Chapter 80: The Nine Cauldrons Aristocracy, Xu Kang

“Zhang Xin, Nana, Xiao Min!”
From time to time, young men and women stepped out of luxurious cars and walked toward the entrance, greeting Zhang Xin and her friends who stood there.
These were all friends of Zhang Xin.
Twenty minutes had passed, and nearly everyone expected had arrived.
“Xin, let’s go up. Everyone is here already,” Nana said.
Zhang Xin smiled gently. “There’s still one important person who hasn’t arrived. You all go ahead, I’ll wait here alone.”
Nana and Xiao Min were curious about the important person Zhang Xin mentioned.
“Xin, is this important person your boyfriend?” asked a cute girl with neat, ear-length hair and large, expressive eyes, gripping Zhang Xin’s hand and pressing her for answers. “Come on, tell us honestly—which young master has won the heart of our campus beauty Zhang Xin?”
She was Zhang Xin’s friend, Nana.
“Xin, tell us, tell us!” urged another, a graceful girl with long hair draping her shoulders—Xiao Min.
Both Nana and Xiao Min knew that Zhang Xin had very high standards; many high-ranking officials and wealthy heirs in H City hadn’t caught her eye.
So, both girls were eager to catch a glimpse of the mysterious person.
Other classmates and friends turned their attention to Zhang Xin, hoping to learn the answer.
Zhang Xin’s cheeks flushed slightly under their questioning, a little embarrassed.
Just then, a Ferrari supercar and a globally limited-edition Aston Martin pulled into the Gravity Entertainment Club parking lot. After parking, two men stepped out.
One wore a tailored suit—it was Zhang Xin’s brother, Zhang Ziqiang. The other was dressed casually, tall and striking, with bright, slightly deep-set eyes, a prominent nose, and a handsome face radiating an effortless air of nobility. He clearly had Western blood.
Zhang Ziqiang’s attitude toward the man was respectful—no, to be precise, even fawning.
The two walked toward the entrance of Gravity, Zhang Ziqiang’s face beaming.
“Hey, Xin, that looks like your brother!” Nana, who had seen Zhang Ziqiang before, remarked curiously. “Who’s that handsome guy beside him? He’s so good-looking—better than most male celebrities!”
Others present were also drawn to the man with Western features, and the girls’ eyes sparkled.
“Xin, is the important person you mentioned that handsome guy?” Xiao Min stared intently at the casually dressed man.
Zhang Xin glanced over. Though she found the man beside her brother striking, she didn’t swoon. She shook her head. “I don’t know who he is.”

“Ha, that’s perfect! If he’s not your boyfriend, then I’ll make my move!”
“Such a handsome guy can’t be missed. If you let this chance slip, there won’t be another!”
“…”
The girls whispered excitedly.
The young men present, meanwhile, felt a mix of inferiority and latent hostility toward the handsome newcomer.
Zhang Ziqiang led the casually dressed man to Zhang Xin and said with a smile,
“Sis, let me introduce you. This is Xu Kang from the Xu family, one of the Nine Pinnacle Houses of Dragon City. He happened to have business in Hzhou today, and since it’s your birthday, I brought him to meet you.”
The Nine Pinnacle Houses!
Those four words sent a shock through everyone present.
The Nine Pinnacle Houses were the top families in Dragon City, the capital of the Hualong Federation. They could sway the election of the Federation’s president, which meant they could influence the entire political arena of Hualong. These were truly the families at the summit of power.
If a young master from such a house favored you and you married into the Xu family, your entire clan would ascend to glory.
It was no exaggeration to compare it to a woman in ancient times entering the palace as the emperor’s consort.
The girls present gazed at Xu Kang with even more fervor.
Zhang Xin listened, looking at her brother, her brows knitting slightly.
Recently, her brother had often mentioned Xu Kang, even hinting she should become his girlfriend and eventually marry into the Xu family.
But Zhang Xin’s heart already belonged to someone.
Her heart was small, small enough for only one person, and there was no room for another.
There was no way Zhang Xin would ever be Xu Kang’s girlfriend, no matter how extraordinary his status.
Xu Kang looked Zhang Xin up and down, his deep-set eyes gleaming. What a graceful, exquisite woman!
A smile spread across Xu Kang’s handsome face as he reached out to Zhang Xin. “Miss Zhang, I’ve heard about you from your brother many times. Now that I’ve met you, you’re even more beautiful and pure than he described. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Zhang Xin merely shook his hand politely and withdrew.
Xu Kang sensed her cool demeanor, and a slight irritation flickered in his heart.

Just a girl from some small place, and though she’s beautiful, she’s far too proud!
“Sis, which private room did you book? Let’s go up,” Zhang Ziqiang said, smiling in an attempt to smooth things over.
Zhang Xin replied, “Room 688, the large suite. You go ahead—I’m still waiting for a friend.”
Zhang Ziqiang was somewhat displeased with his sister’s attitude, but it wasn’t the time to protest. “Mr. Xu, shall we go up first?”
Xu Kang said, “Wait!”
He took a delicate jewelry box from his pocket and opened it, revealing a luxurious necklace studded with diamonds, dazzling like stars in the night sky. Just the diamonds alone were worth two or three million.
“Wow, what a beautiful diamond necklace!”
“That necklace must be incredibly expensive!”
“…”
The girls exclaimed in awe.
“Miss Zhang, this diamond necklace was designed by a master jeweler from XX country, and it’s the only one of its kind in the world. A hero deserves a fine sword; a beauty deserves exquisite jewels. This necklace is meant for you. Happy birthday!” Xu Kang presented the necklace to Zhang Xin.
The girls around looked at Zhang Xin and the diamond necklace with envy, jealousy, and longing.
But to their surprise, Zhang Xin waved her hand and refused. “Mr. Xu, thank you, but this gift is too valuable. I can’t accept it.”
Xu Kang was stunned, not expecting any woman to refuse a diamond necklace from him.
At that moment, a taxi pulled up in front of the Gravity Entertainment Club. The passenger door opened, and a young man with a buzz cut, lean but energetic, stepped out. His eyes were as bright as stars.
He was Chen Xian, who had come for the birthday celebration.
Chen Xian walked toward the entrance of Gravity, and his gaze immediately found the ethereal beauty of Zhang Xin.
Zhang Xin saw Chen Xian as well.
She hurried toward him, her exquisite face breaking into a charming smile, as if the whole world suddenly became brighter.