Andrew Manor

Zoe invited Lu Zhiyu to a high-society ball in London. It was being held at a manor in the suburbs. Lu Zhiyu had spent several years holed up in Maria World conducting experiments, and by the time he emerged, he could barely talk. His expression had become as wooden as a plank.

Lu Zhiyu felt that if he kept living like this, he might really turn into a robot. So he accepted Zoe's invitation to get out and relax, and to see for himself what the so-called balls of Britain's upper class were like. He had only ever seen such things in movies, and he was quite curious!

Lu Zhiyu changed into formalwear and drove to the outskirts of London. London had once been the most polluted city in the world, but now it showed no signs of pollution at all. The countryside was beautiful, the air fresh, and the scenery pleasant.

The drive there was soothing and carefree. Lu Zhiyu eventually reached Andrew Manor, where a sprawling European-style building stood at the foot of a hill.

It looked like plenty of guests had already arrived. When Lu Zhiyu drove up to the manor, he saw that a crowd had gathered. After parking, he took out his invitation.

Several men in suits stood at the entrance. They checked Lu Zhiyu's invitation, and he headed inside. The garden lawns were neatly trimmed, and trees and flowers of every color complemented one another. There were fountains and angel statues, while several servants tended to the grounds.

Though the manor looked new, its main building was a castle, and it carried the weight of a long history. Its owner clearly had a certain standing—not just a great deal of money.

Lu Zhiyu pushed open the glass doors and entered the hall, where many guests had already gathered in small groups. The moment he walked in, countless eyes turned toward him. With his elf-like looks and distinctive air, he drew attention wherever he went, and this place was no exception.

Quite a few guests came over at once, looking at Lu Zhiyu with curiosity. The first was a woman in a black evening gown. "Hello, I'm Lisa. It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Lu Zhiyu shook Lisa's hand. "Anthony. It's a pleasure to meet you too, Miss Lisa!"

With Lu Zhiyu's hand in hers, Lisa asked excitedly, "Oh, I'm sorry. This is a little forward, but I have to ask—are you a man?"

The corner of Lu Zhiyu's mouth twitched slightly, but he nodded. By then, a good number of people had gathered around. Men and women alike examined him with interest, and several let out exclamations of surprise. Lisa covered her mouth. "You're so... so handsome. You make us women jealous!"

Lu Zhiyu didn't know what to say, so he could only reply, "Thank you for the compliment!"

Just then, someone squeezed through the crowd and took Lu Zhiyu by the hand. He looked over and saw Zoe. She turned to Lisa. "Lisa, sorry, but this is my friend. I have something to discuss with him!"

Lisa frowned and turned away. Zoe led Lu Zhiyu to a corner on the left side of the hall. They sat down on a red sofa, and a servant soon passed by with food and drinks. They each took a glass.

Zoe clinked her glass against Lu Zhiyu's. "Did you come alone? You didn't bring a date?"

Lu Zhiyu shook his head. "No. I don't know anyone here. I mainly wanted to see what European balls are like."

Zoe looked him over in surprise. "Oh my God, are you... gay?"

Judging by her expression, Zoe seemed to have convinced herself. Lu Zhiyu quickly waved his hands. "No, no! Zoe, don't joke about that. It's not funny!"

Zoe looked into Lu Zhiyu's eyes to make sure, then nodded and took his arm. "All right, then I'll be your date tonight. You can dance with me later!"

Lu Zhiyu nodded. "But I'm not very good. Don't blame me if I step on your feet!"

Zoe stood up and beckoned to Lu Zhiyu. "Anthony, let me introduce you to a friend!"

In the middle of the hall stood a middle-aged man with a small mustache. He was a little thin, but seemed full of energy and confidence. He appeared to know Zoe very well. After hearing her introduction, he turned to Lu Zhiyu with interest. "Hello, Mr. Anthony. I'm Charlie Andrew. Welcome to the ball I'm hosting!"

Lu Zhiyu shook Andrew's hand. "It's an honor!"

The ball was quite enjoyable. A professional orchestra played, and there were special performances. As the mellow music filled the air, moonlight shone through the castle windows. The castle glowed with light, and amid the glittering wine and company, the men in suits and women in evening gowns made it feel as if they had traveled back to the classical Middle Ages.

With his arm around Zoe, Lu Zhiyu joined the dancers. Zoe suddenly decided to play a prank on him and pulled him into a waltz. But Lu Zhiyu danced with her through the entire piece, moving gracefully to the music.

The lights in the hall immediately focused on the two of them, and everyone turned to watch. When the music ended, they finished with a professional pose, and the hall erupted in applause.

Zoe's cheeks were flushed. She looked at Lu Zhiyu excitedly. "I had no idea you could dance so well. You said you couldn't! Is that Eastern modesty?"

Lu Zhiyu gave her a mysterious look. Of course, he couldn't tell her it was his first time. With the data in Sub-Brain and his extraordinary control over his body, his technique and attention to detail were almost indistinguishable from those of a professional dancer.

After chatting with Lu Zhiyu for a while, Zoe heard him say, "I'll be fine on my own. You don't have to stay with me the whole time. I can wander around and have a look. I'm quite curious about the castle and the manor."

Lu Zhiyu knew that Zoe had come to the ball with a purpose: to socialize. Her family was a business family, and she wasn't the only child. If she wanted to gain access to more resources, she had to make more friends. That was one of the main reasons the ball was being held.

Lu Zhiyu walked alone through the castle corridors, looking at the paintings, the introductions to the castle's successive owners, and the stories from its history. It all seemed quite fascinating.

"This is my grandfather, a devout Christian!"

Lu Zhiyu turned around and saw Charlie Andrew. He immediately asked, "Mr. Andrew, do you believe in God too?"