Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Living at Mo Lingnan's place was quite enjoyable during Zhuang Ji's absence for filming.

This genuine happiness was particularly evident because Zhuang Ji remained completely unaware of Mo Lingnan's existence. Every time he called to check in, he only demanded that Lu Tingchao guarantee he hadn't contacted Fei Xiuqi, then immediately rewarded him with money and even allowed him to go out and have fun.

Lu Tingchao, who could neither cook nor do laundry, gleefully lived a pampered life at Mo Lingnan's home, with meals served and clothes handed to him. When Mo Lingnan was around, he would act spoiled and order him around; when Mo Lingnan wasn't there, he would whine and order Lu Doudou around.

But happiness is often fleeting.

Lu Tingchao's brief joy lasted only until the third day when Mrs. Zhuang called.

The reason for the call was simple: the anniversary of the death of the great-grandmother of an influential Chinese businessman in Hong Kong had arrived. This prominent figure's ancestors were from City B, and he was returning specifically to host a banquet.

For such a grand event, the Zhuang family would naturally be among the first invited in City B. Whether they truly wanted to attend or not, as the other party often mentioned in the same breath, they had to show face.

Zhuang Ji's father had passed away early, and the Zhuang family had been solely supported by Patriarch Zhuang. Fortunately, the old man was still quite healthy, but as a man in his seventies, it wasn't appropriate for him to attend such an event—Mrs. Zhuang intended to go herself, with Zhuang Ji and Lu Tingchao accompanying her.

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Paying respects was merely an excuse; the real purpose was to network in the business world.

Lu Tingchao ate Zhuang Ji's food, used Zhuang Ji's money, and lived in Zhuang Ji's homes, so he couldn’t bring himself to refuse Mrs. Zhuang. He had no choice but to reluctantly agree: "No problem, sure, Mom. Should I go directly there when it's time?"

Mrs. Zhuang thought for a moment: "Has Xiao Ji not been living with you lately?"

Lu Tingchao: "Yeah, he's off filming."

Mrs. Zhuang: "You didn’t even go to see him while he’s filming? I also heard Jiang Rong specifically adjusted her schedule to accompany him for this shoot."

Lu Tingchao: "Oh..."

Mrs. Zhuang seemed to realize she’d spoken out of turn: "Chao Chao, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that you and Xiao Ji have been married for seven years now. Seven years is a hurdle many couples can’t overcome. Mom still thinks you should put more effort into it. Xiao Ji is tight-lipped and never shares anything, and his work is exhausting. You should spend more time with him, always prioritize him, understand?"

Lu Tingchao replied obediently: "Got it."

Mrs. Zhuang: "Where is Xiao Ji filming?"

Lu Tingchao: "Haicheng."

Mrs. Zhuang: "Then the timing won’t work out. How about this: you come with me, and Xiao Ji can go with Jiang Rong. We’ll meet directly at the banquet hall."

Lu Tingchao: "Sure."

Mrs. Zhuang then went on about the jewelry and clothes she’d recently ordered from the H brand, asking Lu Tingchao to accompany her for fittings when he had time. She also mentioned she’d been losing at mahjong lately and wanted to go pray with him sometime. Finally, she noted how hot it was in summer and invited him over so she could make tong sui for him.

Human emotions are such mysterious things—sometimes present, sometimes absent, always with varying degrees of closeness.

Fortunately, Lu Tingchao had been accustomed to this since childhood.

He sat on a rattan rocking chair in front of Mo Lingnan’s floor-to-ceiling window, basking in the sun while nibbling on a popsicle.

Behind him, little Lu Doudou sat cross-legged on the floor reading a book. Every few pages, without looking up, he’d raise his chubby little hand to press the soft spring switch of the rocking chair, ensuring that the shamelessly lazy Lu Tingchao could keep rocking nonstop.

Mrs. Zhuang finally finished her chatter: "By the way, Chao Chao, did Xiao Ji ever tell you? Last time he went shopping with me, we ran into a child who looked exactly like him!"

Lu Tingchao: "?"

Lu Tingchao paused: "Looked like him?"

"Exactly like him!" Mrs. Zhuang grew more excited as she spoke. "He was the spitting image of Xiao Ji when he was little. If it weren’t for the unfamiliar man with him, I’d have thought it was my grandson! Ah, who knows if you two will ever have children..."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Lu Tingchao asked quietly: "What was the man like who was with the child?"

