Chapter 31: The Banquet

The banquet was held at the Sofitel Hotel in the municipal center.
Attendees included military and political dignitaries representing the Neo Aonan authorities, as well as representatives of renowned enterprises and several up-and-coming commercial organizations hoping to form cooperative ties with the Aurora Group.
The number of confirmed high-profile guests had already exceeded fifty.

Throughout the evening, a steady stream of notable figures and their children—invited by the organizers—continued to arrive. Among them was Chen Feng, whose father served as the deputy minister of the Defense Department.

The banquet hall sparkled under bright lights. Glasses clinked, toasts were exchanged, and a refined melody drifted through the lavish space, mingling with the rich aromas of perfume and alcohol.

Since his arrival, Yun Mo had already engaged in conversation with many guests, including Chu Ming, the deputy defense minister representing the military faction, and Luodi, a representative of the administrative faction.
Both had shown him considerable goodwill, though their intentions differed. Chu Ming leaned toward collaborating with Aurora on external development, while Luodi hoped Aurora would invest more in Neo Aonan’s local enterprises—such as Neo Aonan Energy.

During this time, Chen Feng also came over to toast Yun Mo.
He had long heard about Yun Mo from his father—how he was a true chosen one, a man of unmatched potential, far beyond what a second-generation official like him, who lived off his family’s wealth, could compare to.
He had long wanted to approach Yun Mo, but the opportunity had never presented itself.
Although he held an honorary teaching position at the school, he didn’t teach many classes and often skipped those himself, making it hard to cross paths with him.

This time, he had come to the banquet specifically to meet Yun Mo.
Even if he couldn’t get close, at the very least, he wanted to make a good impression.
The other reason for his attendance, of course, was beauty.
Only at a grand banquet like this could one find so many dazzling debutantes gathered in one place.
In such an environment, he felt like a fish in water.

After exchanging some polite small talk with Yun Mo, Chen Feng—aware that overdoing it could be just as bad as doing too little—didn’t linger. Instead, he turned to chat up the elegant young ladies nearby.

Seizing a moment of quiet, Yun Mo lifted his glass, intending to sip some red wine to soothe his throat—only to find the glass already empty.
He gave a helpless shake of his head and was about to head to the refreshment table when a striking woman in a tailored suit, with cascading blonde hair, appeared beside him and gracefully refilled his glass.

“Today marks Mr. Yun Mo’s first day in Neo Aonan. I wonder if your experience has been pleasant so far? Has anything fallen short of expectations?” she asked with a light laugh.

Yun Mo looked up and recognized her.
It was Catherine, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Neo Aonan Energy Group.

Since the focus of this visit was the Odegaard ore, and Neo Aonan Energy held the mining monopoly, the company was naturally one of the main players at this banquet.

Yun Mo smiled. “Whenever I come to this city, I’m always in good spirits.”

“Mr. Yun Mo truly is a man of sentiment. Any girl who could win your heart must have done countless good deeds in her past life,” Catherine said sincerely.

Her gaze, whether intentionally or not, swept over the various debutantes scattered throughout the banquet.
Many of them were watching Yun Mo—some subtly, others more boldly.

Catherine knew full well that these young women weren’t looking at her, but at the man beside her.

She understood this attraction.
Whether for strategic gain or the pursuit of lifelong happiness, Yun Mo was an excellent candidate.
Had she been a few years younger, she wouldn’t have hesitated either.

“You flatter me,” Yun Mo replied.

“Since Mr. Yun Mo often travels between the two regions, I wonder—which side’s women are more to your taste?” she asked teasingly.

Yun Mo pondered for a moment. A few elegant figures flashed across his mind.

“Right now, I’d say Eastern women better suit my aesthetic. Of course, Ms. Catherine is also quite charming.”

Catherine was pleased by his response. Her smile deepened.

“If possible, I do hope someone at the banquet can win over Mr. Yun Mo. I imagine I’m not the only one thinking that. You really are too outstanding.”

Yun Mo was, after all, half Neo Aonan.
If Neo Aonan could form a political marriage with him, it would further strengthen their ties with the Aurora Group—an already favorable relationship.
Even without Aurora, simply winning over a twenty-year-old Luminous-level ability user was an enormous accomplishment.

Likewise, any woman capable of moving Yun Mo’s heart would instantly rise in social standing.

“Maybe someone will. When it comes to matters of the heart, you never know what might happen next.”

A polite deflection.

Catherine could see that clearly.
For some reason, one person suddenly came to mind.

She was a senior consultant to the Investigation Department, personally appointed by Deputy Consul Mr. Lu
Although she had only joined recently, her beauty had already become legendary across the company.

Even those who hadn’t seen her in person were captivated by the rumors—tales of a woman in whom every ideal of feminine beauty seemed to converge.

Catherine hadn’t met her either.
But the rare feeling of envy stirred within her just from hearing others describe her.
If that woman had come to the banquet today… things might have been very different.

Still, Yun Mo wasn’t a shallow man.
Even if the consultant was as breathtaking as people claimed, it wouldn’t be enough to make someone like him fall in love at first sight.

After all, beauty alone wasn’t sufficient to capture a man like Yun Mo.
He would need someone with inner depth—someone with real substance.

Catherine swirled the wine in her glass, ready to clink glasses with him—when she suddenly noticed Yun Mo’s gaze fixed on the entrance.

In his deep eyes, a strange brilliance flickered.

Who just arrived?
Could it be Mr. Lu himself?
No, he should be tied up with another matter tonight…

Countless names flashed through her mind—but when she turned to look, she realized she’d been wrong.

***

Chen Feng was speaking with the second young lady of the president of Neo Aonan Bank when a casual glance from the corner of his eye made his thoughts momentarily pause.

“She… why is she here?”

He could hardly believe his eyes.

Part of it was because he had never expected her to show up here.

The other reason was that the way she was dressed today was simply too stunning—so much so that it bordered on being against the rules.

It completely upended his previous impression of her.

The second young lady standing beside him was also undeniably beautiful—someone who was striking at first glance and grew even more captivating the longer you looked.

Her delicate and flawless features carried a cold, proud allure that was almost intoxicating to men.

While they were conversing, he had been indulging in vivid fantasies of her submitting to him, her pride melting beneath his touch.

But the moment that other girl appeared, this second young lady seemed to lose all her radiance, and those fantasies—so vivid just moments ago—suddenly felt dull and meaningless.

It was the first time he had seen her in an evening gown, her slender, jade-like back exposed between the gown’s crisscrossing straps.

The first time he had seen her wear bright red lipstick on her thin lips, every word and breath exuding a compelling charm.

And also the first time he had seen her in pristine white stockings and crystal heels, each step seeming to pierce straight into his soul.

Her unique aura was hidden beneath that long, snow-white dress and in the faint smile on her face—radiating both elegance and self-assurance.

As she walked in, step by step, her presence and beauty—like her flowing black hair cascading down like a waterfall—spread through the grand banquet hall.

Chen Feng took a deep breath and said apologetically, “I’m sorry, I’ll have to excuse myself for a moment.”