The God of Wealth starts with doing whatever you want

Jiang Peiyao's sudden, well-intentioned conversation caught Michelle off guard.

She quickly adjusted her expression and smiled back, saying, "Ms. Jiang has excellent taste. It is indeed Valentino, a design from Paris Fashion Week earlier this year."

"I really like Valentino's designs."

Jiang Peiyao spoke in a tone like an ordinary woman chatting about fashion, saying, "Especially their tailoring, it always perfectly highlights the beauty of a woman's figure."

As she spoke, her gaze naturally fell on Michelle's dress, filled with admiration, without the slightest hint of jealousy or comparison.

This only made Michelle feel more guilty.

The other party's openness and composure made her appear as if she were harboring ulterior motives and feeling awkward and uneasy.

She glanced at Xu Yun subconsciously and found that he was still talking to President Wang, seemingly unaware of the conversation between the two women.

"Miss Jiang's dress tonight is also very beautiful."

Michelle politely replied, "Champagne is very elegant."

"Thank you." Jiang Peiyao smiled and didn't continue the topic. Instead, she naturally turned her attention back to Xu Yun, as if it had just been a casual, polite compliment.

Just then, Xu Yun's small talk with President Wang seemed to come to an end.

Mr. Wang tactfully indicated that he wouldn't disturb them and left with his wine glass.

The surroundings fell silent instantly.

Only Xu Yun, Lin Zhengyu, Jiang Peiyao, Michelle, and her agent, Sister Hua, remained.

There was a subtle tension in the atmosphere.

Lin Zhengyu looked around, touched his nose and smiled, but didn't say anything.

Michelle looked at Xu Yun, opened her mouth, and finally uttered the "President Xu" that had been stuck in her throat for a long time.

Xu Yun responded, looking at her calmly, and asked, "Didn't Young Master Ruan come along?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it made Michelle's heart skip a beat.

"No."

She answered softly, her fingers unconsciously tightening around her handbag.

Xu Yun nodded and remained silent for a few seconds.

His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, his eyes so sharp they seemed to pierce through any disguise.

Then, he suddenly leaned forward slightly and, in a voice only they could hear, asked a question that almost froze Michelle's blood:

"Besides me, have any other men touched you?"

……

Time seemed to stretch out.

Michelle stood frozen in place, her ears ringing, almost unable to believe what she was hearing.

Her eyes widened as she stared at Xu Yun's expressionless face, which was so close to hers, her mind going completely blank.

The agent, Sister Hua, was completely dumbfounded.

She stared at Xu Yun, then at Michelle, her face filled with shock and bewilderment.

What's going on? What did Xu Yun mean by that? What was his relationship with Michelle... before?
The surrounding noise seemed to be shut out instantly.

Michelle could feel the temperature of her cheeks rising rapidly, and her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to give out.

She glanced at Jiang Peiyao instinctively and hastily.

Jiang Peiyao remained standing there, her expression unchanged.

She simply watched quietly, her eyes calm, showing neither surprise, anger, nor even curiosity. It was a calm that evoked understanding.

It was as if everything happening before her eyes was within her expectations, or perhaps she simply didn't care.

This calmness made Michelle feel more ashamed than any violent reaction.

"No...no."

She heard her own dry voice squeezed out of her throat, so faint it was almost inaudible.

After saying those two words, she immediately lowered her head, not daring to look anyone in the eye.

Xu Yun straightened up, his expression remaining calm, as if the shocking question he had just asked was merely a casual remark.

He said to his agent, Sister Hua, "Don't let her come to places like this to be a clown next time."

These words seemed to come out of nowhere, but Sister Hua immediately understood.

She glanced at Michelle, who was pale and had her head down, and understood.

On occasions like tonight, female celebrities like Michelle may appear glamorous, but in reality, they are constantly on their guard, watching people's expressions, all in an effort to expand their network and secure resources.

In the face of real capital and power, their aura is fragile and easily shattered.

"After the banquet..."

After Xu Yun finished speaking, he turned to Lin Zhengyu and said, "Go ask a few people in the entertainment industry if they have any good roles for her. If not... we'll pay for her to film them ourselves."

He spoke in such a flat tone that it was as if he were recounting a trivial matter.

After hearing this, Lin Zhengyu smiled and nodded without hesitation, saying, "Okay, no problem."

For him, this was really not a big deal.

With his and Xu Yun's influence, finding a good role, let alone tailoring a play to make someone famous, wouldn't be difficult at all.

Michelle suddenly looked up and stared at Xu Yun in disbelief.

What...what does he mean by this? Is he pitying her? Or is he using this method to assert his ownership?

For a moment, complex emotions surged within her, leaving her speechless.

Xu Yun didn't look at her again, but whispered something to Jiang Peiyao.