Mrs. Zhuang thought for a moment: "I didn’t pay much attention. Quite handsome, aloof, and stern—the type who doesn’t smile much. He was young too, probably around Xiao Ji’s age."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

There are no coincidences, only inevitabilities.

Lu Tingchao stopped asking further. He glanced back at Lu Doudou, who was absorbed in his book, and suddenly said: "Mom, back when Zhuang Ji and I got married, I’m sorry."

Mrs. Zhuang was stunned: "What?"

"Nothing, I just feel like I was really immature back then. Zhuang Ji and Jiang Rong were such childhood friends, and I forced my way in between them."

Lu Tingchao sighed sincerely. "I remember you disagreed at the time. I even climbed through the window at night to go on a date with Zhuang Ji. The next morning, when I left his room after spending the night, I nearly gave you a heart attack."

Mrs. Zhuang laughed: "Silly boy, that was so long ago. Why do you still remember?"

"Probably because I realize now that what I did back then was wrong."

Lu Tingchao jumped down from the rocking chair and stretched. "But it’s okay, Mom. I’m still young, and I have a chance to make things right. Everything will be better from now on."

*

The Hong Kong banquet was held at Century Garden, styled almost like a state-level banquet, inviting all the business and political elites from City B and the surrounding areas. Many people from Haicheng had also come.

After their recent efforts to maintain ties and several visits home for tong sui, Mrs. Zhuang finally warmed up to Lu Tingchao.

To show respect, the two took Patriarch Zhuang’s usual car—a limited edition, modified vintage Rolls-Royce.

All the guests were dressed formally.

As they got out of the car and onto the red carpet, Lu Tingchao bent down to assist Mrs. Zhuang. The moment he turned around, he spotted Fei Xiuqi standing at the end of the red carpet.

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Lu Tingchao quietly leaned closer to Mrs. Zhuang: "Mom, what’s the host’s surname?"

Mrs. Zhuang gave him a chiding look: "Wasn’t it written on the invitation we sent you? It’s Fei."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Lu Tingchao was about to say something else.

But Fei Xiuqi had already stepped forward with a smiling welcome: "You must be Mrs. Zhuang? Just as elegant and beautiful as the rumors say. Even the red carpet seems more dazzling with your presence. My father is inside waiting to have tea with you. Please."

These days, good-looking guys are rare, and good-looking guys who know how to compliment are even rarer.

A specially assigned attendant stood nearby. Mrs. Zhuang was utterly charmed by Fei Xiuqi’s flattery and, holding her clutch, followed the attendant inside—even forgetting to introduce Lu Tingchao.

Lu Tingchao: "..."

"Babe, you’re pretty useless around Zhuang Ji, and it seems you’re just as unnecessary around his mother."

Fei Xiuqi watched from afar as Mrs. Zhuang followed the attendant away, then turned back to Lu Tingchao with a smile.

Lu Tingchao said with a blank face, "So what? I'm alone now. Are you going to walk the red carpet with me?"

Fei Xiuqi replied, "It would be my honor."

Behind them, guests continued to trickle into the banquet hall, guided by the event staff.

Lu Tingchao was in no mood to linger any longer and waved his hand dismissively, "Forget it, you should go back to entertaining your guests. I'm going inside."

But Fei Xiuqi took Lu Tingchao's hand.

Lu Tingchao had a rough upbringing and was undernourished. Even in the bright summer, his hands remained cold.

Fei Xiuqi's hand, however, was scorching.

It felt like an intense burn in an instant. Lu Tingchao was stunned by the heat and tried to pull his hand back immediately, but Fei Xiuqi held on tight.

"Attend to the guests? Do they even deserve it?"

Fei Xiuqi tightened his grip on Lu Tingchao's hand and led him inside. "BB, I'm here to pick you up."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

The AC inside was cranked up high. They could feel the cool air washing over them even before they reached the revolving door.

This grand banquet had not only attracted the attention of financial reporters but also drawn paparazzi due to the numerous celebrities present.

By now, both sides of the red carpet were fully crowded with cameras, flashbulbs popping nonstop.

Lu Tingchao, feeling self-conscious, worried that someone might get a shot of their clasped hands and his face. He had no choice but to press himself as close as possible to Fei Xiuqi, trying to tuck their hands between their bodies to avoid being caught on camera.

