Chapter 53 Don't Be So Quick to Reject Me

Jiang Mian felt her ears grow somewhat hot, and she slowly lowered her gaze, letting it fall upon their intertwined hands.

To say they were holding hands wasn't entirely accurate.

It was only a half-palm grip, held with utmost discretion. His palm was broad, making her hand appear rather delicate by comparison. Wen Jinhuai’s hand was very warm, and as he held hers in this manner, she could feel a wave of heat seeping into her fingers.

Realizing the gazes cast from below, Jiang Zhimong turned his head, slipped one hand into his pocket with a nonchalant air, and tilted his head slightly. "Brother Huai, we need to head down."

His voice was not loud, audible only to the three of them.

"Mhm." He murmured softly, signaling for Jiang Mian to walk down. She nodded and immediately followed his pace.

Elder Wen was clearly waiting for them, his head slightly raised. Nearby, Shen Xiyao blinked at her with a smile on her face.

Doing her utmost to ignore the gaze Jiang Zhouyi had fixed upon her, she calmly curved her lips into a smile, walking forward alongside Wen Jinhuai until they reached Elder Wen’s side.

Her hand was released. She lowered her arm, smoothed her skirt with a natural movement, and nodded toward Elder Wen.

Jiang Zhimong glanced sideways. Truth be told, just watching the two of them standing together was an eye-pleasing sight.

"Grandpa Wen, shouldn't we start the banquet now? I'm getting a bit hungry."

Before Elder Wen could reply, Shen Xiyao chimed in from the side, "You're the only one hungry; nobody else has even spoken yet."

With this light banter between the two, the atmosphere instantly relaxed.

"Yaoyao, don't argue with him. Come on, let's go upstairs." Elder Wen patted the hand Shen Xiyao was using to support him and chuckled helplessly.

The two children had never seen eye to eye since they were little, always bickering and fighting. Who would have thought that even after growing up, they would remain exactly the same, without the slightest change.

The banquet floor could be reached either by the side stairs outside the banquet hall or by taking the elevator.

Given the large number of guests, naturally, Elder Wen and the members of the Wen family would go up first.

Jiang Mian lowered her head, intending to wait for them to go ahead before making her move, when she felt Wen Jinhuai lean in slightly, lowering his voice.

"Miss Jiang, let's go up together."

She looked up, and before a refusal could leave her lips, she heard Wen Jinhuai add another sentence: "This is Grandpa's wish. Don't be in such a hurry to refuse me."

Feeling momentarily choked for words, she had no choice but to nod and follow.

Why did this man always seem to use Elder Wen to pressure her? It wasn't that she was afraid of the consequences of refusing Elder Wen; rather, out of respect for the elderly man and recalling the days when her parents were still alive, she found it difficult to refuse.

The first elevator ride accommodated only Elder Wen, Shen Xiyao, Jiang Zhimong, and the trailing Wen Jinhuai and Jiang Mian.

To be honest, Wen Yan had originally intended to bring Jiang Zhixuan along with them, but was stopped by a single look from Wen Jinhuai.

None of the Wen family uncles and elders had the qualification to follow in this elevator, so there was certainly no need for him to bring an outsider along.

Before the elevator doors closed, Jiang Mian caught sight of Jiang Zhixuan's smile, beneath which lay a look of deep resentment.

Perhaps she believed that being with Wen Yan meant she had won against her.

As the elevator slowly ascended, Jiang Mian's heart rose with it.

This was the advantage of being by Wen Jinhuai's side—everyone would clear the path for you, allowing you to enjoy the most privileged treatment.

She lowered her gaze, a subtle smile curving the corners of her lips.

In some matters, one should not calculate gains and losses, because the very act of doing so already means you have gained something and lost something in the process.

Lifting her gaze, Jiang Mian watched the elevator doors slowly open. Shen Xiyao supported the elder as they stepped outside.

Her heart already held the answer.

"Mianbao, why don't you sit with us?"

Elder Wen had always preferred having the younger generation he favored sit with him—a known rule among everyone.

The uncles and elders of the Wen family, by comparison, were seated at the secondary tables.

As soon as Shen Xiyao spoke, Jiang Zhimong glanced sideways at Wen Jinhuai. The latter appeared expressionless, his gaze lowered slightly as if deep in thought, revealing no trace of emotion.

The elder remained silent, which clearly meant he agreed with Shen Xiyao's proposal.

She pressed her lips together lightly. Though she secretly wished to reach for such high company, she didn't rush to accept, looking instead toward Elder Wen.

"It wouldn't be very appropriate for me to sit with Elder Wen. Receiving your appreciation is already an honor in itself."

"Yaoyao said so, so just sit together," the elder said with a smile, knowing what was on her mind, and continued, "If anyone dares to talk nonsense, I'll have Jinhuai handle them."

Given the Wen family's standing in the capital, who would dare to casually wag their tongues where they might be overheard?

Jiang Mian nodded, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Her silence was taken as assent. She then followed behind Elder Wen toward the banquet seating, walking all the way to the foremost principal table and taking her seat.

This table had originally been set with eight places. With the five of them seated, three vacancies remained.

While she was wondering inwardly who else might join them, the sound of high heels approached from afar.

Before she could even turn her head, the newcomer's voice reached her ears.

"Grandpa Wen, I'm not too late, am I?"

The speaker was none other than Gu Yuezhao, the eldest daughter of the Gu family.

Elder Wen smiled and beckoned to her, his tone quite cheerful. "Not late at all, the banquet hasn't even started yet."

The Gu family's most prominent enterprise was undoubtedly the entertainment industry; well over half of the entire showbiz circle had business ties with them.

The entertainment agencies under their direct umbrella had even produced several reigning top-tier celebrities.

This eldest Miss Gu was widely known in the entertainment circles as a genuine heiress. Countless people tried to curry favor with her in hopes of soaring to success, yet she possessed famously discerning standards, and very few could truly befriend her.

Jiang Mian turned her head and saw Gu Yuezhao smiling as she took a seat, nodding to the others at the table as a greeting.

When her gaze landed on Jiang Mian, it paused briefly before shifting toward Wen Jinhuai with a trace of inquiry in her eyes.

Mian bit her lip and instinctively lowered her gaze.

The person beside her leaned forward slightly and gestured with a hand. "Jiang Mian, founder of Yuyi Studio and also the head of XG's domestic headquarters."

He introduced her studio first, as if offering a form of validation that prompted Jiang Mian to instinctively look up at him.

She had thought that someone as busy as Wen Jinhuai wouldn't bother remembering the name of an inconsequential person's studio.

"So it's you." Gu Yuezhao curved her eyes in a smile. "I know you. I heard your graduation design was bought by a very famous overseas collector."

Jiang Mian paused slightly, turning to smile at Gu Yuezhao. "I've long heard of Miss Gu's great reputation. It turns out some rumors simply cannot be trusted."

"Oh? Such as?" Intrigued, Gu Yuezhao propped her chin in her hand.

The young woman lowered her gaze slightly in her direction, speaking in a very gentle tone: "For instance, the rumor that Miss Gu is an iceberg beauty, keeping people at a distance and extremely aloof."

Ah, she was complimenting her on being both beautiful and approachable.