Ji Zhuyun walked over as soon as he saw the two of them, grinning. “I’ve been waiting for you two.”
A server happened to come over. Yan Qiu got Lu Qiao a glass of juice, and then was surrounded by several people who came over and started chatting with him. They were all exchanging pleasantries.
The gazes gathered around Lu Qiao had yet to disperse. Some were sizing him up, some were curious, and some were hostile. Lu Qiao felt a little uncomfortable for a moment.
Seeing this, Ji Zhuyun leaned close to his ear and said, “Some people have had their eyes on Yan Qiu for a long time, so they’re going to be a little hostile toward you. You don’t need to pay them any mind. There are even some people whose names Yan Qiu doesn’t know.”
Lu Qiao felt a little strange.
He was actually being regarded as a love rival?
Come to think of it, ever since the two of them had been bound together, the people around them seemed to have started treating them as a couple. But back then, he had completely refused to believe in that whole “mutual secret crush” thing and had kept denying it. He really had been a little too slow on the uptake…
Lu Qiao reflected on himself for a moment.
Just then, among the people talking with Yan Qiu, a woman noticed Lu Qiao. Covering her lips, she laughed and said, “Yan Qiu, has your father met this little boy yet? Old Marshal Yan must have been startled, right?”
“Of course. Who would have thought the person bound to Yan Qiu would be a man?” The man beside her also laughed casually. “What a pity. My family originally had a daughter I wanted to save for you. But she’s still young, so we can wait a few more years and see.”
The last sentence was especially suggestive.
Neither of them lowered their voices as they spoke. Lu Qiao was standing right beside Yan Qiu, so of course he heard everything. He was just frowning when Yan Qiu suddenly tugged him over. Pulling him closer, he wrapped an arm around Lu Qiao’s waist.
The action made the man and woman fall silent at once, while the expressions of some of the people around them who were watching the show became rather interesting.
Yan Qiu glanced at them, no longer paying them any attention. Instead, he lowered his head and asked Lu Qiao, “Want to get something to eat?”
Lu Qiao froze for a moment, then rubbed his stomach and said, “Okay. I want something sweet.”
Yan Qiu smiled and led Lu Qiao toward the banquet hall. “Let’s take a look.”
There was nothing but gentleness and indulgence in his actions and tone. Anyone could understand what he meant.
Yan Qiu had unilaterally ended the conversation and left without even saying goodbye, leaving the man and woman extremely embarrassed. In fact, they were not very familiar with him to begin with. They had merely come over while everyone else was exchanging pleasantries, hoping to become a little more familiar with him.
The man had once had a bit of a relationship with Old Marshal Yan, so he had not thought much before speaking. He assumed Yan Qiu would give him some face. He also thought that someone like Yan Qiu would only be playing around with an unknown little boy like this and could never take him seriously.
Who would have thought Yan Qiu could turn cold-faced just like that?
The woman had been secretly in love with Yan Qiu for a long time and could not help saying those things. She had not expected Yan Qiu to actually disregard all courtesy and leave without saying a word.
For a moment, everyone around them cast all kinds of looks at the pair. The two had lost all face and stood rooted to the spot, not knowing how to react.
Ji Zhuyun smiled, took a sip of wine, and leisurely said, “If Yan Qiu hadn’t been stuck in the military for the past five years and unable to get out, who knows? By now, you might have already received news of their wedding.”
“No.” Ji Zhuyun thought about it and, full of confidence in his best friend’s charm, corrected himself. “Actually, by now, the two of them might have already been married for several years.”
With that, he walked away, leaving the man and woman standing there with ugly expressions.
Lu Qiao had just started eating a small cake when another commotion came from behind him. When he turned around, he saw Yan Qiu’s father and mother entering the banquet hall together with His Majesty and Luo Ye. Everyone gathered around them.
Yan Qiu’s father’s body was still too weak. It would take quite some time for him to recover to a normal state, so he had been sitting in a wheelchair during this period.