The shoulder of his shirt rubbed against Fei Xiuqi's arm countless times.

Finally, Fei Xiuqi leaned close to Lu Tingchao's ear and whispered, "Nervous?"

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Sudden cheers and the surge of the crowd caught everyone's attention.

The cameras swiveled away from them and instantly focused on a black Mercedes people mover that had just pulled up by the roadside.

Moments later, the rear door of the people mover opened.

Zhuang Ji, dressed in a black suit with a champagne rose-colored tie, and Jiang Rong, in a white suit with a light pink tie, got out one after the other. Almost immediately, the fans waiting on both sides of the road erupted in screams, shouting loud enough to pierce the sky.

Fei Xiuqi's expression darkened for a moment. He signaled to someone nearby, gave an instruction, and the person immediately nodded and left.

Lu Tingchao saw that person heading toward Jiang Rong and asked, "What's wrong?"

Fei Xiuqi replied, "This is a private banquet, not a fan economy."

Fei Xiuqi added, "It's a pity Mr. Jiang Rong doesn't understand this, making things awkward for everyone."

When Lu Tingchao looked back again, the fans had quieted down, lingering by the roadside as if reluctant to leave, waving to Jiang Rong and Zhuang Ji.

The camera flashes continued incessantly, soon completely blocking Lu Tingchao's view.

Though it was less than fifty meters away, the lenses and the crowd felt like a world away.

Across this divide, Fei Xiuqi suddenly, lightly, and irresistibly leaned down—pecking Lu Tingchao on the lips.

Lu Tingchao: "!!!"

Lu Tingchao was startled and immediately turned to look for Zhuang Ji, but all he saw was a sea of people.

"Don't look at him, BB."

Fei Xiuqi kissed the crown of Lu Tingchao's head again, his tone gentle. "He's a fool; he can't save you."

*

The music in the banquet hall was light and soothing.

The tea and assorted snacks on the tables were diverse, catering to the tastes of different guests—a veritable feast.

Fei Xiuqi led Lu Tingchao to a less crowded corner and brought over a small plate with a few pieces of cake. "Try these. These are the chef's specialties. You'll probably like them."

Lu Tingchao took the plate and picked up a glass of orange juice. "When can we get out of here and go home?"

Chao Chao is already tired QAQ

Fei Xiuqi said, "If you want to slip away, it should be soon. Devin will probably say a few words later. I'll take over and schmooze a bit. If you don't want to mingle, it should be over in about twenty minutes."

Lu Tingchao asked, "Devin?"

"My father."

Fei Xiuqi clinked his red cocktail glass against Lu Tingchao's and downed it in one go. "My sister and I both call him that."

Lu Tingchao was slightly surprised. "An elderly man using an English name... Your dad is pretty trendy."

Fei Xiuqi pinched Lu Tingchao's left cheek and laughed. "Chao Chao, where did you hear that Devin is elderly? When he returned to the mainland the other day, someone asked if he needed a wheelchair, and his face turned green."

Lu Tingchao: "???"

Fei Xiuqi said, "He's not exactly young, but forty-six shouldn't be considered old, right?"

Lu Tingchao was shocked. "But everyone says he's been running Hong Kong's shipping industry for over twenty years."

"Devin started early. Back then, Hong Kong was chaotic."

Just then, someone came over to call him. Fei Xiuqi paused, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Let's pause tonight's bedtime story here, BB. I'll give you the full story later when you come back to Hong Kong with me."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

The lights in the banquet hall dimmed.

A spotlight shifted onto the stage.

A powerful and deep voice followed.

The voice bore the weight of age. The weight of years and a unique steadiness gave it a special charm.

Some say men are still children at twenty, only sensible at thirty, and truly mature only at forty.

Immense wealth and power gave the man on stage an aura that made people admire and aspire to be like him, making him the dream choice for many seeking to marry into high society and climb the social ladder.

"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to be here."

Lu Tingchao looked up.

The man's build was very similar to Fei Xiuqi's, with a comparable height. However, perhaps due to his background in martial arts in his youth, his shoulders and V-shaped torso were more pronounced, making him appear even more distinguished.

It is said his great-grandmother was also from City B, with truly prominent browbones and rather dashing, Anglo-like features.

"Memories of City B date back to my childhood. Today, I am honored to be here with everyone, witnessing together the development of a city. In the days to come..."

