Chapter 26 Apologize? Xia Shenghui Is Not Worthy! (Second Update)

At six in the evening, Jiang Yu made a few preparations and left the Jiang family alone.

The banquet was held on the top floor of the Silvi Grand Hotel, the only four-star establishment in Yun City, reputed as the finest in Jiangbei. Moreover, the Silvi Hotel was an asset under the Xia family’s name. Years ago, when the Arab Sheikh visited Jiangbei, he stayed at the Silvi Grand Hotel. Its opulent presidential suite commanded a price of nearly twenty thousand dollars a night.

The hotel’s top floor, built with the Xia family’s business dealings in mind, had been designed by the nation’s top architects at a cost of tens of millions. It was not open to the public, reserved mostly for the Xia family’s internal affairs and banquets for nobles and dignitaries.

When Jiang Yu arrived at the entrance, he glanced around with curiosity. Both sides of the parking lot were filled with luxury cars. The most eye-catching was surely a Maybach business sedan with a license plate reading Yun A and five zeros. Several Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Aston Martin supercars, and other precious vehicles were parked nearby. BMWs and Audis, among such distinguished company, amounted to nothing more than background.

The Xia family’s wealth was truly overwhelming.

Jiang Yu made his way to the top floor and, led by a waiter, entered a resplendent hall. Inside, the decoration was extravagant, reminiscent of a castle’s palace. A massive crystal chandelier reflected a spectrum of dazzling colors. On both sides were tables laden with delicacies: black truffle baked desserts, imported Russian Almas caviar—back in 2007, a single tin of such caviar fetched up to twenty thousand dollars.

There were also carefully prepared French foie gras, and compared to these, even the Australian lobsters, expertly carved and sprinkled with sauces, seemed to pale in comparison. A few bottles of Romanée-Conti red wine graced the tables, famed as the noblest and king of wines.

Such extravagance made even Jiang Yu secretly gasp. Was this a birthday banquet, or a grand display of the Xia family’s financial power? Just tonight, Xia Ning must have spent at least several million. Only a family as wealthy and bold as the Jiangbei Xia clan could indulge so.

Around the hall, the Xia family had specially invited violin maestros from abroad to set the mood. The gentle, lingering concerto blended perfectly with the tranquil atmosphere. In high spirits, many young heirs and noble ladies danced to the music.

Jiang Yu casually picked up a glass of red wine, taking a light sip. The rich aroma swirled on his tongue, fragrant and intense.

Within the hall, several circles formed. The elite young men, holding wine glasses, laughed and conversed, each exuding a noble air. These were the future figures of Yun City, its economic backbone, destined to shoulder its fortunes after the older generation passed on.

Next were the middle-tier sons of wealthy families, gathered together, boasting of yachts, sports cars, beautiful women, and models.

The rest belonged to those like Jiang Shaoqi, Zheng Xuan, and Jiang Ziyue—young scions whose family backgrounds weren’t particularly deep. No matter the occasion, differing circles brought vastly different manners and conversations. Jiang Shaoqi and his friends mostly talked about knowing certain elite heirs.

One woman caught Jiang Yu’s attention.

She wore a luxurious evening gown, her long hair elegantly pinned up, her skin as fair as warm jade, features exquisite. With high heels accentuating her figure, she was tall, voluptuous, and breathtakingly beautiful.

Jiang Yu was curious—this woman resembled Xia Ning a great deal, almost like sisters.

Yet there was a cold, distant aura about her, freezing and unapproachable. She was surrounded by a constellation of elite young men, as if she were the center of their universe.

Shortly after, a commotion arose.

“Xia Shenghui is here?”

“Is it really him? Xia Ning’s cousin, raised abroad, studying finance at Harvard. I didn’t expect him to return to the country. Looks like he’s here for Xia Ning’s nineteenth birthday banquet.”

Jiang Yu followed everyone’s gaze and saw a handsome young man standing at the source, dressed in a white tailcoat, holding a glass of Romanée-Conti red wine, speaking elegantly.

Jiang Shaoqi hurried up, smiling obsequiously and offering a toast, “Mr. Xia, what brings you here?”

Xia Shenghui glanced at Jiang Shaoqi, paused briefly, then looked at the graceful Jiang Ziyue, a hint of amazement flickering in his eyes.

