The Reunion Banquet

Room 1217.

Shen Yu was enjoying the delicious breakfast Luo Ningsang had gotten up early to make. All his bandages had been removed, leaving faint red marks on his neck and hands. Xie Shuyang had prescribed an ointment that would prevent scarring if applied on schedule.

Lu Yanjin sat behind him, braiding his hair as usual. At Shen Yu's insistence, however, he had cut half of it short, leaving only one long lock at the back for Lu Yanjin to braid.

He really loved braiding hair.

Shen Yu complained silently.

He had no idea why the original owner had kept his hair so long, either.

After finishing the braid, Lu Yanjin sorted out the pills and poured a glass of warm water, setting them in front of Shen Yu. Then he began clearing up the remains of Shen Yu's breakfast. He worked so efficiently that he was already done while Shen Yu was still struggling with the pills.

"How much longer do I have to take these?"

Shen Yu had no desire at all for a life ruled by pills.

Lu Yanjin looked at the pile of colorful little pills and pointed to the green ones. "You need to take these for a week."

The red ones.

"Today's the last time for these."

The yellow capsules.

"You still need these for another month."

"You'll also need follow-up examinations along the way, and your medication plan could change at any time. If you want to stop taking medicine altogether, it'll be at least another three months," Lu Yanjin said, recalling Xie Shuyang's words.

Shen Yu's vision went black. "..."

After Shen Yu took his medicine, Lu Yanjin sat down in front of him again. He squeezed out some ointment and carefully applied it to the red marks on Shen Yu's hands, taking the opportunity to exercise his still-healing thumb a little.

"Lift your head."

Shen Yu raised his head, exposing his slender neck to Lu Yanjin. Lu Yanjin raised his hand and carefully spread the ointment around the red mark on his neck, his touch gentle.

Ding—

Xu Yao had sent a message.

Don't forget tonight's concert. I'll wait for you at the entrance!

Shen Yu remembered what he had promised Xu Yao and replied.

Okay.

The concert started at six in the evening, so he still had the whole day to visit Lu Xianchang.

For the past few days, he had kept feeling as though someone was missing. But one thing had followed another, and only when he had some free time did he realize Lu Xianchang hadn't come to see him. He had assumed something was keeping him busy, but Lu Xianchang was nowhere to be found at the agency either.

Only after asking around did he learn that Lu Xianchang was actually the Lu Family's long-lost eldest son. He had only been found a few days ago, and the family was holding a reunion banquet today.

Shen Yu: "?"

A melodramatic rich-family plot is happening right beside me?

But Lu Xianchang hadn't replied to his messages. When he asked Luo Ningsang and the others, they all hemmed and hawed and told him only that Lu Xianchang was fine.

So, after letting Luo Ningsang know, he planned to attend the banquet in Luo Ningsang's name and find out what was going on. Luo Ningsang knew his temperament: even if stopped, he would go on his own, so it was better to go with him and take some people along. But then someone who didn't know what was good for them sent a threatening letter to the Police Bureau, saying they had planted explosives all over the city and wanted to play a timed game with the officers.

Luo Ningsang was dragged off to do the hard work, and everyone at the agency and the Police Bureau was run off their feet. Lu Yanjin followed behind him with a bag, looking out of place.

After Shen Yu repeatedly assured him, Luo Ningsang finally relented and had Lu Yanjin hand the bag to Shen Yu. He also told Shen Yu to keep his phone on at all times. Still uneasy, he wrote a letter and gave it to Shen Yu, telling him to hand it to Lu Xianchang when he saw him.

Shen Yu murmured his agreement, looking perfectly well-behaved.

He stuffed the letter into the bag among a pile of medicine boxes.

"Little Meng, take him to the Lu Family banquet."

The person called upon lifted his head from a pile of documents. "Yes, boss!"

Meng Wenrui caught the keys Luo Ningsang tossed him and beamed at Shen Yu. "Are we leaving now?"

He had seen this man gently bring someone they had interrogated for over a week to the breaking point with just a few words. He couldn't help feeling all sorts of emotions. As expected of Consultant Luo's younger brother.

Shen Yu wore a casual outfit: an off-white, long-sleeved V-neck top with wide-legged jeans. A small, long blue braid swayed behind him as he moved. His features weren't gentle, but had a heroic air. After spending so long in the hospital, however, he also had a faintly sickly look about him.

When he smiled and patted Meng Wenrui on the shoulder, a boldness unique to youth appeared in him again, softening that frail, sickly air.

"Let's go."

The Lu Family's reunion banquet was being held at the Jinglan Imperial Residence hotel, which admitted members by invitation only. Those without sufficient assets weren't even eligible for entry, and even with enough money, they still couldn't get in unless someone from that circle brought them.

Shen Yu: That exclusive?

But then Shen Yu looked at the membership card in his hand and rubbed his chin.

Isn't Luo Ningsang just a detective? Do detectives make that much money? How does he have a membership card?

