In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

"Oh, I almost forgot, as is customary, a ball will be held in the back of the banquet."

"prom?"

"Yes, at the ball, older people sip wine and discuss business, while younger people can take the initiative to invite other members of the opposite sex to join them on the dance floor during the social dance that begins later in the day."

"Wait, I've never heard of that! I thought it was just a formality to go through with you."

"It's really just a formality. You can choose to be a bystander, neither inviting nor accepting invitations, and not going onto the dance floor. Also, don't worry, I'm on your side tonight. Even if you take a fancy to some cute girl, want her contact information, or even dance with her, I won't tell Yukino. But please remember..."

Suddenly, Yang Nai paused, took the initiative to lean forward and take his arm, tiptoed and whispered in his ear, her voice soft and sweet, like she was being coquettish, which was very pleasing to the ear.

The next moment, Yuan Qianye felt a distinct warmth and moisture on her earlobe, along with her fragrance.

"...This only applies to tonight."

…………

Chapter 059: A Chance Encounter at the Banquet

Tonight's banquet will be held at the Shinjo Morigen Building in Minato Ward, Tokyo.

This colossal tower, built in the early 20th century, stands 62 stories tall, resembling a drawn sword. From its inception, it was accompanied by both accolades and fierce competition.

In that government-led public bidding process that attracted fierce competition from major conglomerates, the well-established Shinomiya Group demonstrated overwhelming financial strength and outshone its rivals with a near-perfect planning proposal, securing this prime piece of land in the port area.

The final design of the building was undertaken by an internationally renowned architect known for his unconventional style.

Its concept is bold and avant-garde. The different floors are not simply a collection of functions, but rather a design that introduces natural light and shadow into the core of the building through staggered sky courtyards and light wells that run through the building, thereby creating a flowing and vibrant sense of space.

Inside the tower, there are office communities, top-tier clubs, Michelin-starred restaurants, and even private art galleries, making it resemble a miniature city standing vertically.

Of course, the expenses incurred from acquiring the land to starting construction and finally completing the project are an unimaginable astronomical figure.

Therefore, from the very beginning of the project, the Xincheng Senyan Building was not an ordinary skyscraper.

Whether it's the grand lobby that requires an invitation to enter or the rooftop restaurant that operates on a strict membership system, it is destined to be unrelated to the general public, but rather a top-tier luxury space serving the upper class.

—The above is a general overview of what the eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family, whose main business is real estate, told Minamoto Chiyo on the way to the banquet.

As she finished speaking, she sighed, thinking that her parents would officially hand over the family business to her, and perhaps her dear younger sister would also be there to assist her. If the two of them could develop the Yukinoshita family's assets to one-tenth of the behemoth that is the Shinomiya Group, they would be satisfied and would not have disappointed their elders.

As she spoke these words, she looked at Yuan Qianye with a wistful gaze. Her large, bright eyes were endearing and revealed a woman's delicate vulnerability, as if she were subtly hinting at something.

However, Yuan Qianye didn't care about her sentiments, nor did he accept her hints, and he had no interest in the architectural history she mentioned.

He had been slightly bothered by the ball for a moment, but he had already put it out of his mind. What he was really concerned about now was the "Shinomiya Group" that Yang Nai had mentioned.

If the banquet is held on the Shinomiya family's territory, there is a high probability that we will see the Shinomiya family members, and therefore, is there a chance that we will run into Ai-kun, whom we haven't seen in a long time?

Thinking of Ai, Yuan Qianye felt a little guilty. He seemed to have been busy lately and had neglected her again, only occasionally exchanging messages and chatting.

I had planned to invite her to the school festival a while ago and show her around the campus myself, but then all the wives came over, and the secret was picked up by the TV station. All sorts of messy things came at once, so nothing came of it.

Looking at her recent reactions to how she copes with stress during exercise, it's clear that her child has indeed been suppressing their emotions to the extreme.

It would be great to run into her this time; I could at least say hello...

"What are you thinking about?" Seeing that Chiya had fallen silent and seemed to be pondering something, Yo asked.

