Outsources? That's unexpected.
An Hun was an organization in the underworld renowned for their strong forces. Yet, they wanted to hire some people outside of their organization. Now, if that isn't strange, she didn't know what is.
"What do you think they are planning to do?" she asked. An Hun wouldn't do something that isn't beneficial for them. There must be something that is hidden from everyone else that they didn't want anyone to know.
Carsilion shrugged. "It's just a rumor. A lot of rumors are going around the Underworld and 70 percent of it are all just false alarms."
"You know that's not what I'm asking," Ran Xueyi retorted.
Carsilion made a turn and parked the car in the parking lot for the guests. He turned around and looked at her while a smile was on his lips.
"You know what I'm thinking?" He shot her a menacing grin. "I'm thinking of war."
…
"Welcome, everyone. Please come in and make yourself at home," Cao Hua Rong greeted the incoming guests with an amiable smile.
"Uncle, how long are we gonna stand here and smile at these people? My feet are already numb from standing for too long," Song Yongrui, his nephew, complained.
It had been an hour since they stood in front of the door, greeting and welcoming the incoming guests. And from the looks of it, this task has no end unless they completely shut their doors.
Song Yongrui has never done a tiring task such as this one. He felt like his arms and lips would become more sore as the night grew longer.
Cao Hua Rong sighed in his heart. His nephew wasn't the only one who's tired. He also wanted to go inside the banquet hall.
However…
"Just wait a bit longer. Your mother ordered you to stand here because she wants you to get to know these people. In the future, they will become someone who will support you," Cao Hua Rong said.
"I don't need their support. Besides, they're the ones who will come begging for my help!" Song Yongrui grumbled. "I am the heir of the Song family and my grandfather is the patriarch of the Cao family. I don't need them!"
Cao Hua Rong glanced away from his nephew and faintly replied, "You're right."
"However, you also know that my sister's orders are absolute," Cao Hua Rong added to remind him again. "Plus, father will be disappointed if you go back inside before the party starts."
At this, Song Yongrui was annoyed. But he couldn't say anything against it. After all, Old Patriarch Cao was a scary man.
Although standing in front of the door, greeting the incoming guests was tiring, Song Yongrui soon found a new way to entertain himself.
As soon as any young misses from another wealthy family stepped in front of him, he would flirt with them.
But no one prepared him when his eyes suddenly landed on the beautiful lady walking towards him.
"Uncle… who is she?" whispered Song Yongrui.
Cao Hua Rong looked ahead as well. He shook his head and answered, "I don't know but we'll know soon enough."
After a few seconds, the beautiful lady in a lace black gown stood before them with a smile.
It was Ran Xueyi.
"Welcome, miss. You look wonderful," Cao Hua Rong stepped forward and greeted her first.
Ran Xueyi smiled back. "Thank you. You look dashing, too."
It was at this moment that Song Yongrui stepped in between his uncle and Ran Xueyi. He flexed his expensive watch and said, "What is a charming lady like you doing here alone? Are you not with a partner?"
Cao Hua Rong shot his nephew a look. 'What are you doing?'
But Song Yongrui completely ignored him.
Ran Xueyi pretended to blush and replied, "Sadly, no. No one seems to want to be my partner tonight."
'Sorry, hubby.' Ran Xueyi guiltily cringed.
In an instant, Song Yongrui's eyes gleamed brightly. Then, he said, "That's unfortunate. No, I should say you're fortunate. I also don't have a partner."
"I haven't introduced myself. I am Song Yongrui, the old Patriarch Cao's grandson and also the heir of the Song family," Song Yongrui quickly added.
Ran Xueyi gasped and looked at him in amazement. "Oh my God. It's an honor to meet you, Young Master Song."
Her reaction was within Song Yongrui's expectation. No woman could ignore him when he told them that he came from the two biggest and most powerful families in the country.
"You're being too formal with me. You should call me Brother Rui." Song Yongrui turned to his uncle and said, "Uncle, I think it would be too awkward for her to walk around without a partner. Why don't I accompany her inside?"
'You just want to escape from your duties and latch on this woman, you dumb fool.' Cao Hua Rong's eyes flashed with anger.
But Cao Hua Rong couldn't show his anger on his face and forced a smile on his lips. "Is that so, nephew? But what about your task of entertaining the guests? Besides, have you even asked the lady if she wanted you to accompany her?"
Unexpectedly, Ran Xueyi answered, "I don't mind. Having young master Song as my partner tonight will be a dream come true."
"See, uncle?" Song Yongrui said. "And don't worry, I'll keep her entertained."
"Shall we go?" Song Yongrui turned his head to Ran Xueyi and offered his arm.
Ran Xueyi's lips twitched in disgust. She reluctantly took his arm and they made their way inside the party.
While they were walking, several people noticed their presence. Most of them were awestruck by Ran Xueyi's godly face and her head-turning dress.
Song Yongrui was in glee. He couldn't wait to flaunt this beautiful lady in his arms to his friends and see their faces filled with envy.
He suddenly reminded something and said, "Right, you haven't told me who you are, miss."
Ran Xueyi turned to look at him in doubt. 'He didn't remember me?'
Three years ago, she met him at the Old Patriarch Song Yichen's birthday party. At that time, he was probably more absorbed in his hatred towards Song Yu Han and didn't see her.
If that was the case, things would be much easier for Ran Xueyi.
"I am Ran Xueyi," she answered.
Song Yongrui frowned. "Ran Xueyi? Ran family… That's strange, I don't remember ever hearing that family name before."
'That's probably because you're too busy chasing after ladies' skirts and getting wasted every night.' She silently thought.
But thinking about it, the Ran family has declined recently. And it was all because of her father's mishandling of the family's company and sullying their reputation with his scandals and foolish decisions to make changes in order to purge out her grandfather's influence.
"That's probably because I'm an actress. I didn't come from any well-known family," Ran Xueyi said. It was better to not associate herself to the Ran family for now and confuse him.
Song Yongrui's eyes lit up. He quickly stopped walking and said, "No wonder you're so pretty!"
Blushing, Ran Xueyi lowered her head to hide her eyes while faintly saying, "Please stop. You're going to make me feel embarrassed."
'To be honest, I want to puke.' Ran Xueyi thought in her head.
Song Yongrui smirked. "But it's the truth. You look so beautiful, I just want to hide you inside my pocket."
Ran Xueyi wished she could roll her eyes at him. But she couldn't ruin her plans just because this spoiled manchild endlessly disgusted her.
Looking around the hall, Ran Xueyi changed the topic and asked, "A lot of amazing people came tonight."
From what she heard, tonight's party should be a gathering of upper-class families. However, isn't this a bit too much? Even families from other countries arrived.
"Well, that is expected," Song Yongrui answered. "Most of them came here for another reason."
Ran Xueiy raised her eyebrows and wondered, "What do you mean?"
Immediately, Song Yongrui leaned his lips closer to her ear, whispering, "Tonight, there will be a groom selection for my cousin, Cao Yujin."
This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