Meng Wenrui had changed out of his police uniform. Standing behind Shen Yu a little shyly, he scratched his head. "Consultant Luo told me to keep an eye on you."

"Oh, then come with me." Shen Yu walked to the entrance and held out the membership card. The attendant took it with both hands, then respectfully returned it to him. Smiling, the attendant extended a hand. "Esteemed Mr. Luo, this way, please."

Shen Yu didn't deny it.

But Meng Wenrui was stopped outside.

"He's with me."

"I'm very sorry, Mr. Luo, but only the cardholder may enter today's banquet."

"Does that apply to everyone else too?"

The attendant's expression didn't change. "Yes."

Shen Yu spread his hands at Meng Wenrui. "Tell my brother it's not that I wouldn't let you come with me."

Meng Wenrui stepped aside and called Luo Ningsang. Luo Ningsang pinched the bridge of his nose. "Then come back."

Security at the Lu Family's banquet was tight, so nothing should go wrong.

That was what Luo Ningsang thought.

"Consultant Luo, the search team found homemade explosives at a barbecue restaurant on the commercial street!"

Someone shouted.

Luo Ningsang hung up. "Tell everyone to head to the barbecue restaurant."

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, Shen Yu, who had followed the attendant's directions into the Jinglan Imperial Residence, couldn't help widening his eyes.

Gold and splendor everywhere.

Nothing else could describe the extravagance of the hotel's interior.

A fountain ten meters tall stood in the very center, surrounded by greenery. On the spacious floor, people in suits and formal dresses gathered in twos and threes to talk. Looking up, he saw at least a dozen levels of large circular platforms, like those in a shopping mall, encircling the fountain.

Unlike a shopping mall, however, this place didn't sell clothes. Instead, it housed various entertainment venues and bedrooms for guests to rest in. Every part was designed just right, without particularly elaborate decorations, but one look was enough to tell how lavish it was.

Shen Yu, wearing jeans, already drew plenty of attention, not to mention his blue hair.

"Whose kid is that? I haven't seen him before."

"From another circle, maybe? I haven't heard of anyone having a kid with blue hair. Maybe someone brought him along to broaden his horizons. They just dumped him here and left him alone. Did he offend them?"

"He's awfully good-looking, though. Go ask around."

"If you're interested, go yourself. Leave me out of it. If he turns out to be someone I can't afford to offend, I can distance myself."

"How can you be so heartless?"

"Thanks for the compliment."

"But now that you mention it, I really am interested."

The man raised his wineglass, rested his teeth against the rim, and took a small sip. Through the crowd, his gaze settled on Shen Yu, who was looking around. He straightened the hem of his jacket, then raised a hand and adjusted his hairspray-styled hair a couple of times.

Shen Yu was still observing his surroundings when he noticed someone walking toward him. He quietly moved aside, but the man changed direction too. Shen Yu understood then: the man was looking for him.

"Which family are you from?"

The newcomer stopped in front of Shen Yu. His tailored suit accentuated his slender figure, and his young, handsome face was full of curiosity and inquiry. His features were somewhat delicate, and the shadow cast by his nose under the lights made him look even more feminine. His dark, deep eyes seemed to hold whirlpools that would drag Shen Yu in.

Shen Yu lifted his eyes to look at him and felt uncomfortable. His tone turned unfriendly. "None of your damn business."

The man wasn't annoyed. "My name is He Lin. Want to get to know each other?"

Shen Yu didn't spare him so much as a glance.

He Lin continued, "Are you looking for someone? This must be your first time here. Why not tell me? I can take you to them. I know this place well."

Shen Yu glanced at the man trying to curry favor with him.

He's definitely up to no good.

"No need."

With his bag on his back, Shen Yu picked an attendant at random and asked about Lu Xianchang, only to be told that no one could see him before the banquet began.

"Then where's the lounge? I need somewhere to rest my feet."

"This way, sir."

He Lin stood where he was, watching Shen Yu walk away, and clicked his tongue in displeasure. His friend, who had been eavesdropping nearby the whole time, put an arm around his shoulders and teased, "You went running over to butter him up, and you didn't even get his name?"

"What's it to you?"

He Lin's face darkened. He waved an attendant over and asked about Shen Yu. The attendant hesitated for a moment, but upon seeing the platinum card in He Lin's hand, stopped hesitating and told him everything.

"Luo Ningsang?"

He Lin felt sure he had heard the name somewhere before. He sent his secretary a message, asking him to look into the man.

"What does he want with the Lu Family's illegitimate son?" His friend had heard the whole conversation from the side.

"If Lu Changfeng hears you say that, he'll skin you alive," He Lin said with a cold laugh.

"All right, the Lu Family's eldest young master." His friend changed how he addressed him, though he couldn't hide the flippancy in his tone. He turned his head, his peach blossom eyes narrowing slightly. "So, Young Master He, are you going to join the fun?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"