Chapter 19: Pretending to be a Mystic — “Done quite a few bad things, right?”…
“Trigger a sense of crisis?” Lu Xunye frowned. “So I’m actually a wingman?”
He vaguely remembered the name of this manga. Domineering Forceful Love: Who Allowed You to BE!
If the plot is unbreakable, will the final ending still be a Happy Ending (HE)?
Whatever, doesn’t matter. His current life span was less than double digits in hours. As long as the mission granted life span, who Shen Yunqian ended up with was none of his business.
As for the Lu family, hmm… he could make use of them.
Thinking of this, Lu Xunye asked, “Where is the banquet hall?”
System: 【It’s the one you just came out of.】
“Here?” Lu Xunye had black lines all over his face. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
The system looked innocent: 【There was no mission earlier.】
Lu Xunye: “…” Fair point.
A while later, Lu Xunye appeared in front of the banquet hall and was stopped by security. “This is the Shen family banquet. You cannot enter without an invitation.”
Shen family? Which Shen family? Lu Xunye suppressed the doubts in his heart, looked at the two dutiful guards, and started acting rogue.
“I say, brothers, I just came out of here less than half an hour ago, and now you don’t recognize me?”
“You truly cannot enter without an invitation. Sir, please leave.” The two acted as if they had never seen Lu Xunye.
Their attitude was okay, lacking the tone found in TV dramas mocking Lu Xunye for trying to climb the social ladder.
Lu Xunye wanted to say Feng Chengyu brought him, but thinking about the “shocking” things he was about to do, and offending the Protagonist Gong and all that…
Hmm… he decided not to cause trouble for that young master.
For a wealthy young master who spent money like water, having his bank cards frozen was miserable enough.
Lu Xunye lied without blinking, “Seriously, I left the invitation inside just now. How am I supposed to show it to you?”
These two could tell at a glance he was lying. Every rich second generation inside was arrogant as hell.
If it were anyone else, even if the guards wanted to stop them, the outcome would likely be getting scolded or kicked, and then the person would barge in anyway.
Finally, they’d get lectured by the hotel manager, asking what if criminals broke in.
Although knowing those VIPs were indeed real young masters and misses, they wouldn’t really be harsh.
Unlike Lu Xunye, pestering them pleasantly and endlessly.
Actually, they also leaned towards thinking the man was here to make connections, as there were too many such cases. But they didn’t expose him, maintaining their poker faces.
No choice, professional ethics were there.
The two acted as if they believed Lu Xunye’s nonsense. “We don’t know which family’s young master you are, Sir. You can call your friend to bring you in, or have someone send the invitation out to you. We really cannot let you in privately.”
Lu Xunye listened. Great idea, but what was the difference?
Going in to get it or sending it out, they only recognized the invitation!
The system was obviously unreliable, only good for issuing missions and useless otherwise.
He wasn’t a real young master; no one would back him up. Forcing his way in was the most unwise move—he’d probably be carried out like a bandit before even getting inside.
Just as Lu Xunye was preparing to think of another way, contemplating the feasibility of finding a window to climb in…
Suddenly, an invitation appeared in his field of vision, followed by a gentle male voice: “This is my friend. Let him in.”
The “gatekeepers,” who had been impervious just a moment ago, respectfully took it, checked it carefully, and handed it back to the newcomer.
Their attitude completely changed, their tone ingratiating: “Of course, of course. Young Master Ji and this young master, please come in.”
And Lu Xunye got to experience “riding on someone’s coattails,” instantly transforming from an uninvited guest to a wealthy young master.
Lu Xunye turned back to see which divine passerby this was. A breeze swept past his side, and the person left him only a back view.
The person was on the phone, and he could vaguely hear him calling the person on the other end “Brother.”
Lu Xunye chased after him in two steps just as the man hung up the phone.
He saw the man’s appearance as he wished. Indeed, face like crowned jade. He guessed this was also a character above cannon fodder level, unlikely to have too tragic an ending.
Lu Xunye responded to his earlier words at the door. “Sir, thank you very much for your kindness, but since we are friends, shouldn’t we exchange names?”
“I’m Lu Xunye.” Saying that, he extended his hand. “Of course, if it’s inconvenient, you don’t have to tell me.”
“Ji Huaixu.” Ji Huaixu didn’t reject him. Instead, he shook his hand, the corners of his lips curving up politely, staring at him with an inscrutable expression. “Pleasure to meet you.”
He withdrew his hand, took a mask from a passing waiter’s tray, put it on his face, and then lifted his chin to signal someone to go to Lu Xunye’s side.
