"This is a party I'm throwing, not something organized by Sheng Ye," Yu Xi explained with a casual wave of his hand.
He had never once mentioned on the invitations that Sheng Ye would be attending. The assumption had entirely come from the guests' own imaginations.
"But isn't Sheng Ye supposed to be…" someone began to argue. Although the invitation hadn't specifically said that Sheng Ye would be present, given the time, place, and context of the event, it seemed logical to assume that the party was in some way connected to him. After all, why else would such a high-profile gathering take place?
Everyone had come with the same expectation, thinking it was only natural that the elusive Sheng Ye might make an appearance.
Yu Xi didn't bother clarifying, but the truth was that this party did indeed have something to do with Sheng Ye. Orders had come from the capital, directing Yu Xi to organize an event to introduce some suitable young women to Sheng Ye. Of course, Yu Xi had no choice but to comply—he wouldn't dare disobey an order from Old Master Zhai unless he had a death wish.
Still, there were ways to follow the rules while staying flexible. After securing Sheng Ye's agreement, Yu Xi organized the party at the Yu family estate, inviting a mix of eligible young men and women to enjoy themselves. Later, he planned to take a few candid photos and short videos to send back to Old Master Zhai as proof that he had done his part.
Whether or not anything would come of it was entirely up to Sheng Ye. Yu Xi had no control over the outcome, nor could Old Master Zhai hold him responsible if things didn't pan out. As for whether Sheng Ye would even show up at a gathering like this, that was entirely dependent on his mood. Yu Xi knew better than to try to force him into attending.
Qiu Yizhen, on the other hand, couldn't hide her disappointment. She had been hoping to catch a glimpse of the legendary Sheng Ye, only to realize she might not see him at all.
Just then, trying to lift the mood, she nudged Yu Xi and said, "Oh, by the way, Yu Xi, let me introduce you to my best friend, Mo Shiyun. Like you, she's from the advanced class at Shenghua High School."
Yu Xi had been a star student during his time at Shenghua, always at the top of his class. His academic record had made him a standout among his peers, known for his intelligence and leadership.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Yu," Mo Shiyun greeted him with a composed and respectful manner, her tone neither too humble nor too bold. She carried herself with grace and poise, seamlessly blending in with the well-heeled sons and daughters of prominent families, even though she was the daughter of a servant.
Unlike Ji Ming, Yu Xi didn't seem particularly interested in Mo Shiyun. His focus remained solely on his task at hand. He quickly brushed off the introduction, saying to Qiu Yizhen, "Have fun with your friend. I've got something to take care of."
With that, Yu Xi left, hurrying to get photos and videos for Old Master Zhai. After all, that was the real priority for him at this event.
As Yu Xi departed, Mo Shiyun turned to Qiu Yizhen and asked curiously, "Is this Sheng Ye really that mysterious?"
Mo Shiyun wasn't from the inner circles of the elite families, so she had little knowledge of the man they referred to as Sheng Ye.
"To us, he's mysterious enough! Just a few days ago, my dad went to visit him. Even though they met, they barely exchanged a few words, and my dad was sweating bullets the whole time!" Qiu Yizhen explained, her expression showing a mix of admiration and frustration.
In fact, Qiu Liyao had spent most of his meeting playing billiards, but the mere presence of Sheng Ye had left him on edge.
"Even Chairman Qiu can't get much time with him?" Mo Shiyun asked, surprised.
"You've got it all wrong. My dad only managed to see him because of his good relationship with Uncle Yu. Don't think it's easy! Even the patriarch of the Jian family, Jian Yiling's grandfather, might not be able to meet him whenever he wants," Qiu Yizhen admitted with a trace of envy in her voice, though she couldn't stand Jian Yiling, she had to acknowledge that the Jian family's status far surpassed her own.
Mo Shiyun, who lived in the Jian family's household, had a decent understanding of the scale of their wealth and influence. It wasn't difficult to imagine why even the powerful Jian family might struggle to gain an audience with someone like Sheng Ye.
"Doesn't he have to go to school? I thought you mentioned he's only nineteen," Mo Shiyun asked, intrigued by the situation.
"Well, theoretically, he should be in his second year of university, but he's on leave from school," Qiu Yizhen replied, lowering her voice slightly, as if revealing a secret.
"Why is he on leave?" Mo Shiyun pressed, her curiosity growing.
"I have no idea," Qiu Yizhen admitted, shrugging. When it came to Sheng Ye, even she was mostly relying on hearsay and rumors.
Leaning closer, she whispered conspiratorially to Mo Shiyun, "Word has it that his health isn't the best. I heard that during high school, he barely showed up to classes. Most of the time, he was on extended leave."
"What a pity," Mo Shiyun remarked, her tone neutral but with a hint of sympathy.
Though Mo Shiyun wasn't part of their world, she understood enough to see that even in a life of privilege, some things, like health, remained out of anyone's control.