Chapter 50: The Lively Birthday Party

Chapter 50: The Lively Birthday Party

It was the end of August, and it was Xu Qingan's birthday.

On this day in previous years, Xu Qingan's father and mother would always throw a birthday party for him.

Usually, it would be held at home, or the whole family would go to a nearby restaurant for a good meal. When hosting the birthday party, they would only invite familiar classmates and relatives. It was the first time they had arranged such a grand event like today.

Apart from university classmates, there were also business partners of Xu Qingan's father.

Although Xu Qingan didn't quite understand, he enjoyed the lively atmosphere of being blessed by a crowd, so he didn't mind. Moreover, he had heard that Xu Qingran, that ticking time bomb, had graduated, so they were being quite cautious with this birthday party, not wanting him to find out and cause trouble again.

Xu Qingan still remembered how Xu Qingran had threatened at the graduation party that he would crash every party related to him in the future. Whether he was just talking or truly meant it, Xu Qingan didn't want any more disturbances.

He stood in front of the mirror in the lounge, satisfied with the silver-gray custom-tailored suit he was wearing.

While looking at himself, he said to Lu Cheng, who was sitting on the sofa with his back to him, "Giorgio's clothes are really exquisite. How about we also have our wedding suits custom-made by them?"

"That sounds good," Lu Cheng replied without turning his head, still looking at his phone.

After adjusting his bow tie, Xu Qingan turned around and was about to hug him from behind when he saw the interface on his phone, which was related to Xu Qingran.

The video recorded Xu Qingran's fighting stance against an outsider in the academy, and Lu Cheng kept rewatching it, his eyes filled with professional admiration. Although it was just professional admiration, Xu Qingan still felt uncomfortable.

He still remembered that Xu Qingran and Lu Cheng had a 99% compatibility score, destined to attract each other.

Xu Qingan felt confused again.

When did everyone around him start paying more attention to Xu Qingran?

Even during regular family dinners, the elders would ask Xu Qingan's father about Xu Qingran. Whether it was praise or criticism, his name would keep coming up. Even the students in the medical school couldn't stop talking about Xu Qingran.

As they talked, the voices that mentioned him turned into praise.

And what about him?

He was supposed to be the shining star of the Xu family, the successful person who was accepted into medical school and became Lu Wennian's disciple. But compared to Xu Qingran, his achievements paled in comparison, and no one even bothered to mention them.

Why?

Just because Xu Qingran has a wild streak? What's so likable about that volatile and unpredictable behavior?!

Lu Cheng noticed his gaze and instinctively wanted to close the app.

But before he could act, he felt that doing so would be a bit suspicious. He was simply studying Xu Qingran's combat skills, and there was no need to feel guilty.

Just as he was deep in thought, wondering if Xu Qingan would be upset about this, he heard him chuckle and say, "My brother is really impressive now."

"Seeing that he can manage well on his own, I feel relieved."

Lu Cheng hesitated and sighed, "Indeed."

After saying that, he locked his phone and stood up, saying, "Let's go, we should make our way to the banquet hall."

After walking a few steps, Xu Qingan suddenly hugged him from behind.

His voice muffled, "Lu Cheng, do you think I'm not as good as my brother now, and that's why you look down on me?"

"No, don't overthink it," Lu Cheng comforted him.

He’s a man who takes his responsibilities seriously.

Lately, he’s had his share of regrets and doubts. But Shen Tingyu had a point back then. Since he’d made his choice, he had to see it through with Xu Qingan and not waver.

The only thing he can’t stomach is the thought of his childhood friend, whom he’s watched grow up, being snatched up by the Shen family.

Lost in thought, Lu Cheng didn’t notice Xu Qingan’s approach. Out of nowhere, Xu Qingan hooked his neck and planted a kiss, catching him completely off guard.

He raised his hand slightly but ultimately didn’t refuse, letting his “fiancée” feel secure.

His mind wandered a bit.

…Whatever, as long as it’s not Shen Tingyu.

Given their uncle-nephew bond, even Shen Tingyu, with all his lack of scruples, probably wouldn’t stoop to stealing his nephew’s fiancée.

·

Xu Qingan’s birthday banquet began shortly after he and Lu Cheng arrived.

The doors swung open, and a towering seven-tier cake, custom-ordered by Xu Yan, was wheeled in by waiters. To match the cake’s theme, the waiters donned adorable animal masks.

