Chapter 55: Identity

All the illumination originated from the cascading chandelier suspended in the very center, its luxurious golden radiance washing over the entire grand hall so that seemingly every corner was cast in sharp clarity.

Unlit decorative white candles sat atop the bronze wall sconces; as one walked past, the phantom flames flickered and floated, casting a shimmering, brilliant glow upon the looping, intricate patterns beneath them.

"Those candle flames are remarkably pretty."

Yu Yuchu noticed the wall sconce the very moment she stepped inside.

"The candleholder underneath was designed by a Poly designer in the early years. Jinayang bought the rights back then."

Yu Yuchu nodded.

The moment the two of them stepped into the banquet hall, they naturally became the center of attention.

Within a radius of several paces around their footsteps, the surrounding conversations hushed as they moved, all gazes gluing themselves to the pair. It seemed as though every guest present was offering silent, ocular greetings to their dazzling brilliance.

"Mr. Pei, my apologies for not coming out further to welcome you."

A dashing, poised middle-aged man stepped forward to greet Pei Jiayin.

He was the second-in-command at Poly, currently riding a wave of immense popularity and influence, yet compared to Pei Jiayin, his aura still fell a fraction short.

"Mr. Ye, trust you have been well."

As the two men shook hands, Yu Yuchu could already tell at a glance that her companion had the upper hand.

"Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to grace us with your presence. Let me propose a toast to you." He lifted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter's tray, handed it first to Pei Jiayin, and then raised his own glass to clink against Pei Jiayin's.

Yu Yuchu felt her heart skip a beat inside.

This Mr. Ye opposite them clearly held no low status, yet before Pei Jiayin, he acted quite like this... Just what position did Pei Jiayin hold at Huasheng?

Maintaining a poised smile, her dimples faintly flickered, and her right arm was draped loosely over the sleeve of Pei Jiayin's suit. The charming yet aloof contradiction between them had already caused many surrounding guests to cast frequent, lingering glances in their direction.

Pei Jiayin turned his body slightly without drawing notice.

Murmurs from the crowd drifted into their ears.

"Who is the female companion beside Mr. Pei? I've never seen her on screen."

"I have no idea... but she really is quite stunning."

"Could she be his girlfriend?"

"Impossible. She's probably not a big name, which is why we haven't seen her."

"Would Mr. Pei ever invite a total nobody to be his companion?"

"Still, the two of them look so well-matched..."

Yu Yuchu listened in silence, a quiet amusement bubbling up inside her.

So the female companions Pei Jiayin brought previously were all hired help? She wholeheartedly agreed with that last comment about them being well-matched. Hearing it, the smile at the corners of Yu Yuchu's lips spread even wider.

Sensing the good mood of the person beside him, Pei Jiayin patted her hand.

"Stop letting your imagination run wild," a familiar voice sounded right beside her ear.

Pei Jiayin's first glass of champagne was already nearly empty.

"Aside from events that strictly require a female companion for entry, I never bring one."

Yu Yuchu nodded earnestly. Her eyeliner had not completely altered the naturally rounded shape of her eyes, making them look as damp and adorable as a cat's.

Something about her expression seemed to amuse Pei Jiayin; the corners of his lips curled into a light chuckle.

Yu Yuchu was baffled as to why, but before long, the next person approached to strike up a conversation with Pei Jiayin. Yu Yuchu could only anxiously close her mouth, maintaining a steady smile throughout, determined to play the role of the mute companion by Pei Jiayin's side.

This strategy proved remarkably effective.

At least her smiling nods managed to bluff away quite a few people who had intended to strike up a conversation with her.

Knowing she wished to avoid trouble, Pei Jiayin did not introduce Yu Yuchu to anyone else.

As a result, even more people began to speculate about Yu Yuchu's identity, inadvertently draping her in a layer of mystery and turning her into the most enigmatic figure at the entire banquet.

Taking advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention, Yu Yuchu quietly stretched her stiff ankles and facial muscles.

She practically never wore high heels; it was fine for a short while, but over an extended period, every step felt as though her heels were treading mercilessly upon nails.

"What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable?"

Pei Jiayin was the first to notice Yu Yuchu's odd behavior, turning his head to check on her condition.

Yu Yuchu shook her head, but under Pei Jiayin's piercing, discerning gaze that seemed to see right through everything, she ended up nodding instead.

"I... I don't really wear high heels, and my feet are hurting a bit..."

Pei Jiayin's brows softened slightly.

"Let's go over there and sit down for a while."

Passing through an arched doorway, the smaller parlor inside featured primarily white leather sofas and an array of dazzling Western pastries. Apart from the centerpiece table laden with sweets, a long table along one side held simple Western dishes along with neatly arranged plates and cutlery.

Most of them were cold platters, but it was more than enough to awaken Yu Yuchu's appetite.

"Are you hungry? Go on over and sit—" Before he could finish, Pei Jiayin's phone rang in the space between them.

He glanced at the screen, his expression remaining completely ordinary, yet Yu Yuchu still sensitively caught a hint of the unusual.

"Go take your call first. I'll sit over here and wait for you."

Under the high-intensity socializing, even without speaking, Yu Yuchu's face ached from smiling.

Pei Jiayin nodded. "Don't wander off, and eat whatever you like... just don't eat too many cold things." Then, as if recalling something else, he added, "And don't drink too much alcohol, or your head will hurt."

"I know, I'm not a child." Yu Yuchu waved a hand, the dark-colored glove fluttering up and down like the wings of a butterfly.

Pei Jiayin caught those "wings" and brushed a light kiss against the back of her hand. Yu Yuchu felt as though she had been scalded, instinctively wanting to pull away.

Yet his touch was as light as a dragonfly skimming the water, and he released her hand almost instantly.

Leaving behind a deeply blushing Yu Yuchu, he walked away toward an alcove with his phone in hand.

Another wave of commotion rippled through the crowd nearby. Those who had previously paid little attention now began speculating anew about Yu Yuchu's true identity.

Yu Yuchu chuckled softly, her smile far more genuine than the practiced one she had worn earlier. A fresh, radiant aura blossomed from her, causing a few more onlookers to find themselves entirely unable to look away.

Though it was a rather childish gesture, she rather liked his boldness.

Gathering up the hem of her gown, Yu Yuchu picked her way carefully to select the food she wanted.

Most of the pastries here appeared to be Western-style, which didn't interest her much; she preferred to fill her stomach with something savory.

The person calling him was his younger brother, Pei Jiaxu.

Pei Jiayin wasn't particularly surprised that Pei Jiaxu was calling, only that he chose to do so at this exact moment.

With a swipe of his finger, the call connected, and a flamboyant voice sounded from the other end of the receiver.

"Brother, you're finally willing to take my calls."

Listening to the familiar voice, Pei Jiayin let out an inaudible sigh.

"What is it?"

"Nothing much." The caller got straight to the point. "Just wanted to ask you, how does it feel... to watch something that was once safely within your grasp become someone else's possession?" The voice paused briefly. "How does it feel?"

Pei Jiayin gazed out at the dim, enveloping nightscape, the breeze brushing past his face failing to stir even the slightest ripple in his composure.

"Sorry to disappoint, but I can't give you the answer you're looking for."

Only a lingering sense of melancholy remained, knowing that such a venerable, time-honored brand would soon be swallowed by the rushing tides of generational development.

"Don't be like that. Deep down, you must be hurting terribly, right? Having what you cherish most snatched away by someone else."

"Is that so?" Pei Jiayin's voice remained utterly flat as he dropped a bombshell. "You know I've already moved out of the old family estate, don't you?"