Time passed slowly.
By the time it was six fifty.
Despite the Chen Family People's efforts to round everyone up, there were still some who weren't tempted to join the hubbub in the grand banquet hall but chose to obediently sit in their assigned seats at the smaller banquet room.
Even so, the smaller banquet room, which was initially set for over twenty tables and even squeezed in a few more out of fear that there might not be enough seating, was now only hosting four or five tables of guests.
Of course, these four or five tables of guests weren't unaware of the festivities next door; it's just that they were poor relatives of the Chen family. Even if they went over, they wouldn't be able to mingle with the important guests or gain any benefits.
Therefore, they dutifully sat on the Chen Family's banquet side, waiting to eat.
The large small banquet hall now seemed eerily empty and quiet, completely lacking the festive and joyous atmosphere of a sixtieth birthday celebration.
Now, even twenty tables seemed too many.
Grandma Chen was so angry that her face turned steel blue. She slammed her walking stick on the ground several times, saying, "They actually dare to humiliate me like this. They all came and... and..."
She meant to say even if everyone wanted to join the excitement next door, they should have at least left their Birthday Gifts—taking even the gifts with them was going too far!
But voicing this complaint might offend the crowd, potentially driving away the four or five tables of poor relatives still seated.
Then what would be the point of her birthday celebration?
However, the more Grandma Chen thought about it, the angrier she got and the harder it was to get over this hurdle.
"I've never suffered such an insult; I want to go over there and demand justice!"
As she spoke, Grandma Chen, using her walking stick, walked out of the small banquet hall and headed towards the nearby grand banquet hall.
Seeing this, Chen Jiahui and others worried she might cause a scene. After exchanging glances, they quickly followed her out.
As they approached the entrance to the grand banquet hall, they could already hear the boisterous noise from inside.
Who gave what...
Listening at the door, Grandma Chen's face darkened. She felt that some of the gifts being announced inside were meant to be Birthday Gifts for her!
The proverbial duck that was in hand had taken flight!
Thinking this, Grandma Chen pushed open the doors of the grand banquet hall and walked in!
"The president of Jiang Group, Ms. Jiang Huaimeng, has given each of the Misses Yu Linglong and Lin Qiaoxia a pair of Jade Bracelets!"
Just as they opened the door, they heard the announcer's voice and the atmosphere heated up even more.
Chen Jiahui also walked in, looking up at the stage where the emcee revealed the gift boxes containing the two transparent and lustrous, intensely green bracelets!
Her eyes widened in astonishment.
Chen Jiahui had some knowledge about jade and recognized at a glance that the pair of Jade Bracelets Jiang Huaimeng had given were of pure quality, without a hint of impurity—genuine natural Green Emperor Jadeite, where one wouldn't be able to get their hands on a single one for less than a hundred million!
And it was a pair, which likely meant an even more astronomical price!
Could Jiang Huaimeng actually be giving these to Lin Qiaoxia?!
At this thought, Chen Jiahui felt an insane jealousy coursing through her.
Meanwhile, Lin Qiaoxia, dressed in an elegant and noble gown and looking stunningly beautiful under the spotlight, covered her mouth in shock upon hearing the price mentioned by Mu Jinyu.
"This is too expensive, I can't accept it!"
With flushed cheeks, Lin Qiaoxia dared not meet the envious gazes of those around her as she whispered to Mu Jinyu.
Under the repeated exhortations of Mu Jinyu, she finally wore the evening gown Mu Jinyu gave her tonight, and took off the large black glasses she had always worn; she was like Cinderella transforming into Snow White. In such an occasion, her beauty actually surpassed that of Gu Xiyan and the other women by a considerable margin!
This made her feel especially embarrassed and awkward. If it weren't for Mu Jinyu pulling her along, she would have run away long ago.
And now, hearing Mu Jinyu say that the Green Emperor Jadeite Bracelet Jiang Huaimeng gave her was worth over a hundred million, she was even more reluctant to accept it.
Mu Jinyu took Lin Qiaoxia's hand and received the gift box respectfully presented by the waiter, directly taking out one of the jade bracelets and, under the envious gaze of the waiter, put it on Lin Qiaoxia's wrist.
Then, following the same method, she grabbed Yu Linglong's hand and put one on her as well.
Gu Xiyan and Wen Rou, along with the other women, stood by with eyes full of envy.
Gu Xiyan and the others had dressed down tonight so as not to outshine Yu Linglong and the others.
Seeing so many people there to celebrate Yu Linglong's birthday, it was natural for her to feel envious in her heart.
Thus, she was also thinking about what kind of celebration Mu Jinyu would organize for her own birthday next time.
Lin Qiaoxia's parents were seated at the main table nearby, looking at this scene with joy, yet deep in their eyes there was a thick layer of worry.
After coming here, they had also become aware that Mu Jinyu wasn't single; he already had several women.
As parents, deep down, they didn't want Lin Qiaoxia to continue associating with Mu Jinyu, in case she truly fell for him.
At the same time, they also didn't understand why Gu Xiyan and the other women were willing to be with Mu Jinyu together and why their parents didn't oppose it.
But after getting to know the backgrounds of Mei Yingxue, Gu Xiyan, Wen Rou, and others, realizing Mei Yingxue and Wen Rou had no parents or relatives, and that Gu Xiyan had long severed ties with the Gu Family, they began to understand.
Seeing that these women got along quite happily, without any noticeable jealousy or competition for favor, they were somewhat reassured.
Then they thought, a daughter couldn't be kept at home once she's grown. They couldn't really control her anymore; a child's fortune is their own, and as long as their daughter didn't regret it in the future, it was enough!
As for Yu Linglong's father, Yu Xiuwen, if it had been his former temperament, Mu Jinyu wouldn't have let him attend, but since he had sincerely changed his ways, Mu Jinyu had allowed him to come over tonight.
And he was seated with Lin Qiaoxia's parents at the main table.
He watched Yu Linglong, who had once again shone with unmatched radiance, no longer the dusty pearl of the previous days, and he regretted even more the folly that had once gripped him, dragging down his daughter.
And with his current mindset, he naturally wouldn't think, "Wow, a jade bracelet worth over a hundred million! I could sell it and gamble for a good while."
Yu Xiuwen thought that if he dared to even entertain such a thought, his legs would definitely be broken by his son-in-law Mu Jinyu. He did not doubt Mu Jinyu's resolve at all.
At this moment, the emcee on the stage continued to announce the next gift.
"Mr. Xiang Mantang presents to both Miss Yu Linglong and Miss Lin Qiaoxia villas number two and three of Seaview Garden..."
Upon hearing the emcee's words, the entire venue immediately erupted.
"Wow, villas number two and three from Seaview Garden, that's some serious cash."
"Tsk tsk, those villas in Seaview Garden, this birthday party for the two young ladies tonight feels even more impressive than someone's grand eightieth birthday celebration from a while ago!"
Villas in Seaview Garden are considered high-end residential areas in River City. The King of the Building, villa number one, is priced at over a billion. While numbers two and three are not the King of the Building, they are also valued at seven to eight hundred million!
Who knows who it is, so generous to give a gift nearing twenty billion!
And upon hearing this, Grandma Chen who had come to make accusations was suddenly short of breath, and no longer dared to be reckless.
She thought, everyone was celebrating birthdays in the same way, and she had just celebrated her sixty-sixth birthday. The best Birthday Gift she had received was a jade bracelet worth three thousand yuan from a poor relative. It was not even comparable to the mansions mentioned by Xiang Mantang, let alone the Green Emperor Jadeite previously given by Jiang Huaimeng!
Comparing oneself to others could really be maddening!