She paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Alright, what I mean is, I'm asking you to help me out for now. The better you perform, the more Sorin will value you, and... then, Master Fang will also be less wary of you. Although he's currently on guard against you, if Sorin appreciates you, Master Fang will still give you an important position for the sake of cooperation between the two families. After all, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, and he should be able to calculate that. And at that time, your words will carry more weight!"
"You're so sure I'll agree?" I frowned deliberately. "Miss, you're forcing me to sell my male charms."
“You definitely will,” Yang Wei said with a forced smile. “If you refuse to help, I’ll have to use my charm on you… I’ve never used my charm on anyone before!” She winked at me jokingly.
"If you try to seduce me, I'll have no choice but to play along." I shook my head and sighed. Then we looked at each other and smiled.
After a long silence, Yang Wei suddenly murmured, "It's a pity we're not on the same path."
Before I could think any further, Yang Wei quickly changed the subject.
"Later, you do this... like this... and then like this again... I will do my best to cooperate with you..."
The elevator quickly reached the top floor.
The VIP access leads directly to the hotel's rooftop terrace. Clearly, Mr. Sorin put considerable thought into the event; at least this terrace gathering was quite unique.
Toronto, after all, is a city built on the shores of Lake Ontario, with a beautiful environment. The terrace there doesn't have the squalor and decay typical of other industrial cities. In fact, the terrace of this hotel was originally built specifically as a unique banquet venue.
The hotel building's terrace even features a swimming pool, an open-air, detachable bar, and almost every other essential feature except for the lack of a ceiling! The surrounding oriental-style screens add a touch of exoticism.
As we emerged from the VIP entrance, courteous waiters immediately approached and led us into the banquet hall. Since it was lunchtime, it was a buffet-style reception, with expensive and exquisite dishes displayed on a ring of food carts. I glanced at them; most of them were unfamiliar to me, though of course, foie gras, caviar, and other delicacies were available.
The bar has professional bartenders who provide a variety of drinks, as well as a selection of high-end liquors.
There weren't many people on the terrace yet, mostly Caucasians. When Yang Wei and I walked up, we attracted quite a bit of attention. After all, a handsome man and a beautiful woman with Asian features like us were bound to draw attention. Of course, I wouldn't call myself a handsome man, but Yang Wei was definitely a beauty.
I soon realized that Yang Wei next to me seemed like a completely different person!
She quickly integrated into the group, and clearly, she knew a lot of people! I noticed she had a friendly smile on her face and greeted everyone she knew.
"Mr. Norton, oh, hello... I heard your party won quite a few seats in the XX district election this time, congratulations." Having seen the information on Yang Wei's phone, I knew this was addressed to the head of a second-rate opposition party.
"Mr. Smith, hello! Your golf skills are truly unforgettable!"—This was said to a manager from a medium-sized bank. From the information Yang Wei gave me, I learned that to bribe this guy, Yang Wei had someone play golf with him, gambling on the game, and deliberately losing tens of thousands of dollars to him.
"Mrs. Lawrence, oh, hello. I heard your foundation received quite a few donations this time. Oh, I think I'll consider donating some money to your foundation." — This was addressed to the head of a charitable foundation, whose fund flows appeared "suspicious" according to available information.
I sighed.
It's truly remarkable how Yang Wei remembers so many people so clearly. Watching her flit through the crowd like a butterfly, her elegant smile and poised demeanor, coupled with her angelic face and captivating charm, almost instantly made her the center of attention.
Moreover, it was quite obvious that Yang Wei was right when she told me before… most of the guests attending this banquet were second- or third-rate figures. And when these people spoke with Yang Wei, most of them clearly had an attitude of being flattered and were very obsequious.
What's even more noteworthy is that while Yang Wei was attending these social events, she kept me firmly by her side!
Quickly, we made our way through the crowd and into the inner area.
Mr. Thorin's thin but spirited face appeared before them, his eyes holding a deep gaze. He was dressed in a neat suit, exuding a very refined air. And Eighth Master stood beside him.
Yang Wei and I walked up to them, and Yang Wei immediately smiled and said, "Hello, Mr. Thorin."
“Oh, my dear Weiwei. You’re always so charming whenever I see you,” Thorin replied with a faint smile. His gaze swept over me almost imperceptibly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, as if he hadn’t expected me to come with Yang Wei… He probably thought I was with his daughter.
I sighed. All I could do was greet Thorin with the utmost respect.
"Hmm." Mr. Thorin seemed to hesitate for a moment. I knew he probably wanted to ask something, but he didn't say anything, only saying lightly, "We meet again. Oh, by the way, I sent Susan to pick you up. Didn't you see her?"
I coughed and said, "Well, our car broke down. But we happened to run into Miss Yang Wei on the way, and in order to avoid me being late, Her Highness the Princess allowed me to ride in Miss Yang Wei's car."
Sorin seemed to smile, glanced at Eighth Master, and said with a smile, "I didn't expect your nephew to be so popular with girls."
