Chapter 5: He Ultimately Came After All

Her gaze was firmly fixed on the screen. Her hands moved like flowing clouds and water, skillfully opening an external network channel. Then, her fingers danced tirelessly across the keyboard, strings of code leapt up on the screen—neat and swift—only to vanish in an instant, leaving behind fleeting shadows.

This time, her target was the renowned domestic unicorn enterprise, Da Ke Group. The group’s system was famously rigorous and stable. Yet, a year ago, while using their platform, she had already noticed some issues.

Since high school, she had quietly been pondering the realm of virtual networks, though it had always been just a hobby. In university, she even participated in a top-tier industry competition and clinched the championship. Armed with that near-divine mastery, Song Xixi devoted herself day and night to research and repeated testing—until she finally uncovered several critical vulnerabilities hidden within the X Group’s system.

This was no ordinary discovery. If this deal went through, her modest savings would easily double.

“Ring ring ring—”

The sharp, urgent ringing of her phone suddenly broke the silence. Song Xixi frowned and reached for it. Glancing at the caller ID, she saw it was Ye Chunxi and casually pressed the speakerphone.

“Xixi—”

Ye Chunxi’s lively voice flooded from the phone, tinged with a bit of noisy background chatter.

“Looks like your family is throwing a grand birthday party for your sister tomorrow night. The scale—wow, just hearing about it sounds huge. Did you know?”

Song Xixi paused slightly at this, then let out a cold snort.

“I don’t know.”

Her fingers tapped absentmindedly on the table, producing a soft “tap tap” sound.

There was a brief pause on the other end. Then Ye Chunxi’s voice rose a few tones. “Hey—Xixi, aren’t you going to attend?”

Song Xixi curled her lips with a mix of disdain and stubbornness. “Tch—no interest.”

Right now, all she wanted was to make money fast, defeat the Song family, and reclaim everything that belonged to her.

“But I think you might as well show up at the party and make a bold appearance.”

Song Xixi’s hand froze for a moment.

She almost forgot: this banquet was the first meeting of the male and female leads.

Song Yanyan would fall in love at first sight with Qin Ze at this banquet.

And she herself was foolishly attending the party, completely unaware of this.

But why would Qin Ze come to this banquet?

The Song family, at best, was middle to lower tier in Haicheng, incomparable to a top-tier tycoon like him.

“Xixi… Xixi?”

Song Xixi gathered herself and made a decision.

“Fine, I’ll go.”

——

Da Wei Technology.

A secretary hurried over to Qian Duo, holding an invitation, and bowed slightly as she handed it over.

“Assistant Qian, this is an invitation from the Song family, inviting President Qin to their daughter’s birthday party.”

Qian Duo frowned. He thought the Song family hardly deserved to invite President Qin and instinctively wanted to toss the invitation aside. But he suddenly recalled President Qin’s unusual attitude toward the Song family’s fourth daughter.

So, he took the invitation.

“Okay, I’ll show it to President Qin.”

At the door, Qian Duo knocked and entered.

“President Qin, this is an invitation from the Song family’s birthday party, inviting you to their daughter’s celebration,” he said, handing over the invitation with a probing look.

Qin Ze was reviewing documents, but hearing ‘Song family,’ he lifted his eyelids slightly.

His gaze fell on the invitation, and a cold, mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips, laced with ambiguous meaning.

He reached out, pinched a corner of the invitation, flipped through it casually, and said, “Song family?”

Playing with the invitation for a moment, he remained silent before saying, “Put it aside for now. I’ll think about it.”

......

After carefully preparing herself, Song Xixi took a taxi to the banquet hall.

The car slowed and stopped. She stepped out with long legs, black high heels clicking against the floor.

Just as she reached the entrance, she spotted her best friend, dressed in a pale yellow gown, scanning the crowd. Ye Chunxi’s eyes froze as she caught sight of her.

This was the first time she had seen Song Xixi in a black dress.

Standing at 1.64 meters tall, wearing a black off-shoulder mermaid gown, she looked even taller.

The dress hugged her figure perfectly, revealing her elegant curves.

Her face, a blend of coldness and pure allure, was breathtaking.

The black gown accentuated her fair, flawless skin, the off-shoulder cut exposing smooth shoulders and a graceful collarbone.

Ye Chunxi snapped back to reality and quickly came forward.

Circling around her, she couldn’t stop praising, “Xixi, you look stunning today! This outfit is absolutely perfect.”

Song Xixi offered a faint smile but scanned the banquet hall with a calm gaze.

“Not bad, just picked something at random. By the way, a lot of people are here.”

Ye Chunxi linked arms with her as they walked into the hall.

Song Xixi seemed unaffected, her expression serene.

Had Qin Ze already arrived?

Tonight’s banquet was crucial for the unfolding of subsequent events.

She was curious to see how the story would follow its original course.

At that moment, a melodious tune suddenly filled the banquet hall.

Everyone’s attention was drawn to the stage at the center.

Song Yanyan, arm in arm with her parents, appeared like a star surrounded by admirers.

She wore a custom purple gown, her face glowing with a happy yet shy smile.

Her appearance was undeniably sweet and charming, evoking sympathy.

But alas—

The dress was out of season!

The sweetness was merely a facade!

Watching this, Song Xixi’s lips curved into a mocking smirk.

Ye Chunxi whispered in her ear, “Look at her smug expression. At an occasion like this, she’s probably going to use every trick to attract those so-called rich playboys.”

Song Yanyan’s saintly Marilyn Monroe act was utterly despised by her!

She was a classic green tea bitch—so green she was almost blackened!

If only the word “hypocrite” were tattooed on her face.

Back at school, she always pretended to “care” about Xixi.

But no one was a fool; everyone saw through her petty schemes.

She only waited for chances to strike and show off.

Song Xixi tugged at Ye Chunxi’s sleeve, signaling her to lower her voice.

“Forget her. Let’s get some food. I’m starving.”

She was just here to watch the show, to remain an outsider.

Song Xixi nodded and was about to head toward the catering area with Ye Chunxi when a slight commotion arose behind them.

Reflexively turning around, she saw Qin Ze walking in with steady, measured steps.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, he exuded innate nobility and detachment.

His thin lips pressed lightly together, radiating an aura that warned others to keep their distance.

A strange tightness gripped her heart, but her face remained cool and composed.

He had come after all.

This banquet was becoming more and more interesting.