Whenever someone suddenly mentioned the illustrious Ji family, the first person everyone would think of was the man who had stood at the peak of power for decades - the family head who, despite his age, still carried himself with such imposing dignity, generosity, and terrifying authority that no one dared look at him for too long.

Within the underworld, there was almost no one who did not know the name Ji family.

They were like a colossal force rooted deep beneath the earth, seemingly silent on the surface, yet with a single move, they could throw countless families into turmoil overnight.

Elsewhere, they were even compared to a true financial monster. Their reputation was so overwhelming that merely mentioning them was enough to make others wary.

The first patriarch who built this empire was an even rarer legend.

People said he had risen from nothing, stepping over endless bloodshed and wars no one dared speak of again in order to establish one of the most powerful families that existed today.

Many within the circle regarded him as a senior worthy of admiration, while countless others viewed him as a nightmare they never wished to face in this lifetime.

But no matter which it was, the name Ji family had never once weakened.

Ji Lingzhe - the third-generation heir, was preparing to pass the position of family head to his eldest son, Ji Chenyu.

The eldest young master of the Ji family was famous for being calm, refined, and not promiscuous.

That fact alone was enough to make countless wealthy young ladies secretly admire him. Not to mention the man possessed a face so flawless it was almost unreal.

With beauty sculpted like a statue, it was said that when Ji Chenyu was seventeen or eighteen, he had already made countless girls at school fall hopelessly for him.

Back then, he was still in Russia. His brownish-gold hair and deep-set eyes carrying foreign blood made him stand out to the point that no one could ignore him.

Some once said that simply having Ji Chenyu walk past a school hallway was enough to throw the entire corridor into chaos. Yet unlike his seemingly flirtatious appearance, he had never truly involved himself with anyone.

At twenty-two, he chose to join the military. After being discharged, he returned to inherit the legacy passed down by his family, and now it had already been three years since his public debut.

Three years was not long, but it was enough for others to understand just how dangerous Ji Chenyu truly was.

He had inherited Ji Lingzhe's demeanor almost perfectly. Calm, elegant, knowing when to advance and when to retreat, yet ruthless enough when necessary. Outsiders only saw him as a flawless noble gentleman.

But those who had ever opposed the Ji family all knew clearly that the man was absolutely not simple.

Tonight's banquet was extravagantly luxurious.

Crystal chandeliers stretched across the ceiling of the grand hall, reflecting against the polished marble floors. The soft sound of orchestral music echoed throughout the space while the scent of wine and expensive perfume blended together, creating an atmosphere both lavish and suffocating.

Every guest invited was someone influential. Either the head of a major family or a figure who held power within the shadows.

Everyone understood the true purpose of tonight's banquet. On the surface, it was a celebration, but beneath it, it was a selection.

"But didn't the family say back when they were in Russia that they had three children?"

"That's right, the media talked about it a lot."

Soft whispers spread through the crowd.

They lifted their wine glasses to conceal half their faces, yet their eyes constantly wandered across the hall as though searching for something.

The Ji family was extremely famous, but also unbelievably mysterious.

People talked about them often, yet information regarding the other two children was completely nonexistent, and impossible to uncover.

Someone had once tried investigating. The result was that the moment they barely touched the edge of the information, they vanished from the business world without a trace.

Because the more something was hidden, the more impossible it became for people to stop being curious, there had even been multiple public statements declaring that anyone daring to investigate behind their backs would be prosecuted.

The most terrifying thing was that no one knew what exactly the Ji family was hiding.

The sound of the microphone echoed throughout the hall, causing all the whispers to temporarily die down.

"This banquet is held for two reasons. First, to congratulate Mr. Ji Lingzhe, head of the Ji family, for officially having a successor."

"Second, to announce the selection of a future partner for Ji Chenyu."

The moment those words ended, the entire hall erupted into synchronized applause.

Every gaze immediately shifted toward the upper floor, where a spacious balcony bathed in dim golden light stood.

Ji Lingzhe stood at the center. His presence alone was enough to suffocate others with pressure.

Beside him stood Ji Chenyu.

The young man wore a perfectly tailored black suit. His tall figure and indifferent face made him stand out so overwhelmingly that it was impossible to look away.

His cold ash-gray eyes slowly swept across the hall below. Just a simple glance was enough to make several people unconsciously avert their eyes.

"Go."

The other man nodded and turned away. Behind the curtain, the faint silhouette of an elegant woman could be seen quietly standing behind the man's overwhelming radiance.

She wore a pearl-white dress, her black hair neatly pinned behind her head, possessing a gentle beauty so unreal it was difficult to believe.

Everyone knew Ji Lingzhe had a wife whom he treasured deeply. Yet very few had ever truly seen her appear in public.

"Yelan, if you feel tired, you can rest. I can handle everything."

"I'm not tired."

"Are you sure? Truly not tired?"

The man who had looked so stern moments ago instantly changed his expression completely after turning back inside, causing the woman in his arms to burst into laughter.

"I never see you act like this in front of others. It makes me sad."

"And whose fault is it for not wanting to show herself too much, hm? Mrs. Ji?"

