Chapter 82 Matchmaking

Chapter 82 Making Connections

"That's Lin Qihua," a voice announced. As she approached Yan Zhoubai and Bu Qiran from a short distance, the moderately crowded guests instinctively parted, clearing a path for her.

This young lady from the Lin family, recently returned from abroad, was a magnet for attention. Adding to the intrigue were rumors of her impending marriage to the Yan family's true young master, who had also only been back for a few months.

Though the rumors had quieted recently, their interaction now promised an entertaining spectacle for all.

"Sister Qihua," Yan Zhoubai greeted her sweetly, his voice bright upon seeing her.

"Xiao Bai, congratulations on getting into university!"

Lin Qihua, tall and graceful, wore a champagne-colored sequined strapless gown that made her the undeniable focal point of the room.

She initiated the greeting with Yan Zhoubai, but her acknowledgment of Bu Qiran was a mere perfunctory nod.

Bu Qiran reciprocated with equal indifference; their faces practically broadcasted their complete disinterest in each other.

Nearby guests covertly observed them. This frosty exchange between Bu Qiran and Lin Qihua would undoubtedly fuel rumors by tomorrow morning, suggesting a rocky start to the rumored Yan-Lin alliance.

Lin Qihua, wanting a private word with Yan Zhoubai, unceremoniously pulled him away from Bu Qiran. Yan Zhoubai, compliant, followed her to a secluded spot.

Neither noticed Bu Qiran, "cut out" of the conversation, tightening his grip on the slender champagne flute he held.

As Lin Qihua led him away, Yan Zhoubai instinctively handed back the champagne Bu Qiran had just pressed into his hand, a drink he hadn't touched.

They had been in the center of the ballroom, but now, tucked away in a corner by Lin Qihua, the gazes that had followed them quickly dissipated.

"You look great today, very stylish. Who picked out your dress?" Lin Qihua asked, her eyes sweeping over Yan Zhoubai's outfit once they had stopped.

"My mom, of course! She's practically our family's personal stylist," Yan Zhoubai replied, shrugging. He implied that what you saw was what you got; apart from his mother, no one else in their family seemed to have strong opinions about fashion.

"As expected of Aunt Bai. My mom always said Aunt Bai has impeccable taste," Lin Qihua, a design student herself, remarked. Yan Zhoubai imagined his mother would be thrilled by the compliment, likely inspiring her to outdo herself at the next social event.

"Xiao Bai," Lin Qihua leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially, "let me ask you something. Why haven't I seen President Zhan yet? It's your university celebration—isn't he coming?"

The sudden, somewhat abrupt shift in topic almost caught Yan Zhoubai off guard.

It took him a moment to realize that Lin Qihua was aware of his unusual connection with Zhan Jiayu. She had, after all, witnessed Zhan Jiayu kissing him in the restroom last time, a memory that still made his cheeks flush with embarrassment.

"He said he had some business to handle and might be late. Why, do you need him for something?"

"Nothing particularly important. It's just that our first meeting was, well, a bit awkward. So I was hoping to use your celebration today as a chance to formally introduce myself to President Zhan."

Did she need something from Zhan Jiayu? Absolutely.

Her deliberate cover-up for Yan Zhoubai last time was a calculated move to gain Zhan Jiayu's favor. She had instantly recognized his possessiveness towards Yan Zhoubai, a trait he hadn't bothered to conceal.

She had known of Zhan Jiayu's formidable reputation since returning to the country. To meet him under such unexpected circumstances was a golden opportunity. Forging a connection with him would undoubtedly propel her closer to her aspirations, and she wasn't about to let it slip away.

The Zhan family's influence and Zhan Jiayu's personal prowess were immense. A collaboration with him would make many endeavors significantly smoother.

Yan Zhoubai, oblivious to Lin Qihua's machinations, found himself momentarily lost in the memory of Zhan Jiayu's kiss in the restroom. The mention of Zhan Jiayu immediately brought a flush to his face.

"What's wrong? Your face looks a bit red—are you feeling unwell?"

"No, no, I'm fine," Yan Zhoubai quickly stammered, eager to avoid Lin Qihua realizing he was blushing over the kiss. He was certain she would tease him mercilessly.

Lin Qihua's primary objective at the celebration was to speak with Zhan Jiayu, so her mind was entirely preoccupied. Yan Zhoubai's assurance that he was fine barely registered.

"When President Zhan arrives, could you introduce me?" Lin Qihua asked, playfully nudging Yan Zhoubai's shoulder, adopting a chummy demeanor.

"Oh, sure."

Their minds were on entirely different wavelengths, yet somehow, the matter was settled.

With Yan Zhoubai's affirmative, Lin Qihua felt confident; her mission was at least halfway accomplished. She had clearly observed Zhan Jiayu's feelings for Yan Zhoubai. It was just that Yan Zhoubai, being so naive in matters of the heart, remained oblivious. But with Yan Zhoubai's introduction, things were sure to proceed smoothly.

