Chapter 50: The wine bottle disappeared without a trace

Yan Zixin, who had arrived early at the venue, saw Su Xiyan being surrounded by the servants in the center, and narrowed her eyes dangerously.

「How could this be? What happened that Su Xiwei managed to completely win over those shrewd servants of the old residence in just a few days? 」

Zhang Chengye said in a sinister and resentful tone:

「Mom, I heard that at first these people didn't obey her and weren't willing to follow her arrangements. 」

But after Su Xiwei performed a top‑tier tea ceremony on the spot and personally designed the entire banquet venue, these servants began to change their opinion of her.

The decisive change came when Liu Guanjia was almost hit by a gift sent to him; Su Xiyan not only saved him in time but also exposed on the spot the person who had ulterior motives in sending the gift.

Yan Zixin gave a cold smile: "Heh, Su Xiwei even knows some heretical ways—she really knows how to win people over."

Zhang Chengye fumed: "「Mom! That day's incident was clearly Su Xiwei deliberately ambushing me—are we really just going to let it go like that? 」"

"The doctor said it! If that stone had been just an inch closer, I would have been completely ruined!"

Yan Zixin gritted her teeth in frustration: "Cheng Ye! What kind of woman do you want, that you don't have any?"

"One Su Xiwei can make you lose your soul like this! You're utterly useless!"

"If it weren't for your lack of vigilance, you wouldn't have fallen for her tricks!"

Zhang Chengye, unwilling to be scolded by Yan Zixin, turned and walked away.

"Heh! Since his mother won't back him up, he'll go find Su Xiwei himself to regain face!"

"He's suffered such a huge loss! He absolutely can't just let it go!"

"Today is Yan Moci's birthday banquet, and all the young nobles who usually hang out with him have been invited."

"He has many followers and has long planned to completely ruin Su Xiwei today!"

「Cheng Shao! 」

Upon seeing Zhang Chengye appear, those young masters who took him as their leader immediately gathered around him.

Zhang Chengye said coldly: "「Are you all ready? 」"

The crowd smirked: "「Don't worry, everything's ready. 」"

"「We'll go offer her a drink in a moment; once the drug takes effect, she'll surely make a fool of herself in public. 」"

Zhang Chengye gave a sinister smile: "「Heh, Su Xiwei! This is the price you'll pay for daring to treat me this way! 」"

After Zhang Chengye left, a person appeared beside Yan Zixin.

Yan Zixin glanced at him and curled her lip in disdain,

"「In the Yan Family Old Residence, you're not even worthy to sit beside me. 」"

"「Really? 」 Yan Fanqing glanced toward Su Xiyan and gave a light smile."

"「What if I could bring you a piece of huge news? 」"

Yan Zixin snorted: "「Just you? I don't think you're worth anything. 」"

Yan Fanqing gave a soft "hmm" and said: "「I don't know—does the suspicion surrounding the Yan family eldest daughter‑in‑law's status make it valuable enough? 」"

Upon hearing Yan Fanqing drop that bombshell, Yan Zixin's pupils widened slightly as she turned her head toward him.

As the banquet was about to begin, Su Xiyan finally confirmed: "「Steward Liu, how are the preparations? 」"

"「Eldest daughter‑in‑law, everything's ready. 」"

"However… a few wealthy youngsters from Jingcheng who weren't on the guest list have shown up, and their reputations aren't great."

Su Xiyan frowned slightly, but she replied calmly: "「It's fine—it's Yan Moci's birthday; anyone who comes is a guest. 」"

"However, the gates of the Yan family aren't open to just any stray cat or dog."

"Since a few young masters have come, remember to return gifts afterward and not lose propriety."

Impressed by Su Xiyan's bearing and magnanimity, Steward Liu gave a slight bow: "「Yes, eldest daughter‑in‑law. 」"

Yan Moci stood upstairs, watching Su Xiyan host the banquet, and couldn't help but reveal an extremely faint smile.

Dongzi remarked timely: "「The eldest daughter‑in‑law now looks somewhat like the former mistress in her demeanor. 」"

Yan Moci's smile vanished instantly; Dongzi, realizing his slip, immediately lowered his head in fear.

Unexpectedly, he then heard Yan Moci say lightly:

"「She is completely different from the mistress; don't compare them. 」"

"What Su Xiyan deserves is the best feeling and life this world has to offer, not something like his mother...."

"He will never let Su Xiyan walk the same tragic path as his mother—being betrayed by her lover and ending in depressed despair."

Dongzi, "Yes, boss—it's about time; you should also get ready and come downstairs."

"「Hmm. 」 Yan Moci nodded."

"Suddenly, spotting something, he turned his head to Dongzi and frowned:"

"「Have someone keep an eye on Zhang Chengye and his gang of fair‑weather friends; don't let them get near the eldest daughter‑in‑law. 」"

"If necessary, knock them out and throw them out directly."

"All the food and drink imported for today's banquet by me and the eldest daughter‑in‑law must be handled with utmost care!"

Dongzi asked nervously: "「Boss, what did you see...? 」"

Yan Moci gave a dismissive smile: "「Hmph, I saw a few rats sneaking in. 」"

Dongzi gritted his teeth: "「It must be Cheng Ye the young master cooking up some vicious scheme again. 」"

Yan Moci turned his head lightly and began changing clothes: "「Zhang Chengye has only malice, no real scheming—nothing to fear. 」"

"At today's banquet, the two others are the real main players."

"Every year's birthday is their best chance to test whether I've awakened, sparing no effort; I believe this year will be no exception."

"Remember—make sure not a single drop leaks."

Dongzi, "Yes!"

As Dongzi pushed Yan Moci into view, Yan Laotaiye appeared, and the birthday banquet officially began.

Yan Laotaiye's feelings were mixed, "Thank you all family, friends, and partners for honoring Moci's birthday banquet with your presence."

Watching Yan Laotaiye on stage begin to speak, Zhang Chengye downstairs said in a low voice:

"Begin the operation."

"Yes!"

Wang Guoming held a wine cup, gazing at Su Xiyan standing beside Yan Moci, and couldn't help but reveal a drooling, lustful smile.

Zhang Chengye told him that as long as he delivered the wine to Su Xiyan, he could step back and quietly wait for the show to unfold.

But seeing Su Xiyan's peerless grace and beauty that outshone all directions, how could he bear to let everyone else take advantage of her like that?

Even if taking advantage, he still had to be the first to do so.

Thinking this, he involuntarily revealed a lewd, obscene smile.

Anyway, Zhang Chengye merely wanted Xiwei to lose reputation and status; he didn't mind suffering a loss to keep some precious footage, so he could have some spiritual comfort during future sleepless nights.

The more Wang Guoming thought about it, the itchier he felt; just looking at Su Xiyan's alluring figure made his thoughts run wild.

Just as he was about to approach, suddenly a sharp pain struck the back of his head, and before Wang Guoming's beautiful dream could be carried out, he fell into darkness.

The wine bottle in his hand slipped and fell into the soft grass.

After Wang Guoming was cleanly knocked out and dragged away by Yan Moci's henchmen, about two or three minutes later, the wine bottle that had fallen in its original spot vanished without a trace.