Lu Tingchao listened idly to the formal speech. Fortunately, Fei Xiuqi had found him a spot with no one around, so he could leisurely have another bite of cake in his boredom.

The lights were dim.

Lu Tingchao set his finished plate aside, lazily found a corner to lean against the wall, and quietly started scrolling through his phone.

As soon as he opened the app, the number one trending topic was #ZhuangJiFurious#.

Followed closely by two more.

#ZhuangJiJiangRong#

#ZhuangJiPushesPaparazzi#

Lu Tingchao: "."

Whoa, dramatic.

Such big news—Chao Chao’s gotta see this.

Just as Lu Tingchao was about to click, a figure suddenly walked quickly past from around the corner in the dimness.

Then, the figure moved closer—

Pinning Lu Tingchao to the wall.

Lu Tingchao: "!!!"

Lu Tingchao tried to make a fist and push the person away.

The next second.

The person effortlessly grabbed Lu Tingchao's fist, pressed it against the wall, and with unyielding fingers, forced open his clenched hand, splaying it open into five vulnerable fingers.

Then laced their fingers together, leaving no room for resistance.

Lu Tingchao was scared. He didn’t dare scream and interrupt the speaker on stage or draw anyone’s attention. His voice trembled: "I—I’m m-married..."

In the darkness.

The person remained silent.

Lu Tingchao gritted his teeth: "M-my husband is r-really powerful... Don’t, don’t mess with me..."

The man still didn’t speak, but he also didn’t move further.

Just as Lu Tingchao thought he was hesitating and about to let him go—

The man suddenly lifted him up, then held Lu Tingchao up with an arm under his rear.

His feet were off the ground, his hands restrained.

Completely suspended.

Lu Tingchao’s only point of contact was the man’s arm, but it was unsteady. The intense sense of weightlessness and sudden lack of security made him instinctively wrap his legs around the man’s hips for support—

Even though that man was the aggressor.

Lu Tingchao’s voice quivered: "Don’t... don’t..."

Cool, thin lips met his.

As if offering comfort.

Yet more like punishment.

The moment their lips touched.

Lu Tingchao finally started crying: "Zhuang... Zhuang Ji..."

The shape of his lips, the manner and habit of the kiss, the tangling of tongues.

Tears of fright, held back with great effort from the start, silently rolled down his cheeks, falling onto Lu Tingchao’s cupid’s bow, which the man was slowly savoring.

It was salty.

Zhuang Ji licked off Lu Tingchao’s tears but said hoarsely: "Continue."

The excessively dim environment made it impossible for Lu Tingchao to tell if anyone was around. He didn’t even dare speak above a whisper: "Let me go, I don’t want to, Zhuang Ji!"

"Don’t want me, so you want Fei Xiuqi, is that it?"

Zhuang Ji’s voice was icy. He paused, then bit Lu Tingchao’s lip hard, "Don’t even think about it."

Lu Tingchao was really sensitive to pain, his whole body trembling.

Zhuang Ji kept kissing him: "Chao Chao, since you’re so disobedient. From now on, if he dares to touch you once, I’ll touch you ten times. If he kisses you once, we’ll make it ten times as long."

Lu Tingchao said nothing.

From his angle, he could see Zhuang Ji’s facial features, called perfect by domestic and international media. Even his mixed heritage was perfectly blended—Chinese-style eyes and brows, yet with an intensely deep contour that made one get lost in them at first glance.

Lu Tingchao suddenly said: "What if I sleep with him?"

Zhuang Ji froze.

Lu Tingchao whispered: "Zhuang Ji, I don’t love you anymore. Are you going to watch me every day? I wish you and Jiang Rong well, so please let me go, okay?"

Zhuang Ji: "Jiang Rong and I have nothing going on whatsoever. If you clearly say it bothers you, I can cut all ties with her from now on. If you don’t like me acting, I can issue a statement and leave the entertainment industry immediately."

Zhuang Ji pulled away from Lu Tingchao’s lips, as if fighting a burning restlessness, and rested his head in the curve of Lu Tingchao’s neck, breathing heavily. "What about you, Lu Tingchao?"

Lu Tingchao: "."

Zhuang Ji’s laugh was cold: "Your history is just a constant stream of romantic partners; I’m just one of them. Can you promise never to lie to me again?"

Lu Tingchao: "..."

"Stop making such unrealistic assumptions."

