Si Ye had work to do, and Madam Tao was completely unable to summon him. It finally dawned on her—Si Ye, the kite she thought she held by the string, had completely flown away.
Left with no other option, she consoled Si Yichen by promising him a grand graduation banquet to make up for everything.
Finally, Si Yichen felt like he was regaining some of his dignity. He immediately messaged his friends, inviting them to attend.
That morning, as he came downstairs, he noticed that the villa designated for the banquet had already been decorated. He had assumed Madam Tao wouldn’t move so quickly, but seeing that the venue was nearly complete, the gloom weighing on his heart vanished instantly.
So what if Chen Xu was the top scorer in the national exams? He had no one to celebrate with. Meanwhile, he, Si Yichen, was about to host a grand banquet.
Soon enough, Chen Xu would just be standing to the side, watching in envy, his eyes bleeding with jealousy.
Just thinking about it made all of Si Yichen’s recent frustration disappear in an instant.
“Uncle Zhong, is there a banquet tonight?” Si Yichen deliberately asked the busy housekeeper.
Uncle Zhong paused his work and replied, “Yes, Young Master Chen.”
So it really was his graduation banquet!
Si Yichen didn’t ask further, deciding to leave quickly so as not to spoil his surprise.
He immediately pulled out his phone and posted to his social media with a slightly messy picture of the banquet preparations, adding the caption:
“Grateful to my father for 18 years of guidance. See you tonight.”
He had the contact information of nearly every young heir in his social circle. As soon as he posted the photo, replies flooded in—people expressing their excitement for the event, congratulating him, showering him with praise.
No one even mentioned Chen Xu, the top scorer.
—
Meanwhile, in another household, Zhou Hongkuo’s father sipped his tea as he examined an invitation. Puzzled, he turned to his son.
“Hongkuo, do you know this Chen Xu well?”
Zhou Hongkuo, who had already secured admission to a university overseas, wasn’t particularly close to Chen Xu, but he did know that Chen Xu was the province’s top scorer. He walked over and sat beside his father.
“Not too well, but he’s a good person. Why?”
His father handed him the invitation. “This is for a graduation banquet hosted by the Si family, but the name on it is Chen Xu’s. Shouldn’t it be for Si Yichen?”
Surprised, Zhou Hongkuo opened the invitation and confirmed that it was indeed for Chen Xu’s graduation banquet—not Si Yichen’s.
Was it because Chen Xu was the top scorer?
Then he suddenly recalled how Si Ye had stood up for Chen Xu that day. Maybe it wasn’t just because Chen Xu was outstanding.
Si Yichen’s position was in danger.
Zhou Hongkuo explained to his father about Chen Xu’s achievement and how Si Ye had defended him.
“Are you saying Si Ye sent Pan Qizhi back to the Pan family because of Chen Xu?” Father Zhou leaned forward in astonishment.
“Not entirely for Chen Xu. Pan Qizhi was already in the wrong. And as for Xia You—after what she did, not only did she lose her scholarship, but even top-tier universities refused to accept her due to character issues. She might only be able to attend a second-rate college now. You reap what you sow,” Zhou Hongkuo said, feeling regretful about Xia You. She had been a talented and hardworking student—why had she resorted to such underhanded methods? She could have had a bright future through her own efforts.
Father Zhou, however, saw it differently. His expression darkened, sensing that the situation wasn’t so simple.
The Si family’s heir had to be the most capable. Since Si Ye couldn’t have children of his own, the heir would naturally be determined by merit. Si Ye was already 28—not a boy easily controlled by his mother anymore. Si Yichen, being from the Tao family, would inevitably remind Si Ye of Madam Tao. If Si Ye had other plans, it wouldn’t be surprising.
“This time, you’ll come with me to the banquet,” Father Zhou instructed. “Make sure to build a good relationship with Chen Xu.”
Zhou Hongkuo wasn’t thrilled by this but nodded in agreement.
Of course, Father Zhou wasn’t the only one in A City who had similar thoughts.
As night fell, numerous guests, each with their own motives, arrived at the Si family estate with invitations in hand.
—
Ke Xinghao and his friends stepped out of a luxury car and stood at the entrance of an enormous villa, feeling a mix of awe and nervousness.
They had always known Chen Xu’s family was wealthy, but they had no idea they were this wealthy!
The scenes they saw felt like something straight out of a movie. The distance from the entrance gate to the main residence was so vast that they had to take a car. Along the way, they passed free-roaming peacocks, a massive rose maze, and even a large fountain.
The scenery was breathtaking and overwhelming. When they finally stepped out of the car in front of the grand estate, Ke Xinghao fully realized the difference—his family’s wealth was mere new money, while this was true aristocracy.
“Haizi, is your family’s place this big too?” Wang Chengyi whispered, pressing close to Ke Xinghao.
