Xi Yu watched Yu Qian walk toward the back of the venue, with Jin Congwen following after her.
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Mr. Xi?”
An uncertain voice came from behind him.
Xi Yu turned around and saw Xiao Man in a crimson qipao, with Shen Linchuan behind her, holding out a cloak that he was about to drape over her shoulders.
Xi Yu was just about to greet them when another voice, tinged with excitement, called out to him.
He turned again and saw Jiang Yunzheng and Jiang Xuewei looking rather surprised.
Luo Cheng’an chuckled. “What a gathering of old acquaintances. This place is about to turn into one big mess.”
Xi Yu shoved a glass of wine into Luo Cheng’an’s hand. “Then drink up while it’s still hot.”
Xi Yu had attracted plenty of attention on his way into the banquet hall, and it wasn’t just because of his recent popularity on variety shows.
Some people had already seen him at Old Master Jiang’s banquet.
Besides, who didn’t know by now that Xi Yu was dating someone from the Lu family? Not long ago, Xi Yu had suddenly joined the Luo Group. Officially, he was there to familiarize himself with the business, but who couldn’t see what was really happening? Luo Yuan intended to hand the family business over to his biological son.
Luo Cheng’an had already returned to his old profession and resumed working in the entertainment industry. Clearly, he had given up his qualifications to compete with Xi Yu.
These days, no one in City A was unfamiliar with the name Xi Yu. Everyone was eager to approach him and establish a connection.
Shen Linchuan needed no explanation. He had known Xi Yu since their time on the variety show.
But Jiang Yunzheng…
People had already begun whispering among themselves.
The Jiang family had once been the richest family in the country, but that was a story from the previous generation. Old Master Jiang had only one son, who became a police officer but died at a young age, leaving behind a young Jiang Yunzheng.
The old man had been devastated by his son’s death and devoted all his energy to raising his grandson.
A few years ago, when Jiang Yunzheng fell into a coma and remained unconscious, Old Master Jiang handed the family business over to Jiang Xuewei.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Yunzheng suddenly recovered this year.
Although the Jiang family was no longer as glorious as it had been years ago, a starving camel was still bigger than a horse.
Most people hadn’t expected Xi Yu to attend this banquet, but many already knew Jiang Yunzheng would be there.
Some guests had come specifically to meet him.
After all, banquets like this were essentially business networking events in disguise.
Two promising young men, both formidable figures who couldn’t be underestimated, actually knew each other.
And Jiang Yunzheng and Jiang Xuewei were treating Xi Yu with such… deference.
Xi Yu felt that their group was attracting too much attention, so he headed toward the lounge area.
Shen Linchuan had dealt with Jiang Xuewei before, but he hadn’t expected Jiang Yunzheng to know Xi Yu as well.
Having witnessed Xi Yu’s abilities firsthand, he thought it over briefly and suspected that Jiang Yunzheng’s recovery had something to do with Xi Yu.
After sitting down, Xiao Man thanked Xi Yu in a gentle voice.
“We parted last time before I had a chance to thank you in person. Later, when I went to visit you, you’d already left on a journey.”
After Xi Yu had departed, Xiao Man’s mother had spent some time recovering. Then they had arranged for Liu Tanghuan to be sent to prison. By the time everything was finally settled and Xiao Man could visit Xi Yu, he had already gone away.
She rarely attended banquets like this because she was afraid people would notice how different she was from the person Liu Tanghuan had known before.
Now, however, she had a new identity and was using her own appearance.
Shen Linchuan had been so clingy that he kept pleading with her to accompany him. That was how she had finally run into Xi Yu today.
Xi Yu shook his head. “There’s no need to thank me again.”
The little cat pressed her lips together and smiled. Her round, glossy eyes were bright and lively. She looked at Xi Yu with some embarrassment, seeming to want to say something but hesitating.
Seeing this, Shen Linchuan asked on her behalf, “She wants to know whether you found what you were looking for.”
Xi Yu paused, then nodded.
The little cat’s eyes lit up. Unable to resist, she asked, “Then, Mr. Xi, did you see Sangbiao?”
Back then, Xi Yu had kept asking her about Wutong Stockade. But because of her friend, she owed Xi Yu a great debt of gratitude and couldn’t reveal anything. In fact, even if she had wanted to tell him, she wouldn’t have known where the place was.
Sangbiao had been the one to lead them inside. The paths were so winding and complicated that the place was extraordinarily difficult to find.
Yet Xi Yu had seemed particularly interested in Wutong Stockade—or rather, in that arrow. If he wanted that object, he would eventually go there.
When Xiao Man later visited Xi Yu and heard that he had gone on a journey, she had already suspected as much.
Now that she had run into him, she couldn’t help asking.
Xiao Man smiled sheepishly. “I just want to know whether he’s doing well. I’m afraid that if we act rashly…” She glanced at Jiang Yunzheng and stopped short of mentioning the actual matter. “…we might cause trouble for him.”
“He’s doing well,” Xi Yu replied.
Luo Cheng’an perked up with interest. He teased her, “Sangbiao is just like you now. He’s living with the person he loves.”
“Huh?” Xiao Man stared at him in surprise. “The… the person he loves?”
Xi Yu raised an eyebrow too, but then he remembered Sangbiao kneeling at his feet and declaring that he was willing to descend into hell for Fu Ye. Suddenly, everything made sense.
……………………..
Shen Linchuan narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Is it with that…”
As he spoke, his gaze swept toward Jiang Xuewei and Jiang Yunzheng nearby. He changed the words the Holy Son to something more discreet.
“…Mr. Fu?”
Xiao Man was even more astonished.
Luo Cheng’an clinked his glass against Shen Linchuan’s and said nothing, merely winking at him.
Shen Linchuan smiled.
