Chapter 29

Chapter 29

One wave had barely settled before another arose, and the excitement at this engagement banquet seemed endless, causing the guests to be stunned once again - an attempted elopement!

In this day and age, were elopements advancing to the point where they started even before the engagement?

Speaking of which, who was this person trying to elope with... someone from the Luo family or the Li family?

"Judging by their age, they seem closer to Young Master Sixth Luo," a guest whispered in discussion.

A fellow guest at the same table was unconvinced: "Anyone with eyes can see that Young Master Sixth Luo is delighted about his engagement. Didn't someone just mention that Yu Gan from the Yu family made a wedding dress for Luo Shanting of the Luo family! Yu Gan drugged Li Zhijin, resulting in Li Zhijin becoming close to Luo Shanting, and many people witnessed it. That's why they're engaged now, but Li Zhijin's attitude... well, if he wasn't particularly unwilling, would he have drunk himself into this state?"

To the guests' surprise, the one who had just burst in, panting, and shouted "I disagree!" was neither trying to elope with Young Master Sixth Luo nor Young Master Second Li.

After shouting, Jiang Chengchen looked toward the center of the banquet hall stage, then ran over to Luo Suiyun, who wore a shocked expression. He strode onto the stage and grabbed Luo Suiyun's hand: "Ah Yun, don't get engaged to anyone else! You clearly love me!"

The guests struggled to remain seated, doing their best not to appear too nosy.

Even when eating melons, one must maintain elegance and not lose composure!

Luo Suiyun was still in shock, even feeling somewhat horrified. She didn't let Jiang Chengchen pull her away but instead forcefully shook off his hand: "How did you end up here!"

Jiang Chengchen looked dejectedly at his rejected hand, then said resolutely despite his reluctance: "Of course I'm here to take you away! I won't stand by and watch you be ruined by a family that only cares about money and business! Ah Yun, come with me!"

Luo Suiyun was utterly speechless, feeling the gazes of those around her, wishing she could dig a hole and hide in it: "What are you doing! It's not my engagement! And what gives you the right to speak ill of my family? Why should I go with you? Are you crazy!"

Luo Suiyun had always been gentle and tactful with Jiang Chengchen; this was the first time she expressed her disgust so strongly and directly, leaving Jiang Chengchen completely stunned.

He replied dryly: "Isn't it your engagement? But the waiter earlier said today's engagement involves a Luo family member who just turned of age and finished college entrance exams. Besides you, who else could it be? When I asked if it was Luo Suiyun, the waiter..."

"Why does my family only have one college entrance exam taker?!" Luo Suiyun exclaimed, feeling utterly humiliated, "And you went to ask a waiter, how much more embarrassment do you want to cause me!"

Jiang Chengchen looked around. The master of ceremonies in the middle of the stage wore a numb expression, while in front of him stood a young man who appeared to have just turned of age and a man swaying unsteadily on his feet. The young man was still glaring at him...

He finally realized that today's engagement indeed didn't involve Luo Suiyun, but rather a brother of hers around the same age.

"I'm sorry... I was just too anxious. Seeing you standing here dressed so formally, I didn't think much. And there was someone standing crookedly here, I didn't realize he was the one getting engaged..." Jiang Chengchen tried to explain.

Luo Shanting was livid: "What do you mean by 'not looking like someone getting engaged'!"

The Li family's grandparents no longer wanted to watch. This couple, who had been smiling kindly upon arriving at the engagement banquet hotel, now barely managed to keep from frowning publicly thanks to a lifetime of self-cultivation, but their expressions remained cold.

Li Jifeng spoke politely but with a sarcastic undertone: "Your Luo family, do you intend to have each member perform a scene before allowing your youngest son and brother to hold his engagement ceremony?"

Luo Chen and He Ruyan, who had been lost in thought, finally realized they needed to intervene.

Luo Chen hurriedly said: "Truly embarrassing. Suiyun! Quickly get rid of this... whoever he is!"

Luo Suiyun also urged Jiang Chengchen anxiously: "You need to leave! What do you want! Can't you just go!?"

