The banquet hall had descended into chaos.
Quite a few people had recorded what Zhao Huaide had just said. Some whispered among themselves, some hurried to send messages, and others looked at Xu Chengyuan with eyes that were already different from when they had first arrived.
Xu Chengyuan's expression was grim.
He had held this reception to preserve the Xu Family's reputation, not to let Zhao Huaide disgrace himself in public, much less to make everyone start wondering just how much the Xu Family was hiding.
But now, the very thing he had feared most had happened.
Xu Zhihan stood in the corridor, leaning against the wall to recover for a moment.
After using that little bit of power, his chest hurt badly. The candy dissolved in his mouth, its sweetness masking the taste of blood in his throat, but it could do nothing for his weakness.
Lu Wenchuan stood beside him without urging him on or reaching out to support him.
He had already figured out a little of Xu Zhihan's temperament.
This man did not like being treated as a patient.
Even when he looked pale enough to faint the next second, he did not want anyone asking another question.
Unfortunately, Lu Wenchuan could never keep his mouth shut. He could not resist saying, "Your body really can take a beating."
Xu Zhihan lifted his eyes to him. "If you can't say anything decent, shut up."
Lu Wenchuan immediately nodded. "All right. I'll shut up."
The silence lasted less than three seconds before he added, "But that move just now really was beautiful."
Xu Zhihan could not be bothered with him.
Inside the banquet hall, someone had already helped Zhao Huaide into a lounge. Xu Chengyuan wanted to have him taken away, but the people Lu Wenchuan had stationed there stopped them.
Lu Wenchuan had not come alone.
Members of the Seventh Team had been stationed outside the venue all along.
The moment things went wrong with Zhao Huaide, the team members secured the scene and, while they were at it, escorted a few people who wanted to delete their videos off to the side.
Xu Chengyuan came out just in time to see this.
His expression grew colder.
"Captain Lu."
Lu Wenchuan looked up with an easy smile. "President Xu, what can I do for you?"
Xu Chengyuan glanced at Xu Zhihan beside him and kept his voice low. "Aren't you meddling a little too much in tonight's affairs, Captain Lu?"
Lu Wenchuan's smile did not change. "That's an unfair accusation, President Xu. Those were Zhao Huaide's own words. I didn't teach him to say them."
Xu Chengyuan's voice deepened. "This is the Xu Family's reception."
"It's also a public venue," Lu Wenchuan said leisurely. "He appeared to admit to involvement in a homicide in front of everyone. As a captain of the Special Investigation Bureau, surely detaining him isn't unreasonable?"
Xu Chengyuan stared at him. "What does Zhao Huaide's case have to do with the Special Investigation Bureau?"
Lu Wenchuan's smile faded a little.
"Nothing, for now."
Xu Chengyuan was just about to speak when Lu Wenchuan added another sentence.
"But Zhao Huaide invested in Jiang Ren's sanatorium. The formation in the Xu Family's basement bears similarities to the traces of talisman markings found at the sanatorium. When you look at it that way, there does seem to be a connection."
The look in Xu Chengyuan's eyes changed.
Hearing this, Xu Zhihan also looked at Lu Wenchuan.
Lu Wenchuan had not mentioned this before.
Noticing his gaze, Lu Wenchuan turned his head and said quietly, "Just got the news. Still fresh."
Xu Zhihan said coldly, "You could have told me sooner."
"You were busy making someone kneel," Lu Wenchuan said with a perfectly straight face. "I didn't dare interrupt."
Xu Zhihan gave him a look.
Lu Wenchuan immediately shut up.
Watching them talk as though no one else were there only stoked Xu Chengyuan's anger. He lowered his voice. "Zhihan, come with me."
Xu Zhihan did not move.
Xu Chengyuan's expression darkened. "I'm your father."
At those words, several people in the corridor looked over.
Xu Zhihan was pale, but his tone was perfectly level. "Reminding yourself?"
Xu Chengyuan's expression froze.
Lu Wenchuan turned his head and let out a laugh, then quickly suppressed it.
Xu Chengyuan could no longer hide the anger in his eyes. "Xu Zhihan, haven't you caused enough trouble tonight?"
Xu Zhihan looked at him, his gaze indifferent.
"No."
That single word stopped Xu Chengyuan in his tracks.
Xu Zhihan continued, "What happened to Xu An hasn't been cleared up. What happened to Lin Wan hasn't been cleared up. Neither has the basement. What's your hurry?"
Xu Chengyuan's lips tightened.
What he feared most was Xu Zhihan bringing these things up in public.
People nearby were already pricking up their ears.
Xu Chengyuan struggled to hold himself back, then softened his tone. "You're not well. Go home and rest. Whatever it is, we can talk once we're home."
Xu Zhihan did not agree.
Lu Wenchuan suddenly spoke. "There's no need for him to go back to the Xu Family."
Xu Chengyuan looked at him. "What do you mean?"
Lu Wenchuan took a temporary investigation assistance notice from his pocket and held it out to Xu Chengyuan.
