Chapter Fifteen: The Desire to Possess Is Important—Women Have It Too.

One week later, at the old Lu family mansion.

At noon sharp, Gu Yao arrived at the Lu residence.

Tonight was the Lu family’s gratitude banquet, prepared to thank the relatives and friends who had visited the matriarch over the past month, as well as their business partners.

By this time, the banquet hall was already bustling with preparations.

Previously, after Gu Yao shared the contact of the pastry chef she had recruited with Lu Zheng, he had indeed sent someone to get in touch with the young girl.

The girl accepted the part-time job but was somewhat timid and, knowing it was a job recommended by Gu Yao, asked to be accompanied to the Lu residence.

Gu Yao did not refuse. After all, she was her own shop’s employee, and over the past month, they had spent much time experimenting with desserts together.

With the company’s grand opening imminent, Gu Yao was curious to see how the guests would receive the girl’s craftsmanship.

Once they arrived, they immediately got to work.

The Lu family had a dedicated baking room.

At this moment, besides Gu Yao and Chen Yan, there were two other servants assisting, so Gu Yao didn’t have to do much herself.

Though young, Chen Yan was efficient and capable.

After spending some time in the baking room, Gu Yao stepped out to find Han Yuncai, then returned to find a faint scent of sweet, freshly baked cream filling the air.

Chen Yan was no longer as nervous as when she first arrived.

Seeing Gu Yao return, she handed her a small cupcake.

“Sis Yao, this is the new item I wanted to make today. Please try it.”

Gu Yao examined it—the small cake was beautifully made, with pale green cream topped by two blueberries, giving it a fresh look.

She took a small spoonful, and after a few seconds, nodded appreciatively under Chen Yan’s expectant gaze.

“Delicious. Is this Hami melon flavor?”

Chen Yan’s eyes curved into crescent moons.

“Yes, I once had a Hami melon-flavored cold drink, and thought it would be great to make a dessert with this flavor.”

Gu Yao smiled.

“Good idea. When there’s time, try making more varieties.”

Chen Yan’s smile grew even more confident.

The gratitude banquet began at seven in the evening. By six, guests had started arriving outside the villa gates.

Chen Yan finished all her work by late afternoon.

The old mansion sat on a mountain in the suburbs, making it difficult to get a taxi. After the butler Wang Bo inspected the work, he arranged for someone to send Chen Yan home.

Gu Yao returned to her room.

Outside, the guests were all either wealthy or noble.

Now, Gu Yao no longer felt the need to put on embarrassing airs at these social gatherings that held no relevance to her life.

She stayed quietly in her room.

The banquet hall was ablaze with light, gentle music flowing softly.

Exquisitely crafted pastries were laid out alongside food and drinks, their beautiful presentation sparking lively discussions among many female guests.

Lu Zheng had been busy from six to eight in the evening.

Once he slipped away from the two other bosses, he stepped onto the balcony, lit a cigarette, and took a drag.

Before long, Lou Yu and Qin Feng approached, walking in single file.

Each man was handsome in his own distinct way, equally striking.

Standing together, they immediately became the center of quiet attention.

Among the group of young masters, Lou Yu was the youngest, yet his temperament was the most unpredictable.

Leaning against the railing, he watched Lu Zheng’s expression with a smile that seemed to relish the unfolding drama.

“Looks like there hasn’t been much progress? Gu Yao hasn’t shown up all evening.”

Lu Zheng continued smoking, exhaling a plume of smoke as his gaze drifted toward the garden outside, decorated with fairy lights like a dreamscape.

After a long pause, he spoke in a low voice.

“She stopped attending these events a long time ago.”

Lou Yu raised an eyebrow.

That much he remembered.

He took a sip of wine, scanning beyond the crowd until his eyes landed on a woman conversing with Lu Ning nearby, his gaze flickering.

Yet he didn’t forget to provoke Lu Zheng.

“Better if she doesn’t come. Avoids some young master taking a fancy to her and chasing her away—it’s not worth it.”

His words immediately earned a cold glare from Lu Zheng.

Lou Yu grinned wider, undeterred.

“I just went upstairs and overheard Grandma Lu telling Auntie Han about that boy from the Yun family’s third branch, second son. Seems she wants to introduce him to Gu Yao.”

This news caught even Qin Feng’s attention, who had been silently smoking nearby, his expression indifferent.

Lu Zheng’s face turned icy, as if a layer of frost had settled.

He said nothing, but the shadow of gloom in his eyes was unmistakable.

Lou Yu watched him closely, still smiling, but his gaze soon shifted back to the alluring woman nearby.

After just two seconds, he couldn’t resist any longer.

He suddenly stood, clapped Lu Zheng on the shoulder, and offered a final piece of advice.

“The relationship between suitors and friends is different emotionally. To warm a romance, there needs to be a foundation. Look at Old Qin—how he fell in love after marriage.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng paused his smoking, then looked seriously at Lu Zheng.

“Possessiveness is important. Women have possessiveness too.”

As Qin Feng finished, music began to play in the banquet hall.

The crowd’s attention was drawn toward the stage, where a young couple was walking down hand in hand to lead the first dance.

It was Lu Ning’s older brother, Lu Zhan, the eldest son of the second branch of the Lu family, and his wife, Ruan He.

At the sound of the music, Lou Yu was already stepping back into the hall.

From Lu Zheng and Qin Feng’s perspective, they saw him stride into the crowd and pull the woman in the red strapless mermaid dress into his arms.

His manner was dominant, even reckless.

The man who had been standing in front of the woman, gesturing an invitation, quickly retreated upon recognizing Lou Yu’s face.

Lu Zheng withdrew his gaze, asked a passing waiter for a drink, and took a sip.

Qin Feng’s wife was not attending tonight, and he had no intention of dancing with any other woman, so he poured himself a glass as well.

The two men stood in a small corner, silent for a moment.

Yet the intense aura emanating from each, distinct yet equally formidable, drew frequent sideways glances from the women in attendance.

Some bold ones even approached, hoping to catch their attention.

But all efforts were in vain.

Neither man flinched; their focus never strayed toward the onlookers even for a second.

Finally, as the last dance commenced, a foot clad in golden lace-up high heels stepped into the quiet balcony.

The woman wore a deep purple, high-slit, off-shoulder gown. Bold and direct, she fixed her gaze on Lu Zheng and approached, her voice soft and seductive.

“Mr. Lu, it’s already the last dance. May I have the honor of dancing this final one with you?”

Her expression carried the unmistakable air of determination.

Not far away, Liu Yuan watched this scene from a distance, her face cold as frost, her heart tightening with anxiety.

But soon she saw the woman’s face flush red as she quickly turned and left.

Liu Yuan let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Yet suddenly, upon recalling a certain name, her breath caught once more.