“He Li, do you know Mr. Mo Lin?” Zhang Qining asked, quickly composing herself with a smile.
He Li nodded and smiled. “We’ve met once, and the circumstances were quite amusing.”
“Oh? I’m rather curious, then, about how you met Mr. Mo Lin.”
“Because of a dog.”
Zhang Qining: “……”
Mo Lin recounted the story of how they met, and Zhang Qining nodded. She didn’t quite know what to say. He Li’s dog was named “La Wu”?
Was he serious?
After the segment introducing jewelry and luxury goods, the evening’s auction items were presented. Most had pre-set prices with buyers. If nothing unexpected happened, they would be sold at their intended prices. Of course, if there was an unexpected bidder, that would be even better!
It was highly unlikely any major disruptions would occur.
Following the auction was the main event of the evening: networking.
Zhang Qining had a mission, so she left with her wine glass as soon as the auction concluded.
He Li also got up and rejoined the “Gourmet Squad,” heading to the dessert station to sample the delicacies.
“Mr. He Li, are you enjoying tonight’s food and desserts?” a voice suddenly asked from behind him.
He Li, holding his plate and a metal fork, turned around. It was a middle-aged man, not handsome, but possessing a distinct aura. He wore a well-fitting tuxedo, had a lean face, a prominent nose, and a pair of round glasses.
He Li paused for a moment and asked, “Very much so. And you are…”
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Xu Cheng, the chairman of the Xu Group.” Xu Cheng extended his hand with a smile.
He Li placed his fork on his plate and shook Xu Cheng’s hand. The moment their palms met, He Li froze. He looked up and examined Xu Cheng closely.
He then said, “Mr. Xu Cheng, your hand is very cold and very hard, like a dead person’s hand, yet it also possesses considerable strength, unlike a dead person’s hand.”
Xu Cheng did not seem offended. After releasing He Li’s hand, he chuckled. “You’re quite the joker. I thought the demon hunters from the Spiritual Management Bureau were all serious and diligent. I didn’t expect you to be so humorous.”
“Right?” He Li’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm, as if he had found a kindred spirit. “They just don’t understand me. They can’t grasp my humor. In reality, I’m incredibly funny.”
Xu Cheng continued, “Mr. He Li, would you spare me a few minutes? My private chef has prepared some of his signature dishes, and I would be honored if you would try them.”
He Li glanced at Bai Fei and the others, then back at Xu Cheng, asking with a hint of confusion, “Just me, specifically?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Xu Cheng looked at the five members of the Spiritual Management Bureau, his expression troubled. “I find it difficult to become friends with them. After all, they aren’t as humorous and easygoing as you, Mr. He Li.”
“I truly wish to befriend a demon hunter. Although I am wealthy, wealth doesn’t always mean possessing everything. For instance… I am merely an ordinary person.”
He Li, however, shook his head. “You’re not quite ordinary… a person.” He thought to himself, *And you’re not quite a person either.*
“That’s wonderful! I also hope to become friends with a very wealthy individual.”
“That’s excellent. It seems being rich isn’t such a bad thing after all,” Xu Cheng said, stepping aside and gesturing with his hand.
He Li put down his plate and followed Xu Cheng down the corridor, eventually entering a room at its end.
Many people in the hall were paying attention to He Li, as he had arrived with Susan. His departure with Xu Cheng didn’t elicit any surprise. After all, who wouldn’t want to befriend a demon hunter?
Sister Jiang discreetly took out her phone and activated the channel connection. Simultaneously, the five of them removed the metal lapel pins from their chests and inserted them into their ears.
Meanwhile, Mo Lin sat expressionlessly, casting an extremely subtle glance at Susan before rising and leaving the banquet.
Inside the room, a crystal-topped long table was set with two place settings and three candelabras. The orange flames flickered gently. The marble and glass décor was exceedingly luxurious.
Xu Cheng first pulled out a chair, signaling He Li to sit. He Li, without pretense, sat down.
After Xu Cheng sat down on the opposite side of the long table, he said, “Mr. He, it is my honor to have you dine with me. I won’t waste words; let’s begin serving the dishes. We can chat as we eat.”
