Family Banquet

"Wait, the family banquet is on July twenty-fifth—as in tomorrow evening?" "What of it? Do you have a date?" Xifei set down the custom-tailored suit and leather shoes she had brought for Wayne and said bluntly, "You're still young. A young man ought to focus on his studies instead of always thinking about running off on dates with girls. Listen to your big sister: cancel your plans this time, and I'll introduce my daughter to you some other day." "But I already promised—" "And that settles it!" Xifei shoved the clothes into Wayne's hands, bustled him into the bedroom, and shut the door behind him. "Try them on and see if they fit. If they don't, I'll take them back for alterations." "What a coincidence." Cradling the garments, Wayne had no choice but to change. He had made plans to attend Veronica's little gathering on the evening of the twenty-fifth, which now clashed directly with the date of Xifei's family banquet. Having slipped into the new attire, Wayne turned sideways before the full-length mirror to inspect himself. The fabric was premium, the craftsmanship superb, and the fit nothing short of perfection. He was positive he had never set foot near a tailor's tape measure. One could only say Xifei's eyes came with built-in measuring tapes—truly worthy of a top-tier fashion designer from Paris. Speaking of fashion design, Wayne was reminded of silk stockings and called out through the door, "Teacher, three months ago you mentioned you'd arrange for people to research silk stockings. Are the sample prototypes ready yet?" "I'm already rushing them. They're currently at the model fitting stage, so the finished product will still take a little while." "I'd recommend speeding things up. August is right around the corner, and summer is the peak season for selling stockings." "I know, I know! Are you done changing yet? Dragging your feet like a woman—do you want me to do your makeup while I'm at it?" Even as Xifei complained, Wayne pushed the door open and stepped out, freezing her in place. As a female fashion designer, Xifei had tailored clothes for only two men: her scoundrel husband, and her student. Looking at the suit alone had not provoked any thoughts, but now that Wayne wore it, the more she looked, the more she felt the two men were strikingly similar—not just in their hair color and features, but in their inner... temperament. That stubborn donkey temperament of playing obedient and well-behaved on the surface while hiding a belly full of rebellion! Xifei's brow furrowed. *Goddess above, please let it be an illusion. I ended up picking a scoundrel for a husband back then; don't let me have picked another scoundrel for an apprentice.* "What's wrong? Is something off?" Noticing his teacher's unfriendly glare, Wayne instinctively raised a sleeve to check. Clothes made the man, and this suit instantly elevated his class the moment he put it on. Nothing wrong with it. Looked sharp enough; ready to wear. "Nothing. Just remembered something unpleasant." Xifei waved her hand dismissively, instructing Wayne not to go anywhere tomorrow afternoon since she would come pick him up. With that, she swept out the door like a whirlwind to return to her office. Wayne shrugged, changed out of the suit, and hung it in the wardrobe. After slipping into casual wear, he plunged straight into the basement, summoned Abin and Yulia, and set off on a stroll through the sewers. Destination: the detective agency. Along the way, he could provide relief to displaced townsfolk. Anything could pause, but the grind never stopped. Without the grind, where was the future? Wayne rode along, stopping and going, reaching the detective agency just as night fell. He surveyed the premises, catching the faint, lingering scent of a magical girl in the air, and guessed Veronica had stopped by today. Sure enough, there was a sticky note left on the desk. [Why haven't you taken the diary yet? Call me back right away!] All along, no telephone had been installed at the detective agency, and Wayne had always been the one to initiate contact. Whenever Veronica wanted to reach him, she couldn't even find a phone number. What infuriated Veronica most was that they were already so well acquainted, yet they still hadn't exchanged carrier bird contacts. Wayne felt thoroughly helpless. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but he had been far too busy lately. Besides, the phone line at his temporary residence had been cut, and the repairman had yet to show up. That was just how Londan operated: lure clients in with a mountain of promises, and once the money arrived, plead a shortage of manpower, resulting in an abysmal customer experience. Wayne pocketed the diary, headed out to the street, and dialed from a payphone, quickly getting through to Veronica. Since he might have to stand everyone up for the gathering on the twenty-fifth, he hoped the organizer wouldn't be furious that the guest of honor would be missing. "Well, well, if it isn't Boss Wayne. Busy lately, are we?" "Working hard to make a living! Always good to stay busy." Wayne flashed a shameless grin. Standing someone up was rather poor form, especially when it involved three lovely young ladies. He was already mulling over how to shift the blame without hurting anyone's feelings. To his surprise, before he could say a word, Veronica spoke up with hesitation: "About tomorrow night's gathering... an emergency came up on my end, so we might have to reschedule for another day." "What happened? Relatives in town?" "Something like that..." "Listen to yourself! We set this date an entire week in advance. How can you just cancel at the drop of a hat? You're a young lady—can't you keep track of dates?" "And here I thought we were friends! To think I trusted you so much, and this is how you treat a friend?" The moment he heard Veronica was the one standing *him* up, Wayne's tone immediately soared into righteous indignation. As everyone knew, he despised people who broke their word. On the other end of the line, Veronica offered a hushed apology. She had already explained the situation to Villy and Chris, but because she hadn't been able to reach Wayne, she had made a special trip to the detective agency. "What's the use of saying all this now? Do you have any idea how much I was looking forward to tomorrow night's gathering? Veronica, you've disappointed me deeply!" Wayne barked reprovingly. "And another thing—apologizing in such a tiny voice? Where's your sincerity?" *Outrageous! Don't push your luck!