Mohist Family Banquet

One day, while Lu Chenyuan and Li Xiujian were engaged in an open struggle, Lu Chenyuan received a call from Mo Qingli.

Mo Qingli's voice over the phone was as cold as ever, yet carried an unusual warmth.

"Congratulations on another brilliant sniper battle," she said.

"It's just the beginning," Lu Chenyuan replied calmly.

"Of course I know," Mo Qingli chuckled. "So, do you want to make this victory even more significant?"

Lu Chenyuan remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"The day after tomorrow is my grandfather's eightieth birthday," Mo Qingli said directly.

"The birthday banquet is only for family members and a few old friends. I'd like to invite you."

Lu Chenyuan was slightly taken aback. In the encirclement of Li Xiujian, the Mo family had publicly sided with Lu Chenyuan.

"What do I need to do?" Lu Chenyuan asked.

"Nothing," Mo Qingli replied simply and firmly. "You just need to come. Your presence itself is the loudest statement."

"Okay," Lu Chenyuan readily agreed.

After hanging up the phone, there seemed to be a glimmer of light in Lu Chenyuan's eyes.

...

Two days later, in the evening.

At the Mo family's old mansion in Xishan, Jingzhou.

This manor covered a vast area, with pavilions, terraces, and ancient trees reaching towards the sky, exuding the heritage of a century - old aristocratic family.

Tonight, it was brightly lit.

Luxury cars representing various major forces in Jingzhou silently drove into the manor and parked in the designated areas.

The guests were all wealthy and powerful.

Each of them was a figure who could cause a stir in Jingzhou with just a stamp of their foot.

Grandpa Mo's eightieth birthday banquet was more like a summit of the top - tier social circle.

When Lu Chenyuan's black Phaeton stopped in front of the main building, it immediately caught everyone's attention.

The car door opened, and Lu Chenyuan stepped out in a well - tailored dark gray suit.

He came alone, without any male or female companion. His figure was tall and straight, and his face was calm.

His appearance made the air at the entrance for greeting guests freeze for a moment.

The guests present whispered to each other, their eyes filled with surprise and speculation.

Lu Chenyuan.

This young man who had recently stirred up the entire Jingzhou.

Why was he here?

The Mo family's birthday banquets had always been private. Apart from the immediate family and a few close - knit old friends, no outsiders were ever invited.

Although both the Lu and Mo families were top - tier wealthy families, they didn't have a deep relationship.

Moreover, after the successful restructuring of the Lu Group, it was now managed by professional managers, and the Lu family members had almost withdrawn from the power center.

And Lu Chenyuan himself had founded Yuanlong Technology and almost established his own independent entity.

In what capacity did he come?

Just as everyone was puzzled.

Mo Qingli, wearing a wine - red evening dress, walked out of the main building.

She gracefully walked up to Lu Chenyuan, with a proper smile on her face.

"Mr. Lu, you're here," she said.

Seeing Mo Qingli come out to greet him in person, everyone couldn't help but have different speculations.

"How is Grandpa Mo?" Lu Chenyuan asked with a smile, and handed over an ancient wooden box.

"He's been talking about you several times. Come in quickly," Mo Qingli naturally took the gift and walked side by side with him.

The two walked into the magnificent banquet hall.

Wherever they went, the crowd automatically made way for them. All eyes followed them.

Awe, scrutiny, jealousy, calculation...

There was no change in Lu Chenyuan's expression.

He was already used to being the center of attention.

Mo Qingli handled the situation with ease, greeting every guest who cast a look at them with an elegant smile.

The two cooperated seamlessly, as if they had been partners for many years.

At the deepest part of the banquet hall.

An old man in a dark red Tang suit, with a hale and hearty appearance, was sitting on a grand master's chair.

He was the backbone of the Mo family, Grandpa Mo, Mo Jingsheng.

Although he was already eighty years old, his eyes were still as sharp as an eagle's.

"Grandpa," Mo Qingli led Lu Chenyuan up to him.

"Mr. Mo, I wish you a long and prosperous life," Lu Chenyuan bowed slightly, his attitude respectful but not humble.

Mo Jingsheng's eyes fell on Lu Chenyuan and carefully examined him.

His gaze seemed to be able to penetrate the skin and see into the person's very core.

After a while, he slowly nodded and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Good, what a fine young man," Mo Jingsheng's voice was loud and powerful.

"Qingli always tells me that there's an outstanding young man in Jingzhou. Now that I've seen you, you truly live up to your reputation."

"You're overpraising me, sir," Lu Chenyuan said.

"Have a seat," Mo Jingsheng pointed to the empty seat beside him.

This seat was originally reserved for the core members of the Mo family.

This action shocked the whole audience once again.

Lu Chenyuan calmly took his seat.

"Let me see the gift you brought," Mo Jingsheng was very interested in the wooden box.

Mo Qingli opened the box. Inside was not some priceless antique or jewelry, but a set of Go pieces made of warm Hetian jade. The pieces felt warm to the touch and had a subdued luster.

