Transmigrating into the Genius Cannon Fodder’s Aunt

Chapter 49.1 – Birthday Banquet: First Part (I)

On the day of the Ning family’s patriarch’s birthday banquet, Ning Shaoyun took Xia Mian out early in the morning to get styled.

Well, mostly Ning Shaoyun. With Xia Mian’s hair still in a short buzz-cut and no option to wear a hat today, the hairstylist could only trim it a bit, making it stand upright for a sharper look.

Ning Shaoyun wore a pale yellow cheongsam with a side collar and red plum blossoms embroidery, accentuating her graceful figure.

When Xia Mian saw her styled look, she was practically drooling.

Amused by her expression, Ning Shaoyun teased, “Why do you look like a pervy wolf?”

Xia Mian squinted and playfully hooked her arm around Ning Shaoyun’s. “In front of such a stunning beauty like Sister Ning, how could I not turn into a wolf? That would be disrespecting your breathtaking looks.”

“I’ve never heard anyone justify being a scoundrel like that before,” a voice interjected, followed by hearty laughter. Rong Xin walked in. “Brother Bai always says you have a way with words—turns out he’s right.”

Dressed as flamboyantly as ever, the young man took one look at Xia Mian’s outfit and let out a whistle. “Wow, now this is a look. Who styled you? We need to poach them for our company. Absolute genius.”

Unlike the last time she had met Old Madam Huo, Xia Mian had put real effort into her outfit today. Since she refused to wear a wig and couldn’t pull off her signature little angel look, she went all-in on a sleek androgynous style.

She wore an oversized shirt that reached mid-thigh, cinched at the waist with a slim belt. Since leggings weren’t a thing yet, she opted for black stirrup pants paired with short boots. The shirt collar was neatly fastened and adorned with a small silk bow tie. With her short hair, she looked effortlessly stylish—both dashing and casual, leaving a lasting impression.

“She put the outfit together herself. Looks great, doesn’t it?” Ning Shaoyun commented with a smile. “Even the stylists here were taking notes. Originally, I wanted to add a pair of diamond stud earrings to complete the look, but unfortunately, she doesn’t have pierced ears.”

Just as she said that, a stylist walked over holding a pair of clip-on earrings, smiling. “Miss Xia’s outfit is truly bold and inspiring. If you don’t have piercings, how about trying these instead?”

Her recommendation, as expected from a professional stylist, was excellent. Xia Mian took the earrings and put them on.

Rong Xin whistled again and gave her a thumbs-up. “Beautiful!”

Then he nudged Ning Shaobai, who was standing beside him. “Right, Brother Bai?”

Today, their Dr. Ning had also dressed impeccably. His three-piece charcoal gray suit, subtly patterned with dark textures, emphasized his broad shoulders and long legs. From head to toe, he radiated a ‘don’t mess with me’ aura—a perfect image of a cold and domineering CEO.

But there was no denying—he looked damn good!

“What, are you going to respect my beauty too?” Sensing Xia Mian’s stare, the man glanced at her lazily.

Xia Mian shook her head to snap herself out of it—‘No, no, he’s not a domineering CEO. He’s my good sister!’

So, in accordance with the sacred code of bestie interactions, she grinned. “I think we can mutually respect each other.”

Ning Shaobai rolled his eyes. “And what exactly about you is worthy of respect?” He gave her a once-over before smirking. “Oh, this hairstyle is quite respectable indeed. Very upright.”

With that, he immediately turned and strode outside.

Furious, Xia Mian bolted after him. “If you’ve got the guts, don’t run! Will you die if you give me a proper compliment?!”

Rong Xin craned his neck, watching as Ning Shaobai swiftly slipped into the car and escaped. Shaking his head, he muttered, “Is this really the cold, ruthless Brother Bai I know?”

Ning Shaoyun covered her mouth, laughing.

…

The Ning family’s main residence was located in the eastern part of the city, far grander than where Old Madam Huo lived. The courtyard was paved with blue bricks flanked by large green lawns, already showing the early signs of modern luxury estates. By today’s standards, it was exceptionally extravagant.

For today’s banquet, long tables of buffets had been set up throughout the courtyard, laden with an array of fresh fruits, delicate pastries, and fine wines. Guests arriving couldn’t help but admire the impressive setup.

Fan Xiuzhi was busy entertaining guests. Her hair was styled in an elegant updo, with two curled strands framing her face—a trendy look of the time. Dressed in a perfectly tailored dark red gown and adorned with a full set of pearl jewelry, she exuded a mix of sophistication and affluence.

“This setup is truly grand. We should take some pointers from President Fan. Next time we host a banquet, we should do it just like this.”

Before international hotels introduced Western-style catering, buffet-style banquets like this were a novelty. People were drawn to Western culture precisely because they knew so little about it—the air of novelty made it all the more exquisite and enticing.

Fan Xiuzhi clearly enjoyed the admiration. “But of course! Don’t be fooled by how simple it looks—there’s a lot that goes into making it work.”

“For starters, finding a skilled pastry chef isn’t easy. Then, pairing the right wine for the occasion, training the waitstaff on how to properly hold and serve trays—it all requires careful planning.”

“So much effort?” The guests were amazed.

Fan Xiuzhi seized the opportunity to link arms with her son, who stood beside her. “All of this was personally arranged by our Xiao Yang. He studied abroad for years and has many foreign friends, so he is very experienced. Since it’s his grandfather’s 70th birthday, he insisted on showing his filial piety.”

Immediately, someone chimed in with admiration. “A true overseas elite! He’s only twenty, right? What a fine son you have!”

“I heard he’s already involved in the Chengbei project? Isn’t your family in the electrical appliances business? Expanding into a new industry must be quite the challenge.”

Fan Xiuzhi beamed with pride. “During his time abroad, our Xiao Yang has gained a lot of valuable insights, so I wanted him to get some hands-on experience. After all, foreign ideas are more advanced, and I wanted to see what he’s truly capable of.”

“You wouldn’t believe it, but all that hard studying to get into a foreign university truly paid off. The recent stock market plays, the Chengbei project, and even the real estate investments in Hainan—you know about those, right? They were all his ideas.”

At the mention of these hot topics, the surrounding guests immediately gathered around.

“Your family invested in Hainan too?” someone asked. “The prices there have been skyrocketing—doubling in just a week! I was too scared to buy in at first, and now I can’t even get in.”

“All thanks to our Xiao Yang.” Fan Xiuzhi barely concealed her smugness.

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