However, although Jiang Chengchen was apologetic for mistaking the engagement's main character, he was particularly insistent on taking Luo Suiyun away: "Ah Yun, come with me! Even if it's not your engagement today, your family letting a younger brother engage with a drunkard means you'll eventually be sold off too! These days, I couldn't contact you at all. Were you being confined by your family? Come with me! You're already of age, we can..."

"Who are you, barging in to disrupt our son's engagement and ruining our family's reputation in front of everyone, and now trying to abduct our daughter?" He Ruyan stepped forward, pulling away Jiang Chengchen's hand that was reaching for Luo Suiyun.

Jiang Chengchen wore a face of righteous indignation: "My name is Jiang Chengchen! I'm Luo Suiyun's boyfriend! You have no right to imprison your daughter! I'm just telling the truth!"

Luo Qianjian interjected at the right moment: "Jiang Chengchen? Then you must have remembered wrong. Someone from your school hung a banner reporting your early romance with my Fourth Sister, and you denied it yourself, even belittling my Fourth Sister to nothing. Now you're trying to take her away?"

Thanks to Luo Qianjian's reminder, everyone recalled the banner incident and began whispering again.

Luo Wenhuan took another look at Jiang Chengchen and commented: "Fourth Sister, this is the person you had an early romance with? This person doesn't seem stable..."

Luo Suiyun glared at her: "You're talking too! Why are you meddling!"

Then she glared at Luo Qianjian: "Third Brother, why did you bring up those old matters!"

Luo Qianjian smiled innocently, helplessly amused.

Luo Suiyun chased Jiang Chengchen away again: "You need to leave, can't you understand human language! Jiang Chengchen! The reason I haven't contacted you for so long is because we broke up! Do you understand what breaking up means! Why did you come here today to embarrass me! To make my whole family awkward!"

Jiang Chengchen felt as if struck by lightning, deeply hurt.

Then he looked around at the opulence, gritting his teeth: "I understand now. I thought you were a good girl, but in reality, you're also materialistic! You played with me when I was fresh, and once you were bored, you disappeared without a word. In the eyes of rich heiresses like you, what am I!"

Luo Suiyun couldn't believe it: "What nonsense are you spouting..."

"Yes, whatever I say is nonsense. Unlike your noble words that carry weight. But Luo Suiyun, remember this. Everyone present today, you all mark my words. One day, I will rise to greatness, making all of you kneel at my feet in regret!" Jiang Chengchen finished, then turned and walked away with great dignity.

The guests: "..."

Wait, is this guy crazy?

What kind of person did Miss Fourth Luo pick?

Why do the Luo family's choices in partners all seem so problematic?

Is this engagement ceremony even happening anymore?

Jiang Chengchen left, leaving Luo Suiyun so embarrassed that tears fell. She hid behind the Luo family members, trying to avoid the gazes of others.

Luo Qianjian comforted her with a smile: "Don't worry, so many things happened tonight, your situation isn't that significant."

Luo Suiyun bit her lip, feeling even worse.

The master of ceremonies on stage also felt awkward. Although the drama was entertaining, didn't he still have work to do...

He smoothed his hair, then, after some thought, simply looked at Luo Qianjian, who had previously indicated the flow of events: "Shall... we continue?"

Luo Qianjian smiled: "Of course we should continue, right, Sixth Brother, Young Master Li?"

Seeing how considerate he was—Second Master Li was drunk, so he wouldn't ask him to answer; he'd let his brother do it instead.

Luo Shanting pouted in frustration, and Li Jifeng nodded irritably. "Let's continue."

The emcee wanted to sigh but swallowed it down, maintaining a professionally enthusiastic smile. "Alright, good things come to those who wait. Let's proceed with the engagement ceremony of Mr. Li Zhijin and Mr. Luo Shanting tonight..."

The engagement ceremony finally went smoothly for once, although there were still moments when people thought it would be interrupted again. Aside from Li Zhijin not being very cooperative, no other mishaps occurred this time.

Outside the banquet hall.

Jiang Chengchen, filled with indignation, didn't even take the elevator but ran down the stairs directly.

This caused Zhu Hui, Yunling's assistant, who had been helping Luo Qianjian tonight, to have to chase after him.

Fortunately, he caught up.

