Standing Next To You-Chapter 437: The Representative from the James family

The strange atmosphere at the table only shifted when the host introduced the live performances of famous singers and entertainers, diverting their attention away from ’her’.

The event continued with various forms of entertainment, which livened up the mood. After the performances, the well-wishing and gift-giving segments began, turning the spotlight on the guests.

This was also the highlight of the night. Everyone would show off the kind of gifts they had brought, but most of the attention was on the two branches.

It would be a night for the two to shine and gain Old Master Lin’s favor. It might even be the turning point to secure the title of ’official heir’.

The first branch came to the stage first. Lin Zhe stepped forward to represent the first branch. He was fully aware of Old Master Lin’s tastes. So he confidently presented his gift.

It was a set of teacups from the Ming Dynasty, once part of the collection of a high-ranking official from the Chenghua period.

The guests murmured in amazement as they caught glimpses of the tea cups housed in a hand-carved zitan wood box. The silk brocade cushion, embellished with pure gold leaf detailing, drew gasps of admiration. It was an extravagant, luxurious gift.

"I heard each cup is worth half a million. How much would the whole set cost?"

"That’s only their base value. If you buy them as a complete set, the price is much higher."

"I was there when Young Master Lin Zhe bought the set at auction in Country F. He paid a staggering 100 million dollars for it."

"Wow, he really went all out."

"I wonder what the fourth branch will offer to match that."

Old Master Lin smiled as he accepted the gift. He indeed collected antiques from the past, and he had long wanted this particular set. He was pleased that his grandson had gifted him something he truly desired. His gaze toward the first branch was kind.

"I appreciate this very much. A wise choice for a gift." His words of gratitude made Lin Zhe’s face finally break into a genuine smile.

"I’m glad you like it, Grandfather." Lin Zhe felt truly satisfied, knowing the large sum he had spent and the long journey he had taken to acquire the gift had been worth it. He had pleased his grandfather.

Now...

Lin Zhe glanced toward the fourth branch’s table, his eyes narrowing. He could only hope the other party would offer something far less valuable than the tea cups.

Lin Sanju, however, seemed unfazed by the various gazes upon him, nor did he appear bothered by the anticipation and pressure surrounding him.

He held only a small wooden box, no bigger than the size of a palm. In stark contrast to the intricately designed zitan box, the wooden box in Lin Sanju’s hands looked old and worn. Even the carvings on the lid were marred with scratches.

The guests, with their meticulous eyes, immediately recognized that, while the small box appeared antique, it was made of simple mahogany wood. Though well-preserved, its age and wear were evident.

Compared to the expensive Zitan wood box, which symbolized wealth and luxury, the mahogany box looked like a simple log placed next to it.

Their gazes quickly turned to disappointment. If the box was this modest, how valuable could its contents be?

It seemed clear that the winner tonight would be the first branch.

However, amid the guests’ disappointed looks, Old Master Lin suddenly stood up in shock. His wide-eyed stare remained fixed on the worn-out box.

"T-that..." Excitement spread across his face as he appeared to recognize it.

Lin Sanju smiled and carefully presented the wooden box to Old Master Lin.

"You once told my father that before we became the Lin family we are today, we were once poor. Great-Grandmother had a family heirloom from her parents, but due to circumstances, she lost it. I heard you’ve been searching for it for decades. And I was lucky enough to find it. This is my gift to you, Grandfather."

Lin Sanju opened the box, revealing an emerald jade bracelet. It was an opaque jade piece, likely worth around $2,000, and with sentimental and historical value, it might rise to $10,000. Compared to the tea cups, it appeared cheap and simple.

However, it was an entirely different matter if it was a family heirloom that had been lost for decades.

Old Master Lin’s trembling hand reached for the jade bracelet. He picked it up carefully, noticing the initials "Lin" engraved on it. His eyes moistened. He could not help but reminisced the past.

