Chapter 061: Anticipation and Unease

Han was caught off guard by Sun Hao’an’s sudden move. He glanced at Wang Yungui, and after his eyes darted back and forth several times, he too stood up. Yet just as the two of them reached the door, Wang Yungui’s voice sounded from behind.

“Wait, Sun, let’s talk things over.”

Wang called them back, his resolute expression betraying that he had made up his mind about something.

“Brother Wang, that’s more like it. A man should live freely, do as he pleases—otherwise, what joy is there in life? If you’re always worrying, what’s the point of living?” Sun Hao’an turned around, seeing Wang Yungui’s change of heart, and immediately smiled as he spoke. His bulky frame quivered with each laugh, and despite the fine clothes he wore, there was nothing appealing about his appearance—if anything, it seemed grotesque.

In the estate’s surveillance room, twenty monitors of various sizes lined the walls, mostly focused on the estate’s perimeter and parking area. Four of the largest screens covered the corners of the banquet hall, providing an all-encompassing view of everything happening inside.

The door to the surveillance room opened, and Wang Yungui’s group entered.

“Leave one person who knows how to operate the monitors. The rest of you, wait outside,” one of Wang’s followers ordered the security staff inside.

Soon, only the head of security and Wang Yungui’s party remained.

All the security here had been carefully vetted and were trustworthy, and the chief of security was Wang Yungui’s most loyal confidant, entirely reliable.

“Sun, you’re still alright with what we agreed on during the drive?” Wang Yungui whispered in Sun Hao’an’s ear.

“Brother Wang, you can be sure of it. Whoever I take a fancy to, I’ll run it by you first. Besides, you’re the host—even if I’m interested, I can’t make any moves without your say-so. In the end, it’s up to you,” Sun replied, glancing at Wang Yungui with a mocking smile he kept hidden behind his words.

Truth be told, Sun looked down on this local scion. Even on his own turf, he lacked nerve—such provincial heirs were always so petty.

Wang Yungui relaxed at this. After all, many of the women at tonight’s banquet were not just actresses or celebrities, but also local socialites—the daughters of political and business elites. If something happened to one of these women, it would reflect poorly on him.

Right now, Wang Yungui was vying with his elder brother for influence within the family; if such a scandal fell into his brother’s hands, he would be at a disadvantage.

Of course, cementing a connection with Sun Hao’an tonight would also greatly enhance his standing within the family.

High risk, high reward—he had weighed the pros and cons countless times before agreeing to Sun Hao’an’s selection game.

“Brother Wang, Brother Han, are you two going to make a pick?” Sun Hao’an looked at the now-relieved Wang and the pensive Han, grinning as he asked.

“Uh, no, I’ve got plenty of other things to handle tonight,” Wang quickly replied.

“I’m not interested in that,” said Han. He had been a bit tempted at first, but seeing Wang refuse without a second thought, he reconsidered and declined as well.

“What a pity—it’s quite fun. I guarantee, if you try it once, you’ll be hooked,” Sun Hao’an said, feigning regret while inwardly looking down on them even more. As for Wang Yungui’s attendants, Sun had never once given them a glance, treating them as if they were invisible.

The four surveillance screens for the banquet hall captured the entire space from four different angles, leaving virtually no blind spots.

“Zoom in on this one. Yes, closer. Move it a little to the left…” Sun Hao’an was visibly excited, staring at the screen without blinking and directing each adjustment step by step.

The whole process of “selecting a consort” was, for him, a source of great amusement.

The head of security obeyed without question, knowing Sun Hao’an was someone even his boss needed to curry favor with, and adjusted the cameras exactly as told.

The estate’s surveillance system had been installed to the highest specifications from the start, with a special focus on clarity. Even when zoomed in, one could see every guest’s face and even their expressions in detail.

Over the next ten minutes, Sun Hao’an made several careful choices. He finally picked one, but when Wang Yungui saw she was the daughter of the deputy party secretary of BS City, he immediately vetoed the choice.

Sun’s first selection was rejected outright, but he neither argued nor lost his temper. He simply started over, picking from the abundance of guests. With so many beauties present, it would take time to look through them all.

