Xi Yu used a fork to pop one piece of cake into his mouth at a time. “Your popularity with people is pretty terrible.”
Luo Cheng’an scratched his head awkwardly. “They all prefer Brother Jing—Luo Shujing.”
Speak of the devil, and he appears.
Luo Shujing’s family had arrived.
Luo Yuan and Shen Qing were entertaining guests in the distance when they heard a familiar voice from behind them.
“Big Brother, Sister-in-law.”
“Uncle, Auntie.”
Luo Cheng’an grabbed Xi Yu. “Let’s go. I’m afraid Mom and Dad won’t be able to resist beating them.”
Although Xi Yu was being dragged along, he still leisurely remarked, “I think they’re more composed than you.”
“Xiao Yu, Cheng’an.” Luo Shujing smiled gently. It was obvious that he had put on makeup, covering his pale complexion quite well.
Now, whenever Luo Cheng’an looked at Luo Shujing, he felt a chill run down his spine.
Luo Yuan and Shen Qing were no better.
Whenever Shen Qing thought about how this family of three wanted to harm them and had secretly borrowed Cheng’an’s life to do so, she ground her teeth in hatred.
Shen Qing composed herself and greeted them with a smile.
More and more people arrived. Shen Qing’s purpose today was to introduce Xi Yu to everyone, so whenever someone came over to greet her, she would say, “These are my eldest son and second son.”
Recently, the Luo family’s drama involving the real and fake young masters had caused quite a stir. Yet there had been no public announcement, so many people assumed they intended to keep it hidden. No one expected them to announce it so openly.
Quite a few people’s gazes gathered on Xi Yu, praising his outstanding appearance, elegant temperament, and so on.
Luo Shujing’s hand tightened around his wineglass.
Clearly, he was the most outstanding child in the Luo family, yet because of his family background, he was always a level beneath Luo Cheng’an!
After finally creating the Life-Swap Lock, he had never expected that the fool Luo Cheng’an’s luck would be so powerful that he could break free of it, instead causing him to suffer serious injuries!
And now another Xi Yu had appeared!
It was all because of Luo Yuan and Shen Qing. As long as those two existed, his parents and he would always be overlooked!
Why should all the glory and wealth belong to the eldest branch?
Luo Shujing’s gaze landed on Xi Yu’s stunning, otherworldly face. Listening to the endless praise around him, he clenched his teeth so hard that a bloody taste spread through his mouth.
Luo Yuan was the person in control of the Luo family. That was why these flattering and hypocritical praises were falling upon Xi Yu.
As long as his father became the Luo family’s president, whether it was Xi Yu or Luo Cheng’an, they would all be trampled beneath his feet!
The son inherits after the father dies; the younger brother succeeds when the elder brother dies.
Once Luo Yuan’s entire family was dead, all of this would belong to him, and he would use this ladder to climb to an even higher place.
“Look, Lu Zhixing is here!”
…………………………………..
Someone in the crowd shouted, and everyone’s gaze turned toward the entrance.
Luo Shujing swallowed the blood in his throat and the jealousy in his heart, adjusting himself to his most perfect state. His eyes remained fixed on Lu Zhixing as the man slowly approached.
Lu Zhixing wore a perfectly tailored suit. His face was as beautiful as jade, his eyes bright like stars, and every movement he made carried an air of nobility and elegance.
Xi Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, his fingers moving faintly.
“How can he be so good-looking?” Luo Cheng’an sighed.
Xi Yu snorted, using his wineglass to cover his lips. “Have you ever heard the saying, ‘A beautiful face may hide a heart as vicious as a snake or scorpion’?”
Luo Cheng’an chuckled twice. “Brother, you just came back, so you probably don’t know. Lu Zhixing’s reputation isn’t only good among his fans. He’s also famous throughout A City. He’s truly a beautiful face with a compassionate heart.”
After saying that, Luo Cheng’an looked at Xi Yu again. He felt that compared with Lu Zhixing, Xi Yu was no less attractive, and perhaps even surpassed him.
