Chapter 56

Chapter 56

It was a cold day, and today was Christmas Eve. The streets were adorned with Christmas decorations, and everywhere was filled with joy and merriment.

The Lu Family hadn't hosted a banquet in a long time, but this time, the rarely seen young master of the Lu Family was throwing a birthday party, and the elite and powerful were all vying for invitations.

"Aunt Yao, this is my friend Zhao Youyou. She came with me to help." Feng Xiaoyu brought Zhao Youyou to the hotel to meet her relative.

Yao Fang gave Zhao Youyou a once-over and smiled, "Xiaoyu, your friend is quite delicate and pretty."

Although they were only temporary hires, there were still certain requirements for the appearance of the staff. At the very least, the employees needed to look clean and comfortable, so they could serve the guests properly.

"Hello, Aunt Yao," Zhao Youyou greeted with a sweet and polite smile.

"Hello. Follow me, you two." Yao Fang led them to the staff lounge, asked for their clothing sizes, and handed them two sets of staff uniforms.

"Tonight is the birthday banquet of the young master of the Lu Family. There must be no mistakes," Yao Fang instructed the two. "A supervisor will tell you what you need to do later and give you the details to pay attention to. The guests tonight are all people of status and position, so you must be careful and not make any mistakes."

"Don't worry, Aunt Yao. Youyou and I will be cautious and won't cause any trouble," Feng Xiaoyu assured, patting her chest.

"Good, you two go ahead and change into your uniforms. A supervisor will come to assign you your posts later." Yao Fang had many other things to attend to, so she hurried off.

Feng Xiaoyu held Zhao Youyou's hand, her expression excited. "Oh my god, I only heard it was a rich person's birthday party, but I didn't expect it to be the Lu Family's young master."

Zhao Youyou was also surprised.

"The Lu Family, it's the Lu Family!"

Feng Xiaoyu was so excited she was almost incoherent. "Even though we're just here to work as waitresses, just seeing the people of the Lu Family is worth it. And there will be other socialites and elites—people we usually only see on the internet, TV, or in magazines. Being able to see them in person tonight is a big deal for us."

Compared to Feng Xiaoyu's excitement, Zhao Youyou's expression was calm.

In Zhao Youyou's opinion, her boyfriend Fu Baili was the heir of the Fu Family, and she herself was a reborn person. Other wealthy people didn't seem particularly special to her.

"Alright, rein it in. Don't let your excitement mess things up while working. Tonight, we can't afford any mistakes," Zhao Youyou reminded her friend.

"I know, Youyou, you're so good to me." Feng Xiaoyu felt that Zhao Youyou was like a gentle older sister, often guiding her and thinking of her.

"Okay, let's go change," Zhao Youyou said, examining the uniform in her hand. The top was a white blouse, and the bottom was a short A-line skirt, resembling the attire of an office lady, not at all tacky.

Zhao Youyou, under the influence of the protagonist's halo, had become more attractive than in her previous life. Wearing the uniform, she looked even more delicate and pretty.

"Youyou, this outfit suits you so well," Feng Xiaoyu also changed into her uniform but felt she didn't look as good as Zhao Youyou.

Before she finished speaking, Zhao Youyou's eyes flickered with something unusual, and she didn't respond.

Feng Xiaoyu, realizing what she had said, quickly explained, "Ah, I didn't mean it that way. I didn't mean you'd be suitable as a waitress. I just meant you look great in this outfit. No, no, I mean, you look beautiful in it." She was anxious to clarify to Zhao Youyou.

"It's okay, I know what you meant. Alright, let's go find the supervisor," Zhao Youyou said, tying her hair into a ponytail and making sure her attire was neat before leading Feng Xiaoyu out.

At the Su Family residence.

Su's Mother had someone bring up several gowns for Su Ci to choose from. Tonight was Lu Zhe's birthday party, and the Su Family, except for their eldest son who was away on a business trip, would all be attending.

Five gowns in different styles had been brought up. Su Ci's wardrobe was always managed by Su's Mother, who knew exactly what looked best on her daughter. And because she doted on her daughter, all the gowns presented to Su Ci were of the highest quality.

