Chapter 322: The Banquet

"Mr. Lu, Mr. Han, please have some tea."

Wang Minli placed the teapot on the coffee table in front of the sofa. After inviting them to drink, she quietly excused herself.

Lu Yunque picked up his tea and took a sip. Then he took out his phone and seemed to be dealing with something, his expression quite serious.

Yun Zijin had been getting her hair and makeup done for two hours, but Lu Yunque showed no signs of impatience.

Though he kept his head down most of the time, each time he looked up at Yun Zijin getting styled, he was left looking utterly captivated.

As dusk fell, Yun Zijin’s look was finally complete. Han Chun consulted with Yun Zijin, took a set of photos of her, and then left with his team.

Lu Yunque stood behind Yun Zijin, looking at her reflection in the mirror before her. "You’re beautiful."

No one dislikes a compliment. The corners of Yun Zijin’s lips lifted slightly. "Thank you for the compliment."

"It’s about time. Let’s get going."

Han Chun had timed the styling session perfectly.

If they left now, they would arrive at the Jinsheng Hotel at just the right time.

Yun Zijin took Lu Yunque’s arm, and the two of them walked out of the room together.

Yun Zijin got into his Rolls-Royce Phantom with Lu Yunque, while Zero One and his men followed behind in Yun Zijin’s car.

The Situ family’s banquet was being held at the Jinsheng Hotel, which was owned by the Lu Group.

As soon as Lu Yunque’s car stopped, a doorman stepped forward to open the door.

Lu Yunque got out first, then turned and offered his hand to Yun Zijin.

Yun Zijin took Lu Yunque’s hand and slowly stepped out of the car.

A fishtail gown is beautiful, no doubt, but its only drawback is that it restricts movement.

Once Yun Zijin was standing steadily, she and Lu Yunque appeared in the same frame, arm in arm. The paparazzi who had been lying in wait outside the Jinsheng Hotel immediately swarmed them.

"Are you here today to attend the banquet hosted by the returning corporation, the Situ Group?"

"Do you two know the reason for the Situ Group’s sudden return to the country?"

"President Xiao Lu, is the woman by your side your girlfriend?"

Lu Yunque, who had been ignoring the paparazzi, suddenly stopped.

"We’ve met each other’s parents. We’re engaged."

Yun Zijin turned to glance at Lu Yunque. ’Since when did I become your fiancée?’

But this wasn’t the right time or place, so Yun Zijin could only question him with her eyes, unable to say the words out loud.

Was she supposed to expose Lu Yunque’s lie on the spot? Yun Zijin wasn’t an idiot.

Having received a clear answer from Lu Yunque, the reporter’s eyes lit up.

"President Xiao Lu, may I ask how you and your girlfriend met?"

’He’s asking about our first meeting?’

Yun Zijin shot Lu Yunque a teasing look. ’This must be the most embarrassing moment of President Xiao Lu’s life.’

"..." Lu Yunque fell silent for a second before speaking. "At an auction. She outbid me for a plot of land I wanted."

Lu Yunque’s words made the reporter’s eyes shine like lightbulbs.

However, at that moment, the two of them walked into the Jinsheng Hotel, and the reporters behind them were stopped by security.

The details were scarce, but it was absolutely explosive news. After Lu Yunque and Yun Zijin entered the hotel, the reporters outside scattered in all directions.

This was a firsthand scoop! Whoever published it first would have a huge hit!

Unaware of what was happening outside, Lu Yunque and Yun Zijin were met by an attendant who guided them as soon as they entered the hotel. They proceeded unimpeded to the entrance of the banquet hall.

Yun Zijin took an invitation from her handbag, and Lu Yunque retrieved his own from the inner pocket of his suit.

In truth, with a face as recognizable as Lu Yunque’s, the two people checking invitations at the banquet hall entrance wouldn’t have stopped him even if he didn’t present one.

However, Lu Yunque didn’t want to rely on special privileges, so just like Yun Zijin, he took out his invitation to enter the banquet hall.

The two people checking the invitations were both employees of the Jinsheng Hotel. They were inevitably a little nervous in Lu Yunque’s presence, so they gave the invitations a cursory glance before returning them and letting the pair through.

Lu Yunque’s status in Dijing made him the center of attention wherever he went, and that was even more true now that he was with Yun Zijin.

Combined with Lu Yunque’s recent answer to the reporters, the moment they stepped into the banquet hall, they became the undeniable focus of all eyes.

A member of the Situ family, the hosts of the banquet, came forward. "President Xiao Lu, long time no see. And this is...?"

Yun Zijin thought, ’My reputation in Dijing still isn’t as great as Lu Yunque’s, huh.’

"She’s someone you invited. Don’t you recognize her?"

Lu Yunque didn’t answer Situ Wenze’s question directly.

He knew that Yun Zijin was only here because she had received an invitation from the Situ family. Therefore, she was representing herself today, not attending as Lu Yunque’s girlfriend.

For the Situ family not to recognize a guest they themselves had invited, right when she was standing in front of them, was truly improper.

Situ Wenze was a little embarrassed, and also a little displeased. He felt that Lu Yunque was deliberately making him lose face.

If this weren’t an inappropriate occasion, his expression would have already turned sour.

"Perhaps someone else in the family invited her. I’m not familiar with it, my apologies."

"It’s fine. It’s normal not to remember everyone when there are so many guests."

’He had apologized so sincerely; if I kept dwelling on it, I would seem unreasonable and unforgiving.’

’Besides, I only attended the banquet today to give the Situ family some face, just to make an appearance.’

If leaving early wouldn’t cause a misunderstanding, Yun Zijin would have just shown her face and left.

"I wonder if I, Wenzhe, might have the honor of knowing this young lady’s name?"

Situ Wenze sounded especially sincere, but from Yun Zijin’s perspective, just how much of that was genuine remained to be seen.

"Yun Zijin."

Unexpectedly, as soon as Yun Zijin said her name, Situ Wenze’s expression changed. "What did you say your name was?"

Lu Yunque stepped forward, shielding Yun Zijin behind him. "Mr. Situ, please watch yourself."

Although he didn’t know why Situ Wenze had such a strong reaction to Yun Zijin’s name, that didn’t stop Lu Yunque from protecting her.

"My apologies, I lost my composure for a moment."

Situ Wenze also realized he had lost his composure and quickly collected himself.

Yun Zijin, however, furrowed her brow slightly, finding Situ Wenze’s recent loss of composure a bit strange.

’What could have caused Situ Wenze to lose control of his emotions after hearing my name?’

However, now was clearly not the time to ask about it, so Yun Zijin suppressed her questions.

Lu Yunque’s attitude toward Situ Wenze, however, remained cold. Clearly, even though Situ Wenze had apologized promptly, Lu Yunque wasn’t going to let it go so easily.

However, this wave of guest greetings was more or less over, so Situ Wenze tactfully excused himself to greet other guests.

After he left, Yun Zijin looked at Lu Yunque with a smile. "What, were you afraid he was going to do something to me?"

"France is not the same as Hua Country. Given the Situ Family’s way of doing things, I can’t guarantee they wouldn’t do something to you."

The Lu Group had dealings with the Situ Family, so Lu Yunque had some understanding of their methods.

To put it briefly, their methods weren’t exactly clean.