"Oh?" Mo Jingsheng's eyes lit up. "You're very thoughtful. You know about my little hobby."

"I happened to learn about it and didn't dare to be presumptuous," Lu Chenyuan said.

"Not presumptuous at all. I like it very much," Mo Jingsheng picked up a white piece and rubbed it between his fingers. "I heard that you've been playing a big game of chess recently?"

Lu Chenyuan calmly replied, "I wouldn't dare to call it a game of chess. It's just that someone is in the way, and I have to move the stone aside."

"Stone?" Mo Jingsheng laughed. "Some stones stay in the middle of the road for so long that they think they're mountains."

He paused for a moment, and his gaze became profound. "When moving the stone, be careful not to hurt your own hand."

"Thank you for the reminder, sir," Lu Chenyuan nodded. "I'll use tools."

After that, the banquet began.

People kept coming up to toast and chat.

Some came to make friends.

There were also those like Uncle Lu Mingshi, who had connections with Li Xiujian, coming to probe.

After all, as long as there was an interest, good and evil didn't really matter.

However, the combination of Lu Chenyuan and Mo Qingli showed everyone that the situation in Jingzhou was gradually changing.

...

Inside the banquet hall, there was a clinking of glasses and a noisy crowd.

In the garden, it was peaceful.

The moonlight was like water, shining on the well - trimmed lawns and flower beds.

Mo Qingli and Lu Chenyuan walked side by side on the gravel path, away from the hustle and bustle.

"Are you tired?" Mo Qingli suddenly asked.

"Not really," Lu Chenyuan replied. "It's easier than holding a village meeting in the countryside."

Mo Qingli was stunned for a moment and then burst into laughter.

That smile, in the moonlight, shed the elegance and aloofness from the banquet and became more real and charming.

"You always say things that don't match your status," she said.

"Maybe that's my true self," Lu Chenyuan said softly, looking at the water lilies in the pond in the distance.

The two walked in silence for a while.

The evening breeze blew, carrying the fragrance of flowers and grass.

"Thank you for today," Lu Chenyuan was the first to break the silence.

"What do you mean?" Mo Qingli turned to look at him. "Blocking those boring probes for you? Or the Mo family standing by your side?"

"Both," Lu Chenyuan said.

"You don't need to thank me," Mo Qingli stopped and turned to face him directly.

Her eyes were incredibly bright in the moonlight.

"Helping you is a business consideration. 'Wuju' is a great project. It's also good for the Mo family if your enemies fall. That's the first level."

"But it's not just that."

She took a small step forward, narrowing the distance between them.

"I admire you," she said directly, without the slightest bit of coyness.

"Lu Chenyuan, in our world, there are many smart people and many rich people. But there are too few people like you who can see clearly the path under their feet and also look up at the stars in the sky."

"There are some who can be our opponents. But there are almost none who can be our fellow travelers."

Lu Chenyuan listened quietly without interrupting.

His heart rippled with waves he himself hadn't expected because of these words.

The recognition from Mo Qingli carried a lot of weight.

"I help you because I'm willing to help a true fellow traveler I admire," Mo Qingli's gaze was calm and clear.

This was the first time she had bared her heart to a man like this.

After saying that, she gave a self - deprecating smile and took a step back, restoring a bit of distance.

"However, for people like us, emotions and admiration always seem to come last, right?"

She seemed to be asking Lu Chenyuan and also admonishing herself.

"Survival, responsibility, interests... These things always come first. We don't have the privilege to be willful."

Lu Chenyuan looked at her.

He saw a fleeting, complex emotion in her eyes.

Lu Chenyuan knew he should say something, even just a simple response.

But involuntarily, the plot from the original novel popped up in his mind.

The Mo Qingli who was betrayed by him and eventually turned dark.

The woman who, out of love turned to hatred, pushed the Lu family into the abyss with her own hands.

This heavy memory was like an invisible shackle, preventing him from easily making any promises to this radiant woman in front of him.

His silence stretched out in the night.

The light in Mo Qingli's eyes seemed to dim a little.

But she quickly adjusted and put on that calm smile again.

"It seems we've reached a consensus on this matter," she said casually, glossing over this page.

"It's getting late. I'll see you out."

"Okay," Lu Chenyuan replied.

The two turned and walked towards the manor gate.

Neither of them spoke again, and the atmosphere became a bit delicate.

The alliance remained strong, and the tacit understanding was still there.

But a budding possibility seemed to be carefully buried back into the soil by the two of them.

Perhaps it wasn't the right time yet.

Before clearing all the obstacles on the way ahead, neither of them had the right to talk about romance.

When they reached the car, Lu Chenyuan stopped first.

"Ms. Mo," he looked at her and said seriously, "Anyway, I'll remember your kindness today."

Mo Qingli nodded, with that perfect, flawless smile on her face.

"Be careful on the road."

Lu Chenyuan got into the car.

The black Phaeton slowly drove away from the Mo family manor.

Mo Qingli stood there, watching the car lights disappear into the night.

It was a long time before she withdrew her gaze, and the smile on her face finally faded.