The guest list wasn’t huge, with a handful being business associates of Xu’s father.

The birthday banquet was just a front; what Xu Yan really wanted was to lock down these clients and partners.

For the past six months, the Xu Group has been struggling.

First, their main construction arm kept running into issues—lost contracts, costly mistakes, you name it. Every time they bid, it felt like someone was leaking their numbers, leaving them just shy of winning, but the mole remained elusive.

Then there were other business woes: distributors suddenly cutting ties, advertising deals drying up, and cash flow problems piling up.

Lately, the pressure from both the main and branch families of the Xu clan has been mounting, so much so that they skipped today’s banquet. If this keeps up, his companies could slide back into the same mess as before!

Now, without the Qi family to bail him out, he’s on his own. Xu Qingan’s mother has no significant background and is currently tangled in lawsuits, almost facing confinement in the Tower of Evil. He’s got no one to turn to.

Today’s guests were all tied to the Qi family’s former assets—longtime clients of their businesses. Luckily, the Qi family’s assets haven’t blown up yet, so these big shots are still in the dark about the Xu family’s troubles.

Xu Yan needed to seize this chance to consolidate and, hopefully, land a few big contracts to plug the holes in the Xu Group.

“Hey, Old Xu, why the long face on your son’s big day?”

“Exactly, Chairman Xu, let’s toast first, and when Chairman Mo shows up, we’ll make him drink up as payback!”

“Hahaha, Old Li, you’ve got guts—that’s Chairman Mo!”

“Ahem, just kidding.”

Xu Yan forced a smile, burying his worries as he raised his glass to socialize.

While drinking, he hid his troubled eyes behind the cup.

If only Xu Qingran would hand over that inheritance.

Xu Yan was torn.

He knew the current Xu Qingran would never agree to help him, but he couldn’t help dreaming of a way to legitimately take over what Qi Shengxue had left for him.

As Xu’s father sat at the main table, lost in thought, the waiters wheeled the cake over to Xu Qingan.

The tables closest to Xu Qingan were occupied by friends of similar age, a group of social butterflies who stood up to hype the atmosphere, singing the birthday song for him. The elders invited by Xu's father were on the other side, smiling as they watched the young folks have fun, then toasting cordially and discussing business.

After the birthday song ended, there was another round of cheers.

A waitress wearing a long-eared rabbit mask and a neat ponytail cheerfully announced, "Happy Birthday to Mr. Xu Qingan, the birthday star of today's banquet hall!"

Then, along with other waiters, she pulled a party popper towards Xu Qingan's head.

"How wonderful, Qingan, to have such a doting father and a devoted fiancé!"

"Good looks and great studies, you're the pride of our medical school!"

"Make a wish, make a wish!"

Xu Qingan smiled sweetly, clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and silently made a wish before blowing out the candles.

Then, accompanied by Lu Cheng, he took a small knife from a waiter wearing a red fox mask and cut the cake with a look of happiness.

The atmosphere group around them started another round of teasing.

Just as Xu Qingan was about to deliver his official speech as the birthday party's main character, the waiter beside him unexpectedly pulled out a cream spray and, without warning, sprayed it all over his face.

Not satisfied with just his face, the waiter also sprayed his neck and clothes.

It seemed as if the whole bottle was about to be used up.

The cheerful banquet hall suddenly fell silent.

The guests, who were still laughing and clapping, froze in their smiles, looking at each other, unsure if this was a planned part of the show or some kind of accident. Some who had attended Xu Qingan's graduation banquet suddenly felt a familiar memory resurface.

Xu Qingan, in a state of disarray, shouted and wiped his face, only making it worse, unable to even open his eyes.

Xu's father, startled, quickly stood up.

Lu Cheng, seeing this, quickly reacted, grabbing a clean towel from the cake cart and carefully wiping Xu Qingan's face.

While wiping, he angrily questioned the waiter, "I remember the service reputation of Yuntian Tower has always been good. Is this how you treat the birthday person? Is this a high-end restaurant or a low-end party venue?!"

The waiters also looked panicked.

The leader, wearing the rabbit mask, was about to scold the misbehaving waiter when the latter took off the red fox mask, revealing a sweet and beautiful angelic face.

Then, smiling like a pure little devil, said, "Oh, surprise! Did you expect this?"

