In the evening, Zhao Lun, dressed in a stylish outfit, sat in the living room of the siheyuan, looking rather bored.
As the saying goes, "clothes make the man." Zhao Lun, already handsome, appeared even more striking in his new attire, sitting confidently in the living room as if he had stolen the room's radiance.
If young women saw him, they would undoubtedly be drawn to him, flocking around him like a pack of wolves, reluctant to leave.
At this moment, Zhao Lun glanced at the time, then opened a projection to casually browse through some materials or communicate with his divine realm, checking on the small lives within and observing the golden clouds resembling little suns, as well as the dark mass underground.
During this time, he kept glancing toward the bathroom and listening intently. The sounds of splashing water accompanied by playful laughter drifted from the bathroom.
Zhao Lun caught snippets of their conversation.
"…Maria, you really shouldn't have been so reckless..."
"…That smell was terrible; it wouldn't wash off..."
"I doubt anyone will have an appetite for dinner now..."
Splash! The sounds of water erupted, followed by playful splashing, which sparked Zhao Lun's imagination. After waiting for an hour in this situation, he initially had some wandering thoughts, but now he just hoped they would hurry up and not delay their outing.
He was a man of his word; since he had promised to attend this event, he would certainly go. Any delays would make him feel like he was letting people down, which would leave him uncomfortable.
Fortunately, the group had some sense of time. Just as Zhao Lun was about to decide to head out alone, silence enveloped the bathroom.
Zhao Lun looked up and saw several beautiful women, glowing like jade, emerging from the bathroom. Dressed in light purple lotus skirts, mermaid-style gowns, comfortable casual wear, qipaos, or princess dresses, they approached, exuding a delightful fragrance.
Every movement they made was aesthetically pleasing, captivating the eye.
Especially striking were their long limbs and the perfect, shimmering toes peeking from their crystal shoes, leaving Zhao Lun momentarily entranced.
"Finally, you all came out."
"If you hadn't, I'd have probably been late."
"Being late would be quite rude."
Zhao Lun rubbed his nose to mask his embarrassment, feigning indifference as he spoke.
"Relax, boss; this invitation doesn't have a strict time requirement. There's no rush, and the event isn't particularly important—just a chance to socialize and have fun."
"Although they do tend to get a bit 'rowdy,' which might not be to your taste."
Seeing Zhao Lun's demeanor, Monica chuckled and didn't call him out, instead continuing the conversation.
Understanding her implication, Zhao Lun knew what she meant. This party would be quite different from the traditional gatherings in Huaxia; it would be livelier and more boisterous. There would be elegant concerts but also stages favored by the youth featuring vibrant dances and raucous celebrations. Some guests might even indulge themselves, leading to unexpected encounters, perhaps even passionate relationships.
Although Zhao Lun had never attended such a party, he was well aware of the nature of these events and felt a twinge of resistance. With several beautiful women at home, the thought of attending such a gathering felt disadvantageous; he didn't want others sharing in their beauty.
"Is that so?"
"I recall that the host inviting us is supposed to be quite traditional, right?"
"He wouldn't favor such a raucous atmosphere."
Zhao Lun remembered that when he was selecting the invitations, he had thoroughly reviewed them, always passing on those that seemed too wild. This time, he believed it wouldn't be overly rowdy.
"Brother!"
As Zhao Lun spoke, Maria dashed over to him, escaping the other women. Earlier, her reckless actions had left the ladies feeling nauseous, and during their bath, they had been subjected to the aftermath. Now, seizing the chance to escape the 'clutches' of the others, she took action.
"I think I've lost my appetite for dinner!"
"Hmph! Maria! Quit hiding! Come out and face your punishment!"
...
The Edward family is a noble family from Great Britain, enduring through the ages and still holding significant influence in the country and even worldwide.
Compared to other declining noble families, the Edward family currently enjoys a high reputation, and many people aspire to receive an invitation from them.
However, Zhao Lun and his companions approached this family with caution, as he understood far more than the average person did.
The Edward family has a long history, and even now, they should not be underestimated.
Not only do they have ties to some of the world's major corporations, but their own power commands serious respect.
Zhao Lun knew that this family had connections to the dark forces underground, most notably a faction of vampires that originated from this lineage. It was this vampiric power that ensured the family's enduring legacy.
Similarly, if luck was on their side, a witch or two from this family might emerge, although those witches had never really developed their powers, often meeting untimely ends.
In this era of technological explosion, the family's influence extended beyond just vampires; they were investing heavily and leveraging their power to advance their technological prowess.
The vehicle slowly approached the Edward estate.
Inside the car, the group activated the projection to review the Edward family's information once more.
"This time, the person inviting us is Charlie Edward, and the main purpose is to celebrate his sixtieth birthday..."
As the projection appeared, a handsome man holding a goblet, wearing a warm smile, was displayed. His charming demeanor and noble aura were enough to make many young women swoon.
The group didn't focus on his smile but rather on his slick, golden hair, taut, radiant skin, and youthful appearance—he looked much younger than sixty, appearing more like a man in his forties.
"Charlie Edward is a relatively influential figure in the Edward family. However, he didn't always look like this; here's a photo from two years ago."
A new image appeared alongside for comparison, showing Charlie Edward with gray hair, dull eyes, and a face full of wrinkles, looking even older than seventy.
"Is that his son?" Maria remarked, observing the drastic difference between the two images.
The others remained serious, their eyes glued to the information.
"According to our investigation, the reason he was able to regain some youth is thanks to the Umbrella Corporation..."
The red and white logo of Umbrella appeared on the projection.
"Recently, Umbrella has made breakthroughs in medical technology, allowing him to reclaim his youth..."