“Have fun, Mr. Lu.”
After the person left, Lu Xunye stared blankly at the mask in his hand. The system suddenly floated over: 【Host, you haven’t fallen for someone again, have you!】
“…” Lu Xunye rolled his eyes and put on the mask too. “Go get treated if you’re sick.”
“Who are you calling sick?!” A young man nearby who was toasting angrily looked at him upon hearing this.
Lu Xunye: “…”
Meanwhile, a dispute broke out at the other end of the banquet hall.
“What are you doing here? Why does this little brat linger like a ghost? Why didn’t you die with your parents!”
A middle-aged woman splashed red wine at Shen Yunqian, but he grabbed her arm and blocked it back. The glass shattered, and red liquid splattered on the hems of both their clothes.
At this moment, a middle-aged man walked over. Seeing her expensive gown stained with spots of red wine, the woman was about to explode.
The shattering sound of the glass hitting the floor caused the crowd, who had been conversing, to suddenly quiet down and look over.
Seeing the gazes of the people around, the woman’s momentum instantly weakened. She leaned back on the man’s shoulder, looking as if she were about to weep.
Seeming not to want to lose her composure, she covered her eyes, but anyone looking would think she was extremely sad.
“Honey, Yunqian insisted on clinging to the Si family back then. I only tried to persuade him to come back, and he threw a glass at me. Did I do something wrong?”
Turning her head, she put on the appearance of an elder who, although disobeyed, was still loving towards Shen Yunqian.
“Yunqian, Auntie is doing this for your own good. Why don’t you understand your elders’ hearts?”
With just a few sentences, the woman not only revealed Shen Yunqian’s identity…
But also inverted black and white regarding the past events where they personally tied Shen Yunqian up and sent him to Si Jinyan to curry favor after the Shen family went bankrupt.
Seeing the situation, the man understood immediately. Taking the opportunity, he patted her shoulder in agreement to comfort her, then said with “disappointment”:
“Tell me about it. His parents really spoiled him rotten. He can’t compare to our Little Yang at all.”
One person spoke up first: “Is he that second son of the Shen family who cursed his parents to death?”
As soon as he said it, the person next to him shoved him: “Don’t talk nonsense.”
Shen Yunqian turned a deaf ear to the discussions around him, looking coldly at the couple immersed in their acting. He lifted his hand to untie his mask and tossed it casually at their feet.
“Uncle has enjoyed the good life enough that you’ve forgotten who gave you everything you have now?”
“People, even if they lose everything, shouldn’t lose their conscience. If you do too many evil deeds, even if you hide in the underworld, you’ll be entangled by vengeful spirits.”
He raised his eyebrows slightly, implying something. “What do you think?”
The reason the Shen family was respected by others before was that, unlike other wealthy families with backgrounds and resources to rely on…
Shen’s father and mother had struggled for decades from their youth, truly starting from scratch.
Shen’s father cherished brotherly affection deeply, handing over the subsidiary company to his older brother to manage fully—that is, the man acting right in front of him, Shen Qizhao.
Who knew this man had wolfish ambitions that were plain to see.
In the early years, Shen’s mother and eldest son had also tried to persuade him, but Shen’s father still considered brotherly feelings and blood ties, leaving the matter unsettled.
It was this man who, when the Shen Group was deeply mired in rumors of shoddy products and defrauding customers…
Amidst the plummeting stock prices and partners terminating contracts to demand sky-high liquidated damages, absconded with the funds.
It was also him who made a deal with unknown people, designing a trap for Shen’s father to sign a contract mortgaging the company’s real estate.
In the end, after the Shen family declared bankruptcy, he turned around and blamed them, setting up his own business.
What was even more baffling was that everyone seemed to think it was right, as if it should be this way.
No one questioned or cared how the Shen family, once at the height of its power, suddenly fell.
Calm as a drop of water merging into a turbulent ocean, causing not a single ripple.
And at that time, Shen Yunqian, who had been kept in the dark about the truth from beginning to end, was still at home, looking forward to his older brother returning from abroad.
Guessing if he would receive an even less creative gift this year.
What he waited for was the news of his parents’ car accident on their way home from the court, exhausted, and his older brother’s flight crashing and losing contact.
As for the wealthy families attending this banquet, it wasn’t out of respect for Shen Qizhao.
Most heard that the top three wealthy families—Lu, Ji, and Si—would come, so they wanted to try their luck. Maybe they could form a marriage alliance to consolidate their status.
