Hidden Assassin 289

It was all about mingling and small talk for the less important guests. As Zhang Jing’an finished his brief speech, a stream of meticulously prepared dishes followed, filling the hall with a lively atmosphere.

As the host, Zhang Jing’an, accompanied by his wife, daughter, and several relatives, began to make their rounds, offering toasts and expressing gratitude. With a glass in hand and a graceful smile, Ya Han, dressed in a beautiful gown, followed her father, politely toasting table after table. Although she had mentioned wanting to sneak away to eat, there were dozens of tables filled with guests in the hall, each with some connection to the Zhang family. Even if she only managed to get through half of them, it would still be a massive amount of work. Furthermore, looking at the glass in her hand, it wasn’t filled with the plain water she’d secretly swapped in. Lingjing and Sha Sha both prayed for “Sister Ya Han,” wagering whether she would be drunk by the time she made it to their table.

Jia Ming, too, was speculating on when Ya Han would fill her glass with plain water and cheat. Ya Han, seemingly delicate and gentle, was actually a seasoned veteran in the art of drinking, having endured countless social gatherings. Even a master of drinking, however, would be hard-pressed to endure such a relentless cycle of toasts.

At their table, Ye Han, Duan Jingxian, Wen Congyi, and the newly arrived couple chatted amiably. Wen Congyi casually mentioned his experiences returning from America, subtly incorporating the topic of his arranged blind date with Ya Han. He presented it as a simple visit from Ya Han’s stepmother, implying it had unexpectedly turned into a blind date.

He had previously refused to contradict Lingjing’s statements, and now, with a natural demeanor, he denied any connection with Ya Han, demonstrating his skillful approach. He occasionally exchanged a few words with Lingjing, but out of consideration for everyone at the table, she responded briefly, reluctant to disrupt the convivial atmosphere. Jia Ming observed the subtle power plays and Wen Congyi’s efforts to woo women, finding it all rather dull.

Laughter and the clinking of glasses filled the surrounding tables, creating a vibrant atmosphere that persisted throughout the feast. Ya Han, after finishing her rounds of mandatory toasts to family elders, her face flushed, swayed over to their table. She seemed surprised to see Wen Congyi seated beside her, but then realized and, leaning against Lingjing, whispered and laughed playfully. Sha Sha soon joined in, the three women chattering about amorous matters, then erupting into laughter and playful jostling. Once Ya Han had quickly consumed a few bites of food, she staggered off again to entertain her family. By this point, the feast had been going on for over an hour, and many guests were moving freely, exchanging greetings with familiar faces. Sitting next to Jia Ming, Dongfang Wan finally left their table, heading off to discuss business. She had already identified her targets. While business was impossible today, it was about establishing connections, making a toast, exchanging greetings, and building goodwill.

After Dongfang Wan departed, Lingjing and Sha Sha engaged in a flurry of whispers at the opposite end of the table. Then, Lingjing rushed over to Jia Ming, leaning down and saying, “Sha Sha told me to warn you. Keep an eye on the obsessive admirer who’ll be swarming around Dongfang Wan. You need to be a good protector.”

Jia Ming rolled his eyes at her: “I know.”

Lingjing, giggling, ran back to Sha Sha, clearly relaying Jia Ming’s unsurprising response. The two girls whispered to each other for a while, then Lingjing, still giggling, returned: “She says you clearly don’t have any sense of responsibility towards Dongfang Wan, so if you don’t help, you’re not allowed to touch her tonight.”

“Come on,” Jia Ming chuckled softly. “You have to trust my character. And… since when did you become a messenger?”

Lingjing burst out laughing, returning to be the messenger again, relaying Jia Ming’s words. The girls continued their whispers, and Jia Ming, blinking, beckoned Lingjing. She scurried over, crouching low: “What?”

“I think your threat is a bit problematic,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m not allowed to touch her, but I’ve got another one anyway.” Duan Jingxian was only one seat away, and they’d grown up together, so a little bit of flirtation was alright. But if anyone else overheard, it would be a major problem.

