I Pursued My Scummy Ex’s White Moonlight – Chapter 68

Birthday Banquet

Not many people knew that the Luo family was holding a birthday banquet this time; they had only invited some of the more powerful families to participate. For example, the Auge family, who had quite a few ability users under their command, and whose other ordinary members were also skilled with electronic devices. The mobile phones for the base’s exterminators were made by the Auge family in an extremely short amount of time.

Within the base, one could communicate freely. Upon leaving the base, one could only use satellite phones, but satellite phones were still unstable at present, so the Auge family was in the process of developing new communication equipment.

            

As the Commander-in-Chief, and also Luo Qi’s paternal aunt, at Old Master Luo’s strong insistence, Ji Qingshuang, even though she was so busy her feet didn’t touch the ground​¹, had to take charge of all matters for the birthday banquet.

It also had to be her standing at the villa’s entrance to receive guests, because Old Master Luo felt that this was the only way to embody the Luo family’s way of hospitality​². Although Ji Qingshuang was unwilling, she ultimately stood at the entrance to welcome the guests in.

She maintained a graceful smile, poised and elegant, her every move​³ gentle and refined. Outsiders could not see the slightest hint of the turbulent emotions​⁴ in her heart.

            

The lights inside and outside the house were dazzling to the eyes, illuminating the dark night. Long dining tables were arranged around the main hall. Besides the meat, which was not very plentiful, the food on the tables had everything one could wish for. The moment Auge entered and saw such a scene, he gave Ji Qingshuang a strange look; given Ji Qingshuang’s character, how could she possibly hold such a magnificent banquet during the apocalypse.

Ji Qingshuang noticed Auge’s gaze but merely responded with a smile, offering no explanation, and let the Auge family move about as they pleased.

As the main character of the day, Luo Qi received a pile of gifts. Luo Qi’s father, Luo Tianyang​⁵, was the deputy commander​⁶, so after presenting their gifts, everyone gathered around him, and the Auge family was no exception.

            

Auge was eloquent, saying that Luo Qi-didi​⁷ was a man of striking talent and appearance, and that paternal uncle​⁸ had taught him well. But in his heart, he knew perfectly well that Luo Qi was just trash, scum, the degenerate among degenerates​⁹. Before the apocalypse, Luo Qi had been a school bully, tormenting men and women. Back then, there were still laws to restrain him; now, he would only become worse. Nevertheless, he still praised this family to the high heavens​¹⁰.

Hearing this, Old Master Luo, who was at the side, was so delighted he couldn’t stop grinning​¹¹, as if the praise was for himself. Perhaps from laughing too happily, he got slightly winded​¹², which made him cough.

Hearing Old Master Luo cough, Luo Tianyang quickly went over to support him and said to a person beside him, “Helian Yun, quickly use your ability to check on my father’s health.”

            

Upon hearing this, Ji Qingshuang glanced over. She had heard Su Wenwen mention the name once before and hadn’t expected this to be Helian Yun. Judging by appearance alone, she was indeed impressive; no wonder Su Wenwen liked her.

Because of her connection to Su Wenwen, Ji Qingshuang subconsciously paid more attention to Helian Yun. Then, she caught sight of the way Luo Qi was looking at Helian Yun, and her originally gentle gaze instantly became as sharp as a knife.

She turned her head and said to Lin Yu, who was beside her, “Go inform the Adjutant and have him keep a close eye on Helian Yun. I’m afraid something might happen to her.”

            

Lin Yu nodded impassively​¹³ and then, unnoticed by others, quietly departed.

“Luo Qi, I heard you awakened an especially powerful mental-type ability that can control people’s minds. Is that true?” Auge asked probingly.

Luo Qi puffed out his chest, looking smug. Just as he was about to speak, Luo Tianyang interrupted him: “It’s not as miraculous as people say. Don’t praise this kid too much, or he’ll get arrogant.”

            

On the surface, Auge smiled and expressed that Luo Qi was truly amazing, but inwardly he was complaining wildly: that wasn’t arrogance, that was utter disdain for everyone.

The number of guests in the hall gradually increased. Auge kept looking towards the entrance but still hadn’t seen any sign of Luo Xi. He had almost run out of compliments and, for a time, stood awkwardly beside Luo Qi, listening to him blow up a cow​¹⁴.

He was saying things like how if he went out on missions, the zombies would be no match for him; how if his father hadn’t deferred to her, Ji Qingshuang would never have gotten the position of Commander-in-Chief; and how all the young women present had once expressed their affection for him, but unfortunately, he didn’t fancy a single one. He said he preferred women like Helian Yun who were aloof towards him, calling it the “joy of conquest.”

            

Auge couldn’t listen any longer. Just as he was about to give in to the urge to punch someone, Old Master Luo raised his hand and said to everyone, “It’s about time. Let’s all take our seats and eat. We will cut the cake promptly at twelve o’clock midnight.”

Ji Qingshuang frowned. “Father, Xi’er hasn’t arrived yet.”

Old Master Luo snorted coldly, the thought of his granddaughter’s ambiguous relationship with another woman making him furious. “I didn’t invite her. Pay her no mind. Let the banquet begin​¹⁵.”

            

Hearing this, everyone looked at each other, but it wasn’t their place to comment on another’s family matters. Just as the crowd was sitting down, Luo Xi strode in, dressed in all black and wearing a black flat cap​¹⁶. Following behind her was Su Wenwen in a beige trench coat. Her expression was timid, but her gaze was so bright and clear that it made people take a second look.

“Even if Grandfather didn’t invite me, as Luo Qi’s Biaojie​¹⁷, how could I be absent? I had to come uninvited.” Luo Xi led Su Wenwen to Luo Qi’s side and handed him the gift in her hand. “Happy birthday to you.”