Facing the five gowns, Su Ci was a bit indecisive.

Thinking of something, she picked up her phone.

In just a few seconds, the video call was answered.

On the screen, the young man's clear and handsome face appeared. It was obvious he had already changed into his outfit, as Su Ci could see his white shirt and the collar of his suit.

"Are you already on your way?" Su Ci noticed that Lu Zhe was sitting in a car.

"Yes, I'm going early to prepare," he said. His parents had already gone to the hotel ahead of time, and he had just finished some work at the company and was on his way.

Su Ci turned the camera to the gowns hanging in front of the wardrobe. "Lu Zhe, which dress do you want me to wear?"

Lu Zhe didn't say "whatever" or "I don't know." Instead, he patiently examined the gowns on the screen, his gaze finally settling on the red one. "Red, I haven't seen you in this color before."

The other gowns were either low-cut, showed off her waist, or were strapless, while the red one had more fabric than the others.

Su Ci turned the camera to herself. "Okay, I'll listen to you."

She liked that dress too.

"I'll go change now. See you tonight," she said and then ended the call.

The girl appeared quickly and disappeared just as fast. Lu Zhe leaned back in his car seat, his cold eyes softening with a smile.

The winter night fell quickly. By evening, it was completely dark outside, and the cold wind bit through the air, making the bare trees on the sides of the streets shiver.

Inside the hotel, however, it was warm, and the air was filled with a pleasant fragrance.

Guests began to arrive one after another, each dressed impeccably and exuding an air of sophistication with every move they made.

Feng Xiaoyu and Zhao Youyou, both looking good, were assigned to greet guests at the entrance of the banquet hall.

As they watched the guests arriving, Feng Xiaoyu felt she couldn't take it all in. So many celebrities from the internet, TV, and magazines, and the young ladies, dressed in beautiful gowns, with exquisite makeup and an aura of nobility.

Feng Xiaoyu was filled with envy. While there were no guests at the moment, she couldn't help but sigh to Zhao Youyou, "These young ladies have it so good. Born into wealthy families, they have the best of everything, and no wonder they have such great qualities. But if Youyou you wore a gown, you'd definitely be prettier than these young ladies."

Zhao Youyou smiled softly.

At that moment, Feng Xiaoyu suddenly gripped Zhao Youyou's hand tightly, trying to suppress her urge to scream. "So handsome! Ahhh, I'm going to die!"

Zhao Youyou looked up, puzzled, and followed her gaze. Unlike Feng Xiaoyu's excitement, she was stunned to see the man approaching.

Feng Xiaoyu, seeing the man coming their way, quickly straightened up, standing properly with her head held high, her gaze glued to his handsome face.

Zhao Youyou watched as Lu Zhe walked past her, dressed in a sharp black suit. His clear, handsome features were cold as usual, and he strode past her with long strides, as if he didn't know her, heading straight into the banquet hall.

After Lu Zhe left, Feng Xiaoyu couldn't hold back anymore. She whispered in a loud voice, "So handsome, so handsome! He's even more handsome than any male star. I'm going to die."

Zhao Youyou's mind was in a daze. She couldn't hear what Feng Xiaoyu was saying. All she could think was, why was Lu Zhe here?

“But he looks so familiar, like I've seen him somewhere,” Feng Xiaoyu said dreamily. “I wonder which wealthy family he belongs to? His demeanor is just killing me.”

Zhao Youyou came to her senses and whispered, "He's my brother, Lu Zhe. You've met him during military training."

"Ah," Feng Xiaoyu was stunned.

She swallowed hard, incredulous. "Your... your brother?" She thought back and was shocked. "I remember now. During military training, you said he was an orphan adopted by your family and that he has ALS."

Zhao Youyou nodded.

“Why is your brother here?” Feng Xiaoyu was shocked. Lu Zhe's aura was too strong, and his noble temperament made him seem like a member of a prestigious family.

"I don't know," Zhao Youyou said, never expecting to see Lu Zhe at such a high-class event. "Maybe he was invited by a friend he knows."

Feng Xiaoyu nodded, "You're really amazing to have made friends with someone from a wealthy family."

