Chapter 49: The Charity Auction

At that moment, someone slowly entered from the banquet hall entrance.

Young Master Zheng, accompanied by his female companion and dressed to the nines, made a grand entrance.

Last night, Song Jinlong’s assistant had notified Zheng Youwei’s father, Zheng Changhai, stating that a charity gala was to be held and inviting the prominent families of Jiangning City to donate items for a charity auction.

Zheng Changhai had spent a long time rummaging through his collection of treasured possessions at home, unable to part with any of them. Eventually, at the bottom of a chest, he unexpectedly found an inconspicuous snuff bottle, with a talisman pasted on it.

He remembered then—after this snuff bottle came into the house, a series of strange events had occurred. First, the family’s servants suffered injuries without cause, then several business deals went awry one after another.

The events terrified Zheng Changhai, prompting him to summon a Taoist priest from the temple to perform exorcism rites. The priest immediately identified the sinister snuff bottle as the culprit. After Zheng Changhai paid a handsome fee, the priest affixed a talisman to the bottle and instructed him to store it away.

Oddly enough, from that moment on, peace returned to the household.

Zheng Changhai thought, this charity gala was the perfect opportunity to rid himself of the item, and perhaps earn some favor with the Song family, the “Kings of Jiangning.”

His son, Zheng Youwei, was destined to inherit the family business, and frequent appearances at such banquets would help him gain visibility and influence among the city's business elite.

He gave Zheng Youwei special instructions, emphasizing the rarity of this opportunity. If the Song family were pleased, the Zhengs’ standing in Jiangning's business world would surely advance.

Zheng Youwei had recently suffered a setback with his beauty cream product. This auction was a golden chance to restore his reputation.

He strutted flamboyantly into the banquet hall, when suddenly he caught sight of Gu Xiangnan and Su Hanyan seated at a table.

He was momentarily stunned before striding over, demanding,

“Gu Xiangnan, you despicable scoundrel, you sabotaged my product launch today, and now you dare follow me here?”

Gu Xiangnan sat calmly. “Your launch failed because your product was flawed. What does that have to do with me?”

Zheng Youwei, enraged, jabbed a finger at Gu Xiangnan and spat, “There are no media here, so stop pretending! I admit I stole your formula, but I never expected you to be so vicious, secretly poisoning it and ruining my reputation!”

“A thief standing so self-righteous—is this the collapse of morals or the extinction of humanity?” Gu Xiangnan sneered.

Su Hanyan couldn’t help but laugh.

“Youwei, who is this?” Zheng Youwei’s female companion, nestled at his side, asked.

Zheng Youwei looked at Gu Xiangnan with disdain. “He’s just a fraud. He once flaunted a fake black card to scam people, and he’s nothing but a spineless freeloader.”

His companion, her face sculpted by modern technology, didn’t even spare Gu Xiangnan a glance.

“Youwei, you’re a prominent second-generation heir in Jiangning, worth hundreds of millions. Your family and status are leagues above his—there’s no need to bother with someone like him.”

Zheng Youwei gently caressed her face. “Baby, you’re right. Even if I don’t deal with him, someone else will sooner or later.”

“You think dressing up makes you fit for such a banquet? Sitting at Table One pretending to be a VIP—how audacious!”

Su Hanyan couldn’t stand it any longer and retorted sharply, “Young Master Zheng, whether my junior can attend is not for you to decide.”

Zheng Youwei smirked. “This charity gala is hosted by the Song family, the kings of Jiangning. To attend, you must pass a financial check—at least ten million as a deposit. He’s a pauper; he’ll be thrown out any minute!”

Gu Xiangnan smiled meaningfully.

Seeing Gu Xiangnan unperturbed, Zheng Youwei grew even more furious. He leaned in and taunted, “My family are tonight’s VIPs. If you kneel and beg, maybe I’ll make an exception and say you’re a Zheng family servant, and let you stay and watch.”

“You’re a VIP, and so am I, invited by the Song family. If you humiliate me like this, I wonder what the Song family will think,” Gu Xiangnan replied lightly.

“Hahaha~~ You claim to be a VIP? That’s hilarious. You bumpkin, are you daydreaming?”

“Smack!”

Gu Xiangnan stood up swiftly and slapped Zheng Youwei, knocking him to the floor.

The crisp sound echoed in the hall. Dazed by the blow, Zheng Youwei, supported by his companion, barely managed to stand.

He clutched his burning cheek and cursed, “How dare you hit me? Someone, get him!”

Four men responded, surrounding Gu Xiangnan.

As a wealthy merchant family, the Zhengs kept several bodyguards; tonight, they brought them all for show.

Zheng Youwei pointed at Gu Xiangnan, “Crush him for me!”

“Stop!”

Wang Jinquan, returning from the restroom, quickly intervened.

“Who dares touch him?!”

Zheng Youwei, startled, signaled his bodyguards to stand down.

The Wang family was also a distinguished clan in Jiangning.

Family head Wang Jinquan was known for his stern, gloomy demeanor and was notoriously difficult to deal with.

Zheng Youwei assumed Wang Jinquan was there to support him—after all, both families were local powerhouses in Jiangning.

But as Wang Jinquan approached, his previously grim face broke into a broad smile the moment he addressed Gu Xiangnan.

“Mr. Gu, you weren’t hurt just now, were you?”

“I’m fine,” Gu Xiangnan replied.

The scene left Zheng Youwei dumbfounded. He stared at Wang Jinquan in disbelief, “Uncle Wang, what are you doing? He hit me, and you’re not helping me—instead, you’re concerned about him?”

Wang Jinquan’s expression reverted to his poker face as he spoke gravely, “Young Master Zheng, Mr. Gu is a friend of our Wang family. How could we allow you to insult him? Are you showing disrespect to the Wang family?”

“Hmph~”

Everyone turned to see Zheng Changhai striding in from the main entrance.

“If I’m absent, do you elders start bullying the children?” he said, his voice tinged with displeasure, clearly rebuking Wang Jinquan for intimidating his son.

Zheng Youwei hurried to his father’s side, complaining,

“Dad, thank goodness you’re here! That guy ruined my product launch, now he’s colluding with the Wang family. Look, he hit me—my face is swollen!” He showed his face to Zheng Changhai, continuing his grievance, “They’re bullying our family! If you’d come any later, you might not have seen me at all.”

A classic mama’s boy—or rather, a daddy’s boy.

Seeing his son’s swollen face, Zheng Changhai felt a surge of anger and sympathy.

“I came today at the invitation of the Song family, the kings of Jiangning, to participate in charity. Who would have thought, upon entering the banquet hall, I’d witness someone openly challenging the Zheng family’s authority?”

His gaze shifted to Wang Jinquan, his face dark as he rebuked, “Master Wang, do you think the Zheng family is without power?”