“My period came early,” Lingjing winked, her voice soft.

“Uh, isn’t your period usually at the beginning of the month? It’s always been so regular…”

“It’s the 25th now, isn’t it? What can I do if it came early?”

“Well, then maybe I can consider brute force tonight…”

“Heh, you really have no sense of responsibility, huh? Watch out for Sha Sha, she’s very loyal to girls.”

“I don’t need a sense of responsibility towards Dongfang Wan…”

Lingjing leaned on Jia Ming’s chair back, whispering to him. Duan Jingxian, seeing her run back and forth several times, laughed: “What are you two doing, being so secretive?”

“Secrets.”

“Stop it.”

Lingjing giggled, returning to her seat. She said something to Sha Sha, who glared at Jia Ming. He could only shrug helplessly.

He had promised Dongfang Wan and had no intention of breaking his word. However, even playing the role of a boyfriend had its limits. He wasn’t going to be Dongfang Wan’s shadow, chasing after her and shooing away every guy who approached her. That would be exhausting. He glanced in Dongfang Wan’s direction and saw Lei Qing’s figure. The guy had obviously had a lot to drink, and was chatting with Ying Zifeng. Then he looked over at Dongfang Wan, and to Jia Ming’s surprise, headed towards their table.

“Sorry, can I sit here?” Lei Qing, reeking of alcohol, pushed aside Dongfang Wan’s seat as he reached Jia Ming.

Sha Sha didn’t care for this guy: “There’s someone sitting there.” Lei Qing simply ignored her, settling into the seat. Duan Jingxian and Ye Han looked at the man who seemed to have a history with Jia Ming, their brows furrowed. After a moment, a face flushed red with alcohol turned to Jia Ming: “Hey, I need to ask you something.”

“What?”

“Burp… I had someone check you out…” Clearly drunk, Lei Qing spoke without any reservation, and in fact, given his background, he didn’t need to hold back in front of Jia Ming. “I gotta admit, you have some background. The Huang family doesn’t count, uh… the main thing… the main thing is that Liu Huai Sha has a gang background…”

He pointed a drunken finger towards Sha Sha, sitting across the round table: “Jiang Hai City’s biggest gang, so the detective agency couldn’t find much about you. But I wasn’t bothered to use any more power to investigate. You’re not worth it, burp… some things, everyone knows. You’re actually pretty smart. You’re great with computers. Actually, during the New Year… uh, during the New Year, my car wouldn’t open the doors, was that you? Just admit it.”

Jia Ming turned his head in confusion: “What car wouldn’t open?”

“You… you’re not being honest… burp…” Lei Qing pointed at him, burped, and seemed to want to say something else. Then his whole body slumped sideways onto the chair and he fell asleep. Those at the table exchanged bewildered looks. Ye Han frowned: “Jia Ming, what’s going on? Who is this guy?”

“Uh, he’s the one chasing after Dongfang Wan…”

Jia Ming hesitated, noticing Ying Zifeng walking over in the corner of his eye. A moment later, Ying Zifeng embraced Lei Qing, who was sliding down, and helped him up: “Sorry, my friend is drunk.”

He supported Lei Qing, taking a few steps, then stopped, thought for a moment, and smiled at Jia Ming: “Oh, Gu Jia Ming, would you like to have a chat somewhere?” The smile and tone were gentle enough, but Jia Ming glanced at him, and then smiled back: “I don’t think so, actually. It’s really none of my business.”

“Oh, then goodbye…” Ying Zifeng nodded, turning to leave with Lei Qing. But there was a flicker of anger in his gaze. This Ying Zifeng, coming from a wealthy family, had an obvious sense of superiority and a domineering presence. The people at the table fell silent. Duan Jingxian frowned, whispering to Jia Ming: “This guy’s not good, too arrogant. Avoid him in the future.” There was no need to ask about the guy’s background; his identity was clear enough. Ye Han’s parents had always been on his side.

