Chapter 8 Pickup

Chapter 8: Welcoming the Guest

Yan Ren and Bai Rong were visibly astonished when Zhan Jiayu appeared, clearly not having anticipated his arrival. Even Yan Anxuan, standing nearby, couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise.

The other guests reacted similarly, all shocked that Zhan Jiayu would attend Young Master Yan’s coming-of-age ceremony.

Zhan Jiayu’s identity was somewhat unique. Having only recently returned to Jing City, he hadn't yet mingled with the local prominent families. This was his first public appearance.

The Zhan family had once been a formidable presence in Jing City, but that was many years ago.

Two decades prior, Zhan Jiayu’s father had abruptly relocated most of the family’s assets overseas, leaving the Zhan family in Jing City as little more than a hollow shell—the name remained, but its influence had largely vanished.

Rumor had it that the Zhan patriarch was far more ruthless abroad than he had been domestically, with many of the family’s overseas ventures operating in morally ambiguous territories.

Furthermore, the Zhan patriarch was known for his philandering ways, fathering numerous illegitimate children, all of whom he acknowledged and raised personally. It was hard to say whether he wasn't intentionally fostering a cutthroat competition among them.

Zhan Jiayu, who had recently assumed control of the Zhan family, was one of these many illegitimate children. The mere fact that he had emerged victorious from the fierce rivalry among his siblings was testament enough to his formidable nature.

His sudden return to Jing City had stirred up quite a commotion, especially given rumors that the Zhan patriarch’s death was not as straightforward as it seemed. No one could definitively say whether Zhan Jiayu had blood on his hands when he ascended to power. Many were eager to meet him, but he had maintained a low profile since his return, and no one had yet had the opportunity to make contact.

Some had tentatively extended invitations to the new head of the Zhan family, but all were politely declined with the explanation that he was too preoccupied with settling affairs after his return.

In truth, many didn’t view this as a mere excuse. The Zhan family had originated in Jiang City, where several of the patriarch’s brothers held considerable sway. It was inconceivable that they would remain silent about an illegitimate son suddenly seizing power and returning to the country.

Yet here he was, appearing at Young Master Yan’s coming-of-age ceremony. Had he already resolved matters with the main branch of the Zhan family? Or had the Zhan and Yan families forged some kind of partnership unbeknownst to them?

Zhan Jiayu’s appearance at the banquet set everyone’s minds racing. What had initially been a simple occasion to observe the Yan family’s drama had suddenly become far more intricate.

Yan Ren stepped forward to exchange pleasantries. Though this young man was roughly the same age as his eldest son, his presence was far more commanding, exuding a subtle yet palpable aura of danger that made even the seasoned businessman feel a faint unease.

“I hadn’t expected President Zhan to honor us with his presence. I assumed you’d be too busy with matters after your return to attend my son’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

Yan Ren was deliberately probing Zhan Jiayu’s intentions, and the other guests, equally curious, were all ears.

“I was indeed occupied at first, but I once had a chance encounter with your son. Since it’s his coming-of-age ceremony, I felt it appropriate to bring a gift.”

Zhan Jiayu didn't mince words, gesturing for Assistant Chen to present the gift.

The Yan family had intentionally kept Yan Zhoubai and Bu Qiran out of sight, planning to bring them both out later when revealing the truth about the baby switch. Thus, it was Yan Anxuan who accepted the gift from Assistant Chen.

Yan Ren and Bai Rong exchanged glances, uncertain whether Zhan Jiayu was referring to Bu Qiran or Yan Zhoubai. Still, they leaned towards Bu Qiran, convinced that Yan Zhoubai’s reserved nature would hardly have left enough of an impression on someone like Zhan Jiayu to warrant a special visit.

Nearby guests, upon hearing Zhan Jiayu’s explanation, began to murmur among themselves, exchanging looks and speculating about which son—the true or the adopted—had formed a connection with this newly returned power player.

Most shared the Yan couple’s view, doubting it was the little-known adopted son.

Watching Zhan Jiayu enter the living room, the three guests under the osmanthus tree found the situation rather intriguing.

“Who do you think Zhan Jiayu met—Yan Zhoubai, or the real young master who hasn’t appeared yet?” Dai Jian asked with interest.

“Who knows? It probably wasn’t Yan Zhoubai—he isn’t capable of that.”

Even if Ji Yangwen paid little attention to serious matters, he knew who Zhan Jiayu was. He understood that Zhan Jiayu’s return would disrupt the power dynamics in Jing City. In his heart, he believed someone as quiet and hesitant as Yan Zhoubai couldn’t possibly have any connection to Zhan Jiayu.

Rong Qian remained silent. He had come mainly to catch a glimpse of the Yan family’s long-lost true son, and running into Zhan Jiayu here was an unexpected bonus.

