"Mr. Chen, you're here."
Qiu Yihan wore a black evening gown, revealing her snow-white shoulders. She wore high heels, showing off a section of her alluringly white calf. Her delicate and beautiful face was lightly made up, making her look like a fairy.
"It's your birthday, how could I not come?" Chen Jiuyang said with a smile.
Qiu Yihan gave a sweet smile, "My grandfather is getting discharged from the hospital soon. I'll have time to find Mr. Chen to hang out with then."
Hu Qijie's jaw dropped. Damn it, Jiuyang, this is what you call having a bit of a connection with the Qiu family?
You can actually win over Qiu Yihan?
Chen Jiuyang chuckled, "That's great."
As he spoke, Chen Jiuyang took out a small wooden box. "Yihan, this is a birthday gift for you."
"Thank you, Mr. Chen." Qiu Yihan happily accepted the small wooden box. "I'll open it when I get home tonight."
At this moment, a middle-aged woman following Qiu Yihan said, "Young Miss, there are a few distinguished guests here for the Master. You need to go and greet them."
Qiu Yihan looked apologetically at Chen Jiuyang. "Mr. Chen, I'll come back to hang out with you later."
Chen Jiuyang replied, "You go ahead and attend to your important matters."
The direct descendants of wealthy and influential families were different from someone like him, who came from a rural background. They had many connections to manage. He, on the other hand, had a lot of free time every day.
After Qiu Yihan left, Hu Qijie pulled Chen Jiuyang aside. "Brother, you're too amazing."
"Are you really hitting it off with the Qiu family's young lady?"
Chen Jiuyang chuckled, "Probably."
Hu Qijie exclaimed, "Brother, this is no joke. Have you broken up with that young lady from the Yao family?"
Chen Jiuyang replied, "No."
This statement completely convinced Hu Qijie. "Brother, teach me your secret! How do you manage to have one foot in two boats?"
Chen Jiuyang patted Hu Qijie's shoulder. "Qijie, some things are better understood than explained. Knowing too much isn't always a good thing."
Could he tell them that he, Chen Jiuyang, was a future Marquis Grandmaster who had the privilege of having seven wives?
What was this talk of having one foot in two boats? It didn't suit his status.
If he revealed the truth, Chen Jiuyang feared it would crush Hu Qijie's confidence.
"Get lost, get lost." Hu Qijie couldn't help but roll his eyes.
The two of them found a place to sit and have tea and chat.
A moment later, a few young men approached Chen Jiuyang. "Brother, you look unfamiliar. Shall we get acquainted?"
Chen Jiuyang recognized them as the young men who had been surrounding Qiu Yihan earlier. They must be Qiu Yihan's suitors.
Chen Jiuyang replied, "We can be friends."
The leading young man smiled. "My name is Huo Lechi. What should I call you, brother?"
"Chen Jiuyang," Chen Jiuyang said with a smile. "A pleasure."
"Chen?" Huo Lechi asked, "Which Chen family? I don't think there are many prominent Chen families in Fengcheng."
Chen Jiuyang replied, "I'm not from Fengcheng. I'm from Ziyang."
"Ziyang?" Huo Lechi was taken aback. Wasn't that just a county town under Fengcheng? He immediately looked at Chen Jiuyang with a hint of disdain. "Brother Chen, you seem to be on good terms with Miss Qiu. How did you meet?"
Chen Jiuyang chuckled, "I saved Old Master Qiu's life."
Huo Lechi was stunned. "Old Master Qiu was hospitalized and critically ill a while ago. You were the one who saved him?"
Chen Jiuyang nodded. "Yes, it was me."
"Oh, so you're a doctor. My apologies." Huo Lechi was flattering on the surface, but he no longer took Chen Jiuyang seriously, and his inner hostility lessened considerably.
How could someone from a small county town like Chen Jiuyang attend Qiu Yihan's party and know her? It turned out he was a doctor who saved Old Master Qiu's life, nothing remarkable.