* Veronica was fuming, but she drew a deep breath. Acknowledging that she truly was in the wrong first, she apologized once more in a quiet voice. "I'm sorry." "Louder!" "I'M! SOR! RY—!" "What are you shouting for?!" Before Wayne's retort could fully land, the line went dead. He gave a cold scoff, stepped out of the phone booth, and marched with the steady stride of a triumphant general. — July 25. The family banquet. Wayne spent the entire day frantically catching up on his diary entries. In the journal, he was portrayed as generous, kind, upright, and brave, devoid of greed or lust. Keeping up with current events, he even inserted an episode where he honored an appointment on time despite facing hundreds of evil gods. A piece of documentary literature, prized above all for its realism! The author hoped that through his personal embodiment of glorious righteousness, and his shining example of truth, goodness, and beauty, he might awaken the lost conscience within his readers and compel them to deeply recognize their own faults. At five in the afternoon, a luxury black automobile pulled up before No. 13 Manor Long Street. Dressed in his full finery, Wayne declined the driver's courteous offer to open the door, opting to open it himself and slip into the rear seat. Xifei was dressed in splendid gala attire, wearing an evening gown of her own brand: a long black dress that subtly bared her shoulders, projecting incomparable elegance and nobility. The gown's neckline was uniquely designed—a V-neck that dipped just low enough to trace the delicate contours of her collarbones and slender neck without revealing too much. She wore a pair of earrings set with green diamonds, matched by a pendant featuring a green gemstone resting against her chest: understated, composed, luxurious, yet not without warmth. As for the rest, such as her bodily curves, Wayne bypassed them entirely out of respect for his teacher, keeping his gaze strictly away. "Well? How does your big sister look in this dress?" *What does this have to do with the dress? What you really want to ask is whether you look pretty today, isn't it?* Wayne made his inner snark, plastered on an ingratiating expression, and nodded in praise. "Goddess above! Aside from the Goddess of Nature, you are the most beautiful, Teacher." Xifei was immensely pleased, yet she still pointed out Wayne's error. What did he mean by 'aside from the Goddess of Nature'? The Sun Goddess and Moonlight Goddess were equally noble and elegant, so she could rank fourth at best. Wayne: (—_—) *Fine, fine. They're all old ladies anyway. You're the youngest, Teacher, so whatever makes you happy.* ... The ancestral manor of the Landau family lay at the boundary where the West District met the Inner Londan Central District. Years ago, before Londan had expanded, the estate's grounds had been exceedingly remote. With the advent of the industrial age and the city sprawling ever wider, that secluded ancestral land had ironically become prime luxury real estate in close proximity to the financial district. The grand estate sat behind a vast grove of woods, beyond which lay a wide expanse of open lawn. Removed from the urban clamor, setting foot inside felt like stepping into an entirely different world. The grand mansion comprised a main building flanked by two wings. Further off toward the rear garden stood the private villa belonging to the young lady of the house. Viewed from above, every structure possessed its own unique architectural style and aesthetic grace. Whatever was inside the buildings wasn't worth counting, and there was little need to mention it. Sitting inside the car, Wayne couldn't see the miniature nature reserve in the rear garden either. All he knew was that the wooded driveway before the main building stretched on and on, the road encircling the lawn was long, and the fountain in the center of the grass was immense. Rather than a manor, it felt more like a resort hotel. None of that was the main point. The main point was that upon passing through the front entrance, Wayne caught sight of the family crests mounted on both sides of the gate. The tulip emblem was strikingly prominent—identical to the Landau family crest in Enrold Town. Wayne: (一`一;) *The big shot, Mr. Landau, Xifei, Veronica, the family crest...* With a bit of deduction and rational thought, everything clicked into place. No wonder that right after he met Veronica, some mysterious big shot suddenly popped up wanting to encase him in a barrel of cement and toss him into the river. No wonder Mr. Landau, a major capitalist running banks, couldn't handle that big shot. No wonder a big shot whom even Mr. Landau couldn't manage was settled with absolute ease by his teacher. No wonder... A sudden burst of clarity swept through Wayne's mind, resolving the questions that had plagued him for so long. He turned a resentful gaze toward Xifei. "Teacher, I just saw the Landau family crest. How wonderful! It looks exactly like the one in Enrold Town!" "Is that so? Did I never mention it to you?" Xifei said in great surprise. "Your student never asked." "Mm, good that you understand." Xifei patted Wayne on the shoulder in high approval and teased, "Before, your big sister offered to introduce her daughter to you, and you kept refusing. Regretting it now, aren't