jdhmnovel Chapter 540 Undercurrents at the Banquet
Chapter 540 Undercurrents at the Banquet
Jiang Ciyou was wearing an elegant evening gown, the tailored design perfectly outlined her graceful figure. She gently held her husband's arm and walked into the birthday party of the richest man. However, her eyes were a little wandering, as if her thoughts were still immersed in past memories. The scene of her husband's betrayal on the wedding night flashed through her mind from time to time. The painful memory was always with her, and even though time had passed, it still left a deep scar in her heart.
The husband looked around with a flattering look on his face, his eyes flashing with greed and eagerness, like a fox eagerly looking for food. He stared at everyone in the venue, trying to find connections among those well-dressed guests to improve his status and wealth. His face was full of false smiles, and he kept nodding to passers-by, hoping to attract others' attention.
Jiang Ciyou was following her husband through the crowd out of boredom. She was not very interested in such occasions, but had no choice but to accompany her husband to socialize. Suddenly, a familiar figure came into view. She looked closely and found that it was Lu Jingchen. At this time, Lu Jingchen was wearing a well-tailored suit. The texture of the suit was extraordinary at first glance, and every detail showed exquisiteness and nobility. He had an upright figure, broad shoulders and narrow waist, as if he was a model walking out of a fashion magazine. His temperament was extraordinary, completely different from the image of the "pretty boy" she once knew. He stood in the crowd like a bright star, emitting a dazzling light that could not be ignored.
Lu Jingchen also saw Jiang Ciyou, and his eyes lit up instantly, like a fire suddenly ignited in the darkness. The fire contained surprise, longing, and complex emotions, like a bottle of five flavors overturned, all kinds of tastes surged into his heart. He walked straight towards Jiang Ciyou without hesitation, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and said with a hint of teasing: "Hey, isn't this Jiang Ciyou? Long time no see." His voice was neither loud nor soft, but just loud enough for Jiang Ciyou and her husband to hear. There was a bit of teasing and a little bit of imperceptible longing in his tone. That trace of longing was like a pearl hidden in the deep sea. Although it was covered by the surface teasing, it still flashed a faint light.
Jiang Ciyou responded in a panic: "Lu Jingchen, you... why are you here?" Her voice trembled slightly, and her eyes revealed surprise and a little panic, like a frightened little rabbit. Her heartbeat suddenly accelerated, as if it was about to jump out of her throat. She never expected to meet Lu Jingchen here, and he appeared in such a brand new image. Countless thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant, and she didn't know how to face this man who had a deep entanglement with her.
Lu Jingchen chuckled: "Why can't I be here? You didn't expect that I'm the son of the richest man." When he said this, there was a hint of pride on his face, but his eyes were fixed on Jiang Ciyou, as if he wanted to see something from her expression. He hoped to see Jiang Ciyou's surprise, regret, or any other expression that would make him feel that she was touched by her change of identity. He raised his chin slightly, as if to show Jiang Ciyou his current status and identity.
Jiang Ciyou was so shocked that she couldn't speak. Her mouth opened slightly and her eyes widened, as if she had heard a big joke. Her husband also widened his eyes and turned pale. His expression was like seeing the god of death, full of fear and surprise. He stammered, "Mr. Lu... Mr. Lu, I really... I didn't expect you to be the son of the richest man. This... This is such a coincidence." There was obvious flattery and nervousness in his voice. His palms began to sweat, and he realized that the way he had treated Jiang Ciyou might bring him trouble. He secretly regretted in his heart why he didn't discover Lu Jingchen's true identity earlier. If he had known earlier, he would never let Jiang Ciyou have any contact with Lu Jingchen.
Lu Jingchen looked at the reactions of Jiang Ciyou and her husband, and a complex emotion surged in his heart. He once had deep feelings for Jiang Ciyou, and even though she abandoned him, those feelings did not completely disappear. And now seeing her with the husband who once betrayed her, he felt both heartache for Jiang Ciyou and disgust for her husband. He deliberately stood there and did not leave immediately, wanting to see how they would react next.
Jiang Ciyou tried to calm herself down. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her heart. She looked at Lu Jingchen, her eyes full of confusion and surprise. She began to recall every bit of her time with Lu Jingchen, and all the happiness and pain she had experienced came to her mind. She thought of the time they spent together, which was short but full of warmth. But now, the Lu Jingchen in front of her made her feel strange and familiar.
The husband kept wiping the sweat from his forehead. He tried to break the awkward situation and said with a smile: "Mr. Lu, you are really a handsome man. It is our honor to meet you here today." His smile was very forced, and his eyes revealed uneasiness. He was thinking about how to get along well with Lu Jingchen and make up for his past mistakes.
