Chapter 375: Chapter 375

For a moment, Gu Zixuan was about to apologize, but froze.

She raised her eyes and looked for a while, unsure if she knew the woman in front of her.

The other party seemed to understand what she was surprised about.

With a low laugh, she reached out and said, "Heart Benefit Charity Foundation president, Chen Yiyue."

In an instant, Gu Zixuan understood who the other party was, because tonight’s charity gala was organized by the Heart Benefit Charity Foundation.

They walked to the side sofa in the lounge area.

Chen Yiyue took two glasses of champagne from the server, paused for a moment, then switched one glass to juice and handed it to Gu Zixuan.

She then smiled and said, "There’s still about forty minutes before the dinner starts. Inside, people are engaging in various social conversations; if you don’t want to interact, you can sit with me over here."

She was charming and attentive, with a gentle demeanor.

After surveying the scene of mingling and clinking glasses, Gu Zixuan said "thank you" and couldn’t help but scrutinize her more closely.

Chen Yiyue appeared to be in her early forties, but was extremely well-maintained, looking as if she could be believed to be thirty-seven or thirty-eight.

Her brows and lashes were somewhat understated, conveying not coldness but a serene dignity borne of the passage of years.

Like a magnolia in a glass vase, or jasmine blooming in a quiet valley.

Taking a sip of juice, Gu Zixuan didn’t stare for too long, as it would be impolite.

With a subtle smile, she asked, "May I ask, do you know my father?"

Because she came here with Feng Chengjin, typically if someone wanted to inquire, they would ask about her relationship with Feng Chengjin, not her father. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

Chen Yiyue paused, looked at the astute Gu Zixuan, smiled, and nodded, "I am quite familiar with your father."

Seeing Gu Zixuan’s sudden expression change, Chen Yiyue added, "I am forty-six this year."

Immediately, Gu Zixuan was genuinely shocked, her eyelashes trembled slightly, "You don’t look it at all..."

"Life is relatively simple, without much worry," Chen Yiyue smiled, further explaining, "I met your father over a decade ago; he s paintings every year anonymously for charity auctions, and I’ve approached him several times to review venues, so we are quite familiar. Moreover, I’ve seen you before, but at that time you were still in school, and when I spoke with your father in the study, you merely hadn’t seen me."

For a moment, Gu Zixuan blushed, "I’m sorry, I usually don’t pay much attention to matters related to my father’s work..."

"It’s normal," Chen Yiyue laughed, "In affluent families, children are often taught not to see or hear inappropriate things; this only indicates you’ve been well-raised. There’s no need to apologize."

Hearing Chen Yiyue mention upbringing seemed to invisibly bring Gu Zixuan’s warmth closer to her.

Conversation opened up, and Gu Zixuan began to smile more, engaging in deeper exchanges.

Soon, the two had discussed family, interests, charity, business, and civil matters, among others.

Glancing over at the man amidst a crowd, surrounded like stars around the moon, talking and laughing elegantly, Chen Yiyue sipped her champagne, "Are you with him now? Not just accompanying him?"

Gu Zixuan looked back, her face instantly flushed like a blood-red rose, nodded, "Yes."

But this expression fell into Chen Yiyue’s eyes, deepening subtly.

After a moment, Chen Yiyue said, "It’s not easy, right?"

Gu Zixuan paused, not understanding what Chen Yiyue meant.

Chen Yiyue laughed, "I meant, it’s not easy to marry into the Feng Family, right?"

Gu Zixuan was silent, not denying it, after a moment, she nodded.

Chen Yiyue looked at Gu Zixuan, smiled, took a sip of champagne, seemingly wanting to put down the glass to end the topic.

However, the glass ultimately didn’t get placed down, she paused for a moment, and still picked it up.

"Actually, if you were a bit smarter, you should choose to leave him."

Gu Zixuan was stunned, somewhat puzzled, looking at Chen Yiyue.

Chen Yiyue gazed, her clear eyes with a hint of crow’s feet, revealing an ease and gentle smile of the ages, "The threshold of the Feng Family is too high, it’s not the level of an ordinary affluent family."

In an instant, Gu Zixuan understood, thinking about the family’s status, she furrowed her brows, "I... I’m actually not that bad either."

Chen Yiyue laughed, shook her head, and continued, "Not on the same level. The Feng family’s prestigious status is recognized worldwide."

Gu Zixuan was stunned for a moment, saying nothing.

Chen Yiyue said, "The older generation doesn’t need mentioning. President Feng’s grandfather was a returning overseas Chinese who emigrated to the United States before the Anti-Japanese War to seek refuge. Later, he became a renowned mogul praised locally on Wall Street, and before the country’s reform and opening-up, he returned to Rong City, investing an astonishing amount of assets to fund the development. In the generation of Feng Jingguo, there were four exceptionally outstanding children: the eldest was a scholar in biological genetics; the second, a top master artist; the third, notorious for his Forbes ranking and the market valuation of his company; and the youngest sister, who accelerated her studies all the way to a postdoctoral degree in medicine, was even hard to recruit by the world-class Johns Hopkins Hospital. This... is widely known."