In a certain sense, Shen Linchuan was more perceptive about emotions than ninety-nine percent of people.
Right from the beginning of their variety show, he had been the first to see through Lu Zhixing’s feelings.
During their brief time in Wutong Stockade, the way the Miaojiang Holy Son looked at Sangbiao had also seemed very familiar to him.
Xi Yu had spent far more time around Fu Ye and Sangbiao than Shen Linchuan had. The two hadn’t deliberately hidden their feelings. Xi Yu had simply been too preoccupied with his own suffering and misery at the time to notice.
But even if he had noticed back then, he still wouldn’t have matched Shen Linchuan’s sensitivity to emotions.
For example, right now, Shen Linchuan’s peripheral vision had already picked up on Jiang Yunzheng, who looked utterly dejected.
“Xiao Man and I still have something to discuss with Mr. Jin, so we won’t disturb you any longer.”
Xiao Man rose with Shen Linchuan. After saying goodbye, the two left.
“What do you need to discuss with Mr. Jin?” Xiao Man asked.
Shen Linchuan lowered his head and teased her. “Can’t you tell? We’re getting in the way.”
Xiao Man looked bewildered. Shen Linchuan squeezed her hand.
“If we don’t leave now, someone’s going to lose patience waiting.”
Although Jiang Yunzheng clearly felt awkward because he couldn’t follow their conversation, he had still been reluctant to leave. What kind of grievance had this young master of the Jiang family ever had to endure before? The way he looked at Xi Yu was anything but innocent.
Only Xiao Man and Xi Yu seemed unable to see it.
Luo Cheng’an wasn’t the sort of person who would let a conversation fall flat, but he really didn’t like Jiang Yunzheng.
Or rather, he didn’t like anyone who had feelings for Xi Yu.
It had become an instinct.
Jiang Yunzheng stared blankly at Xi Yu, his heart aching with a profound sense of loss.
He had originally thought he would never see Xi Yu again. Yet deep down, he had secretly held on to a little happiness. He believed Xi Yu had saved him, and that the two of them shared a secret involving the exchange of blood that no one else knew about.
But Shen Linchuan and Xiao Man had just shattered that little bit of happiness into pieces.
They had been talking about things he couldn’t understand, and because he was there, they had kept their words vague.
Yet the four of them had exchanged glances, and it was obvious that all of them understood what those words meant.
So Xi Yu had secrets with other people, too.
Of course. Xi Yu was so extraordinary, like a moon hanging high in the sky. How could he possibly shine his light on Jiang Yunzheng alone?
Jiang Xuewei couldn’t bear to watch her brother in this state any longer.
Two months earlier, Jiang Yunzheng had returned home looking utterly lost. He’d even said he wanted to move back to his former residence, looking as though he’d suffered a devastating blow.
She had instinctively felt it had something to do with Xi Yu. But Jiang Yunzheng wouldn’t say anything, so she had guessed that his confession had been rejected.
Jiang Xuewei bit her lip. Although she felt rather embarrassed, she couldn’t bear to see her brother suffer like this.
“Brother Cheng’an, I just saw Shen Qin arrive. I’m a big fan of his. Could I trouble you to introduce us?”
The moment Luo Cheng’an heard the name Shen Qin, his brows suddenly furrowed.
“Why is he here too?”
Xi Yu asked, “Who?”
“An annoying pest,” Luo Cheng’an said with obvious distaste. “The second male lead in my new drama. He’s an extremely creepy guy.”
“I’m not close to him,” Luo Cheng’an told Jiang Xuewei. “I’m afraid I can’t introduce you.”
Jiang Xuewei had only wanted to lure Luo Cheng’an away to give her brother some time alone with Xi Yu. She hadn’t expected to hit such a nerve.
She hurriedly waved her hands. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
Xi Yu tilted his head and looked at Luo Cheng’an. He had rarely seen Luo Cheng’an display such obvious hostility toward anyone.
That man must be truly, truly awful.
However, Xi Yu patted Luo Cheng’an on the shoulder.
“Go get me a small cake.”
Luo Cheng’an didn’t really want to go. After learning that Shen Qin was here, he felt as though the air around him had become damp and foul.
But Xi Yu clearly had something to discuss with Jiang Yunzheng. Luo Cheng’an nodded, then turned to Jiang Xuewei, who had been trying to get him to leave in the first place.
“Want to come with me?”
Jiang Xuewei hurriedly nodded and followed him.
Xi Yu was genuinely grateful to Jiang Yunzheng for what he’d done.
Jiang Yunzheng had helped him without regard for the consequences, even though, in the end, the Azure Jade Lotus had hardly been put to use.
Xi Yu’s gaze fell on the small crystal sphere hanging around Jiang Yunzheng’s neck. The spiritual energy inside it had already disappeared. All that remained was a transparent crystal sphere radiating a gentle glow, strung onto a necklace and worn against his chest.
Xi Yu asked, “How’s your health?”
Jiang Yunzheng touched the crystal sphere at his neck and forced a smile.
“I’m fine now.”
“Oh, right.” Xi Yu suddenly remembered something Luo Yuan had told him. “You gave… Dad some tea cakes. He really liked them and asked me to invite you over for a meal.”
When Xi Yu said Dad, his expression turned a little awkward. Even after living for so many years, he still found the word father difficult to accept.
Thinking about it carefully, he had never called Shen Qing and Luo Yuan Mom and Dad, either.
At first, he hadn’t been powerful enough. He was afraid Shen Qing and Luo Yuan wouldn’t be able to withstand the consequences of him calling them that.
Later, Zhuohua returned, and wherever Zhuohua was, Heavenly Punishment could no longer descend.
Even if Xi Yu called them Mom and Dad, no heavenly lightning would strike down.