Eighth Master's expression remained unchanged; he seemed to be asking casually, "Oh, Fifth Master, do you know Miss Yang Wei?"
“I know her.” I sighed inwardly. “We’re friends. It’s just been a long time since we last met. I ran into her last night at Mr. Thorin’s manor, which was a real surprise.”
"Oh, did you rest well yesterday?" Thorin smiled, his voice magnetic and seemingly sincere. "Susan insisted on picking you up yesterday. I think you young people might have more in common. She must have taken you around a bit. Toronto is a great place; there are plenty of things to see."
Yes, I did "see" quite a lot. Your daughter even took me to see a top-notch adult show!
I thought this to myself, but I dared not say it aloud. I just smiled and said, "It's alright. Her Highness just showed me around Toronto."
"So, are you satisfied with your accommodation?" Thorin asked with a smile.
"Thank you, that place is absolutely wonderful." This time I meant it sincerely. Honestly, it's a really nice place. If I had the money, I'd also find a beautiful lakeside villa like that… blue sky, white clouds, green grass, trees, beautiful lake water…it would be amazing!
Sorin had a pleasant smile on his face, but Yang Wei immediately said, "Well, it's fortunate that Chen Yang lives there, so I had the opportunity to meet this old friend. We haven't seen each other for a long time, have we?"
I saw Thorin's expression stiffen slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing across his face, but it quickly dissipated. After all, he was a leader, and he had the magnanimity to back it up. He smiled nonchalantly and said, "Well, Weiwei, if you like that place, I can give you one of the buildings."
“It’s a pity I don’t have much time to stay in Canada.” Yang Wei sighed, then smiled and said, “I’ll be going back in a couple of days, after we’ve finished discussing things here. But I’ll invite Chen Yang to come back with me; I think he’d be happy to take a trip to Las Vegas.”
I really admire this woman; she can tell such a huge lie without batting an eye.
"Oh? Chen Yang, you like gambling too?" Sorin glanced at me.
"I... I've only played it once or twice before." That was the only answer I could give, feeling helpless.
“Oh, that’s perfect.” Sorin smiled faintly. “After the banquet, I usually like to play a couple of rounds of cards with a few old friends… As for Mr. Fang, I just asked him, and it seems he’s not very interested in playing cards. In that case, you can represent him.” Then Mr. Sorin deliberately smiled and watched Eighth Master play a round: “How about it, old friend, you don’t mind having your nephew play cards for you, do you? If he loses, don’t worry about the money.”
Eighth Master smiled faintly: "It's his honor. Why would I care about a mere amount of money?" He seemed to pat my shoulder with a smile: "Little Fifth, you'd better try your best to win more later. Opportunities to win Mr. Thorin's money at the gambling table are rare."
His joke was perfectly timed, but based on my understanding of Eighth Master, I had a vague feeling that he wasn't as happy as he seemed.
Yang Wei blinked: "In that case, why don't I join too? Mr. Thorin, you don't mind, do you?"
“You…” Sorin was somewhat surprised. I roughly realized that his invitation to me to join the card game was probably an attempt to find an opportunity for me to leave Yang Wei.
After all, Yang Wei had deliberately acted somewhat intimately towards me just now, which probably made Sorin feel a little uncomfortable.
This was the strategy that Yang Wei and I decided on on the way.
"I will deliberately act very affectionate towards you...it's a must."
In Yang Wei's words, this was a kind of stimulation.
Normally, although Thorin showed some interest in me, he wouldn't have high expectations of me. At this point, someone needs to step in and "encourage" him.
In this world, there are always people vying for good things! Yang Wei deliberately stood next to me, making a "grabbing" gesture.
This, in turn, will subtly provoke Thorin, causing him to unconsciously adopt a "protective" posture towards his food. Unconsciously, this will increase my standing in Thorin's eyes.
It's like if two men were pursuing the same woman, even if that woman was actually just a sow. In the heat of their pursuit, both men would become caught up in a struggle, losing all reason. Even if the target was just a sow, as the competition intensified, in their eyes, the sow would become the most beautiful woman.
However, if someone suddenly withdraws from the competition, the remaining people will calm down and realize that the sow is just a sow!
This is what Yang Wei meant by "stimulation".
Seeing the slight hesitation on Thorin's face, Yang Wei immediately smiled and said, "Mr. Thorin, have you forgotten what kind of business my family is in? Since it's a betting game, how can I be left out?"
Just then, we finally saw Her Highness the Princess arrive.
The princess, her face contorted with anger, stormed in through the VIP entrance. A waiter tried to lead the way for her, but she impatiently pushed him away.
Her pretty face was stern, her eyes were fiery, and she walked over quickly without even greeting anyone along the way.
I was a little nervous. If the princess suddenly lost her temper, things could get complicated.
