HBWMA -Chapter 154 Guests from All Directions

From noon onward, guests began arriving one after another at the Shen residence. Luxury cars that were rarely seen even in magazines or at exhibitions were now practically all gathered in the Shen family’s parking lot.

To maintain order, there were more bodyguards in black suits stationed outside Shen Manor than actual guests. Shen Zhi had also been waiting early at the gate to receive VIPs.

As Su Jingliu stepped out of the car, Shen Zhi immediately went forward with a smile.

“Elder Su.”

Su Jingliu was wearing a plaid suit today, with a blue crane-pattern silk scarf at his collar and an antique smoking pipe in his hand—he carried the air of a refined old-money aristocrat.

“Grandpa.”

Right after him, a woman and two teenagers stepped out of the car behind. The woman wore a high-end gown with a purple fur stole draped over her shoulders, her aura elegant and noble.

The girl wore a light blue dress—delicate and cute—while the boy beside her looked somewhat out of place. He was tall and overweight, his stiff suit stretched into a round shape by his build.

Outside Shen Manor, it was bustling like a busy marketplace; even the entrance alone had been expanded into three separate gates.

Su Jingliu glanced around and said, “Oh? Looks like I’m actually early? Where’s your old master?”

Shen Zhi replied, “The Old Master is at Qinyuan. He’ll be here shortly. The Shen residence has prepared guest courtyards—if Elder Su prefers not to be disturbed, you may rest there first.”

The Shen family’s invitations were issued in two types. One was name-specific, typically reserved for top-tier wealthy families within the circle—such as the Su family, the Zhou family, and others of their level.

With so many guests and mixed intentions, there were inevitably people trying to slip in to network or curry favor. To ensure privacy for the banquet, the Shen family had specially prepared several exclusive guest courtyards.

Su Jingliu considered it for a moment, then pointed toward the direction of Shen Manor. “Are A-Qian and the others back?”

Shen Zhi replied, “The young masters and ladies are all back and are entertaining guests inside. If you have the energy, Elder Su, perhaps you could go to the main hall for tea?”

Su Jingliu nodded. “Let’s go then.”

Shen Zhi quickly led the way.

Su Miao held onto Su Mother’s arm, curiously looking around the estate.

She had thought the security outside Shen Manor was already intimidating enough—she didn’t expect there to be even more guards inside.

Su Mother patted her hand. “Stay close to me tonight. Don’t speak carelessly.” Then she turned helplessly to the boy beside her. “And you—eat less. Otherwise you’ll never find a wife.”

Su Zhuo gave a muffled “mm.”

“Ah, Elder Su has arrived?”

At that moment, another steward led Zhou Guochao into the courtyard. Shen Zhi quickly went forward to greet him.

“Elder Zhou.”

Zhou Guochao wore a black long robe with cloud patterns, a gourd-shaped agate pendant hanging at his collar. He walked with vigorous, steady steps, full of energy despite his age.

Following behind him were Zhou Yanheng and Zhou Qishan, the brother and sister pair.

Zhou Yanheng wore a sharp suit, his hair slicked back. His features were handsome, sitting somewhere between a teenager and a grown man—still a bit youthful, but already carrying a distinct masculine charm. As soon as he appeared, he completely outshone Zhou Qishan beside him.

Zhou Qishan wore a simple purple dress inside and had a short bob haircut. She wasn’t used to wearing dresses, so she had deliberately added a black suit jacket over it.

The two old friends sized each other up as soon as they met.

Zhou Yanheng stepped forward with a smile. “Grandpa Su, Auntie.”

Su Jingliu smiled in response, then shot his own grandson an annoyed glance. “What? Don’t you recognize your Grandpa Zhou anymore?”

Su Zhuo stiffened all over and immediately straightened up. “Grandpa Zhou.”

Zhou Guochao chuckled. “Oh? Has A-Zhuo gotten fatter again? He looks rounder than he did last year.”

Su Miao quickly chimed in with a laugh. “Grandpa Zhou, don’t tease my brother. They say a full heart makes a full body—he’s got so much heart, he could never be as thin as Brother A-Heng.”

Zhou Yanheng raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced at Su Miao without showing any emotion.