As for how exactly he had awakened, many people were currently speculating. Some families had members who were likewise unconscious because their consciousness bodies had been shattered, and they were extremely anxious. Old Marshal Yan’s awakening could not possibly have been a coincidence.
Who had awakened him?!
Because of this matter, quite a few people had already gone to Ye Lan to probe for information.
Lu Qiao suddenly thought of something and asked Yan Qiu, “Right, about Cheng Yi… What did Uncle say?”
Yan Qiu reached out and wiped the cream from the corner of Lu Qiao’s lips. “It’s about the same as what we already found out.”
In other words, it really had been Cheng Yi who, in the middle of their argument, lost control of his emotions and injured Old Marshal Yan.
Lu Qiao frowned as he looked at the middle-aged man laughing cheerfully not far away and said in a low voice, “Uncle must be pretty sad, right?”
Yan Qiu’s gaze followed his and landed on his father in the distance. After a pause, he said calmly, “Father always trusted him very much and treated him as his own child.”
Being betrayed like this, there was no way he could not be hurt.
But he was the once-renowned Old Marshal Yan. There was absolutely no way he would allow such emotions to show on the surface.
Lu Qiao did not know what to say. He turned his head and looked at the man beside him.
If he became Yan Qiu’s adjutant, he would definitely do everything he could to assist this man and protect him.
He did not want to see Yan Qiu fail, nor did he want to see him get hurt.
He hoped this man would remain victorious wherever he went.
Noticing Lu Qiao’s gaze, Yan Qiu looked over as well.
The two looked at each other. Even without words, they could tell what the other was thinking simply through their eyes.
Yan Qiu’s gaze was very gentle. He reached out and lightly brushed the area beside Lu Qiao’s ear. Lu Qiao felt a little ticklish, and his heart rippled again because of Yan Qiu’s intimate gesture.
He lowered his eyes and noticed that the fingers Yan Qiu had just used to wipe the corner of his lips still had cream on them. Embarrassed, he said, “Use a tissue to wipe your hand.”
Yan Qiu raised his hand and took a look, then brought it to his lips and licked it clean.
Lu Qiao: “…”
Lu Qiao was shocked. “Can you please just use a tissue to wipe your hand properly?”
Twice!
The first time, after getting his saliva on his hand, he had just… just stuffed that hand into his pocket.
And this time, this time he had done it again…
Lu Qiao’s face flushed bright red.
He had never had so many, so many suggestive thoughts before. It was so embarrassing!!
Yan Qiu only said, “It’s not dirty.”
Lu Qiao puffed out his cheeks, feeling as though the hundred thousand words of commentary in his heart had all been blocked back by Yan Qiu in one go. He was about to suffocate!
Just then, Yan Qiu’s parents finally broke free from the crowd in the distance and walked over.
Yan Qiu’s father looked the two of them over and said with a beaming smile, “Not bad, not bad. You both look very spirited. We’ll have that designer make two more sets in the same style for you later.”
The suits Lu Qiao and Yan Qiu were wearing today were of the same design. Lu Qiao had not thought much of it before, but now that he looked at them together, they really did look like matching couple outfits. He felt a little embarrassed.
Yan Qiu’s mother could not resist admiring Lu Qiao’s appearance over and over again. She reached out and rubbed his head. “Qiaoqiao looks so handsome today.”
Yan Qiu’s mother called him by his nickname, and her tone was filled with maternal affection, just like a mother.
Lu Qiao had never enjoyed a mother’s love since birth. At this moment, he felt especially strange inside. He could not help tilting his head and rubbing it against Yan Qiu’s mother’s palm.
That single action completely melted Yan Qiu’s mother’s heart. Her eyes practically sparkled, and she wished she could scoop the child into her arms and rub him all over.
Yan Qiu, however, pushed his mother’s hand away and calmly said, “Don’t mess up his hair.”
Lu Qiao touched his own hair and said softly, “It’s okay…”
Yan Qiu’s mother glanced at her own son, snorted, and said meaningfully, “It’s fine. We have plenty of time.”
