My Rich Parents Found Me Before My Great Escape - Chapter 2

Evening arrived quickly. To maintain their figures for the event, the Xie family had not prepared dinner. Having been busy all afternoon, Xie Guanning’s stomach was now empty, and he had to settle for a few extra glasses of water to stave off the hunger.

Mrs. Xie had prepared an inconspicuous suit for him. It was low-profile, lacking any complex patterns or flair clearly, she didn’t want him standing out at the party.

Xie Guanning didn’t mind. He only feared that whether he “stood out” or not might not be up to him.

Before they left, as Xie Guanning walked downstairs in the suit, both Mrs. Xie and Xie Jiaran froze.

Xie Guanning usually detested restraint. Wearing such a form-fitting, formal suit felt uncomfortable, as if his neck were being throttled. Frowning slightly, he irritably adjusted his collar and smoothed his sleeves. His narrow “peach-blossom” eyes flickered down; noticing the pair staring at him, he lifted his gaze, radiating an unintentional, captivating charm.

“Madam?”

Though it was the simplest style of suit, it accentuated the youth’s tall, well-proportioned frame perfectly. Coupled with his golden hair and lazy, casual posture, he looked exactly like a pampered young master from a prestigious house.

Xie Jiaran’s breath hitched. Her hand tightened instinctively around the fabric of her high-end gown.

Mrs. Xie forced a smile, suppressing the darkness in her eyes. “It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

The banquet was held at night. By the time the Xie family arrived, the hall was already a sea of flowing gowns and clinking glasses.

Among the crowd was a noblewoman in a pale blue dress. She wore a pleasant smile and exuded a gentle, elegant aura this was the matriarch of the Zhou family, Mrs. Zhou.

Mrs. Xie led her two children forward, her movements somewhat stiff. She noticed Mrs. Zhou, who was busy greeting guests, glance their way. Mrs. Zhou whispered something to the person beside her and began walking toward them.

Mrs. Xie was stunned. The Xie family’s status was inferior to the Zhous; for Mrs. Zhou to greet them personally was a flattering surprise. She hurried forward with a smile, ready to exchange pleasantries, only to see Mrs. Zhou’s gentle gaze bypass her entirely and land on the person behind her.

“This must be Guanning.”

Mrs. Xie’s smiling face froze.

“No wonder Hengyuan is always mentioning you,” Mrs. Zhou said, looking him up and down, her smile deepening. “You truly are quite handsome.”

Xie Guanning’s heart skipped a beat. Looking at the seemingly harmless, smiling noblewoman, he lightly pressed his tongue against his teeth.

Mrs. Xie valued her “face” above all else. For Mrs. Zhou to ignore her and greet Xie Guanning directly was a blatant slap in the face.

“You flatter me, Madam,” Xie Guanning said with a light smile. “I was merely lucky enough to be born with a decent face; it doesn’t compare to your distinguished elegance.”

The smile on Mrs. Zhou’s face faltered for a fraction of a second.

The surrounding area gradually went quiet. The guests’ gazes drifted toward them, many eyes sparkling with a strange, expectant excitement.

…Mrs. Zhou’s looks were far from top-tier; they weren’t even particularly delicate. She was average at best. It was only her noble birth and the elegant temperament she had cultivated—combined with expensive jewelry—that allowed her to hold her own in the circle of high-society beauties.

However, a “weakness for beauty” was a common vice among Alphas. The head of the Zhou family had been a notorious playboy in his youth. Now that he was older, he showed more restraint to save face for his wife, but his trail of beautiful young lovers never ended. Mrs. Zhou was bitter; she had fought and argued to no avail, and as a result, she loathed “pretty young things” with a passion.

The guests glanced at Xie Guanning’s stunning, almost aggressive beauty. If his expression hadn’t looked so genuinely sincere, they would have thought he was being intentionally sarcastic.

Mrs. Xie had come prepared for the banquet. Hearing this, her heart hammered. Seeing Mrs. Zhou’s darkening expression, she quickly stepped forward to change the subject. “He’s just a child and doesn’t always know the proper way to speak. Young Master Zhou is kind-hearted to value his classmates so much. Being in the same class and receiving his care is Xiao Ning’s good fortune.”

Mrs. Xie lowered her posture significantly, framing their relationship as mere “classmate camaraderie.”

Mrs. Zhou looked at Xie Guanning, then shifted her gaze to Mrs. Xie. Her smile returned to its usual gentle mask. “They are classmates; they should look after each other. There’s no need to talk about ‘fortune.'”

Mrs. Xie’s expression softened slightly. But before she could speak, Mrs. Zhou added in a leisurely tone, “I find this child quite clever and articulate. Not like my Hengyuan—he’s so old yet still so impulsive. It seems Guanning takes after you, Mrs. Xie.”

Mrs. Zhou sighed, her expression appearing entirely sincere. “Mrs. Xie, you truly have a talent for raising children.”

The room fell into a dead silence. Mrs. Xie’s expression was hideous.

Xie Guanning’s eyes narrowed, his fingers twitching at his side. Just then, a waiter stepped forward and whispered something into Mrs. Zhou’s ear.

