Chapter 98 The Little Prince's black car stopped in front of a manor, iron...
The black car stopped at the entrance of a manor. The iron gate was open, and two security guards were standing guard at the gate. The bodyguard in the driver's seat rolled down the window and handed out the invitation. After confirming it, the two security guards moved aside to let them pass.
Beyond the fence gate was a garden, with vegetation on both sides, but in winter there was not much color. Ning Buyi leaned against the window and looked at the fountain in the center of the garden, which was still flowing with water. Was this in China?
"You've never seen this before?" Zhu Guanghai looked at him with surprise.
Ning Buyi shook his head: "I've never seen one before, it's such a big house."
Zhu Guanghai chuckled. If this kid came to their house, his jaw would drop.
"This kind of party is just average. The next level up is going to the island, which has a high threshold, but it doesn't matter to the Zhu family."
Along the wide road in the middle, the car slowly slowed down and stopped in front of a villa. The first thing that caught the eye was two classic Roman columns supporting the house. Ning Buyi got out of the car and patted off the non-existent wrinkles on his clothes, feeling uncomfortable all over in the unfamiliar environment.
People were entering the venue one after another, and glances were frequently cast his way. He kept his head down and followed closely behind Old Man Zhu, saying, "There are so many people, Old Man Zhu."
"Stand up straight." Zhu Guanghai stopped, turned around, and patted Ning Buyi on the back. Ning Buyi immediately stood at attention. That damned old man Zhu has such a strong hand.
Zhu Guanghai scolded him in a low voice: "You're not afraid when thousands or tens of thousands of people watch your live streams online, but there are only a few dozen or a hundred people here, what are you afraid of? Have some ambition."
Then, after thinking for a moment, he added, "If you perform well, I'll give you a raise."
Okay! Ning Buyi straightened his back instantly, but bent down again when he saw everyone inside staring at him. He took a step forward, using Zhu Guanghai's body to block their view: "Everyone inside is looking at us!"
Zhu Guanghai chuckled. What's so strange about this? The youngest chairman of the Zhu Group suddenly resigned and the former chairman took over again. How many people thought something was going on? This was also Zhu Guanghai's first time in public since his comeback.
Moreover, Zhu Guanghai was accompanied by a handsome and noble young man, who would likely become the focus of everyone's attention as soon as they entered. Everyone would speculate whether this was Zhu Guanghai's illegitimate son, thus explaining everything Zhu Yanhe had done.
"If you leave, I'll deduct a month's salary from your pay."
Ning Buyi looked up, blinking rapidly. Why was Old Man Zhu acting like this? It's almost the end of the month! He really misses Zhu Yanhe!
"A swindler!"
After being flicked on the forehead by Zhu Guanghai, the boy, looking aggrieved, followed Zhu Guanghai into the lobby. The exterior was decorated in an antique style, while the interior was magnificent and resplendent. A huge crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, its layers shimmering with starlight.
Inside, two opposing curved staircases connect to the second floor, champagne-colored wine towers are piled on snow-white velvet, and the spacious lobby is filled with a few scattered people.
They arrived a little late, and as soon as they walked in, everyone's eyes turned to them. Ning Buyi stood up straight, thinking about his month's salary. Under the crystal lights, the boy's fair skin shone even brighter, his eyes were lowered and his eyelashes trembled, and his single-stranded hair was both lazy and exquisite.
He clearly heard the girls around him exclaiming softly, wondering whose young master he was and why they had never seen him before. His heart pounded under the flashing lights, but after a moment, the air seemed to flow again.
Everyone turned around and chatted amongst themselves, leaving only a few curious glances at Ning Buyi.
There were also daring young women, dressed in floor-length gowns, with pale yellow wine swirling in their glasses, slowly walking towards him.
"Uncle Zhu, it's been a long time. And who is this?"
The young woman smiled gently, her words addressed to Zhu Guanghai, but her eyes never left Ning Buyi. Anyone who could attend this banquet was no ordinary person, and with his outstanding appearance, his value was already a perfect 10, but could be increased to 12.
Zhu Guanghai simply smiled and nodded slightly, then patted his shoulder, signaling him to speak. Ning Buyi winked at him and turned his head as if suddenly realizing something, saying, "I am Ning Buyi."
The girl smiled and extended a hand: "Ruan Yu."
He took the slender, fair hand in front of him and shook it. Ruan Yu said, "You are very cute."
The boy's ears turned slightly red. He chuckled awkwardly, unsure of what to do next.
Zhu Guanghai suddenly had an idea. He couldn't sway Zhu Yanhe, but he could surely sway Ning Buyi. Didn't this kid say he didn't like Zhu Yanhe? This would make things much easier.
"Go chat with Ruan for a while, I'll call you when I leave." Zhu Guanghai said, leaving her behind.
The people around him pulled him aside, and Ning Buyi sat awkwardly in the corner. At first, only Ruan Yu was with him, but later Ruan Yu's friends also came, and soon Ning Buyi was surrounded by a group of girls.
His nostrils were filled with all sorts of fragrances, and colorful formal wear surrounded his navy blue suit. Ning Buyi sat in the very center, and his palms began to sweat. How could there be so many people!
One of them spoke up: "Which Ning family are you from?"
Ning Buyi lowered his head and said, "I am just my own surname, not from any Ning family."
