At the same time, hearing Wang Guan describe himself as a force of evil, Qiao Yu was naturally quite displeased: "Hey, we're discussing some private matters between women, and you, a grown man, have the nerve to ask? You're more gossipy than any woman."

After a moment of disdain, Qiao Yu’s expression instantly shifted, replaced by a fawning smile: "Right, you still haven't told me—how did you see through my disguise just now? I checked myself thoroughly; my hair was tucked away, and my hat was pulled down low. Logically, there shouldn't have been any oversight."

"The earring," Wang Guan said, no longer beating around the bush, revealing the secret in a single phrase.

"What?" Qiao Yu hastily reached up to touch her ear, and sure enough, she found the dangling drop pendant. She couldn't help but sigh: "It truly is being blinded by the obvious. I focused so much on the small details that I overlooked this major flaw."

While Qiao Yu was feeling self-pity, Wang Guan certainly wasn't going to tell her that the biggest flaw wasn't the earring, but rather the bust that his eyes simply couldn't ignore above her collar. However, Wang Guan would rather die than say that aloud, lest he be branded a true scoundrel.

After sighing for a while, Qiao Yu looked up and asked, "By the way, are you going to the Han family banquet?"

"Of course, I am," Wang Guan replied as a matter of course. "Otherwise, who would clean up the mess for you all?"

"Since that's settled, solving the car problem is up to you." Qiao Yu smiled sweetly, "Whether you steal it, snatch it, or buy it, you need to secure a fine vehicle so that Xiao Ye and I can steal the spotlight. A striking entrance will gather the maximum amount of attention, and then even if Han Lang wants to make a move, he probably won't have the nerve to show his face to me."

"Your mind is truly meticulous," Wang Guan remarked with faint sarcasm, which was definitely not a compliment, then scratched his head and mused, "It's not like there aren't any good cars..."

As he spoke, Wang Guan, Pi Qiushi, and the others involuntarily looked toward Cai Peng.

"Understood. I'll call someone to bring the car over," Cai Peng nodded, still appearing somewhat dejected, clearly not having recovered from the earlier blow.

The following events need little recounting. Everyone continued drinking tea and chatting until evening arrived. Afterwards, Pi Qiushi left with Old Meng and Sha Qingfeng for some entertainment elsewhere, while Wang Guan headed to the Han residence first to scout the situation, to scope out the place.

Cai Peng tagged along. He hadn't given up hope yet, still intending to apprentice himself to Wang Guan, so he naturally stayed close.

As for Qiao Yu’s group, they were the stars of the evening’s banquet. Following Qiao Yu’s logic, the main characters appear last, so there was no need to rush; they would naturally make their entrance when the time was right.

Wang Guan didn't mind this arrangement. Driven by Cai Peng, he arrived at the Han villa neither too early nor too late.

At this hour, the Han residence, inside and out, was blazing with lights. Even without entering, Wang Guan could see through the iron gate that an open-air gathering was in full swing.

In front of the villa, on a lawn the size of half a football field, tables were set up, naturally laden with various foods, wines, and beverages. There was certainly background music to set a relaxed mood, along with a crowd of young men and women attending the party. This was entirely normal; since they were hosting Qiao Yu, they couldn't possibly have invited a gathering of doddering old men in their fifties or seventies.

Young people should mingle with other young people; that’s how it should be. These were the exact words of Elder Han, and once the tone was set, no one dared object, making it the prevailing theme of the banquet.

Of course, the saying 'birds of a feather flock together' held true; not just any young person could attend this soirée. The invitation was key; otherwise, the guards at the iron gate wouldn't casually allow anyone through.

However, Wang Guan didn't need to worry about this matter, as Cai Peng had connections and somehow managed to procure an invitation, allowing them to drive right up to the banquet openly.

"Quite a lot of people," Cai Peng remarked curiously, taking in the surroundings, his body occasionally swaying to the music. He clearly wasn't unfamiliar with such an environment; on the contrary, he seemed to thrive in it.

In contrast, Wang Guan appeared much more awkward. Noticing that most of the attendees were strangers, he naturally felt a bit constrained. Walking through the venue, he reservedly picked up a glass containing a vividly colored drink and took a small, appreciative sip.

"How does it taste?" Cai Peng asked curiously.

Wang Guan savored the flavor carefully, then nodded, "Mm, it’s alright."

"Then I'll have one too," Cai Peng said with interest, asking the bartender to mix him the exact same drink. Oh, it should be noted that this type of beverage seemed to have a specific term; something like a cocktail, perhaps.

"Mr. Wang, you've arrived." Just then, Han Lang appeared out of nowhere, looking around somewhat hesitantly. "Where is Miss Qiao? I don't see her?"

"She's putting on makeup and will arrive later," Wang Guan explained casually, his eyes holding a hint of amusement and perhaps pity. He figured Han Lang wouldn't look as expectant when Qiao Yu finally showed up.

"Oh." Han Lang seemed relieved, yet many doubts lingered, as he couldn't fathom why Wang Guan hadn't accompanied Qiao Yu but came to the banquet ahead of time.

