Lucifer retained the memories of the body's original owner, so he was already familiar with everyone gathered in the grand hall.
Seated on the main sofa was a man around fifty years old, with a medium build and an aura of confidence. Despite his age, he exuded energy and resilience, a testament to years of disciplined self-care. This was Lu Qian, the head of the prestigious Lu family.
Next to him was his wife, Aurelia, a woman of similar age who had retained an almost youthful elegance. Her sharp eyes and calm demeanour made her the true matriarch, often working quietly behind the scenes to support Lu Qian.
On either side of them sat four elderly figures, the parents of Lu Qian and Aurelia. Standing behind the elders were several younger family members. One of them, a handsome young man around Lucifer's age, immediately drew his attention.
This was Lu Jing, Lucifer's half-brother, and now Lu's family's proudest son. Though his exterior suggested a composed and confident man, there was an underlying resentment toward Lucifer.
The other young people who stayed closer to Lu Jing were his cousins.
Lu Jing had always envied his half-brother's natural talent and charm, often resorting to subtle schemes to undermine him.
Whenever no one was watching, he'd found ways to make Lucifer's life difficult. However, Lucifer was far from naive; he had learned to anticipate Lu Jing's underhanded tactics and had fought back whenever necessary.
Years ago, Lu Jing and his mother had conspired to send Lucifer to a far-off country, attempting to sever his ties with the family entirely.
Yet here he was, returning home to find the family gathered in his honour—or perhaps, given the cold reception, in grudging acknowledgement.
Lucifer noted that no one had greeted him at the gate, nor had any family members been present to welcome him. This deliberate show of indifference amused him.
A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. It had been a long time since he had been treated this way.
'Oh, this is going to be fun,' he mused to himself, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous light. "If they fail to entertain me, well… I'll just have to find my own ways to entertain myself.'
The first person to break the silence was none other than Lu Jing, who had been eagerly waiting for the chance to confront his half-brother after years apart.
Though Lu Jing's ambition and fame had made him a star, with a fanbase of millions, he had never forgotten his jealousy of Lucifer.
Now, as he looked at his brother's face, that old bitterness surged back, mingling with an unwelcome sting of inferiority.
Lu Jing's eyes narrowed as he took in Lucifer's appearance. Despite the years apart, Lucifer hadn't lost an ounce of his allure. In fact, he had grown more compelling, exuding confidence and power that made everyone else fade in comparison.
The charisma he carried now was undeniable, and Lu Jing could feel his own pride crumbling.
Around them, the family members who had been admiring Lu Jing only moments ago turned their attention to Lucifer, their surprise and awe plain on their faces.
Lu Jing's fists clenched as he glanced at them, frustration brewing within him. He silently vowed to hold onto everything he had worked so hard for, refusing to let his half-brother overshadow him.
Thoughts raced through his mind, and a glint of something dark and determined flickered in his eyes.
Quickly hiding his irritation, Lu Jing forced a smile and greeted his brother with a cheerfulness that barely concealed his resentment.
"Brother!" he called out, his voice louder than necessary. "It's wonderful to see that you're finally willing to come back."
At his words, the rest of the family seemed to come back to their senses, their attention shifting from Lucifer to the renewed tension in the room.
Lucifer returned his smile, unfazed. "Yes, Jing. I thought it might be interesting to visit after all this time," he replied, his tone smooth and mildly mocking.
A group of younger family members stood nearby, watching the scene unfold with guarded expressions.
Lucifer knew all too well that Lu Jing had once gone out of his way to make life difficult for him, spreading rumours and sabotaging his relationships within the family. This petty envy, however, was nothing new to Lucifer.
The other family members stirred as if awakening from a spell. They were all well aware of Lu Jing's popularity and influence, having become something of a star with his wealth of admirers.
For years, he had basked in attention and adulation, perhaps even convinced himself he'd finally eclipsed Lucifer's allure. But now, faced with Lucifer's unchanged charm and commanding presence, Lu Jing's sense of superiority wavered.
"Lucifer," Lu Qian's deep voice cut through the murmurs. "It's good to see you back. I guess you enjoyed your time?"
Lucifer nodded. "Yes, Father, I enjoyed it very much." His gaze lingered on Lu Jing, who was still eyeing him with a barely concealed hostility. "Some things changed; others, I see, remained exactly as I left them."
A faint chuckle escaped Aurelia's lips, her sharp gaze catching the edge of Lucifer's remark. "Well, you were always one for bold statements, Lucifer. "
Lu Jing's patience snapped, though he masked it quickly. "Bold, yes. I suppose that's one word for it," he sneered. "We didn't even know you were coming until recently. Quite an entrance you made."
"Only as grand as I'm expected to be," Lucifer replied coolly, his gaze unwavering. "After all, it seems I was worth a gathering, wasn't I?"
At that, the younger cousins began whispering amongst themselves, a few shooting amused glances at Lu Jing. The tension thickened, hanging in the air as the two brothers exchanged verbal barbs cloaked in politeness.
Lu Jing's smile faltered, then returned as he regrouped, a sinister gleam flashing in his eyes.
"You've been away a long time, Lucifer. You might find things aren't exactly the way you left them," Lu Jing said. His tone was casual, but his words dripped with threat.
Lucifer laughed softly, the sound carrying across the room. "Ah, Jing. Still trying so hard to outshine me? You don't need to be so bitter." He paused, his eyes glinting with a mischievous light.
"Besides, if you were truly as impressive as you believe, I wouldn't even need to be here, would I? You did everything you could to send me away but your incompetence let me back here. Should I say It's a fate?"
At this, Lu Jing clenched his fists, but he forced himself to stay composed, his gaze flicking to his mother, who shot him a disapproving look. She stepped forward, taking her son's arm as if to signal him to fall back.
"Lucifer, we're all just glad to have you home," Aurelia interjected, her tone smooth but firm as if to diffuse the growing tension. "It's been a long time, and this family needs unity now more than ever."
Lucifer raised an eyebrow, looking at her with an amused expression. "Oh, of course, Aunt Aurelia. Unity is always a top priority in our family. It's just unfortunate that not everyone shares that sentiment."
Aurelia's gaze hardened, her grip on Lu Jing's arm tightening. But before she could respond, Lu Qian raised his hand.
"Enough," he said, his voice sharp.
"Lucifer, you just came home, go and take a rest.." His eyes scanned the room, his expression inscrutable. "Go and arrange the dining table."
Lucifer took his luggage and made his way towards the guest room, he knew his original room was probably occupied by Lu Jing. Lucifer doesn't care about that, he never plans to stay here anyway.