Chapter 27: Welcoming Banquet

Half a month later, in the First District of the Yunzhou Empire.

“Captain, it’s strange, isn’t it? The military conference convened by headquarters has drawn leaders from every district, yet the representative from the First District…” The speaker paused, noting the conspicuous absence.

Hearing this, Lu Yunzhou, clad in military uniform, raised his head and glanced at the empty seat ahead. He pressed his thin lips together and spoke coolly.

“So, you’re interested in the First District?”

“Come on, Captain, don’t misunderstand me. No matter how formidable the First District is, our Thirteenth District is nothing to scoff at either. I just heard that the supreme commander of the First District participated in the operation in East Continent and suffered serious injuries. No one knows if he’ll ever wake up.”

These details were supposed to be confidential.

He’d picked up the gossip halfway, uncertain of its truth. Yet now, attending the conference with the captain and seeing the First District’s representative still absent, his suspicions seemed confirmed.

Lu Yunzhou’s gaze darkened at these words, his eyes lingering on the empty seat not far ahead. His slender fingers tapped lightly against his knee.

No one could guess his thoughts.

“If we’re talking about the East Continent joint operation, the Seventh District’s leader was impressive. It’s said she dismantled several criminal strongholds of the W Group in East Continent, all in one fell swoop.”

She had also participated in that night’s joint military action, coordinating with the First District and spearheading strikes against criminal groups.

During the Seventh District leader’s speech, Lu Yunzhou hadn’t listened; he simply observed the woman on stage. Her features were striking and cool, her gaze holding a hint of mystery as she looked his way—just for a moment, before quickly turning aside.

“Captain, did my eyes deceive me?” one of his men whispered nearby. “I could’ve sworn she looked right at our captain.”

A few hours later, the conference ended.

Sheng Ting picked up her documents and walked out, sending a message to Shen Chaoxi.

[Guess who I saw in the First District.]

[Who?]

[Your future husband.]

[Lu Yunzhou.]

No reply came. The other side feigned silence.

Sheng Ting chuckled.

Without looking back, she heard someone call out to her as she was about to leave.

“Ting, let me introduce you. This is Feng Chenxin, the commander of the Xinzhou garrison.”

Sheng Ting looked up.

She saw the First District leader approaching, bringing along a tall, young man.

He stood at least six-foot-two, with striking, deep-set features—a strong brow, prominent nose, flawless bone structure. His face bore a cold, austere air.

“Hello, Leader of the Seventh District, Sheng Ting.”

“You young people have a good chat. I’ve got matters to discuss with the other First District leaders. We’ll leave first, Ting, make sure to entertain Commander Feng well.”

Without waiting for her response, the leader smiled and departed with the others.

First District often hosted military conferences.

But this annual headquarters meeting brought leaders from many districts, and the agenda was heavy.

“Sheng Ting.”

Hearing her name, the man raised his eyes, jet-black irises settling on her.

A faint smile curved his thin lips, his voice hoarse, as if savoring the sound.

“I thought you looked familiar.”

Sheng Ting frowned.

“If memory serves, I’ve never met Commander Feng before, much less found him familiar.”

Feng Chenxin narrowed his eyes.

“Not familiar?”

His slightly upturned eyes gave him an air of disdain, and beneath his left eye, a tear-shaped mole highlighted his aloof, icy bearing.

Though he smiled lightly, Sheng Ting felt that, standing against the light, the shadows of dusk carved his features ever deeper—sharp, defined, lashes casting shadows below his eyes. The innate aggression and intensity of his presence seemed only more pronounced.

Sheng Ting, frowning, looked at him with clear reluctance. He smiled lazily, folding his arms, his expression indifferent. His gaze, distant yet piercing, radiated such force that merely standing before him was intimidating.

Her face all but said, isn’t it obvious?

“Hm.”

“We’re not familiar.” Seeing her so, Feng Chenxin chuckled softly to himself. Then, just as Sheng Ting expected him to say something decent, his deep voice instead invited misinterpretation.

“We only had a brief one-night affair.”

“Feng Chenxin, you—!”

He raised an eyebrow.

See? She could call his name. Wasn’t that familiarity?

“Move aside. Don’t block my way.”

Sheng Ting, furious, shoved the man out of her path.

His tall, handsome frame was like a wall—unmovable. But fortunately, Feng Chenxin did not trouble her, merely glancing at her with a smile and stepping aside.

After Sheng Ting left, Feng Chenxin turned, watching her departing figure, the corners of his lips curling into a hoarse laugh.

His gaze lingered, layered with meaning.

On the other side of the corridor, Lu Yunzhou, not yet down the steps, paused.

His dark eyes, casual and unhurried, glanced ahead.

Lu Fifteen, following behind, struggled to stop in time, clutching a column for cover and peeking out.

Goodness, all the things he shouldn’t have seen, he’d seen today.

He should have let Chen Yu follow the captain instead. When he got back, he wouldn’t be able to contain his gossiping soul—it was bound to burn!

Evening.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“Busy at the hospital, sorry I’m late.”

The door to the luxurious suite opened, and a man in a black suit with a gentle air entered, looking at the sofa piled with tea, snacks, and drinks.

There, a man exuding an icy aura lounged, draped in a deep gray coat, trousers tucked into tall boots, long legs sprawled across the sofa arm.

He leaned back against a cushion, his face obscured, yet his cold presence and faint scent of tobacco pervaded the room.

“?” Gu Suizhou paused, receiving no reply. Sensing something, he looked toward the other end of the sofa.

There, a man in an impeccably tailored suit sat shrouded in shadow. The cuffs of his black shirt peeked out as he raised his arm; his fingers were slender and defined, skin pale, seeming to emit a cool light in the darkness.

He drank tea elegantly.

“What’s wrong with Yunzhou?”

Gu Suizhou, fresh from the hospital and changed, couldn’t make sense of the situation.

“You’ll have to ask him.”

Lu Yunzhou’s voice was cool, with a low, magnetic timbre. Hearing him speak was like sitting in a dark room, his voice cutting through the gloom with a thread of hope.

Gu Suizhou was even more confused.

“You two have just returned to the capital—don’t sit here in silence. Yunzhou, Chenxin wasn’t like this before.”

His warm smile lingered as he addressed Lu Yunzhou, convinced he knew something. So he asked,

“Tell us, what happened?”

Lu Yunzhou lowered his eyes, gently set down his teacup. His ascetic, handsome face was masked in shadow, his emotions unreadable. It seemed there was something he was unwilling to say.

If he were to explain, he’d have to start with the person he saw this afternoon in the First District.

Lu Yunzhou mused.

The man on the sofa said nothing, as if the topic discussed had nothing to do with him.

“Where’s Yan? Hasn’t he arrived yet?”

Seeing he wouldn’t speak, Gu Suizhou didn’t press further, scanning the suite. This was the most expensive room in the Imperial View Club, clean and tranquil, free from disturbance.

After a moment’s glance, he realized someone was missing.

“Wasn’t Yan the one who insisted you two, rarely home in the capital, should be properly welcomed here at Imperial View Club?”