Chapter 2532: Non-Human: Xiao Chen's Memory Loss After 23

The birthday party was set up in the hotel banquet hall, with perfume and silk, cups intertwining, luxurious and lively.

Jin Chen, concealing his figure, appeared at the edge of the venue, scanning the crowd.

He first needed to make sure his wife wouldn't find him out, after all he had sneaked out.

Soon, Jin Chen found Liang Yanzhe in the crowd.

His wife was always conspicuous wherever she was.

Beside Liang Yanzhe stood Ye Lu.

Ye Lu had dressed especially meticulously today, deliberately coming over to thank Liang Yanzhe, his attitude appearing even sincere.

"I really need to thank you, Brother Liang, that night at the club, if you hadn't promptly called the staff over, I might have..."

He bit his lip, as if recalling something terrifying, the lingering fear was real.

After all, he still couldn't figure out why his legs suddenly went numb that night and why he fainted for no reason.

He could only blame it on hitting an evil spirit or a sudden illness.

Liang Yanzhe certainly couldn't explain the truth to him, he gave a slight nod and reminded in a flat tone, "It's just a small effort; tonight is Manager Zhou's birthday, don't do anything inappropriate."

Ye Lu flashed a hint of impatience in his eyes, muttering, why does this Liang Yanzhe always block him?

Could it be that he also has designs on Manager Zhou, which is why he keeps stopping me from getting close to Manager Zhou...

This thought made his gaze toward Liang Yanzhe gain a few more shades of scrutiny and hostility, while his face wore a cute and well-behaved smile.

"I know, Brother Liang, you can rest assured."

The main protagonist appeared on the grand staircase of the banquet hall.

Zhou Chengjun walked down the staircase hand in hand with Zhao Xitang.

Zhou Chengjun wore a suit and leather shoes, full of vigor, while Zhao Xitang, whom he supported, also wore a formal suit, but his complexion was paler than usual, his frame so thin it seemed a breeze could knock him over, his brow showing clear fatigue and weakness.

Jin Chen, hidden in the dark, glanced a few more times, 【He looks even worse.】

Ling Gun Gun: 【Zhao Xitang had another flare-up; Zhou Chengjun originally insisted he not come, fearing exhaustion. But Zhao Xitang insisted on not missing Zhou Chengjun's important birthday, and they ended up having a minor tiff, a bit of a cold war.】

【This is also an important reason why Ye Lu can seize the opportunity to boost his presence tonight, and later even take advantage of the opening.】

Jin Chen listened, looking at Zhao Xitang's frail appearance, and asked doubtfully, 【What exactly is Zhao Xitang's illness, are the aftereffects of being shot this severe?】

Ling Gun Gun: 【In the original plot, that bullet grazed the edge of the heart, bodily functions were greatly impaired, hard to fully cure, requiring long-term rest.】

As they were speaking, a cooperating party approached with a wine glass, enthusiastically wanting to toast Zhao Xitang.

Zhao Xitang forced a smile, just about to pick up a champagne from the waiter's tray beside him, his fingers not yet touching the stem, when Zhou Chengjun grabbed his wrist.

Zhou Chengjun looked at the cooperating party, "Sorry, Manager Li, Xitang is feeling unwell and cannot drink."

Zhao Xitang's wrist was held, his motion frozen mid-air.

He felt a hint of loss in his lowered eyes, then lifted his gaze and gave an apologetic smile to the somewhat embarrassed cooperating party, "Sorry, my body is disappointing, I've spoiled your fun."

That Manager Li then realized Zhao Xitang's condition, quickly waved his hand, "Oh dear, look at my memory! I was negligent! Manager Zhao, please don't mind, health comes first! Health comes first!" Saying that, he hurriedly turned away with his wine glass.

Zhou Chengjun took that wine cup from the tray, placed it farther away, then gently pinched Zhao Xitang's slightly cool fingers.

"Xiao Tang, I..."

"I know." Zhao Xitang interrupted him, voice soft, "You're doing this for my health."

