Chapter 57: Mr. Huai
Silence fell over the room. The two people sitting opposite them, one with a questioning look, the other inexplicably excited.
Luo Jing looked at Huai Dan, and Huai Dan looked back at him calmly, his eyes lowered.
Luo Feng, watching the two, felt increasingly that something was off, but she couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
What riddles were they playing?
The unease and a strange premonition in her heart grew stronger, and she frowned slightly, about to speak: “Luo…”
“I think,” Huai Dan suddenly said.
He lowered his eyes, avoiding Luo Jing’s gaze. “Do you think it’s useful?”
It was a nonsensical sentence, but Luo Jing smiled: “Of course it’s useful.”
“If you don’t want me to like him, then I won’t.”
Ye Lin: “…”
Damn, impressive.
He glanced at his seemingly calm and collected friend.
He was good at hiding his emotions.
Luo Feng, however, suddenly had a look of realization.
So Huai Dan didn’t like Xie You.
The atmosphere instantly relaxed. Luo Feng took a sip of tea and looked at Huai Dan, speechless: “What’s wrong, Mr. Huai? Did Xie You offend you somehow?”
At the same time, she started to feel a bit troubled.
If there was really some conflict between them, it wouldn’t be difficult for Huai Dan to do something to Xie You, but it would be a pity to lose such a valuable asset for their company.
After pondering for a moment, she tried to salvage the situation: “Is there room for discussion? I… can Luo Jing apologize to you on his behalf?”
Luo Jing: “?”
“There’s no conflict between us for now,” Huai Dan said calmly, realizing her misunderstanding. He wasn’t interested in causing trouble for his friend’s company.
After a pause, he added, “He seems very free.”
Free enough to have such thoughts.
“?” Luo Feng instinctively ignored his first sentence and, confused, thought about Luminary’s schedule, unable to associate them with the word “free.”
Especially Xie You, who had the most individual schedules among all the members. Plus, he was still on the rise, practically working non-stop.
Sometimes he was even busier than her.
But whatever Huai Dan said, so be it. Luo Feng could only agree verbally: “Then I’ll arrange more work for him.”
Huai Dan nodded noncommittally, his gaze falling on the boy beside him. He paused slightly, then reached out and tapped his forehead with a helpless sigh: “Stop staring.”
It was a slightly intimate gesture, and the two seemed to be used to it, but the two people opposite them were not so calm.
Ye Lin took a sip of tea to hide his reaction.
This was too obvious, he thought.
Then he discreetly glanced at Luo Feng.
Luo Feng’s expression was also a bit strange.
…Was she finally realizing it?
“You two…” Luo Feng finally spoke, as expected.
Everyone instinctively held their breath.
“…are actually brothers, right?” she teased.
Luo Jing: “…”
Huai Dan: “…”
Ye Lin: “…”
“What?” Luo Feng asked, puzzled, seeing everyone looking at her with complicated expressions.
“Nothing,” Ye Lin looked at her with the same benevolent expression he had worn when watching Luo Jing eat. “You’re doing great.”
Luo Feng: “?”
It wasn’t her fault for being slow. These two had been close since Luo Jing was little, and she had long been accustomed to their interactions. Who would have thought that such a precious, almost brotherly bond could change so easily?
Not understanding why the atmosphere at the dinner table was so strange, Luo Feng picked at her food, then put down her chopsticks, remembering the real reason she was here today: “By the way, our company is having a reception the day after tomorrow. You’re both coming, right?”
“It’s Luo Jing’s first time meeting the company’s shareholders and other partners since he came back.”
In other words, it was a very important event.
She looked at Huai Dan.
If Huai Dan could come, it would definitely help Luo Jing establish himself in the company.
Although Luo Feng didn’t expect Luo Jing to completely take over the company, and Luo Jing himself had expressed that he had no such intention, he still needed to have what he was entitled to.
Thinking this, Luo Feng started giving Luo Jing meaningful looks.
You have influence over him, tell him to come.
Were all those years of chatting for nothing?
Luo Jing, receiving his sister’s gaze, felt a bit amused and helpless, then turned to Huai Dan obediently.
“You’ll come, right, brother?” he asked.
Huai Dan, however, chuckled ambiguously.
Luo Jing: “?”
“Of course,” he said, echoing Luo Jing’s words, his voice deep. “If you want me to come, then I’ll come.”
Luo Jing: “…”
He silently looked away.
He suddenly felt like he wasn’t that bad after all.
Luo Feng didn’t notice the undercurrent between them. Seeing that the matter was settled, she nodded with satisfaction, then continued eating, casually asking her brother, “How’s it been staying at his place these past few days? Are you used to it?”
Luo Jing, who was about to pick up a piece of stir-fried meat, paused, then put down his chopsticks, feeling a bit guilty.
It’s been good… just a bit thrilling every night, slightly affecting his sleep quality.