There would be plenty of time for her to pet her adorable Qiaoqiao.
The way the two of them treated Lu Qiao shocked everyone around them. No one had expected them to accept their son’s male lover so readily. And no matter how they looked at it, they seemed to genuinely like that delicate and handsome young man.
His Majesty and Luo Ye also walked over at this moment.
The Emperor was an extremely tall man, his build comparable to Yan Qiu’s. He was over fifty years old, but he looked energetic, with an imposing presence.
Lu Qiao was a little nervous. When the Emperor saw him, however, he smiled and extended his hand. “Lu Qiao, hello.”
At this, everyone secretly watching from around them was stunned.
Even His Majesty treated that young man differently?!
Was it because this young man was very likely to become a new member of the Yan family?
Or was there some other reason?
For a moment, whispers spread throughout the banquet hall, and everyone was filled with uncertainty and suspicion.
Lu Qiao quickly reached out and shook the Emperor’s hand. His palms were already sweating. “Hello, Your Majesty.”
“I’ve already heard about your situation from Luo Ye. It’s truly remarkable,” the Emperor said solemnly. “For the past five years, we have been searching for a way to repair consciousness bodies. Luo Ye, Ye Lan, and even Yan Qiu have all devoted considerable effort to it, but unfortunately, we never made much progress.”
After a pause, the Emperor smiled. “Fortunately, you appeared. Thank you for bringing us this opportunity, Lu Qiao.”
The Emperor did not say much, but he clearly expressed his gratitude toward Lu Qiao. His appreciation for Lu Qiao came from the heart, and he made no attempt to hide it.
Lu Qiao was very moved by what he heard and repeatedly responded to the Emperor’s thanks.
His Majesty the Emperor was not particularly imposing. After speaking, he even glanced at Yan Qiu and joked, “Twenty-seven years old, Yan Qiu. The few of us used to joke that you might be the last one among your group to get married. Who would have thought—looks like you’re going to become the earliest one?”
He laughed teasingly.
Lu Qiao: “!”
He lowered his head, his face turning red. He had never expected His Majesty the Emperor to tease the two of them as well.
Yan Qiu’s father waved his hand. “What do you mean, the last one to get married? Looking at him, I thought he’d never get married. Who would like someone with that face?”
The Emperor disagreed. “There are plenty of people who like him. He just doesn’t like them.”
Yan Qiu’s mother secretly laughed. “As long as he likes one person, that’s enough. One is plenty.”
Lu Qiao was teased by these adults until he did not dare say a word.
Seeing how nervous he was, Yan Qiu smiled and exchanged a look with Luo Ye, who was standing nearby and enjoying the show.
Luo Ye raised his brows and, being considerate enough to help him out, reminded them, “Father, it’s about time. I’ll have someone go call Second Brother.”
“Good.” The Emperor glanced at the time. “Then let’s begin.”
Not long afterward, the Second Prince, Luo Yu, appeared.
He was also dressed in formal attire today. With chestnut-colored curly hair and fair skin, he had an extremely adorable appearance.
He smiled and greeted the people around him, then walked over to His Majesty the Emperor and chatted with him for a couple of sentences. His movements were elegant, and his expression languid.
The lights in the banquet hall dimmed, with all of them focused toward the front.
Luo Yu thanked everyone for coming and said a few simple words before raising his wine glass, signaling that the birthday banquet had officially begun.
The music changed with it, becoming more cheerful.
Lu Qiao pondered for a moment before suddenly saying, “I just feel like… the Second Prince seems a little different.”
Yan Qiu said nothing. Instead, he looked toward Ji Zhuyun, who was only a few steps away.
Ji Zhuyun had one hand in his pocket, gazing intently at the young man who was cutting the cake. He took a sip of wine.
Lu Qiao followed his gaze and suddenly understood what was strange.
He looked at Luo Yu, then at Ji Zhuyun.
That wasn’t right.
Luo Yu used to be very clingy toward Ji Zhuyun. Whenever the two of them were together, Luo Yu would inevitably follow behind Ji Zhuyun like his little tail.