Facing Gu Zixuanxin’s trembling gaze.

Chen Yiyue continued, "But there are some things not known to the public. President Feng’s grandfather, Mr. Feng Shixing, apart from having the son Feng Jingguo, also had two daughters, who are President Feng’s aunts."

"Aunts?" Gu Zixuan furrowed her brows.

Chen Yiyue nodded, "One of these aunts changed her nationality and is now a cabinet senator in the Canadian Privy Council Office. The other married a local mining magnate in Minnesota, United States, and later gave birth to two sons. One followed in his father’s footsteps and, even with the current unfavorable conditions in the U.S. mining industry, achieved a staggering 11.3% annual growth rate. The other son is someone you are more familiar with."

"Who?" Gu Zixuan’s eyelashes trembled even more.

In an instant, Gu Zixuan froze. Not to mention how high of a status one of the aunts has, which she clearly understood. Bob.Simonyi, of course, she had heard of—he was among the top chief engineering designers at Microsoft, with the capability to become CEO in no time if he were to start his own venture.

Gu Zixuan was speechless.

Chen Yiyue just smiled and shook her head, saying, "So, do you understand the level of prestige that the Feng family holds? They are not just influential in China but have connections worldwide, in the strongest fields. Automobiles, technology, finance, design—they have delved into all of these areas and each member is exceptional. They are a gigantic family, and the Feng family branch in China is just one end. Their iceberg never surfaces for the world to see."

Chen Yiyue finished speaking.

Gu Zixuan fell into deep shock and contemplation.

Recalling the other members of Feng Chengjin’s family she once met, she was curious at the time. Elder Sister-in-law Li Zhi seemed like a noblewoman who rarely ventured out, but her family background was as the granddaughter of a deceased old marshal of China.

Although the Second Sister was divorced, she had heard Feng Chengjin mention in passing that her ex-husband was the owner of a large family enterprise, a French winery. The Second Sister actually gave birth to a son and a daughter, but the son remained in France while the daughter was brought back and her surname changed to follow her mother.

Even the most carefree Feng Yuxi was actually attending school at Beijing Tsinghua Engineering College while running around visiting Feng Chengjin’s company.

She was curious at the time if there was anyone in their family with a simpler background or less capacity.

Did the Feng family just enjoy finding partners who matched their status?

At this moment, after hearing Chen Yiyue’s introduction.

She finally understood why Feng Chengjin had never liked a woman before the age of twenty-six.

Perhaps it wasn’t because he was picky or just wanted someone from a good family.

Rather, growing up in such an atmosphere, some demands transcended expectations and became the most basic requirement.

He would disregard anyone who wasn’t up to standard.

Gu Zixuan picked up a glass of juice and took a sip, remaining silent.

Her chaotic mind left her lips trembling, unable to swallow even the juice down her throat.

Her knowing gaze made Chen Qi Yue look at her, smiling gently, "Now you understand why I advised you to leave sooner?"

Gu Zixuan understood her current family status, even if her father had no trouble and hadn’t been reinstated to his position, it was always...

After swallowing with difficulty, she paused, took a breath, and said, "I understand, but I think it’s not that bad, I..."

"I know it’s not that bad. Actually, Zixuan, I know your father, and I’m aware of your family situation. If it were a few years ago, your family background would have matched President Feng’s family, considered well-matched and an ideal match. But just in the past few years, your father’s career has faced frequent setbacks. Especially this May and June, he experienced the biggest turmoil ever, almost entering prison..." Chen Yiyue paused, carrying a hint of helplessness.

"Prison, Zixuan, although your father only faced disciplinary action now, the fact remains he hasn’t been reinstated, and your uncle and others who helped during this time were also implicated. In terms of family background, it might still be considered a rather decent family, but... for a hidden noble family like the Fengs, President Feng’s father would definitely never agree."

The first half of the sentence, Chen Yiyue spoke lightly; but with the last sentence, there was an innate hint of bittersweetness mixed in her orchid-like demeanor.

Gu Zixuan certainly didn’t miss it, and with her trembling heart, she asked, "How are you so certain?"

Chen Yiyue looked at Gu Zixuan, standing under the light, dressed in light blue, her elegance and grace exuded a comfortable warmth.

Yet the bitter irony at the corner of her lips tugged so lightly, as if the heart was abruptly touched, understanding all the pain.

Chen Yiyue said, "Because you today are like I was in the past. The Feng family, never as easy to approach as they appear on the surface, and the men of Feng... are not as deeply devoted as you feel."