Chapter 316: Painfully Sensible

Chen Yu Grand Hotel.

The entire hall was packed with people who had just attended the memorial service.

Xu Shaochen was going from table to table with Du Ruyan, offering drinks and expressing thanks. After all, many of them had come from distant places, and it was only right to show gratitude.

After thanking everyone, Xu Shaochen and Du Ruyan finally sat down at the main table.

“Do you want me to take you back to rest?”

Xu Shaochen looked at Du Ruyan, who was sitting beside him, and asked in a low voice. Du Ruyan looked exhausted today, her face pale, almost as if she were ill.

Du Ruyan shook her head without speaking, but under the table, her hand tightly clasped Xu Shaochen’s.

The sudden upheaval in her family… If it weren’t for Xu Shaochen, she really wouldn’t know what to do. Right now, Xu Shaochen was her only pillar of support.

Feeling the warmth and softness of Du Ruyan’s hand, Xu Shaochen couldn’t help but feel his heart flutter as he looked at the beauty beside him.

Today, from her hair clip to her dress, stockings, and high heels, Du Ruyan was dressed entirely in black, which inexplicably stirred something within him.

“Mr. Xu, these gentlemen have come all the way from Songshan and would like to offer you a toast.”

At this moment, Han Tianxiong brought a few middle-aged men over, interrupting Xu Shaochen’s inappropriate thoughts.

“Songshan?”

Xu Shaochen raised an eyebrow and looked at the three men in front of him. He was particularly sensitive to those words now.

“Yes, Songshan. Ah Feng was our friend, and none of us expected such an accident to happen. We really appreciate all your efforts in handling his affairs. Let’s raise a glass to you.”

“I also toast to you, Mr. Xu.”

“Please, Mr. Xu…”

All three of them extended their wine glasses forward, then drank in one gulp.

“Since you all have already drunk, wouldn’t it be disrespectful if I didn’t?” Xu Shaochen smiled, raised his glass, motioned to the three, and then drank it all.

“Well done, Mr. Xu!”

The three men all praised him cheerfully.

“Mr. Xu, here is my business card. If you ever come to Songshan, please do give me a call. I’d love to be your host.”

One of the men handed Xu Shaochen a business card, and the other two quickly followed suit, not wanting to be left behind and presented their own cards as well.

The three men were named Li Wenhao, Ji Changming, and Zheng Mingwu, each with their own very well-known companies, at least ones that Xu Shaochen had heard of.

“Gentlemen, since you insist, I really do have plans to visit Songshan in a few days. Don’t leave me hanging when I call.”

Xu Shaochen half-jokingly said this as he collected their business cards and handed them his own.

“Is that so? Rest assured, Mr. Xu, when you come to Songshan, we’ll personally pick you up at the airport.”

The three exchanged glances, seeing this as a great opportunity.

They had just been chatting with some locals from Jiangzhou and had fully understood Xu Shaochen’s standing there. They also had a vague sense that his influence might not be limited to Jiangzhou.

This realization motivated them further to make a good impression. Just being handed Xu Shaochen’s business card made attending the memorial service worth every bit.

“No need to pick me up; I might need a little favor from you when I get there.” Xu Shaochen shook his head slightly as he spoke.

“Of course, Mr. Xu. If you ask for anything, we’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Xu Shaochen, the three gentlemen tactfully took their leave.

After all, many others were still waiting to offer a toast to Xu Shaochen. If the three of them continued to hog the spotlight, it would likely annoy others.

Given that anyone qualified to toast Xu Shaochen would hold quite a significant status, upsetting such people certainly wouldn’t be wise.

Once the three left, the stream of people coming to toast Xu Shaochen seemed endless.

But there were simply too many of them, so Xu Shaochen made it clear he would just take a symbolic sip.

No one objected to this. All they wanted was to use the toast as an opportunity to appear in front of Xu Shaochen and make an impression.

“I’m going to the restroom.”

Du Ruyan stood up and softly informed Xu Shaochen.

“Long San.”

Xu Shaochen gave a glance to Long Er, signaling him to follow Du Ruyan.

After all, Du Ruyan wasn’t in good spirits today, her emotions were unstable, and she seemed a bit dazed. Xu Shaochen feared something might happen.

Long San nodded and respectfully said to Du Ruyan, “Miss Ruyan, this way, please.”

It’s undeniable that Du Ruyan was very beautiful. At eighteen, just like a blossoming flower, her delicate figure in that black dress triggered a protective and possessive desire in others.

However, no one in the hall dared to do more than glance at her. She was, after all, Xu Shaochen’s woman.

Bringing trouble upon oneself just for an extra look at Du Ruyan would definitely not be worth it.

Many people envied Xu Shaochen. Now that Du Feng and Du Jun had passed away, all of the Du family’s assets belonged to Du Ruyan. Wouldn’t they, in the end, belong to Xu Shaochen as well? What these people didn’t realize, of course, was who Xu Shaochen really was.

People like Sun Hai knew Xu Shaochen was the heir to the Xu Corporation, so the Du family’s wealth was nothing more than a drop in the ocean to him.

A few minutes later, Long San escorted Du Ruyan back.

But even from a distance, Xu Shaochen noticed something was wrong with Du Ruyan. Her eyes were brimming with tears, as if they could fall at any moment.

Before he could ask, Long San leaned in and quietly reported to Xu Shaochen, “Mr. Xu, just now someone tried to harass Miss Ruyan, but I stopped him. However, his mouth was filthy, and he said some nasty things, which made Miss Ruyan very angry.”

“A guest?” Xu Shaochen asked.

Long San nodded. “Yes, it should be a guest.”

Xu Shaochen’s expression darkened. He had clearly instructed that no guests should be allowed at Chen Yu Grand Hotel today. Did they just ignore his orders?

“Handle it. Keep it quiet, don’t disturb the guests downstairs.” Xu Shaochen said coldly.

“Yes, Boss.”

Long San nodded, catching Long Si’s eye, and the two of them left without making a sound.

After Long San and Long Si left, Xu Shaochen put on a smile again and continued with the toasting.

“Are you okay?”

After getting rid of the last person who had come to toast, Xu Shaochen finally sat down and asked Du Ruyan.

Du Ruyan shook her head and forced a smile. “I’m fine, just thinking about my father and brother makes me sad.”

Xu Shaochen sighed slightly. Based on what Long San told him, she wasn’t saddened by thoughts of her father and brother but rather by the humiliation she had just endured.

She was just afraid he’d worry, so she kept it to herself.

Growing up overnight, she understood things so well it broke his heart.