But today, even though Ji Zhuyun was watching Luo Yu, such a focused gaze did not attract Luo Yu’s slightest attention…
Luo Yu had not even looked at Ji Zhuyun once today.
Lu Qiao tugged on Yan Qiu’s sleeve and asked, “Did those two have a fight?”
Yan Qiu shook his head. After a pause, he said, “They didn’t have a fight.”
“Then why aren’t they interacting at all?” Lu Qiao found it even stranger.
Just as he finished speaking, Luo Yu, who was cutting the cake, suddenly raised his head. His gaze passed through the crowd and landed on Lu Qiao, and he gave him a smile.
Lu Qiao froze, somewhat puzzled.
Yan Qiu frowned slightly, while Ji Zhuyun, a few steps away, also looked at Lu Qiao.
Luo Yu smiled brightly as he cut off a piece of cake. There was even a large strawberry on top. Then he walked straight over to Lu Qiao and held it out to him.
Lu Qiao was surprised. He took the cake and said, “Th-thank you…”
“Lu Qiao.” Luo Yu leaned closer to him, sizing him up and smiling. “Your name is Lu Qiao, right? I remember you. You used to follow behind Yan Qiu all the time, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I…” Luo Yu gave him such a strange feeling that Lu Qiao could not help leaning back slightly.
Yan Qiu subtly shifted his body, blocking Lu Qiao a little.
Luo Yu noticed Yan Qiu’s movement. He raised his brows and revealed a somewhat provocative expression.
He ignored Yan Qiu and smiled at Lu Qiao. “Lu Qiao, I’ve heard about you. You’re amazing! You didn’t feel anything at all before your genetic breakthrough? And your mental power is so unusual. Haven’t you ever wondered why? Why are you so different from everyone else?”
Luo Yu’s questions came one after another like a barrage, leaving Lu Qiao at a loss.
Yan Qiu suddenly said calmly, “Your Highness, your guards are looking for you.”
Luo Yu turned around and looked. Sure enough, his guard was standing behind him, looking as though he had something to say.
Luo Yu turned back and gave Yan Qiu a half-smiling look before suddenly asking, “Lu Qiao, would you like to come play in the imperial palace?”
Lu Qiao was somewhat surprised.
Although he was slow to catch on, after Yan Qiu’s confession, he had become much more sensitive. By now, he could already sense what Luo Yu meant.
Noticing that Yan Qiu’s expression had already darkened, he immediately said to Luo Yu, “I’m about to enter the military. I’m afraid I won’t have time.”
Luo Yu smiled brightly. “I can take you out of the military. No one would dare stop me.”
At this point, Lu Qiao also frowned and said, “Your Highness, I only want to be a good soldier. I’m not interested in anything else.”
Hearing this, Luo Yu merely smiled. He glanced at Yan Qiu once more before turning around to find his guard.
Yan Qiu suddenly led Lu Qiao two steps to the side, took the cake from Lu Qiao’s hand, and stuffed it into Ji Zhuyun’s hands.
Ji Zhuyun received the cake and fell silent.
Yan Qiu then stopped a passing attendant and got another plate of cake for Lu Qiao.
Lu Qiao glanced at Yan Qiu. The man’s face was expressionless.
…Was he really jealous?
He lowered his head and looked at the cake in his hand. He stabbed a piece with his fork and put it into his mouth.
It was sweet.
So Yan Qiu really would get jealous because of him…
The thought flashed through Lu Qiao’s mind. He glanced toward the distance and noticed that the Second Prince, who was talking to his guard, was still looking in their direction.
He did not even know what he was thinking. After swallowing that bite, he stabbed another small piece of cake with his fork and held it up to Yan Qiu’s lips.
Yan Qiu froze.
After coming back to his senses, a gleam flashed through his eyes.
A smile spread across his brows and eyes as he lowered his head and took the bite of cake into his mouth.
Lu Qiao’s face grew hot.
Yan Qiu said softly, “Very sweet.”