"Xiao Bai, come to the entrance with me to greet the guests. Another group has just arrived."

Lin Qihua, still basking in her triumphant mood, was startled by a sudden, cold, deep male voice behind her. Turning, she saw Yan Anxuan, with Bu Qiran by his side.

"Miss Lin, pleased to see you again," Yan Anxuan greeted her with a professional, unblemished tone that, while polite, clearly conveyed a distant relationship.

"President Yan, it's good to see you. We haven't met since dinner last time. You're always so busy with important matters." Lin Qihua, momentarily flustered by the scare, quickly regained her composure, offering a graceful smile and greeting.

"Not too bad. Since Miss Lin hasn't yet taken over the Lin family's affairs, it's only natural that our paths wouldn't cross often."

"..." Lin Qihua was speechless.

These two brothers seemed to have it in for her. Even Yan Anxuan, a man of few words, was now being sarcastic.

Their animosity towards her was palpable. Was it because of Yan Zhoubai? Lin Qihua glanced back at Yan Zhoubai, who looked utterly innocent.

Yan Anxuan had come to summon Yan Zhoubai because he'd seen him and Lin Qihua tucked away in a corner, laughing and appearing quite chummy.

Logically, if Yan Zhoubai were to marry into the powerful Lin family, it would greatly benefit his future. After his identity was revealed, he would need such an alliance even more than Bu Qiran for support. As his older brother, Yan Anxuan should have been pleased.

But for some inexplicable reason, seeing Yan Zhoubai and Lin Qihua chatting and laughing made him uneasy. He didn't want to witness it and felt an immediate urge to separate them.

He could only attribute this feeling to his belief that Yan Zhoubai and Lin Qihua were incompatible, and that if they were together, Lin Qihua would completely dominate Yan Zhoubai.

As Yan Zhoubai's elder brother, he didn't want Yan Zhoubai to suffer any injustice, so he instinctively wanted to keep them apart.

As for Bu Qiran, he also seemed to be intently watching Yan Zhoubai and Lin Qihua. In fact, it was Bu Qiran who had suggested they approach them together.

Bu Qiran had always been cunning; Yan Anxuan had noticed it the moment he returned to the Yan household. But as long as he didn't overstep, Yan Anxuan would protect him, for he was his younger brother by blood.

Regarding the incident where Bu Qiran struck their Second Uncle, Yan Anxuan felt Bu Qiran was entirely blameless. He himself had wanted to strike him but couldn't due to his status and family obligations. Bu Qiran's actions, therefore, served as a release of frustration. Consequently, no one in the family blamed him.

The Yan family wanted nothing to do with such parasitic relatives, but they also wished to avoid an unsightly public spectacle.

Thus, his specific request for Yan Zhoubai to greet guests wasn't a pretext to separate him from Lin Qihua. Rather, it was because their audacious Second Uncle had arrived.

Despite not being invited by the Yan family, and after what was widely perceived as a public falling out, he had still chosen to attend the university celebration.

Yan Anxuan was determined to see what his Second Uncle intended to do.

Not only Yan Anxuan, but everyone else was also curious about the second son of the Yan family's intentions. To brazenly show up at the Yan family's event after such a public and ugly confrontation was truly remarkable.

While public opinion wasn't entirely one-sided, the majority leaned towards the Yan family. This was partly due to their vested interests, but also because the second son of the Yan family had a notoriously poor reputation in Jing City.

More than one company felt he was a slippery character, using the Yan family's name to secure deals far beyond his own company's capabilities, leading many businesses to suffer hidden losses.

Today, everyone was eager to see the second son of the Yan family make a fool of himself.

"Well, Anxuan, Qiran, and Zhoubai all came out to greet me. It seems being an uncle still carries some weight—all three nephews are here to welcome me."

The second son of the Yan family, impeccably dressed in a crisp suit, looked quite respectable. The superficial injuries from his earlier altercation with Bu Qiran had long since healed. Now, his demeanor mirrored his attitude, as if nothing untoward had ever occurred.

Yan Anxuan remained silent, and consequently, Yan Zhoubai and Bu Qiran also said nothing, merely offering symbolic greetings to the other guests.

The hosts' silence created an awkward atmosphere. The surrounding guests, eager for a spectacle, began openly discussing the situation, their voices not deliberately lowered, ensuring every word reached the ears of the Yan family's second son.

Yet, the second son of the Yan family acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, continuing to smile cheerfully at Yan Zhoubai and the others.

"Anxuan, I didn't come alone today. Your second aunt and cousin are here too, but they're running a bit late. I asked them to fetch some reporters, so they might arrive a bit later."

Yan Anxuan's eyes instantly sharpened. "What reporters?"

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Author’s note: Here you go [peeks]. Today is the author’s birthday. Can I get some birthday wishes? [peeks]