Jiang Chengchen looked at Zhu Hui, dressed in a waiter's uniform, and exploded with anger. "When I asked you if it was Luo Suiyun's engagement earlier, why didn't you deny it?! You made me rush in and embarrass myself!"

Zhu Hui smiled. "Mr. Jiang, I'm just a waiter. I can't remember so many details. When you asked me, I was trying to recall, but you seemed to think that my silence confirmed your guess and disappeared before I could stop you."

Jiang Chengchen was taken aback, his anger suspended. "Is that how it was...?"

Zhu Hui nodded, like a pitiful waiter who had to smile despite dealing with an unreasonable guest for the sake of his job. "Yes, that's exactly how it was, Mr. Jiang. By the way, Mr. Jiang, I stopped you not to explain this but to retain you on behalf of a guest surnamed Luo. I hope you will go to Room 2901 later."

Jiang Chengchen frowned. "Who wants to keep me? What for in the room?"

Zhu Hui politely replied, "I'm not quite sure. Earlier, when I chased after you, Mr. Jiang, I heard what you said in the banquet hall. Then you ran out, followed by a guest surnamed Luo. There are too many guests surnamed Luo tonight, and I really can't tell them apart. In any case, this guest is in a hurry and begged me to make sure you stay, saying they want to talk to you again."

Jiang Chengchen found the waiter's explanation logical and clear, so he no longer doubted him. He merely scoffed, "It must be Luo Suiyun. She regrets it already?"

Zhu Hui smiled politely. "I truly don't know for sure, but judging by the guest's expression, I guessed it might be because your final speech was so impactful."

Jiang Chengchen suppressed his smugness, acting as if he didn't care, and hummed again. "Fine, I'll give her another chance to explain."

Zhu Hui led him into the elevator and pressed the button for the tenth floor first. He explained to Jiang Chengchen, "You've just left the engagement party, so you should know that the ceremony is still ongoing in the banquet hall. The guest in Room 2901 can't leave yet and has to wait until the ceremony ends. The tenth floor is our hotel's bar. You can have a couple of drinks and wait there for a while. Later, I'll remind you to go upstairs... Can you drink? Would you feel uncomfortable?"

Unwilling to be underestimated, Jiang Chengchen pretended to be experienced. "Of course, I can drink."

Zhu Hui seated Jiang Chengchen in the bar on the tenth floor, ordered him his first drink, and then sent a message to Luo Qianjian.

In the banquet hall upstairs, the engagement ceremony had just ended.

Li's grandparents were exhausted and expressed their desire to go home, leaving the rest of the engagement party to be hosted by the Luo family. Their grandson, Li Jifeng, would remain to oversee everything.

The Luo family had endured numerous dramas today, with Luo Hefeng leaving the banquet without a word and still not returning. Luo Chen and He Ruyan felt embarrassed to detain the two elders and genuinely had no heart for socializing tonight. They forced smiles as they saw the elders off from the banquet hall.

Li Jifeng said, "I'll see Grandpa and Grandma off to their car and return."

Luo Wenhuan watched Li Jifeng intently, looking back at him even as she returned to the banquet hall.

After the engagement ceremony, there was still the toast to attend to. But with Li Zhijin behaving as if he had already gone through ten rounds of drinking, it would be pointless to have him join the procession. The rest of the Luo family was annoyed, and Luo Shanting was feeling wronged and sad.

Luo Qianjian suggested, "Why don't we have the waiters escort Second Master Li back to his room first, and let Shanting handle the toasts alone? After all, others might gossip about Li Second Master's condition."

At this moment, the rest of the Luo family was in disarray and in a foul mood. So, anyone stepping up to "take charge" would be welcomed by the Luo family members—they would agree and follow suit. Although Luo Wenhuan was relatively relaxed, she lacked the awareness to take the initiative in front of her parents and siblings, and her attention wasn't focused on the engagement party at hand.

Following Luo Qianjian's suggestion, Li Zhijin was supported by waiters and taken upstairs to Room 2901, which Luo Qianjian had arranged for him.

After sending his grandparents off, Li Jifeng learned that Li Zhijin had already been taken to his room to rest. He nodded. "Good. Then, Uncle Luo, Aunt He, let's proceed with the toasting."

Li Jifeng also wanted to quickly finish all the formalities. Tonight's engagement party had become a mess, tarnishing the reputation of both families.

