"Yao Shuji is here."
The murmur spread quickly.
"Yao Shuji!"
The crowd stirred.
A middle-aged man with a solid build and dignified presence stepped through the entrance, a modest smile on his face as he offered polite greetings. His appearance instantly shifted the atmosphere of the banquet.
Yao Yi—once a respected military officer, now the newly appointed Party Secretary of Binhai City—had earned a reputation for being bold, no-nonsense, and deeply principled. Since his transfer to Binhai, he had quickly established authority and respect.
His most notable incident involved a group of rich second-generation youths drag-racing through downtown, leading to a tragic fatality. Yao Yi had responded decisively, ignoring pressure from high places, and pushed for the maximum legal penalty. Some were sentenced publicly, and others were quietly "educated" by internal forces. The message had been loud and clear: no one was above the law.
As a result, the usual reckless elites of Binhai either straightened up or vanished. And tonight, many of those same socialites shrank in on themselves the moment Yao Yi entered.
It wasn't fear—it was wariness. The kind you felt when the principal walked in during detention.
Yao Yi was barely in the hall when a woman in a stunning gown floated toward him, exuding confidence and practiced charm.
"Secretary Yao, what an honor to have you here tonight," said Su Guo, the glamorous host and initiator of the charity event. She was known for her skill in networking and navigating complex social waters.
"Ms. Su," Yao Yi greeted with a nod. "Glad to attend. But tonight, I'm not here as a Party Secretary. I'm off duty—just here in a private capacity to support the cause."
Su Guo laughed lightly, perfectly composed. "Then let me thank you on behalf of everyone receiving the donations tonight."
"You're the busy one here," Yao Yi said with a smile. "I'll look around a bit."
As Yao Yi made his way through the crowd, his presence caused a ripple. Businessmen, CEOs, and local elites subtly edged closer, eager to catch his eye or exchange a few words.
For them, this was more than charity—it was opportunity.
Meanwhile, those with skeletons in their closet made a point to stand farther back. Some barely breathed as he passed.
Yao Yi maintained a friendly air as he shook hands and exchanged pleasantries—but his eyes were scanning.
Then, something caught his attention.
He paused, squinting toward a quiet corner where two people were seated away from the bustle.
"Excuse me, everyone," Yao Yi said politely, clinking his glass before stepping away from the circle.
The disappointed murmurs from the surrounding group were immediate—but no one dared stop him.
"Yao Shuji is heading this way," Xiao Yu whispered, lightly nudging Chen Mo.
"Really?" Chen Mo glanced up, and sure enough, Yao Yi was approaching them directly, his expression warm.
The two stood up together.
"Good evening, Secretary Yao," Chen Mo said calmly, his voice neither humble nor arrogant.
They had only met once—briefly—when Li Chengzhi helped verify Chen Mo's identity during an earlier situation. Though they weren't close, Chen Mo respected the man's position.
Yao Yi extended his hand.
"Mr. Chen, Miss He—pleasure to see you both again," Yao Yi said with a smile. "And no need for formalities tonight. It's off-hours—just call me Uncle Yao, or Mr. Yao."
"Hello, Uncle Yao!" Xiao Yu beamed, quick to take the invitation.
"Zhao Min's assistant has really grown up," Yao Yi chuckled fondly. "I remember when you were still a bright-eyed university graduate running around with files. Now look at you. Chen Mo, you're lucky to have a girl like this."
Xiao Yu leaned closer to Chen Mo and smiled. "He's not wrong. Must've saved the world in a past life."
"Pretty sure we both did," Chen Mo added, matching her tone.
All three of them laughed.
"Zhao Min couldn't make it?" Yao Yi asked, his tone casual.
"She's in Europe negotiating a deal. We're preparing to push the Butterfly Eye into the international market, so she asked me to attend tonight," Chen Mo replied.
"Impressive," Yao Yi said. "Young, ambitious, and capable—exactly what this city needs. I believe your company might become the face of Binhai, like Huawei is to Shenzhen. I'll be proud to say I witnessed it from the beginning."
The three chatted casually, but their friendly interaction did not go unnoticed.
In fact, several sharp-eyed guests nearby had already begun speculating.
In a quieter area of the banquet, Qi Ming watched the scene unfold with growing confusion. He turned to his companion and asked, "Who is that guy talking to Secretary Yao?"
"The woman is Zhao Min's assistant—He Xiaoyu," Qi Ming replied after a pause. "The man? No idea. Might be her boyfriend."
"What's his background?" the man asked again, frowning.
Qi Ming shrugged. "Never seen him before."
But that didn't stop the gears in everyone's heads from turning.
Yao Yi, known for his stern approach and distaste for flattery, was now laughing and chatting with a man most had never seen. Who was this guy?
Back at the corner, Yao Yi suddenly recalled something.
"Ah, almost forgot! My niece is a huge fan of Shu Ying. She told me Shu would be at this event, so I promised to try and get a signed photo. Gotta earn my uncle points. I'll leave you two for now."
"Good luck with the autograph," Chen Mo said with a smile.
As Yao Yi walked off, the space around Chen Mo and Xiao Yu began to shift. More and more people were now eyeing them discreetly, whispering behind glasses of wine.
Sensing the incoming attention, Gao Wenwen, who had been nearby, quietly excused herself and disappeared into the crowd.
Chen Mo and Xiao Yu exchanged a look.
"We're attracting too much attention," Xiao Yu murmured.
"Yeah," Chen Mo sighed. "It's starting to feel like we're in a zoo enclosure."
They casually slipped away, weaving through the venue until they found another quiet corner.
Soon after, a refined voice echoed across the venue.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your support. The charity evening will begin shortly. Please make your way to the second hall."
It was Su Guo, speaking from the stage.
Chen Mo and Xiao Yu stood up, hand in hand, ready to face the next part of the evening.
Unseen by them, countless eyes were still watching.
The question hanging in the air was no longer who is He Xiaoyu?
It was:
Who exactly is Chen Mo?