Chapter 57: All the Beauties Gathered! The Dragon King's Humiliation!
[Location: Riverside Luxury Mansion, Modu]
In the heart of Modu City, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, a luxurious mansion spanning over eight thousand square meters stood proudly. It was ancient and elegant, resembling a royal palace garden from a bygone era, yet seamlessly integrated with modern amenities. Its value was conservatively estimated at no less than two billion yuan.
Among Modu's high society, it was widely known that this Riverside Luxury Mansion, hailed as Modu's premier residence, belonged to the Yanxia Shen Family. Later, it was transferred to Shen Anyu's name as a mere coming-of-age gift.
Tonight, it was the venue for a banquet that would shake the foundations of the city.
The garden alone exceeded five thousand square meters, large enough to host a concert. Lanterns hung from the ancient willow trees, casting a soft, golden glow over the pristine lawns and koi ponds.
The private parking lot in front of the gate was completely filled with an ocean of luxury. Ordinary Mercedes-Benz and BMWs had no right to park here; they were relegated to the streets outside. The least expensive cars in the lot were several-million-yuan Maybachs and Ferraris. Limited-edition hypercars worth tens of millions were as common as taxis, and those exceeding a hundred million were not uncommon.
One had to admit the immense influence of the Yanxia Shen Family. Shen Anyu had only given instructions at noon, yet by evening, nearly all families above second-tier status in Modu, billionaires with assets exceeding ten billion, and prominent figures from all walks of life had rushed over. Some Family Heads even canceled important international meetings to appear in person.
Yanxia, as a top world power, was teeming with the wealthy.
With assets of ten billion, one could barely be considered a second-tier Family; only with assets of a hundred billion could one barely be called a first-tier Family.
Only those with wealth accumulated over a hundred years, assets exceeding a hundred billion, and profound foundations could be called Aristocratic Families!
Yanxia's richest man, with a net worth of over four hundred billion, still couldn't be considered an Aristocratic Family unless his wealth spanned three generations. This was the difference between "New Money" and "Old Money."
As for the Top Aristocratic Families, each remained low-key, yet the wealth they controlled started in the trillions. They were intricately intertwined like towering trees with roots spread throughout the government, business, and cultural sectors, enduring for hundreds or even thousands of years without falling.
Even ancient imperial emperors found it difficult to contend with them!
Why? Because Top Aristocratic Families often controlled private military forces and kept Martial Arts Grandmasters as guest experts! For example, Shen Anyu's head bodyguard, Martial Arts Grandmaster Aunt Xiao.
Such prominent and deeply rooted Top Aristocratic Families in the vast Yanxia could be counted on two hands. And behind Shen Anyu stood not one, but two: the Yanxia Shen Family and the Yanxia An Family!
With such a background, even Han Xiu, the future successor of the Emperor Capital Han Family, would grovel. Let alone these celebrities, tycoons, and prominent figures in Modu, who could only curry favor like dogs wagging their tails.
"Pear blossom courtyard, melting moon; willow catkin pond, gentle breeze. Truly worthy of a thousand-year-old Aristocratic Family!"
Liu Shiming, the director of Shanghai First People's Hospital, prided himself on having seen the world. But as he gazed at this eight-thousand-square-meter palace, he couldn't stop praising it, filled with awe and greed.
"This is merely the Yanxia Shen Family's mansion in Modu; if it were their old residence in the Emperor Capital, it's unimaginable how truly wealthy it would be!"
He turned to his daughter, his eyes gleaming with ambition.
"Daughter, listen to me. As long as you can win over Young Master Shen, you will be the mistress of this Riverside Luxury Mansion. You will soar to the clouds and transform into a Phoenix!"
"Look around. So many prominent families and important figures in Modu are giving Young Master Shen Face now. They offer grand gifts and go to great lengths to flatter him."
"Even the biggest figure in Modu has arrived! He usually never smiles, yet look at him now, smiling amiably like a grandfather. And Young Master Shen hasn't even made an appearance yet!"
After his exclamations, Liu Shiming quietly instructed his daughter beside him.
His daughter, Liu Mi, one of Modu University's three campus beauties, the "Little Enchantress," was dressed to kill. She wore a white evening gown that hugged her curves perfectly, subtly revealing her shoulders and a hint of cleavage. It exuded a seductive yet pure charm, making her the center of attention.
Liu Mi was also stunned by the scene before her eyes.
In the heart of Modu City, where every inch of land was precious, this lavish mansion existed like a dream. Those previously unapproachable prominent figures were now gathered in groups, chatting and laughing, devoid of their usual arrogance, all waiting for one man.
"Could it be... could that Young Master Shen be some kind of prince?" Liu Mi murmured involuntarily, her heart racing.