As the main character of the evening, Luo Shanting naturally had to participate in the toasting.

Luo Gongyou looked gloomily at the distant champagne tower. "I'm a bit hungry. I'm going to have a drink and won't join in the toasting."

Luo Suiyun didn't want to be the center of attention anymore and added, "Me too. I'll go with Second Sister."

Luo Qianjian had quietly slipped away earlier.

Thus, aside from Luo Shanting, the main character of tonight's engagement, only Luo Chen, He Ruyan, Li Jifeng, and Luo Wenhuan remained to carry out the toasting.

While the guests enjoyed the drama, they weren't tactless enough to bring up the series of incidents that had occurred during the engagement party. At most, they asked if the Luo family's eldest son, Luo Hefeng, would return.

Luo Chen and He Ruyan didn't know either. They hadn't thought of Yunling yet, so they were still unaware of why Luo Hefeng had suddenly rushed out earlier.

During the toasting process, Luo Qianjian continued to wander around the banquet hall, discreetly instructing the waiters to serve more alcohol to Luo Gongyou and Luo Suiyun.

They were indeed in a bad mood now. Although they didn't have a history of binge drinking, they finished whatever drinks the waiters brought them.

Just as the toasting was about to end, Luo Hefeng returned, looking lost.

Upon his return, he started questioning everyone.

Luo Chen began to say, "You ran out so rudely earlier..."

But Luo Hefeng impatiently cut him off, his tone aggressive. "Dad, Mom, why didn't you tell me that Yunling broke up with me because he had no choice but to accept your threats to pay for his grandparents' medical treatment?"

Luo Chen and He Ruyan were stunned.

Everyone else was stunned as well.

The guests never expected that the night's entertainment wasn't over yet!

It was truly... a pity there were no sunflower seeds at the banquet.

As the only remaining representative of the Li family, Li Jifeng held his glass of wine, his face cold, watching the Luo family—who were now his in-laws—wondering what kind of spectacle they would create next.

"Yunling? You're talking about a breakup... oh, your impoverished first love from back then? That person who came earlier was him? You ran off with him because of that, ignoring your brother's engagement party?" Luo Chen glared fiercely. "Luo Hefeng! What tone is that! Do you know who you're speaking to and where you are right now!"

Luo Hefeng was now filled with sorrow and confusion, his mind in a haze: "I don't know! All I know is that Yunling has returned! I've hated him for so many years, hating him for abandoning me for money, forsaking the feelings between us. But after all these years, he came to find me today... Do you know why he came to see me? He brought a check! Saying he wanted to return the money to the Luo family!"

The guests around them caught on — oh, the first love of the eldest young master of the Luo family, the true object behind those substitute lovers he had sought!

Some turned their attention to Shen Dongyi.

Shen Dongyi's face was ashen, never expecting that Luo Hefeng would reunite with his first love on this day, and it seemed he still loved him deeply. In just a short while, he no longer harbored any hatred.

He Ruyan frowned: "A'Feng, what are you raging about? What do you mean we didn't tell you? We clearly told you back then!"

Luo Hefeng stared at them with bloodshot eyes.

He Ruyan continued: "Back then, we wanted to test his sincerity towards you, so we offered to treat his grandparents and send him abroad for studies as conditions, demanding that he leave you. If he wasn't willing to give you up even under those circumstances, we would have naturally agreed to your relationship. But it was he who chose not to want you! You knew this, so why are you questioning us now? Isn't your brother's engagement party already bad enough!"

Luo Hefeng wouldn't listen: "I didn't know! If I had known he had his reasons, how could I have hated him for so many years! You deliberately misled me back then, wanting me to think he was someone who only cared about money! You knew I couldn't let go of him, but made me believe he wasn't a good person, making me hate him in despair!"

Luo Hefeng grew more anguished as he spoke, picking up a glass of wine from a nearby table and downing it in one gulp before continuing: "I had no choice; over the years, I could only seek solace in finding substitutes for him. But this behavior destroyed the love between us. He said earlier that after returning, he had heard about my substitutes, feeling insulted by it, believing I was no longer pure, and that he wouldn't love me anymore. It's all your fault! It's you who turned me into such an abhorrent person!"

