Chapter 179: Chapter 172: Sky-high Bride Price
Not only did the younger generation of the Xia Family regard this new QQ car in this way, but even the guests nearby kept looking at the silver-white QQ car. It’s not that the Xia Family doesn’t have poor relatives; it’s just that most of Xia Family’s relatives had arrived by around five, and at this time, those arriving were basically Xia Family’s business partners or prominent figures from Yanjing.
Moreover, they didn’t recognize this QQ car at all, hence finding it strange.
Many people stood still, wanting to see who the owner of this car was. Coming at such a time, and driving a car like this, truly they weren’t afraid of losing face.
Actually, Xiao Lin intended to keep a low profile; otherwise, he wouldn’t have modified his car to look like a regular QQ car. Xiao Lin feared trouble, feared people accusing him of showing off wealth, but he forgot one very important thing: although the Xia Family wasn’t as prominent as the four great families of Yanjing, they were still renowned in the upper society of Yanjing. Especially as Elder Xia was turning eighty, which in Huaxia’s tradition, an eightieth birthday is quite grand, with many old friends coming from home and abroad to offer birthday wishes.
In such a setting, especially with guests arriving at this time, they were all prominent figures in Yanjing. No car driven here was worth less than a million. So, upon arriving at the Xia family’s villa, Xiao Lin couldn’t keep a low profile even if he wanted to.
"Looks like I was terribly wrong!" As soon as Xiao Lin got out of the car, he realized how absurdly wrong he was. Usually, such low profile behavior wouldn’t draw attention, but now, Xiao Lin forgot the occasion: the Xia Family was at least a prestigious family in Yanjing, and the caliber and class of Elder Xia’s eightieth birthday couldn’t be low. Especially at this time, guests who came either were wealthy or noble.
As soon as Xiao Lin stepped out of the car, he could feel that the people who could see him around had their gazes almost entirely fixed on him. There were even those who went overboard, taking their phones to film him, akin to the treatment a major star would receive.
Fortunately, Xiao Lin had a thick skin, only dazed for a brief moment, before holding his head high and heading towards the villa entrance. As Xiao Lin passed, many people made way for him, not waiting to mock them like this.
Xiao Lin’s attire was quite fitting with his QQ car. Never mind that the logo on his clothing was from a world-class brand, but anyone who could afford a set costing tens of thousands wouldn’t be driving a QQ car worth a few thousand, so it was concluded that his clothes were cheap items from a street stall, costing just two to three hundred yuan.
Once Xiao Lin got out of the car, the younger generation of the Xia Family welcoming guests at the door looked over. No one recognized Xiao Lin. A young man in his thirties, the leading figure among the younger generation of the Xia Family, saw Xiao Lin getting off the car. Although he didn’t show a look of disgust, he still frowned and asked other younger members, "Do you know him? Who invited him?"
Generally, even though there were young people coming to offer birthday wishes, they were mostly familiar faces from Yanjing’s young nobles’ circle. However, with Xiao Lin, not a single person had ever seen him. Judging from his attire, who could possibly know this peculiar individual?
"So handsome!" The two women from the Xia Family ignored the young man’s question and, instead, focused on Xiao Lin, automatically overlooking his taste in dressing, just thinking this young man was too handsome.
As Xiao Lin walked all the way over, he essentially attracted all eyes from outside, whether male or female. Of course, not a few women kept their eyes on him intently, rarely seeing such a handsome yet manly man.
Originally, there were still about ten people outside the villa who hadn’t gone in. Seeing Xiao Lin get out of the car and come over, they either stepped back or stopped to watch, wanting to see what this young man was all about.
Xiao Lin managed to adjust his mentality, walked straight to the villa door, and nodded with a smile toward the younger generation of the Xia Family who was greeting guests at the entrance. Xia Liang and others, although unaware of Xiao Lin’s background, thought since he came to the Xia Family at this time, he should have an invitation, also slightly bowed to Xiao Lin, indicating thanks. Just as Xiao Lin was about to enter, Xia Liang, leading the younger generation of the Xia Family, suddenly spoke, "Sir, hello, may I see your invitation?"
Under normal circumstances, Xia Liang would not ask others for their invitation. Anyone who came was considered to give face to the Xia Family, but Xiao Lin was different. No one knew his background. Without an invitation and bringing no gift money, Xia Liang couldn’t help but stop him.
Xiao Lin was taken aback. A moment ago, from the car, he saw several people entering, just nodding slightly at these greeters and exchanging a few pleasantries before going in.
As for the invitation, he truly didn’t have one.
"Invitation?" Xiao Lin was dumbfounded, utterly not expecting this. Of course, Xiao Lin knew what an invitation was. It was just that he had been so busy lately he forgot about it. Moreover, he originally planned to return to the Xia Family with Xia Xue, never even considering the matter of the invitation.
"Yes, please show your invitation!" Xia Liang immediately became a little vigilant. Although knowing that in such a setting, no one dared to be detrimental to the Xia Family, it was still essential to prevent unforeseen events. Who knew if the Xia Family’s adversaries might take this opportunity to cause trouble for Elder Xia’s big birthday?
