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s, but Xia Fei did not sense anything strange about it. He had been the recipient of all sorts of gazes from people, be they contemptuous, admiring or murderous, so he had long gotten used to it.
A soft murmur of shock and doubt propagated within the crowd. People were surrounding the three generals, trying to greet them; many businessmen who thought themselves to be very capable were directly ignored by Tai, yet the three were actually taking the initiative to approach Xia Fei in the corner?
It ought to be mentioned that this was a high-society banquet, and Xia Fei was just a n.o.body; no way would he be considered to be part of the Alliance’s high society.
“Xia Fei, this is the minister of the Alliance Military, six-star general, Tai.” Williams smiled as he introduced his comrade to Xia Fei.
Tai reached a hand out and shook hands with Xia Fei. Thick calluses covered Tai’s hands, and Xia Fei felt that he was not shaking a hand but a metal girder, instead, from strong and powerful the grip was.
“Xia Fei? The person holding absolute control of Quantum Holdings? The man who invented the energy-s.h.i.+eld booster?” Tai asked in his deep voice. His att.i.tude did not seem as if he was here for idle chat, and it was very much an inquiry.
Xia Fei nodded. “The very same, General Tai. Pleased to meet you.”
There were a lot of people crowding around, and they were noisy. Tai wrinkled his forehead. “Let’s find somewhere more secluded. I’ve got a few questions for you.”
Xia Fei expressed that he was happy to oblige, and the two left for somewhere inside the Jian family’s mansion.
The people were stunned, and they were all wondering what sort of personal relations.h.i.+p the two could have.
Thuram curiously walked over from afar. “Does General Tai have something with Xia Fei?”
Williams took a gla.s.s of sweetened wine and chuckled. “It’s Tai’s gambit. Every supplier for the military has been called to Tai’s office for a private one-on-one. Only Tai and the person in question will know what they talk about.”
Thuram was taken aback. “That means the energy-s.h.i.+eld booster has already been…”
Williams cunningly remarked, “I didn’t say anything, and you don’t know anything, either. Everything still has to be approved by Congress.”