"I'm just looking forward to it. What kind of exquisite dishes will be served at such an amazing banquet venue, Yang Nai-jie? I'm already starving and plan to have a big meal later." Yuan Qianye loosened his tie; he wasn't used to wearing suits.

"What? I had such high hopes, I thought you were thinking about the future of the Yukinoshita family."

As she said this, Yang Nai moved closer to Minamoto Chiya and adjusted the tightness of his collar and tie.

Yuan Qianye felt a little uncomfortable. If it were just the two of them alone, it wouldn't be so bad, but now there were three people in the car: "I can manage this myself..."

Yang Nai remained completely unmoved, sticking to his own opinion: "Alright, just listen to me and don't move."

Miyoko Kudo, who was in the driver's seat in front, observed the situation through the rearview mirror. Although she had a smile on her face, her gaze quickly returned to the front, and a trace of loneliness flashed in her eyes.

Just as Yang Nai said, they arrived at the banquet venue at 6:50 sharp, not late at all, the timing was just right.

In the open-air parking lot, all you could see were luxury cars; Yuan Qianye even spotted several supercars with their low-slung stances.

After waiting in the car for a while, Yang Nai made a phone call to her parents, and then the three of them walked towards the banquet hall together.

Upon entering the building, a waiter led the way.

Inside the upward-moving elevator, through the transparent glass windows, one can enjoy a beautiful view of the city nightscape.

The Rainbow Bridge's arc spans the dark Tokyo Bay, while the Tokyo Tower, shimmering with lights, stands as a focal point against the night sky.

Entering the banquet hall from the red-carpeted corridor, the view suddenly opens up, revealing a large banquet space with a ceiling height of about seven or eight meters.

Beneath the enormous crystal chandelier was a food service area covered with white tablecloths, where waiters carried trays of drinks.

There were already quite a few guests present, clinking glasses and chatting, creating a lively atmosphere.

The moment Yuan Qianye and Yang Nai appeared, they attracted a lot of attention.

There was no shortage of handsome men and beautiful women at the event, but these two were too outstanding. Their excellent image and temperament made them stand out from the crowd and impossible to ignore.

Yang Nai doesn't usually like attending these kinds of banquets, but today is an exception.

She glanced around, her smile radiant and impeccable, and soon spotted her parents talking to two gentlemen near the window close to the entrance of the banquet hall.

She leaned close to Yuan Qianye's ear and said, "Mom and the others are over there. Let's go say hello."

Yuan Qianye nodded: "Okay."

"Well then, boss, Miss Yang, I'll head over there now. Feel free to call me anytime if you need anything."

Miyoko Kudo pointed to the side, where a sofa and tea table were set up near the corner of the banquet hall, with dishes, drinks and snacks arranged on the coffee table.

She had attended many banquets with Yoko and knew that the place was most likely a rest area specifically set up for the entourage of important figures like her.

Gen Chiyo nodded. Miyoko had been running around with him since school ended in the afternoon, so there was really no need for her to continue following him.

"Remember to keep smiling."

On the way to her parents, Yang Nai leaned close to Minamoto Chiya and whispered this reminder.

Yuan Qianye did not reply, but did as he was told.

At the banquet, many young ladies who were secretly observing him were captivated by the smile on his face. Their hearts fluttered, and after realizing what was happening, they hurriedly asked the people around them whose young master this was.

So gentle and refined, with such an extraordinary demeanor, how come I had never heard of such a person before?

"Ah, Haruno, Chiya."

Still wearing a kimono, but in a more luxurious style than usual, Mrs. Yukinoshita smiled serenely as she noticed her daughter approaching.

"Father, Mother."

Yang followed Yuan Qianye and walked lightly through the scattered guests to her parents.

She first bowed slightly to her parents, her movements fluid and natural, exuding the elegance ingrained in the bones of a noblewoman.

Then, she turned to the two distinguished men beside her, a flawless smile that was both respectful and friendly blooming on her face. In just the right volume, she greeted them with polite language: "Uncle Amakusa, Uncle Gono, good evening."

