Peerless Immortal Emperor in City

Chapter 748 748: Welcome Banquet

Qin Heng did not refuse Song Ningran's invitation. The historian in question was the incumbent director of Fudan University's history department, a globally renowned scholar, and indeed worth meeting. Qin Heng felt there might even be some unexpected gains from this encounter. After all, he also wanted to find secrets about the past transcendent world in mundane historical records to explore Earth's history.

A while later, Qin Heng received a call from Xue Qinan. She explained the results of her negotiation with Prince East and told Qin Heng that people from Heavenly God Group would go to Tianhai tomorrow to offer their apologies.

Then, he received a call from Wang Linchong, the CEO of Heavenly God Group. The other party expressed his apology with utmost sincerity, strongly condemned the actions of the Transcendent Research Department, and mentioned the arrangements for tomorrow, hoping Qin Heng could be present.

Qin Heng agreed but postponed the apology meeting. He wanted to accompany Song Ningran to the welcoming banquet hosted by the historian first, as he had already made a prior commitment to her.

Moreover, since Xue Qinan, Wang Linchong, and the others were coming to apologize, it was only right for them to wait a bit longer. It was a good opportunity for them to reflect on their mistakes.

Xuanjiang Road was one of the busiest streets in Tianhai. Many high-end restaurants and top hotels lined this street, which bustled with activity and blazed with light year-round. Crowds of people came and went—shopping, eating, seeking entertainment, dating, and even renting rooms. It was truly a consumer's paradise!

Hilton Hotel was definitely one of the most high-end hotels on Xuanjiang Road. Even if it was not as upscale as the Tianya Pavilion across the street, it was still a very posh venue.

After all, although Tianya Pavilion was high-end, it was so luxurious that even some tycoons were reluctant to spend money on hosting a banquet there.

Hilton, on the contrary, was the preferred choice of many tycoons and significant figures.

Almost every day, grand banquets were held at the Hilton Hotel on Xuanjiang Road. These events bustled with excitement, drawing many celebrities and dignitaries, with hardly any ordinary people in sight.

Many pedestrians shopping on Xuanjiang Road would look enviously at those entering and leaving the Hilton as they passed by.

Especially for the young women, many of their greatest dreams involved holding their own birthday party or wedding ceremony at the Hilton Hotel.

However, the banquet held at the Hilton today was somewhat different. The host of this banquet was neither a tycoon nor some dignitary or celebrity. No star actors were invited, and the venue was decorated with simple elegance.

Because the host of this banquet was a very famous historian, Dai Heshu.

Professor Dai Heshu, known for his extensive knowledge of Eastern and Western cultures, both ancient and modern, possessed unique insights in historical research. He was not only famous in China but also commanded great reputation and influence worldwide.

Now, Dai Heshu was a professor in the history department of Fudan University and concurrently held the position of department director. At only fifty-three, he had mentored numerous students and was already highly respected and esteemed.

Wang Xiao, the supervisor of Song Ningran's internship unit, was actually one of the PhD students Dai Heshu had mentored and was considered one of his mentor's most prized disciples.

Therefore, after Dai Heshu returned from his overseas research trip, Wang Xiao was included on the invitation list for the banquet he was hosting.

Now in his thirties, Wang Xiao held a supervisory position at the Tianhai City History Museum and had established himself.

Dai Heshu had invited more than just Wang Xiao to the banquet. Therefore, considering appearances, Wang Xiao decided not to attend alone and called four people from his team, including Song Ningran.

Among them, three were women and one was a man.

All were graduates of top universities in the country. Song Ningran was from the archaeology department of East China Normal University, while the other two women were from Jiangzhe University and Tongji University, respectively.

The male student was from Tsinghua University and was about to graduate with his master's degree. He had already become Wang Xiao's capable assistant.

At this time, Wang Xiao had already arrived at the Hilton with two female students and one male student. The welcome banquet had not yet started, and attendees were still trickling in to sign their names.

The male student, Gong Ming, now stood beside Wang Xiao with the other two female students, awaiting Song Ningran's arrival.

"Teacher Wang, this isn't quite right of Ran Ran," Gong Ming said, frowning. "As a student, making you wait for her is really impolite."

"Ran Ran sent a WeChat message just now, saying she's stuck in a traffic jam," Wang Xiao replied with an amiable smile. "Don't worry, there's still some time before the banquet starts."

"Ran Ran doesn't seem like someone who would be late." Gong Ming nodded. Then, with a sneer, he added, "I'm just afraid that her companion might delay her on the way."

Gong Ming, a master's student at Tsinghua University, was tall and handsome. His family owned a company dealing in antiques and curios with assets worth several hundred million, and he was quite popular among his female colleagues at the Tianhai History Museum.

With minimal effort, he could get any decently attractive female colleague into his bed.

Recently, he had set his sights on Song Ningran. He initially thought he wouldn't have to expend much effort to get this beautiful girl, with her gorgeous figure, into his bed.

However, to his surprise, after several overt hints, Song Ningran remained unmoved, which baffled him greatly.

Previously, Gong Ming had inquired about Song Ningran's background. He knew she came from a mountain village in Yu State, had humble family conditions, and was still an undergraduate.

In Gong Ming's view, a girl like that should be easy for someone of his status, education, and wealth to bed. Yet Song Ningran had scarcely paid him any attention from the start.

This left Gong Ming utterly perplexed, feeling doubtful and incredulous. He just couldn't believe that there were girls in this world who didn't love money or fancy rich, handsome guys.

Later, he found out that Song Ningran seemed to have been quite close to a male student, who had gone off to university in Beijing to study history.

Recently, that male student had returned.

Gong Ming relayed this news to Wang Xiao. He suggested that since a student from Beijing University's history department should have some historical insights, Song Ningran could bring him along to Professor Dai's welcome banquet.

Wang Xiao, a kind-hearted man, naturally agreed.

Beijing University? So what? He's merely a freshman undergraduate. Gong Ming sneered inwardly. I'm a master's student from Tsinghua's history department. In terms of education and insight, I can completely crush him! As for wealth, I'll definitely grind that kid to dust. That's what you call 'compare and despair.' Right in front of Song Ningran, I'll make that kid look utterly worthless! That way, I'll surely be able to get her easily! Song Ningran... huh, that face, that skin, that figure... Damn it! I just want to strip her naked, throw her on the bed, and have my way with her! Haha!

BUZZ BUZZ!

At that moment, the sound of a car engine started up, quite grating to the ears, as a Volkswagen Skoda drove up.

The celebrities who had arrived earlier for the banquet drove luxury cars with quiet engines. So, when a car worth less than one hundred thousand yuan suddenly appeared, its sound was jarring, and the vehicle itself truly stood out.

This naturally attracted quite a few glances.

Then, Song Ningran and Qin Heng stepped out of the car. The Volkswagen Skoda immediately drove away; they had used a Didi ride-hailing service.

Seeing this, Gong Ming's chin lifted slightly. His eyes filled with disdain as he looked at Qin Heng. A loser who can only afford Didi Express, daring to be with a stunning beauty like Song Ningran? Simply laughable!

He sneered inwardly. Kid, don't blame me; if you must blame something, blame your poverty! A poor bastard like you doesn't deserve a beautiful girl. You're asking to be cuckolded!