The Ice King's Little Trouble Maker-Chapter 609 - 573: Reunion Banquet

The city lights are beginning to glow, the lights just turned on.

The entrance of the Huashang Hotel is crowded with media.

Some media even have their phones set up for live streaming, providing real-time reports of the guests attending the recognition banquet.

Another car stops at the hotel entrance.

All the media aim at the stopped vehicle.

The driver at the front gets out of the car and jogs over to open the door.

The car door opens, and after two seconds, Qiao Yuxian gets out of the car.

The moment the media see it’s Qiao Yuxian, there’s a brief silence, followed by a sudden rush towards her.

But before they can approach Qiao Yuxian, they’re blocked by bodyguards getting out of the two cars behind.

However, each media outlet still pushes forward, raising their cameras high, aiming at Qiao Yuxian and the person inside the car behind her.

There’s someone in the car; they can see the silhouette.

But it’s not the person they’re anticipating.

Amidst the media eagerly stretching their arms and trying to get a better view, Lu Muyao steps out of the car.

Lu Muyao’s expression is already cold, and in this noisy environment, annoyance is clearly written on his face.

His entire demeanor from head to toe exudes a coldness, a don’t-mess-with-me aura.

He casts a brief, indifferent glance around.

Seeing him exit the car, Qiao Yuxian heads straight into the hotel.

Lu Muyao follows slightly behind her.

The two ignore the questions thrown by the media as they walk directly into the hotel through the path cleared by the bodyguards.

The hotel’s banquet hall also has media present.

But the media inside are much quieter.

They only take photos, don’t ask questions, and don’t get too close.

Qiao Yuxian and Lu Muyao, upon entering the banquet hall, take a look around first, then find a quiet spot.

"The girl beside Gu Yao is Chen Xi?" Lu Muyao asks in a low voice.

Qiao Yuxian follows Lu Muyao’s gaze.

Gu Linhai is greeting people with Gu Yao.

Chen Xi stands by Gu Yao’s side.

"Yes," Qiao Yuxian replies.

Lu Muyao withdraws his gaze and falls silent.

Qiao Yuxian also looks away, lowering her head to open her phone and logs onto Weibo.

Standing next to her, Lu Muyao doesn’t want to look at what’s on her phone, but he’s so close. She doesn’t avoid him, and as he diverts his gaze, he catches her saving a photo of herself.

He pauses, then watches her save several more.

"What are you doing?" Lu Muyao asks.

Qiao Yuxian says, "Saving beautiful photos of myself. These media outlets might be noisy, but their photography skills are undeniably excellent."

Lu Muyao: "......"

"You’re also very handsome; I’ll send them to you later," Qiao Yuxian says.

Lu Muyao opens his mouth, but the words of refusal don’t come out.

After saving the photos, Qiao Yuxian checks the trending searches.

Currently, aside from the recognition banquet, it’s all about her and Gu Yanjing on the trending list.

[Gu Yanjing really didn’t come? Seems like he’s truly vanished. Otherwise, why would Qiao Yuxian come alone?]

[Looks like the Gu Group is really going to change hands.]

[I heard Yunzhong Building is coming over tonight too. What are they up to? Messed with the nephew, now coming for the uncle?]

[Maybe Yunzhong Building and Gu Linhai have some collaboration?]

[Gu Yanjing has been missing for so long, is he really okay? Why does the Gu Group appear to be operating as usual? My friend works there and hasn’t been affected at all.]

[It’s the Gu Group. Even if ten Gu Yanjings disappear, it would continue running normally within months.]

[Is Qiao Yuxian representing Capital City? What’s the meaning of Capital City attending the recognition banquet?]

[Will Gu Yanjing come later?]

[Very unlikely. Gu Yanjing must be missing. Look at Qiao Yuxian’s eyes; they’re obviously swollen from crying. So red.]

[Yes, her eyes are very red, probably from crying.]