"It's your brother, my dear brother."

Everyone was shocked.

Experienced guests had already stood up, ready to leave.

Xu Qingran smiled with curved eyes, his tone casual, "You said you were too shy to inform me about your birthday party."

"If I hadn't run into you today, I would have almost missed this great day."

Xu Qingan, upon opening his eyes and realizing it was Xu Qingran who had pranked him, was stunned for a full five seconds.

Almost losing his composure, he roared, "Xu Qingran! How did you get here?!"

Xu Qingran looked at him, the smile in his eyes gradually cooling, "I told you, I will definitely attend every important banquet of yours from now on."

If possible, Xu Qingran really wanted to press Xu Qingan's head into the cake.

But then he thought, the cake didn’t deserve that. If it got dirty because of Xu Qingan, it would be a waste.

Xu Qingan was startled by the venomous chill in those eyes, and only then did he truly realize what a big trouble he had brought upon himself.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Xu Qingran was supposed to be a pushover, so why had he become like this now? Why could he be so indifferent to face and scolding, and insist on opposing me to the end?!

When Xu Yan saw Xu Qingran, his expression also changed.

Especially when their eyes met, he felt even more uneasy. It seemed as if Xu Qingran had come today just to mess with Xu Qingan, and the real target was him, his father.

Xu Yan was startled by the sudden realization.

He approached the cake, and for the first time, instead of scolding Xu Qingran angrily, he put on a fatherly demeanor and spoke earnestly, "Qingran, I know I haven’t been a good father in the past, neglecting you and not considering your feelings."

"You’ve made your point, and your aunt already knows she was wrong about your mother. An’an is still young; he didn’t understand before, and what’s done is done and can’t be changed. After all, we’re family. You’re doing well now, so let’s just let bygones be bygones, huh?"

Xu Qingran couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing this.

It seems the Xu family is in real trouble. Xu Yan, known for his fiery temper, is now willing to lower his stance.

"Let bygones be bygones, huh?" His expression was as if he had heard a joke. "Will my mother come back to life then? Will all the suffering I’ve endured disappear?"

Xu Yan stayed silent.

"When my mother was alive, you always used work as an excuse to stay away. Of course, you didn’t care because you had another family outside. After my mother died, you brought your mistress and son into the house, always prioritizing them, never asking about my preferences."

Xu Qingran recounted the original host’s past expressionlessly. "I respected you as a father, but you treated me like a stranger. You didn’t care when I was sick or about my life. And when my boyfriend was taken away, you even helped the other party lecture me, telling me to give in."

Lu Cheng listened, lowering his eyes slightly and clenching his fingers.

"Even when I was caught in the South 13th District and disappeared for a few days, when I came back covered in injuries, your first reaction was to reprimand me."

"You didn’t try to uncover the truth or care about what happened during my disappearance. You were solely focused on protecting your other son’s marriage."

The more Xu Qingran spoke, the icier his eyes became.

"So don’t give me that family talk," he said to Xu Yan, his tone merciless. "Because your eldest son died long ago in Red City’s South 13th District."

After Xu Qingran’s voice fell, there was only dead silence in the small banquet hall.

Although the guests knew that today’s banquet might be ruined again, their feet and butts seemed glued to the chairs, unable to get up, wanting to continue watching the sequel of this wealthy family drama.

Xu Yan’s heart felt as if struck by a hammer, trembling.

He wanted to argue but had no words.

The memories of Xu Qingran’s completely different personality from childhood to now flashed through his mind.

He didn’t like this son, but his son had always tried his best to please him since he was a child. Before Xu Qingan and his mother entered the Xu family, his temper wasn’t that bad. It was later, when he felt that Xu Qingan had taken everything from him and could easily gain his affection, that he became prone to tantrums and often gave Xu Qingan and his mother a hard time.

But in all honesty, until middle school, Xu Qingran had still been trying hard to build a relationship with him, his father.

It was he who had always refused.

Perhaps there was a moment of guilt in Xu Yan’s heart, but now he was more concerned about his own and the Xu family’s interests, so he could only try to persuade Xu Qingran again, "No matter how much we argue, the blood ties between us can’t be severed!"

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Xu Qingran grabbed the knife used to cut the cake from the cart and gestured it on his arm. "Blood ties, huh? I can drain my blood right now, go to the hospital, and get someone else’s blood transfused. Then wouldn’t I have no relation to you at all?"

