Lu Fei smiled knowingly.
He looked at everyone and asked, "Senior Bai has agreed, do you all want to go together?"
"Of course we do!"
"Yes!"
The group cheered with joy.
As the eldest son of the Zhou family, Zhou Tao had suffered several setbacks and had become increasingly steady. He nodded and said,
"That would be best. The Bai family has many places where we can learn."
Among the group, only Bai Qianqian's expression was somewhat troubled, seemingly hesitant.
Lu Fei noticed this as well.
He mused,
Since Bai Qianqian also had the surname Bai, was there some connection?
But ultimately, as everyone else was going, it wouldn't be appropriate for Bai Qianqian to stay behind alone. So, they all followed.
A few hours later, they arrived at Yu Heng Group.
Everyone alighted from the car.
Bai Yuheng stood in front of the Yu Heng Group building, gazing up at the skyscraper piercing the clouds, his heart filled with emotion.
"Yu Shu, you've done well managing things these years. I never expected the group to grow to this extent."
A hint of pride flickered across Bai Yu Shu's face.
"If not for Big Brother's excellent foundation, I wouldn't have achieved what I have today."
"Heh, very good."
"Shall we go inside?"
Upon returning to Yu Heng Group, Lu Fei and his party were treated as esteemed guests. Each was assigned the highest-spec room. For many students, this was their first time sleeping in such luxurious accommodations, and their happiness overflowed.
Around seven or eight in the evening.
It was time for the banquet.
Bai Yuheng, after washing up and dressing, appeared before everyone.
He wore simple linen clothing, and his long hair was tied into a braid, giving him an even more ethereal and dignified aura.
He was already handsome, and even though he was over fifty, he still exuded a refined and dashing charm.
At the banquet table.
The delegation from Cang Town Beast Taming Academy was honored as distinguished guests.
Several elder members of the group also attended the feast.
Upon seeing Bai Yuheng, a few of them were overcome with emotion, tears welling up in their eyes.
Regardless of whether their tears were genuine or not, the scene moved many of the onlookers.
This banquet was intended to welcome Bai Yuheng, and by rights, Bai Yu Shu should have presided.
However, the two brothers were deeply affectionate, their bond remaining strong even after so many years apart.
Bai Yu Shu felt only genuine happiness from the bottom of his heart, with no other thoughts.
Bai Yuheng, on the other hand, made it clear at the banquet that he had returned simply to enjoy his retirement. He wanted those rivals who had been stirring up trouble to know that he was back.
With his declaration, it indirectly signaled that Bai Xingyu would be the undisputed successor to Yu Heng Group in the future.
The banquet was filled with clinking glasses and pleasant conversation.
But Bai Qianqian appeared dispirited throughout, drinking quietly by herself.
Lu Fei, sitting beside her, raised his wine glass and smiled, "Senior Qianqian, I'll propose a toast to you."
Bai Qianqian offered a polite smile.
She clinked glasses with Lu Fei.
Lu Fei then asked with a smile, "Senior Qianqian, why do you seem unhappy?"
Bai Qianqian forced a smile and replied, "I'm not."
Lu Fei pursed his lips.
It was written all over her face, yet she claimed otherwise.
"Senior Qianqian, do you have a connection to the Bai family?"
As soon as he spoke, Bai Qianqian's expression changed drastically.
Lu Fei's skill in observing expressions was remarkable. With such a reaction, even a blind person could tell there was a connection, right?
Bai Qianqian pursed her lips, about to speak, then stopped.
Lu Fei, seeing her like this for the first time, grew even more curious.
After a long silence.
Bai Qianqian finally said, "If you count it, he should be my maternal uncle."
"He?"
Lu Fei was astonished.
"Bai Yuheng is your uncle?"
Bai Qianqian remained silent.
After a long pause, she continued, "It's just that our entire family has been expelled from the Bai family."
Lu Fei frowned slightly. This reminded him of Ke Xin, that clingy girl. She originally belonged to a prominent family in Tianhang City, but for some reason, she had come to Cang Town, which was inferior to Tianhang City in economy, education, and so on.
Lu Fei asked, puzzled,
"Why? Did you offend Chairman Bai?"
Bai Qianqian let out a sigh.
"Chairman Bai did nothing wrong. If I were in his place, I would have done the same."
Lu Fei became even more perplexed.
He listened as Bai Qianqian continued, "It was my father who violated the family rules when he was young, which is why we were expelled from the Bai family. I was very young then. Later, I asked my father why, but he never told me the reason, only muttering to himself that he had made a mistake."
Lu Fei nodded, suddenly understanding.
He tentatively asked, "Do you want to greet Chairman Bai?"
Bai Qianqian immediately shook her head, refusing.
It was evident that she had been preoccupied since arriving here, and this was the reason.
Seeing that she had no intention of reconnecting, Lu Fei shrugged and continued to eat.
At the banquet, Bai Xingyu highlighted Lu Fei, describing their tacit understanding in the Tower of Souls, fighting side by side through life and death.
Han Bo was genuinely happy to see the usually introverted Bai Xingyu speak so much today.
Later, Bai Yuheng's words further elevated Lu Fei to legendary status. Bai Yu Shu personally poured him a drink to express his gratitude.
It turned out that Lu Fei had also helped Bai Yuheng before he recovered his memory. After Lu Fei's explanation, they realized that Bai Yuheng was the vagrant they had encountered in Fenghe Town that day.
The others regretted their actions immensely. If only they had been the ones to offer help at that time.
They recalled how they had secretly mocked Lu Fei for meddling, realizing now that it was often wise to get involved, even if it seemed like meddling.
Lu Fei's alcohol tolerance had skyrocketed after spending almost a year with the drunkard who was practically his mentor. What started as a dinner had escalated into heavy drinking.
The few who could drink from Cang Town Beast Taming Academy had all passed out. Lu Fei, Bai Yuheng, and Bai Yu Shu ended up thoroughly intoxicated.
Bai Yu Shu rarely drank due to his illness, but tonight he drank to his heart's content. Perhaps it was the joy of his brother's return, or perhaps it was the sorrow of knowing his time was short.
In the end, all the men were drunk. Bai Qianqian was the one who helped Lu Fei back to his room.
Despite his improved tolerance, Lu Fei was still drunk.
His consciousness was hazy, and he stumbled as he walked.