Chapter 58#
The dinner party started at five o’clock.
The entire Lu residence was brilliantly lit, and ten large round tables of solid wood were set up in the banquet hall.
Guests took their seats one by one.
The Lin family was arranged in the furthest corner, quite a distance from the main table.
Lin Fengzhi was unhappy, poking at his rice with chopsticks. Suddenly, he blinked and looked towards the entrance of the banquet hall.
The beautiful woman who had just been chatting and laughing with Lu Muchi in the garden was intimately holding Lu Changcheng’s arm as they walked towards the main table.
Qi Xuehong escorted Lu Changcheng to his seat. Lu Changcheng was very satisfied, his tone exceptionally affectionate, “Xuehong, sit next to me.”
Qi Xuehong smiled radiantly, “Okay, Grandpa Lu.”
On Lu Changcheng’s other side was Lu Lin. It was the first time Qi Xuehong had seen Lu Lin. The man had a majestic presence, was unsmiling, and had a sense of distance of ten thousand points, completely different from Lu Muchi.
She actually preferred Lu Lin’s type, with mature and explosive masculine charm. However, even the number one socialite, the daughter of the Jiang family, didn’t catch Lu Lin’s eye, so she wouldn’t ask for a snub.
She and her sisters had gossiped privately that perhaps this head of the Lu family liked men.
Yet, there had been no scandals about Lu Lin to date.
Lu Lin wasn’t just on a high ridge, but above the clouds. It was really hard to imagine what kind of person such a man would fall in love with.
Qi Xuehong greeted Lu Lin politely, “Good evening, President Lu. I am Qi Xuehong.”
“What President Lu.” Lu Changcheng said lovingly, “Like Muchi, call him Uncle.”
As soon as these words came out, everyone at the main table knew.
This was confirming the granddaughter-in-law.
Father Qi and Lu Han smiled at each other and clinked glasses.
Qi Xuehong was graceful and changed her address, “Hello, Uncle.”
Currently, she had a good impression of Lu Muchi. It couldn’t be called love yet, but among the available marriage candidates, Lu Muchi undoubtedly met her requirements the best.
Lu Lin nodded slightly as a response.
Lu Muchi was very unhappy inside, but he could do nothing about his grandfather. He took out his phone and couldn’t help but send a message to Yan Heqing.
[Have you eaten? I’m eating.]
He didn’t expect Yan Heqing to reply; he was used to it.
So when a reply popped up, he was dazed for a few seconds before suppressing his excitement to open it.
For the first time, he was so excited by a text message that his heart trembled.
Opened it.
Three words.
[I know.]
Lu Muchi’s mind already conjured up the image of Yan Heqing’s fingers typing the reply.
Cleanly trimmed nails, flowing with a jade-like luster, typing quietly.
Opposite him, Lu Changcheng seemed to be speaking. Lu Muchi didn’t care at all and eagerly replied to Yan Heqing, [You know I’m eating?]
Before the second sentence [So concerned about me] could be sent, Yan Heqing’s reply came again.
Just at the moment he heard Lu Changcheng’s speech clearly, Lu Muchi’s heart skipped a beat.
Lu Changcheng said: “Announcing a great joyous event today. My grandson Muchi and Xuehong will hold their engagement ceremony next month.”
And Yan Heqing replied to him.
[I am at your house.]
In the empty corridor, Yan Heqing was holding a portion of seafood fried rice, which was the dinner for the kitchen helpers.
Yan Heqing’s eyes were obviously uncomfortable; he still wasn’t used to wearing contact lenses.
He lowered his eyelashes, his back lightly leaning against the wall, and scooped a spoonful of fried rice.
The ingredients were rich, with many seafoods Yan Heqing had only seen in encyclopedias.
The shrimp meat was from the deep-sea blue lobster left over from the banquet, and the pineapple was a pink variety he was seeing for the first time.
All fresh and sweet.
Yan Heqing, however, missed that portion of fried dough stick pineapple shrimp.
Apart from the mint mung bean water, it was the most delicious thing in his memory.
Buzz.
A call came to his phone.
Yan Heqing turned it off directly, put it back in his pocket, and ate quietly.
Perhaps hearing the familiar shutdown notification, Lu Muchi grabbed his phone and was about to go find Yan Heqing.
Being able to see him eating meant he must have also heard Grandpa say he was getting engaged!
He was very wronged; he knew nothing about this lousy engagement beforehand!
