Chapter 508: My Name is Cheng Yuan, and My Name Is the Invitation

Pei Yuanbin took out his phone and called Liu Ruyan.

The phone rang, but Liu Ruyan didn't answer. She just hung up.

This irritated Pei Yuanbin.

「At Liu Ruyan's home.」

He Zhixuan, managing to compose herself, asked gently, "Ruyan, why didn't you answer your phone? Don't let my problems get you down."

Liu Ruyan had already promised He Zhixuan she would no longer relay information to Pei Yuanbin, so naturally, she wasn't going to answer his call in front of her.

Liu Ruyan lied, "It was just a spam call. I need to use the restroom for a minute."

Liu Ruyan went into the bathroom and quietly called Pei Yuanbin. The call connected almost instantly, and Pei Yuanbin's slightly displeased voice came through. "Liu Lv, why did you hang up on me?"

"President Pei, I'm so sorry. Zhixuan is right here with me, so it wasn't a good time. What is it? Please be brief."

"I just heard that the White Palace is hosting a reception, and I'd like to invite Zhixuan to go with me. But she won't answer my calls or reply to my messages. Liu Lv, can you bring Zhixuan to the White Palace?"

Liu Ruyan didn't dare to make a firm commitment. "Zhixuan isn't in a very good mood right now," she answered cautiously. "I'll do my best to persuade her."

"I'm counting on you. You have to get Zhixuan to come. Text me when you arrive, and I'll have the gate guards let you in."

"Alright, I'll give it a try."

After hanging up, Liu Ruyan walked out of the bathroom and rejoined He Zhixuan.

"Zhixuan, I just got an invitation to a reception. Why don't you come with me and unwind a bit?"

Her uncle had just taken her clinic away from her. How could He Zhixuan possibly be in the mood to go drinking?

"Cheng Yuan's in huge trouble, and my life is a complete mess. I'm really not in the mood to go drinking."

"Zhixuan, think about it. This reception is at the White Palace. Everyone attending is one of Gui City's powerful elites. If you want to get rid of Pei Yuanbin, you need a powerful backer. Attending this party is your best chance."

He Zhixuan's attention, however, was on something else entirely.

"Ruyan, the White Palace you're talking about... is that Brother Long's place?"

"That's right!"

"Then I'll go!"

"Zhixuan, you've finally seen the light! If you can get friendly with Gui City's top elites, any single one of them could put Pei Yuanbin in his place."

He Zhixuan gently shook her head. "I don't care about befriending powerful people. I just want to go and apologize to Young Master Lin or Brother Long. I hope they'll let Cheng Yuan off the hook."

Ugh...

'It's like Zhixuan is completely under Cheng Yuan's spell!'

'What's so great about that ex-con?'

'Why is Zhixuan so devoted to him?'

'It was enough to make another woman jealous!'

He Zhixuan and Liu Ruyan carefully got dressed up, hopped into Liu Ruyan's Audi A6, and headed straight for the White Palace.

Upon arriving at the White Palace, the two women happened to run into Chang Lanxin.

Liu Ruyan felt a bit hesitant to face Chang Lanxin; after all, she had abandoned her the previous night.

He Zhixuan, not thinking about all that, rushed up excitedly and gave Chang Lanxin a hug.

"Lanxin, I'm so glad you're okay!"

Looking at the radiant and lovely He Zhixuan, Chang Lanxin's eyes flickered, and she forced a smile. "Zhixuan, you're here for the reception too?"

He Zhixuan didn't notice Chang Lanxin's strange behavior and asked with a hint of worry, "Lanxin, I heard Brother Long himself made a move last night. How did Cheng Yuan get away? You hid him, didn't you?"

For some reason, Chang Lanxin's heart suddenly began to race with panic.

It was the feeling of a thief who had just run into the person they'd robbed.

Chang Lanxin opened her mouth, but ultimately didn't tell the truth. She said vaguely, "Nothing happened last night. Don't worry, Zhixuan. The reception is about to start, let's go inside!"

With that, Chang Lanxin quickened her pace and entered the White Palace.

He Zhixuan frowned. For some reason, she felt that something was off about Chang Lanxin. It was as if a barrier had suddenly appeared between them.

Liu Ruyan, standing beside her, sighed. "Zhixuan, Lanxin is probably mad at us. I took you and ran away last night instead of staying with her to face the danger..."

A look of understanding crossed He Zhixuan's face. "No wonder Lanxin seemed so distant. But I don't blame you. We're just two helpless women, and I was dead drunk. Even if we had stayed, we couldn't have helped. We would've just been a burden to her."

"Sigh..."

The two women followed after Chang Lanxin, hoping to patch things up with her.

Chang Lanxin held the invitation she had received personally from Lin Shaofeng. The three women entered the White Palace without issue and were led by a staff member straight to the second-floor banquet hall.

====

Cheng Yuan hailed a Didi, and the driver arrived quickly.

"Hello, are you the passenger whose number ends in 5858?"

"I am."

The driver, Shao Hong, was very talkative. After Cheng Yuan got settled in the car, Shao Hong said with a grin, "Sir, I'm guessing you're a tourist visiting Gui City."

"Oh? What makes you say that?"

"Because locals don't normally go sightseeing at the White Palace. Only tourists do that. Am I right?"

Cheng Yuan said calmly, "You're half right. I am from out of town, but I'm not going to the White Palace to sightsee. I was invited to a reception."

Shao Hong rolled his eyes in annoyance. 'This kid seems modest enough, so why is he spouting such bullshit the moment he opens his mouth?'

'The White Palace?'

'That's the residence of Zhou Shilong, the Lord of the City! Anyone invited to a reception there is one of Gui City's most powerful elites, without exception!'

'Who the hell takes a Didi to a reception at the White Palace?!'

Still, Shao Hong didn't contradict Cheng Yuan. After all, being a Didi driver was part of the service industry; a good attitude was important.

Shao Hong made a point of driving right up to the main gate of the White Palace.

The guard at the gate, Chai Yan, raised a hand to stop the car, his expression stern. "This is private property. No unauthorized entry."

Shao Hong quickly slammed on the brakes, rolled down his window, and said with a broad, fawning smile, "Hey there, brother! My distinguished passenger here is an honored guest, invited to the reception! Could you do us a favor and let us through?"

Chai Yan extended his hand, his face impassive. "Invitation, please."

Shao Hong turned to Cheng Yuan, his eyes glinting as if he were settling in to watch a good show. "Sir, please present your invitation! Otherwise, I can't drive any further."

Cheng Yuan rolled down his window and said calmly, "I don't have an invitation."

Chai Yan's expression darkened. "If you don't have an invitation, then please leave! The White Palace is private property!"

Shao Hong almost burst out laughing. "Sir, are you kidding me? Didn't you say you were invited to the reception? How could you not have an invitation?"

Cheng Yuan said calmly, "I'm Cheng Yuan. My name is my invitation."

PFFT!

Shao Hong just couldn't hold it in any longer! He started lecturing, "Kid, you need to be more humble when you're out and about. You can't just run your mouth like that. What if you get yourself into trouble..."

He was cut off mid-sentence, his words catching in his throat.

Because Chai Yan, who had been so stern just a moment ago, was suddenly beaming with a fawning smile the instant he heard Cheng Yuan's name. His ramrod-straight spine instantly bent into a bow.

"So, it's Master Cheng! Please forgive my ignorance! Master Cheng, please, come right in!"