He tossed Jiang Shaoqi a perfunctory smile, walked over to Jiang Ziyue, took her delicate hand, and, in the manner of Western nobility, kissed the back of it.

“Miss Ziyue, do you remember me?” Xia Shenghui’s lips curled into a smile.

That smile brimmed with masculine charm, so much so that even Jiang Ziyue was momentarily distracted.

Having grown up abroad, Xia Shenghui seemed to have adopted many Western habits, making him appear easygoing.

...

Among the crowd, Xia Ning was nowhere to be seen.

Perhaps, as tonight’s main character, she was still carefully dressing up. There were plenty of beautiful women attending the banquet, and without proper preparation, even Xia Ning might be outshone.

For example, the ethereal beauty in the center of the crowd; her looks and bearing were in no way inferior to Xia Ning.

Bored, Jiang Yu sampled a few dishes, and two Australian lobsters fell victim to his appetite.

Just as he reached for another glass of red wine, a fair, slender arm darted in, attempting to snatch the glass—but Jiang Yu was quicker.

“Sir, I saw this glass first. Would you kindly let me have it…”

A magnetic voice reached Jiang Yu’s ears.

He looked up to see Xia Shenghui, dressed in a tailcoat, handsome, with a lofty smile at his lips.

His refined features even surpassed those of the young master who followed Mr. Shen that night.

Jiang Yu withdrew his gaze and replied calmly, “There’s plenty of red wine here. You can take any glass you like. Besides, I took this one first—it’s only fair, isn’t it?”

Seeing the plainly dressed, unremarkable young man refuse to yield, Xia Shenghui was annoyed—not about the glass, but about status.

In such social gatherings, it was an unspoken rule for the less prominent to defer to the more prestigious. If you were inferior in rank, and both wanted something, you must yield and swallow your pride.

“I am Xia Shenghui, of the Xia family. The hostess tonight, Xia Ning, is my cousin.”

A smug smile appeared on Xia Shenghui’s lips; he expected the young man would retreat upon hearing his name.

But Jiang Yu lazily lifted his eyelids, “Oh? And what does that have to do with me?”

“You...” Xia Shenghui’s smile froze. Everyone else showed him respect, but this unknown man dared disregard his status?

As the host of the evening’s banquet, Xia Shenghui pressed on, “Sir, I said, I want the glass in your hand.”

He stepped forward, blocking Jiang Yu’s path.

Jiang Yu scoffed, “If I don’t give it to you, are you going to snatch it from me?”

“Inferiors yield to superiors—that’s the rule. Don’t you have any manners? Who invited you?”

Their altercation drew many eyes.

Everyone looked over.

Jiang Yu gazed at Xia Shenghui with a faint, mocking smile, “Oh? And why do you assume you’re superior, I’m inferior, and I must yield?”

Before Xia Shenghui could reply, a voice of surprise called out, “Jiang Yu?”

It was Jiang Ziyue, Jiang Shaoqi, Zheng Xuan, and Han Chen who had noticed Jiang Yu.

Jiang Shaoqi kept silent outwardly, but was secretly delighted: “Jiang Yu, of all people to offend, you’ve chosen Xia Shenghui? He appears elegant, but he’s actually narrow-minded. Just wait and see how he humiliates you!”

He remained silent, eager to watch the spectacle.

Zheng Xuan scolded, “Jiang Yu, do you know who he is?”

Jiang Yu replied coolly, “I know—Xia Shenghui. Does he have another name? If so, I don’t know it.”

Zheng Xuan glared at Jiang Yu, “You know this gentleman is Xia Shenghui, and you still won’t apologize?”

Jiang Ziyue tugged at Jiang Yu’s hand, “Apologize quickly. He’s from the Xia family, Jiang Yu—don’t drag the Jiang family into this.”

Hearing these commanding voices, Jiang Yu frowned for the first time.

Xia Shenghui raised his chin arrogantly, “Now, I want to know—who is he? Who invited him?”

Seeing things escalate, Jiang Ziyue grew anxious, her voice rising, “Jiang Yu, I told you to apologize to Xia Shenghui, immediately!”

Jiang Yu’s gaze swept across their faces.

What he said next stunned everyone.

“Apologize? Xia Shenghui isn’t worthy.”

After a brief silence, the hall erupted in a thunderous uproar.