Chapter 219: Chapter 217: The Novel World 2.0 Storyline
The banquet started promptly at 6 PM.
It was divided into three segments.
First, a wine tasting, followed by a game social, and finally, a ball to conclude the evening.
The three segments in total would likely conclude around midnight.
A procession of servants guided the guests inside in an orderly fashion.
The entire city built by the Qin Family exuded a strong theological and religious style. From the wide plazas and roads to the uniform white buildings, everything gave off a sacred feeling.
The venue for the banquet was no exception.
The floor of the venue was made of a special glass. With every step, ripples would spread across its surface, so realistic it felt like walking on water.
The entrance to the venue was propped up by several towering Roman columns. Six tall, majestic stone doors were carved with the rabbit Beast God, the symbol of the Qin Family, as well as patterns representing abundance and supreme power.
The totems of the other nations’ Royal Families were engraved at the very bottom of the doors, symbolizing that the Qin Family’s authority superseded that of all other nations and organizations.
Everyone entering could clearly see the designs on the doors, yet no one voiced any objection.
Bai Su found it rather strange.
She had never seen the Qin Family described anywhere in the novel’s plot.
As Bai Su followed Li Chenlin inside, she asked the system in her mind, ’Why isn’t the Qin Family in the novel’s plot?’
System: ’Many plotlines need to be unlocked, Host. Once you break through to Level 10, you can unlock the Version 2.0 plotline!’
Bai Su was taken aback. ’There’s a Version 2.0?’
System: ’That’s right!’
Bai Su: ’You never told me that before.’
The system explained patiently, ’The Qin Family is part of the Version 2.0 plotline. I didn’t elaborate because I wasn’t sure if you would ever be able to access it.’
Bai Su: ’So, can you tell me about them now?’
System: ’Your clearance level is insufficient. You need to wait until you reach Level 10.’
Bai Su: ’...Alright.’
System: ’Keep up the good work, Host.’
’He had originally thought that once Bai Su won over the final target, Wen Lan, her world would reach its grand finale.’
’He’d be able to retire with his mission accomplished.’
’Who would have thought that Bai Su’s energy would actually allow Lu Tingyan to break through to Level 10...’
’And the Qin Family’s plotline was unlocked along with it.’
The system couldn’t help but feel a little guilty and insecure.
’Lately, he’d practically been convinced he was about to retire. He’d just been waiting to go into hibernation and hadn’t been paying much attention to Bai Su’s progress at all.’
’He never expected to ride her coattails to success one day.’
’Now that Bai Su had unlocked the Version 2.0 plotline, he could smoothly upgrade to System Version 2.0 as well!’
The system grew secretly excited. ’He felt like someone who had shown up to casually complete a task, only to accidentally win the grand prize.’
Hearing that she had to wait until she reached Level 10, Bai Su didn’t press the issue any further.
The group entered the banquet hall.
The inside of the banquet hall was dazzling, as if three floors had been combined to create one massive space.
The high ceilings, paired with Roman columns lining the walls and stretching up through the upper levels, created a breathtaking sense of solemnity.
The hall was immense, filled with over a hundred long tables. Each table was set with an assortment of different wines and glasses.
Although the art of cooking had been lost to evolution in this world, wine and spirits had been preserved. They were simply extremely precious; even aristocratic families would only purchase a small amount from specialized wineries for the grandest of banquets.
Nobles moved among the tables, sampling the fine wines with elegance and poise.
When they occasionally paused, they could summon a nearby attendant to explain a wine’s origin and details.
Bai Su neither liked drinking nor wine tasting, so she had little interest in this part of the evening. Still, she politely thanked the server who brought her a glass.
The server paused, stunned, and gave Bai Su a strange look before respectfully withdrawing.
Wen Dabao liked it even less.
She was a child and wasn’t allowed to drink.
And aside from wine, there was nothing to eat on the tables.
If she didn’t have a mission to complete, she would have turned and bolted right then and there.
Bai Su discreetly surveyed the Qin Family’s arrangements.
’Since the Qin Family only appeared in the Version 2.0 plotline, they must have some extraordinary qualities.’
She had just tried to get some information about the Qin Family out of Li Chenlin and Rosa Meiya, but their expressions were guarded and secretive, as if the topic were taboo.
’Just as the system said,’ Bai Su guessed, ’only after I break through to Level 10 and unlock the Version 2.0 plotline will I be able to access information about the Qin Family.’
As she strolled through the venue, she kept a watchful eye on her surroundings.
By the time the wine-tasting segment was halfway over, many guests were pleasantly tipsy, and the atmosphere had grown much livelier.
Even with the scarcity of females, the males found plenty to discuss among themselves.
The powerful and influential mingled, exchanging information, and the ambient chatter gradually grew louder.
Worried Bai Su might be bored, Li Chenlin explained, "The wine tasting is just to help everyone loosen up and have a good time. The real fun comes later."
No sooner had he spoken than a hidden door in one of the walls slid open, revealing an even larger hall beyond.
The guests stared at the setup inside, amazed.
Mr. Qin watched the crowd with satisfaction, then led his wife and daughter into the second hall first.
Qin Nuo said happily, "I love playing Cheeks! My father dotes on me, so he specially found this huge Cheeks venue for the second part of the evening."
Mr. Qin rubbed her head dotingly and then addressed the crowd, "Would anyone like to play the opening round with my daughter?"
His gaze swept over the talented young men in attendance.
It was, without a doubt, a blatant offer—a chance for them to get close to Qin Nuo.
From her spot in the crowd, Bai Su looked at the so-called Cheeks tables.
’Isn’t this just billiards from my world?’
As Li Chenlin explained the rules of the game to her, she became even more certain.
The system chimed in her mind, trying to curry favor. ’Host, my store has a cheat for a crash course in billiards. Would you like to...’
’I don’t need it,’ Bai Su declined.
’In her past life, she’d often had to court investors and clients over meals and entertainment. She had played her fair share of billiards.’
’If you weren’t at least decent, how could you even get a word in with the bigwigs at the table?’
She had even gone abroad to specifically hone her skills just to win over one difficult investor.
Many in the crowd were already eager to volunteer. "I’d like to try!"
"Me too! It would be a great honor to play a game of Cheeks with Miss Qin Nuo."
"I would be honored if Miss Qin Nuo would grace me with a game."
Mr. Qin nodded with a smile, but his eyes scanned the crowd.
The olive branch he’d extended was, of course, meant to attract the most capable suitor.
Li Chenlin was too busy talking with Bai Su to pay any mind to the Qin family, who were surrounded by a throng of people at the front.
Nearby, Rosa Meiya kept cracking jokes, trying to pull Bai Su’s attention away from Li Chenlin.
Gu Yong, the president of the International Alliance, sat calmly on a sofa in the lounge area.
Nearby, his apprentice Wen Lan leaned lazily against a wall, staring blankly into the crowd. He would occasionally lean in to listen to whatever Gu Yong was saying, but his eyes would find their way back to Bai Su at least once every ten seconds.
Mr. Qin’s brow furrowed slightly. On the surface, his daughter, Qin Nuo, was the center of attention. In reality, however, the gazes of all the most influential, high-quality young males were fixed on the little rabbit in the corner.
He discreetly glanced toward the corner to his left.
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