vstars Chapter 511: Sister?
Chapter 511: Sister?
As the spotlight moved, Xu Fangye walked onto the stage.
The leather shoes made a steady "tap-tap" sound on the polished marble floor, creating a wonderful echo with the gradually subsiding discussions below the stage.
On the stage.
Xu Fangye took the microphone from the host, his fingertips lightly touching the silver surface. The light cast a faint shadow on his eyelashes as he nodded slightly, but it could not hide the sharpness and composure in his eyes.
Thank you all for coming.
He spoke, his voice carrying throughout the venue through the speakers, unhurried and possessing a magnetic quality that was both clear and mellow.
Without any further pleasantries, he first briefly outlined the theme of Xu's annual meeting, and then mentioned that the main purpose of the banquet was to reward the group's employees at the end of the year and to thank all partners for their support throughout the year.
The wording was as precise as a perfect business report, but the addition at the end, "May the Xu family make everyone feel at home tonight," instantly softened the sense of distance.
Xu Qingrang, standing below the stage, nodded slightly, his eyes showing a barely perceptible hint of approval.
Even Fang Li, who usually bickers with Xu Fangye, looked at the tall figure on the stage and smiled slightly.
That smile evoked a strange sense of pride, like watching a child grow up.
Xu Fangye caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye, and his eyelids twitched involuntarily. If they weren't on stage, he probably would have already given him a flick on the forehead.
"……thank you all."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Fangye bowed slightly.
The applause came like a tidal wave and lasted for a long time.
Fang Li and Xu Qingrang's applause was exceptionally clear, the sound of their jade canes lightly tapping their palms mixed in, carrying a touch of intimate warmth.
Just as Xu Fangye turned to leave the stage, a hurried female voice suddenly rang out from the front row: "President Xu, please wait!"
Everyone turned to look at the source of the voice. It was a reporter from Haicheng Financial Weekly, holding a recording pen, her face showing professional urgency.
"Mr. Xu, we have a few questions we hope you can answer for everyone!"
Xu Fangye stopped and gripped the microphone: "Please speak."
"May I ask who that lady next to you is? What is her relationship with the Xu family? Why is she attending with you and Mr. Xu tonight?"
Before Xu Fangye could respond, a reporter from another entertainment media outlet immediately chimed in, his tone tinged with a hint of sarcasm:
"Mr. Xu, is your wedding approaching? Bringing a female companion to such an important occasion isn't really your style!"
A low chuckle immediately broke out in the room, and all eyes turned to Xu Fangye and Fang Li in the audience, filled with curiosity and inquiry.
Xu Fangye merely curled his lips into a smile, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
Instead of answering directly, he raised the microphone to his lips, his voice carrying clearly through the speakers: "Regarding this issue, let's ask our old man to explain it to everyone."
As he spoke, he turned to look at the audience below the stage, his gaze falling on Xu Qingrang with obvious respect.
This instantly brought the atmosphere at the scene to its peak.
Xu Fangye actually wants Xu Qingrang to explain himself?
This is enough to show that Fang Li's identity is definitely not simple!
As Fang Li helped Xu Qingrang prepare to go on stage, the murmurs from the audience were already uncontrollable.
"Could it really be his fiancée? Otherwise, why would the old man personally come forward?"
"Wait a minute, I heard that person isn't the head of Xingli Films? Wasn't there a rumor that she and Han Xi of the Han family had already registered their marriage?"
"Han Xi? The heir of the Han Group? If the two of them get together, wouldn't that be a powerful alliance? How come they're involved with the Xu family?"
"Could it be a case of the same name? But Mr. Xu from Xingli Films seems to be from Haicheng as well..."
Speculation spread like wildfire. Some people pulled out their phones to search quickly, while others whispered their analyses to those around them. Even the big shots who considered themselves important couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
After all, this involves the Xu family, the Han family, and Xingli Film and Television, which has risen rapidly in the past six months. Any connection could stir up the business world.
Among the crowd, Sheng Qianrui was undoubtedly the most nervous.
She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, her fingertips almost digging into the fabric, and her breathing became rapid.
She was afraid that Fang Li might actually have some connection with the Xu family, which would make all her previous schemes a complete joke.
She also secretly hoped that Fang Li's identity was ordinary, so that she would still have a chance...
My heart felt like it was suspended in mid-air, going up and down, and even my fingertips were trembling slightly.
Finally, Fang Li helped Xu Qingrang onto the stage.
Xu Qingrang took the microphone from the host and slowly scanned the entire audience.
He didn't speak immediately, but calmly looked at the audience below, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate all the noise and reach straight to people's hearts.
The scene gradually quieted down, and even the most talkative reporters held their breath.
"Fang Ye has already said quite a bit, so I won't waste any more words."
Xu Qingrang's voice carried the steadiness characteristic of the elderly, yet every word was clear: "Let me start with a few official words—thank you all for your support of the Xu family. The Xu family will continue to uphold its original aspirations and give back to society."
He paused, then changed the subject, "But what everyone is more concerned about is probably the young lady next to me, right?"
He turned his head to look at Fang Li, his eyes softening instantly, filled with the loving kindness of an elder towards a younger generation: "I know you've all guessed quite a bit, so today I'll just tell you the truth."
Fang Li tilted her head slightly, gave her grandfather a faint smile, and looked at him with trust in her eyes.
Xu Fangye stood to the side, his gaze fixed on his younger sister, a faint smile playing on his lips. No one had ever seen him show this look to anyone else on any occasion.
The three generations of the family exchanged glances, their intimacy and tacit understanding flowing between them, a bond that no one else could penetrate.
Xu Qingrang looked back at the audience and slowly spoke, each word resounding: "This is Fang Li, the only daughter of our Xu family. She is also Fang Ye's younger sister, born of the same parents."
"Boom—" It was as if a thunderclap exploded on the scene.
After a brief silence, the entire venue erupted in cheers!
"What?! My own sister?!"
"The Xu family actually has a daughter? They've kept it hidden for so long!"
"No wonder Xu Fangye was so attentive to her, opening the car door and helping her up; she's his younger sister!"
"My God, the president of Xingli Films is actually the daughter of the Xu family... Her background is too powerful!"
The men's reactions were particularly intense.
Some people frowned in frustration, their faces filled with regret for "missing a good opportunity."
Who would have thought that the controversial female CEO who was heavily involved in the film and television industry and eventually retired from the industry to work behind the scenes was actually the apple of the Xu family's eye?
If I had known earlier, I would have definitely tried to make contact with them back then!
Then someone silently repeated Xu Fangli's name and suddenly realized, "Xu Fangye and Xu Fangli, they must be siblings by their names! No wonder!"
Sheng Qianrui froze the moment she heard the words "younger sister".