Liu Shiming scoffed. "What prince could compare to Young Master Shen's status? Even the royalty of the Sun Never Sets Kingdom has long declined, becoming mere mascots. How could they compare?"
"Behind Young Master Shen are the Yanxia Shen Family and the Yanxia An Family! Two top Aristocratic Families!"
"Young Master Shen's grandfather, grandmother, maternal grandfather, father, mother, uncle… all are prominent figures who frequently appear on national television!"
"Daughter, if you can seize this ultimate golden bachelor, you will become the most noble woman in the world. Like an empress ruling over all!"
Empress ruling over all?
These four words struck Liu Mi like a lightning bolt. For a woman as arrogant and ambitious as her, this was the ultimate temptation.
Though she had been somewhat unwilling before, thinking Shen Anyu might be a playboy, at this moment, ambition flickered in Liu Mi's seductive fox-like eyes.
"Dad, I understand. Isn't he just a playboy?"
"Hmph! I, Liu Mi, will definitely make him submit to my skirt!"
As the first female lead in the God-tier novel "The Simp's Counterattack to Godhood, Goddess Campus Belle Falls," Liu Mi was naturally proud. She looked down on ordinary suitors, treating them like flies. The man she longed for had to be a Dragon Among Men, a powerful figure who dominated the world!
At this moment, facing such immense wealth, power, and influence, seeing the prominent figures bowing their heads, Liu Mi was moved.
If she were the woman by Young Master Shen's side, wouldn't she also enjoy this endless glory?
Liu Mi was extremely confident in herself. Whether it was her face or her figure, she outshone everyone present. And she was still a pure maiden. She was skilled in singing and dancing, multi-talented; she could open her red lips to sing, and her graceful dance could display her lithe and soft figure, surely able to conquer any man.
Ambition burned in her eyes. She believed herself to be the hunter.
However, she didn't know... who was the prey and who was the hunter might not be as she imagined.
Following behind Liu Shiming and Liu Mi, a middle-aged couple, Liu Xingsheng and He Xuemei, looked around with wide eyes, gaping like country bumpkins entering the Grand View Garden.
Listening to Liu Shiming's instructions to Liu Mi, the middle-aged man Liu Xingsheng whispered to a beautiful young woman beside him, his voice full of regret.
"Sigh, daughter... Dad regrets it. If I had known this, I shouldn't have agreed to let that good-for-nothing Han Qi become a live-in son-in-law."
"Your beauty is no less than your distant cousin Liu Mi's! If you could hook up with that Young Master Shen, our Family would be rich! We wouldn't have to worry about the lighting factory anymore!"
The middle-aged woman, He Xuemei, also chimed in with annoyance, her face twisted in disdain.
"Speaking of that useless live-in son-in-law Han Qi, I get annoyed just thinking about him! Besides pouring foot-washing water, buying groceries, cooking, sweeping, and cleaning toilets, he doesn't do anything proper! He doesn't even have a job!"
"He's simply a good-for-nothing!"
"Now, I told him to park the car, and I don't even know where he parked it! It's been twenty minutes!"
Liu Xingsheng and Liu Shiming were distant relatives, outside the fifth degree of kinship. However, they usually flattered each other to maintain connections. This time, Liu Xingsheng seized the opportunity to climb the social ladder and get into the banquet using Liu Shiming's invitation.
Of course, this was also due to Shen Anyu's secret instructions; otherwise, how could a small lighting factory owner get into such a high-end event?
Earlier, in the parking lot outside, the BMW 3 Series that Liu Xingsheng drove had no right to park in the VIP lot. They were turned away by the guards. So, they made their live-in son-in-law, Han Qi, find a place to park outside while they walked in. Finding a parking spot in the heart of Modu City was a nightmare.
But Liu Xingsheng and He Xuemei were extremely dissatisfied with Han Qi, so of course, they wouldn't sympathize with his difficulties. To them, he was a servant.
"Dad, Mom, please say less. Didn't you both agree to take in a live-in son-in-law back then?"
A graceful, young, and beautiful woman sighed softly, her voice gentle like a spring breeze.
This woman had excellent looks and temperament. Her dark, lustrous hair reached her waist, her demeanor was gentle and elegant. Her curves were exquisite, her figure perfectly proportioned, like slender branches bearing abundant fruit.
Her face was round and full, with soft contours—a truly "benevolent and auspicious" face, the kind that elders loved. She looked like a famous beautiful CCTV anchor, but even more stunning.
This woman was Liu Qingyue, the nominal wife of Dragon King Son-in-law Han Qi!
The main purpose of Shen Anyu holding this banquet today was for her. For Liu Qingyue, for Liu Mi... and for that outwardly meek and incompetent, but in reality, low-key, patient, and enduring Dragon King, Han Qi!