Chapter 46 Chapter 46 The Rich Family Banquet Murder Case (Part 1...
At the front desk, the receptionist checked the invitations presented by the two and politely instructed, "Mr. Deba and Ms. Saionji, please sign here."
Dechang Jingsi maintained his usual smile, wrote his name on the guest list, and then handed the brush to his junior sister who was holding his arm.
Yuyin took the brush and wrote her name without hesitation.
However, if one observes carefully, one will find that their signatures are actually aliases. This is because for a demon hunter (spellcaster) with spiritual powers, a real name is the simplest curse, especially a name written by the person himself. Once it falls into the hands of other spellcasters, it may pose a great threat. Therefore, most of the time, spellcasters will use aliases to avoid this danger.
After signing her name, Yuyin smiled and returned the brush to the receptionist. For tonight's banquet, she had put on makeup and done her hairstyle, which was completely different from her usual image. Her smile was as bright as a spring flower, and the receptionist was stunned.
Yuyin had already turned around and walked into the hall holding her senior brother's hand.
The birthday party of the Matsudaira family was quite large, and the venue was the largest banquet hall of the hotel, which almost occupied an entire floor. As soon as Yuyin entered the door, she was dazzled by the huge crystal chandelier above her head, and she couldn't help but raise her head to cover her eyes.
Seeing this, Dechang Jingsi took her a few steps inside and asked with a smile, "Are you not used to it?"
"I'm not used to this kind of occasion." Yuyin rolled her eyes at her senior brother. Even in the past, she would avoid such social occasions whenever possible. After all, there were tall people to hold up the sky if it fell. The head of the Chang family was her senior brother, not herself, so she naturally didn't need to worry about it.
During these three days, she had thought countless times whether to completely refuse this invitation, but after repeated consideration, she decided to come. Now she needed the protection of the Chang family's power, and with that protection, she naturally had to fulfill her obligations, including attending the banquet with her senior brother.
The soothing sound of the piano echoes in the magnificent hall. Well-dressed celebrities and dignitaries clink glasses and gather in twos and threes to greet and chat. During their conversations, they may determine the next direction of the company.
Occasionally, a passerby would recognize Shizuoka Dei and be slightly startled, then step forward to chat with the youngest head of the famous demon-hunting family. Shizuoka Dei would put on a faint smile, and send the other person away with a few words, his attitude polite but with a touch of indifference and aloofness.
Yuyin, who was beside him, was being ignored at the moment. Occasionally, someone would look at her with a look of surprise in their eyes, but before they could ask her about herself, the senior brother had already indicated that the conversation was over, leaving the other party unable to continue.
Afterwards, Deba Jingsi joked with her: "Not everyone is qualified to ask you."
Although he "forced" Yuyin to come to the banquet, it does not mean that he does not respect his junior sister's wishes. Since Yuyin wants to keep a low profile, he naturally will not publicize her identity to everyone. Probably only the host Matsudaira Yasuyo and a few people standing at the top of the island country would let him say a few more words to introduce Yuyin's identity.
This was a special consideration from Jingsi Chang. Although he was a bit harsh in his words and often said things that hurt people's hearts, he often did more than he said. Yuyin was no longer at the age where she could only read people's words, and she knew her senior brother's little thoughts very well.
The brother and sister strolled in the hall like ordinary male and female guests.
"Saionji Temple?"
Hearing a familiar voice, Yuyin turned around and saw someone who had been sitting in the same classroom with her a few hours ago. She was startled: "Atobe?"
Atobe Keigo walked closer, looked at Yuyin carefully, smiled and praised: "You look very beautiful today."
Saionji wore a light yellow evening dress tonight. This color would make an ordinary girl look too young, but it gave a completely different feeling on her. This was the first time that Atobe saw her in formal attire, and one can imagine the shock he felt.
"Thank you," Yuyin raised an eyebrow and returned the greeting, "You're not bad today either."
She was not being polite. Unlike the usual Hyotei school uniforms or tennis club sportswear, Atobe was now wearing a white suit. From the leather shoes on his feet to the hairsprayed hair on his head, everything was obviously carefully cared for, making him look even more radiant.
Atobe raised his lips, looking quite cheerful. No one would have guessed that just a minute ago, he was standing in the middle of the banquet hall, complaining about the lack of grandeur and feeling extremely bored. "Why are you here?"
It was an unexpected surprise to meet Tamane here. Atobe's eyes moved to the side, especially to the arm of Shizuka Chang that Tamane was holding. It would have been better if this person was not there.