Lu Jingchen looked at Jiang Ciyou's husband with disdain and said, "Really? I don't think it's your honor." His words were full of sarcasm and his eyes revealed disgust. He was full of hostility towards Jiang Ciyou's husband, not only because he had abandoned Jiang Ciyou, but also because of his hypocritical face now. He turned his head and looked at Jiang Ciyou, his eyes became softer, and said, "Jiang Ciyou, are you doing well?" There was a hint of concern in his tone. Although he still had resentment towards Jiang Ciyou in his heart, he couldn't help but care about her life.
Jiang Ciyou forced a smile: "I'm doing well, how about you?" Her smile was a little stiff, and her eyes revealed a little unnatural. In fact, she knew in her heart that she was not doing well, but she didn't want to show it in front of Lu Jingchen. She didn't want him to see her fragility and helplessness, and she hoped to maintain her dignity in front of him.
Lu Jingchen shrugged: "Me? Do you think I'm not doing well now?" He deliberately put on a relaxed look to reassure Jiang Ciyou. But deep down, he hoped that Jiang Ciyou would care more about him. He hoped that she would ask him about his experiences over the years and how he became the son of the richest man, but Jiang Ciyou didn't. He felt a little disappointed, but he still forced a smile.
At this time, the guests around them also began to notice the situation on their side and cast curious glances. Some people were whispering and speculating about the relationship between Jiang Ciyou and Lu Jingchen. A gorgeously dressed woman said to her companion: "Look at that woman, she seems to be very familiar with the son of the richest man. I wonder what their relationship is?" Another man said: "Maybe there is a story. Look at how nervous her husband is." Although these discussions were not loud, they still reached the ears of Jiang Ciyou and others, making the atmosphere even more awkward.
Jiang Ciyou's husband felt the eyes around him, and he became even more nervous. He quietly pulled the corner of Jiang Ciyou's clothes and whispered, "Ciyou, let's go. Don't talk to him here." There was a hint of anxiety and uneasiness in his voice. He was afraid that something bad would happen if he stayed any longer, and he didn't want to affect his chances at this banquet because of Lu Jingchen.
Jiang Ciyou glanced at her husband, a little hesitant. She knew her husband was worried, but she didn't want to leave Lu Jingchen like that. She still had a lot to say to him. She wanted to ask him how he had been living these years and why he became the son of the richest man. She was full of curiosity about Lu Jingchen's changes, but she didn't know how to start.
Lu Jingchen smiled and said, "Why, are you so afraid of me? Don't worry, I won't do anything to you. I'm just chatting with Jiang Ciyou." There was a hint of sarcasm in his words, and he deliberately looked at Jiang Ciyou's husband with a provocative look in his eyes. He just wanted to make Jiang Ciyou's husband feel uneasy and let him know that he is no longer the pretty boy who can be bullied by him at will.
The husband smiled awkwardly and said, "It's not that I'm afraid of you, but we have other things to do." As he spoke, he looked around, trying to find an excuse to leave. His eyes were erratic and he didn't dare to look directly into Lu Jingchen's eyes.
Lu Jingchen sneered, "Other things? I think you are guilty. But it doesn't matter, you can go if you want, there will be plenty of opportunities to meet in the future." His words revealed a hint of confidence, as if telling Jiang Ciyou's husband that he would not give up Jiang Ciyou easily. He would find a chance to have a good chat with Jiang Ciyou and let her know his feelings.
Jiang Ciyou felt a little uncomfortable after hearing what Lu Jingchen said, but she still followed her husband and left. She looked back at Lu Jingchen, her eyes full of complicated emotions. There was surprise, confusion, reluctance, and a hint of guilt. She didn't know what would happen between her and Lu Jingchen, but she knew that their reunion had disrupted her originally peaceful life.
The author says:
In this chapter, the reunion of Jiang Ciyou and Lu Jingchen at the banquet is full of drama and tension. Through the detailed description of their expressions, language and actions, the complex emotions in their hearts and the subtle relationship between them are revealed. Jiang Ciyou's shock and panic, Lu Jingchen's pride and complex emotions, and her husband's fear and flattery all add a strong atmosphere to the development of the story. At the same time, the discussions and reactions of the surrounding guests also hint at the importance of this scene in the whole story. It is not just a simple encounter, but also the fuse that triggers a series of subsequent plots. I hope that readers can feel the emotional changes of the characters and the development of the story in these details, and look forward to more exciting stories between them.