Many people vied for an invitation to the banquet hosted by the Lu clan, making it a lively and crowded affair. The Lu clan’s estate was vast and luxurious, so even with so many guests, it didn’t feel cramped.
Lu Xingmian genuinely wasn’t used to such banquets; they were all unfamiliar faces. He had never attended one before. The only previous banquet he’d been to was when he first returned to the Lu family. They had held a banquet supposedly to celebrate finding their lost child, but in reality, on the day of the banquet, Lu Xingmian was left all alone in a corner.
No one noticed him; it seemed everyone had forgotten the purpose of the banquet. After the banquet ended, Lu Yan and Xia Yuefang only remembered Lu Xingmian in the corner, who hadn’t shown his face at all from beginning to end. They even blamed him for being timid and not generous at all, not like a child of the Lu family. But they forgot that at the banquet, Lu Xingmian knew no one, and Yancheng was a completely strange city to him.
Lu Xingmian still disliked the current banquet; he was merely an object being displayed. After being “displayed,” Lu Xingmian found a quiet place to stay. Seeing him like this, Xia Yuefang felt another wave of displeasure, thinking he had no social graces.
Lu Sihang tried to persuade Xia Yuefang: “Mom, you need to give Lu Xingmian some time. He’s rarely attended such events before, so he’s bound to be unaccustomed. He’ll get used to it eventually, just take it slowly.”
Lu Sihang’s words comforted Xia Yuefang. Anyway, many people had already seen the four of them arrive together, so surely no one would accuse them of favoritism anymore.
Lu Sihang playfully hooked his arm through his mother’s: “Mom, let’s go over there.”
Xia Yuefang and Lu Sihang left. This son of hers had such a strange personality and wasn’t close to them. There were a few wealthy ladies she knew over there, and she wanted to go chat with them.
A few wealthy ladies were discussing about the Lu family’s true young master.
“Did you see him? The Lu family’s true young master is truly a talent, much more good-looking than Lu Sihang.”
“The true young master has such a refined air about him at first glance.”
“I wonder if you’ve noticed, the true young master’s formal wear is so ill-fitting. They aren’t even willing to put on a show.”
“Everyone knows they brought the true young master today just to silence people, to prevent others from saying they’re biased.”
Seeing Xia Yuefang approach, the wealthy ladies discreetly changed the topic.
Lu Yan and Xia Yuefang both went off to socialize. Lu Sihang also went to find his friends; he had a few good friends in their circle.
“Guys, there’s something I need your help with.”
–
Lu Xingmian hadn’t eaten almost all day and was starting to feel a bit faint from hunger. He looked around for a while and finally found the catering area. He placed his backpack on a chair and went to get some food.
Soon after he left, a few boys came over and rummaged through his backpack but didn’t find what they were looking for.
There was a lot of food in the catering area, and Lu Xingmian felt a bit overwhelmed. He chose a few items that would fill him up. He was truly hungry, so his plate was piled high.
Xiao Youzi wanted cake, so she pulled her uncle to the dessert area to get a small cake. Xiao Youzi was too short, so Lu Shiran picked her up and asked, “Which one do you want?”
Xiao Youzi: “I want that one, and that one too!”
Lu Shiran: “You can only pick one. Too much isn’t good for your teeth.”
After a little deliberation, Xiao Youzi chose one.
At the same time, Lu Xingmian also arrived at the dessert area and then heard an incredibly familiar voice. He looked around, but the voice abruptly stopped, as if he had misheard. But he absolutely couldn’t be mistaken; this voice was very unique, exactly like Lu Ge’s voice.
Could Lu Ge be here too?
Lu Xingmian went to search. He finally found a figure, and the voice seemed to be coming from him.
The man was tall and dressed in a suit. Just from his back, Lu Xingmian felt an imposing aura; this was someone he probably couldn’t afford to offend.
But the only person closest to him just now was that man. Could it be Lu Ge? The voice was so similar, there shouldn’t be two voices that are alike.
Just as Lu Xingmian was about to go after him and ask, someone greeted the man: “President Lu.”
The man calmly grunted in response, his voice very cold.
Lu Xingmian scratched his head. This voice was very similar to Lu Ge’s, but this man’s voice was too icy, while Lu Ge’s was gentle, there was a huge difference. Moreover, several people respectfully called this man President Lu, so he must be the host of tonight’s banquet, from the Lu clan.
In that case, this person couldn’t be Lu Ge. Lu Ge was just an ordinary office worker; he couldn’t possibly be a member of the famous Lu clan in Yancheng. It was just a similar voice. Lu Xingmian still thought Lu Ge’s voice sounded better.