Yuyin spoke the truth: "I have some connections with the head of the Matsudaira family, so I came here because I was invited. What about you, Atobe?"
It is always more comfortable to meet acquaintances than to deal with strangers. She smiled sincerely, instead of the commercial smile that Chang Jingsi, who had accompanied her before, wore when greeting others.
"Same," Atobe said with a smile, "The Atobe family received an invitation to this birthday party, but my father and mother are not in the country at the moment, so I am here to attend the party on their behalf."
Oops, I was deliberately ignored.
Dechang Jingsi raised his eyebrows, still with a faint smile on his face, looking at the two people who were having their own unique conversation, which made it impossible for others to interrupt, and thought silently.
He could clearly sense that Keigo Atobe had no good feelings towards him, and Shizuka Otani was no stranger to this feeling either. Because he and his junior sister were two or three years apart in age, every time he went to the school where Yuyin was studying to wait for her in the early years, he would inevitably be targeted by admirers who misunderstood their relationship as senior and junior siblings.
Dechang Jingsi never cares about the attitudes of insignificant others. If his junior sister likes her, as long as it does not delay her business and she does not engage in human-demon love, even if she has three, five or seven boyfriends, he is not a conservative patriarch and naturally will not interfere in the love affairs of young people.
But contrary to his expectations, Yuyin, who was in adolescence at the time, seemed to have never considered dating. It could even be said that her behavior was deliberately avoiding the idea. Chang Jingsi didn't understand why. He thought it was because there was a barrier between the world of demon hunters and ordinary people. His junior sister had a knot in her heart and couldn't fit in with ordinary people. He thought that it would be fine in a few years, but he didn't expect that a few years later...
Many years later, he finally realized the truth. Yuyin had indeed avoided him on purpose, but the reason was completely different from what he had guessed.
Seeing her attitude towards Keigo Atobe at this time, Shizue Deba couldn't help but think that this time, perhaps the junior sister could fully enjoy her true youth.
"Gyoin, you and Master Atobe can reminisce about the past here. I'll go over to meet the head of the Matsudaira family." Deba Shizuji pointed to the protagonist Matsudaira Yasuyo who had just arrived at the entrance.
Yuyin raised her head and looked towards the door. The protagonist of the banquet, Matsudaira Yasuyo, whom she had met once before, and three young men and women who looked similar to him were following closely behind. It was obvious at a glance that they were a family.
Out of courtesy, it was necessary to pay a visit to the host of the banquet. Yuyin nodded and said, "Senior Brother, you go."
After her senior brother left, she turned her head and asked Atobe, "Aren't you going over?"
Atobe chuckled, "Let's wait a little longer. I don't feel like trying to squeeze a can of sardines right now."
Yuyin turned her head again and saw that in just a short while, many people had gathered inside and outside the place where Matsudaira Yasuyo was. Given Atobe's love of luxury, he certainly would not join in the fun at this time.
Suddenly, Yuyin's pupils shrank, and she immediately pulled Atobe's arm and walked several steps towards a secluded corner. She turned around so that Atobe's taller figure could block most of her sight.
"What's wrong?" Atobe was startled by her sudden action, but then he reacted and said cooperatively, "Is there someone you don't want to see?"
"It's more than just not wanting to see you..."
Yuyin hid behind Atobe, then carefully stretched out half of her head and looked carefully at the entrance to make sure she was not seeing things.
Why are those two people here?
She shouted in her heart.
That's right, the person she was avoiding like the plague at this moment was none other than Chief Taneda of the Special Ability Division and her former boss, Ango Sakaguchi.
Given Chief Taneda's special high-ranking position in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is not surprising that he would attend the Matsudaira family banquet, but Ango Sakaguchi, who belongs to the secret agency, the Special Ability Agent Division, is also here. Tamane has only one guess - there is something wrong with this banquet!
Of course, it's not ruled out that Mr. Ango followed his boss out to see the world, broaden his horizons, and expand his network of contacts, but based on her understanding of Mr. Ango's workaholic nature, it's more likely that attending the banquet is part of his job, right?
As it turned out, Tamane's action of dragging Atobe to a remote place to hide was necessary, because as soon as Sakaguchi Ango entered the hall, whether out of work requirements or the occupational disease of an intelligence officer, he began to quietly scan and observe the guests in the hall, as if he was looking for someone.
Yuyin quickly shrank and hid completely behind Atobe Keigo, and only relaxed a little when Sakaguchi Ango's gaze moved away.
