Early on a Sunday morning, the entire Ji Family dressed in formal attire to attend the grand wedding banquet of the Hai Family's eldest grandson. With many family members in tow, the butler arranged for an extended luxury car that comfortably accommodated four generations. The vehicle glided smoothly before coming to a stop at the entrance of the Hai Family estate.
"Old Master Ji, you're quite early," Old Master Hai said, looking flustered. "There are too many guests, and I simply can't attend to them all. Quickly, have your grandsons help me host."
Old Master Ji rolled his eyes. "Who told you to invite so many people?"
Old Master Hai snorted. "After more than twenty years, our Hai Family finally has a joyous occasion to celebrate—shouldn't we make it grand? Enough chatter. You and Miss Rong go inside and keep Uncle Tang’s family company with some tea. Yuan, you handle those business associates over there. A-Yan, take care of the group of socialites—they all adore you. Chuan, Aye, and Duoduo, since you’re younger, just sit over there and enjoy the food."
Ji Zhouye frowned. "I'm already an adult. I don’t belong at the kids' table. I’ll help serve drinks to the guests."
Ji Jingchuan chimed in, "The cars outside are parked haphazardly. I’ll help with valet parking." Having often worked part-time at hotels, parking cars was no challenge for him.
"Excellent, excellent. Thank you all." Old Master Hai’s sharp eyes caught sight of Old Master Si’s family arriving and immediately rushed over to recruit more help. "Old Si, you’re late, and you only brought two grandsons? There’s a mountain of tasks waiting for you..."
Ji Jingchuan didn’t enter the banquet hall. Instead, he stayed at the Hai Family’s entrance, assisting guests with parking.
A red car pulled up, and as he approached to greet the occupants, the door opened, revealing a familiar figure. He froze momentarily.
The woman appeared to be in her early twenties, wearing sky-high heels and a light blue gown that accentuated her graceful figure. Her delicate makeup highlighted striking features that were hard to look away from.
He recognized her—Tong Lan, the school beauty from his high school days.
Another woman stepped out from the back seat. She glanced casually at Ji Jingchuan before her expression morphed into exaggerated recognition. "Isn’t this He Jingchuan? Dressed in a suit, he almost looks presentable!"
"Don’t say that," Tong Lan chided softly, her gaze sweeping over Ji Jingchuan with a practiced, flawless smile.
Ji Jingchuan pressed his lips together.
Just like in high school, she always knew how to appear gentle and refined—even if her true nature was just as disdainful.
Li Sha, the most snobbish girl from their class back then, still wore bright red lipstick. She deliberately raised her voice. "He Jingchuan, do you even know where you are? This is the Hai Family, one of the four great families of Haicheng! Did you think changing into a suit would hide your peasant stench and let you sneak into such an elite event?"
Ji Jingchuan studied them.
Four years had passed, yet Li Sha’s insults hadn’t evolved—same old condescension.
"I heard you didn’t attend university?" Tong Lan feigned concern, though her eyes lingered on his suit, which bore no discernible brand. It looked expensive, yet she couldn’t place it—perhaps just a cheap knockoff?
Then she noticed the car keys in his hand. "Oh, so you’re working here as a valet."
"Pathetic. Just a lowly attendant," Li Sha sneered. "With your pitiful background, how dare you ever think of pursuing our Tong Lan? What gave you the audacity?"
Ji Jingchuan lowered his gaze.
Back in their second year of high school, the school had required a fee. When he went to the Ji Family to ask Zhang Cui'e for money, he ended up under the Ji Family’s scrutiny. Zhang Cui'e beat him black and blue.
Covered in bruises, he endured mockery at school—until Tong Lan stepped in to defend him.
That moment had been the sole bright spot in his bleak youth.
To express gratitude, he spent thirty-eight yuan from his part-time earnings to buy her a chocolate cake.
She accepted it with her own hands.
Yet, in private, she tossed it into the trash right in front of him, her voice sickly sweet. "Cheap cream like this isn’t fit for gifting. Being pursued by a pauper like you isn’t flattering, He Jingchuan. Know your place."
After that, the already ostracized boy became an even bigger laughingstock. Classmates jeered that he was a toad lusting after swan meat, telling him to look at his reflection before dreaming so high. Wherever he went, whispers followed.
"Being a valet isn’t so bad," Tong Lan said sweetly, handing him the keys. "Take care of it, old classmate."
Li Sha scowled. "Be careful not to scratch it. You couldn’t afford to pay for damages!"
Ji Jingchuan replied flatly, "You’re right. I can’t afford it. Let someone else handle this."
He raised his hand and signaled. "Come here."
The Hai Family had assigned several valets, two of whom had been assisting Ji Jingchuan—and knew exactly who he was.
A young man hurried over, bowing slightly. "Fourth Young Master, how may I assist you?"
Ji Jingchuan passed him the keys. "Please take care of it."
"At once, Fourth Young Master."
The valet accepted the keys with both hands and slipped into the driver’s seat.
Li Sha’s smirk cracked. "W-What did he just call you?"
Tong Lan noticed the stark contrast between the valet’s ill-fitting uniform and Ji Jingchuan’s impeccable suit. The same garment, yet one screamed "service staff," while the other exuded nobility.
How could a penniless country boy afford such luxury?
Before she could voice her doubts, Ji Jingchuan offered a cold, mirthless smile. "Excuse me."
As he brushed past Tong Lan, the cloying scent of Chanel No. 5—the same perfume she’d worn in high school—assaulted his senses. Back then, he’d mistaken it for elegance. Now, it just reeked of pretension.
"Wait, He Jingchuan!" Tong Lan grabbed his arm. "Which family’s Fourth Young Master are you?"
Ji Jingchuan pried her fingers off, his tone icy. "Misaddressing someone is terribly impolite, Miss Tong. Remember—I don’t go by He. My surname is Ji."
With that, he strode into the banquet hall.
Tong Lan stood thunderstruck.
Li Sha grumbled, "What’s the big deal? Just changing his surname doesn’t make him special—"
"Shut up." Tong Lan inhaled sharply. "Not long ago, I heard rumors that the Ji Family’s long-lost fourth son had been found. So He Jingchuan… is actually Ji Jingchuan? That penniless peasant is now a Ji Family heir?"
Li Sha’s mind blanked.
In her world, the Tong Family was considered wealthy—yet even they couldn’t rub shoulders with Haicheng’s four great families. The Hai wedding invitation had cost Tong Lan considerable effort to secure.
Had they known He Jingchuan was now Ji Jingchuan… all that struggle would’ve been unnecessary.
Li Sha swallowed hard and said, "Back when He Jingchuan—oh, I mean Ji Jingchuan—was pursuing you, you asked him to facilitate a collaboration between the Tong family and the Zheng Family. He wouldn’t have refused, right?"
Tong Lan pressed her lips together.
If they could partner with the Ji Family, who would even spare a glance at the Zheng Family?
She adjusted her makeup and smoothed her dress, then strode in confidently on her high heels.