It was well known that the guests here were either rich or noble, and any one of them had an extraordinary status.

Zhao Youyou didn't say much more.

Not long after, Zhao Youyou encountered the person she feared the most.

"Is it you?"

Wang Xiaoqin had followed her father to the Lu Family's birthday banquet. Dressed in a golden evening gown, she glared arrogantly at Zhao Youyou, who was standing at the door to greet the guests. "What, can't Fu Baili afford to keep you, so you have to come out and earn money?"

Zhao Youyou bit her lip, feeling wronged, not making a sound. With Fu Baili not around and Wang Xiaoqin being a wealthy young lady, she couldn't afford to offend her.

Thinking about how Zhao Youyou had stolen her medicine, almost causing her to die in the bathroom, Wang Xiaoqin felt an intense hatred. The fact that Fu Baili had, as if blind, left the Fu Family for Zhao Youyou made her even angrier.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"A doorman's job suits you well," Wang Xiaoqin said sarcastically. "But your service attitude is terrible. Shouldn't you greet the guests politely and bow? All I saw just now was you whispering to the person next to you. Is that your work attitude? I could complain to the hotel."

"You..." Feng Xiaoyu wanted to stand up for Zhao Youyou, but was stopped by her.

Su Ci finally smiled. "Go ahead and invite him."

Not long after, Lu Zhe actually followed the young heir and walked over.

He glanced around at the group, then strode over and sat down beside Su Ci.

"Don't you need to accompany Uncle Lu for the socializing?" Su Ci caught a whiff of the faint alcohol on Lu Zhe's breath.

"Mm." Lu Zhe noticed the empty space in front of the girl and signaled for someone to bring her a glass of juice.

The wealthy heirs and young ladies present were all sharp-witted. From the way Su Ci and Lu Zhe interacted and spoke, it was easy to see that their relationship was more than just good friends—it seemed more like that of a couple.

Once this thought crossed their minds, everyone felt a pang of jealousy.

Not only did Su Ci and Lu Zhe come from prestigious families, but they were also both exceptionally good-looking. Together, they were practically untouchable.

The others looked at them with eyes that seemed to be dripping with lemon juice, utterly sour.

At that moment, someone bolder suggested playing a game, as games could help foster relationships and make it easier to get to know each other.

Both Su Ci and Lu Zhe were figures they all wanted to get closer to.

Su Ci nodded, finding the idea amusing since she was feeling a bit bored.

Since it was a formal banquet, they couldn't play anything too wild. Instead, they grabbed an empty wine bottle and played a simple game: spin the bottle, and whoever it pointed to had to either tell the truth or take a dare. If they refused, they had to drink a penalty.

Su Ci had never played before, but she was intrigued. She leaned lazily against Lu Zhe's side and watched as the person across from them spun the bottle.

The man across was from the Hu Family. He spun the bottle and, to his excitement, it pointed directly at Su Ci. In their eyes, Su Ci was a goddess.

Now, having a chance to talk to the goddess, he felt like he was living a dream.

"Truth or dare?" Hu Tian asked Su Ci.

Su Ci lazily replied, "Truth."

"Do you... have a boyfriend?" Hu Tian asked nervously, swallowing hard.

As soon as he asked, the crowd let out a light cheer. Hu Tian didn't care; he was eagerly looking at Su Ci, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"I do have a boyfriend," Su Ci replied straightforwardly. Even more so, her posture leaning against Lu Zhe became even more obvious.

At this point, everyone had to admit that Su Ci and Lu Zhe were indeed a couple.

Hu Tian felt a bit disappointed.

Next, it was Su Ci's turn to spin the bottle. It pointed at an elegantly dressed young lady, and she casually asked her a question.

Meanwhile, at the banquet, Zhao Youyou's high heels had been provided by the head waiter. She rarely wore such thin heels and found it a bit unsteady walking in them.

Suddenly, she bumped into someone, and the tray of wine she was carrying spilled all over the other person.

"Ah!"

The person in front turned around, discovering that their back was now covered in red wine.

