Chapter 699: The Banquet

Nian Yan chatted with his parents for a while. His father and mother asked about his studies and life at school. Knowing that everything was fine, they felt reassured. His mother still needed to organize some financial matters and went downstairs to the office. In the vast, empty office, only Nian Yan and his father remained.

Nian Yan’s father looked at him hesitantly, as if wanting to say something.

Seeing his father’s expression, Nian Yan immediately guessed what his father wanted to talk about.

“The company’s performance in the second quarter increased by fifty percent, and we’ve made significant progress in business expansion. We’ve started collaborations with several well-known companies in the industry, such as Dongyan and Speed. However, I’m somewhat puzzled because given the strength and scale of those companies, they shouldn’t have taken us seriously. Yet recently, they’ve all reached out proactively, and the cooperation has progressed very smoothly,” Nian Yan’s father said, breaking the silence.

Nian Yan quickly thought of the members of the Heaven King Organization. Indeed, what Mo Yuntian said carried a lot of weight. As more and more companies became partners with Tianxia Group, it would not be as easily crushed in the face of crises as it was in his previous life. This was a promising phenomenon.

“Have the people from the Heaven King Organization contacted you recently?” Nian Yan’s father looked at him and asked. In his opinion, even being absorbed as an outer member of the Heaven King Organization was something extraordinary.

Nian Yan’s heart stirred. His father had indeed already guessed. He nodded and said, “A while ago, one of them, named Lei Su, invited me to join the Heaven King Organization…”

“Lei Su? Him!” Nian Yan’s father couldn’t help but be moved, revealing a trace of excitement. He asked, “So did you agree?”

Nian Yan nodded and said, “I’ve already joined the Heaven King Organization.”

“A core member?” Nian Yan’s father stood up abruptly, his voice trembling slightly.

Since Nian Yan could remember, his father had always been a very serious and composed person, rarely seen so flustered.

“Would you think your son can only be an outer member?” Nian Yan joked with a smile.

“You little brat, daring to speak to your father like that! You’ve kept such a big secret until now—you’ve grown up, haven’t you?” Nian Yan’s father ruffled his son’s hair, his mouth involuntarily curling into a smile. With Tianxia Group’s financial strength, it was impossible to support Nian Yan’s entry into the Heaven King Organization. Nian Yan had entered through his own abilities. Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but feel proud of his son. Being recognized by the Heaven King Organization was a tremendous honor for ordinary people.

Nian Yan chuckled. From childhood to adulthood, it was the first time he had spoken to his father in such a tone. Previously, he had always felt a deep sense of reverence for his father. However, after reincarnation, he gradually realized that although his father appeared strict and humorless on the surface, he was actually kind and approachable at heart.

Nian Yan hadn’t yet told his father that General Mo Yuntian from the Heaven King Organization had previously instructed everyone to vigorously support Tianxia Group. He didn’t want to flaunt such matters. In the future, the Heaven King Organization’s influence on Tianxia Group would gradually become apparent, and Tianxia Group would grow stronger and stronger. One day, it would surpass Cao Xu’s Century Financial Group!

“There’s a banquet tonight. Come and join me,” Nian Yan’s father said.

“What kind of banquet?”

“It’s hosted by high-ranking officials in Huanghai, inviting celebrities from both political and business circles. In the past, Tianxia Group wasn’t qualified to attend, but now they’ve started inviting us actively,” Nian Yan’s father said proudly. He could feel that Tianxia Group was gaining increasing recognition.

“I think I’ll pass,” Nian Yan said. He had no interest in such occasions.

“It’s up to you. I heard Yaoyao will be there too. It’s time for me to meet my future daughter-in-law,” Nian Yan’s father said with a smile.

Nian Yan rolled his eyes. When had his father become so cunning? Since Xie Yao would be there, he definitely had to go.

Nian Yan helped his father and mother manage the affairs of Tianxia Group, busying himself all afternoon. As evening approached, the two of them got into a car and sped toward the city center. Nian Yan’s father wore a crisp suit, looking particularly energetic, while Nian Yan was still dressed casually in sportswear. Young people could dress casually without attracting too much attention, especially since he wasn’t there for business negotiations. His attire, however, contrasted sharply with his father’s.

The car drove for about twenty minutes before stopping in front of a very luxurious hotel. The building had over a hundred floors, reaching into the sky, each floor rotating freely, brightly lit, and appearing magnificent.

It was the Luo Yue Financial Group’s Moluo River Hotel!

Nian Yan had been here once before. That time, due to Xie Yi’s appearance, there had been some unpleasantness.

Hosting such a high-level banquet in a hotel belonging to the Luo Yue Financial Group indirectly proved the immense power behind the Luo Yue Financial Group.