Mrs. Zhou’s expression shifted. She glanced in a certain direction, then slapped her forehead in mock regret. She laughed suddenly: “Look at me, the banquet is about to begin. Why am I rambling about this? It’s a rare occasion—since Guanning is here, he should enjoy himself. If you need anything, just find a waiter. Don’t be formal.”

She turned to the surrounding guests with a graceful smile. “I must go attend to the other guests. Please, everyone, make yourselves at home and have fun.”

As she walked toward the center of the hall, Xie Guanning flicked his gaze up. Sure enough, he saw a tall, handsome young man walking quickly toward them—the star of the evening, Zhou Hengyuan.

As the crowd dispersed, those who had no ties to the Xie family began to whisper:

“Which family is that boy from? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him.” “Of course you haven’t. They never used to attend our gatherings.” “Oh? Is he that high-and-mighty?” “High-and-mighty? That’s a Xie!” “Xie? You mean… Xie Hongyun’s family?” “Who else? You think it’s the Imperial Marshal’s family?” “Ah, so he’s the son of that house. I remember Xie Hongyun was capable, but he died young. The Xie family hasn’t amounted to much under his elder brother’s leadership.” “What ‘young master’? He’s just an illegitimate son!” “What? An illegitimate son?”

The onlookers were shocked, their eyes instinctively landing on Xie Guanning. Remembering Mrs. Xie’s reaction just now, they finally understood the situation.

“The Xie family hasn’t socialized with us in years. Why were they invited today? And with an illegitimate son in tow?” “Didn’t you hear Mrs. Zhou? He’s close with the eldest Zhou son, and with that face…”

The hushed voices were a blur of noise. Xie Guanning looked at Mrs. Xie, who looked as if she wanted to tear him apart, and he sneered inwardly.

Capital Star was home to many great families; the Xie family was merely a second-rate house, nowhere near the level of the Zhous. Mrs. Zhou had banked on this fact, using her words to disgust Mrs. Xie. She knew Mrs. Xie viewed him as a thorn in her side; even if she was humiliated, she would have to swallow her anger and take it out on him later.

What a calculated move. Xie Guanning felt a wave of irritation—both at Mrs. Zhou’s irrationality and at his own situation.

When Zhou Hengyuan came downstairs, he spotted Xie Guanning immediately. He froze for a second, his eyes lighting up, and hurried over. Mrs. Zhou intercepted him, looking at him with disappointment. “Stay right here. The banquet is starting. Where do you think you’re going?”

Zhou Hengyuan looked toward the corner reluctantly. “Mom, I want to go say hi.”

“You can say hi anytime! Everyone is watching!”

“So what if they are?” Zhou Hengyuan looked at his mother suspiciously. “Mom, you didn’t say anything to him, did you?”

Facing her son’s doubt, Mrs. Zhou was nearly fuming. She forced herself to remain patient. “What could I have said? I just complimented his looks!”

Only then did Zhou Hengyuan relax. Mrs. Zhou took a deep breath. “The guests have all arrived. Don’t cause a scene and make us a laughingstock.”

Zhou Hengyuan didn’t care, but he couldn’t win against his mother. He let her push him away, though he didn’t forget to look back at Xie Guanning. Mrs. Zhou felt like she was going to grind her teeth to dust.

The banquet officially began.

A “birthday party” was really just another networking event. Mrs. Zhou took Zhou Hengyuan onto the stage for a speech. The guests stood elegantly, raising champagne to celebrate the eldest Zhou son’s coming-of-age. Despite the earlier humiliation, Mrs. Xie refused to give up this prime networking opportunity, leading Xie Jiaran through the crowd with ease.

Xie Guanning, finally left alone, retreated to a corner. He stared at the small cakes in the catering area, his stomach growling. Having only eaten once around noon, he was truly starving.

Finally, as the music began and people started to dance or chat, Xie Guanning thought he could stay hidden until the end. Suddenly, he heard his name.

“Guanning, why are you over here all by yourself?”

Xie Guanning paused and looked up. Mrs. Zhou was standing nearby, followed by several other noblewomen, smiling with “kind concern.” “Is the service not to your liking?”

Xie Guanning narrowed his eyes and slowly shook his head. “You are too kind, Madam. The waiters have been very attentive.”

The noblewomen glanced at the small cakes in front of him and lowered their eyes, hiding their amusement.

Mrs. Zhou let out a sigh of relief. “In that case, come over and have a dance. Young people should enjoy the excitement. Today is Hengyuan’s birthday; he would be so happy to see you dance.”

Mrs. Xie hated Xie Guanning’s very existence; she would never have hired someone to teach him ballroom dancing. The onlookers smiled, clearly waiting for a show. In this circle, everyone was sensitive to the “illegitimate son” status.

Xie Guanning watched her quietly for a moment, then chuckled. “You have a point.”

Mrs. Zhou’s eyelid twitched. The youth stood up slowly, his well-proportioned frame wrapped in the simple black suit, emphasizing his slim waist and long legs.

He stood in the corner, half in shadow and half in light. His beautiful eyes tilted up, and his usual lazy demeanor was replaced by a sharp, piercing edge.

He smiled warmly:

“However, I only know how to do partner dances. I wonder if Young Master Zhou would be so kind as to join me?”

Mrs. Zhou’s face darkened instantly.