After Lu Xingmian turned and left with his plate, Lu Shiran seemed to sense something and stopped. He thought he saw a slender figure, perhaps Lu Xingmian. Lu Shiran looked again, but it was a boy in a black suit standing in the same spot getting dessert. It wasn’t Lu Xingmian. Had he seen wrong? Lu Shiran scanned the crowd but didn’t see that slender figure again.
Lu Xingmian, carrying two full plates, returned to where he had been sitting. Then he noticed that his backpack had been rummaged through. The zipper, which had been in the middle, was now on the side, and the backpack was overturned. Besides his changed clothes and a power bank and charging cable, there was nothing else in the bag. Clearly, no one would take those things.
He didn’t bother with his things. He hadn’t eaten all day, and he was still growing, so he was very, very hungry. He buried his head in his food, finishing one plate in less than a few minutes, but he still wasn’t full and was about to start on the second plate.
Three boys his age came over and surrounded him, seeing the empty plate on the table, and began to mock him.
“You are Lu Xingmian ah.”
“What roadside clothes are you wearing? How dare you come here? Aren’t you ashamed?”
“This is my first time seeing someone eat so much at a banquet. Have you never eaten before? It’s no wonder you’re from a small place, completely lacking in manners and etiquette.”
Lu Xingmian didn’t know these boys and had never seen them before, yet they clearly knew his name. Since they were his age, they were probably sent by Lu Sihang. These must be the ones who searched his backpack; Lu Xingmian figured they were looking for his phone.
Lu Xingmian didn’t want to get tangled up with them and ignored them. The three boys grew angry when they saw that Lu Xingmian didn’t even acknowledge them. They had come to vent Lu Sihang’s anger. They were all friends with Lu Sihang and had heard that Lu Xingmian had been treating him badly since returning, so they wanted to teach him a harsh lesson. After all, Uncle Lu and Aunt Lu didn’t care about Lu Xingmian.
“Lu Xingmian, don’t be ungrateful! What do you think you are? You’re just unwanted trash.”
“Don’t be too arrogant. No one here will see us, so beating you up will be nothing.”
There were three of them. Lu Xingmian frowned. Although he couldn’t defeat three people at once, he wouldn’t let them bully him easily either. He didn’t look for trouble, but trouble always seemed to find him.
“What are you looking at? Are you looking for death?”
“Who dares to cause trouble here?” A voice rang out.
The boys looked over and saw a man in his fifties. The three boys recognized him; it was Mr. Hou, the Lu clan’s butler. Seeing Butler Hou, the three boys dared not speak, and their arrogant demeanor instantly vanished. Everyone knew how respected Butler Hou was in the Lu clan.
But why was he suddenly here?
Butler Hou said, “I know whose young masters you all are. If you dare to cause trouble here, I will inform your parents.”
The boys quickly replied, “No, no, we were just playing around.”
Butler Hou looked at the three of them. “Playing around? Even though I’m old, I heard every word you said to Young Master Lu just now. Everyone here today is a guest of the Lu clan. You’d best apologize to Young Master Lu.”
Even their parents would show respect to Butler Hou, let alone them. The three boys had no choice but to apologize to Lu Xingmian and then scurried away.
Lu Xingmian thanked the butler, “Thank you.”
Unlike his tone when speaking to the boys, Butler Hou’s voice was very kind. “You’re welcome, Young Master Lu. If you have any problems, you can always come find me.”
Lu Xingmian didn’t know this person, but he understood that he was here to help him, and he was grateful. Butler Hou said, “You’re welcome. It was our oversight that you encountered such an unpleasant situation at the Lu clan. I apologize.”
Lu Xingmian quickly waved his hand. “No, no, please don’t say that.”
Butler Hou smiled. “How are the refreshments here? Are they good?”
Lu Xingmian: “They’re very good.”
Meanwhile, Xia Yuefang was stunned when she turned around. Lu Xingmian was actually talking to Butler Hou of the Lu clan. One must know that Butler Hou held a very high position in the Lu clan; although he was a butler, the entire Lu family treated him like a family member.
Lu Xingmian actually knew Butler Hou of the Lu clan? And they were chatting so happily, looking very familiar as well.
Xia Yuefang wanted to go butter up Butler Hou, but he left before she was even halfway there.
Xia Yuefang asked, “You know Butler Hou?”
Lu Xingmian: “No.”
Xia Yuefang clearly didn’t believe him: “Then why were you chatting so happily just now?”
Lu Xingmian said, “He just asked me if the food here was good.”
Was that all he asked? Xia Yuefang was still a bit skeptical. Did Butler Hou really just specifically come to ask Lu Xingmian if the food was good? But Lu Xingmian was telling the truth.
Butler Hou approached Lu Shiran: “Don’t worry, they probably won’t bother that child anymore.”
Lu Shiran looked at Lu Xingmian, who was quietly eating in the corner in the distance: “Uncle Hou, make sure those three get a lesson.”
