The banquet hall had not yet recovered from the scene on the grand staircase.
Su Wanqing — the untouchable goddess of Huaxia University, the proud jewel of the Su Family — had actually asked for Lin Feng's name in front of Jiangnan's most powerful heirs. And she had said she would remember it.
That simple exchange was enough to send waves rippling through the hall.
"Unbelievable…"
"She's never asked any man's name before."
"Who is this Lin Feng? He doesn't look like anyone from the major families."
The murmurs grew until they reached the ears of Su Hongyi, patriarch of the Su Family.
---
Su Hongyi was a man in his early fifties, tall and dignified, with a gaze that could silence an entire room. His tailored black suit and upright posture carried an aura of authority earned not just from wealth, but from decades of commanding respect.
When his daughter nearly stumbled, his heart had lurched — but when he saw Lin Feng catch her, steady her, and release her without the slightest disrespect, his sharp eyes narrowed.
Interesting… That boy isn't like the usual sycophants. His reaction was too natural, too calm.
And then, Wanqing's reaction sealed it. He had never seen his daughter — who could turn away princes and heirs with a single cold glance — speak to anyone with such softness.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Perhaps fate has its own designs tonight.
"Manager Zhou," Su Hongyi said to the banquet manager quietly. "Who is that young man?"
The manager, sweating nervously, quickly consulted his guest list. "Sir, his name is Lin Feng. He was registered as a guest under the 'Business Observer' category."
"Business Observer?" Su Hongyi raised a brow. That category was usually reserved for minor entrepreneurs, investors, or sometimes, people included at his whim to observe how true elites conducted themselves. But he hadn't placed this Lin Feng there.
A faint glimmer appeared in his eyes. "So someone else wanted him here… or perhaps…" His gaze sharpened. Or perhaps the boy forced open his own path.
---
While the Su Family's patriarch observed quietly, others were less calm.
Chen Hao's face burned red, his rage boiling like fire.
"How… how dare he steal the spotlight like this!" he hissed through clenched teeth, his fingers bleeding slightly from the shattered wine glass he still gripped. His cronies around him whispered anxiously.
"Chen Shao, calm down—"
"Not here, everyone is watching—"
But Chen Hao's pride couldn't accept it. For months, he had fantasized about standing beside Su Wanqing, showing the world that even the goddess could be his. He had spent fortunes on gifts, dinners, and flattery, all of which she ignored. And now, in one instant, this… this pauper had earned her acknowledgment?
No. He couldn't allow it.
He tossed the broken glass aside and marched toward Lin Feng, his lips twisting into a sneer.
---
Lin Feng, meanwhile, had already moved to the side of the hall. He had no desire to draw more attention than necessary. The rescue was enough to fulfill the System's task. Now, his plan was simple: observe, learn, and leave quietly.
But the banquet wasn't going to let him go so easily.
A cold voice sliced through the crowd.
"Well, well… if it isn't Lin Feng."
The crowd parted slightly as Chen Hao strode forward, his arrogance dripping from every step. The faint smirk on his lips didn't reach his eyes, which burned with venom.
"You've gotten bold, haven't you? Crashing the Su Family's banquet just to get close to Wanqing."
His words weren't shouted, but loud enough that dozens of nearby guests heard him. Whispers rose again.
"Lin Feng? I've heard that name…"
"Isn't he just a scholarship student? From an ordinary family?"
"Wait, then how did he get in here?"
The murmurs turned sharper, eyes narrowing with disdain.
Lin Feng met Chen Hao's sneer with calm indifference. "Crashing? My name was on the guest list."
Chen Hao scoffed. "Hah! Don't make me laugh. Who would invite you? Everyone here knows you don't belong. This is a banquet for Jiangnan's elite, not some charity dinner for beggars."
Gasps and chuckles rippled through the crowd. The word beggar hung heavy in the air.
---
Su Wanqing, standing with her family nearby, felt her brows furrow. She didn't step forward, but her eyes lingered on Lin Feng. She wanted to see how he would respond. Would he bow his head like others? Would he stammer in shame? Or… was he different?
---
Lin Feng's expression didn't shift. His voice remained even, almost bored.
"You seem very sure of who belongs and who doesn't, Chen Hao. Did the Su Family make you the gatekeeper of their hall?"
The sneer on Chen Hao's lips froze. A ripple of laughter spread through the nearby guests.
Lin Feng tilted his head slightly, his eyes sharp now. "If you think I don't belong, why don't you ask Su Hongyi himself?"
The name landed like a thunderclap. The patriarch of the Su Family, standing not far away, lifted his glass and chuckled softly. His voice carried across the hall.
"That won't be necessary."
All eyes turned.
Su Hongyi's gaze swept over Chen Hao briefly — dismissive, unimpressed. Then it landed on Lin Feng, and a faint smile touched his lips.
"Mr. Lin is indeed on our guest list. And more importantly…" His gaze flicked to his daughter, then back to Lin Feng. "…he has already proven himself a gentleman tonight."
The hall erupted again, shock and awe mixing. For the patriarch himself to speak in Lin Feng's defense — it was as good as stamping his approval.
Chen Hao's face drained of color. His mouth opened, then closed, his pride shattering under the weight of Su Hongyi's words.
---
The System chimed softly in Lin Feng's mind.
> [Hidden Progress Unlocked – Su Family Recognition: 5%.]
[Reward: Business Opportunity Clue.]
Lin Feng's eyes flickered faintly. He didn't yet know what the "business clue" meant, but he tucked it away for later.
What mattered now was maintaining his composure.
He inclined his head slightly toward Su Hongyi. "Thank you for the clarification, Senior Su."
The patriarch's smile deepened ever so slightly. Calm under pressure. Not bad at all.
---
Meanwhile, Su Wanqing's gaze lingered on Lin Feng longer than she intended. She had expected him to wilt under Chen Hao's attack. Instead, he stood straight, his words sharp yet controlled, his presence unshaken even when the hall's disdain turned on him.
It stirred something unfamiliar in her chest. Interesting. Very interesting…
---
The rest of the banquet flowed on, but the atmosphere had shifted. Wherever Lin Feng walked, eyes followed. Some filled with curiosity, others with jealousy, many with suspicion. But no one dismissed him as just a nobody anymore.
As the night drew on, Lin Feng quietly excused himself, leaving before the banquet ended. He had accomplished more than he'd expected: saving Su Wanqing, earning her attention, and even drawing the acknowledgment of her powerful father.
Outside, the night air was cool, the neon lights of Jiangnan glittering against the dark sky.
In his mind, the System's voice echoed once more.
> [Mission Progress: 18% – Su Wanqing's Favorability increased.]
[Warning: Within 7 days, Su Wanqing will face danger. Protect her to unlock Combat Skill (Basic).]
Lin Feng's expression sharpened.
"So the banquet was just the beginning…"
He slipped his hands into his pockets and walked into the night, unaware that Su Wanqing herself stood at the balcony above, watching his departing figure.
Her lips curved faintly, though her eyes were unreadable.
"Lin Feng…" she whispered. "…Who are you really?"