Evening, at the Jiang family estate.
The old Jiang residence was also located on West Mountain, an equally imposing and grand mansion.
With vermillion gates, high walls, and sweeping eaves decorated with intricate carvings, it exuded the deep-rooted heritage of a top-tier aristocratic family.
At this moment, the front courtyard was bustling with traffic, filled with all kinds of luxury cars.
A single glance at the license plates revealed numbers like A88888, A66666, or vehicles with special permits—any one of them was enough to astonish ordinary people.
When the Lin family’s car arrived, it was directed by the reception staff to a designated VIP parking area.
The car doors opened, and Lin Dong and Jiang Lu were the first to step out.
Then, Lin Yi, Gao Min, as well as the younger generation members Lin Feng and Lin Mian, appeared one after another.
As soon as the Lin family group made its entrance, it began drawing the attention of many guests already present.
“Is that the Lin family’s car?”
“The Lin family? Which Lin family?”
“Which else could it be? The Lin family of West City.”
“I heard the Lin family has been in decline these past years, practically being held up by the women.”
“Shh, keep your voice down. Lin Dong may be a businessman, but his elder brother’s daughter, Lin Yi, is now a genuine C-level executive with real authority, and she’s connected to the Shen family.”
“Oh, that Lin Yi? She’s indeed something special.”
“Hey, who’s that unfamiliar girl in the white dress?”
“She’s quite beautiful, with a good presence. Does anyone know her?”
“No idea. I’ve never seen her before.”
“People always say the younger generation of the Lin family is worthless, but now, looking at these young Lins, they all carry themselves pretty strongly—not the useless wastrels the rumors suggest.”
“Could it be we’ve underestimated the Lin family?”
“...”
Amid the whispered chatter, Lin Dong, arm in arm with his wife Jiang Lu, led the four young Lin family members through the main entrance.
Along the way, they encountered more and more acquaintances, and many people took the initiative to greet Lin Yi.
“Director Lin, long time no see! You look younger every day.”
“Director Lin, you’re really glowing tonight.”
“Lin Yi, who’s this beside you?” someone finally couldn’t resist asking about Gao Min’s background.
Lin Yi, her arm linked with Gao Min’s, graciously introduced her to everyone. “This is my younger sister, Gao Min. She just came back into the family recently. She’s one of us.”
As soon as she said this, the surrounding crowd fell noticeably silent for a moment.
Lin Yi’s sister?
When did Lin Yi get a sister?
Could she be an illegitimate daughter of the Lin family who had been living away?
In an instant, the name Gao Min, along with various speculations, began spreading quickly among the guests.
Of course, eagle-eyed observers also noticed that of this generation of male heirs, only Lin Feng and Lin Mian had shown up.
“Hey, what about the other younger Lins? Why didn’t they come?”
“Probably brought here to avoid embarrassment, I guess.”
“Who knows?”
“...”
Soon, the Lin family reached the banquet hall.
The hall was decorated in an antique style.
Redwood tables and chairs, palace lanterns hanging high—it all exuded an air of opulence.
The seat of honor was reserved for Old Madam Jiang, still empty at that moment, but the nearby VIP seats were already occupied by many guests.
These people all had distinguished bearing, clearly individuals of status and prestige.
As more guests filed in, they were directed by the reception staff to their seats based on their name cards.
The seating for the younger generation was arranged in the right-side annex hall, separated from the main table by a corridor.
Lin Yi led Gao Min and the others toward the right-side seating area.
As they passed by the VIP seats, Gao Min’s eyes quickly scanned the faces of the people there.
Suddenly, her gaze froze.
In a corner of the VIP seating sat a man around sixty years old.
He was wearing a dark gray Mao suit, holding a string of glossy agarwood prayer beads in his hand. With his head tilted, he was quietly chatting with the person next to him, occasionally letting out hearty laughs. He had a kind and benevolent appearance.
The man was Jiang Yuan.
Even if he were reduced to ashes, Gao Min would still recognize that face.
In that instant, her heartbeat quickened sharply, and her fists clenched involuntarily.
But in the end, she managed to suppress the fierce urge to charge over and take him down, following Lin Yi to their seats.
Just as she turned her head, Jiang Yuan seemed to sense something too. He glanced slightly sideways and cast a look at her.
That gaze carried an unreadable, profound significance.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he quickly turned back and resumed talking and laughing with the person beside him.
When Lin Yi and the others reached the right-side area, it was already filled with elegantly dressed young men and women.
Seeing Lin Yi approach, many stood up to greet her.
“Sister Yi!”
“Hello, Sister Yi!”
“...”
Lin Yi returned their greetings one by one.
Once they were seated, the surrounding eyes began to drift discreetly toward Gao Min.
“Who’s that? Haven’t seen her before.”
“No idea. Is she some heiress?”
“She’s quite pretty, and she has good poise.”
“I heard outside that she’s Lin Yi’s sister, name’s Gao Min.”
“Gao Min? With a last name like Gao, she can’t be from the main Lin family.”
“Maybe a distant relative?”
“Hmm, she’s beautiful, and there’s something spirited about her.”
“...”
Facing these brazen stares and evaluations from the aristocratic heirs, Gao Min chose to ignore the noise.
She hadn’t come to the capital to climb the social ladder or to fit into this circle.
She had come to catch her enemy.
Just then, a sudden commotion and gasps erupted from the entrance.
“Look!”
“Who’s that?”
“Holy crap—that presence, that face... this is amazing!”
