C19 An Unexpected Invitation

Zhang Luo wasn't intimidated by the thought of Chen Hang causing him harm. His father may have saved Chen Yu, but Chen Yu was a respected elder—it wouldn't be appropriate for him to reprimand his own grandson in front of others.

With Chen Yu remaining silent, Zhang Luo swiftly elbowed Chen Hang in the chest, not once but twice, sending him stumbling backward several steps before he could regain his footing. Zhang Luo then closed in with a burst of speed, delivering three solid punches to Chen Hang's stomach.

"This punch is to teach you a lesson on behalf of your grandfather!"

"This punch is for your lack of manners!"

"And this punch is for overestimating yourself!"

After the third punch, Chen Hang coughed up blood, collapsed to the ground, and lay there motionless, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Zhang Luo casually wiped his hands and turned to Chen Yu.

"What are you waiting for? Get Chen Hang to the hospital!"

"As you wish, Young Master," came the reply.

Chen Yu gestured toward his villa and addressed Zhang Luo, "Let me show you my new place!"

Laughing together, Zhang Luo and Chen Yu made their way into Skytop Estates. Upon reaching the entrance of Zhang Luo's villa, Chen Yu paused.

"So this is where Skytop No. 8 is. I should have known it was you who bought it, Young Master!"

"Come on, I'll show you around," Zhang Luo invited.

Inside, Chen Yu couldn't help but express his admiration, "Truly the work of a master!" Zhang Luo served a cup of tea to Chen Yu.

"It's been a decade since I last saw my father. How has he been lately?"

"My father died three years ago," Chen Yu replied, his brow furrowing.

"What happened?" Zhang Luo inquired.

"It's a long story," Chen Yu began. "The Zhang family affairs have been in the hands of the butler, and I'm not privy to much. Three years ago, the butler informed me of my father's death and banished me from the family. That's when I ended up in Zruhpus, and I've been there ever since."

Zhang Luo, not keen on discussing his father, leaned back on the sofa and let out a long sigh.

"Young Master, I have a rather bold request."

"Go ahead," Zhang Luo encouraged.

"I'm attending a gathering today. Would you care to join me?"

In Zruhpus, Chen Yu was a figure of much greater renown than Lin Handong, and his presence at such gatherings was a given.

Chen Yu understood Zhang Luo's feelings all too well. With his father murdered, Zhang Luo could do nothing but stand by helplessly. Chen Yu's intention in speaking was to encourage Zhang Luo to put down roots in Zruhpus more quickly.

The affairs of the Zhang family were not something a wealthy individual like Chen Yu could simply meddle in; he could only offer assistance within his means.

"Alright, it's time for me to get a glimpse of the world!"

Back when Zhang Luo's father was alive, Zhang Luo detested attending such gatherings. Etiquette and benefits were the name of the game, and these concepts were on full display at these banquets.

Times had changed, and Zhang Luo had no choice but to steel himself and attend. The desire to avenge his father, even three years later, had not diminished in the slightest.

The two reminisced on the sofa, and Zhang Luo shared with Chen Yu that he would be moving the next day.

Meanwhile, at a coffee shop in Zruhpus, Yang Yuan and Liu Xiao were having coffee. Yang Yuan looked noticeably older.

Yang Yuan's disappearance the day before had nearly caused Liu Xiao trouble, leaving Yang Yuan feeling somewhat sheepish.

Yang Yuan recounted to Liu Xiao every detail of the recent events at the Yang family.

"Should I go tomorrow?"

"Have you lost your mind?"

Liu Xiao exclaimed, her voice drawing the attention of the entire coffee shop.

"It's clearly Yang Ming's doing!"

"I know, but Yang Miao is still my sister!"

"So what if she's your sister? She's no better than that jerk Lin Kai!"

Liu Xiao, who had once been envious of Yang Yuan, was now seething with frustration. In college, Lin Kai and Yang Yuan had seemed like the perfect couple, with Yang Yuan focused solely on her studies.

