Chapter 28.2
Three minutes later, Yu Le, with a suona (Chinese horn) that Wen Yuan had rummaged through boxes to find, wobbled onto the stage.
When the deafening and heroic tune was played by the suona throughout the hall, the pure and innocent young college student performer was stunned, Wen Yuan was dumbfounded, and all the patrons were bewildered. Only Lu Yao, hiding his smile, couldn’t help but be amused.
The college student, feeling the momentum, decided to join in with enthusiasm.
The people below, not sure if they were drunk or simply caught up in the atmosphere, began clapping and singing along, and the inexplicable martial spirit filled the bar.
Wen Yuan, watching with great interest, couldn’t help but shake his head and say, “Lu Yao, your partner is truly a talent! This is so much fun!”
Lu Yao was quite composed. “He’s alright.”
Wen Yuan’s gaze shifted from Yu Le to Lu Yao. “Oh, so you’re claiming him now?”
Lu Yao raised an eyebrow. “Otherwise?”
Wen Yuan: “I thought you’d at least humbly deny it.”
“Sorry to interrupt.”
A girl with long straight hair approached them, her voice mature and gentle. “Do you mind sharing your contact information?”
She handed her phone to Lu Yao.
Wen Yuan instantly switched to gossip mode.
Lu Yao: “Sorry.”
In a small town where separation often meant never seeing each other again, people’s courage often increased uncontrollably. So the girl didn’t give up after his brief refusal. “Why? Do you have a girlfriend?”
Wen Yuan eagerly awaited his response.
“I can’t decide.” Lu Yao looked towards Yu Le. “I need to ask him if he agrees.”
The girl had been paying attention to him and knew that the man on stage was with them. She paused for a moment, then smiled knowingly, saying, “Sorry to bother you,” before turning and leaving.
“Gee.” Wen Yuan used his thumb and forefinger to show a distance, “Man, you must have some thick skin if someone’s asking to make the decision for you?”
Lu Yao didn’t argue, leisurely taking a sip from his glass.
Wen Yuan stared at him for a while, then looked at Yu Le, and suddenly became curious. “But Lu Yao, are you really okay with Yu Le controlling things?”
Lu Yao shook his head.
Wen Yuan had an expression of “as expected” and was about to speak when Lu Yao added with a hint of regret, “Can’t even imagine. I’m not lucky enough right now.”
Wen Yuan: “…”
Can’t imagine?
From what I see, you’re quite bold.
After Yu Le finished his performance and jumped down from the stage, Wen Yuan immediately gave him a thumbs-up. “Great job! You’re awesome!”
Yu Le bumped fists with him. “Thanks for the support, King of Praise.”
Wen Yuan asked, “Most kids learn either piano or violin. How did you end up learning the suona?”
Yu Le: “It was fun. I actually learned violin too, but only for three days before my mom secretly sold the violin.”
Wen Yuan laughed, and Lu Yao couldn’t help but chuckle.
Yu Le was thinking about the sweet wine Wen Yuan had helped him scoop earlier. Just as he was about to get some, a video call came in with the name Cheng Xiwu flashing on the screen.
The phone was on the couch, and Lu Yao noticed the name before Yu Le. He slowly rotated the glass in his hand, nonchalantly directing his gaze toward Yu Le.
Yu Le saw the name and, perhaps due to being slightly tipsy or for some other reason, didn’t hesitate and answered the call directly.
“Yu Le.”
A face full of gentle smiles appeared on the screen, and Lu Yao turned his gaze away expressionlessly.
“Good evening, Senior Cheng.” Yu Le smiled and greeted, “Congratulations on your marriage~”
Cheng Xiwu sighed. “Why do you always say that?”
Yu Le: “It’s a big event, worth celebrating multiple times~”
He seemed in high spirits, his tone overly cheerful.
Cheng Xiwu, noticing the difference in Yu Le’s demeanor, asked, “Yu Le, have you been drinking?”
Yu Le nodded.
Cheng Xiwu then took a closer look at his surroundings. The dim lighting made him frown, “A bar? You’re alone?”
Yu Le’s gaze drifted off, seemingly not listening to what Cheng Xiwu was saying.
Cheng Xiwu’s frown deepened. “Yu Le, don’t go to bars alone at night. It’s dangerous. Go back now and don’t stay there.”
“What? I’m not alone.”
Yu Le’s attention returned to the video. “I came with Boss Lu. As long as he’s here, what danger could there be?”
Cheng Xiwu looked puzzled. “Boss Lu?”
“Yes.” Yu Le shifted the camera to show Lu Yao. “Boss Lu, I’m staying at his place.”
Lu Yao glanced at the phone screen but showed no reaction or intention of greeting.
Cheng Xiwu’s expression changed, and his tone became odd, “Yu Le, you’re saying you’re… staying at his place?”
“Yes.”
Yu Le was distracted again by the deep blue, clear wine in Lu Yao’s glass, which looked like the sea or the starry sky when swirled.
“What kind of wine is this?” He asked Lu Yao, ignoring Cheng Xiwu’s words. “Is it good?”
Wen Yuan saw the opportunity and answered, “It’s called, Deep Blue Realm.”
“Not bad.” Lu Yao offered the glass. “Want to try some?”
Yu Le took the glass and had a sip. The strong, spicy taste went straight to his stomach, making his throat burn.
“Wow, that’s strong!”
Yu Le scrunched his nose and quickly handed the glass back to Lu Yao. “Isn’t the alcohol content a bit high?”
Lu Yao calmly finished the remaining wine in the glass. “It is a bit higher than usual, but it has a nice aftertaste.”
Cheng Xiwu’s expression darkened.
But Yu Le didn’t notice. “Really?”
He smacked his lips, “Maybe I didn’t drink enough?”
Lu Yao was noncommittal. “Probably.”
Yu Le’s curiosity got the better of him. He put down the phone and reached for another glass to try again.
Lu Yao watched as the phone, inadvertently “abandoned” by Yu Le, lay with its screen facing down, a hint of a smile at his lips, appearing quite pleased.
If he wasn’t mistaken, the video call hadn’t ended when Yu Le put down the phone.
As he suspected, Cheng Xiwu on the other end of the call saw only darkness on the screen, his grip on the phone tightening, his face growing increasingly troubled.
The office door was lightly knocked twice, and a beautiful mixed-race girl pushed the door open. “Xiwu, still not done?”
Cheng Xiwu ended the video call, put away his phone, and smiled up at her, “Almost done. What brings you here?”
“I happened to pass by, saw the lights still on, and thought you were probably working late, so I came to check on you.”
The mixed-race girl brought a plastic bag closer and placed it beside him. “Coffee from downstairs to help you stay awake.”
“Thank you.” Cheng Xiwu said, “Sit on the couch for a while and wait for me. I’ll take you back once I’m finished.”
The girl nodded, sat down, and began replying to messages on her phone. Just then, Cheng Xiwu suddenly called her, “Little Hui.”
“Hmm?” She looked up. “What’s up?”
“Summer’s coming. I’m thinking of taking a break and going somewhere to escape the heat.”
Cheng Xiwu tapped the desk with his pen, seemingly casually asking, “Do you want to go to the mountains for a change of pace?”
