Jihai arrived with the Japanese ambassadors who greeted him politely, letting him lead the way on their visit to the Presidential Palace. He bowed his head formally when he met his father in-law, Tang Huizhong. "Greetings, Father-in-law."
Tang Huizhong's grim face portrayed his unhappiness but Jihai pretended not to see it, pasting a bright smile in front of him. Tang Huizhong sighed. "Let's go, I will explain things on the way."
They entered the room where the remaining heads of the six families where waiting for them. Jihai frowned when he realized that they had also brought their successors along with them. Cai Longwei and Mo Bingwen happily waved him and continued to listen to what the President was saying.
Tang Huizhong and Bai Jihai bowed their heads ceremoniously, greeting a middle aged man who was sitting behind a table surrounded by a group of bodyguards. "Good morning, Mr President."
President Xing Fu waved at them with a smile, beckoning them as he said. "Ah, Huizhong! You are here, come and take a seat."
Tang Huizhing nodded and directed his son-in-law to his seat before he sat down. Jihai's eyes darkened when he saw that the only available seat was beside the successor of the Shen family, Shen Mengqi. He could see his father-in-law sitting in front of him and beside Wen Qiqiang so he couldn't find the opportunity to decline.
Shen Mengqi who sat beside him with a poised and elegant appearance greeted him with a smile. "Jihai, why are you here alone? Where is Chunlan?" Although she had a hunch about the reason, she refused to accept it until she was able to confirm it.
Jihai straightened the corner of his suit as he said. "Chunlan is unable to attend this meeting so I came here instead."
"Oh, I see." She felt dissatisfied with his vague answer but she didn't want to push him any further in case he became displeased with her so she swallowed down her words.
After a few minutes of speech, President Xing Fu finally said to them. "Ladies and gentlemen, today we have special guests from Japan who are here for a collaboration between our two countries on a new trade agreement that would increase both of our countries' GPA and hopefully to reduce the maritime tensions between our countries. Please give them a round of applause."
Sakai Natsuhiko stood up amidst the loud applause, smiling at them as he stepped up to the podium and said. "First of all, I want to thank you all for the warm welcome and generous hospitality offered to me and my team here and I just want to say that as the representative of my country I really look forward to the this new project between our two countries and I hope that this begins the new era of prosperity for our people."
He turned to the side to glance at Wen Qiqiang with a warm smile filled with low key killing intent before he stepped down. President Xing Fu then retuned to the podium, turning to Tang Huizhong saying. "Apart from the collaboration project being signed between the two countries, I also called you all here because I was informed about the choices you all made about your successors. Please stand up and introduce them to us."
Su Liangzi stood up with a formal bow along with his daughter, Su Menxiang as he raised up his mic. "The Su family is the leading family in charge of the health sector of this country. I am the humble head of the Su family, Su Liangzi and this is my successor, Su Menxiang."
After a round of applause, Mo Xuanqing stood up with a formal bow along with his son, Mo Bingwen. "The Mo family has managed to lead the technology sector for many years now and I am pleased to introduce my successor, Mo Bingwen."
Cai Shangjun also stood up with his son, saying. "The Cai family is in charge of the entertainment sector of this country. I am Cai Shangjun and this is my successor, Cai Longwei."
Shen Guiying dressed in a brown suit and a sleek ponytail stood up with a smile along with her daughter who was also dressed in a red suit with the same hairstyle as her mother saying. "I am Shen Guiying, the head of the Shen family in charge of the resources sector in this country. This is my successor, Shen Mengqi."
Wen Tianxiang who was caught chewing his fingernails nervously, stood up with embarrassment as he introduced himself with a tiny voice, avoiding eye with his colleagues. "Hello, I-I....am Wen Tianxiang, the head of the Wen family in charge of the law sector in the country. I am also the Minister of Justice and this is my successor, Wen Honglin."
After he finished, everyone looked at the highlight of the day who still sat down on his seat, thinking. Everyone was waiting to see who Tang Huizhong will introduce as his successor, the next head of the six families. He stood up abruptly, displaying his dominant aura across the room as he said. "Hello, I am Tang Huizhong, the head of the six families and also the head of the Tang family in charge of the land sector in this country. I now introduce my successor who is going to be the next head of the six families.....Bai Jihai."
The whole room went quiet for a while before it was enveloped with series of applauses. President Xing Fu said to them. "Now that the introduction has been done, we will now move on...."
Wen Qiqiang hit his cane on the polished tiled floor, earning everyone's attention as he stood up slowly with the help of his grandson. "If you will excuse me, Mr President. I do have something to say." He turned around , looking across the room as he said. "I object to Bai Jihai's succession to the position of the head of the six families. This cannot be allowed!"
President Xing Fu looked at him with bewilderment. Today was a very special day for him and the country with the presence of the Japanese envoys so he did not wish to witness any embarrassing scene at the moment. He asked him reluctantly. "Why do you object, Mr Wen?"
"Because he is Japanese! He cannot inherit the title of the head of the six families!" Wen Qiqiang pointed his cane at Bai Jihai.