Feili.

Zhao Lifei tried to digest the story being told to her. She didn't know if this was a good or bad sign that Yang Ruqin sought Huo Qiudong's comfort out of every other friend she had.

"Well, did you do anything inappropriate to her?" Zhao Lifei asked after a long, heavy silence. She wanted to laugh at Huo Qiudong's sloppy appearance. It was too funny for her to resist and not tease him about. This was the first time she had ever seen this calm and collected man look so...chaotic.

"No, of course not." Huo Qiudong frowned, his eyes narrowing. Did he seem like the type of guy to do something untoward to women? He was not a sleazeball. Unless there was a connection, he rarely touched people of the opposite sex.

"Then, we don't have a problem." Zhao Lifei shrugged. She had trust in Yang Ruqin's newfound training. She hoped the young woman would be able to kick ass and get herself out of sticky situations. On the other hand, she had a desire to give Qinqin a thorough lecture about drinking alone.

"You're not mad…?" Huo Qiudong expected his Boss to throw a fit about his treatment towards Yang Ruqin. He had to admit, he did go overboard with this morning's argument about manners. He also made her cry. Why wasn't his boss yelling at him for that?

"No, of course not. Why would I be mad?" Zhao Lifei rolled her eyes at him. She expected him to be mad at her for not showing up to work.

She didn't want to give him the opportunity to give her a lecture. "Now that we have overcome our obstacles, let's get back to work, shall we? When will we begin to interview the applicants?"

"Whenever you'd like." Huo Qiudong scratched his head. He felt like he was forgetting something…

"Maybe next week." She opened the door to his office. "Oh, and I recommend checking yourself in the mirror." With a final wink, she disappeared out the door, speed walking down the halls.

The days trickled by quickly and soon, Madam Fan Jielan's banquet approached. Esteemed families from across the country were invited to her luxurious birthday celebration. Award-winning chefs were cooking up a storm in the back gardens. A legendary choir, that only performed once a year, was comfortably nestled in the corner, creating quiet symphonies. Only the best of the best waiters and waitresses were given the honor to serve at tonight's banquets.

People would kill to get their hands upon an invitation. Even when strings were pulled thin, no one was able to get in if they weren't originally considered. Once the invitation list was finalized, there would be no changes. Not even A-list celebrities were considered on the list and some of the country's most leading elites were also not invited. Only the top 1% of the 0.1% wealthy population were considered. It was an exclusive banquet, but luckily for some, the guests were allowed to bring a plus one.

Women clung onto their men and everyone was dressed in very low-key designer clothes. Every woman here was mindful of the dress code. They were dressed to secretly impress. None of these elites would be caught dead in a "famous" designer that only the commonwealth knew.

"My, doesn't Madam Yang look more stunning than usual today?"

"I wonder what serum she uses on her face. She does not look a day over thirty!"

"You must tell us, Madam Yang. I do not see a single blemish or wrinkle. What is your secret?"

"Gasp, is that an exclusive design by Eileen Sabe? The sequins, the Tiffany blue, and my goodness, just look at this lacework! If you flipped to the word elegant on the dictionary, everyone would see an image of you! It's stunning."

Women gushed around Madam Fan Jielan as if they were all high school girls again. Every woman here would rather drop dead than miss a chance to get on Fan Jielan's good side.

Fan Jielan was not the type of woman who enjoyed flowery compliments like these. It was boring and she was already used to their words. Nonetheless, she kept a welcoming smile on her face and exchanged pleasantries with the piranhas in front of her. She pretended to pay attention to everything being fed to her. In reality, she was seeking for her eldest son who had yet to arrive.

Her eyes trailed over to a stunning woman standing very close to an elderly man. Her smile stiffened and she quickly looked away before anyone had caught her staring.

"Mother."

Everyone around Fan Jielan quieted down. The woman in question was so startled by the new presence that she nearly lost grip of the century-old wine in her hands. The conversation was as lively as ever, but everyone had their eyes glued to the stunning scene-stealer of the night.

His perfectly-sculptured face was aloof. It would be a miracle to understand what he was thinking. His cold, distant eyes were focused on his mother, but occasionally, it would glance at the woman beside him. Everyone felt uneasy around him, too scared to breathe the wrong way. Even so, no one could tear their eyes away from him.

Fan Jielan's dull eyes bloomed with elation. Her rigid shoulders dropped in ease, her tiny smile widening to reach her eyes. For the first time tonight, she appeared genuinely delighted. "I'm so glad you made it tonight with Zhao Lifei."

He didn't reply to her. Particularly because his mood was already as low as it could get. He was livid. The black, willow wisps around him reflected his desire for blood. His chiseled jaw was clenched.

Fan Jielan's high spirits dropped. She knew why he was behaving like this. Her brows furrowed and the youthful light in her eyes died down.

Zhao Lifei inched closer to Yang Feng. Her arms brushed against his. When she walked into the dinner, she didn't want them to be physically touching. But after they stepped foot in here, his mood plunged after seeing someone. She didn't understand it, for she could not see as far as him.

"Thank you for inviting me, Madam Yang." Her melodic voice thinned the thick atmosphere. Her soft, plump lips curled into a sincere smile.

Fan Jielan saw her as a ticket to Yang Feng's happiness. "The pleasure is all mine. I hope the ride here was not too difficult for you?" Her heart remained stuck in her throat as she watched her husband walk towards them with a woman behind him.

"It's your birthday celebration. Even if I traveled to the other side of the world, it wouldn't be an inconvenience to me." Zhao Lifei kindly said.

Fan Jielan's heart sped up. She needed something to distract both her son and future daughter-in-law. "This dress that you are wearing, it is quite lovely. May I ask who designed it? The hues of sapphire are such a lovely contrast to your fair skin." She reached her hands out and cordially grabbed Zhao Lifei's smooth hands.

Tiny whispers started in the back. Everyone could tell Fan Jielan's obvious display of affection towards Zhao Lifei. Fan Jielan did not touch just anyone, nor was she kind enough to give compliments out of the blue. This sparked instant debates about Zhao Lifei's relationship with Fan Jielan. Was the young heiress considered a marriage candidate now?

Zhao Lifei did not dare to wear the emerald ring in public. She wore the smaller one, shaped like a leaf-crown, on a necklace. It was her way of compromising with Yang Feng.

"Please, Madam Yang, you flatter me too much. I was actually hoping to learn about your designer as well. It's such a wise choice they included this belt."

Fan Jielan's heart was touched by her words. The belt was not included with the dress, she styled it herself with the help of Yang Ruqin.

Zhao Lifei glanced at Yang Feng, as if waiting for him to say something. Her stern look forced the words out of his mouth. "It's beautiful." He curtly said, his eyes trained on Zhao Lifei.

The hundreds of compliments given to her could not equate to the simple two words said by her son. It was the only one that mattered.

For as long as Fan Jielan could remember, her son was emotionless around her. He only called her "mother," in name and out of respect. She blamed herself for his standoffish behavior and reserved words. She could not recount a moment where he had ever complimented her on anything. She was growing a bit teary-eyed, her heart soaring to the heavens and thanking the gods above.

In front of him, she smiled the brightest. "I am glad to hear that from you, son."

If this was the old Yang Feng, the one that never encountered Zhao Lifei, he wouldn't have felt anything for her. Even now, he didn't feel much. He responded by giving her a blunt nod of acknowledgment.