you?" e=(--; Wayne let out a wordless sigh. It turned out he hadn't been kept separately by his teacher and the young lady—he had been kept by the Landau family the entire time. How wonderful. To have encountered a teacher who so thoroughly enjoyed messing with her student. This also explained why Veronica had abruptly canceled their plans. "Teacher, does Veronica know?" "She didn't ask either." "How wonderful. I'm not the only one being toyed with." Wayne grumbled aloud and turned his head toward the window. This was absurd. The car had passed through the gates quite a while ago, and they still hadn't arrived at the front doors. This was the city center! Had Mr. Landau ever considered building a subway line inside his courtyard? He really ought to build one soon, or else more gatekeepers and maids would end up breaking up over long-distance relationships. ... The luxury black car came to a stop, and a servant stepped forward to open the door. Wayne climbed out and extended his hand to offer Xifei support. This was a neat little etiquette trick butler Fra had taught him: in front of a lady, one must not only preserve one's own manners, but also uphold her elegance. When the lady was elegant, he became elegant as well. "Madam." On both sides of the main entrance, servants stood in two neat rows. Housekeeper Megan stepped forward, placing a hand over her chest and bowing slightly. Wayne felt nothing. Perhaps because the drive had been so long, the scene before him was entirely within his expectations. Unless the Queen herself were sweeping the front entrance in a maid's uniform, nothing here could startle him anymore. "Megan, this is my student, Wayne." Xifei looked toward Wayne at her side and said to Megan, "From now on, address him as Young Master Wayne." Megan nodded, offered Wayne a slight bow, and greeted him as Young Master Wayne. Wayne bowed his head in return, simultaneously struck by realization. No wonder that even though he was merely an outside guest staying over, Fra had persistently called him 'Young Master' all along. That was why. He studied Megan with curiosity as she turned with a placid expression to lead the way, clad in a tailored women's suit, her demeanor dignified and solemn. Was this the woman who had bested Fra? She really was quite attractive. More than merely attractive, Megan possessed stunning features, an elegant figure, and a composed aura. As a housekeeper, one could find no fault with her appearance. *Mediocre at best!* Wayne refused to concede. A housekeeper couldn't be judged on looks alone; what mattered was professional competence. He still believed Fra was the superior housekeeper. For Megan to rise to the top, she must have relied on bedroom politics. At the thought, Wayne glanced indignantly at Xifei: *Teacher, this broad is having an affair with your husband.* Yet that single look revealed a peculiar detail. They were too alike! Wayne compared his teacher to the female housekeeper, and their silhouettes practically overlapped. Megan's short blonde hairstyle and meticulous, rigorous demeanor were virtually a replica of Xifei from head to toe. They were so similar it couldn't even be called copying; they were practically identical. So her husband hadn't strayed at all—every time he strayed, had he been thinking of his wife? Who would have guessed? The man was actually a devoted romantic! Passing through the villa's front doors, an expansive, brightly lit foyer met their eyes, complete with high ceilings, magnificent chandeliers, exquisite murals, and a carpeted staircase leading directly to the second floor. When luxury and elegance blended in perfect harmony, elevated to their absolute peak, money was no longer the point. What mattered was the artistic merit. The Landau ancestral manor possessed very high artistic merit—as high as a skyscraper. After a short walk, Megan pushed open a pair of white double doors ahead. The opulent dining room had been arranged with utmost sophistication, where any random ornament possessed an extraordinary provenance. Wayne couldn't make sense of them, nor did he bother trying. His gaze locked onto the man seated at the head of the table. Dressed in a black suit similar to his own, the man bore handsome features and a remarkably youthful appearance, toying with an ancient silver coin in his hand. Auston Landau. Auston rose to his feet and approached the mistress of the house with a smile. His eyes were fixed entirely on Xifei, not sparing Wayne so much as a glance. Wayne was automatically relegated to a blind spot, without even a sliver of peripheral vision spared for him. Auston raised a hand, intending to guide the mistress of the house to her seat, but to very little effect. Xifei let out a soft huff and sidestepped straight past her husband. "Hmph!" Auston slowly drew back his hand, his smile fading. Watching his wife's retreating figure, his face darkened as he let out a matching snort. "Ha!" Xifei heard it and refused to be outdone. "Hmph!" "Ha!" "..." Wayne: *What is this, the snorting and huffing duo?* This bowl of expired dog food was salty enough to choke on. Wayne wasn't in the least surprised that he had received no acknowledgment from Auston. All one had to do was look through the victim's perspective, and everything made complete sense. Bad news: A pretty boy poached the tender cabbage. Good news: The pretty boy ran off. Bad news: Midway through running off, the pretty boy hooked up with the mature cabbage. Good news: The mature cabbage came home. Bad news: The pretty boy came home with her. Wayne nodded repeatedly to himself. Indeed, he had it coming. If someone treated him like this, he would have unleashed the triple combo of Abin, Yulia, and Abo long ago. Guided by the housekeeper, Wayne took his seat at the table. He looked up, and sitting directly across from him was Veronica, dressed in an evening gown and exquisitely made up. Veronica: (⊙_⊙;) Wayne: ( ﾟωﾟ)