He lowered his voice. “Brother, do you want to become a celebrity? You’d definitely make more than you do setting up your stall. With your looks, you’d absolutely become a huge hit.”
“No.” Xi Yu decisively refused.
He suddenly thought about the demonic aura all over Lu Zhixing. How did this guy dare to become a celebrity, openly allowing everyone to worship and revere him?
While the two were talking, Lu Zhixing had already walked over toward the Luo family.
Luo Shujing put on a smile and greeted Lu Zhixing. “Brother Lu.”
Lu Zhixing nodded, but he did not stop. He walked straight to Luo Yuan.
“Uncle Luo, Auntie Shen, Cheng’an.”
Luo Cheng’an chuckled. “Brother Lu.”
“Zhixing, it’s been a long time. You’ve gotten even more handsome.” Shen Qing teased him.
Luo Yuan gave him a thumbs-up. “I watched the video of you receiving your award overseas. You’re so young and you’ve already become a Best Actor. Impressive.”
“It was just luck.” Lu Zhixing remained humble, then looked toward Xi Yu, who was standing to the side like a wooden post. The smile at the corner of his lips deepened.
“I presume this is Xi Yu… my younger brother, right?”
Xi Yu: ?????
You’re the younger brother! Your whole family is younger brothers!
Xi Yu’s expression turned slightly colder, but Shen Qing didn’t notice. She happily introduced them to Lu Zhixing.
“This is Xiao Yu. He only came home recently. The child is a little shy around strangers, so we didn’t hold a banquet for him.”
Afterward, Shen Qing looked at Xi Yu. “Xiao Yu, this is the son of Mom’s good friend. He’s three years older than you. Call him Brother Lu.”
Xi Yu was petrified.
Xi Yu was angry.
Xi Yu resisted.
Several pairs of eyes stared straight at him.
A few seconds later, he gritted his teeth.
“Brother Lu.”
Lu Zhixing’s smile widened, and he called out gently, “Xiao Yu.”
Luo Shujing watched this scene, his hand tightening at his side until his knuckles turned white. Just as he was about to step forward, someone came down the staircase.
An elderly man with white hair was being supported by a young man as he trembled his way down the spiral staircase.
“Thank you all for taking the time to attend Grandpa’s eightieth birthday banquet. We were delayed on the way here just now, so as an apology, we have specially brought one of Grandpa’s pieces of calligraphy to entertain everyone.”
After Jiang Lin finished speaking, he clapped his hands. The two people beside him immediately carried a table over and placed it in the very center of the banquet hall.
Jiang Lin personally unrolled it.
Lively regular script stood upon the scroll. The transitions between strokes were graceful and fluid, and even someone who knew nothing about calligraphy could tell that it was an excellent piece.
“This… Isn’t this the old master’s final piece before he retired from calligraphy?” someone in the crowd exclaimed.
Jiang Lin smiled. “It is.”
Luo Cheng’an gave a low whistle and turned around, intending to gossip with Xi Yu, but when he turned, Xi Yu had disappeared without him noticing.
Shen Qing’s eyes sparkled as she grabbed Luo Cheng’an. “This trip wasn’t for nothing. They’re even allowing photos. Hurry and squeeze in there to take a picture for me!”
Twenty years ago, after serving as a judge in a calligraphy competition, Old Master Jiang had retired from calligraphy. Ever since then, no one had been able to persuade him to pick up his brush again.
Even the mayor had personally requested an audience, hoping to obtain a piece of calligraphy for his mother’s birthday, but had been turned away.
Once people became wealthy enough, they would begin pursuing rare and refined things. Even though many of these people didn’t understand calligraphy, they all stepped forward to admire it.
Shen Qing came from a wealthy family and knew quite a bit about paintings and calligraphy. She genuinely understood the art, but with so many people around, she couldn’t push her way to the front, so she could only send Luo Cheng’an.
Luo Cheng’an didn’t even have time to look for Xi Yu before his mother ordered him around. He had no choice but to squeeze into the crowd.
