Chapter 796: Attending the Banquet
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Xia Ling and the maid walked back together.
She asked the maid, “Has Young Master been placing Old Master under house arrest all this time?”
Any maid that could be left alone with Xia Ling was Li Lei’s trusted subordinate. On hearing the question, she said, “Yes, ever since the changes took place, he had asked for Old Master to rest there. Now that the situation has not stabilized, and that First Young Master is missing, the public still has their eye on Second Young Master. Hence, Second Young Master can’t let Old Master out yet. He needs to be extremely cautious.”
She nodded. It seemed like he wasn’t having an easy time.
She did not want to cause him any more trouble. For the rest of the afternoon, she simply did some gardening around Thunderous Yard and did not plan to be out of the house too often. It’d be bad if someone plotted against her, just like the last time she came to the headquarters. Wouldn’t that be a bother to Li Lei?
Li Lei only returned late at night.
Xia Ling was lying on a chaise couch with a blanket over her and appeared to have fallen asleep while waiting up for him. When he arrived, she rubbed her eyes. “Oh, you’re back.”
Li Lei’s heart ached for her. He bent over and hugged her, asking gently, “Why didn’t you get in bed and sleep?”
“I was waiting for you.”
She hadn’t waited up for somebody in a long time. All of a sudden, it felt like they were back to the simple, good times they had before when she waited for her beloved man to return home late in the night—back then, her greatest frustration was having to decide what they should have for supper. She asked him, “Have you eaten? I got the chef to prepare some chicken soup.”
He was too busy to have dinner and appeared exhausted from a long day. Yet, he said, “I’ve eaten.”
He kissed her before saying, “But I’m a little hungry now, let’s have supper together.”
She smiled. “Sure.”
A warm, dim light illuminated the room as they shared some chicken soup in the dining hall. The world beyond those walls was a rough and tough one, but at that moment, they were at peace.
If only Shaohui was with them, how perfect that would be.
She began thinking of her troubles.
Li Lei asked, “You went to look for Grandpa in the day?”
His spies were all around in the headquarters. She knew that there was no way to keep this from him, and had no intention of doing so anyway. “Yup, we can’t go on like this. You and your grandpa have to get along eventually. I told him that I hope we can stay out of each others’ business.” She did not elaborate on the unpleasant details of the conversation, lest it worried him.
But Li Lei knew her well. If not for the fact that Old Master was his grandpa, given her prideful character, there was no way she would speak to someone she didn’t like.
He quietly said, “It’s hard on you.”
She smiled easily. However hard it may be, having his understanding was more than sufficient.
Li Lei said, “Ah Xiang was saying that you’re starting to display the charisma and wisdom of a Madam for our family.” Ah Xiang was the maid who accompanied her to look for Old Master Li.
Xia Ling laughed and teased him. “Who’s the Madam of your family?”
“You, of course.” Li Lei’s eyes were gleaming with delight. “Oh, right. I’m planning to host a banquet in a few days’ time, and I’ll be inviting the partners and allies of the Li family to come together that night. Will you come with me?”
“Me?” Xia Ling was confused. “What would I go for?”
“To have a meal together, and for them to get to know you.” Their relationship was a big deal, and partners in both the business world and the triad world knew full well that he had taken over the power for her sake. Moreover, Xia Ling was a celebrity—that made her an easy target. It would be more advantageous for her if he introduced her to the allies sooner.
Xia Ling was a little uncertain. “I’m not sure what I can talk about with them.”
Li Lei smiled. “Just take it as a usual event. I’ll be there, so you can just sit there and eat.”
She said, “Alright.”
When that day arrived, she wore an outfit he had gifted her—it was a lace embroidered gown that came with an exquisite and matching shawl. She looked elegant and charming.
Li Lei looked at her. “You’re so beautiful.”
She was a little doubtful. “Really? Are they bringing their female partners? Will they look better than me?”
Li Lei walked out the door with her. “Those who’re more beautiful than you don’t look as dignified and majestic as you do, and those who’re more majestic than you are nowhere as beautiful.” He meant it from the bottom of his heart: those who looked better than Xia Ling were often the mistresses of the old bosses, and all they had were superficial looks but lacked the brainy aspect. Meanwhile, the official wives of these bosses were indeed more dignified and had an imposing presence, but they were often of age. If one were to speak of having the best of both worlds, no one could beat her—she was a Diva, how could a Diva be overtaken so easily?
Even in the triad world, her status remained.
His words worked like a miracle drug, as she began letting go of her worries. This was the first time she was attending a dinner with his allies in the triad world, and she was bound to be a little anxious. Yet, with him around, she knew it would be alright.
At the entrance of the venue, the person who led them in was Li Xiaoyao.
Xia Ling sized him up and asked Li Lei, “He’s here too?”
Li Lei said, “Yup, Xiaoyao is very skilled in combat. He’ll be in charge of the security around here.”
Li Xiaoyao shot Xia Ling an unfriendly glance. “Don’t you worry, I’ll do my job well. I won’t take the opportunity to take revenge on you because of our personal grievances.”
“Why would I be worried?” Xia Ling smiled. “As your Young Master has said, you’re a loyal person.”
Li Xiaoyao was slightly stunned; he didn’t expect that she would compliment him. He tensed up awkwardly and kept quiet for the rest of the time he led them in.
The ballroom was full of the various bosses and their women.
Most of the men were in a formal suit and had an expensive wristlet watch on. The majority of them were at least middle-aged, and understandably so. It would’ve taken them years of hard work to achieve the success they had today, few and far between could hold as much power as Li Lei at his age.
The women with them were all dressed presentably as well, and it was evident that they had put in the effort to look good for this event. Those who attended were either the first wives of these men, and looked wise and extravagant, or the mistresses they could trust. Either way, they knew how they should dress and act in such situations.
As Li Lei and Xia Ling walked in, everyone’s eyes were on them.
Everyone was familiar with Li Lei, and his skills were known to be the best of the best. It was said that when Old Master Li was old and no longer capable to run the Li’s, he would probably hand the throne over to Li Lei, the grandson he raised, rather than his own son.
But no one would’ve expected that this grandson of his had impatiently “snatched” the power from Old Master Li even before he had gone frail.
Those who managed to take something away from Old Master Li were not to be reckoned with.
They turned to look at the woman beside him as well. Ever since news of him turning against his grandfather spread, many of them had gone to find out more about Xia Ling. From what they had found, she was just an ordinary woman—she came from a humble family, was then selected to go for Skyart’s training camp, and eventually became a Diva after years of being a singer. Her life was simple, and even though she’d reached the pinnacle of the entertainment industry, her interactions with others weren’t all that sophisticated. More importantly, she had nothing to do with this triad world at all.