Although this is an absurd statement, everyone is well aware that Xu Qingran is merely expressing his determination to sever ties with the Xu family.

Xu Qingran continued unhurriedly, "Moreover, are you sure what you truly care about is our blood ties on the surface, rather than the substantial inheritance I carry?"

Father Xu, caught off guard, looked up sharply, struggling to maintain composure, "Qingran, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"I'm too busy managing the Xu family's businesses to even think about coveting what your mother left for you..."

"Is that so?" Xu Qingran retorted.

"But how is it that I've heard through the grapevine that the Xu family's businesses haven't been doing well lately, and the funds for the industries under the family are almost running out?"

Xu Yan's expression turned horrified.

Xu Qingran gave him a cold smirk.

Father Xu was genuinely shocked, as he had never disclosed this matter to Xu Qingran. How could he know?

...Could it be that the frequent mishaps in the Xu family over the past six months were related to him?!

Impossible, even if Xu Qingran had such intentions, what means could he possibly have to achieve it? Did he enlist the help of the Shen family? No, the Shen family is primarily involved in military and arms research, and even though they have a foothold in commerce, it's only within the Golden Wing Battalion. Their influence across factions isn't that significant.

As Xu Yan pondered uneasily, the bosses and friends he invited began whispering among themselves.

The gazes fixed on him grew more inquisitive.

On the other side, Xu Qingan was equally taken aback.

As Father Xu's child, he knew him best. From his slightly changed expression and reaction, it was clear that what Xu Qingran said was most likely true. But why hadn't Xu Yan mentioned it to him?

"The Xu family must have many gaps to fill now," Xu Qingran said casually. "So those who want to collaborate with you, Dad, should carefully consider and evaluate the situation first."

Hearing this, Xu Yan finally lost his composure as a good father, his neck flushed with anger as he shouted, "Xu Qingran, don't go too far!"

This statement was clearly aimed at the bosses he wanted to collaborate with!

"Not so bad," Xu Qingran shrugged. "Compared to what you and your family did to me and my mother, this is quite tame."

Xu Qingran then remembered something else, "Speaking of my mother, I heard that a few months ago, you moved into her villa at Bishui Villa Estate with your mistress and her son? If I remember correctly, that's one of the properties she left to me."

"Did you ask for my permission before moving in?"

This matter was something he had learned from Qi Heqian, who had vented to him during his time at the military academy when he got his phone for a couple of days.

It was one of the dowries the Qi family had given to Qi Shengxue. The villas there were expansive, with thousands of square meters just for the houses. The environment was picturesque, nestled between mountains and water, located at a high elevation. The number of villas in the villa area was very limited, and having money didn't necessarily mean you could buy one.

Xu Yan felt another pang of guilt and could only explain, his face red, "Isn't it because our old house in Red City is now heavily invaded by Class IV devils, making it inconvenient to move around? We had no choice but to move there temporarily."

Although Class IV devils are the least lethal, it doesn't mean they are completely harmless.

After Red City was invaded by these Class IV devils, the authorities of the Fairy Star System began to control the people's movements at night, prohibiting them from going out after dark.

Xu Yan, feeling uneasy living among these minor devil groups, thought of the safe area he had long admired and quietly moved in while Xu Qingran was away. He hadn't expected Xu Qingran to discover it.

Xu Qingran replied, "What does your discomfort in your old house have to do with me?"

"You have three days to move out of that place."

Father Xu should still have a few properties under his name, so it's not like he has nowhere to go. He's just deliberately trying to cling to that place.

Xu Yan, shamelessly, retorted, "You're not even 22 yet, kid, and all your mother's assets are still under my control. What's the problem with me living there?"

Xu Qingran replied, "Nothing much. If you're unwilling to move, I'll just have to personally come and kick you out."

"You— how dare you!"

Xu Yan, his heart aching with anger, was about to burst into a furious tirade when another voice suddenly interrupted their exchange in the banquet hall.

"Hey, we're all family here, no need to be so harsh."

Hearing this, Xu Qingran turned around to see which do-gooder was trying to persuade him to be generous.

A middle-aged man, appearing to be around 40, entered, with slightly graying temples. He was very tall, estimated to be over 190 cm, dressed in a suit and using a cane, his expression stern and coldly noble.