To him, patience was essential for such a task—only then could one find the best.

Another ten minutes passed.

This time, Sun Hao’an identified two more candidates, both of whom Wang Yungui also vetoed. Now, Sun’s expression grew dark.

“The one in the black evening gown is very nice. Her—let’s go with her. Brother Wang, you’ve already turned down the last three for me. Surely not this one. Three times is enough; this is the fourth. If it’s still a no, then I’m losing interest,” Sun said quietly, holding back his irritation until his fourth pick.

The camera zoomed in on the beautiful woman: it was Qin Qing.

On the screen, Qin Qing was holding a champagne flute, chatting and laughing with another woman in a pink gown, her every gesture captivating.

Wang Yungui immediately noticed Sun’s patience had worn thin. Glancing at the unfamiliar face on the screen, he felt a wave of relief—if she were anyone prominent, he would have recognized her.

“Go find out who she is,” Wang ordered one of his men.

The attendant nodded, snapped a photo of Qin Qing from the screen, and sent it to his contacts. After sending the image, he made several phone calls to ensure the task was handled properly.

A minute later:

“Boss, I’ve sent her background info to your phone,” the attendant reported after passing along the information he received.

Wang Yungui was pleased with his subordinate’s efficiency. He praised the work and began reviewing the file on his phone.

Qin Qing’s personal details, contract company, parents—everything was there. Since she was signed to one of his own companies, this information was easy to obtain.

Having reviewed it, Wang Yungui felt reassured. While both of Qin Qing’s parents were somewhat well-known actors, their status was negligible in his eyes.

“Sun, there’s no issue with this one. I’ll see to it right away. Wait in your room—I’ll have her brought to you within half an hour,” Wang Yungui promised confidently.

“Excellent. I’ll leave it all in your hands. Don’t worry, I’ll remember everything you’ve done for me tonight,” Sun Hao’an replied joyfully.

Wang Yungui’s spirits lifted at those words; this was exactly the result he was working for.

After giving a few final instructions to the security chief, the group left the surveillance room.

On the monitor, the image of Qin Qing remained—smiling and chatting, utterly unaware of what was about to befall her.

After personally escorting Sun Hao’an to his room, Wang Yungui made his way to his office in the estate. On the way, he had already dispatched someone to fetch Qin Qing.

He had barely settled into his office before a knock sounded at the door. Upon his invitation, a beautiful woman in a black evening gown entered—it was Qin Qing.

Qin Qing felt a mix of anxiety, excitement, and even happiness at being summoned for a private meeting with the second son of the Wang family.

Wang Yungui rose at once to greet her, his face beaming as he invited her to sit.

Outwardly, Qin Qing appeared flattered and delighted, but inwardly, her excitement faded, replaced by mounting unease.

Her parents had always warned her that there were no free lunches in life—if something seemed too good to be true, it was probably a trap.

Although she was eager to use Wang Yungui as a stepping stone in her career, ready to do whatever it took—even if it meant giving herself to a man like him—she still maintained a cool head.

Whether it was his looks or his power, Qin Qing was not averse to such a man; in fact, she longed for someone like him. But his overly enthusiastic manner put her on guard—she didn’t want to lose herself before she had gained anything.

“Mr. Wang, may I ask why you called for me?” she inquired softly after sitting, rising again as he took his seat.

“Qingqing, may I call you that?” Wang Yungui, lounging in his plush chair, didn’t state his purpose immediately, but smiled as he asked.

“If Mr. Wang likes it, I’m only too happy,” she replied with a smile.

She remained standing, not sitting again. Though her face was all smiles, her mind was cool and alert.

Until she understood his intentions, she would not let down her guard for a moment.

“Qingqing, the company you’re with—Kingstar Media—is actually one of my businesses,” Wang Yungui continued, clearly satisfied with her poise.

Qin Qing was not surprised; it was common knowledge that Kingstar Media belonged to the Wang family’s second son.

She said nothing more, waiting quietly for Wang Yungui to reveal his true purpose.