"Who are you hiding from?" Atobe didn't know what he was thinking, so he said frankly, "I'll help you cover it up."
Yuyin didn't hesitate to greet him. While hiding behind his body, she pointed out Chief Taneda and Ango Sakaguchi: "That bald middle-aged man wearing a kimono and glasses over there, and that young man wearing round glasses and with a mole on the corner of his mouth."
Since her senior brother is not around, she can only rely on Atobe for help.
Following her description, Keigo Atobe found the real culprit in a short while, which surprised him a little, because the two of them were obviously people from the bureaucratic system, so how could they be related to Saionji Tamion?
Atobe asked carefully: "Don't let the other party find you, or don't let the other party come to talk to you?"
Yuyin thought for a moment and replied, "As long as they don't see my face and hear my full name, that's all."
Unless Mr. Ango and the others had received the news early and came specifically for her, most people would never have thought that their deceased subordinate would be in the meeting place.
"Understood."
Atobe raised his eyebrows, took the initiative, and pulled Yuyin to a more remote place.
Then, without paying attention, he accidentally bumped into a kid who was not even as tall as his knee.
"Ouch."
"Are you okay, kid?"
Tamane and Atobe reached out to help at the same time, and the guardian's worried voice was heard from the other side, "Conan!"
Yuyin helped the child up, looked up, and then from the faces of the people who came to her back to the child's face, they were all familiar faces.
When the visitor saw her, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: "Ms. Xiyuanji?"
It was Mao Lilan.
Behind Ran Mao Li was Suzuki Sonoko who kept chattering: "Ran, don't worry too much, that brat..."
Hearing Xiaolan's call, Sonoko looked over and soon recognized Saionji Tamon, whom she had met once at the Kyoto Shrine. She couldn't help but say happily, "Ah, it's Miss Saionji! The fortune I drew at your shrine last time was so accurate. It was not long after I prayed for the amulet that Xiaolan and I met Jin at the Izu beach! Isn't that right, Xiaolan?"
"Ah, yes..."
Ran Mouri was a little distracted. If Sonoko hadn't mentioned it, she would have almost forgotten that her first meeting with Miss Saionji was at her family's shrine. She only remembered the incident at the mountain mansion during the last rainstorm.
Sonoko's fortune was so accurate, but what about her? Is Shinichi really by her side...
Before Yuanzi could run up to Yuyin to reminisce about the past and ask her some questions that concerned her, she heard an unpleasant voice.
"I was wondering who it was, it turned out to be you, Suzuki."
Sonoko then raised her head and looked to the side, unable to help but put on a face, and said with her hands on her hips, "Isn't this the gorgeous young master Atobe? How come you're not attracting attention in the center of the venue? Have you finally learned to be less ostentatious?"
If it is said that Sonoko's pursuit and love for handsome men is innate, then the only two handsome men who are immune to her, besides Kudo Shinichi, her childhood sweetheart, is Keigo Atobe, whom she met because of family interactions.
Atobe snorted at this, and Sonoko immediately laughed back.
Yuyin looked at Atobe, who rarely looked down, then looked at Sonoko, who was equally matched across from him, and asked, "Do you know each other?"
For Yuyin's sake, Atobe raised his eyebrows and replied, "I've known this plain woman for a long time because of family interactions."
Yuanzi's eyes flashed: "It's the same. I don't want to know you, a peacock-like young master."
Yuyin thought about how Tetsuya usually behaved at school, and had to say that Sonoko's description was very vivid, so she burst out laughing.
“It’s such a small world.”
Yuyin couldn't help but sigh that she met so many familiar faces one after another at a banquet. She could only say that this world is really too small.
"You guys?" Sonoko realized it later and finally saw Atobe and Tamane holding hands. She couldn't help but widen her eyes, "Could it be that Miss Saionji, you... you and Atobe are dating?!"
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The author has something to say: In Natsume's official setting, demon exorcists are also called sorcerers, and spells and talismans are called sorcerer's curse tools.
It's not that Sonoko and Atobe have a bad relationship, it's just that their auras don't match.
There will be another update tonight~
*Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solution between 2021-12-18 19:18:11 and 2021-12-22 18:37:56~
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated the nutrient solution: 49113659 32 bottles; Shangli Limo 30 bottles; Soft and Cute Rabbit Pudding, Yaya, Chuxian, and I Don't Talk 10 bottles; Su Su Tech 8 bottles; Nanfang De Nan Nan Lanlan Nan and Huo Yan Yan Yi 5 bottles; Luo Yi 2 bottles; Su Qianxin 1 bottle;
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