Chapter 8, Birthday Banquet
The warm weather only lasted a few days. The temperature dropped again. The morning was still a comfortable south wind, but by afternoon, the wind had changed direction. The streets were cold and desolate, with few pedestrians.
The air conditioning was on in the classroom. The warm air made people drowsy. Shen Shaoyan rested his chin in his hand, tilting his head to watch Ji Linxue taking notes.
Ji Linxue's handwriting was very neat, as if etched by a printer. There were no unnecessary smudges or corrections on the paper, which was very pleasing to the eye.
Just as he slowly closed his eyes and began to drift into dreamland, a ticklish pain suddenly appeared on his back.
"Ouch—" The sleepiness was instantly driven away. Shen Shaoyan turned his head, looking at the culprit, "Lu Xiaoyu, what are you doing?!"
Lu Yu retracted his pen and unhurriedly put the cap back on, "If you dare to call me that again, you're dead."
Shen Shaoyan muttered softly, "I haven't even blamed you for poking me yet."
"Let's talk business." Lu Yu subtly glanced at Ji Linxue, "Your family should have received the invitation, right?"
Shen Shaoyan's expression became serious, "The Gu family's birthday banquet?"
"Yeah."
"Really don't want to go. Every year it's this same ordeal. If it weren't for Heng Ge..." His voice trailed off, getting softer and softer, until the two were whispering to each other.
Ji Linxue turned his head to glance at them, pondering inwardly.
The Gu family's birthday banquet? Whose birthday?
After school, he proactively sought out Lu Yu. Last time, the other party's attitude had been too strange, as if he was deliberately helping him get closer to Gu Hengzhi.
"This might be a bit rude to ask, but could you tell me whose birthday it is in the Gu family?"
Lu Yu smiled confidently, "I knew you'd come to ask me. The Gu family's birthday banquet is nominally held for the two young masters, but in reality, it's a means for Gu Fengyan to cultivate connections. Families close to the Gu family all attend."
Ji Linxue picked out the keyword, "Two?"
"Yes," Lu Yu spread his hands, "Isn't it a coincidence? The eldest son was born on the ninth day of the eleventh lunar month, and the youngest son was born on the eighth day of the eleventh lunar month, so they just decided to celebrate the birthdays together."
Celebrating together meant one of them was surely being accommodated. Given Gu Hengzhi's strained relationship with his family, he must be the one being accommodated.
"Is there any way for me to go too?" He could tell that Lu Yu meant no harm to them. Although he didn't know why he was helping him, he couldn't miss this banquet.
"Ever since my aunt passed away, our family's relationship with the Gu family hasn't been very good. You can ask Shen Shaoyan to help you."
The Shen family held a high position and reputation, comparable to the Gu family. Shen Shaoyan was also the most beloved youngest son in his family. With him speaking up, it would be a simple matter.
So, that evening in the dorm, he pulled Shen Shaoyan to the balcony and told him about it. The other party readily agreed, "What's so hard about that? Anyway, many classmates from our class will be going."
Most of the classmates came from families with political or business backgrounds. Coupled with their identity as Gu Hengzhi's classmates, they naturally wouldn't be absent from this banquet.
"Just stick by me then, I'll take you in."
The banquet was set for Saturday evening. After school on Friday, Shen Shaoyan and Lu Yu went home. Gu Hengzhi still didn't return.
His phone went from vibrating for incoming calls to being put on silent, and finally ran out of battery and shut down. Gu Hengzhi didn't answer a single call, not even needing to look at the caller ID, he knew it had to be someone from the Gu family.
The next morning, Gu Hengzhi finally left the dorm. Ji Linxue also left the dorm not long after, heading to the address Shen Shaoyan had sent him.
The banquet required formal wear. Ji Linxue went to a department store and bought a black suit. It was a very ordinary style, at a moderate price, but with his face and figure, he looked clean and sharp, like a newly sharpened precious sword, silently revealing its edge.
The Gu family's mansion was located by the lake, covering a vast area with beautiful scenery and rich vegetation. It was already evening when they arrived. The car drove into the massive estate, along the way were trimmed flowers and plants, neatly arranged. Streetlights interspersed among them, beautifully decorated. As the sun gradually set, they lit up one by one, emitting a warm yellow light.
Shen Shaoyan got out of the car. A nearby servant immediately stepped forward to take the keys and drove the car to the designated parking spot.
Ji Linxue followed behind Shen Shaoyan. The Gu family's security was very strict, with people guarding both inside and out. The two walked to the banquet hall. The attendant standing at the door saw Shen Shaoyan's face and his expression became even more respectful, "Young Master Shen, I wish you a pleasant evening."
When it was Ji Linxue's turn, the attendant stopped him, but his attitude remained very polite, "Excuse me, sir, you might need to register."
The registration content was simple, name and identity. Ji Linxue filled in his name, and in the identity column, he wrote "Gu Hengzhi's classmate." The attendant glanced at it and let him in.
Upon entering the banquet hall, Ji Linxue gained a new understanding of the Gu family's wealth.
The banquet hall was sumptuously decorated, stately and grand. The floor was clean and tidy, every ornament gleaming like new. The air was filled with a faint scent of perfume, pleasant yet not offensive. There was a scene of fine clothes, beautiful women, and clinking glasses.
At the same time, the people in the hall also noticed them.
"Who's that next to the Shen family's boy? With that aura, whose young master is he?"
"Haven't seen him before. Logically, I should know everyone in this young generation."
"Could it be someone's newly recognized illegitimate child?"
Gu Hengzhi looked up in their direction. After seeing the person at the entrance, his pupils contracted. He quickly walked over, grabbed Ji Linxue's arm, pulled him to a corner of the banquet hall, and whispered, "Why are you here?"
Before Ji Linxue could speak, he turned his attention to Shen Shaoyan, questioning, "Who told you to bring him?"
Shen Shaoyan wished he could surrender with both hands, "I'm innocent! He said he wanted to come, so I brought him. Besides, isn't it your birthday? I just wanted to bring him over to join the fun."
Gu Hengzhi's face was very grim, "What's so fun about this? And it's not my birthday today."
Ji Linxue thought to himself, sure enough, Gu Hengzhi was the one being accommodated. Since today was Gu Hengzhi's younger brother's birthday, then tomorrow would be Gu Hengzhi's birthday.
Seeing that he wasn't really angry, Shen Shaoyan put on his usual playful smile again, "Just consider it showing our Xiao Xue around the world."
Ji Linxue frowned, "Xiao Xue?"
Shen Shaoyan, "I think it sounds more intimate. How is it, doesn't it sound good?"
"Terrible." Ji Linxue and Gu Hengzhi said in unison.
Shen Shaoyan, "..." Damn it, do they have to be so in sync?
Shen Shaoyan quickly left. He was an impatient person, sweet-talker, good with people, and could chat with anyone at the event. Ji Linxue was thus entrusted to Gu Hengzhi.
Gu Hengzhi took some desserts and a glass of fruit juice on a tray, leading Ji Linxue to the back garden.
The guests were all in the banquet hall at the front. There was no one here. The garden was quiet, only the rustling of tree leaves could be heard.
Gu Hengzhi said, "I'll be busy later, so I might not be able to look after you. I'll take you to a place, and you can wait for me there."
Ji Linxue nodded.
Gu Hengzhi left quickly. Ji Linxue placed the plate and juice on a nearby table and surveyed his surroundings.
Not far away was a swing shaped like a vine. The seat was a bit old, but it was well-maintained and looked very sturdy.
Ji Linxue walked over. Just as his fingers touched the brown swing seat, a soft, lovely child's voice suddenly came from behind him—
"Who are you?"
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