Jin Chen, hidden aside, watched silently, then suddenly said to Ling Gun Gun,

【They will still have a cold war later.】

Ling Gun Gun: 【?】 It tilted its head, puzzled, 【Why? Host, what did you see?】

Jin Chen's gray pupils held no emotion, 【Zhou Chengjun only remembers to look after Zhao Xitang's fragile body, forgetting he too was once a rising executive in the business world.】

Being treated as a fragile object, having normal social interaction deprived, for Zhao Xitang perhaps feels like a gentle torment.

Jin Chen thought it over, then, 【Humans are indeed complicated.】

He would have to evolve to this extent to be able to understand.

Ling Gun Gun suddenly understood, 【So that's it; this also seems to be a small part of the reason in the original plot why they gradually drifted toward disagreement and divorce.】

Ling Gun Gun quickly jotted it down in his little notebook, feeling he was one step closer to becoming a love master.

Meanwhile, Ye Lu not far away took in the scene of Zhou Chengjun blocking Zhao Xitang from drinking, his heart secretly delighted even more.

Look, Manager Zhou has indeed begun to dislike this sickly weakling at home, not even letting him touch a cup, clearly thinking bringing him out would lose face.

Isn't this exactly a great opportunity for him to take advantage of the opening?

Ye Lu adjusted his collar, put back on a flawless smile, his gaze burning as he looked at Zhou Chengjun surrounded by the crowd, seeking a moment to step forward and strike up conversation.

He held a wine glass, his fingertips repeatedly rubbing the sealed plastic bag in his suit pants pocket, inside were several colorless, tasteless pills.

A good thing obtained at great expense.

As long as this succeeds…… as long as Zhou Chengjun drinks it, turning raw rice into cooked rice, then snagging some evidence…… afterward, if he still wants to rise higher, it will be much easier.

A person of Manager Zhou's stature values face above all; at that point, even if just to shut him up, they'd give him what he wants.

As for that weak Zhao Xitang…… Ye Lu flashed contempt in his eyes, by then he'll surely have to meekly step aside.

Thinking this, he couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile of determination to succeed.

Ye Lu straightened his tie, watched Zhou Chengjun heading toward the banquet hall side room, and hurriedly followed.

In the most inconspicuous corner of the banquet hall, Jin Chen sat there, his elbow casually propped on the smooth surface of the drink counter, the back of his hand against his temple.

His whole person seemed like a piece cut from shadow, emitting an aloof, gloomy aura that warned strangers to stay away.

His gray eyes, like locked onto prey, followed the direction of Ye Lu's movement.

【He's going to drug Zhou Chengjun.】

Jin Chen rose to his feet, his eyes gaining a few more shades of cat-and-mouse teasing, ready to follow up and complete the mission.

【Oh right, Host! There's one more thing!】

Ling Gun Gun suddenly recalled a more important plot point, hastily adding, 【In the original plot, the reason Ye Lu managed to succeed by sheer chance this time also had a key factor!】

Zhou Chengjun's business rival, whose company is on the verge of bankruptcy, has gone mad and is willing to risk everything to kill Zhao Xitang just to make Zhou Chengjun suffer; he sent a man disguised as a waiter to infiltrate the banquet, planning to cause an electrical fault that would plunge the hall into darkness and strike amid the chaos, but the thug was accidentally spotted by Liang Yanzhe.

Ling gun gun chattered away at breakneck speed, blah blah blah—Liang Yanzhe, trying to save Zhao Xitang, was slashed by the thug's knife, while Zhao Xitang, after enduring the fright, immediately discovered that Zhou Chengjun and Ye Lu were together; the double blow sent her into a fit of rage that landed her in the hospital, where her condition rapidly deteriorated.

Jin Chen's steps toward the side hall came to a halt.

He teasingly raised his eyebrows, revealing a hint of interest.

This place will go dark soon...

His gray eyes turned toward Liang Yanzhe, who was calmly chatting with several executives not far away.

Jin Chen tilted his head, his crimson lips curling into an anticipatory arc.

But... I should still get the mission done first.

Jin Chen scanned everyone in the venue wearing waiter uniforms, looking for the infiltrated thug.

Soon, he locked onto a target.