The guests listened to Luo Hefeng's righteous words, marveling in astonishment.

Luo Chen and He Ruyan were speechless, it was their first time being targeted by Luo Hefeng's twisted logic, never expecting their son could be so disrespectful and irrational.

Luo Qianjian stood among the crowd, letting out a soft tsk.

He was certain that based on Yunling's character, he wouldn't say something like "Luo Hefeng is no longer pure." It must have been Luo Hefeng's own assumption.

Luo Chen was livid: "Luo Hefeng! Do you really take yourself for some kind of love saint? It's been over a decade, and only you still remember that childish first love. Isn't it normal for that Yunling to say he doesn't like you now! Talking about purity, do you think you're still a teenager!"

Luo Hefeng insisted: "No! He's just unwilling to admit it! After returning to the country, he was still willing to come find me, which can only mean he still has feelings for me! But my past with substitutes hurt him, he's just heartbroken! He still has feelings for me!"

"Fine, fine, fine, what does that have to do with us! Did we make you find those random substitutes?!" Luo Chen was seething with anger.

Without thinking, Luo Hefeng retorted sarcastically: "Random substitutes? Dad, you weren't short of finding these random substitutes when you were young! By the way, has Mom always been a substitute in your eyes, otherwise why are you still obsessed with Liu Ruo..."

Luo Hefeng was kicked, by Luo Chen who was enraged and embarrassed.

Before Luo Hefeng could recover, he was slapped across the face by a tearful He Ruyan.

He Ruyan looked at him in disappointment: "A'Feng, how could you say such things! For the sake of Yunling, are you going to lose all reason? Are your parents just tools in your narrative? You've truly disappointed your mother! Are you going to disown your family for the sake of all your loves!"

Luo Hefeng gritted his teeth, picked up another glass of wine, drank it, and then smashed the empty glass onto the ground.

"Family? Where's Luo Gongyou? Where is she!" Luo Hefeng suddenly shifted his focus.

Luo Gongyou had been drinking on the other side, and upon hearing the commotion, she had approached but was annoyed by the scene and hadn't stepped forward, merely standing in front of the guests.

Luo Hefeng rushed towards her, aggressively questioning her: "Did Yunling sign with your company? Did you know before he returned! Why didn't you tell me! If you had told me earlier, my reunion with Yunling wouldn't have been so embarrassing!"

Luo Gongyou was utterly bewildered: "How was I supposed to know Yunling was your first love? You never mentioned it to the family!"

But Luo Hefeng wouldn't listen; he was stuck in his own logic, continuing to act as if he cared for nothing and no one for the sake of love, ready to destroy the world in a tragic display.

"None of you have ever thought about me!" Luo Hefeng roared, then tried to leave the banquet hall.

Among the guests, Shen Dongyi, though deeply embarrassed, still came forward at this moment, following after him: "Big Brother Luo, wait for me…"

It would have been better if he hadn't appeared. As soon as he pushed through the crowd to the front, Luo Hefeng turned around and saw his face, causing that resentful anger to flare up even more intensely.

Luo Hefeng grabbed Shen Dongyi as he ran over, then viciously pushed him to the ground, giving Shen Dongyi a kick in public: "Scram!"

Shen Dongyi was hurt both physically and emotionally.

The guests whispered amongst themselves.

"Tsk… This Young Master Luo, I used to think he just looked a bit aloof, but I didn't expect him to be so unreserved when it comes to violence…"

"This is getting too ugly…"

"It's not like Luo Hefeng thinks he's some kind of love saint, does he? He's had so many substitute lovers; at the last uproar caused by Little Master Li two months ago, there were three, oh, four of them at the party, and this lover was here back then too…"

"One can have their true love, their white moonlight, and still sleep with others, separating heart from body, it's normal."

"The Luos are truly chaotic."

After venting his anger, Luo Hefeng left the banquet hall again, heading for the elevator lobby intending to go downstairs. But Zhu Hui, the fake waiter, appeared with a smile on his face: "Is Young Master Luo returning to your room now? The Third Young Master instructed me that your room is 3003, here's the key card. You seem to be in a bad mood, shall I bring you some alcohol to your room?"