Ji Lingzhe teased her while still supporting his wife gently by the waist as they disappeared behind the curtain.

Probably no one would have imagined that the most terrifying man in the underworld could look like this when beside his wife.

Right after they left, another man stepped out from deeper within that hidden area, carrying an elegant yet mysterious aura.

He wore a silver-gray suit, his pale golden hair slicked back. Half of his face was concealed by shadows, making it impossible for anyone to see him clearly. Yet the aura surrounding him was impossible to ignore.

He stood silently behind the curtain for a moment before disappearing as though he had never existed.

Ji Chenyu descended into the hall to greet the guests. It was a task assigned to him by the family head.

The moment he stepped down the staircase, he instantly became the center of attention. Numerous heated gazes turned toward him - some greedy, some probing.

"It's been a long time, Mr. Ji."

Among the crowd desperately trying to cling to a fragment of glory for their own families, a voice emerged that Ji Chenyu knew far too well.

He slowly turned his head.

A woman in a red dress stood in the center of the hall. She was the famously arrogant young lady of the Lin family. Beautiful and sharp-featured, with eyes that always carried traces of pride.

"It's been a long time, Miss Lin."

Ji Chenyu nodded gently in greeting.

The two stood facing one another beneath the dazzling lights, creating a scene resembling a luxurious painting crafted from wealth and power.

These extravagant social banquets usually lasted for a very long time, so Miss Lin chose to leave early.

Before leaving, she did not forget to arrogantly extend her hand toward Ji Chenyu. Then, before countless prying eyes, he gently lifted it and pressed a kiss against the soft back of her hand.

"I hope to see you again, Miss Lin."

"It would be wonderful if you knew where to find me."

Some conversations were always deliberately ambiguous enough to draw the entire underworld's attention, such as the fact that the eldest young master of the Ji family had solemnly kissed the hand of the Lin family's proud young lady.

"I know where Miss will be."

After speaking, Ji Chenyu smiled faintly as he watched Lin Wanwan's figure gradually disappear. A beautiful woman, even her silhouette was beautiful.

That single moment made the entire hall explode into whispers. Everyone clearly understood what the Lin family intended, and the Ji family had shown no sign of rejection. That alone was enough to make many others begin to panic.

After that brief farewell, the attention of the entire hall synchronized onto Ji Chenyu.

Some people covered their mouths while whispering quietly, some secretly did things within hidden corners, and some feared losing such a valuable target, already beginning to stage the usual schemes of beneficial matchmaking for their own gain.

With a family as powerful as that, who wouldn't want to rely on them?

The Volkov family in Russia was a financial monster. In China, the Ji family was the shadow standing behind power.

Those two names were dynasties that almost always stood at the peak of the financial elite. Ordinary people could never hope to reach them in an entire lifetime.

Everyone knew they carried multiple nationalities because anyone could clearly see that their hair color was not entirely Asian. Not to mention their physiques and faces looked as though they had been carved from Greek statues.

Rumors claimed that the Volkov bloodline carried ancient European noble blood.

Several members from other families gradually brought their daughters over in hopes of latching onto such a profitable prize. The girls were all meticulously prepared - some gentle and pure, others seductive and alluring.

Everyone tried desperately to leave an impression on Ji Chenyu. Yet from beginning to end, the man merely maintained the same faintly polite smile.

Outwardly, Ji Chenyu greeted everyone warmly, but inwardly he had long since made his own calculations, completely disregarding the daughters of every family. Even while in Russia, he had been the same. He had once directly offended numerous powers for hurting their daughters, yet because of the immense benefits and prestige the 'Volkov' name brought, the matter had always been quietly settled.

Some said Ji Chenyu was too arrogant, while others said he was too cold. Yet no one truly dared show dissatisfaction in front of him.

"The little young master we once only saw in Russian newspapers is already about to become family head."

"Young people really do grow up quickly."

"Indeed, they do, Madam."

"He's even more eloquent than my eldest son. If only my boy could be even half as capable as young master Ji."

"You flatter me too much, Madam."

Ji Chenyu smiled lightly, yet the smile never reached his eyes.

He raised his wine glass and took a sip. The lights reflected against the crystal surface, creating cold glimmers deep within his gaze.

Others might not notice. But several experienced old men within the circle suddenly felt chills run down their spines. Perhaps the young master of the Ji family was unhappy about something.

Because that expression of Ji Chenyu looked far too similar to Ji Lingzhe in the past. Gentle on the outside, yet terrifyingly ruthless within.

Not long after, his gaze landed somewhere deep within the darkness of a hidden corner, and his expression darkened.

There was someone standing there. Their face was completely concealed by shadows. Yet with only a single glance, Ji Chenyu immediately recognized who it was.

The man stood silently behind a massive pillar, as though he had never existed within this extravagant banquet.

Yet the pressure he carried caused the surrounding air to unconsciously grow several degrees colder. Ji Chenyu slowly tightened his grip on the wine glass in his hand, the smile still remaining on his lips, but his gaze had already locked deeply onto the shadowed corner.