A new year was fast approaching, yet today, Yang Yi and his group found themselves rushing a bit, having agreed to attend the birthday reception of the stunningly beautiful Leng Yue.

Yang Yi had spent the entire day engrossed in matters concerning the Black God Gang. Just as he finally reached evening and hoped for a brief moment of rest, a vividly crimson invitation shattered that possibility.

"Hahaha, tonight is going to be full of beautiful women," Fatty Lin muttered excitedly. Truthfully, the fellow was even more eager to catch sight of those twin sisters.

He recalled exerting considerable effort during the last gathering to charm the beauties, and Fatty Lin certainly wasn't going to let an opportunity like this slip by.

Yet, he wasn't the only one; Ye Xiaohou and Yang Yi shared similar sentiments. Although Ye Xiaohou hadn't set his sights on anyone in particular yet, he held a slight, ambiguous interest in Leng Yue, though his mind was likely brewing some unknown schemes.

Undoubtedly, for Yang Yi, Xia Shiyun remained a persistent ache in his heart. He had repeatedly questioned his deepest self whether he had fallen for her, but the answer remained elusive. Yang Yi simply understood that for a man, how could one possibly achieve the Golden Body if he lacked even a spark of desire to pursue beauty?

Therefore, he intended to strike hard, seizing this opportunity. Hearing Fatty Lin’s crude remarks, he scolded him without patience: "Damn you, Fatty, stop corrupting Lianxue. Look at her, she’s staring at you with absolute interest."

"Uh!" Fatty Lin shivered inwardly upon hearing this. He had experienced the naivety of Murong Lianxue before and dared not try his luck again. With a strained, bitter laugh, he offered her a smile.

"Brother Yi, Brother Fatty is always talking about beauties, beauties. Is he one of those legendary perverts?" Murong Lianxue uttered this at the most inconvenient moment, stunning everyone inside the car into silence.

"Sweat, she actually got it right," Yang Yi grumbled inwardly. He smiled and said, "Lianxue, just ignore him, pretend he's transparent. You'll pick up bad habits if you spend too much time with this guy."

"Hahahaha…" Xu Ming and Ye Xiaohou couldn't help but clutch their stomachs in laughter.

"Brother Yi, don't worry, I won't learn bad things from Brother Fatty, and I won't let him teach me to be bad. Lianxue will use her fists to correct him," Murong Lianxue declared, shaking her small, soft fist playfully in front of Fatty Lin.

Immediately, cold sweat beaded on Fatty Lin's forehead. "Oh dear heavens, what will become of my future marital bliss?"

"Hahahaha!" Ye Xiaohou and Xu Ming laughed even more unrestrainedly.

But in the next moment, those two were no longer laughing. Murong Lianxue turned her small, soft fist toward them as well and said, "Brother Xiaohou, Brother Xiaoming, you too."

"Hahahaha…." This time, it was Fatty Lin's turn to mock the stunned Ye Xiaohou and Xu Ming.

"I'm sweating. But Sister Lianxue, what if Big Brother learns bad things?" Xu Ming asked, driven by the psychological need to avoid her 'corrections.'

"No, my Brother Yi will never learn bad things, because what he says is the Way, and everything he does is right. If anyone dares to say my Brother Yi is wrong, I will kill them immediately," Murong Lianxue stated, and this time, it seemed she wasn't joking; her small face was etched with gravity.

Yang Yi paused upon hearing this, his heart warmed. He couldn't help but reach out and touch Murong Lianxue’s head. His face suddenly took on an aged weariness as he asked, "Lianxue, if one day Brother Yi is condemned by thousands, will you still believe Brother Yi is right?"

"Yes," Murong Lianxue nodded with intense seriousness.

Fatty Lin, Ye Xiaohou, and Xu Ming watched her, utterly dumbfounded. In truth, at times, they found it hard to believe that such words could come from a mere eight-year-old girl.

"Young Master, we have arrived," Feng Shi announced, pulling the car to a stop before a super-luxurious villa. He continued, "Young Master, call me after the reception ends, and I will come immediately."

"En," Yang Yi replied, leading the group out of the car. Looking at the magnificent villa ahead, a hint of suspicion crossed his mind. "It seems Leng Yue is indeed extraordinary. This villa, by the look of it, couldn't possibly be bought for anything less than a few hundred million."

The villa’s decoration was undeniably opulent. Though only three stories tall, it resembled a true castle; after all, everything from the surrounding landscaping to the architecture appeared to be modeled after European styles.

"Let's go in; the reception is about to start," Yang Yi said calmly.

Fatty Lin and the others nodded, and the group approached the villa entrance, noting the five or six security guards posted there, which only piqued their curiosity further.

