Volume One, Chapter 8: The Gluttonous Thief

On the other side, Ye Tian wandered around the banquet tables, a dinner plate in his left hand and a silver fork in his right. He remained indifferent to the lively atmosphere of the ballroom. He had no interest in the seemingly successful figures worth networking with, nor in the glamorous socialites and noblewomen. In his eyes, the only things of value in the room were the delicacies before him. After all, having spent years in prison, he had been far too long without such fine food.

"One must never let down good food..." Ye Tian stuffed lobster meat into his mouth, his cheeks bulging. "High-quality ingredients often require only the simplest cooking methods... that saying is indeed true. Shrimp without any seasoning is truly more delicious."

"Hey, why do you keep following me?" he muttered, trying to shoo away Li Cheng, who had been trailing him like a shadow. "Today is your Li family’s launch event; are you really that idle? Go handle your own business! Go on, get moving!"

Li Cheng was far too conspicuous, and given that this was the Li family's event and he was a key figure in the launch of the Beauty-Fixing Pill, he was constantly being approached by groups of people for small talk. Inevitably, these people would ask who the gluttonous oaf beside him was. Ye Tian was already beyond annoyed.

Li Cheng could only offer a bitter smile. He realized that in Ye Tian's eyes, he was less important than a pig's trotter. Very well, he thought, better not disturb Brother Tian's meal. He retreated sheepishly.

...

Shen Yuwei was chatting happily with someone when she suddenly sensed a familiar figure behind her. She turned around, and her expression changed instantly. She saw Ye Tian. He was eating and drinking at a table, oblivious to everyone, his mouth smeared with oil. Shen Yuwei stood frozen. Her face shifted from pale green to white, then to red...

"Ye Tian?" Her rage flared uncontrollably. "He's actually stalking me?"

Ye Tian, busy stuffing his face, paused for a moment. Had he heard a familiar voice call his name? An acquaintance? He turned around... Oh, it was Shen Yuwei. What a coincidence.

Then again, it wasn't much of a coincidence. Since it was the Li family's event, it was essentially a major commercial gala for the city. It wasn't strange for her to be here. Ye Tian didn't care; he turned his head and went back to eating, not bothering to acknowledge her.

However, Shen Yuwei was determined to be acknowledged. She stormed over to his side and hissed in a low, furious voice, "Ye Tian! You actually followed me here! Do you have no shame?"

"Me? Following you?" Ye Tian looked at her impatiently, completely baffled. "Shen Yuwei, please stop being so self-important. Why would I have the time to follow you? I lost interest in you a long time ago, okay?"

"You didn't follow me? Then how did you sneak in?" Shen Yuwei was still aggressive. "Do you know where this is? This is the Dragon Sky International Hotel, and this is the launch for the Li family’s Beauty-Fixing Pill! If you hadn't followed me and snuck in behind me, there's no way you could have gotten through the front doors! It’s one thing to sneak in, but how dare you eat and drink so brazenly? Look around the banquet hall—is there anyone else here who just cares about stuffing their face like you? Don't you feel embarrassed? Aren't you afraid of being caught by security? If they find out you don't have an invitation, are you going to blame me and say I brought you in?"

Shen Yuwei was boiling with rage. She had come today primarily to expand her network and hopefully secure a partnership with the Li family, which would elevate her status and open doors to higher social circles. It was a rare and vital opportunity. Ye Tian’s appearance felt like he was smashing her rice bowl. It wasn't just that his gluttony made her look bad; if the Li family discovered his behavior, there was no telling how they would view her. A partnership would be out of the question, and she might even get kicked out alongside him. No amount of explanation would matter. After all, he was her ex-husband, and they had only just divorced. Nobody would believe they were completely unrelated.

"You are truly like a haunting ghost, following me even here..." She was nearly driven mad. She had to stop him; she couldn't let him ruin everything. "Ye Tian, this is no place for a loser like you. Get out of here right now, or I'm calling security to throw you out!"

If she couldn't talk him into leaving, she would have to call security to distance herself from him. Ye Tian, unaware of her internal drama, swallowed a mouthful of food and rolled his eyes. "Shen Yuwei, what is wrong with you? Where I go and what I do has nothing to do with you. We're divorced. What right do you have to meddle in my business? Get lost, don't ruin my appetite."

He didn't even look her in the eye. To him, she was less attractive than a pig's trotter. Even while speaking, his gaze remained fixed on the plate. The flavor was excellent, and it had truly whetted his appetite. "Get lost, stop bothering me."

He waved his hand at her as if shooing a fly and reached his fork toward the trotter. Shen Yuwei panicked. *You're still eating? Were you starved in your past life? Don't drag me down with you!*

Desperate and not knowing what else to do, she reached out and grabbed his arm. Ye Tian, whose attention was entirely on the pig's trotter, didn't anticipate her move. She caught his arm just as he was reaching for the food. Furious, she tugged at him, trying to drag him away. "Get out! If you don't leave, I'm calling security!"

"Stop pulling at me! We're divorced, and men and women should keep their distance..." Ye Tian instinctively jerked his arm back. He didn't realize how hard Shen Yuwei was pulling, and with his sudden movement, she was sent sprawling onto the floor.

The surrounding guests stared in shock.

"Yuwei!" Su Baitao, who was nearby, saw this and flew into a rage. "You bastard! How dare you hurt her!" He charged toward Ye Tian with his fists raised, ready to defend his lover.

Ye Tian hadn't intended to hurt Shen Yuwei, as she was a woman, but he certainly wasn't going to tolerate Su Baitao. As the man rushed forward, Ye Tian kicked out. There was a loud crash as Su Baitao was sent flying, smashing into several dining tables. Wine and food scattered everywhere, followed by the startled gasps of the surrounding guests. Everyone’s attention was instantly drawn to the scene.