Chapter Eighty-Nine: The Birthday Banquet (4)
Banquet hall. When Huangpu Shenqing returned, he didn’t see Shangguan Renran and immediately ordered someone to find her.
Ye Zuo found Xia Wanqing, was stopped by her for a brief conversation, and upon returning discovered that Miss was missing, so he rushed out to search.
When Shangguan Renran entered the hall, she noticed all eyes were fixed on her, leaving her somewhat baffled.
Huangpu Shenqing stepped forward and pulled her into his embrace, unable to hide his worry. “Where did you go?”
“I just stepped outside for a bit.”
Shangguan Renran took his hand and led him into a shadowy corner, away from prying eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just ran into someone rather dangerous outside.”
“Were you hurt? What happened? Why did you leave? Didn’t I ask you to stay put?”
“Listen to me first, Mr. Huangpu.”
Shangguan Renran leaned close and recounted what had happened, omitting the detail about the person firing at her, fearing her Huangpu would worry.
“And after that?”
“I waited until they left before coming back. Mr. Huangpu, you should go speak to Brother Lin.”
“Alright, I’ll handle it. Stay here and don’t leave.”
“I understand.” Shangguan Renran waved her hand.
Ye Zuo, Xia Wanqing, and the others came over and asked her a few questions.
Shangguan Renran was just about to feel relieved that Ye Ziyan wasn’t among them, but turning, she despaired.
Ye Ziyan stood not far away, watching her intently.
“Let’s talk.”
“Ye… Brother Ye…” Shangguan Renran was on the verge of tears. How had she failed to avoid him? If only she hadn’t gone outside.
They moved to a spot further from the crowd.
“So, what happened?”
“If I say we’re just friends, would Brother Ye believe me?”
Ye Ziyan’s expression was stern, his chiseled features making him look even more like a strict elder brother.
“Brother Ye, big brother, dear brother, real brother,” Shangguan Renran pleaded, hands clasped, her tone soft.
“Tell me what happened. Why did you go out? Did you encounter any danger?”
“No danger, just got lost. Brother, about him… about what happened between us, could we… could we not tell Grandpa for now?”
---
Ye Ziyan knocked her on the head with force. “Do you know who he is? You’re together with him? Hmm? When did this start? Did he ask you not to tell the elders?”
Just as Shangguan Renran was about to defend herself, the hall erupted in chaos.
The doors swung open, revealing a man in a black suit.
He exuded a gloomy aura, his gaze dangerous and wicked, and a blue earring gleamed strangely at his ear.
Behind him followed dozens of men, uniformly dressed, their posture disciplined—clearly seasoned fighters.
“Ninth Master, heavens! Ninth Master is here!”
“Did I see that right? At the start of the banquet, Young Master Huangpu arrived, and now Ninth Master?”
“I can’t take this!”
“It really is Ninth Master!”
The crowd exploded in chatter.
The ruler of the Di family in Country M, Di Jiuzhuo, known as Ninth Master, loved researching potions and was most skilled at killing without a trace.
He owned countless laboratories; sometimes he’d save a life for amusement, other times poison someone outright. Ninth Master’s explanation: “Death spares suffering. I’m doing you a favor!”
Lin Yan stepped out with Huangpu Shenqing, Gong Yi, and Ouyang Mufeng.
Lin Yan advanced, looking at the men behind Di Jiuzhuo. “May I ask what Ninth Master means by this?”
Di Jiuzhuo made a gesture, and his men withdrew, leaving only Di Xing.
“I’m here to celebrate the General’s birthday. Di Xing.”
“Yes.”
Di Xing handed a box to a nearby guard.
Lin Yan didn’t spare it a glance, a faint sneer on his lips. “Is that so? If you’re here to celebrate, you’re welcome. But Ninth Master should weigh carefully what ought to be done and what not. Am I right?”
Di Jiuzhuo smiled lightly, dark brown eyes flickering with meaning. “The General’s words are reasonable.”
Seeing the tense atmosphere, the crowd quickly resumed their own affairs. As much as they longed to overhear, survival came first.
“I asked you a question. Why are you staring over there?” Ye Ziyan pulled Shangguan Renran’s attention back.
“Brother Ye, he’s really good to me. You don’t need to worry. And it’s me who doesn’t want the family to know so soon.”
At the very least, she wanted to test Grandpa first and seek his approval—then Father wouldn’t be such a concern.
“You’re hopeless.” Hearing her defend him, Ye Ziyan was exasperated.
---
Shangguan Renran stuck out her tongue, mischievous as ever.
Brother Ye: handled. Yay!
Di Jiuzhuo seated himself imperiously on the sofa, indifferent to the stares around him.
Di Xing stood behind him.
“Do you think he’ll like my gift? It’s not my newest creation, but I made it myself.”
Di Xing couldn’t fathom his master’s twisted tastes. Who would like poison as a present?
On the other side, Ouyang Mufeng saw the vial inside the box and angrily approached Lin Yan and the others. “Isn’t Di Jiuzhuo being a bit too presumptuous?”
Gong Yi replied calmly, “He certainly has the right to be presumptuous.”
“So just now, was Second Sister-in-law’s encounter with him?”
Hearing this, Huangpu Shenqing immediately went to find Shangguan Renran.
He’d suspected as much, but Ouyang Mufeng’s words heightened his worry.
Shangguan Renran had stayed in the corner; though it was the banquet hall and that man wouldn’t harm her here, she preferred not to invite trouble.
She caught sight of Huangpu Shenqing out of the corner of her eye.
“Mr. Huangpu.”
He said nothing, pulling her out of the banquet hall.
“What’s wrong, Mr. Huangpu?”
She saw his expression was grim.
He looked into her eyes, asking seriously, “The person you ran into just now—was it him?”
Shangguan Renran was a bit nervous. “Yes, why?”
“Then tell me what happened afterwards.”
Di Jiuzhuo’s vigilance made it impossible that he didn’t notice someone lurking in the dark.
He wasn’t called Ninth Master for nothing.
Huangpu Shenqing had crossed paths with him before, under the name Massacre.
Shangguan Renran hid her hands behind her back, nervously scratching the bark of a tree. “Didn’t I already tell you, Mr. Huangpu? I only came out after they left.”