An unfamiliar old guy.

"Oh, Chairman Mo is here!"

Someone at the nearby business table let out a low exclamation.

Xu Qingran thought to himself, looks like a big shot.

But what does that have to do with me?

He openly looked the newcomer up and down, raising an eyebrow with a slight smile, "Uncle, it's easy to talk when you're standing there all comfy, huh?"

"You don't seem to be hurting for money. Since you're so generous, why don't you buy my father a villa after I take back mine?"

Xu Qingran continued, "Oh, it should at least be of the level of Bishui Manor, which costs several billion. And the one my mother left me includes a garden courtyard. You can use this as a benchmark to make it up to them."

The man stared at him coldly, not saying a word.

Xu Qingran sensed an inexplicable hostility in the stranger's gaze.

He had no idea what he'd done to piss the guy off, but he wasn't scared of him. Instead, he sneered and added, "If you can't do it, then don't meddle in other people's family affairs."

When Xu Yan saw Xu Qingran talking to the newcomer like that, he felt a chill and broke out in a cold sweat.

Mo Chengfei, this man stood at the very top of the Silver Dragon Battalion's business community! Even in the empire, a stomp from him could shake the entire business world. The Xu family was probably just a nobody to him.

Xu Yan, having been in the business circle for so many years, had only recently managed to connect with him through some connections. He knew that Mo Chengfei was currently in the Celestial System and had to be invited multiple times before he agreed to attend Xu Qingan's birthday banquet.

Mo Chengfei also had significant investments in the medical field and was acquainted with Lu Wennian. It was through these layers of relationships that he was willing to attend.

But Xu Qingran, this kid, actually dared to speak to him like that! How could the Xu family continue to operate in the Silver Dragon Battalion after this?!

Xu Yan was about to speak up to remedy the situation when Mo Chengfei's cold, dark eyes turned to him, his voice deep and icy, "Mr. Xu, it seems you have important family matters to attend to today."

"I won't be staying for the meal."

With that, he truly left the banquet hall without looking back, accompanied by his assistant.

Once Mo Chengfei left, the business partners and friends Xu Yan had invited couldn't sit still anymore.

After exchanging glances, they also got up and left.

"Mr. Xu, since you're busy today, we'll take our leave now."

"Ah, old Xu, about the cooperation we discussed earlier, let's talk about it another time."

"Mr. Xu, I'll leave you to handle your matters without further interruption."

One by one, resolutely, a large portion of the guests quickly slipped away from the banquet hall.

No matter how Xu Yan tried to persuade them, it was to no avail.

Xu Yan was crushed by the outcome.

Xu Qingran, on the other hand, was quite pleased.

Blessed with good looks, Xu Qingran didn't need to fake an innocent expression: "Huh? Why did everyone take off?"

"Oh, I've got other things to do, so I'll skip the feast."

With that, he waved and strolled out.

Xu Qingan felt shattered, seeing the nearly empty hall, the odd looks from relatives and friends, and his own disheveled state.

Ruined again... Today was supposed to be perfect, but Xu Qingran wrecked it all!

A flicker of hatred crossed his eyes.

Acting crazy, huh? If Xu Qingran can boost his rep by going nuts, why should I hold back?

With that thought, Xu Qingan spotted the sharp knife by the cake, grabbed it in a fit of rage, and charged at Xu Qingran.

The crowd gasped in shock.

Lu Cheng's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively yelled to the person heading for the door: "Xu Qingran!"

But Xu Qingran was hardly oblivious to Xu Qingan's clumsy attack.

As Xu Qingan lunged, Xu Qingran deftly sidestepped the stab and tripped him with a swift kick.

Xu Qingan tumbled to the ground, furious and disheveled, his face twisted in a grimace that would shock his classmates.

"Xu Qingran, how dare you strut off after wrecking my birthday party?!" He grabbed the knife again, out of control, but Lu Cheng rushed over and stopped him.

"Qingan, chill out!"

In the scuffle, Xu Qingan accidentally cut Lu Cheng's arm with the knife meant for Xu Qingran.

The pain snapped Lu Cheng back to reality.

He froze, releasing the knife, his eyes wide with fear: "I... I didn't mean to..."

"I know," Lu Cheng reassured him.