Wang Xiaoqin glared furiously at Zhao Youyou. "It's you again! I didn't come looking for trouble, yet you deliberately tried to embarrass me?"

Zhao Youyou hadn't expected to bump into Wang Xiaoqin. She quickly shook her head and denied it. "No, I twisted my ankle just now. It was an accident. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Wang Xiaoqin's face was filled with anger. She was so furious that her body trembled, and many of the banquet guests turned to look.

She clenched her teeth tightly. "I won't let this go."

With that, Wang Xiaoqin stormed off, needing to change her clothes.

Zhao Youyou knew Wang Xiaoqin would seek revenge, and she worriedly bit her lip, quickly picking up the fallen glasses from the floor.

She wanted to leave, but the head of the banquet seemed to have disappeared, and she couldn't find anyone.

Zhao Youyou was terrified of Wang Xiaoqin coming after her. She was so anxious that her eyebrows furrowed, unsure of who she could turn to for help.

After biting her lip, she suddenly thought of Lu Zhe.

Lu Zhe was also at the banquet, and since his friends were from wealthy families, he might be able to help her.

Zhao Youyou steadied her panic and walked out of the main hall, determined to find Lu Zhe.

At the beginning of the game, the atmosphere was a bit awkward.

However, after several rounds, the young heirs and ladies started to loosen up, especially when someone chose a dare, leading to a lively atmosphere.

Su Ci's luck tonight was terrible—almost every round, the bottle pointed at her, and Lu Zhe ended up drinking several penalty shots for her.

This time, it was Su Ci's turn to spin the bottle.

Under everyone's gaze, the bottle pointed at Lu Zhe.

The group looked at the two with eager anticipation.

Su Ci's eyes sparkled with mischief. Without giving Lu Zhe a choice, she directly said, "You have to do a dare."

The onlookers were on edge, curious about what Su Ci would make Lu Zhe do.

The next moment, Su Ci's red lips parted softly. "Kiss me."

At this, everyone couldn't hold back their cheers.

The lively atmosphere caught the attention of many banquet guests, including Zhao Youyou, who had been wandering around the banquet. Finally, she spotted Lu Zhe in the lounge area.

Her face lit up with joy, and she was about to walk over when she overheard some banquet guests talking nearby.

"Are Young Master Lu and Miss Su a couple?"

Definitely. They danced the opening dance together, and look over there—they're sitting so close, their behavior so intimate.

"Who would have thought that this 'half-blood' Lu Family heir, not only set to inherit the Lu Group but also managed to win over the Su Family's precious daughter? Seems like Young Master Lu is quite extraordinary."

...

Zhao Youyou wasn't stupid. Listening to the conversation of the banquet guests, she was shocked as she looked at Lu Zhe.

This sudden revelation left her frozen in disbelief.

The Lu Zhe she knew, who was once poor and struggling with a degenerative disease, had suddenly become a member of a wealthy family?

Zhao Youyou's gaze fell on Lu Zhe's side and noticed the stunning girl sitting there—it was Su Ci!

She gasped in shock.

Before Zhao Youyou could process this, she saw Lu Zhe, who was always cold and aloof, suddenly, in front of everyone, gently cup Su Ci's chin with his long fingers and passionately kiss her.

Unknowingly, Zhao Youyou's eyes welled up, and her eyes turned red.

She felt a surge of bitterness in her chest, as if something she had discarded had suddenly become a precious treasure, snatched up by someone else.

The surrounding crowd cheered on, and Su Ci, shameless as ever, looked at Lu Zhe with bright eyes as his cool lips pressed against hers.

Lu Zhe held the girl's chin, unable to resist, and gently kissed her. Then, in the crowd's eager gaze, he wrapped his arms around her, turning to shield her from view.

The others couldn't see anymore.

Su Ci looked at him expectantly.

Lu Zhe parted his lips, his dark eyes deep, and gently bit the little troublemaker's lip before licking it, then let her go.

Su Ci smiled triumphantly, the tiny tear mole under her eye making her look even more alluring.

The young heirs couldn't help but feel both amazed and regretful. The flower was already taken, and the one who took it was someone they couldn't afford to offend.