Unable to figure it out, Han Lang didn't dwell on it. His gaze flickered, and then he smiled: "Since you've made the trip to Hong Kong, Mr. Wang, let me introduce you to some friends."

"No need," Wang Guan flatly refused. "I'm not familiar with them, and I don't need you to make special introductions."

As someone who had thoroughly studied the Machiavellian arts, Wang Guan never hesitated to analyze others with the darkest possible assumptions, especially since he knew his relationship with Han Lang wasn't great. His intuition told him Han Lang probably wasn't being so benevolent; there might be a trap set for him to stumble into.

Meanwhile, Han Lang felt somewhat speechless. It was precisely because they weren't familiar that introductions were necessary. With Wang Guan, it was the other way around—what kind of logic was that?

"If you don't want to meet people, why come to the banquet?" Han Lang muttered internally, but outwardly he maintained his distinguished demeanor, smiling, "Mr. Wang is joking..."

"I never joke."

As he spoke, Wang Guan offered a timely warning: "Xiao Qiao will be here soon. You should prepare to greet her. Oh, and whatever situation you see later, try not to be too shocked."

"What do you mean?" Han Lang was thoroughly bewildered, and his mind raced with further speculation.

"Heh heh, you should pray for yourself," it wasn't Wang Guan who spoke, but Cai Peng, who wore a look of schadenfreude, clearly enjoying seeing someone else suffer misfortune like him.

Hearing this, Han Lang naturally became even more suspicious—not that the two were being mysterious, but he genuinely developed a bad feeling. Unfortunately, lacking sufficient information, he couldn't possibly guess what was about to unfold.

"Mr. Wang..."

Just as Han Lang was about to press for more information, a servant approached and whispered something in his ear. Han Lang nodded subtly; the matter must have been urgent, so he had to set aside his suspicions and explain, "My apologies, an elder has summoned me. I must take my leave for a moment."

Watching Han Lang depart, Cai Peng suddenly chuckled softly, "The poor fellow, he doesn't even know he's walking to his doom."

"It's not as dramatic as you make it sound," Wang Guan dismissed casually. "Actually, this person is quite decent—he has both style and cultivation. While he might be a bit petty, it's understandable. Compared to him, you are completely outclassed."

"What are you talking about? I'm not bad either," Cai Peng argued strenuously.

Having nothing better to do, Wang Guan asked with interest, "Then tell me, what are your merits?"

"I'm very handsome, and my family is wealthy," Cai Peng declared with a confident smile.

Wang Guan had to admit that being rich and handsome were major merits, but...

"He's also handsome, and his family might not be poorer than yours," Wang Guan glanced sideways. "Both of you are second-generation heirs; figure out for yourself where you have an advantage over him."

Cai Peng thought seriously, then grinned playfully, "If Big Brother agrees to teach me swordsmanship, I could definitely turn the tables on him instantly."

"..."

Wang Guan fell silent, taking his cocktail glass and heading toward the villa's garden area. He recalled that his last visit had been a hurried arrival and an even quicker departure; he hadn't had time to appreciate the villa's scenery. Now, observing slowly, he noticed the environment was indeed quite elegant.

"What's this?" Cai Peng pouted. "When Big Brother has time, you should visit Taiwan. My family's house there is much bigger than this, and the scenery is even more beautiful..."

"We'll see if there's a chance," Wang Guan laughed, proceeding deeper into the grounds.

After a while, they reached the center of the garden area, where a fountain-like pool was built.

At that moment, beautiful plumes of water sprayed from the pool, forming shimmering curtains in the air before falling back down—a rather pleasing sight.

Furthermore, it seemed that many ornamental koi fish were kept in the pool. Under the illumination of nearby lights, the scales of the fish flashed with light, drifting in the water and adding considerable charm.

However, no matter how beautiful the scenery, it was merely an accent. What truly surprised Wang Guan was seeing an acquaintance, or rather, someone he vaguely knew, standing beside the pool.

"Meng Jian!" Wang Guan couldn't help but call out.

"Hmm?"

Upon hearing someone call his name, Meng Jian turned around and saw Wang Guan. His expression shifted slightly, and he immediately lowered his head and turned away, walking quickly until he vanished down a shaded path in an instant.

Wang Guan considered chasing after him but hesitated, ultimately deciding not to pursue.

Seeing this, Cai Peng looked puzzled. "Big Brother, who was that? He must owe you a lot of money, otherwise, why would he turn tail and run upon seeing you without saying a word? Should I call someone to bring him back?"

"No need," Wang Guan gently shook his head, his brow furrowed, feeling something very strange.

Logically, he had only met Meng Jian a few times, exchanging no more than passing greetings each time, speaking very few words in total. Why was he so terrified of him? Could it be that he truly was connected to Master Zhu, and was also aware that Wang Guan could expose Master Zhu's creations?

Wang Guan racked his brain, unable to find an answer, his thoughts slowly drifting away...