[But to be fair, she’s incredibly beautiful, indescribably beautiful.]

[She’s truly stunning.]

[Even more terrifying, I’m actually on site, and she’s even more gorgeous in person than in photos.]

[Who’s the guy behind her? He’s handsome too! Cold yet handsome!]

[Not sure. I feel like he’s from the Lu Family, because of the insignia on the bodyguard’s uniforms.]

...

Qiao Yuxian closes her phone, tucking it at her waist.

She mutters in her mind.

What crying!

Just because her eyes are red doesn’t mean she was crying!

That’s because Gu Yanjing is unreasonable!

An emergency meeting to attend, and he can’t make it temporarily.

He even kissed her before he left.

Over a voice call during the meeting!

He was listening to their reports with his headphones on, and she could hear what they were saying inside.

She felt like her heart almost leaped out.

Truly exhilarating.

It was exhilarating to the extreme.

From the hotel they stayed at to here, it was only a ten-minute drive, yet her red eyes wouldn’t go away!

Netizens have good eyes, cameras are indeed high resolution!

How did they spot her red eyes but miss that her lips are slightly swollen too!

Standing next to her, Lu Muyao sees the tumult in her eyes, feeling like she’s ready to bite someone.

Just as he’s about to ask, he hears approaching footsteps.

Qiao Yuxian hears them too, and they both turn around.

Gu Linhai with Gu Yao and Chen Xi are walking towards them.

Qiao Yuxian watches them, and when they get close, she smiles and calls, "Second Uncle."

Lu Muyao watches as Qiao Yuxian instantly switches to a mature and poised demeanor with a touch of distant warmth, and he too calls out, "Second Uncle." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Muyao’s here too?" Gu Linhai asks.

Lu Muyao nods, glances at Gu Yao.

Gu Yao gives him a polite smile.

Lu Muyao responds with a nod.

Gu Linhai, just as gentle as when Qiao Yuxian first met him at the Gu Mansion, smiles warmly with the affection of an elder, "Did Yanjing not come?"

"He has some obligations," Qiao Yuxian replies.

"He’s too busy," Gu Linhai says, "but no matter how busy, he should take care of his health and rest appropriately."

Qiao Yuxian smiles, turns to Gu Yao and Chen Xi, saying, "And these two are..."

"Oh, let me introduce," Gu Linhai says happily, "This is Gu Yao, the main character tonight. This is his girlfriend, Chen Xi. This is Yanjing’s wife, and this is the young master of the Lu Family, Lu Muyao."

Qiao Yuxian raises her eyebrows at Chen Xi and Gu Yao, saying, "What a coincidence."

Chen Xi looks at Qiao Yuxian, clenching her trembling fingertips.

Gu Yao laughs, "It’s fate."

"Oh? What do you mean?" Gu Linhai asks with interest.

"We’ve met once before," Gu Yao says, "My sister-in-law is also Chen Xi’s senior."

"Really?" Gu Linhai says, "That’s truly fate."

Qiao Yuxian nods with a smile, "I have fate with both of Second Uncle’s daughters-in-law. Xiao Xiao is my classmate, and Chen Xi is my junior."

"Indeed, it is," Gu Linhai says.

Gu Yao smiles again.

Qiao Yuxian looks at him, asking, "Who’s older, you or Yicheng?"

Standing off to the side, Lu Muyao watches her start to sweetly, gently, yet cruelly jab at them.

"He’s older," Gu Yao answers.

"Oh," Qiao Yuxian nods, "You two do resemble each other a lot."

"Do we?" Gu Yao seems unfazed, a constant smile at the corner of his eyes, his voice gentle, "But you resemble Gu Shuluo even more."

Gu Linhai’s smiling eyes accumulate a bit of ice.

"Gu Shuluo?" Gu Yao asks, puzzled.

"An illegitimate child, but now he should be called Yan Zhiyao," Qiao Yuxian says.