Nian Yan wasn’t particularly fond of this place, but since he was already here, he decided to go up. Retreating at the last minute wasn’t his style.

“Let’s go up,” Nian Yan’s father said, looking at him.

They took the elevator to the banquet hall on the top floor, the 167th floor. The building was truly magnificent. The banquet hall’s ceiling was entirely constructed of tempered glass. Above their heads were dazzling stars, giving the feeling that the sky was within reach. Looking into the distance, the lights were bright, faintly visible, quietly scattered across the vast land.

The banquet hall was brightly lit, filled with guests coming and going, very lively. Most of the people were dressed formally, mostly in evening gowns. Nian Yan’s sportswear stood out somewhat.

Nian Yan’s father saw a few acquaintances and told Nian Yan before going to discuss business matters with them.

Nian Yan, feeling bored, wandered around and sat down at a window-side seat, leisurely drinking a beverage.

Looking around, the representatives from the Luo Yue Financial Group and the Zheng Rong Financial Group had not yet appeared. Some of the key figures at this banquet had also not arrived yet.

After about ten minutes, people started entering the banquet hall’s entrance. Nian Yan saw many people standing up to greet the newcomers with respectful expressions. Although he didn’t know who those people were, he could be certain that they held high positions.

Nian Yan saw his father holding a glass, chatting with some people in suits. He guessed it was something related to business.

After a while, Nian Yan spotted Xie Yao’s figure. Xie Yao was wearing a pure white knee-length dress, gently wrapping her delicate figure like moonlight. She was adorable yet charming, captivating to look at. Compared to those older women wearing low-cut evening gowns and flaunting their sensuality, she appeared more reserved, gentle, and elegant. Without a doubt, she immediately became the center of attention upon entering. Wherever Xie Yao went, she always attracted notice.

Beside Xie Yao were several people from the Zheng Rong Financial Group, one of whom was Xie Yi, whom Nian Yan had met briefly before. The others were Xie Yao’s uncles.

Seeing Xie Yi, Nian Yan showed a trace of dislike. Thinking for a moment, he decided not to greet Xie Yao for now and would wait until she was alone.

The banquet hall gradually filled with people, including Xie Jun, the leaders of the Zheng Rong Financial Group and the Luo Yue Financial Group, as well as some high-ranking government officials.

Nian Yan looked toward where his father was and saw him chatting with several high-ranking officials from Huanghai. The officials looked indifferent, while his father appeared cautious and careful. Nian Yan had previously heard his father mention that these officials were in charge of export-related affairs, and Tianxia Group was closely related to import and export matters. In other words, these people held Tianxia Group’s lifeline. If they coughed once, Tianxia Group would catch a cold.

Nian Yan stood up and walked in that direction, pretending to stroll through the crowd. He faintly overheard the conversation between his father and those officials.

“Mr. Nie, it’s not that we don’t want to help, but your company is too small to qualify for the quota at the moment,” said one of the officials, a somewhat overweight man, in a very arrogant tone.

Nian Yan looked at the man. He was fat and flabby, shaking as he spoke, making him quite unlikable.

“Director Hong, we have prepared the relevant documents and submitted the application a month ago, but we haven’t received any response yet. Could you help me check where the problem might be?” Nian Yan’s father humbled himself, speaking politely and tactfully.

“I don’t know about that. You should ask the relevant authorities,” the fat man replied indifferently, glancing at someone beside him. “Xiao Xie, did you receive the application materials from Tianxia Group?”

“It seems we did. They should have already been submitted. Recently, there have been more than thirty applications, and according to the order of review by the superiors, your application is far behind. It will probably take at least half a year before it gets approved. Just wait patiently.”

“Mr. Nie, there’s nothing I can do about the qualification review. I’m powerless,” the fat man said.

“Thank you for your time. I’ll go check with the relevant authorities,” Nian Yan’s father felt anger rising in his heart but still suppressed it and stepped back.

Seeing his father coming over, Nian Yan approached him.

“Father, did you run into any trouble?” Nian Yan asked.

“Nothing, just a small matter,” Nian Yan’s father smiled, but his smile carried some sadness and helplessness.

Although Nian Yan didn’t know exactly what had happened, he was certain that the problem definitely came from that man surnamed Hong.

Seeing Nian Yan deep in thought, Nian Yan’s father thought for a moment. Nian Yan had already grown up; he couldn’t treat him like a child anymore. Sighing, he said, “Recently, we submitted some application materials, but that man surnamed Hong has been holding them up. It’s nothing really, just him asking for money. If we don’t give him some, he won’t do anything. If we don’t bribe him a bit, the materials probably won’t even reach the relevant authorities.”

Nian Yan understood as well. Such situations were common. Looking at those men in the distance, he felt like rushing over and punching them, but he knew that doing so would be unhelpful and only make things worse.