Chapter 2533: Inhuman: Xiao Chen

Although the waiter wore a crisp shirt and vest, his bearing constantly revealed an unshakable lecherous and sneaky air; his eyes darted about, continually sizing up the valuables guests casually set down.

Jin Chen followed silently.

The waiter pretended to tidy the side table, but his eyes greedily flicked to the jeweled clutch placed at the edge of the table.

Suddenly, a strange force shoved him, forcibly pushing him toward the corridor corner where the main hall meets the backup stairwell.

It was a perfect blind spot for surveillance.

"Who!" the waiter exclaimed, his soul fleeing in fright as he looked around wildly, lowering his voice to a harsh shout.

The air opposite him was slightly Distorted, and a tall, slender, elegant man appeared like a ghost.

The man's skin was cold and pale, the corner of his lips curled in a mocking arc.

"You look very suspicious." Jin Chen's tone carried malice.

"You don't look like a good person at all."

Before his words finished, thick black mist poured out from around him, blocking the waiter's mouth as he tried to call for help, leaving him only able to emit a muffled whimper.

At the same time, two or three strands of mist condensed into solid tentacles, roughly searching his body for the weapon.

However, after feeling around, the tentacles pulled from the waiter's trembling pocket two obviously valuable diamond necklaces and a gemstone brooch.

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow, stunned for a moment.

He looked at the waiter before him, terrified to the point of nearly wetting himself, eyes full of pleading, and his tone turned somewhat subtle.

"……Are you a thief? Not an assassin come to kill?"

The waiter nodded frantically, Tears and snot streamed together, whimpering as he tried to say he only wanted to steal something to get rich, knowing nothing of any murderous scheme.

Jin Chen: "……"

This banquet truly hides tigers and dragons.

He expressionlessly withdrew the black mist.

The waiter, scared weak‑kneed, rolled his eyes and fainted outright, collapsing to the floor.

Jin Chen didn't even glance at him, turned and walked away.

He stopped at the corridor entrance, glanced again into the main hall where Liang Yanzhe and Zhao Xitang were speaking in low voices, then turned and walked toward the side hall where Ye Lu and Zhou Chengjun were.

Ling Gun Gun watched the Host's clean, decisive manner of acting, not the slightest bit worried about having to do anything.

Although his memory hadn't returned, the Host after taking form really did look more reliable than that clueless mass of mist before!

The small terrace of the side hall was much quieter.

Zhou Chengjun had just ended his call with Zhao Xitang's attending physician, his brows slightly furrowed as he worried about Zhao Xitang's condition.

Ye Lu appeared just then, holding two cups of wine.

"Director Zhou," Ye Lu said with an admiring yet bashful smile, "today is your birthday; let me offer you a cup. I wish you a happy birthday and that all your hopes come true!"

He spoke sincerely, offering one of the cups to Zhou Chengjun.

Zhou Chengjun's mind wasn't here, but basic etiquette remained.

As a domineering CEO, it was hard to outright refuse an employee's toast, after all a domineering CEO has this kind of irresistible charm that's a bother.

He raised his hand, about to take the cup that had been laced with drug.

For some reason, the stem of the wineglass became unusually wet and icy; the instant Zhou Chengjun's finger touched it, the glass slipped from his fingertips.

Crimson wine and glass shards splashed everywhere.

Zhou Chengjun glanced at his own fingers, then at the mess on the floor, and frowned slightly.

Ye Lu's smile froze, panic flashing in the depths of his eyes as he jerked his head to look behind him.

Empty—nothing at all.

But just then he clearly felt… that strange black mist again. Was it an illusion…

Ye Lu's heart pounded; unwilling to accept it, he bit his lower lip.

The plan failed, the drugged wine was gone…

He steeled himself, stepped forward, and confessed outright: "Director Zhou! Actually… actually I've liked you for a long time! I know you have a beloved; I don't ask for a title, I only ask that you let me stay by your side, even if it's just to watch you from afar!"

Zhou Chengjun heard this, his brows knotted tightly, his face sinking.

"I have a beloved, and I will never accept anyone else's feelings."

"Your liking is a nuisance to me."