After a complicated glance at Xu Qingran, he hugged Xu Qingan: "It's okay, let's clean you up in the lounge, alright?"

Xu Qingan clung to his hand, nodding pitifully, as if fearing abandonment, and followed Lu Cheng away.

The chaotic hall finally settled, but the tension lingered.

Until Xu Qingran followed them out, heading down a corridor in the opposite direction.

"...Well, that's that." The remaining guests couldn't stick around and left, grumbling.

Xu Yan looked at the birthday banquet he had planned for Xu Qingan, his chance for a turnaround, all ruined by Xu Qingran's antics.

Seething with rage, he ran out of the banquet hall and caught up with Xu Qingran.

"You brat, you know how tough things are for the Xu family, yet you still kick us while we're down. Do you even have a heart?!" Xu Yan grabbed Xu Qingran in the corridor, resuming his usual scolding tone.

"You're also a part of the Xu family. What good does it do you if the Xu family collapses?!"

Xu Qingran calmly shook off his hand and walked towards the Shen family's banquet hall, replying, "If you ask, there are plenty of advantages."

"Seeing the Xu family in trouble makes me incredibly happy. Besides, my mother left me a fortune. Even without relying on the Xu family, I won't have to worry about putting food on the table or a roof over my head. I can also enjoy double the satisfaction by avenging my past and my mother."

"Besides, even if the Xu family doesn't accept me, I still have the Qi family to fall back on."

"What do I have to be concerned about?"

Xu Yan was boiling with rage.

Pointing at Xu Qingran's retreating figure, he chased after him and yelled, "Fine, Xu Qingran! You complain about not getting any fatherly love, but it looks like you're just siding with outsiders!"

"With that kind of attitude, how can you expect me to care for you? Compared to An'an, you're nowhere near as good!"

Xu Yan grew angrier the more he thought about it: "You ungrateful son, you've wrecked all my plans today. I ought to beat you to a pulp!"

Just as Xu Qingran halted, Xu Yan lunged at him in a fury, ready to hit him.

Faced with someone trying to take a swing at him, he naturally had to defend himself.

While Xu Qingran and Xu Yan were arguing, the Shen family had already started serving dishes.

Several waiters entered with trays, and as the banquet hall doors swung open and shut, some noise accidentally seeped in. It seemed like many people were leaving after their meal, chatting loudly about the fun they had during the event.

After the waiters left, the Shen family relatives started eating with grace.

Even when talking, they kept their voices down, maintaining perfect decorum.

At the head table, the seat next to Shen Tianyi remained empty.

The head of the Shen family hadn't picked up his chopsticks, so no one at the table dared to begin eating.

After a moment, he frowned and asked Shen Tingyu, "Where is he?"

Clearly, he meant Xu Qingran, who was supposed to have come in with Shen Tingyu.

Shen Tingyu remained silent for a moment before replying gently, "It's his first time here. He might have gotten lost. I'll go out and look for him."

Though he said that, he knew full well that with Xu Qingran's smarts, it was highly unlikely he had gotten lost.

...His right eyelid had been twitching earlier. He hoped Xu Qingran wasn't stirring up any major trouble at the hotel.

As Shen Tingyu walked towards the entrance, he pulled open the banquet hall doors, only to be stunned by the scene before him.

Outside, the person he was about to look for had pinned a middle-aged man to the ground, his hand gripping the man's neck, causing the man's face to turn red from suffocation.

The man was cursing, "You brat, how dare you hit your own father?!"

Xu Qingran, dressed in a clean suit, raised his fist and sneered, "Don't even call yourself my father. Today, even if the King of Heaven himself came, if he pissed me off, I'd still hit him."

With that, he delivered a fierce punch to Xu Yan's face.

Xu Yan let out a howl of pain.

He wasn't done yet. He grabbed Xu Yan's collar, ready to continue, when he felt something odd happening beside him.

His raised fist froze mid-air, and he glanced to the side.

Just then, the banquet hall door had been opened unnoticed.

Shen Tingyu stood there, his piercing blue eyes locked on him, rarely showing a flicker of shock and astonishment.

The diners at the tables behind him heard the noise outside and turned to look.

Dozens of pairs of eyes, wide with confusion and shock.

Xu Qingran looked away from the crowd and locked eyes with Shen Tingyu once more.

Then, without a word, he lowered his hand.

At that moment, the world fell into a deathly silence.