Chapter 263: Never Heard of Him

Yang Chen noticed the intentions of several men but could do nothing about it. He couldn't just go up and punch each of them to fend them off. Besides, Lin Ruoxi wasn't the type to easily get along with, so they wouldn't gain any advantage.

A man with slightly short hair, a well-proportioned face, and a tall stature approached, holding a glass of sweet red wine. He greeted Lin Ruoxi with a humble smile, "I've long heard of Miss Lin's beauty. Meeting you today proves that seeing is believing."

Two others followed closely, handsome men with gritted teeth. They inadvertently slowed down a bit, allowing this guy to seize the opportunity.

While praising Lin Ruoxi, this man completely ignored Yang Chen, treating him as if he didn't exist.

Lin Ruoxi glanced at him indifferently and asked, "What do you do?"

Surprised that Lin Ruoxi was addressing him, the man felt hopeful and maintained his composure, saying proudly, "I am Hao Yingjian, the General Manager of Guangde Building Materials Group. I'm sure Lin Zong must have heard of us."

Yang Chen nearly choked on his champagne. "Seriously?"

Lin Ruoxi frowned slightly. "Never heard of you."

With that, she turned away from Hao Yingjian, not bothering to look back, and walked off in another direction with Yang Chen.

Left standing alone, Hao Yingjian held his wine glass, his face alternating between pale and flushed.

In such a setting, saying "never heard of him" directly was more cutting than outright insults. It negated his status and position, essentially saying he wasn't even worthy of speaking to her. It was a clear signal that he didn't deserve her attention.

The other young men who hadn't managed to seize the opportunity showed relief on their faces. Seeing Hao Yingjian's embarrassment, mocked by those around him, they felt fortunate they hadn't faced the same fate.

They hadn't expected Lin Ruoxi to be so direct and ruthless in her rejection. Her reputation as an "ice queen" seemed well-founded.

Yang Chen, on the other hand, found amusement in the situation. Curiously, he asked Lin Ruoxi, "Don't businesspeople like to say, 'One more friend means one less enemy,' and that being friendly leads to wealth? By rejecting him so decisively today, aren't you afraid he might stab you in the back later?"

Lin Ruoxi replied coldly, "If there's a first, there will be a second. I don't like it, so it's better to nip their thoughts in the bud. As for friends and enemies, I only believe that as long as I am stronger than them, they will never even touch my shadow."

"You're not cute at all, too dominant," Yang Chen joked.

Lin Ruoxi glanced displeasingly at him, then released Yang Chen's arm and walked ahead on her own.

It was then that Yang Chen noticed two graceful figures approaching from the front.

Both dressed in orange evening gowns, the difference lay in their hairstyles: the elder sister had her hair elegantly swept up, while the younger sister's shoulder-length hair was neatly arranged. They were Cai Ning and Cai Yan, the two sisters.

Yang Chen was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood. The Cai family was also of noble lineage, and it made sense for the Cai sisters to attend such a prestigious event. However, while Cai Yan's presence was acceptable, Cai Ning, also known as Huayu, one of the prominent figures in the Eight Parts, attending a gathering of elites likely had more profound implications than merely honoring the Liu family.

"Ruoxi, I never expected to see you at a place like this. I thought you'd be hiding at home for the rest of your life," Cai Yan seemed especially pleased to see Lin Ruoxi, walking up and taking Lin Ruoxi's hand with a bright smile.

With a more refined demeanor than when she wore a police uniform, Cai Yan appeared much more striking. Her short hair added a touch of uniqueness to her personality.

"You're exaggerating again, Yanyan. When have I ever hidden at home? I simply don't attend these kinds of events," Lin Ruoxi explained. She then nodded in greeting to Cai Ning and said, "Jiejie, it's been a while."

Cai Ning was a typical lady from a prestigious family, having received traditional education at the Tang Clan in Shu Province, giving her a serene aura as if she had walked out of ancient paintings. She smiled gently at Lin Ruoxi. "If I had known you were coming, I should have asked Mom and Dad to come too. They haven't seen you in many years."

"Didn't Uncle and Auntie Cai come?" Lin Ruoxi asked with regret.

"They've grown tired of these events. Fortunately, Jiejie was at home, so we came together," Cai Yan replied. Upon seeing Yang Chen, she remembered their last encounter over the watch incident, and her expression soured as she glared at him. She then continued speaking to Lin Ruoxi, "But I didn't expect you would bring him along."

Yang Chen felt helpless. He didn't say anything, but Cai Yan seemed to hold a grudge against him. Was it just because he confiscated her watch? Did she really need to be so cold and sarcastic?

Cai Ning also noticed Yang Chen's complicated emotions. She was the only one who knew the true side of this man. She understood that at this moment, Yang Chen was like a fierce beast in sheep's clothing.

Especially during the incident involving the pursuit of the Eightfold Ninja, Yang Chen's angry words and domineering manner had left her feeling somewhat aggrieved until now. Therefore, she simply nodded to Yang Chen and said no more.

Many people at the venue saw Lin Ruoxi and Yang Chen chatting with the Cai sisters, showing a hint of envy. The Cai family was a military giant, and most people in high social circles were aware of their formidable political and military strength.

Just now, Lin Ruoxi's resolute rejection of "never heard of him," followed by her pleasant conversation with the Cai sisters, was enough to prove one thing: even in the same venue, there was a significant divide between people. Unconsciously, those who had initially intended to forge some relationship with Lin Ruoxi had mostly dispelled such thoughts. After all, they had a sense of self-awareness.

However, when Lin Ruoxi and the Cai sisters were chatting, Yang Chen felt lonely by himself. He looked around and saw a group of unfamiliar people, engaging in forced laughter, which left him feeling bored and disinterested.

At that moment, several tall Western Caucasians with blonde hair and blue eyes entered the venue. The men were dressed in suits and appeared robust, while the women wore revealing attire, surprising many of the guests present. They had expected this charity gala to be exclusively for locals, not anticipating international participants.

Yang Chen immediately sensed something unusual about them. Instinctively, he glanced at Cai Ning. As expected, her brow was furrowed deeply, indicating unresolved concerns. Catching Yang Chen's gaze, Cai Ning quickly regained her composure and turned away, pretending not to notice.

Yang Chen chuckled inwardly. He knew that Cai Ning wouldn't attend a regular gala without reason—there had to be a strategic motive behind her presence.

Just then, a familiar figure emerged from the crowd, wearing a slightly proud smile. Yun Liu, dressed in a white suit and pants with a red tie, looked handsome and confident as he approached Yang Chen. As the young master of the Liu family, he finally made his way towards Yang Chen.