Chapter 185: Gathering of the Elite

After Lin Xiao parked, a hotel doorman immediately approached and courteously opened the car door for him.

These doormen, accustomed to greeting and bidding farewell to countless guests daily, had honed an eye for detail. They could tell from a distance that Lin Xiao’s attire was of significant value, and paired with a limited edition Rolls-Royce, he undoubtedly belonged to a distinguished status.

Lin Xiao got out of the vehicle, surveying his surroundings to ensure safety before opening the door for Wan Caixuan.

As Wan Caixuan, dressed in a sleek black suit, stepped out of the car, the doorman watching was spellbound.

He quickly bowed his head in self-deprecation, unable to maintain eye contact with Wan Caixuan’s stunning beauty that seemed to eclipse the world around her. He would swear on anything that he had never encountered such an enchanting woman in his lifetime.

Wan Caixuan, in her formal attire, radiated elegance and aloofness with her lips slightly pursed, displaying an impassive expression.

Lin Xiao stepped back to allow Wan Caixuan to lead the way.

However, Wan Caixuan looped her arm through Lin Xiao’s, gently tapped the back of his hand, and said in a low voice, “Tonight, you are not here as my bodyguard but as my companion, got it?”

Caught off guard, Lin Xiao paused, then silently nodded, concealing the flurry of emotions inside.

Arm in arm, they headed toward the entrance of the Central Hotel, instantly becoming the focal point of numerous curious gazes.

Both Wan Caixuan and Lin Xiao were fresh faces to Jinghai City’s upper society, sparking widespread speculation about their identities among the onlookers.

“Look. Who are those two?”

“Such a beautiful girl, I wonder which family’s daughter she is?”

“And the man with her also looks quite dashing. Why can’t I recall seeing these two before?”

“If there’s a chance during the banquet later, it might be good to get acquainted with them…”

Amid the whispers, Lin Xiao and Wan Caixuan had made their way to the entrance of the Jinghai City Central Hotel.

“Excuse me, could you please present your invitation?” the doorman asked, bowing respectfully to them.

Wan Caixuan opened her handbag and handed over a dark gold invitation to the doorman.

After verifying it, the doorman immediately swung open the hotel’s grand doors, his voice even more respectful, “Miss Wan, Mr. Lin, please enter.”

Lin Xiao, with his sharp observation, had managed to catch a glimpse of the invitation’s details. Surprisingly, he noticed his own name listed.

Once inside the hotel, Lin Xiao couldn’t resist asking, “Why is my name on the invitation?”

Wan Caixuan glanced at him, deeming his seemingly naive question unworthy of a response.

“Alright, let me rephrase my question then. Why did you add my name to it?”

“Do I need a reason to do as I please?” Wan Caixuan responded, somewhat annoyed.

“You’re the boss, so it’s your call,” Lin Xiao stopped pressing the issue.

“I didn’t want to attend this event alone. Being by myself would only attract a bunch of bothersome men trying to court me. It’s incredibly irritating. After some thought, I figured having you as my companion would be best,” Wan Caixuan eventually explained after a brief silence.

“Understood,” Lin Xiao responded, his face devoid of expression.

“What’s with that attitude?” Wan Caixuan bit her lip and discreetly pinched Lin Xiao’s arm.

“Is there a problem?”

“Of course, there is. Countless people would die for the chance to be my companion, yet you seem utterly unwilling,” Wan Caixuan’s voice was low, audible only to Lin Xiao and herself. “Hmph, willing or not, you’d better perform your role as my companion tonight properly, or I’ll deduct your salary.”

“I’m not unwilling, I just find it unnecessary,” Lin Xiao’s gaze swept across various corners of the hotel, maintaining vigilance even while conversing with Wan Caixuan.

“Forget it, talking to you is like talking to a brick wall,” Wan Caixuan said with irritation.

After saying her piece, she clamped her lips shut, opting for silence.

Wan Caixuan’s silence was actually preferable to Lin Xiao.

He slightly narrowed his eyes, seemingly focusing ahead, but in reality, his gaze was darting left and right. Within just a minute, he had thoroughly assessed the hotel’s security arrangements.

The security at the hotel appeared stringent, yet Lin Xiao found it odd that most of the security staff were positioned in visible areas, leaving some secluded corners unmonitored. In the event of an actual attack, such seemingly rigorous security would crumble effortlessly.

However, in contemplating these concerns, Lin Xiao overlooked one detail.

Not everyone possessed his keen eyesight, nor had everyone been subjected to the comprehensive training he had undergone. To tackle the most formidable tasks, Lin Xiao had undergone the most rigorous and comprehensive training available.

Guided by a female attendant, Lin Xiao and Wan Caixuan ascended to the hotel’s third-floor banquet hall via elevator.

Spanning roughly two hundred square meters, the banquet hall wasn’t overwhelmingly large but was certainly spacious. Its lavish decorations included thick wool carpets underfoot and an enormous crystal chandelier overhead. The hall was arranged with seven or eight neatly organized round dining tables, each set with elegant silverware.

The hall was already bustling with attendees, who conversed in small groups. Each guest exhibited an air of affluence and sophistication in their attire and demeanor.

Upon their entrance, Lin Xiao and Wan Caixuan instantly became the focal point for many guests.

However, those who had the qualifications to attend this charity event were all individuals with a certain status in society. Although they were taken aback by Wan Caixuan’s beauty, no one dared to approach her uninvited.

A slim, middle-aged man in his fifties caught sight of Wan Caixuan. Sporting gold-rimmed glasses and radiating a refined, scholarly aura, he briefly conferred with an associate before approaching.

“Miss Wan, I’m deeply grateful that you could spare the time to join us at this charity dinner I’ve organized. My name is Li Liancheng, a pleasure to meet you,” he greeted, pausing a meter away and extending a hand towards Wan Caixuan with polished grace.

Lin Xiao discreetly sized up Jinghai City’s wealthiest individual, intrigued to find the city’s top magnate to be a man of such a gentle, scholarly man.

Wan Caixuan didn’t shake hands with Li Liancheng, opting instead for an elegant, composed smile and a polite nod. “Hello, Mr. Li. I am Wan Caixuan, the CEO of Brilliant Aya Limited.”

Li Liancheng wasn’t overly embarrassed by Wan Caixuan’s refusal to shake hands.

His concern wasn’t so much her position as the CEO of Brilliant Aya Limited. As Jinghai City’s wealthiest individual, his fortune was no less significant than that of Brilliant Aya Limited, perhaps even surpassing it.

What mattered to him was Wan Caixuan’s status within the esteemed Wan family of the capital.

As a notable figure in Jinghai City, he was somewhat aware of Wan Caixuan’s true background. Despite being the city’s wealthiest with assets in the billions, he knew he paled in comparison to the colossal presence of the Wan family.

That Wan Caixuan had accepted the invitation to attend the dinner was a great honor for him.

Moreover, Wan Caixuan’s coldness was as well-known as her beauty, never showing favor to men and keeping them at a distance.

He had never heard of Wan Caixuan taking a special interest in any man before. But now, it appeared that things might have changed.

“And who might this gentleman be?” Li Liancheng shifted his gaze to Lin Xiao, asking promptly.

He had taken notice of Lin Xiao from the beginning. A man who arrived with Wan Caixuan, arm in arm with her, was unprecedented, to his knowledge.

If word of today’s event were to reach the capital, it was uncertain what kind of uproar it would cause.