With his mind in turmoil, Luo Hefeng couldn't think of anywhere else to go. Suggested by the waiter, he simply snatched the key card: "Bring something strong."

Zhu Hui smiled: "Yes, Young Master Luo."

Once Luo Hefeng also got on the elevator, Zhu Hui reined in his smile, thinking that this Third Young Master of the Luo family truly understood these bizarre family members of his, able to send them all to their rooms so easily.

And what was Yunling's taste in the past, choosing such a thing as his first love?

It was practically a criminal record.

As Zhu Hui grumbled, he arrived on the tenth floor, handing the key card for room 2901 to Jiang Chengchen, who was already dizzy from drinking, and sent him on the elevator.

In the engagement banquet hall, after Luo Hefeng left—

Shen Dongyi, feeling humiliated, got up while covering his kicked stomach. He didn't dare look back at the gazes of others, only wanting to leave this place quickly.

The crowd's attention didn't linger on Shen Dongyi for long, instead drawn back to the Luo family by Li Jifeng's sarcastic comment, "The Luos, tonight has truly opened my eyes."

Luo Chen and He Ruyan's faces, which were already unpleasant, now had an extra layer of dark filter, both gloomy and filled with anger.

Luo Shanting was already crying in shame and anger, while Luo Wenhuan awkwardly kept her head down, saying nothing. Luo Gongyou continued drinking with an annoyed expression, and Luo Suiyun, who had been keeping her distance earlier, took drinks from the waiter's tray in a pretense of nonchalance.

Someone noticed that the Luo family's Third Young Master, Luo Qianjian, was walking towards the entrance of the banquet hall, supporting Shen Dongyi, who had just been humiliated and was about to leave.

"At least the Third Young Master Luo isn't ostentatious; he seems quite kind-hearted," some guests whispered amongst themselves.

Meanwhile, Luo Qianjian was facing away from the banquet hall, slipping a room card into Shen Dongyi's hands.

"Dongyi, my eldest brother's temper is a bit rough, and he embarrassed you in public, but didn't you know that about him before you got together? He acts like this when he drinks and gets angry. So don't be too upset."

"My eldest brother needs comfort right now. If you insist on staying by his side during this time, it will surely move him. Here's the room card for my brother's room. Consider this my final help to you, after all these years as classmates. It wasn't pleasant seeing you get hit either."

Shen Dongyi gripped the room card for Room 3004, pursing her lips. "…Thank you, Qianjian."

Luo Qianjian smiled gently.

After seeing Shen Dongyi off, Luo Qianjian calmly pulled out a folded piece of paper from his coat pocket. Unfolding it, he walked towards Luo Chen and He Ruyan with a shocked expression. "Dad, Mom, you have to see this…"

Luo Chen and He Ruyan were just about to announce an early end to the banquet and ask the guests to leave – not very polite, but they had already lost enough face tonight – when Luo Qianjian interrupted them.

He Ruyan sighed. "Qianjian, do you want to cause more trouble?"

Luo Qianjian looked genuinely surprised. "Mom, why would you say that? Honestly, I've been the best-behaved one tonight. I haven't caused any scenes… Oh, and Wenhuan has been good too, even though she kept staring at Li Jifeng, but she didn't stir up any trouble."

Li Jifeng raised an eyebrow.

The guests' eyes widened – What! There's more gossip to hear! Are the Luos being too generous with their drama!

Luo Wenhuan was startled and hurriedly said, "Third Brother! What nonsense are you spouting! I did no such thing!"

"Don't rush. You and Shanting are twins, and encountering another pair of identical twins, one of whom is about to be engaged to Shanting, it's natural for you to be curious and look a few times. Your haste to deny it makes you seem guilty…" Luo Qianjian pondered aloud.

Luo Wenhuan bit her lip. "You… I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Luo Qianjian sighed. "Wenhuan, I wasn't here to talk to you anyway. Mom, take a look at this. Dad, I think you need to explain why it says here that Liu Qingqing is your biological son."

He Ruyan's eyes widened as she snatched the report from Luo Qianjian's hand.

Luo Chen immediately denied it without thinking. "Luo Qianjian! You're trying to sow discord between your mother and me again! How could Qingqing be my son?! You…"

As he denied it, he craned his neck to look at the paper in He Ruyan's hand, then froze.