Just as the princess walked up to me, seemingly about to say something, Yang Wei suddenly stepped forward, deliberately standing close to me, and then smiled faintly, saying, "Oh, Susan, you're finally here. I was just talking to Chen Yang about you... To be honest, you really should get a new car. Also... um, Chen Yang was just telling me that it seems you two had some minor disagreements."
It's truly amazing!
Yang Wei's casual remark instantly suppressed the princess's anger. It has to be said, women have a natural talent for changing their expressions!
The princess suddenly suppressed her anger, took a deep breath, and then smiled. She grabbed my arm, nestled it in my crook, and gave Yang Wei a defiant look: "Oh, we're fine, just a little misunderstanding." Then she glanced at me, her eyes carrying a hint of suggestion: "You agree, don't you, darling?"
Part Two: The Road to Qingyun, Chapter Thirteen: The Battle
Although I no longer had any goodwill towards this "princess," it wasn't appropriate to show it in front of her father, who was also my master. I just smiled, hesitated slightly, but didn't shake off her hand. I simply smiled and said, "Not bad."
The princess quickly fixed her hair, then smiled at me and said, "Alright, I'll take you to meet some friends." She then pulled me away.
I glanced at Yang Wei discreetly. She didn't say anything, just wore a mysterious smile.
After the princess pulled me away, the woman immediately asked through gritted teeth in a voice only I could hear, "I haven't asked you in detail yet, how do you know this woman Yang Wei!"
See, in just a short while, in the princess's mouth, "Weiwei" became "that woman Yang Wei." It seems that a woman's jealousy comes faster than anything else.
"It's nothing, just a friend I met by chance before," I replied casually.
"Hmph!" Sophie snorted. "Hmph, you met her by chance? Don't take me for a fool! You've only been in Canada for a short time, and how could you possibly have the chance to meet her? She's always so arrogant and cold to everyone else, but she seems very friendly to you."
There was a hint of accusation in her tone, so I immediately stopped and glanced at her sideways. I said slowly, "Your Highness... I think you need to understand one thing. I am your guest, not one of your subordinates or followers... So, I think it's unnecessary for me to report my private matters or who my friends are to you."
...
"Sophie is the type of woman who responds to force but not gentleness. The men she dates are always the ones who flatter and coax her. But given her personality, she's naturally restless and full of curiosity, always craving novelty. Right now, you're like a toy she really likes but can't have. If you act a little more proud and assertive, it will actually stimulate her feelings towards you and make her feel that you're 'different' from others."
...
At my firm stance, a spark immediately flew in the princess's eyes, but just as Yang Wei had predicted, she quickly softened... The anger on her face flashed by, and she seemed to be trying hard to suppress it. Instead, she changed to a gentler voice: "I... I was just asking casually, just out of curiosity, as if you know everyone... Qiao Qiao was like that last time. And now Yang Wei is doing the same thing."
We then exchanged a few more casual words, with me responding indifferently. At first, the princess's eyes flashed with a hint of anger. But later, her expression grew increasingly gentle, until finally, I even sensed that she was almost being obsequious.
And the strange light in her eyes grew even stronger.
I'm quite familiar with that kind of gaze.
It's like a drunkard seeing fine wine, or a lecher seeing a stunningly beautiful woman.
A wife is not as good as a concubine. A concubine is not as good as a stolen affair, and a stolen affair is not as good as one that cannot be stolen!
What you can't have is always the best.
These words don't just apply to men; sometimes, they're equally applicable to women, especially women like princesses.
The princess and I strolled around the banquet hall casually, exchanging pleasantries with a few guests, most of whom weren't important figures. The princess was clearly far less adept at social interaction than Yang Wei, a far cry from Yang Wei's smooth and sophisticated manner. I found it rather boring, and I could clearly sense the somewhat strange looks people were giving me.
Especially those young men.
I even harbored malicious suspicions. I wondered if these men had slept with the princess?
I noticed that Mr. Thorin, who was standing in the distance, was glancing at us more and more often; the old man's eyes held a rather complicated expression.
Later I learned that the princess's behavior at this banquet was quite different from usual! Normally, in similar situations, the princess would be surrounded by a throng of men fawning over her. Although I knew she was a harlot—oh, please forgive my use of that word—most people were unaware that she belonged to such an "organization."
She was indeed very beautiful; God had blessed her with a beautiful face, an alluring figure, and a prominent background. More importantly, this beauty was also "famous for her beauty"! Naturally, many men were interested in her.
But today, she stayed by my side the whole time, not daring to show the slightest impatience. She spoke to me softly and gently, appearing very submissive, as if trying her best to create a "harmonious" relationship between us.
Actually, I know that one of the most important reasons why the princess made this gesture was because Yang Wei was standing to the side! The princess's behavior was undoubtedly intentional, meant to be seen by Yang Wei and to show her a challenge.
This is typical of a petty, narrow-minded woman.
“Alright, darling.” Thorin let her daughter pull me around the room and then came back, finally speaking: “You’ve been hogging our young man all day, can’t you give him back to me now? We still have some men’s stuff to talk about.”