Ye Lu, however, seemed not to have heard the rejection, instead eagerly pressing: "But… can his body really satisfy you? Director Zhou, I…"

"Shut up!" Zhou Chengjun rarely showed anger, his voice icy.

"I don't want to hear any more slander against Xitang; go to HR tomorrow and file your resignation."

No sooner had the words fallen than the side hall's ajar door was lightly knocked.

Both turned their heads at once.

Only a blurry figure stood at the doorway, light appearing Distorted around him, making his features indistinct; only a tall, slender outline could be vaguely made out.

"Your wife is in danger."

Having said that, without waiting for Zhou Chengjun's reaction, the blurry figure vanished instantly.

Zhou Chengjun startled, no longer able to pay attention to the bewildering Ye Lu before him or the mess on the floor.

He didn't even have time to think who the messenger was, whether true or false, and almost staggered out of the side hall, sprinting madly toward the main hall.

Inside the main hall.

Jin Chen reappeared in the shadows.

Crackle!

All the crystal chandeliers overhead went out at once.

The entire luxurious, bright banquet hall plunged into frightening darkness in an instant.

Ah!

What's going on?!

Power outage?

The guests' exclamations, the sound of shattering wine glasses, and the noise of overturned tables and chairs all blended together.

Amidst this chaotic darkness, only a small patch of gleaming light appeared—it was Liang Yanzhe's phone screen.

At a banquet of this caliber, most guests would voluntarily turn off their phones out of respect.

Only Liang Yanzhe, to prevent any mishap at the birthday party, kept his phone charged and ready to receive messages at all times.

He never expected that this faint glow would become the sole light source in the darkness.

Using this faint light, Liang Yanzhe caught sight, out of the corner of his eye, of a man in server uniform behind Zhao Xitang, his expression fierce, gripping a dagger and lunging at Zhao Xitang's back.

Boss Zhao, be careful……

Liang Yanzhe instinctively wanted to rush over to stop him.

However, as soon as he moved his foot, an invisible force wrapped around his ankle, holding him firmly in place.

Xitang!!!

Accompanied by a heart-rending roar, Zhou Chengjun charged like a madman, guided by that faint phone light, and kicked the knife-wielding assailant hard in the side of the waist.

Zhou Chengjun pulled the pale-faced, shock-stricken Zhao Xitang tightly into his embrace, shielding him with his back.

Ugh!

The assailant staggered and fell from the kick, the dagger flying from his hand.

He quickly scrambled up, grabbed the dagger, and stabbed again at the two entwined figures.

The sharp blade sliced through Zhou Chengjun's hastily raised arm, blood instantly welling out.

Fortunately, the hotel security and Zhou Chengjun's personal bodyguards finally arrived, rushing forward and subduing the assailant within a few moves, pinning him to the ground.

Chengjun! Your hand!

Zhao Xitang trembled in Zhou Chengjun's embrace, feeling the wet stickiness on his arm, her voice choked with tears.

It's fine, just a minor wound, as long as you're okay! As long as you're okay!

Zhou Chengjun, still reeling from the shock, held the person in his arms tightly, his voice trembling.

Liang Yanzhe in the darkness also breathed a sigh of relief, preparing to step forward to assess the situation.

Suddenly, he felt a chest press against his back, its presence intensely strong.

Liang Yanzhe stiffened all over, 'Who—!'

A cold hand reached out from behind, covering his mouth and stifling the cry about to escape.

Immediately, a faint, aloof scent of sandalwood slipped into his nostrils.

Before Liang Yanzhe could react, his earlobe was taken into a mouth and bitten gently but firmly a few times.

Liang Yanzhe's body shuddered, his legs feeling weak, yet he could not overcome the shock in his heart.

This scent……could it be Jin Chen?

From the lips and teeth that held his earlobe, a low, familiar murmur escaped, tinged with a tender nasal tone.

Honey……

I'm watching you.

In an instant, the banquet hall's backup emergency power kicked on, all lights blazing back to life, dispelling the darkness and illuminating the scene's chaos and the panicked crowd.

Liang Yanzhe squinted at the sudden light, instinctively whipping around to look behind him.

There was no one behind him.