C8 A Special Guest

Qin Feng had indeed arrived, accompanied by a man who was both tall and muscular, though rather plain in appearance.

They had come on foot, looking weary and out of place among the well-heeled guests in the banquet hall.

Qin Feng, in particular, with a bizarrely shaped leather suitcase in hand, resembled a handyman more than a guest.

His attire was so unassuming that the security guard stopped him on sight. "Dressed like that and you expect to enter the banquet hall? Who do you think you are? Scram!"

The guard's tone was far from welcoming. Accustomed to rubbing shoulders with the elite at this upscale resort, he had little regard for someone as plainly dressed as Qin Feng.

Yet, Qin Feng faced the guard's scorn with a serene demeanor, asserting, "I was invited by the host of the banquet."

The guard could barely contain his laughter. The host of the banquet was a person of considerable influence; how could they possibly have a friend who looked so destitute?

"Enough talk. If you have an invitation, I'll kneel down to welcome you. But if you don't, then get lost and stop making a fool of yourself here!"

The guard was smug, sleeves rolled up, ready to eject the unwelcome duo.

But before he could act, a soft voice from behind interjected, "Qin Feng, you've arrived?"

The guard's face transformed with shock as he spun around to find Zhong Yanan smiling warmly at the poorly dressed man.

The guard stood there, stunned, as did many guests who turned to stare, their faces a picture of disbelief.

How could the esteemed Miss Zhong of the Zhong family possibly invite two paupers to her engagement party?

To everyone's astonishment, Zhong Yanan appeared genuinely thrilled. She hurried to the entrance of the banquet hall and inquired, "Qin Feng, what took you so long?"

"Miss Zhong, you know these men?" The most flabbergasted of all was the door guard. Recalling his earlier remarks, he blushed with shame, wishing the ground would swallow him up.

"Of course, they're my guests," Zhong Yanan replied with a dismissive glance, her voice cool and composed.

The security guard was drenched in nervous sweat, instinctively backing away.

"Let's just go inside and talk there," Qin Feng said, striding into the banquet hall without a backward glance at the guard. He didn't bother forcing the man to kneel in greeting; such a minor character wasn't worth his time.

Zhong Yanan gave a slight nod and quickly fell into step to Qin Feng's left, shooting him eager, questioning glances. She was dying to know how he planned to help her escape Lu Shaojie's clutches. Qin Feng, however, paid her no mind and made his way to a nondescript corner of the room. Squinting, he began to survey the surroundings of the banquet hall.

It was a survival instinct honed during the apocalypse—to familiarize himself with new environments immediately, ensuring he could always control the situation and maintain the upper hand.

"Why aren't you talking?" Zhong Yanan couldn't hide her irritation. She wasn't used to being overlooked. But Qin Feng remained silent, absorbed in his observations and internal musings.

He recalled that this very banquet hall was the site of the first Abnormal Spot outbreak. The eruption would trigger a horrific massacre, leaving most of the attendees dead where they stood. By the time the police arrived, they'd be greeted by walls splattered with blood and floors littered with flesh and bone, with not a single body left intact.

The military would later cordon off the area, gleaning information about the apocalypse from the carnage. A handful of survivors would be kept under close watch, ostensibly for their protection, to prevent any leaks.

In his past life, few knew of these events. Qin Feng was an exception, having accessed numerous top-secret files within the Dragon Shield Bureau.

"What exactly are you looking at?" Zhong Yanan's patience wore thin, and she gave Qin Feng a push, more out of frustration than anything else. To onlookers, though, such a gesture suggested an intimacy between them that went beyond mere acquaintances.

True to form, the star of the banquet, Lu Shaojie, made his way over with a wine glass in hand, exuding elegance. His voice was icy as he asked, "Nan, who is this? Why haven't you introduced us?"

Meanwhile, Zhong Yanan's stepmother, Aunt Wang, approached with a look of surprise. She cast a disapproving glance at Qin Feng and remarked, "Nan, your friend is dressed like that for the banquet?"

It was only then that Qin Feng snapped back to reality, giving those around him a detached look. "Sorry, I didn't come for the banquet. There's no need to proceed with the engagement ceremony."

What?

His declaration sent shockwaves through the crowd.

"Who is he? Did he come here just to stir up trouble?"

"It's difficult to say. Miss Zhong is quite desirable, with numerous admirers. Maybe he's one of them."

The guests buzzed with speculation, while Aunt Wang's face betrayed a mix of emotions. Embarrassment crept in, her mouth twitching involuntarily.

Lu Shaojie's expression turned stormy.

Zhong Yanan couldn't suppress a giggle. Qin Feng's forthrightness was unexpected.

But Qin Feng wasn't smiling.

"I'm not kidding," he stated gravely. "In ten minutes, danger will strike. Those who wish to survive should flee; those who don't can stay and continue with the ceremony."

With that, Qin Feng's gaze shifted to Lu Shaojie, his tone mocking, "But even if you do get through this engagement ceremony, you might not live to see your wedding night."

"What did you say?"

Qin Feng's words left Zhong Yanan speechless, and the onlookers were even more astounded.

Upon hearing Qin Feng's ominous warning, Lu Shaojie's expression turned instantly grim.