Huai Dan picked up the piece of meat Luo Jing was about to take and very naturally placed it on his plate: “He’s quite used to it.”
Luo Jing: “…”
“Mm,” he replied softly, lowering his head.
The reception was held at a hotel owned by Luo Jing’s father. This banquet was primarily business-oriented, but of course, everyone knew that its most important purpose was to introduce the Luo family’s recently returned young master.
During the day, Luo Feng had three professional stylists from the company working on him. Luo Jing was held captive in the styling room for at least five hours, even having his meals there.
[I’m not a celebrity, is this necessary?] he messaged Luo Feng indignantly.
Luo Feng replied mysteriously: [Not a celebrity, but more than a celebrity.]
By the time he finally emerged, Luo Jing felt like he had lost all sense of self, and he dazedly followed the person sent by Luo Zhang to the venue.
After getting into the car, Luo Jing finally felt like his soul had returned. He opened his phone and messaged Huai Dan: [Brother, have you left yet?]
Huai Dan replied after a while: [On the way.]
So Luo Jing was relieved.
Perhaps it was difficult to go from luxury to frugality. These past few days, except when they were sleeping, Luo Jing had barely been apart from Huai Dan, so even just this short while, he felt a bit unaccustomed to it.
Arriving at the banquet hall, many people were already there, all dressed up, holding wine glasses. Luo Jing had felt out of place in such settings a few years ago, and he still felt the same way now.
And this time, there were even more eyes on him.
Luo Jing initially just found a sofa to sit on, but then he noticed that more and more people were gathering around him.
Everyone knew that the Luo family had a younger son, but Luo Jing had been studying abroad since he became an adult and rarely appeared in public. So many people came up to him, some seemingly wanting to talk to him but not knowing how to start.
Luo Jing, seeing the increasing crowd around him, silently took out his phone and messaged his sister: [Why aren’t you here yet? I feel like a panda in a zoo.]
Sister: [Are Mom and Dad not there yet? I’m not coming today, I have something to do at the company.]
Sister: [If you find it annoying, just tell them to leave. The people there now are all small-time artists from the company.]
Luo Jing, looking at the message, thought, no wonder he didn’t recognize any of these faces.
The entertainment industry changed rapidly, and he hadn’t been paying attention while abroad.
“Can you excuse me?” Luo Jing put away his phone and looked at the two people standing in front of him, who seemed to be engrossed in their conversation but were actually stealing glances at him.
Their company’s acting classes needed to be more professional.
Luo Jing’s father and mother finally arrived. Luo Zhang was immediately pulled aside by an old friend for a chat. Luo Jing had initially been with him, but after they were introduced, the two became so engrossed in their conversation that Luo Zhang no longer had time to look after his son and entrusted him to another high-ranking uncle in the company.
This uncle diligently led Luo Jing through the crowd, introducing him to Mr. Wang, Mr. Li, all sorts of “Mr.’s”. Luo Jing, holding a glass of what looked like wine but was actually grape juice, felt like the smile on his face was becoming permanent.
While the uncle was talking to a certain Mr., Luo Jing took the opportunity to open his phone and find Huai Dan.
AAA.Internship Seal Wholesaler Xiao Luo: [Brother, my face is going to be stuck like this.]
AAA.Internship Seal Wholesaler Xiao Luo: [Are you not here yet?]
Huai Dan didn’t reply immediately. The uncle called Luo Jing’s name, so he instinctively put away his phone, looked at the Mr. in front of him, and put on a practiced smile: “Hello, Uncle Chen.”
After a brief introduction, watching Mr. Chen leave, Luo Jing dropped his smile and dejectedly followed the uncle, ready to meet the next Mr.
Luo Jing was a bit tired and started daydreaming, staring at his shoes, guessing the last name of the next Mr.—this was his only entertainment during this boring time, and he even guessed correctly once.
He secretly decided that he would avoid these kinds of receptions in the future if possible.
No wonder Luo Feng didn’t come. She was clearly experienced.
He didn’t notice that the banquet hall had suddenly become quieter, and the uncle in front of him seemed strangely nervous.
Luo Jing continued walking in a daze. He noticed from the corner of his eye that the uncle had stopped, so he also instinctively stopped. A pair of leather shoes appeared in front of him. Luo Jing stared at them, absentmindedly guessing the last name of this Mr. and wondering when his brother would arrive.
“Xiao Jing, come, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Huai.”
Every introduction from this uncle started like this. After meeting so many Mr.’s, Luo Jing had developed a conditioned reflex. He instinctively put on a smile: “Uncle Huai…”
…
Wait.
Something seemed wrong.
Luo Jing froze, then followed the leather shoes up and saw the man standing opposite him, a faint smile on his lips.
Seeing him look over, Huai Dan replied, “Mm.”
“Continue,” he said.
Luo Jing: “…”