The relationship with Lin Fengzhi hadn’t been explained clearly, and now another woman appeared!
With Yan Heqing’s personality, he could absolutely ignore him from now on!
Lu Muchi was that certain.
He suddenly felt a panic; he couldn’t lose Yan Heqing…
His heel hit the chair leg heavily, making quite a noise.
“Muchi.” Seeing him stand up, Lu Changcheng’s eyes darkened. “Sit down.”
Lu Muchi couldn’t listen at all. His mind was filled with only one thing now: find Yan Heqing!
“Grandpa, I’m going out for a bit, I’ll be back soon!”
Lu Changcheng’s face instantly turned ugly, but since Lu Muchi didn’t object, his goal was barely achieved.
Glancing at the table in the distance from the corner of his eye, Lu Changcheng snorted coldly in his heart.
Unworthy people, don’t even dream of entering his Lu family again!
He had investigated Lin Fengzhi’s true background. He wasn’t even a member of the Lin family, just an ordinary orphan.
Lu Changcheng’s disgust for Lin Fengzhi increased a few notches.
Composing himself, Lu Changcheng didn’t pay much attention to Lu Muchi leaving and continued chatting with Father Qi with a smile.
Only Qi Xuehong looked curiously in the direction Lu Muchi ran off.
What was so urgent?
The table was full of delicacies, but Lu Lin had no appetite.
He had always been casual about food, as long as it could fill his stomach and provide energy.
Only recently had he become picky.
He liked meatballs, hot pot, and simple egg noodles.
And he missed that small house, which was raining heavily outside and had a slight damp smell but was comfortable.
Showing his face today was enough.
Lu Lin stood up, “Everyone, enjoy your meal.”
He stood up, and the others at the table followed suit. Lu Han spoke first, “Leaving without eating a bite?”
These words successfully stepped on Lu Changcheng’s reverse scale, but Lu Changcheng could do nothing about Lu Lin. They both knew clearly that if he spoke, Lu Lin would leave anyway. Instead, he would lose face completely, so it was better not to say anything.
Lu Changcheng put on a face of fatherly kindness and filial piety, “Go busy yourself. Work is important, but you also need to take care of your health.”
Everyone nodded and echoed with smiles.
Lu Lin left.
Lu Lin was tall and upright. Lin Fengzhi noticed as soon as he stood up. Seeing Lu Lin leave, Lin Fengzhi chased after him without thinking.
Father Lin was burying his head in food. When Lin Fengzhi ran, he looked up in surprise, “Where is Fengzhi going?”
Lin Fengyi didn’t make a sound.
He had a very strange feeling.
Ever since reuniting with Yan Heqing, Lin Fengzhi had become increasingly weird…
Yan Heqing?
Lin Fengyi picked up his water glass and gulped down a large mouthful.
Was he possessed!
Why was he thinking of him again…
——
The hollow wall lamp emitted light. Lin Fengzhi chased out, but after two or three minutes, Lu Lin was nowhere to be seen.
Lin Fengzhi bit his lip in annoyance. If his legs were a few centimeters longer, like Yan Heqing’s, would he not have lost him?
He felt another kind of depression, so he had to run towards the main gate.
Leaving the banquet hall, Lu Lin changed direction.
After finishing dinner, Yan Heqing walked towards the banquet hall again. He had scouted the path during the day.
He wasn’t sure if, with Lu Muchi’s intelligence, he could guess that all outsiders who could enter the Lu residence today were in the kitchen.
Just in case, he appeared proactively.
Only he didn’t account for Lu Lin.
Always like this.
In the brightly lit corridor, the man walked unhurriedly as always, coming towards him.
Yan Heqing paused for about half a second, then walked forward calmly.
He was now in the image of a kitchen helper, also wearing contact lenses that significantly changed his eye color.
Looking in the mirror, even he found it hard to recognize himself.
At the moment the two were about to approach, as a kitchen helper, Yan Heqing stepped aside to make way and lowered his head slightly, even though the corridor was wide.
Lu Lin walked past, his movements not pausing in the slightest.
Soles stepping on the matte wood-colored floor tiles, the steady footsteps gradually faded away.
Yan Heqing looked up, didn’t look back, and walked straight ahead.
Just turning the corridor, there were hurried footsteps ahead. Yan Heqing stopped.
Lu Muchi ran up, looking at him while panting slightly, “Is there anyone else in the kitchen?”