“Certainly. I am eager to sample the skills of your father’s private chef.”
“He will not disappoint you, I assure you.”
Xu Cheng reached out and pressed a bell on the table.
Ding… Ding…
After two rings, a small door behind Xu Cheng opened, and a chef slowly pushed a dining cart forward. The cart held three plates, each covered with a metal dome, adding an element of mystery while also serving to keep the food warm.
The chef placed the three plates one by one in front of He Li.
He Li looked up at Xu Cheng.
Xu Cheng smiled and nodded, then gestured to the chef to lift the metal domes.
As the chef lifted the first metal dome, He Li chuckled.
“Well, well, a meat dish.”
On the plate sat a woman’s severed head!
“This was my wife,” Xu Cheng introduced, then sighed. “Marrying her was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Though I’ve made many mistakes, it’s undeniable that she was incredibly captivating in the past – sexy, intellectual, and learned. Her intelligence was the primary reason she attracted me. It wasn’t until half a year ago, when I was diagnosed with late-stage cancer and given little time to live, that I realized she never loved me. She only loved my wealth. Perhaps I should have seen it sooner, but it doesn’t matter; I still love her.”
“So?” He Li pointed at the head on the plate.
“So, I ate her. This way, we can be together forever.”
“You truly do love your wife, don’t you.”
Next, the chef lifted the second metal dome.
It was another woman’s head, but much younger. He Li could tell her face was heavily modified with advanced technology. Even in this state, her coveted apple cheeks were still rosy, and her lips remained full and plump.
“This is my eldest daughter,” Xu Cheng sighed deeply, his eyes filled with sorrow. “I’m not sure if I did the right thing. I have deep affection for her. I’m not unattractive, and my wife was exceptionally beautiful, but our daughter wasn’t very pretty. Uh… frankly, she was quite ugly. I was truly surprised. From the ages of one, three, five, and up to seven, I secretly conducted paternity tests. The day I received notification that she was my biological daughter, I came to terms with it. Certain inherent flaws can be compensated for with money, can’t they? But this foolish child took the wrong path to compensate. She started undergoing plastic surgery at fourteen, and by twenty-one, after seven years, she had a new face. She refused to return to the country to live, staying abroad, believing that countries without traditional culture would be more accepting of her altered appearance. I compromised; I respected my child’s choice. I had already decided to leave her 31% of my estate. After all, I hadn’t given her a beautiful face, so this could be considered compensation. Mr. He Li, do you know how happy I was when I learned she was returning to visit me? If she hadn’t arrived with a team of lawyers, surrounding my sickbed and forcing me to sign a will, I would have been happy until the day I died. What’s even more ironic is that the will she forced me to sign stipulated that I had to give her 16% of my estate. At that moment, my heart was filled with complex emotions. I hadn’t just failed to give her a beautiful face, but also a brain.”
He Li was silent for a moment. “It must have been difficult to eat.”
“To be honest, it was rather hard to swallow. There were many chemical components, a lot of artificiality. I’m not even sure if she was truly my daughter.”
The third metal dome was opened. It was a young man’s head, his eyes wide open in death, clearly showing he had died in terror.
“You don’t seem to have loved your son,” He Li remarked.
“No, I loved him dearly. According to my plan, I intended to leave him 45% of my estate and my 27% company shares. Although he was foolish, so foolish that it made me laugh helplessly, who else could he be but my son? Mr. He Li, you should understand what I mean, shouldn’t you?”
He Li nodded.
“I always believed that even foolishness had its limits. At the very least, one should maintain a clear head at certain moments. For instance, standing on a cliff, one shouldn’t jump off. When cutting fruit with a knife, one shouldn’t stab oneself. Or, he could have waited until after I died to burn the paternity test that proved he wasn’t my son, and then he would have inherited enough wealth to last him several lifetimes, wouldn’t he?”
He Li pursed his lips. “That is truly a sad story.”
“Therefore, I… ate him alive!”
“No wonder he looks so terrified.”
Xu Cheng gestured to the three heads in front of He Li and smiled.
“Now, please, Mr. He, enjoy your meal.”
…