Earlier, when he saw Qiu Yihan actively approaching Chen Jiuyang, he had felt like he was facing a formidable enemy and considered Chen Jiuyang a strong romantic rival.
But now, that was impossible.
Even if Chen Jiuyang saved Old Master Qiu's life, Qiu Yihan was just being polite in receiving him. The Qiu family would absolutely not marry Qiu Yihan to Chen Jiuyang.
Although the Qiu family was giving Qiu Yihan a dowry of two billion, they still had to choose carefully. Ordinary commoners were out of the question. At least the scion of a minor wealthy family with assets of over a billion would have a chance.
Huo Lechi continued, "Brother Chen, since you saved Old Master Qiu's life, I'm very curious about what reward the Qiu family gave you?"
Chen Jiuyang answered truthfully, "The Qiu family gave me some money and helped me get the identity of a medical professor."
This confirmed Huo Lechi's belief that Chen Jiuyang was just an ordinary passerby at the birthday banquet, merely there to make up the numbers. It was a waste of his effort to approach him.
Huo Lechi smiled. "The Qiu family is indeed generous. Brother Chen, how is your relationship with the Qiu family?"
Chen Jiuyang replied, "The relationship is very ordinary. I only had contact with the Qiu family at the hospital."
He reckoned he had only met members of the Qiu family four or five times, and each time it was at the hospital.
"Heh heh." Huo Lechi looked at Chen Jiuyang's attire. This suit alone must have cost at least three to five hundred thousand. It seemed this young doctor had also spent a fortune with the intention of wooing Qiu Yihan, perhaps even renting the suit?
He patted Chen Jiuyang's shoulder. "Brother Chen, as a doctor, I have a few suggestions for you."
"Please, go ahead," Chen Jiuyang said.
Huo Lechi advised, "In your profession as a doctor, try to avoid air conditioning, drink less red wine, eat less seafood, cook for yourself as much as possible, and don't wear overly expensive clothes."
Chen Jiuyang asked, "Why?"
Huo Lechi chuckled, "Because as doctors, your salaries aren't high, and you can't really afford a high-end lifestyle."
"Heh heh..." Chen Jiuyang mused, "That's well said. Doctors' salaries are indeed quite low, especially for young doctors."
Huo Lechi was taken aback. Was this guy an idiot? He was mocking Chen Jiuyang like this, yet the other party not only didn't get angry but also agreed with his point.
Hu Qijie, sitting beside Chen Jiuyang, couldn't stand it anymore. "My brother Jiuyang is very rich. You don't need to worry about him unnecessarily."
Chen Jiuyang stated, "What he said is indeed the truth."
Huo Lechi said coldly, "Since you know it's the truth, then I'll be direct. Give up on that idea. You, a mere doctor, are not worthy of a wealthy young lady like Qiu Yihan. Don't embarrass yourself."
"Qiu Yihan only approached you earlier because you saved her grandfather. Don't get any wild ideas."
Chen Jiuyang nodded. "I'm not getting any wild ideas."
Hu Qijie looked at Huo Lechi as if he were an idiot.
What was wrong with this guy's brain?
Huo Lechi continued, "You probably don't get many opportunities to drink such good wine or eat such good food. Since you're here, just enjoy yourself and eat something."
As soon as Huo Lechi finished speaking, Qiu Hongtu appeared with Qiu Yihan walking towards them. Huo Lechi's expression was one of slight surprise. Could Qiu Hongtu be looking for him?
Had he managed to capture Qiu Yihan's attention?
Qiu Hongtu walked past him and came directly to Chen Jiuyang, smiling apologetically. "Mr. Chen, why didn't you inform me when you arrived? Yihan told me, and only then did I know Mr. Chen was here."
"Mr. Chen, this is a place for youngsters. Sitting here is beneath your status. Please come with me to the main hall as my guest. If the news gets out, people will think I, Qiu Hongtu, am ill-mannered."
Qiu Hongtu's deferential attitude towards Chen Jiuyang completely stunned Huo Lechi.