Chapter 18

When Li Xiaoran arrived at the door, she had already become the focus of the scene.

She wore a light blue long dress, exuding elegance and grandeur; a pink ribbon tied around her waist added a touch of lively beauty, outlining her slender waist; a white shawl draped over her bare shoulders gave an impression of nobility and sanctity.

A deep blue crystal necklace hung between her alluring collarbones, capturing everyone's attention; her face, lightly powdered, appeared fresh and refined.

Standing opposite the beauty, observing her up close, Jin Yunhao saw Li Xiaoran for the first time in formal attire, and she was stunning!

With his hormones surging, he wanted to do something at that moment.

Thus, Jin Yunhao made a move that he would regret for a long time.

He took the rose he had received during the blind date from his pocket and handed it to Li Xiaoran, saying, "I didn't know it was your birthday before I came. This rose is a small token of my heart. Happy birthday."

Everyone present was immediately stunned.

This... This is too bizarre!

As the eldest daughter of the Lotte Li family, Li Xiaoran's birthday was a focal point for everyone. Each guest's birthday gift was invariably expensive and luxurious.

To give a single rose as a birthday gift?

Was this to express 'one heart, one mind'? Was he publicly pursuing Li Xiaoran?

Everyone's thoughts were in chaos.

Li Xiaoran, looking at the single rose in front of her, was also quite surprised. She extended her delicate hand, took the solitary rose, and smiled, "Thank you for your birthday gift, it's very special."

"Hehe." Jin Yunhao scratched the back of his head and laughed awkwardly.

Now he realized that the timing was wrong, and the gift was even more inappropriate! What a mess!

The fragrance of the rose lingered between them, bridging the gap and easing some of the tension.

Li Xiaoran lightly took Jin Yunhao's arm and tilted her head, squinting her eyes, "Let's go, my family is waiting for you."

"..." Jin Yunhao knew this was like going to a banquet with hidden dangers, and he couldn't help but feel nervous.

After nodding to the crowd, Li Xiaoran left with Jin Yunhao.

At a certain moment, Li Xiaoran, Jin Yunhao, and Park Shin-yeo were all in a straight line. The rose in Li Xiaoran's hand was glaringly obvious to Park Shin-yeo.

Park Shin-yeo's heart was not calm at all.

Why should the rose that originally belonged to her now be in Li Xiaoran's hands?

Two hours ago, she had detested Jin Yunhao's rose, finding it tacky and cheap. But when she saw the rose in Li Xiaoran's hands, she felt uncomfortable, as if something that should have been hers had been taken away.

Moreover, she felt that Jin Yunhao had seen her and deliberately showed off as he passed by her.

Jin Yunhao was showing off, boasting about how excellent his companion was.

Li Xiaoran's light blue long dress was elegant and dazzling, while she, wearing the same color dress, was lost in the crowd and pointed at by others.

Li Xiaoran only needed a deep blue crystal necklace to shine brightly, while her numerous jewels did not add any luster to her.

Park Shin-yeo couldn't help but compare herself to Li Xiaoran and found herself completely inferior, further confirming that Jin Yunhao was deliberately showing off.

As she watched Jin Yunhao and Li Xiaoran enter the private room, the crowd's envious gazes finally returned, and they began to discuss Jin Yunhao's identity.

"Shin-yeo, you should have tried to get closer to that person. You knew him before, right? Wait until he comes out, and then you can build a relationship with him." Han Jin-woo stroked his chin, talking to himself, completely unaware of Park Shin-yeo's increasingly dark expression.

"If you want to be a lapdog, you go. Don't come to me." Under the nagging of her male companion, Park Shin-yeo finally burst out, shouting in pain.

She was tired of her male companion's nagging, tired of others praising Li Xiaoran while ignoring her, who was equally beautiful.

Similarly, she was tired of the attention others gave Jin Yunhao, while she had once destroyed the opportunity to receive such attention.

At this moment, she could no longer despise Jin Yunhao, because the poor boy she had once mocked was now the brightest star at the scene, walking hand in hand with the most beautiful woman of the night.

If she hadn't ruined the blind date with Jin Yunhao, their relationship might have developed rapidly, and they might have come to the party together, making her the focus of everyone's attention.

She regretted it!

---

Jin Yunhao didn't know about Park Shin-yeo's regret, he only knew that he was very nervous.

What the heck! Family? Li Xiaoran's family is really too big! And they are all important figures.

In the largest suite of the banquet hall, Jin Yunhao met Li Xiaoran's family.

Through Li Xiaoran's introduction, Jin Yunhao learned that the elderly man in his sixties sitting in the main seat was her grandfather, Li Jingju, the second-largest director of the Lotte Group and the current head of Lotte Mart.

To the right of the main seat was her second grandfather, Li Jingmin, one of the eight senior prosecutors in South Korea and a major figure in the prosecution system.

To the left of the main seat was her third grandfather, Li Jinghong, a member of the National Assembly and the Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (an administrative body in South Korea, equivalent to the Ministry of Transport in other countries).

As for the second and third generations of the Li family, they were all outside the suite, totaling more than thirty people.

Wow! Truly a large and prosperous family.

Jin Yunhao bowed to the three elders and stood 'obediently' in place, accepting the scrutiny of the three old men.

The three old men, who had held high positions for many years, exuded a powerful aura. This intangible aura enveloped Jin Yunhao, giving him immense pressure.

Fortunately, Jin Yunhao had the experience of two lifetimes and a calm demeanor. Plus, he always adhered to the principle of 'if the enemy doesn't move, I don't move,' and he managed to survive under the intense aura.

After a moment of silence, the old man in the main seat, Li Jingju, laughed and broke the silence, "Hehe, good boy, really good."

Jin Yunhao bowed and smiled shyly, but his back was already drenched in sweat.

Li Jingju leaned forward slightly and asked in a low, clear voice, "Do you know why we invited you here today?"

Jin Yunhao shook his head, "No, I don't."

Li Jingju leaned forward a bit more, "Guess?"

Jin Yunhao took a deep breath, "I was rash, I think you all want to see me."

Hearing this, Li Jingju laughed heartily, exchanging glances with the other two old men, who nodded imperceptibly.

After laughing, Li Jingju sipped some tea to moisten his throat, "Old people always want to see young people and enjoy talking with young men. If I have taken up your time, I hope you won't mind."

Jin Yunhao bowed, "I dare not, it is my honor to meet all of you."

Li Jingju nodded for the second time, "Alright, I won't keep you. I hope you enjoy yourself tonight. Xiaoran, see the guest out."

Jin Yunhao knew the old man was dismissing him, so he bowed and left, following Li Xiaoran out of the room. He was right; the old men had only wanted to see him.

As for the deeper meaning behind this meeting, he couldn't guess. He didn't want to waste brain cells on it, or he wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

---

Thank you to the book friends "Icebound Love" and "Restart" for your support.

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