Zhuang Ji kissed Lu Tingchao’s neck. "You’d die in bed, baby."

*

The lights suddenly brightened.

On stage, Devin nodded slightly: "The future of the world belongs to you young people, so I’ll say no more. From now on, all matters on the mainland will be handled entirely by my son. A Qi, come here."

The opera lyrics kept changing.

Lu Tingchao had also swapped his small cake for a new one.

Zhuang Ji stayed by his side, and every time he saw Lu Tingchao’s plate was empty, he would promptly slip a piece from his own plate to Lu Tingchao’s.

Fresh from being teased, Lu Tingchao ate without guilt, and after a few bites, he would chide Zhuang Ji: "Do you even know how to pick? This tastes awful, and you still gave it to me."

Then he would push it back onto Zhuang Ji’s plate.

Zhuang Ji quietly ate the returned portion: "Do you want the strawberry mousse then?"

Lu Tingchao: "No, I want chocolate mousse, preferably with almonds on top."

Zhuang Ji: "Alright, wait here, I’ll go find some."

Just as Zhuang Ji was about to turn around, Jiang Rong and Mrs. Zhuang happened to approach from the other side.

When the four met, Mrs. Zhuang said: "Chao Chao, why haven’t we seen you earlier?"

Lu Tingchao: "Ah..."

Zhuang Ji: "His eyes were irritated, so I took him to rinse them."

"Yes, no wonder his eyes look a bit red."

Mrs. Zhuang added, "By the way, Mr. Fei just invited us over. Would you like to join, Chao Chao?"

Lu Tingchao shook his head like a rattle-drum: "I’d rather not..."

The attendant in charge of guiding them smiled and said: "If it’s convenient, Young Master Lu should join us as well. I’ve heard that Young Master Lu is our young master’s friend. It’s rare for the young master to have friends, so naturally, sir would like to meet him."

Zhuang Ji took Lu Tingchao’s hand and nodded to the attendant: "That’s fine. Chao Chao is my husband, so it’s only right that he comes along."

*

The first floor of the Century Hotel was a grand banquet hall, while the second floor housed private sitting rooms.

The innermost room had a thick carpet, and the window sills were exquisitely carved with lifelike patterns.

Two attendants at the door pushed the large doors open with identical smiles and angles. The butler welcomed the group inside and then took his place beside Mr. Fei.

Mrs. Zhuang walked at the front and was the first to shake hands with Mr. Fei as he stood: "Mr. Devin, we only spoke briefly earlier. I’m delighted to receive your invitation."

"Devin is just a name I use professionally. My name is Fei Yuncheng."

Fei Yuncheng smiled warmly. "I’m fortunate to say that in my youth, I had the opportunity to work with Mr. Zhuang. If you don’t mind, Madam, you may simply call me by my name."

The lighting had been dim earlier, making it hard to see clearly.

Now that they were closer, Lu Tingchao noticed the man was wearing a Tang suit, with a nine-clawed dragon embroidered on the front, winding upward and disappearing at the shoulder.

He held a string of bodhi wood beads, rolling them through his fingers one by one. The color and sheen clearly indicated it was of exceptional quality.

Though Mrs. Zhuang did not handle business matters, she had attended many formal occasions and knew how to speak appropriately: "You flatter us, Mr. Fei. How could we presume on such familiarity? This is my eldest son, Zhuang Ji, whom you asked about earlier."

Fei Yuncheng’s gaze shifted over.

Lu Tingchao happened to be staring at his bead bracelet. Their eyes met, and Lu Tingchao felt inexplicably uncomfortable under his gaze, quickly turning away.

Fei Yuncheng’s expression remained gentle: "I’ve long heard about you—the youngest Best Actor in history, a talented young man. And these two are..."

"This is a member of the Jiang family."

Mrs. Zhuang indicated. "The Jiang family in B City, who are in real estate. I wonder if you’ve heard of them?"

Fei Yuncheng nodded with a smile: "Yes, I know of them. They’re quite famous in Hong Kong. He's quite popular with the ladies."

Jiang Rong also smiled: "I've been fortunate. It’s an honor to catch your attention, Mr. Fei."

Fei Yuncheng: "And this one..."

The bodhi wood beads in the man’s hand paused almost imperceptibly for a moment.

"This is my spouse. Sorry, he’s shy around strangers."