To him, Ke Xinghao was the wealthiest among them, so surely this wasn’t too surprising for him.
Ke Xinghao shook his head so hard he looked like a rattling drum. “Nope! Not even close! Don’t make stuff up!”
Meanwhile, some of their classmates stood there, utterly dumbfounded.
Chen Xu’s family is this rich?
And I actually laughed at him behind his back for being poor?
Especially a few boys who had always looked down on Chen Xu. They had always thought he was a poor kid pretending to be better than he was, relying on Ke Xinghao for handouts while acting all high and mighty.
Yet now, the people receiving them were calling Chen Xu “Young Master Xu,” explaining that this was his banquet, held in his home.
Those few students couldn’t help but think—this might just be the peak moment of their lives, and ironically, it was all thanks to the person they despised the most.
At the back of the group, a few teachers and the principal followed cautiously, their nerves on edge. The students might not fully grasp the weight of the Si family name, but the principal certainly did!
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that his school harbored such a hidden powerhouse. Chen Xu wasn’t just the top scorer in the national exams—he was also from the Si family.
Led by the servants, they were taken to a resting area.
Meanwhile, Chen Xu was in a boutique trying on clothes.
“Uncle Si, are we attending a banquet tonight?” Chen Xu asked, tilting his chin slightly as Si Ye helped him fasten his buttons.
“Yes,” Si Ye nodded, smoothing out a wrinkle on Chen Xu’s shoulder.
The suit was a three-piece ensemble—shirt, vest, and jacket. The vest perfectly outlined Chen Xu’s slender yet toned waist. Si Ye’s gaze lingered on it for a while, his expression darkening slightly.
That waist—just one look made him want to reach out and touch it. He even imagined what it would look like moving, swaying—
Chen Xu’s proportions were flawless. Though he was only 1.78 meters tall now, his posture was straight, his legs long and lean. His ankle, peeking out slightly above his polished leather shoes, was fair and delicate.
His youthful body was pure and untouched, like a fruit on the verge of ripening—one that could only be savored with patience and care.
Si Ye was that patient harvester, watching and waiting.
He stepped behind Chen Xu, looking at the reflection of the boy in the mirror. A sudden urge struck him—he wanted to pull Chen Xu into his embrace, merge him into his very being. But just as he was lost in that thought, Chen Xu lifted his eyes and smiled at him, bright and full of trust.
That smile alone could banish all Si Ye’s restless thoughts.
Si Ye was helpless when it came to him.
After buying the suit, they headed home instead of another venue.
“Aren’t we going to the banquet?” Chen Xu asked, puzzled.
“We are. I’ll tell you soon.” Si Ye reached out and rubbed Chen Xu’s ear. “Why aren’t you wearing the earrings?”
“I didn’t want to lose them,” Chen Xu replied.
“Put them on when we get home. If you lose them, I’ll buy you another pair.” To Si Ye, it was a minor issue. If Chen Xu was so cautious over a mere 6 million yuan pair of earrings, then clearly, he needed to buy him even more expensive ones to get him used to it.
Chen Xu had no idea what Si Ye was thinking—if he did, he would’ve been completely speechless.
As Chen Xu walked, he suddenly paused. A memory from his past life surfaced—around this exact time, the Si family had hosted a grand graduation banquet for Si Yichen. Although Si Ye had been away on a business trip abroad and couldn’t attend, Madam Tao had been present, ensuring that Si Yichen basked in the limelight.
At that banquet, Chen Xu had been humiliated by Si Yichen and his entourage. Even his own parents and siblings had fawned over Si Yichen while berating Chen Xu, accusing him of being shameless and bringing disgrace upon them.
That event had marked the beginning of the complete breakdown of his relationship with his parents. Later, when they discovered he had chosen to attend an art school, their relationship had deteriorated to the point of estrangement. They only saw each other once or twice a year—at Si family banquets, no less.
“What are you thinking about?” Si Ye’s voice pulled Chen Xu out of his thoughts. Seeing Chen Xu standing frozen in place, he approached him with a questioning look.
“Nothing,” Chen Xu shook his head. He raised his hand to show the earrings he had retrieved. “I brought the earrings.”
Si Ye didn’t tell him to put them on. Instead, he reached out and pulled Chen Xu into his arms, gently rubbing the back of his head. “Don’t push yourself too hard, little one.”
His embrace was warm—completely unlike the cold, ruthless image of the “grim-faced king” that the outside world attributed to him.
Chen Xu caught a faint whiff of Si Ye’s cologne. Unable to resist, he nuzzled into Si Ye’s chest and murmured, “Uncle Si, just look at me. Don’t look at anyone else, okay?”
Even though Chen Xu likely meant it differently, Si Ye’s heart ignited with a scorching heat at his words. He wanted nothing more than to devour Chen Xu entirely—to make him suffer, to make him feel pleasure, to pull him into the depths of indulgence.