He Ruyan finished reading, trembling with anger, and threw the paper at Luo Chen's face. "Luo Chen! You beast! You lied to me! You had the nerve to say you were only giving money to Liu Ruo's family. I knew there's no such thing as giving money without expecting something in return. Could you be that good of a person?! Liu Qingqing is your son, and you lied to me about it! I'll kill you!"

He Ruyan grabbed a wine bottle from the nearby table, ready to smash it over Luo Chen's head. Luo Shanting and Luo Wenhuan were stunned and didn't react, while Luo Qianjian simply stepped back. The other guests, fearing someone might actually die, rushed forward to intervene.

"Mrs. He, Mrs. He, don't rush. Let's talk this through calmly. We can resolve this…"

Tears streamed down He Ruyan's face.

Luo Chen was so furious that he felt his scalp tingle. "I said it! Qingqing cannot be my son! Liu Ruo said it herself! This so-called paternity test… Luo Qianjian! Where did you get this fake report! What are you trying to do?!"

Luo Qianjian sighed. "Dad, would you rather wrongfully accuse me than admit your own mistakes? I am your and Mom's biological son. I found this paternity test report when I went out to see Dongyi off earlier. I picked it up at the entrance when I came back. Aunt Liu Ruo was here tonight, wasn't she? I wondered if she might have dropped it accidentally. Maybe she came here tonight to tell you about this…"

"This..." Luo Chen was momentarily at a loss for words.

He Ruyan, disregarding all decorum, broke into loud sobs, choking out her accusations: "Luo Chen, how could you do this to me? You're over fifty! And you've fathered a child who's only a few years old, don't you feel ashamed! Yes, some people play around even in their seventies and eighties and still manage to have illegitimate children, but didn't you promise that I was the only one you loved? Didn't you say we were meant for each other!"

"I shouldn't have believed you! You never changed, you're just like those shameless old men! No, you're worse than them! You don't even know how to have an affair properly, if you loved Liu Ruo so much, why didn't you marry her back then!"

"You deceived me for so many years, secretly supporting her family for all these years, and I forgave you! But you! Two months ago, it was you who promised not to interfere with them anymore, and yet today, it was you who let her show up again! Also, I wondered where she got the money to pay off her debts on time, it must have been your pity money, wasn't it? That dress she's wearing, did you buy that too! You'd be heartbroken if she wore an old dress, so why didn't you agree to my divorce!"

"I want a divorce from you, I'm telling you, Luo Chen, this isn't a joke this time!"

Listening to He Ruyan's lamentations, some of the guests still showed signs of discomfort on their faces.

Although having illegitimate children wasn't uncommon in their circle, it was still true that very few people would completely lose all sense of shame and make a public spectacle of their affairs.

And Luo Chen and He Ruyan, their wedding when they were young was so grand, everyone said that Luo Chen had truly fallen in love and turned over a new leaf. Indeed, there hadn't been any rumors of Luo Chen fooling around outside these past years, no one expected that he had been keeping a mistress for twenty years and had an illegitimate child, he had hidden it well indeed.

But listening to this, it sounded as if Luo Chen himself didn't know that the illegitimate child was his own?

What a mess.

He Ruyan was gasping for breath between sobs, Luo Qianjian considerately called over a waiter and said to He Ruyan: "Mom, take care of your health, why don't you go upstairs and rest in your room for now, calm down for the night, we can talk about this matter properly when we get home tomorrow."

He Ruyan allowed herself to be supported by the waiter, gritting her teeth she said: "I won't share a room with Luo Chen!"

Luo Qianjian calmly replied: "Alright, I'll make temporary arrangements for you and Dad to stay separately tonight. Take my mom to Room 3002."

That last part was directed at the waiter.

Luo Chen still held the paternity test report in his hand, feeling a myriad of emotions. He watched as He Ruyan left the banquet hall without stopping her.

Luo Qianjian looked around.

Luo Gongyou and Luo Suiyun were drinking not far away, they had directly ignored the commotion earlier, clearly not wanting to be in the spotlight and be made a spectacle of.