Jiang Peiyao nodded, took his arm, and the two turned and walked to the other side.

Lin Zhengyu smiled at Michelle and Sister Hua, and followed them.

Michelle was left standing there, as if all her strength had been drained away.

Sister Hua then came to her senses and quickly helped her up, asking urgently in a low voice, "Xue'er, what... what exactly happened? That Mr. Xu... you two used to..."

"Don't ask anymore, Sister Hua."

Michelle interrupted her, her voice weak, "Don't ask anything."

……

The dinner continued.

For the rest of the time, Michelle remained absent-minded.

She sat in her seat, and the performances on stage, the guests' speeches, and the occasional applause all seemed to be viewed through frosted glass, blurry and distant.

Her gaze involuntarily followed Xu Yun's figure.

She saw him shaking hands and talking with several people who looked like ministerial leaders, his demeanor calm and unhurried.

Seeing him clink glasses with several internet giants, he appeared calm and composed in his conversation.

She also saw that Jiang Peiyao was always by his side. The unspoken understanding and natural intimacy between the two was like a thorn, piercing the softest part of her heart.

Midway through the event, Xu Yun got up and left the banquet hall, seemingly to go to the restroom.

Michelle's heart suddenly raced.

A crazy idea popped out of my head uncontrollably.

She glanced at Sister Hua, who was talking to someone else beside her, bit her lip, and quietly stood up and followed her out.

The corridor was covered with thick carpets, completely absorbing the sound of footsteps.

The lighting was soft, and the air was filled with the scent of a sophisticated fragrance.

Michelle walked quickly to the men's restroom, hesitated for a moment, and seeing that no one was at the door, slipped inside and locked the door behind her.

Xu Yun had just finished washing his hands and was standing in front of the sink when he saw her come in through the mirror. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, but he didn't seem too surprised.

"I'm sorry, I was wrong."

Michelle closed the door, leaned against the door panel, and looked at Xu Yun as he turned around, then immediately spoke.

Her voice trembled, and her eyes were red. She was no longer the radiant female star in the banquet hall, but rather like a child who had done something wrong.

Xu Yun looked at her but didn't speak immediately.

He took out a tissue and slowly wiped his hands.

"I shouldn't have come to this kind of occasion, groveling and begging for help. I've embarrassed you."

Michelle continued speaking, tears finally streaming down her face. Her words were half genuine regret, and half a test.

She wanted to know if Xu Yun's actions just now were because he felt that her behavior made him "lose face".

Xu Yun dried his hands, threw the tissue into the trash can, and then looked up at her.

His eyes were deep, like a bottomless, icy pool.

After looking at her for a few seconds, he suddenly couldn't help but chuckle softly.

The laughter startled Michelle.

"Where did you go wrong?" Xu Yun asked, his tone slightly playful, but his eyes remained cold.

Michelle was speechless at his question.

What went wrong? Was it wrong to be here tonight?

She opened her mouth, but didn't know how to answer.

Xu Yun did not wait for her reply.

He took two steps closer and stopped a step away from her.

The faint scent of his aftershave and a familiar, reassuring aroma wafted from him, making Michelle's heart race even faster.

"okay."

Xu Yun suddenly reached out, but instead of embracing her, he gently pushed her away, creating more distance between them.

His movements were not rough; in fact, they were quite gentle.

But that sense of alienation was crystal clear.

"I don't have a habit of doing that kind of thing in the bathroom."

He said, his tone returning to its previous calm: "After the banquet, come back with me."

Michelle's heart skipped a beat.

Go back with him? Go back where? She immediately thought of Jiang Peiyao!
Will that woman agree?

“But what about the person next to you…” she hesitated, then whispered a reminder.

"fine."

Xu Yun gave a brief reply, seemingly unwilling to elaborate, saying, "Peiyao... understands."

These few simple words contain a wealth of information.

Michelle was stunned for a moment.

That woman "understands"? Understands what? Understands her relationship with Xu Yun? Or understands Xu Yun's current...arrangements for her?
"Oh," she finally responded softly, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

But undeniably, Xu Yun's words were like a reassurance, calming her anxious heart somewhat.

At least he didn't completely push her away.

At least he was willing to take her away from this place that made her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles.

She watched as Xu Yun straightened his cuffs, preparing to leave, and couldn't help but let a very slight smile curve her lips.

Xu Yun glanced at her, said nothing more, opened the door and walked out.

Michelle stayed in the restroom for a few more minutes to calm herself down, touched up her makeup, and made sure there were no traces of crying before taking a deep breath and returning to the banquet hall.

Unbeknownst to her, during the time she was away, some subtle changes had taken place in the banquet hall.

Lin Zhengyu is an efficient person.