Laughter occasionally drifted from this corner. A few girls were having a great time teasing Ning Buyi, pestering him with all sorts of questions, which Ning Buyi answered obediently and truthfully, making them utterly charmed.
The atmosphere among the other group of young masters was a bit off. These guys were all playful, and while they were laughing and joking, their eyes were all fixed on the boy in the middle.
One of them said, "Hey, I've never played anything this beautiful before."
"He's from the Zhu family, do you dare to mess with him?"
"Oh dear, to die beneath a peony blossom is to be a romantic ghost, and with such a pure appearance, one would surely be..."
In the noisy environment, Ning Buyi didn't even notice his phone ringing several times in his pocket. The caller was none other than Zhu Yanhe.
Zhu Yanhe was in a meeting, and when he finished and opened his phone, he saw that his private messages were full.
Everyone shared photos of Ning Buyi at the party with the men. Zhu Yanhe stared at the photos; it was a Ning Buyi he had never seen before. Standing under the spotlight, even his hair shimmered, like a little prince receiving his crown.
Zhu Yanhe chuckled softly, his eyes filled with pride, as if he were looking at some treasured gem.
After looking at it for a while, he remembered his business. Ning Buyi's phone was constantly busy, so he turned the steering wheel and headed straight for the direction his phone was pointing, instead of going home.
"Hey, who's this?" The man, with his neatly trimmed beard and a glass of wine in his hand, walked towards Zhu Guanghai.
"What?" Zhu Guanghai asked irritably, still remembering Pei Jing's insults last time.
"What wind blew away your peaceful dreams?" Pei Jing laughed heartily a few times, then nudged the cup in Zhu Guanghai's hand. "Look at my memory, I've even forgotten. It was your son who ran away, so you, as his father, had no choice but to step in."
"Hey Pei, I've been retired for a year and a half, unlike you who have to go to the company every day." Zhu Guanghai picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and looked smug with satisfaction at getting his revenge.
"Who is that kid you brought today?" Pei Jing changed the subject, guessing that the boy was Zhu Guanghai's illegitimate son.
Zhu Guanghai smiled and looked at him: "Your son's ex-girlfriend."
Pei Jing glanced over and saw the boy sitting in the middle with his legs together, his hands on his thighs, listening to their evening tea conversation. Several second-generation rich kids walked straight over in the distance.
"Is he Ning Buyi?"
Zhu Guanghai remained noncommittal, while Pei Jing observed carefully and said, "Speaking of which, this brat has good taste."
He had fair skin, delicate flesh, red lips, and white teeth; apart from being a man, there was nothing wrong with him.
"Since you've said that, then let Pei Qing leave." Zhu Guanghai looked at Pei Jing with disdain, as if he wasn't the one who had locked his son up at home.
On the other side, Ning Buyi stood up and left the crowd. He walked around aimlessly until a person approached him. He smiled kindly and asked, "Is there anything I can help you with?"
The boy's eyes lit up: "Where's the toilet?"
The man didn't point out the location, but kindly led him there. On the way, the man casually asked, "Did you come here by yourself?"
He shook his head and replied, "No, I came with Old Man Zhu."
The two walked side by side, and Ning Buyi felt that the restroom was too far away. It was winding and twisted from the lobby, and he would not be able to find it at all if he were alone.
While waiting at the door, the man took two glasses of wine from a waiter. He was convinced that his suspicions were correct; the young man was probably the illegitimate son of the Zhu Group's CEO. In that case, he had nothing to fear.
Illegitimate children are never something to be proud of, and if things get out of hand, it will affect their company. The man took out the powder he always kept in his pocket and poured it all out. He then gently swirled the glass with his fingertips, and the glass of wine seemed untouched.
Ning Buyi wiped his hands and walked out. He saw the kind person who had given him directions still waiting at the door. He asked, "Do you need to use the restroom too?"
The man shook his head: "If I wait for you, I'm afraid you won't know how to get back."
He scratched his head sheepishly and smiled, "Thank you."
The person in front of me had a smile on their face and spoke in a gentle, even coaxing tone: "You must be thirsty. Would you like to try this fruit wine? It's not very strong."
He took it without much hesitation. A little of the colored wine spilled out of the glass as they were handed over. Ning Buyi took a sip, the glass pressed against his soft lips, and the intense fruity aroma instantly burst in his mouth: "Delicious!"
The man's smile deepened. He handed over his glass, clinked glasses, and then downed it in one gulp. Ning Buyi, watching him drink, also followed suit and drank his glass in one go.
The man was a little surprised, but he was quickly overwhelmed by his sense of accomplishment. He hadn't expected the boy to be even more naive than he thought; a mere gesture of kindness was enough to make him open his heart completely.
There was still a long corridor to go through to reach the main hall. Ning Buyi tried his best to maintain his posture, but for some reason his vision was blurry, and he couldn't see clearly even though he wanted to.
But he only drank one glass of fruit wine; he shouldn't be drunk so quickly.
Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder and forcefully pulled him into an embrace. Ning Buyi instinctively began to struggle, but the drug's effects made the boy's struggles seem weak and powerless.
"Don't waste your energy, I drugged your drink." The man curled his lips into a smile, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
Ning Buyi continued struggling, the nausea he felt from the man rising within him.
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Author's Note: Zhu Yanhe will arrive on the battlefield in three seconds.
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