"...This is our family heirloom, passed down from my grandparents to my mother. And before them, it was passed down from their parents. When my mother lost it, she was heartbroken. In order to buy medicine for me when I was sick, she had to sell it. On her deathbed, she told me to find it. But even after our family prospered and able to buy any heirloom we desired, I never found a trace of it."

Old Master Lin’s voice was thick with emotion. "I thought it was lost forever. Where did you find it?"

"The pawnshop where Great-Grandmother sold it once employed a servant boy. It turned out he stole the bracelet and traded it on a boat headed west. It changed hands many times before ending up with a collector of artifacts. I found it there and bought it from him," Lin Sanju explained casually, making it seem as if obtaining it had been a simple task.

However, Old Master Lin knew how difficult it had been to locate. He had spent a fortune and employed many people over the years, yet even after decades, he had been unable to retrieve it.

This showcased Lin Sanju’s capability. He had the resources and skills to accomplish what even Old Master Lin couldn’t. The old man was impressed, but more than that, he was deeply moved.

This was a special gift, incomparable to anything material.

Lin Sanju must have understood its significance, yet he did not present it arrogantly. He had offered it humbly. If it had been one of his sons, they would have bragged about it from morning till night while exaggerating how much hard worked they have put into to finding this precious heirloom.

Old Master Lin gazed at Lin Sanju with fondness. "...You must have gone through great lengths to get this. Thank you for such a wonderful gift. Now I can hold my head high when I meet my mother in the underworld one day."

The guests immediately understood the gravity of the moment. They applauded and congratulated Old Master Lin on the recovery of the family heirloom. They also surrounded Lin Sanju, praising him for being a devoted grandson.

It was undoubtedly a victory for the fourth branch. The guests who had been undecided about which branch to support made their decision tonight.

Lin Zhe’s face darkened as he watched the crowd around him thin, while the fourth branch drew more and more attention.

The gift-giving continued, but aside from the two branches that had presented remarkable gifts, nothing else stood out.

That was until the host picked up a card to announce the next guest offering a gift to Old Master Lin.

The host read the card silently, and his expression froze. Under the spotlight, several observant guests noticed his hesitation.

They murmured among themselves, wondering who the next guest could be to cause such a reaction.

"...It must be the representative from Phoenix Holdings. I heard Young Master Lin Sanju mentioned they might attend today."

"Ah, so they’ve come to show support for Young Master Lin Sanju? If they’re really here, this banquet is about to get even more exciting."

Many guests shared the same thought. If people from Phoenix Holdings were indeed present, most would jump at the chance to introduce themselves.

The host quickly regained his composure and smiled at the audience.

"Our next guest has traveled thousands of miles from a faraway land to be here and greet Old Master Lin. Please welcome our esteemed guest from the James family—Mr. Fei Chuan!"

The guests’ eyes widened.

The James family?! The legendary family from the West, renowned for dominating the foreign market for years? That James family?! freewёbnoνel.com

They were considered royalty among the nobility!

The very mention of the name "James" left the room in stunned silence, with everyone too shocked to process what had just been said.

However, those who managed to regain their composure quickly caught onto the name of the representative.

"...Fei Chuan? Isn’t he the man who recently rose to fame earlier this year?"

"Yes, ever since he was featured in ’Times’ magazine, the media has been obsessed with him. He’s been making headlines constantly."

"How could he not? He’s closely associated with the James family, and I’ve heard the heir of the James family considers him his best friend. Not to mention, he’s connected to many of the top elite."

"But that’s not the only reason for his fame. He’s young and handsome—unlike us boring middle-aged men."

The guests shook their heads in envy and admiration. As they exchanged gossip, they eagerly awaited his appearance. Although Fei Chuan was famous, most of them had never seen him in person.

Was he truly as handsome as the articles claimed? Or had the photos been edited to enhance his appearance?

However, when they saw the tall, young man with broad shoulders, fair skin, and a face that could put celebrities to shame, the guests fell silent.

No wonder... the media was addicted to him. Anyone who laid eyes on him would be instantly captivated and drawn to his presence.