Now that Xu Yun had given the instructions, he immediately took action.

He subtly spoke with several influential investors and producers in the entertainment industry, mentioning Michelle in his conversations and implying that "a friend of mine admires Ms. Michelle's talent and hopes to have the opportunity to collaborate with her."

Anyone who can thrive in such a setting is a shrewd and capable individual.
Who are Lin Zhengyu's "friends"?
Considering Xu Yun's high bid for Michelle tonight and his subsequent initiative to speak to her, everyone knows exactly what's going on.

Although the specific details are unclear, the signal that "Mr. Xu took good care of this Hong Kong actress" is clear enough.

So, soon after Michelle returned to her seat, several businessmen and producers who had previously treated her indifferently or even somewhat dismissively took the initiative to come over with wine glasses and chat with her.

His words became much more polite, even carrying a hint of flattery, as he subtly inquired about her upcoming schedule, implying that he had some good projects to collaborate on.

Even her notoriously arrogant manager, Sister Hua, was pulled aside by the two entertainment company bosses for a long talk, who enthusiastically expressed their hope for a deeper collaboration.

This sudden "courtesy" initially left Michelle somewhat bewildered.

But she soon understood why.

She subconsciously looked in the direction of Xu Yun in the front row.

He was talking to Jiang Peiyao with his head down. Jiang Peiyao covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her eyes gentle.

He seemed completely oblivious to the changes happening around Michelle.

Or rather, he simply doesn't care.

A complex mix of emotions welled up in Michelle's heart.

There is a sense of security from being sheltered, but also an indescribable bitterness.

The attention and opportunities she received were not because of Michelle herself, but because of Xu Yun.

This made her clearly realize the huge gap between the two of them, and also made her realize more deeply that her initial choice was correct.

The banquet drew to a close in an atmosphere where both hosts and guests seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Xu Yun and his group left ahead of time.

Lin Zhengyu's Rolls-Royce Phantom with license plate number 京A·88888 was already waiting at the hotel entrance.

Xu Yun, Jiang Peiyao, and Lin Zhengyu got into the car first.

Under Sister Hua's worried and confused gaze, Michelle whispered a few words, then gritted her teeth and bent down to sit inside the car after the waiter opened the door.

The interior is spacious and the leather seats are comfortable.

Lin Zhengyu sat in the passenger seat, Xu Yun and Jiang Peiyao sat on one side of the back seat, and Michelle sat on the other side.

The atmosphere was somewhat quiet, with only the very low volume of classical music flowing from the car's premium sound system.

Jiang Peiyao leaned naturally on Xu Yun's shoulder, closed her eyes to rest, seemingly unconcerned about the presence of another person.

Xu Yun looked out the window at the rapidly receding neon lights, his profile standing out vividly in the flickering light.

Michelle sat stiffly, her fingers unconsciously twisting together.

She had so many questions and so much to say, but in this atmosphere, she couldn't utter a single word.

The car drove into the quiet alley and stopped at the entrance of the courtyard house.

Lin Zhengyu turned around and smiled, "Brother Yun, Sister Peiyao, Miss Mi, we've arrived. I won't go in. We'll contact you again tomorrow."

Xu Yun nodded: "Thank you for your hard work."

Several people got off the bus.

Lin Zhengyu's car slowly drove away.

The vermilion gate opened, and the dim light of lanterns illuminated the porch.

Jiang Peiyao took Xu Yun's arm and walked into the courtyard. Mi Xueer hesitated for a moment, then followed behind them.

The courtyard house is even more tranquil at night.

The delicate fragrance of crabapple blossoms floated in the cool night breeze, while the koi in the fish tank had long since sunk to the bottom and were fast asleep.

The palace lanterns under the covered walkway cast a soft light, elongating their shadows.

Upon entering the inner courtyard, Jiang Peiyao released Xu Yun's arm.

She turned around, smiled slightly at Michelle, and said with a gentle and polite smile, "Miss Michelle, please rest here tonight. The east wing has been cleaned up, and the toiletries are all new."

Her tone was as natural as if she were entertaining an ordinary guest.

There was no scrutiny, no hostility, and not even much curiosity.

Then she looked at Xu Yun and said softly, "I'm a little tired. I'll go back to my room to rest first. You two... can chat slowly."

After saying that, she nodded to the two of them, then turned and walked to the west wing of the main house, pushed open the door and went in, then gently closed the door behind her.

The whole process was smooth and natural.

Michelle stood there, looking at the closed door, then at Xu Yun beside her who looked calm, and for a moment she didn’t know how to react.

Jiang Peiyao's "sensible" and generous nature far exceeded her expectations.

Is this the proper conduct of the principal wife of a top-tier wealthy family? (End of Chapter)