Luo Qi took the gift, glanced first at Luo Xi and then at Su Wenwen, and then let out a whistle. This action immediately made Luo Xi’s face turn cold, and even Old Master Luo’s face flushed red with anger.

            

Everyone around fixed their gazes on Luo Qi. Although they tried hard to conceal it, their looks still betrayed their disgust, thinking to themselves that someone like Luo Qi was not at all like the scion of a great family, but more like a common thug.

Luo Tianyang quickly put a hand on Luo Qi’s shoulder. “Aren’t you going to thank your Biaojie?”

“Many thanks, Biaojie.” Luo Qi said with a grin, unconcerned by his previous action. “Biaojie, aren’t you going to introduce the one beside you?”

            

Luo Xi withdrew her gaze, and a hint of tenderness appeared as she looked at Su Wenwen. She took her hand and announced openly to everyone, “This is my girlfriend, and my future wife.”

Luo Qi whistled again. Hearing this news, the others naturally paid no mind to Luo Qi’s forward behavior; instead, all their gazes were drawn to Su Wenwen.

Su Wenwen did not appear uncomfortable under the numerous gazes. She stood ramrod straight beside Luo Xi, saying nothing, but communicating with Luo Xi through a steady gaze. This actually caused quite a few people present to develop a favorable impression of her.

            

Old Master Luo completely lost his composure​¹⁸ and slammed his palm heavily on the table. “Nonsense! How can a woman be with another woman! You face-losing thing​¹⁹, get out of my sight now!”

Luo Xi smiled, not the least bit concerned about Old Master Luo’s loss of face. She said, “It’s the apocalypse, Grandfather. Why are you still lecturing me on propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honor​²⁰? For all we know, we could all be dead tomorrow. When you meet someone you love, regardless of their gender, of course you have to hold on tight.”

Auge chimed in at the right moment, “Well said.” In his heart, he was bleeding profusely; he was simply too envious of the favored Su Wenwen.

            

Old Master Luo looked at Auge. “Why are you agreeing with her? I invited your family here today with the very intention of matching you with Luo Xi.”

Auge’s eyes lit up, but Luo Xi’s next sentence made him feel as if a bucket of ice water had been thrown on him. She said, “I am the master of my own marriage. Besides Wenwen, I will have no one else. If Grandfather tries to force a match, then I’m afraid the incident of my broken engagement will simply repeat itself.”

Old Master Luo’s entire body stiffened, and his breathing instantly became ragged. He coughed several times. Luo Tianyang hurriedly patted his back to help him catch his breath​²¹, then glared coldly at Luo Xi. “Don’t you know your grandfather’s health is poor? Can’t you say a few words less and just have a nice meal?”

            

Luo Xi glanced at Helian Yun, who was not far away. “With the ability user my paternal uncle brought, Grandfather won’t die.”

“You…”

At that moment, Old Master Luo pushed Luo Tianyang away, caught his breath, and looked at Luo Xi with reddened eyes, asking, “Are you blaming me for your father’s death?”

            

“I wouldn’t dare. In Grandfather’s heart, the one who killed my father has always been me, hasn’t it?” Luo Xi’s sharp gaze swept over everyone present, finally resting on the butler. “I came today just to tell you, Grandfather, that it doesn’t matter if you don’t like Su Wenwen or don’t accept us together. But if Grandfather sends people to use a black hand​²² again, then don’t blame me for not being polite.”

Old Master Luo looked at her in shock. “What do you mean by that? Are you saying I sent someone to secretly harm Su Wenwen?”

“What do I mean? Why don’t you ask the butler closest to you, Grandfather.” Luo Xi’s lips curved into a wanton smile. “The gift has been delivered, and the words have been said. I imagine this family doesn’t welcome me, so I won’t disturb your meal.”

            

After speaking, Luo Xi left with Su Wenwen.

Helian Yun watched their departing figures, her expression dejected. Because Luo Xi had done what she never dared to do: make their relationship public. To her, that was an impossible proposition, but Luo Xi didn’t care about such things. From this point of view, she had been thoroughly defeated.

What she called love was merely unwillingness to accept defeat.

            

Old Master Luo sat slumped, looking up at the butler beside him. He moved his lips, wanting to say something, but not knowing what to say, until the Auge family spoke up: “Old Luo, although we are outsiders and it’s not our place to say anything, Luo Xi is your granddaughter, after all. In times of peace, it was already so difficult to love someone. Now that it’s the apocalypse, you shouldn’t be so particular about conventions.”

“That’s right. I think this child, Su Wenwen, is quite sensible. Given Old Luo’s character, it’s unlikely you would send someone to assassinate her. Could there be some misunderstanding here?” Then, they looked at the butler. “Aren’t you going to offer a defense?”

The butler kept his head down and said nothing. Seeing this, everyone could more or less guess that what Luo Xi had said was pretty close to the truth​²³. They helplessly advised, “A harmonious family prospers in all its undertakings​²⁴. We hope that for the sake of everyone in the base, Old Luo will also handle his family affairs with fairness.”

            

This sentence was like a mountain, pressing down on Old Master Luo until he closed his eyes in pain. Then he said in a cold voice, “Tianyang, I’ll leave this matter for you to handle.”

Luo Tianyang nodded, ordered his men to first detain the butler, and then arranged for everyone to eat as if nothing had happened. The guests could only offer polite smiles, but in their hearts, they did not think much of Luo Tianyang, feeling that this person was calculating in every way. Once twelve o’clock midnight arrived, after repressively eating the cake, everyone hastily took their leave.

Ji Qingshuang looked at the messy living room and shook her head helplessly as she began to clean up.

            

---

---