“You child,” Su’s mother lightly patted Su Miao’s hand, smoothing things over with a smile. “Uncle Zhou, please don’t mind her. She’s just a thoughtless kid we’ve spoiled too much.” Then she looked at Zhou Yanheng with clear admiration. “A-Heng was already good-looking when he was young, and now that he’s grown up, he’s even more extraordinary. With that face of yours, I wonder how many young girls you’ll make cry in the future?”

Su Miao muttered softly, “He’s already caused plenty.”

Su’s mother kept smiling as if she hadn’t heard, and gently pinched her arm—neither light nor heavy.

Zhou Yanheng didn’t take offense at all. “Auntie is joking.”

Shen Zhi pretended not to notice the subtle tension between the two families and gave a signal to the steward in the main hall. Soon after, Shen Yuan and Shen E walked out.

“Uncle Su, Uncle Zhou, why are you still standing outside? Come in and have some tea.”

Shen E stepped forward and took Su’s mother’s arm. “Why didn’t you come in when you arrived? Standing outside is no fun. Oh! This must be Miao Miao, she’s getting more and more charming. Lanlan is here too—let her take you around later.”

In truth, Su Miao didn’t really like Xiao Lanlan. When they were children playing house, Lanlan had always been the one giving orders.

But in front of the elders, she didn’t dare to act out. She only smiled faintly and said nothing.

After a round of polite greetings, the group chatted and laughed as they headed toward the main hall.

Meanwhile, Fang Mei and Jiang Wanyi had spent a great deal of effort dressing up, even renting an expensive luxury car just to attend the banquet. But the moment they handed over their invitation, they were stunned.

The security guards, unfamiliar with them, directly led them to a side entrance.

Others might not know, but Fang Mei and Jiang Wanyi had lived in Shen Manor for three years—how could they not recognize the main entrance to the main courtyard?

Although this temporary entrance was also grand and elegant, it clearly wasn’t the main gate they were used to.

Fang Mei looked at the long queue ahead, a faint sense of unease rising in her heart. “Yiyi, are you sure this invitation was given to you by Lanxi?”

Jiang Wanyi nodded. “Mom, Brother Lanxi gave it to me personally.”

Hearing this, Fang Mei could only temporarily suppress her unease and adjust her hair with forced composure. Perhaps there were too many guests today and the Shen family simply didn’t have enough staff to arrange things properly.

After about fifteen minutes of waiting, the two finally entered the estate. Security guards routinely scanned them with a device to confirm they were safe before letting them through the first gate.

But unexpectedly, there was another layer of inspection inside.

Everyone had to have their palm prints recorded, and after identity verification, they were required to hand over their phones.

Many of the guests were visiting Shen Manor for the first time and had never experienced such grandeur. They went through the process in a daze.

After passing the second gate, they finally entered the estate proper.

The tense atmosphere from the strict checks had just begun to ease, but the moment they stepped inside Shen Manor, their anxiety was immediately replaced by awe.

The courtyard stretched as far as the eye could see. Under the winding corridors were elegant tea and seating areas, and at the center of the courtyard was a raised terrace surrounded by a jade-green waterway, shimmering with ripples and dotted with tender lotus buds.

A steward from the Shen family stepped forward to guide the guests.

“Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend today’s banquet. The old master has specially prepared tea, snacks, and drinks for everyone. Please rest for a while, and when the banquet begins, we will proceed to the main hall.”

The crowd erupted into murmurs of amazement.

“This kind of magnificent estate… and it’s not even the main courtyard?”

“You’re definitely not local to Whale Harbor. With Old Master Shen’s status, only the truly wealthy and powerful are allowed into the main courtyard. Ordinary officials and minor wealthy families aren’t even qualified. With so many people and eyes around, if someone careless offends an important guest, the Shen family can’t afford the trouble, so they naturally separate the seating. See that queue next door? That’s for reporters and media. Everything happening in Shen Manor tonight must follow the Shen family’s rules.”

“So that means the people entering the main courtyard are all extraordinary figures?”

“That’s true. But think about it—being able to set those rules and still make all those big names obey them… who do you think is really more extraordinary?”