Chapter 1033: The Uninvited Huo Shen

It was Xu Shaochen’s 25th birthday.

More lively than some old folks’ centennial celebrations.

Just as he had previously mentioned.

This sort of thing isn’t about age but about status.

To put it bluntly, even if he threw a birthday party for the family dog, plenty of people would scramble to attend.

Besides newcomers like Huo Xiao and Bai Ya, who mingled among the elites.

Everyone else took such gatherings in stride, as if it were natural.

With all these big shots from around the country, the local folks in Jiangzhou thought it was a great chance to expand their network.

Many people here wouldn’t usually have the chance to interact, maybe never.

But now, thanks to Xu Shaochen, they were in the same place, which became a common topic for them.

Nobody here was shy, all naturally greeting each other.

Meeting new people could lead to cooperation, and cooperation leads to mutual benefits.

That’s why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

The social circle of wealthy people is full of other wealthy people, creating bigger profits together.

As for the poor, well, it’s just tears.

“Shaochen, who is this lady, another sister?”

Mei Liangxinying approached, taking Xu Shaochen’s arm, her gaze swept over Lin Wanxue’s slightly rounded belly, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

Why couldn’t she conceive? “Hello, Miss Mei, I’m Lin Wanxue, head of the Lin Group from Island.”

Lin Wanxue smiled brightly, her hand gracefully extended to Mei Liangxinying.

(Correction: The previous chapter mistakenly called her Lin Ruoxue. It felt off, and upon checking, it was indeed a mistake. Too much screen time recently, I suppose.) “How many months along?”

Mei Liangxinying shook Lin Wanxue’s hand, looking at her belly with indescribable envy and complexity.

Why was having a child so difficult for her? All of Liu Ruxue, Liu Ruxu, and Lin Wanxue’s rounded bellies proved Xu Shaochen’s fertility.

Was it her own problem? Was she infertile soil?

Mei Liangxinying decided to secretly get checked at the hospital.

“Over two months.”

Lin Wanxue caressed her belly, her face glowing with maternal love.

“You all chat, I’ll be back in a moment.”

Xu Shaochen patted Mei Liangxinying’s hand, pulled his arm free, and headed toward the corner where Huo Xiao and Bai Ya stayed awkwardly.

“What are you two doing here? Go have fun! Help yourself to whatever you like, don’t just stand here.”

Seeing their nervousness, Xu Shaochen spoke with a smile, intentionally using a relaxed tone.

“Little daddy, let’s just stay. Here feels fine, besides, we don’t know anyone here.”

Huo Xiao chuckled dryly, recognizing a few faces but knowing they didn’t know her.

“Exactly, Xu… Brother Xu, don’t worry about us. We’ll just stay here for a while.”

Bai Ya nodded emphatically like a chicken pecking at rice.

Both girls were usually laid-back, but in such a setting, even with thick nerves, they couldn’t let loose.

“Don’t know anyone, huh? You’ll know them soon enough.”

Xu Shaochen said, grabbing Huo Xiao’s delicate, smooth hand and announced loudly to everyone:

“Everyone, this is my goddaughter, Huo Xiao. She’s a bit shy, so please look after her.”

Huo Xiao was startled by Xu Shaochen’s sudden gesture and seemed a bit overwhelmed by everyone’s gazes.

“Mr. Xu, what are you saying? Your precious girl doesn’t need our care; it’s us who should ask for Miss Huo’s care.”

Someone joked from the crowd, and everyone burst into laughter.

Although it was a joke, it had a point.

If they couldn’t ingratiate themselves with Xu Shaochen, surely they could with Huo Xiao, couldn’t they?

Many envious glances were cast at Huo Xiao. Being Xu Shaochen’s goddaughter was incredibly lucky.

Any slight age difference between them was automatically ignored by everyone.

Deng Tianwen, Chen Ju, and Mei Liangxin exchanged glances, involuntarily taking a breath.

Even goddaughters were in the mix now.

This guy surely wasn’t playing around.

Truly shameless to not spare such an innocent girl.

“See, everyone’s met you now. Go have fun.”

Xu Shaochen patted Huo Xiao’s head.

In no time, a group of similar-aged young ladies surrounded Huo Xiao chattering brightly.

From the side, Bai Ya watched Huo Xiao, surrounded like a star among moons, with an indescribable feeling in her heart.

Jealousy and a slight tinge of envy.

If only it were her.

Huo Xiao felt a bit dizzy from the swarm of glamorous young ladies, mechanically engaging with them.

She wasn’t accustomed to such settings, feeling quite nervous and anxious, worried she’d embarrass Xu Shaochen with a slip of the tongue.

She thought it was only a birthday celebration for little daddy, so she wore something simple. Comparing to others now made her feel uncomfortable.

“Just found out today is Mr. Xu’s 25th birthday, so I came uninvited to celebrate. I hope Mr. Xu doesn’t mind.”

A sonorous male voice interrupted everyone’s conversation.

All eyes turned to the door.

A middle-aged man, around forty, entered grandly with an attendant carrying a gift box.

Those present exchanged baffled glances. Who was this?

But Xu Shaochen recognized him from pictures before, Huo Shen.

As Huo Shen had been isolated in the Northwest, keeping a low profile, it was no wonder people didn’t recognize him.

“Chairman Huo traveled such a distance to celebrate, why would there be any issue with that?”

Xu Shaochen stood with a broad smile, holding two glasses of wine, approaching Huo Shen and handing him a drink, then addressed everyone: “Folks, you might not be familiar with this man. Let me introduce him, this is Chairman Huo of the Great Wilderness Group.”

People were enlightened at his words.

Most had no fondness for Huo Shen as his Great Wilderness Group resisted external expansion and opposed foreign enterprises entering the Wilderness.

Yet, everyone was puzzled.

Huo Shen had avoided leaving the Wilderness for years, why suddenly travel so far for Xu Shaochen’s birthday?

Furthermore, Xu Shaochen hadn’t sent him an invite, he had come on his own.