Si Ye lowered his head, bringing his face inches from Chen Xu’s. Their noses brushed against each other as he stared into Chen Xu’s clear eyes, his gaze filled with unrestrained possessiveness. His voice was low, with a teasing chuckle. “Greedy little thing.”
Chen Xu’s cheeks burned, but instead of shying away, he boldly wrapped his arms around Si Ye’s neck and pressed his face against his. He admitted frankly, “Uncle Si, I am greedy. I want you to only look at me, only spoil me. I want to be the most special person to you.”
Did his little one even realize how dangerous his words were?
Si Ye’s heart was ablaze with love and desire. The beast locked within him was slamming against its cage, desperately wanting to break free and devour the naive boy who didn’t know the depths of his own words.
At the banquet venue, rumors were already spreading like wildfire.
“Have you heard? Mr. Si brought a young man to an auction a few days ago and spent over six million on a pair of earrings for him.”
“Where did you hear that? Why didn’t I get the memo?”
“I heard it too. Lao Cai, you’re behind on the gossip! Do you think that boy could be tonight’s guest of honor?”
“You know, I actually think it’s possible. If Mr. Si ignored Si Yichen and threw this entire banquet just for him, that shows how much he favors him. He might even surpass Si Yichen in importance.”
“I disagree,” another man interjected. “I heard from my sources that the boy Mr. Si brought to the auction seemed very close to him. Afterward, they went to see a stage play together and even had dinner at a fancy restaurant. I don’t think tonight’s ‘Young Master Chen is the same person. I think Mr. Si has a little lover.”
“As expected of President Liu—your intel is always spot-on. No wonder Mr. Si never entertained any of the women people tried to introduce to him. Turns out he likes boys!”
Company executives and socialites exchanged speculation, each trying to decipher Si Ye’s intentions.
“Wait, isn’t that the CEO of Feiteng Group?” someone suddenly exclaimed.
“And that’s the popular actress Wei Miaomiao! But… she’s holding onto some bald, potbellied old man?”
“Oh my god, just how rich is Chen Xu’s family? Why are there so many powerful figures at this banquet?!”
Chen Xu’s classmates were utterly stunned, their jaws nearly dropping to the floor. Even their teachers, who had been reserved upon arrival, were visibly overwhelmed. The school principal, who knew the true weight of the Si family’s influence, wasted no time seizing the opportunity to hand out his business cards, hoping to make connections among the elite guests he would normally never get a chance to meet.
Meanwhile, among the students, Ni Shanshan excitedly tugged on Guan Qingqing’s hand. “Qingqing, look at that cake—it looks so delicious! And those drinks are so pretty!”
Her enthusiasm snapped Guan Qingqing out of her daze.
Not long ago, when she found out Chen Xu was actually wealthy, she had asked him if he would still continue working part-time at her sister’s shop. Chen Xu had told her he would, and true to his word, he never stood her sister up, continuing to model for new product photos like before.
Because of this, Guan Qingqing had assumed their friendship remained unchanged. She even thought she could continue secretly liking Chen Xu.
But now—seeing the dazzling lights and lavish luxury of this banquet—it felt like one harsh slap after another on her face, leaving her cheeks burning.
The gap between them was simply too vast. If Chen Xu had truly been poor, it wouldn’t have mattered; she would have been happy to support him. But his reality was so far beyond her reach that it crushed any illusions she had. Unlike her classmates, who were thrilled by the grandeur, she felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head.
Meanwhile, Ni Shanshan was completely engrossed in the food, eagerly urging others to dig in. Seeing someone take the lead, even the more reserved students couldn’t hold back any longer and started helping themselves.
Then, a mocking voice broke through the cheerful atmosphere.
“Tch, where did these beggars come from?”
“What the hell is going on today? Since when can any random stray dog or cat just walk in? What are the security guards even doing?”
“Chen Shao, you actually know these country bumpkins?”
Si Yichen strolled over, holding a wine glass, his gaze sweeping over Ke Xinghao and his group as if they were garbage. His expression was full of displeasure. “How did you even get in here?”
Ke Xinghao and his friends immediately flushed with anger. Wang Chengyi stepped forward to explain, “We are Chen Xu’s classmates. We were invited to this banquet—we’re not trespassers.”
Si Yichen’s entourage burst into laughter upon hearing this. One of them sneered, “Oh wow, Chen Shao, they were actually invited by Chen Xu? That guy’s got some nerve. This is your graduation banquet, and he’s acting like he’s the host.”
Ke Xinghao was about to clarify that it wasn’t Chen Xu who invited them—it was Si Ye who had extended the invitation. But before he could say anything, Si Yichen had already pulled out his phone, made a call, and coldly instructed, “There’s an issue over here. Come handle it.”
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