Zhuang Ji gently touched Lu Tingchao’s hair. "We’re legally registered and have been married for seven years."

Lu Tingchao had somehow hidden behind Zhuang Ji and now peeked out half his head. When Fei Yuncheng looked at him, he quickly ducked back again.

"Seven years..."

Fei Yuncheng narrowed his eyes slightly, took a sip of tea from the cup in front of him, and praised: "Seven years is quite something."

Fei Yuncheng said: "Mrs. Zhuang, this is our first meeting, and I feel we have good rapport. But I came in a hurry and didn’t prepare anything. In a couple of days, I’ll send a small gift to your residence. I hope you won’t refuse it."

"We couldn't possibly accept!"

Mrs. Zhuang quickly replied. "Your return to the mainland is a joyous occasion. Next time, let the Zhuang family host and invite you for a gathering."

After a few more polite exchanges, the butler quietly reminded Fei Yuncheng that he had another appointment soon.

Fei Yuncheng then stood up to take his leave. At the door, he turned back.

Mrs. Zhuang: "Mr. Fei?"

Fei Yuncheng’s hand, holding the beads, stilled. After a moment, he pulled a bandage from the sleeve of his Tang suit: "Actor Zhuang."

Zhuang Ji was surprised: "What?"

Fei Yuncheng’s gaze seemed to return from somewhere distant. His throat moved slightly under the Tang suit collar: "Your young husband seems to have a cut on his neck. Put this on him."

*

It seemed like just a small incident, not drawing much attention.

But for some reason, Zhuang Ji didn’t use the bandage Fei Yuncheng had just given him. Instead, he got two new ones from hotel staff and gently applied one to Lu Tingchao’s abraded skin in a secluded corner.

Zhuang Ji stayed with Lu Tingchao for a while longer before letting him go.

Lu Tingchao clung to Zhuang Ji’s arm, walking beside him. As soon as they entered the banquet hall, they saw Jiang Rong and Mrs. Zhuang standing with a crowd around them, with several hotel waiters and staff nearby.

Jiang Rong looked displeased: "I hope you understand as the manager that I’m not making unreasonable demands. If this outfit were my own, then okay, getting it dirty wouldn’t matter—I wouldn’t make an issue of it with the waiter. But this is a new season high-fashion piece that hasn't been released yet. It’s not just about the price; it involves my professional reputation and credibility. This probably would cost a fortune for him, wouldn’t it?"

Lu Tingchao: "…?"

There were always plenty of onlookers. Lu Tingchao stood on his toes for a long time but couldn’t get a good view. Eventually, Zhuang Ji took him by the neck and drew him into the crowd, placing him in the front of the crowd.

Lu Tingchao: "…"

Well, there was no need to be quite this close.

Forced to watch from the front row, Lu Tingchao finally understood what the commotion was about.

It was simply a new intern who was accidentally bumped into by another guest, causing the red wine in his hand to spill, and it all splashed onto Jiang Rong's newly borrowed haute couture outfit from the latest season.

Then, the guest who started it wouldn’t admit they’d bumped into him, and Jiang Rong didn’t want to offend that guest either, so it seemed the poor server was gonna get blamed.

Such a boring, tired, lame story.

Lu Tingchao found it utterly uninteresting and took a lazy look at the intern who got blamed—whoa, a total hottie!

No wonder he could be at such a big-deal party even during his internship.

The waiter was wearing the most ordinary hotel uniform, but he stood out completely from the others, like he could be in a commercial right now.

He must be quite tall, though it was hard to see ’cause his head was down. He stood there listening to everyone’s pointing fingers and whispering, and after what felt like forever, he finally retorted, "I don’t have proof, but the cameras are right there."

The waiter looked at the guest who had bumped into him first: "You won’t check the footage, doesn’t that mean you’re guilty?"

The guests began speaking up, one after another, talking in circles, yet no one actually suggested checking the surveillance.

Like they didn’t even hear the intern’s words at all.

Lu Tingchao instinctively glanced at the surveillance camera’s location—and suddenly realized that camera was exactly where… Zhuang Ji had used the blackout to sneak up on him.

Lu Tingchao: "!!!"

Crap!

If they checked the surveillance and happened to use the night-vision camera, he…

Zhuang Ji, you’re really the worst!

Lu Tingchao was like a nervous wreck.