“Yes,” Yan Heqing replied.
Lu Muchi lifted his foot to run again, then suddenly braked. He looked at Yan Heqing with surprise, then suddenly gritted his back teeth, “Do you know it’s dangerous for you to come to my house like this!”
Even if he wanted to see him, he shouldn’t have run here!
He remembered vividly how Grandpa treated Xu Qiaoyin back then.
If he knew he…
Lu Muchi grabbed Yan Heqing’s arm, “Come with me quickly!”
It was the direction to the second floor.
Yan Heqing’s eyes showed undisguised disgust as he shook off Lu Muchi’s hand.
“Congratulations.”
He said calmly, “Happy engagement.”
Lu Muchi was both happy and annoyed.
Happy that Yan Heqing was jealous, annoyed that Yan Heqing was being sarcastic instead of just saying he was angry and wanted to be coaxed.
But he just ate this up.
If Yan Heqing begged him not to get engaged, he really wouldn’t take it seriously.
“Who the fuck wants to get engaged.” Lu Muchi sneered, “Watch carefully and listen clearly here. Things I haven’t agreed to don’t count!”
Lu Muchi turned and strode back to the banquet hall.
Yan Heqing’s eyes were calm.
He had calculated Lu Muchi’s personality accurately. This engagement would be invalid, annoying Lu Changcheng and also losing the Qi Corporation, a future right-hand man. Qi Xuehong hadn’t fallen in love with Lu Muchi yet.
Yan Heqing left.
The banquet was still going on, and there was no one at the door. Just then, a figure ran towards him.
Lin Fengzhi couldn’t find Lu Lin, even though the car was clearly still there! He turned back and just happened to see someone coming out.
It was the Lu family’s chef!
Lin Fengzhi ran forward.
It was too late for Yan Heqing to turn around.
Getting closer, Lin Fengzhi suddenly looked at Yan Heqing’s eyes, feeling a bit…
“Lin Fengzhi.”
A steady, deep voice cut in.
Lin Fengzhi’s mind went blank instantly.
His heart beat as if it wasn’t his anymore.
He looked behind Yan Heqing. In the corridor, against the light, he only saw Lu Lin’s blurry figure.
But he truly called his name!
Uncle Lu remembered his name! He remembered him!
Lin Fengzhi quickly brushed past Yan Heqing, ran to the corridor and raised his face, “Uncle Lu, you were looking for me?”
The figure in the distance walked away, Lu Lin said faintly, “Go back and eat, the banquet is about to end.”
Immediately, he carried a bag and left.
Lin Fengzhi stood motionless. After a moment, he obediently ran towards the banquet hall.
Uncle Lu wanted him to eat well!
——
On the subway home, Yan Heqing looked at the advertisements flashing quickly outside the glass.
Almost recognized by Lin Fengzhi.
Unlike others, Lin Fengzhi had a pair of eyes similar to his.
What about Lu Lin?
Was his appearance an accident?
Yan Heqing closed his eyes, listening to the tongue-twisting words in his earphones, and wrote them silently in his heart.
Just after taking off his coat back home, the phone rang.
The app notification showed a courier number.
The last time Yan Heqing shopped online was for ice fishing equipment.
He answered the call.
The other side spoke politely first: “Your package has arrived, please open the door to sign for it.”
Yan Heqing said, “I don’t have a package.”
“Not a standard package, we are flash delivery.”
The primitive iron door had no peephole. Yan Heqing fastened the safety chain before opening the door.
It was pitch black outside. Seeing the door open, the person outside said “Hey”, and the sensor light turned on.
The appearance was indeed a uniform, holding two cardboard boxes.
Yan Heqing said lightly, “If you are sure you didn’t deliver to the wrong place, leave it at the door.”
The person wasn’t sure anymore. He confirmed the address and phone number again. It was indeed correct. He then put them down, clicked delivered, and rushed to deliver the next order.
After the corridor returned to silence, Yan Heqing removed the safety chain, opened the door, and picked up the two cardboard boxes.
Neither was light.
Yan Heqing closed the door and tore open the sealing tape with his bare hands.
The first box… two pineapples?
He vaguely guessed it.
Yan Heqing tore open the second cardboard box.
This time it was neatly stacked… books?
Yan Heqing pulled one out, well protected by a transparent book cover.
It was a comic, called Superheroes.
Gently opening it, the title page read—
Every child will meet their own superhero.