My Ares Son-in-Law

Xiao Chen glanced around casually.

The handsome men and beautiful women either held crystal-clear champagne glasses lightly in their hands or elegantly held glasses of richly colored red wine, chatting and laughing in hushed tones. Their voices were like the gentle flow of water, not noisy but clearly audible.

Every one of the men was dressed in a sharp suit, their ties were neatly tied, and their shoes were polished to a shine. Every gesture exuded an air of extraordinary elegance, as if each movement had been meticulously designed, revealing a unique reserve and confidence characteristic of high society.

The ladies were all dressed in various exquisite gowns, some adorned with dazzling diamonds that sparkled brilliantly under the lights; others were made of light silk that swayed gently as they moved, like fairies descending to earth.

They wore expensive jewelry; their earrings, necklaces, and bracelets shimmered under the lights, exuding a dazzling and elegant aura.

Among them were many with alluring figures and beautiful faces. They slightly raised their chins, their eyes revealing an innate sense of superiority, as if this were their home turf.

Xiao Chen had never been particularly fond of these so-called high society social occasions since childhood.

In his view, the enthusiasm and friendliness of these people on the surface are nothing but hypocritical pretense, and behind them may be all sorts of calculations and conflicts of interest.

This fake social interaction made him feel incredibly depressed and exhausted, and even somewhat repulsed.

It was precisely because of this that he developed a quiet and solitary personality, disliked crowds, and was even less willing to cater to others.

At this moment, Qin Lingling, who was standing to the side, noticed that the atmosphere was a bit dull and awkward. She frowned slightly and scanned Xiao Chen and the surrounding crowd, thinking about how to break the deadlock.

Finally, she took the initiative to start a conversation. She turned slightly to the side, a polite smile on her face, and said, "Mr. Xiao, are there any friends of yours in this hall? If you do, you might as well go over and chat with them. You might even meet some interesting people."

Xiao Chen seemed not to have heard her words at all, not even lifting his eyelids, maintaining his indifferent expression, and said lightly, "No need. If you have your own friends here, go find them. There's no need for you to stay here with me. I'm quite fine on my own."

His voice was flat and indifferent, without the slightest emotional fluctuation, as if he were completely unconcerned about everything around him.

After speaking, he slowly leaned back against the sofa, completely relaxing his body and closing his eyes, as if preparing to take a short nap. His posture was leisurely and carefree, as if the noisy banquet hall had nothing to do with him.

He came here for the treasures at the auction, not to socialize with these young men and women. So, what these people did was none of his business. He just wanted to wait quietly for the auction to begin.

Qin Lingling opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, trying to persuade Xiao Chen to fit in.

However, just then, a series of light footsteps approached from afar, followed by a series of clear voices, interrupting her before she could speak.

The soft light from the crystal chandeliers inside the clubhouse reflected off the elegant attire of the guests, creating a dazzling effect.

Several young men and women, dressed in fashionable and elegant clothes and holding wine glasses, walked towards this side, chatting and laughing.

They walked with light steps, their faces beaming with confident and flamboyant smiles, each step seemingly demonstrating their superiority and extraordinary nature to those around them.

One of the girls, with exquisite makeup and wearing a sequined evening gown, walked particularly briskly.

The sequined evening gown shimmered dazzlingly under the lights, like twinkling stars in the night sky, making her look like a princess from a fairy tale. She spotted Qin Lingling sitting in the corner at a glance, her eyes instantly lighting up. She affectionately took Qin Lingling's arm, her voice clear and bright with delight, "Lingling!"

"It's really you!"

"I just saw it from a distance, why are you hiding here alone, lost in thought?"

Their tone was full of intimacy, as if they were close friends who had known each other for many years.

When Qin Lingling saw the person who came, the smile on her face instantly became somewhat stiff, and she tried to force out a rather forced smile.

Now that the Qin family is in trouble, she can't help but feel a sense of helpless inferiority, and she really doesn't have the confidence to talk to the other person.

The other party was He Haiyue, a well-known "socialite" in the ancient city's social circles. On the social stage of the ancient city, He Haiyue was like a dazzling star. She came from a privileged family, and her parents had extensive connections and profound influence in the business and political circles. She was outstanding in appearance, with delicate features like a carefully sculpted work of art. Coupled with her fashionable outfits and elegant temperament, she became the focus of attention wherever she went.

She is especially known for her superb social skills and outgoing personality. No matter the occasion, she can quickly become one with the people around her, making her the focus of all kinds of gatherings. She is never short of suitors who fawn over her, and those suitors are like a swarm of buzzing bees, surrounding her.

She had clearly dressed up carefully today; her sequined evening gown was the latest style of the season, paired with expensive jewelry. Every detail showed her dedication, intending to meet more valuable "young talents" at this auction and further expand her network and social circle.

"It's nothing, I'm just a little tired and want to sit here for a while."

Qin Lingling said softly, her tone tinged with weariness and helplessness.

"Huh? You're the only one from your Qin family who came this time?"

"Oh, by the way, look at my memory! I heard that your Qin family has been in a lot of trouble lately, barely able to protect itself, right?"

Suddenly, an untimely male voice, laced with obvious sarcasm, shattered the seemingly harmonious atmosphere.

The sound was sharp and piercing, like a razor blade slicing through the once calm surface.

Qin Lingling frowned, her anger rising instantly, but she managed to suppress it and turned to look. The person speaking was Ming Cheng, the only son of the Ming family.

Ming was fairly handsome, but his brows revealed an arrogant and domineering air.

He was dressed in an expensive custom-made suit, which should have made him look elegant, but his arrogant expression completely ruined that image.

The Ming family wields considerable power in the ancient city, like a deeply rooted tree with extensive economic influence.

Their family businesses span multiple popular and lucrative industries, including real estate, finance, and trade. Their economic strength is as deep as a bottomless treasure, making it difficult to estimate.

Moreover, the Ming family has connections in various government departments. It's fair to say that their influence throughout the entire ancient city is incredibly deep and complex; no one wants to easily offend them unless they're completely incompetent. (End of Chapter)