After this little interlude, the atmosphere at the table turned somber. Sha Sha grumbled, “How dare he…” but she knew that people like Ying Zifeng had the capital to be arrogant. But at the same time, they knew Jia Ming’s hidden strength, so they weren’t too worried.

Jia Ming, meanwhile, looked towards the entrance to the hall. It seemed to be a late arrival, someone to offer congratulations. A man in a sharp white suit checked in at the entrance, then smiled as he entered. He was probably in his mid-twenties, with a warm smile and an air of humility and composure. The first to notice him was a renowned medical professor, who warmly greeted him.

These academics were famous in the field of medicine, but their status at this banquet was not particularly high. The Zhang family, due to Ya Han’s illness, had provided sponsorship to numerous medical institutions across the country, and this old professor was one of the beneficiaries. He had come to attend Ya Han’s stepmother’s birthday party, but he didn’t know many people and mainly exchanged academic insights with his fellow scholars at the table. He paid little attention to business matters. However, when the old professor introduced the young man in the white suit to their table, several renowned medical and biological experts in China stood up and smiled, engaging in conversation about topics of mutual interest. The atmosphere in the back of the banquet hall seemed to become lively with the arrival of this young man.

It was likely that this late arrival was a student of some academic giant or a medical genius. For businessmen, academic researchers, even if valued, were not considered crucial. Zhang Jing’an, already tipsy, stood up upon seeing the newcomer, offering a few polite words of thanks. At this moment, several business leaders, having noticed the young man at the back of the hall, also stood up, glasses in hand, heading towards him.

There were only five or six people, but to an observant eye, it had a special significance. These individuals represented companies that were major multinational corporations with diverse fields. Zhang Jing’an had initially treated the man as an ordinary guest offering birthday greetings. However, when he turned to leave, he saw the business leaders greeting the man and sensed something amiss. After exchanging a few words with one of them, he had an epiphany, and then the group engaged in animated conversation with the man in the white suit. To the onlookers, it wasn’t hard to notice that the man’s polite demeanor, his handshakes and slight bows, had a subtle Japanese flavor.

In other words, this man, who was treated cordially by a group of academics and held in high regard by these business leaders, was actually Japanese.

The banquet was essentially winding down, with everyone primarily engaged in conversation. Many, noticing the sudden arrival of this mysterious man who seemed to hold some status in both academia and the business world, speculated about his identity. Dongfang Wan, with a faint smell of alcohol, returned to her seat beside Jia Ming and inquired curiously: “Who is that guy who just came in?”

Jia Ming shrugged: “How should I know?”

Zhang Jingan and the others chatted with the man for a while, seemingly inviting him to the front of the banquet hall. The Japanese man, however, declined politely with a smile and a wave. After the businessmen left, he sat among these scholars, all older than him, occasionally smiling politely and making a few remarks. His gaze, unintentionally, swept across the hall, pausing briefly at Jia Ming’s location.

Their eyes met briefly. The man smiled, raising a glass from afar, and drained it in one gulp. Then he stood up and apologized to the elderly scholars at his table, before turning to walk towards the entrance.

“I’m going to the bathroom.” Jia Ming, smiling, stood up, leaving the seated area. He touched the slightly vibrating electronic watch on his wrist, pulling out an earphone and plugging it in. Then he left the banquet hall, walking down a corridor.

“When did you arrive in Jiang Hai?”

“Took the plane from Yokohama, arrived in Jiang Hai yesterday afternoon.”

“You came to join in the fun too? Is it for Dongfang Ruo, or for Kelly Fenim?”

“Maybe both.” The white figure disappeared around the corner ahead, and the voice coming from the earphone was Tian Yu Zhengze, speaking Chinese in a relaxed, fluent tone. “Besides… wasn’t Xun wronged?”

A waiter walked by, and Jia Ming sensed a slight strangeness.

“I’m being watched,” Tian Yu Zhengze added after a moment. Jia Ming turned his head slightly, catching sight of Ying Zifeng following him out of the banquet hall. He couldn’t help but chuckle: “Seems like I’m being watched too…”

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