"Xu Zhihan is currently involved in the anomalous incident in the Xu Residence's basement and is a key witness. For the next few days, he'll be under the Special Investigation Bureau's temporary protection."
Xu Chengyuan's expression changed sharply. "You're taking him away?"
"Protecting a witness," Lu Wenchuan corrected.
"He's my son."
"He's an adult." Lu Wenchuan smiled. "Twenty-one. You don't get to keep him on a leash."
Xu Chengyuan's expression turned utterly grim.
Zhou Man and Xu Mingji hurried over as well.
The moment Zhou Man heard that the Special Investigation Bureau was taking Xu Zhihan away, she panicked. "No! Zhihan isn't well. How can he go with you? Captain Lu, you can't do this."
Xu Mingji stood beside her, his eyes red. "Please don't go, brother. Mom and Dad are just worried about you. We're a family. What can't we talk through?"
Xu Zhihan looked at him.
"Still acting?"
Xu Mingji went pale.
Xu Zhihan had little patience left. "Your audience is inside. Go cry over there."
Lu Wenchuan could not help lowering his head and coughing.
Zhou Man could not hide her embarrassment, and her voice grew shriller. "Xu Zhihan, when are you going to stop this? The Xu Family raised you all these years. How can you leave with an outsider?"
Xu Zhihan looked at her, his gaze settling on her neck.
The strangulation marks there had not completely faded.
Under his gaze, Zhou Man took a step back.
Xu Zhihan's tone was indifferent. "I'd be a little less annoyed if you stopped mentioning how you raised me."
Zhou Man's face turned white.
Xu Chengyuan said coldly, "Lu Wenchuan, you're not taking him away today."
Lu Wenchuan raised an eyebrow. "Care to try stopping me, President Xu?"
The atmosphere in the corridor instantly tightened.
The bodyguards Xu Chengyuan had brought stepped forward half a pace, while members of the Seventh Team moved closer from the side.
Xu Zhihan found it noisy.
He frowned and said, "Enough."
His voice was not loud, but it silenced everyone nearby for a moment.
Xu Zhihan looked at Xu Chengyuan.
"I'm going with him."
Xu Chengyuan's expression was ugly. "Xu Zhihan!"
Xu Zhihan ignored him and only turned to Lu Wenchuan. "Let's go."
Lu Wenchuan looked at him, paused for a second, then smiled. "All right."
With that, he turned to lead the way.
After two steps, Xu Zhihan felt unsteady on his feet. Lu Wenchuan noticed, but instead of supporting him in front of everyone, he merely slowed down and stayed where Xu Zhihan could lean on him at any moment.
Xu Zhihan noticed.
He was smart, at least.
He didn't put my weakness on display for everyone.
When they left the hotel, the reporters outside had yet to disperse.
Seeing Xu Zhihan and Lu Wenchuan emerge together, they immediately crowded around with their cameras.
"Young Master Xu, why did Zhao Huaide kneel in public?"
"What exactly is in the Xu Family's basement?"
"Are you leaving with Captain Lu now?"
The flashes made Xu Zhihan frown.
He already had a headache. Now he was even more irritated.
Lu Wenchuan stepped forward, blocking most of the cameras, his tone as languid as ever.
"Don't crowd him. He's ill. He can't handle all those flashes."
A reporter pressed, "Captain Lu, are you protecting Xu Zhihan?"
Lu Wenchuan turned his head to glance at Xu Zhihan.
Xu Zhihan looked terrible, but his gaze was frighteningly cold.
Lu Wenchuan smiled.
"Yes."
The reporter froze.
His answer was so direct that they did not know what to ask next.
Lu Wenchuan continued, "Xu Zhihan is currently a key witness for the Special Investigation Bureau. Anyone spreading rumors, taking covert photos, or maliciously manipulating public opinion will be investigated."
Once he finished, the people around them grew considerably quieter.
Xu Zhihan glanced at Lu Wenchuan.
Lu Wenchuan said quietly, "Well? Pretty useful, aren't I?"
Xu Zhihan said coldly, "Barely."
Lu Wenchuan laughed aloud.
"You're really hard to please."
Xu Zhihan did not reply.
As he got into the car, he finally reached his limit and braced his fingertips against the door.
Lu Wenchuan's expression changed. He reached out to shield Xu Zhihan's head from the roof, his voice dropping. "Easy."
Xu Zhihan sat down in the car and closed his eyes.
"Don't talk."
Lu Wenchuan closed the door for him.
"All right."
But half a minute later, he still took a piece of candy from the storage compartment and held it out.
Xu Zhihan opened his eyes, looking unwell. "Didn't you understand me?"
Lu Wenchuan placed the candy in his palm.
"I didn't say anything."
Xu Zhihan stared at the candy for a while, then finally peeled off the wrapper.
Lu Wenchuan started the car with a hint of a smile on his lips.
Xu Zhihan leaned against the seat back with the candy in his mouth and said nothing more.
Outside the car, the lights slipped behind them one by one.
The Xu Family was left behind.
At least for this one night, things were finally a little quieter.