Her gaze first fell on the slightly plump Mr. Amakusa, and her tone carried just the right amount of familiarity and concern: "It's been a long time. Last time I heard my father mention that your golf skills have improved, and even he feels a lot of pressure. Seeing you today, you do look even better than before. It seems that exercise really is the best health product."

Before she finished speaking, her gaze humbly shifted to the slender, imposing Mr. Gono beside her. Her expression softened, and the respect in her tone became even more evident: "Uncle Gono, you are as charismatic as ever. I read your insightful remarks on future industrial planning in a financial journal last time, and I benefited greatly from them. I feel that my horizons have broadened considerably. My mother often teaches me to learn from elders like you."

Yuan Qianye followed her, bowing politely to the elders. However, as his head was slightly lowered, he glanced at Yang Nai, who seemed somewhat unfamiliar to him at that moment.

"Oh, isn't this Haruno? Long time no see, you've grown up." Mr. Amakusa smiled warmly.

"You've grown into a beautiful young woman, and your sweet tongue is still as charming as ever. I wonder which rascal will end up with you." Mr. Gono also seemed very friendly.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two men's gazes naturally fell upon Yuan Qianye.

"And this is...?"

Mr. Yukinoshita took the initiative to introduce them, appearing very intimate: "His name is Minamoto Chiya, he's my daughter's childhood friend, we're very close."

Lady Yukinoshita chimed in, "This child is quite talented and capable. I have always regarded him as my own child."

It was a bit unexpected.

Especially regarding the latter half of Lady Yukinoshita's comment, Gen Chiyo was somewhat unsure whether she was speaking to the two people in front of her or to herself.

However, despite his inner thoughts, he still displayed impeccable politeness and greeted the two of them.

The two gentlemen recognized him, and upon hearing his name, they thought for a moment and immediately realized who he was.

"Minamoto Chiyo... young man, aren't you the winner of the previous Rampo Award?"

"Not only that, Uncle Amakusa also won the Hayakawa Science Fiction Award."

Yang took the initiative to recount more of Yuan Qianye's honors, and the smile on his face became much more genuine at this moment, with a hint of boasting.

"I remember him, he was very promising at a young age!"

The focus of the conversation naturally shifted from Yang Nai to Minamoto Chiya.

During the conversation, Chiyo learned about the general situation of the two gentlemen. It seemed that they were both like Mr. Yukinoshita, members of the same political party with similar interests. No wonder they were so familiar with each other.

After her daughter appeared, Mrs. Yukinoshita, apart from saying a few words at the beginning, stayed quietly by her husband's side, willingly playing a supporting role.

Regardless of the specific circumstances at home, in public, she always put her husband first, which has been her way of being a wife since they got married.

Yuan Qianye's presence today was actually at her behest.

Her intention was good; she wanted to broaden the horizons of Yuan Qianye, a young man she admired, who also had a close relationship with her youngest daughter and might become part of the family in the future.

But when I arrived at the scene tonight, I found that he himself was fine, and even performed quite satisfactorily.

She is humble and polite to strangers and does not become arrogant because of her achievements. But... what was with the attitude that the eldest daughter just displayed?

I must be imagining things.

She probably just sees her sister's childhood friend as a younger brother and is genuinely proud of him.

That should be all there is to it, right...?

As Mrs. Yukinoshita's thoughts were fermenting, the important person who initiated today's banquet made his appearance at the entrance of the banquet hall.

They also paused their small talk and, along with the others, took the initiative to step forward and greet them.

When Yuan Qianye was in the car on the way here, she was already a little hungry.

However, upon arriving at the venue, several different groups of people approached Yang Nai to greet her. It wasn't until forty minutes after the banquet started that she finally had a chance to get a plate, go to the food area, pick up a piece of roast duck, wrap it in a thin pancake, and put it in her mouth.

Some of them had cooled down and weren't very tasty; I'd rate them as only one-tenth the quality of the other dishes.

"Sorry, are you bored? Talking to a bunch of middle-aged women and men here, saying all sorts of insincere things, exchanging pleasantries, praising and complimenting each other. It's incredibly boring, isn't it?"