Xiao Lin, no matter how thick-skinned, couldn’t possibly be this unabashed. His face turned slightly red, and he laughed awkwardly, saying, "Well, Xia Xue invited me over. I guess she forgot to give me the invitation!"
"Xia Xue?" Xia Liang looked at Xiao Lin and then said indifferently, "My friend, I’m really sorry, but without an invitation, I can’t let you in!" Today, Xia Xue was planning to get engaged to Fatty Wang, so how could she invite such a young and handsome man to her grandfather’s birthday party? Xia Liang had heard a lot about Xia Xue’s reputation before, thinking that Xiao Lin was probably one of her former boyfriends, and naturally refused to let him in.
"Birds of a feather flock together!" said a woman standing slightly behind in a cold voice, remarking on someone who came to offer birthday wishes without even bringing a gift.
Just at this moment, a dazzling red Lamborghini sports car stopped, and a young man stepped out, leisurely walking toward the villa entrance. Xia Liang, upon seeing this man, immediately approached with great warmth to greet him, "Young Master Qi, you’re so late; later you’ll have to drink a couple more glasses as punishment!" As for Xiao Lin standing nearby, he completely ignored him.
Xiao Lin felt awkward at this moment, unable to move forward or back, watching as Xia Liang greeted Young Master Qi so warmly. After some brief pleasantries, Xia Liang didn’t even ask Young Master Qi for his invitation. Instead, Young Master Qi pulled out a large red envelope from his pocket before entering, politely saying, "A small token, not much appreciation!"
Xiao Lin was quite embarrassed at this point, realizing it was because he hadn’t prepared a gift, hence the questioning about the invitation?
Once that man had gone inside, Xiao Lin became increasingly embarrassed. No wonder they stopped him from entering—without an invitation, no gift, and no one recognizing him, of course, they wouldn’t let him in.
Xiao Lin thought about it and realized he had indeed overlooked this detail, which was understandable. Now, apart from a red envelope, he barely had any cash, perhaps only two or three hundred bucks. Moreover, today was not only Elder Xia’s eightieth birthday but also the day he was planning to get engaged to Xia Xue. He couldn’t let others look down on him, could he?
At this point, the glances from the people around him toward Xiao Lin changed; initially, they genuinely thought he was pretending to be low-key, but seeing Xia Liang stopping him from going in without even bringing out a gift, they realized he wasn’t pretending. This was genuinely being "low-key," to the point where the host didn’t even let him in.
Young Master Qi had just taken a few steps inside when the host’s younger relatives at the Xia Family announced loudly behind him from the gift table, "Qi Yuanqing, gift amounting to eighty-eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight!"
Xiao Lin looked over and saw a computer and a cash register at the gift table, operated by professionals. Whether people gave checks or cards, the gift amounts were announced immediately.
Xiao Lin thought about it and felt relieved. As long as he could use a card, he didn’t mind. At this time, several more people chatted briefly with Xia Liang before going in; none of the gifts were less than ten thousand, with the lowest being sixteen thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight.
Xiao Lin pulled out the Purple Gold Card from Huaxia Bank from his pocket and approached Xia Liang again. Just as he was about to speak, Xia Liang spotted a woman accompanying a couple, ignored Xiao Lin, and greeted them enthusiastically, "Uncle Liu, you’re here!" After he said this, he looked towards Liu Xuan.
This woman was indeed Liu Xuan, who was with Xia Xue that evening and had met Xiao Lin once. She was wearing a long black dress, with draped long hair, looking incredibly dazzling.
Beside Liu Xuan were two middle-aged couples—the man was quite tall and handsome, giving off a domineering presence, and the woman looked just past forty, just a little shorter than Liu Xuan, extremely elegant as well.
Although the Liu Family wasn’t considered very wealthy, Liu Xuan’s mother was a sister to Hua Qingyi’s mother. With this connection and his own ability, Liu Xuanzhi had become the Deputy Mayor of Yanjing City during the reshuffle four years ago. Although not part of the standing committee, it was enough for the Xia Family to take notice. Soon, a middle-aged man in his fifties, resembling Xia Yusheng, came out to greet them—he was Xia Liang’s father.
After a brief conversation, Xia Liang’s father led Liu Xuanzhi’s family inside. At this point, Liu Xuan heard someone call softly from nearby, "Miss Liu!" Strangely, others seemed not to hear the call and continued walking forward.
Liu Xuan looked over and saw a very handsome and dashing man standing about five or six meters away, smiling at her. He seemed somewhat familiar, but as she searched her mind, he was merely familiar-looking without any real acquaintance. Such a handsome man, if she knew him, it wouldn’t be possible not to remember. However, after thinking for a while and unable to recall, Liu Xuan pointed her finger at herself while looking at the man.
Sure enough, that man was the immensely awkward Xiao Lin. Seeing Liu Xuan recognize him, he immediately felt relieved. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian () to vote with recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)