"Who are you people?" one guard asked Yang Yi and his party.

"We are here for the birthday reception. Here, these are our invitations," Fatty Lin handed four invitations to the guard.

The guard took the invitations, studied them for a moment, and suddenly called out, "Who here is Yang Yi?"

"I am!" Yang Yi answered, slightly perplexed.

"Fatty Lin?"

"That's me!"

"Ye Xiaohou and Xu Ming?"

"We are."

"En!" The guard paused, then stated, "The four of you may enter, but this little girl cannot!"

"Why?" Yang Yi asked coldly.

Hearing Yang Yi's icy tone, the guard frowned slightly and replied, "I apologize, but anyone without an invitation cannot be allowed inside."

"Oh? Is this how Leng Yue treats her guests?" Yang Yi sneered. He thought Leng Yue was giving him too much face. Did she really think he was desperate to attend her birthday party?

The guard’s eyes flashed with coldness upon hearing this. This fellow was clearly no ordinary person, and the other guards seemed to sense the tension, immediately gathering around.

Just as the situation was on the verge of escalating into a confrontation, a rather bright voice cut through the air. "What are you doing?"

"Ah, Young Miss!" The guards instantly uttered submissively upon hearing the voice.

The newcomer was undoubtedly Leng Yue. She was wearing a snow-white evening gown, cut in a manner that was both revealing and elegant. Light makeup enhanced her beautiful features, lending her an air of cold splendor. However, it was a pity that if she hadn't been draped in so many jewels and ornaments, she might have been truly ethereal.

"You all step down. These are my distinguished guests; how dare you be so rude?" Leng Yue demanded coldly as she approached them.

"Yes!" The group of guards promptly retreated.

She offered a faint smile to Yang Yi and the others, saying, "I apologize; my security was rude."

"Hmmph?" Yang Yi let out a knowing smile.

"Heh heh, esteemed guests, please proceed inside first!" Leng Yue smiled sweetly.

"Let's go!" Yang Yi said simply.

"Why isn't Yi here yet?" Li Qian muttered somewhat gloomily inside the main hall.

"Qianqian, what are you mumbling about? Don't tell me you’re thinking about him even now?" Liu Qingqing asked, sounding slightly exasperated.

"Save it. Aren't you doing the same? Who are you looking at? Xu Ming, right!" Li Qian teased when her friend questioned her.

"No, I'm looking for handsome men!" Liu Qingqing's face flushed; the girl seemed easily embarrassed.

"Stop being disingenuous," Li Qian chided.

"Oh, they're here!" Liu Qingqing suddenly jolted and exclaimed, "This way, this way…"

"Please, I hope you all have a wonderful time tonight," Leng Yue said, seemingly casting a slightly suggestive glance toward Yang Yi before smiling sweetly.

"My goodness, is this girl trying to seduce me?" Yang Yi thought to himself.

"Yi!" Li Qian walked up to Yang Yi and called out.

"Ming… Xu Ming!" Liu Qingqing also called out, but she began with just "Ming" before switching to his full name, making the others want to laugh but restraining themselves due to her shy expression.

"Fourth brother, did you bring the gift?" Yang Yi smirked slightly and asked.

"I brought it."

"Good, deliver it later!"

"Alright!"

"Let's go, we'll find a place to sit first!" Yang Yi said casually.

The group settled into a booth and took in the scene of the birthday reception. It had to be said: Leng Yue was quite mysterious. The main hall was filled with influential people—whether magnates or lesser figures, those with reputation or those with connections. Perhaps this was the kind of reception befitting high society.

Just then, a rather arrogant youth caught sight of a familiar group and paused, muttering to himself, "Why are they here?"

"Boss, aren't those the same people from the day before yesterday?" a minor thug asked the arrogant youth—or rather, Wang Xiao'er.

"Yeah, Boss. I heard from Brother Qiang the other day that they’re back. These guys look like they might be triad members," confirmed the thug, who was precisely the cousin of Qiangzi, the one who had caused trouble for Yang Yi a few days prior. After glancing at Yang Yi's group, he spoke.

"Damn it, who cares if they’re triad, I’ve run into them again today, hehe!" Wang Xiao'er grinned wickedly. Suddenly, a youth entered the doorway.

The youth was accompanied by two large men. He possessed a somewhat handsome face, occasionally glancing around at the women in the hall. A flash of inspiration struck Wang Xiao'er’s mind, and he thought to himself, "Got it!"

"Young Master, Wang Xiao'er is here," one of the large men whispered to the youth below his breath.

"Hm?" The youth was also named Wang—Wang Shaodong. This individual was notoriously lustful and an utterly opportunistic sycophant, an even clearer example of a spoiled rich kid than Wang Xiao'er.