Suddenly, an angry shout pulled Shen Yunqian’s thoughts back.
“Everyone judge this! Whose nephew talks to his own uncle like this!”
“It’s truly a misfortune for my Shen family to give birth to such an unfilial descendant!”
“Things having come to this, I won’t hide it anymore. Not long after he was born, our family had someone calculate his horoscope. It’s the fate of a ‘Lone Star of Heavenly Evil’! Cursing father and mother, scattering wealth and destroying fortune.”
“We originally thought that person was a charlatan, who could have thought…”
Shen Qizhao choked up at the right moment, and then two lines of hot tears flowed down.
“My younger brother and sister-in-law were such good people! They just went astray for a moment, but didn’t expect that at just over fifty they would… I should have persuaded them when they went astray.”
Deng Yao comforted him hypocritically: “Husband, it’s not your fault.”
Those present who could do business to this level, to put it bluntly, all had some dirty dealings more or less.
Guilty conscience fearing exposure, praying to Buddha for peace of mind was common.
So regarding his words, those who believed believed most of it, and those who didn’t wouldn’t actively speak up to refute such nonsense.
Everyone knew Si Jinyan hated Shen Yunqian to the bone. For a destitute young master, risking offending the Si family wasn’t necessary.
Shen Yunqian’s gaze darkened. His index finger tapped lightly against his leg, interested to hear what else he could say.
So many years, still the same, not a bit of creativity.
Unexpectedly, before Shen Qizhao could continue acting, he was interrupted.
“Making things difficult for a junior in public, you lose the demeanor of an elder, Old Man Shen.”
A clear, bright male voice came from outside the crowd. The people still in spectator mode immediately parted a way.
A young man wearing a silver mask walked in calmly from the crowd.
Approaching Shen Yunqian, he naturally raised his arm and rested his elbow on Shen Yunqian’s shoulder.
The practiced, smooth series of actions left people dumbfounded.
And Lu Xunye, sensing Shen Yunqian’s intention to retreat, backhandedly ruffled his hair.
He deliberately lowered his head to whisper to Shen Yunqian: “How long has it been since we met, and you don’t recognize me?”
Hearing the voice he had been forced to become familiar with over the past month—actually Lu Xunye’s one-sided harassment…
Shen Yunqian’s pupils constricted. He turned his head and looked up, meeting a pair of pitch-black eyes under the mask.
Actually, Lu Xunye had seen Shen Yunqian here early on. He deliberately didn’t come over just to see what Shen Yunqian would do.
This look simply refreshed his perception of Shen Yunqian. He really didn’t expect the ice block who usually couldn’t squeeze out a word in half a day…
The person who, when teased to anxiety, would only glare at him to stop touching, could actually choke people with words like this.
Although he still had the vibe of a cookie-cutter angst novel Protagonist Shou, with “I am weak, come bully me” written all over him.
Shen Yunqian whispered: “How did you get in?”
“Flew in.” Lu Xunye replied unreliably.
Shen Qizhao, at his age, was scolded by someone who looked young, and his face couldn’t hold on.
Seeing them whispering as if no one else was there, his face turned blue and red with anger, and he cursed directly.
“Where did you pop out from, you brat, daring to meddle in my family affairs!”
Deng Yao pinched his arm, reminding him in a low voice: “We don’t know whose family he belongs to, be careful.”
“Oh, you still know he’s your own nephew!” Lu Xunye scoffed lightly. “Is there anyone who sells their nephew for glory?”
Shen Yunqian looked up at him in surprise.
Lu Xunye winked at him.
The plots are all written like this. When the protagonist is down and out, there must be a superb relative who ignores the law and carries out human trafficking to the extreme.
Even thinking with toes would know.
Oh no, Lu Xunye overlooked one point.
Since when did melodramatic angst novels talk about laws?
Lu Xunye turned a blind eye to Shen Qizhao’s darkening face: “Listening to your meaning just now, you miss your brother and sister-in-law?”
Before Shen Qizhao could speak, Lu Xunye said with distress: “Tsk, what to do then?”
He pretended to think for a moment, then sighed: “To be honest, I know a little about face reading. Listening to your earlier meaning, you seem to believe in some metaphysics?”
“Then I’ll say it straight. Your foreheads are dark; it’s an ominous sign.”
“Done quite a few bad things, right? Look, two little ghosts are lying on your shoulders gnawing!”
“Skin, veins, blood, internal organs, and… soul.” Lu Xunye enunciated each word, wearing an innocent smile on his face. “Guess which one they like to eat more?”
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