Lu Group headquarters building.
In the CEO's office, Gong Mu had just placed a thick stack of documents down when the cell phone on the desk rang.
"Hello?"
"Ziheng, don't forget tonight at 7 at Lidu Hotel, alright?" Mother Qin Yun reminded from the other end.
"Mom." Lu Ziheng rubbed his temples, "Since I promised Grandpa, I'll definitely go."
"That's good, just worried you might forget because you're busy with work..."
After hanging up the phone, Lu Ziheng said, "You can go out now."
"Yes." Gong Mu turned and left.
Lu Ziheng picked up the documents and started reviewing them from the beginning.
The information was comprehensive, covering not only Ran Yu's situation over the years and the Ran Family's, but also her report cards and teacher's comments from childhood, and even... her scores from taking the university entrance exam three times.
After finishing, half an hour had already passed.
Putting down the documents, his fingertips casually tapped a few times on the desk before he picked up his cell phone, "Asheng, do you have plans for tonight?"
.
At seven in the evening, Ran Yu and Feng Yanyan arrived at Lidu Hotel by car.
They thought they were on time, only to find the hall already packed with people.
At first glance, the room was filled with young and beautiful women, all dressed up and competing in splendor, harboring inscrutable intentions...
"Wow." Feng Yanyan said, surprised with her mouth wide open, "Why are there so many people here?"
Ran Yu turned around and walked away.
"Hey, You, don't go." Feng Yanyan quickly grabbed her.
"Are you sure you can be chosen?" Ran Yu eyed her.
What kind of matchmaking banquet was this? It was clearly a "Selection Banquet"!
"Hehe." Feng Yanyan chuckled awkwardly, still clinging tightly to Ran Yu's hand, "Isn't it better if I'm not chosen? Let's just go in and eat, alright? Since we're already here, just go through the motions. Otherwise, when I get home, my father will scold me again."
"No!" Ran Yu shook off her hand.
"Come on, the desserts here are really good..."
While tugging back and forth, someone called from behind, "Yanyan?"
Feng Yanyan was startled, turned her head to see, and quickly clung to Ran Yu's arm, calling out one by one, "Grandfather Lu, good evening, Grandmother Lu, good evening, Uncle Lu, good evening, Auntie Lu, good evening..."
Ran Yu looked at the newcomers and decided it was best to stand still for now.
The several elders in front of her were all dressed in distinguished attire, especially the senior Mr. Lu, who stood out the most with his ruddy complexion, vigorous spirit, bright eyes that looked... somewhat serious.
"Yanyan has become even prettier in the past few months," Grandmother Lu said with a smile.
Feng Yanyan also chuckled, "Hehe," and was just exchanging pleasantries when Grandfather Lu couldn't help but ask, "Yanyan, and who is this by your side?"
Ran Yu remained silent.
Feng Yanyan immediately introduced, "Grandfather Lu, his name is Ran You, and he's my boyfriend."
After speaking, she cozied up to Ran Yu's shoulder affectionately.
To further the deception, she had taken Ran Yu in the afternoon for a haircut and had specifically bought a pair of height-increasing leather shoes.
At that moment, Ran Yu was dressed in a neatly tailored white shirt and cropped suit pants. Standing nearly one seventy-five tall, he was lean and well-built. Although his hair still looked unconventional, his refined features, coupled with a detached demeanor, made him appear androgynous and quite like those beautiful young male celebrities on screen...
As Grandfather Lu watched, he suddenly felt very unsettled—why did the granddaughter-in-law he favored always seem to be taken by others first?
.
After Lu Ziheng arrived at the hotel, he directly went up to the banquet hall on the second floor via the back door to avoid causing any commotion.
Upon opening the room door, his friend Yan Nansheng was already sitting in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, holding a glass of red wine and enjoying the view of the ladies in the hall.
"You finally made it," Yan Nansheng raised his glass to him, raising an eyebrow, "Look, I've already checked for you. At least thirty people turned up today, kid, you're really fortunate."
Lu Ziheng poured a glass of wine and walked slowly to the window, "See anyone you like?"
Yan Nansheng clicked his tongue in displeasure, "What are you saying? You think I'm like Azhen."
Lu Ziheng smiled, his deep black eyes casually scanning the lobby.
Suddenly...
"Huh." Yan Nansheng frowned and squinted, "How did that kid get in?"
Today was a matchmaking banquet, and Grandfather Lu had put great effort into it, asking everyone for help with introductions and gathering information from various sources... In other words, aside from women and the Lu Family people, no one else was invited today!
Even he had been called over at the last minute to help vet, but to his surprise...
Lu Ziheng followed his gaze.
The next second, the slight smile on his face suddenly deepened, and he put down his glass, "I'll be right back."
"What? You're not looking anymore?" Yan Nansheng was puzzled.
"I've already spotted someone I like." After saying this, Lu Ziheng turned and left.
Already spotted someone?
Yan Nansheng was startled and quickly put down his glass and followed.
.
Downstairs, although the banquet had started for over ten minutes, not many were actually eating.
Other than the elder members of the Lu Family, the guest of honor for today hadn't shown up yet, and some people were speculating that he might be hiding in some corner observing secretly... At a time like this, how could they carelessly eat and affect their image?
Only Ran Yu was thoroughly enjoying herself, eating with chopsticks in one hand and a spoon in the other.
In front of her were two plates full of food, which she swiftly devoured. Soon they'd be empty.
Feng Yanyan watched anxiously, unable to stop herself from speaking up, "You, maybe you should..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a collective gasp rose from around them, followed quickly by exclamations:
"Wow, Third Young Master... The Third Young Master has finally made his appearance!"
"I told you, he was hiding upstairs!"
"That's Young Master Yan with him!"
"Oh my god, so handsome!"
"Quick, go greet him."
"Let's go..."
"Fangirl!" Feng Yanyan spat out.
The ringtone of a cell phone suddenly sounded. Ran Yu put down her spoon and freed a hand to answer the call.
"Xiaoyu, why didn't you go to Grandma's house? It's so late, where exactly are you now?" On the other end of the line, Ran Dongkui asked.
.
On the other hand, seeing his grandson come downstairs so early, Grandfather Lu was genuinely surprised—could it be that he wasn't interested in any of them?
"Grandpa." Lu Ziheng spoke earnestly, "I've already taken a fancy to someone."
"Clang!"
Grandfather Lu, excited, let his cane slip to the ground.