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For a brief moment, Wang Xiao\'s expression darkened, his thoughts drifting to a distant memory. In her words, he saw a shadow of someone else—Xinyue Zhilan—before he shook his head, freeing himself from her grasp. "It\'s fine," he said, his voice more subdued. "You won\'t be single for long."

"Huh?" Jiarong\'s eyes twitched in confusion. How does he even know that I\'m single? She sighed inwardly, feeling both amused and frustrated by her brother\'s overprotectiveness.

She couldn\'t let this behavior grow unchecked. Brothers often became skeptical of any man who showed interest in their sisters, and while it was endearing to some extent, it could quickly turn problematic. Sisters, though, often understood this instinct far sooner than they showed, taking steps to defuse it before it spiraled out of control.

Men think they\'re the protectors, Jiarong thought, a small smile playing on her lips, but women are rarely as clueless as they\'re given credit for.

However, she wasn\'t sure if Wang Xiao understood any of what she was trying to convey. He still seemed so much like a child in her eyes, even with all his newfound confidence and arrogance. She had grown up, and it was really time for her to settle down and get married.

But Wang Xiao? He still saw the world as his playground. Could he even grasp that she had her own path to walk? One that didn\'t revolve around him?

Wang Jiarong caught Wang Xiao\'s lingering gaze and found it amusing, almost charming. It was clear he didn\'t like the topic of her marriage at all, and his subtle irritation made her smile.

For once, it was a break from the indifferent mask he always wore around others.

"Let\'s drop it for now," she said lightly, brushing off the tension. "I need a favor from you. Can you go in my place today to visit your cousin Rui? It\'s the aniversary party for Madam Li and Master Murong, and I can\'t make it."

"Huh?" Wang Xiao blinked, his mind momentarily blank. He had almost forgotten about Qian Ruixin.

Ruixin... The memory of his cousin brought a flicker of nostalgia, along with something more. She had been his little crush once upon a time, a beautiful reminder of a simpler past.

He had ensured, through some questionable means, that she would remain "clean" for him—at least—after seeing her back in Icevale.

But since then, he had been swept away by far more important matters, and she had faded into the background of his life.

"Okay," he agreed without much thought, deciding that a visit to her might be interesting.

To be honest, he should have been visiting Yue instead.

One of his current responsibilities, but he wasn\'t in the mood for any of that today.

Yue could wait.

_____

8:00 pm — Evening!

In the heart of Imperial Capital, nestled within the elite district of Chaoyang, the Murong family villa stood proudly, reflecting their position among the city\'s top bureaucrats.

The sprawling property, surrounded by meticulously landscaped gardens and towering ancient trees, seemed almost hidden from the bustling metropolis outside.

The villa itself was an architectural masterpiece, blending traditional Chinese elements with modern luxury.

Red lanterns adorned the entrance, casting a warm, golden glow over the courtyard. Inside, the vast halls were lined with jade statues and exquisite Ming Dynasty vases, each piece a testament to the family\'s wealth and influence.

Guests, dressed in their finest, filled the lavish ballroom where the celebration was in full swing.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, casting shimmering light across the marbled floors.

The air was rich with the scent of lotus blossoms and expensive perfumes, while the gentle sound of traditional string instruments played softly in the background, setting an atmosphere of refinement and elegance.

The Murongs knew how to host an event, and tonight\'s celebration of their marriage anniversary was no exception.

Every detail, from the gourmet food to the luxurious decor, was designed to impress, ensuring that their position among capital\'s elite was clear.

Murong Tianze, the powerful Chairman of the National People\'s Congress, was the host of the night, along with his wife, Li Xiaoqing—Madam Li. Celebrating their 50th anniversary, the event had attracted nearly all the bigshots in the political and business world.

Wang Xiao, dressed in a sleek black Tang suit embroidered with a golden dragon on his left chest, blended into the crowd, holding a modest gift. The elegance of the event and the prominence of the guests made it clear why his sister, Wang Jiarong, had chosen to skip it.

Walking among these influential figures would have been overwhelming for anyone, especially someone who wasn\'t eager to deal with the web of power games and subtle threats at each step.

Murong Shan, the Murong family\'s sole son and the current Minister of Health and Public Security for the Qing Dynasty, accepted Wang Xiao\'s gift with a nonchalant attitude. His father, Murong Tianze, however, greeted him with more enthusiasm, though the atmosphere still held an air of formality.

Madam Li, standing beside them, remained mostly silent, her posture rigid, her face betraying only a hint of arrogance as she observed the room.

"You can meet Ruixin upstairs. She\'s getting ready," Murong Tianze said, offering a brief nod before turning back to entertain his other guests.

Wang Xiao\'s attention, however, wasn\'t on the formalities. As he stood between the crowd, scanning the room, he felt two pairs of eyes watching him with noticeable tension.

One gaze belonged to Xin Meifang, the mother of his cousin Qian Ruixin. Dressed in a striking black cheongsam that hugged her figure perfectly, her dark lipstick gave her an almost predatory allure. She was the center of attention, her beauty captivating many, but right now, her eyes were fixated on Wang Xiao with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.

The other pair of eyes, far more anxious, belonged to Liu Yanmei, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs. Her face paled the moment she realized Wang Xiao was here, and she quickly hid herself among the crowd, doing everything she could to avoid him.

Wang Xiao was well aware of both women\'s reactions but remained unfazed. His gaze was locked elsewhere—on the tall, blonde-haired foreign woman engaged in conversation with Murong Shan.

She exuded a cold confidence, her presence commanding the room in a way few others could.

\'That\'s her,\' Wang Xiao thought. \'The CEO of Evangeline Technologies.\'

She was the head of the very company embroiled in a legal battle with his mother, Xinyue Zhilan. A company known for its unethical encroachments, land violations, and more recently, their dark involvement in the production of Genesis Serum—a serum that turned ordinary humans into superhumans, supplied to the army without much transparency.

Through his own investigations, Wang Xiao had uncovered troubling connections between Evangeline Technologies and something far more sinister. Two major cases had been thrown at his mother, designed to bog her down. One involved the mysterious disappearance of girls born on the same date across the country, a case that was nearly impossible to crack due to the powerful officials behind it.

Officials who, as Wang Xiao had found, were tied to Murong Shan himself.

The second case was against Evangeline Technologies, accused of encroaching on land and committing human rights violations. No one yet knew if this foreign company had significant backing from within Qing Dynasty, but Wang Xiao had his suspicions. Today, the CEO\'s presence at the Murong family\'s event confirmed it. Their ties were strong, and Murong Shan was likely deeply involved.

It was becoming clear to Wang Xiao—someone was intentionally making things difficult for his mother, Xinyue Zhilan, within her law firm. The two cases were connected, and now, the root of it was right in front of him.

As for the team that had sent the demolition squad to their home? That had come from Evangeline Technologies\' executives.

The poisoning of his sister, Wang Mei, however, was still unclear.

Wang Xiao\'s eyes narrowed as he watched the blonde CEO.

She might know more than anyone else about this whole situation.

His plan formed quickly, a smirk playing on his lips. \'Kidnapping her should get the answers I need.\' He thought coolly.

His evening\'s target had been decided.