The interruption caused by Zhan Jiayu’s sudden arrival was quickly set aside. He took his seat, and the event proceeded as planned.

“I’ve invited everyone here today to help witness another matter,” Yan Ren continued, returning to the main agenda. “Eighteen years ago, an accident occurred when my youngest son was born, resulting in my son being switched with the son of a couple named Bu. We only discovered this recently, so today, I’d like everyone to witness the return of my biological son to the Yan family.”

After Yan Ren finished speaking, most guests weren't particularly surprised, as most had already known the purpose of today’s event beforehand. They seamlessly broke into applause, making the atmosphere appear universally joyful. No one raised any objections to Yan Ren’s rather vague and somewhat perfunctory explanation.

The likelihood of the Yan family’s child being swapped was extremely low—everyone had their own suspicions about what actually happened back then.

Still, a small number of people couldn’t help but mutter among themselves, saying Yan Ren’s words were ruthless and his actions even more so. Even if the other boy wasn’t his biological son, he had been raised in the family for so many years. Announcing such news at his coming-of-age ceremony was nothing short of a cruel blow.

Others argued that the impostor young master had been living in someone else's nest all these years, and the Yan family’s actions were justified. Besides, Yan Zhoubai was said to be not particularly accomplished—virtually unknown in Jing City’s second-generation circles—so abandoning him wasn’t a big deal and hardly worth deliberating over.

Although Zhan Jiayu was in the living room, after being welcomed in by Yan Ren and Bai Rong, he automatically found a corner and stood there, showing no intention of engaging with others. His purpose was clear: he had come for Yan Zhoubai.

Zhan Jiayu spoke softly, his eyes fixed on Yan Ren, though the warmth in his gaze gradually faded.

Assistant Chen listened nearby, his face darkening.

He had worked hard to placate Zhan Fifth Master, who had rushed over from Jiang City, and then accompanied his boss to Young Master Yan’s coming-of-age ceremony. On the way, he learned that today’s event had an additional twist—the Yan family’s youngest son had been swapped at birth, and today was specifically about “welcoming the true heir back to the palace.”

Knowing this, he felt even more that his boss had no business being here. There was no reason to get involved in such a matter. The young Taoist they had encountered a few days ago was, after all, just the impostor young master. Yet, his boss clearly had a strong interest in this impostor.

“But this is the Yan family’s internal affair. Outsiders shouldn’t interfere,” Assistant Chen said, trying to subtly hint to his boss not to meddle further with the little Taoist impostor.

Zhan Jiayu, however, clearly thought differently. “After today’s commotion, Yan Zhoubai will be driven out of the Yan family,” Zhan Jiayu said, his gaze shifting toward the second floor.

Assistant Chen: So? What does that have to do with us?

But what his boss said next made his jaw drop:

"If the Yan family doesn't want him, I'll have him. I came today to pick him up."

"Host!"

"He's just a disposable villain. Doing this will disrupt the plot progression!"

Zhan Jiayu's words not only shocked Assistant Chen but also the system that had been silent in his mind all along.

However, Zhan Jiayu had always done whatever he wanted. If one person and a system could change his mind, he wouldn’t be Zhan Jiayu.

At that moment, two people descended the spiral staircase on the second floor—Yan Zhoubai and Bu Qiran.

None of the guests present had much interest in Yan Zhoubai. Some had seen him before, while others hadn’t but didn’t care about the impostor young master who was about to be driven out of the Yan family. Everyone couldn't wait to see the true young master, Bu Qiran.

However, when the Yan family’s true young master, who'd been missing for eighteen years, finally appeared before everyone, he surpassed all expectations.

First, he looked so much like his biological older brother, Yan Anxuan. With a face like his, no one would doubt he was the biological son of Yan Ren and his wife. Second, although he was almost identical to Yan Anxuan, his demeanor was entirely different—especially his flamboyant light golden hair, which struck some of the older guests as rather inappropriate. What respectable young man would keep such long hair?

Yet, everyone had to admit that the Yan family’s newly discovered true young master was undeniably eye-catching. Yan Anxuan’s looks were widely acknowledged as exceptional, so no one would say Bu Qiran was unattractive. Moreover, his bold hair color and his faint, enigmatic smile made it impossible to look away.

Bu Qiran’s outfit was specially chosen by Bai Rong. To complement his striking light golden hair, she opted not for a conventional suit but a pure white outfit with knight-inspired elements, complete with a decorative sword at his waist. The ensemble went perfectly with his hair color.

Everyone felt that the true young master’s debut was both stunning and successful. The impostor young master, who had usurped his place, was not only about to be humiliated but would also be completely outshone in every way—truly a pitiful situation. Despite this, most of the guests present were just there for the show.

However, when the figure behind Bu Qiran came into view, the expressions of those who had been watching with amusement shifted slightly.