That had made many of their female peers both envious and resentful!

Now, Liu Xiao felt sympathy for Yang Yuan. Yang Yuan came from a decent family, being the heiress to the Yang Group, and she had a strong drive for success in business. Yet, it seemed love was tormenting this young woman.

Zhang Luo accompanied Chen Yu to the entrance of Orchid Terrace, Zruhpus's most opulent restaurant, named for the mountain it backed onto.

Stepping into the restaurant, they were greeted by a picturesque landscape of mountains and rivers, with the whole venue enclosed in panoramic glass. Each private room was designed like a pavilion or tower, yet maintained its privacy.

From their vantage point, they could take in the breathtaking views of Orchid Terrace. A gentle stream meandered down the mountain, and on foggy days, the entire restaurant seemed to float amidst the clouds, as if one were strolling through the sky!

After a considerable walk, they came upon a distinctive private room. The door was adorned with an intricately carved dragon and phoenix, so lifelike it seemed they might take flight.

Dragon and Phoenix Hall! The name was proudly displayed above the door.

Upon opening the door, they were greeted by a room bustling with people, seven or eight of whom were clad in sharp suits, exuding an air of formality.

"Chen Yu!"

At Chen Yu's arrival, everyone rose to their feet in greeting.

"Young Master, please take your seat!"

Chen Yu's words left the crowd in awe. It was rare to find someone in Zruhpus who commanded such respect from him.

All eyes turned to Zhang Luo, who followed behind Chen Yu. He was a regular young man dressed casually in a tracksuit, nothing out of the ordinary.

Zhang Luo took the seat at the far end, with Chen Yu sitting close by.

"I'd like to introduce everyone to Zhang Luo."

"Hello, Mr. Zhang!"

The greeting echoed unanimously around the room.

Chen Yu proceeded to introduce Zhang Luo to each person, though Zhang Luo didn't commit their names to memory. He could sense, however, the profound respect they all had for Chen Yu.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and a man in his thirties, dressed in a suit, entered.

"Mr. Zhang, thank you for gracing us with your presence. I am the owner of this establishment. Please accept my apologies for any shortcomings in our hospitality. As a token of our appreciation, here is a platinum membership card."

It was clear that Chen Yu had arranged this gesture in advance. Zhang Luo accepted the card and expressed his gratitude to the owner.

The Orchid Terrace's platinum card was an exclusive privilege, typically reserved for those who spent upwards of 10 million annually, and it granted the holder the luxury of sampling the manager's personally prepared Australian abalone.

Shortly thereafter, the manager returned, now donning a chef's uniform, and presented a special offering.

"I've brought eight pieces of Australian abalone for your enjoyment."

Zhang Luo had never before seen such succulent abalone. Known as 'half-head' abalone, these delicacies required exacting conditions to thrive and were costly to import. A single piece could fetch tens of thousands of yuan!

With eight pieces served at once, it was evident that the private room was filled with some of the most influential individuals in Zruhpus.

After finishing their meal quickly, Chen Yu dropped Zhang Luo off at his home.

"What were you up to?"

"I was out dining with someone!"

Wang Yan interrogated Zhang Luo the moment he walked through the door.

"You're such a waste, and yet you still find time to eat? Are you even aware that you need to attend Yang Miao's engagement party tomorrow?"

"I might be moving tomorrow, so I may not have time to go. And don't forget to invite your girlfriends!"

Zhang Luo quickly retreated to his bedroom to get ready for the next day.

"Moving? From one rundown place to another, and you still have the audacity to invite guests?"

Wang Yan yelled from the bedroom doorway.

With Yang Yuan still out, Zhang Luo pulled out the phone his father had given him and scrolled through his contacts until he found Liu Bingsheng's number and called him.

"Master! Is it you?"

"I'm the son of Zhang Kunsheng."

"Young Master, where's your father?"

"It's a complicated story. Meet me at Fairweather Hotel, I'll come to you!"

Zhang Luo ended the call and made a beeline for Fairweather Hotel.