Luo Shanting and Luo Wenhuan, although standing next to Luo Chen and He Ruyan, had been unable to interject throughout the entire ordeal and didn't know what to say either, they were already annoyed enough to drown their sorrows in alcohol.

Li Jifeng watched indifferently, like a regular guest.

Luo Chen was stunned for a moment, then asked Luo Qianjian coldly: "Did you have to bring this piece of paper in here right now and make a scene? Seeing your mother upset like that, are you happy?"

"Dad, this Liu Qingqing isn't my illegitimate child, if Mom is upset, shouldn't you reflect on yourself instead of blaming me?" Luo Qianjian looked genuinely perplexed, "No wonder Mom always ends up crying because of you, Dad."

Luo Chen: "You! Forget it, I don't want to stay in this damn place anymore, do whatever you want!"

Luo Qianjian said considerately: "Dad, are you going back to your room too? Your room is 3001, right next to Mom's, don't get lost. It's better for you two to cool off separately tonight."

With both Luo Chen and He Ruyan gone, the guests, looking at the remaining members of the Luo family and the Li family, felt that it was about time to take their leave for the night.

Li Jifeng picked up his composure, coming to the entrance of the banquet hall to exchange pleasantries and bid farewell to the guests.

No one from the Luo family went to see off the guests; Luo Qianjian had no interest in it, and the others didn't want to meet anyone just yet.

Still, Luo Wenhuan couldn't help but watch Li Jifeng's retreating back.

Luo Qianjian chuckled lightly. "It's truly amazing how identical the twin brothers of the Li family are. Even the moles on their faces are the same. Isn't that right?"

Luo Wenhuan and Luo Shanting managed a weak smile.

Luo Qianjian continued at his leisurely pace. "No wonder Li Yuan said that when they were young, his elder brother and second brother would switch roles, and no one could ever tell."

Both Luo Wenhuan and Luo Shanting were taken aback, then asked in unison, "Switch roles?"

"Yes, they would swap places. The second young master would pretend to be the first, and the first would pretend to be the second. According to Li Yuan, they did this often. The first young master found it relaxing to act like his younger brother, while the second enjoyed the praise he received when pretending to be his older sibling." Luo Qianjian said casually.

Luo Wenhuan and Luo Shanting couldn't help but look at each other, both seeing shock and concern in the other's eyes. After all, they were twin siblings, adopted together by the Luo family from an orphanage since childhood, with a deeper bond than their other siblings and always open with each other.

After "reuniting" with the Li brothers, the siblings had shared this secret from their childhood, delighted that they had fallen for another pair of twins, each liking one of them without any competition—a true stroke of fate.

But now...

Luo Shanting hurriedly asked, "Have you heard anything about them switching places in the orphanage when they were young? Did they ever switch there?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Qianjian looked puzzled. "Shanting, why are you suddenly so agitated? Wenhuan looks a bit shaken too. Is this matter that important? I don't know. Li Yuan was just passing the time chatting with me; he didn't say much. Why don't you ask Li Yuan... Oh, I forgot, he left halfway through. You can ask him next time you see him."

As he spoke, Luo Qianjian pulled out room cards from his pocket. "Wenhuan is in 3005. Everyone except Shanting is staying on this floor. Shanting and the second young master of the Li family are on the 29th floor. The hotel staff suggested it during the room arrangements, saying the homophonic meanings were auspicious. Here are your respective room cards, keep them safe."

"I'll go deliver the room cards to Second Sister and Fourth Sister. There have been so many things tonight. After taking care of this, I'm going back to my room to rest."

Luo Qianjian left after handing out the room cards, leaving Luo Wenhuan and Luo Shanting standing there, still worried if they had mistaken their identities.

In front of Luo Gongyou and Luo Suiyun, Luo Qianjian distributed the room cards. "Second Sister, yours is 3004. Fourth Sister, yours is 3006."

"Well, Second Sister, Fourth Sister, although tonight has been chaotic, compared to Mother, Father, and Eldest Brother, your issues really aren't that big of a deal. If you really want to drown your sorrows in alcohol, you might as well do it slowly back in your rooms."

Luo Qianjian said cheerfully, "But honestly, I don't think it's a big problem. Look at tonight's guests. Although they didn't even get to eat properly, everyone seemed quite happy when they left."