He both felt that nobody’d wanna check the footage and feared that the intern might go all out to clear his name, and they might see something they shouldn’t…

The thought alone made him wanna pass out. Ugh.

"You rich folks care about your rep, but a server’s rep means zip,"

the intern said. "I understand. I’ll figure it out…"

Lu Tingchao: "Whoa, wait, hold up!"

Lu Tingchao said, "I saw what happened!"

Everyone’s eyes turned to Lu Tingchao all at once.

Lu Tingchao stepped back under all the stares, gathering his nerve: "I… I’d lost something earlier and went to check the surveillance. I saw it by chance, and it’s just as this handsome guy said—someone pushed him, he didn’t bump into Jiang Rong on purpose."

The young waiter was surprised and looked at Lu Tingchao.

He was indeed very handsome—fair skin, big eyes—though he seemed to have just had his faith in people shaken, carrying a cool, detached vibe like he could take on the world alone.

There were many guests, some well-known, others just plus-ones.

Lu Tingchao looked like one of the plus-ones right off.

The guy who started it blew up: "Kid, I advise you not to shoot your mouth off. Do you think the surveillance at Century Hotel is something you can just check as you please? Even if you want to help someone, know who you’re dealing with. A nobody like you—if you accuse me, I’ll send you to jail…"

"Why can’t we check it?"

Zhuang Ji stood in front of Lu Tingchao.

The CEO, who had somehow entered from the entrance, rushed over to Zhuang Ji, followed by the operations and legal directors: "Boss, I just returned from a meeting abroad. You’re here in person today?"

Boss?

Century Hotel occupied the best spot in City B and often hosted the most important ceremonial events.

Outsiders had once rumored that Century Hotel was privately owned and had a few owners, but no one had ever found out who really owned it.

Lu Tingchao: "?"

Everyone: "???"

Zhuang Ji’s expression was calm: "The Fei family event."

The CEO nodded: "I’ve already discussed the specifics with legal. Boss, how would you like to handle this matter regarding your wife? Legal suggests we could start with defamation and draft relevant procedures, demanding a public apology."

Zhuang Ji’s usual gaze was cold when looking at people: "Then an apology it is."

Lu Tingchao was stunned.

He had been seeing that condescending look in Zhuang Ji’s eyes since he was a teenager. Later, he thought that look had disappeared, but today he realized it might not be the case.

"I apologize, I apologize!"

The person who had caused the bump was just an ordinary socialite. Whether it was because he had offended Zhuang Ji or suddenly learned about Lu Tingchao’s relationship with Zhuang Ji, he was completely deflated: "Whatever kind of apology you need, I’ll cooperate!"

The man walked up to Lu Tingchao and gave a ninety-degree bow: "Mrs. Zhuang, I’m sorry, so sorry!"

Lu Tingchao: "...No, no need."

Zhuang Ji pulled Lu Tingchao into his arms: "Step back, don’t scare my loved one."

*

The guests dispersed.

Those who were shrewd knew what to say and what not to say. Besides, at this point, aside from Lu Tingchao, Zhuang Ji didn’t care at all whether the outside world knew about his relationship with Lu Tingchao.

Both Mother Zhuang and Jiang Rong had been drinking. Patriarch Zhuang’s vintage car was still in the garage. As usual, Zhuang Ji should first return with Mother Zhuang to see Patriarch Zhuang and drop Jiang Rong off on the way.

But Lu Tingchao absolutely did not want to go back to the Zhuang family’s old residence.

It was already quite late. After a moment’s hesitation, Zhuang Ji handed his car keys to Lu Tingchao: "Go home and wait for me, be good, okay?"

"Got it."

Lu Tingchao waved the car keys, got into the car without looking back, and drove off.

Zhuang Ji watched Lu Tingchao leave, stood still for a while, and then, urged by Mother Zhuang, got into the car as well.

The roads of City B at night were quiet and wide.

Lu Tingchao had only drunk two glasses of orange juice and was clear-headed.

Red light.

Lu Tingchao turned on some music and took out a bag of lime-flavored potato chips from his snack box.

Crunch, crunch.

The light turned green.

Lu Tingchao wiped his hands with a disinfectant wipe and was about to take his foot off the brake.

Just then, he saw a person walking slowly on the crosswalk ahead suddenly stop, sway a couple of times, and out of nowhere collapse to the ground.

Lu Tingchao: "???"

Is this some kind of setup?!!