Old Master Jiang’s gaze searched through the crowd. His expression gradually became disappointed, and he shook his head at Jiang Lin.
“He didn’t come.”
Jiang Lin raised an eyebrow.
His grandfather had always been someone who cared about nothing outside his own affairs. Half a year ago, he had suddenly announced that he had made a friend several generations younger than himself and had been running out every day ever since. A few days ago, he had even personally gone to deliver the invitation.
Yet that person hadn’t come.
It was truly surprising.
However, Jiang Lin could also tell that since the person hadn’t come, Grandpa had no mood to entertain the guests anymore. He said to everyone, “Grandpa isn’t feeling well. I’ll take him upstairs to rest first. Please make yourselves comfortable.”
Jiang Lin supported Old Master Jiang upstairs, making small talk in a low voice.
“Grandpa, perhaps your old friend knows about your identity and came because of that.”
After all, in A City, there was no one who didn’t recognize his grandfather, Jiang Zhongguo.
Jiang Zhongguo cast a sidelong glance at his grandson and sighed quietly.
“If he really coveted fame and profit, I wouldn’t have to go looking for him over and over again with these old bones.”
I could just bring him home and provide him with good food and good living.
Jiang Lin sneered inwardly. He wanted to say, How could there really be someone who doesn’t covet fame and fortune or seek money? He probably just hadn’t been offered enough.
But in the end, he refrained from upsetting his grandfather.
Xi Yu only managed to stop after running into the garden, his face full of helpless disbelief.
Who could have imagined that the old man who came to the overpass every few days—buying Evil-Warding Talismans from him today and Longevity Talismans tomorrow, haggling over twenty yuan per piece—was actually a master of calligraphy!
Wasn’t this ridiculous?
That old man was far too persistent. Longevity Talismans were difficult to make. With his current cultivation, he could only produce one every six months. If that old man saw him again, he would definitely pester him to draw another one!
Xi Yu let out a breath, sat down on a stone bench in the garden, propped up his chin, and dozed off.
But before he could enjoy even two minutes of peace, that annoying voice sounded behind him.
“What a coincidence, Xiao Yu.”
Xi Yu frowned. He felt that Lu Zhixing was like a lingering ghost and didn’t even turn his head.
As if he couldn’t sense Xi Yu’s dislike, Lu Zhixing leisurely sat down beside him, carrying a wooden box in his hand.
“There are only snacks and drinks at the banquet. I’ll eat something here. Xiao Yu doesn’t mind, does he?”
The food box opened.
The first layer: roast chicken, sizzling with grease!
The second layer: tender, soft, and glutinous braised pig’s trotters!
The third layer: spicy and savory stir-fried pork!
The final layer…
A large box of rice!
Xi Yu’s stomach let out a very timely growl.
Lu Zhixing leisurely wiped the silver utensils with a disinfecting wet wipe. In the dim light, his pupils were exceptionally bright.
“Is Xiao Yu hungry too? Would you like to have a few bites with me?”
Xi Yu cleared his throat. “I’m fine. I’m not really that hungry. But if you insist on making me eat, I suppose I can have a few bites.”
Two low chuckles escaped Lu Zhixing’s throat. He handed the already-cleaned utensils to Xi Yu.
“Mm. Thank you, Xiao Yu, for accompanying me to eat a few bites even though you’re not hungry.”
Xi Yu had long since grown thick-skinned. He took the chopsticks without the slightest hesitation and even pushed his luck.
“You’re welcome. I’m just a kind-hearted person.”
……………………………
Although he couldn’t figure out Lu Zhixing’s identity for the time being, the divine light hidden beneath his demonic aura made Xi Yu dislike him much less than when they had first met.
Moreover, he could sense that Lu Zhixing should have no malicious intentions.
A person’s malice could not be concealed. It was just like Luo Shujing—even though he had disguised himself well enough to deceive everyone else, Xi Yu could sense it clearly.