When Huo Linsheng and Ling Nuan arrived at the Chef's Feast, Fu Qili was just outside smoking.
Seeing the two approaching, he raised his eyebrows and said, "You're here."
Huo Linsheng gave a soft grunt and then casually asked, "Why was it set at the Chef's Feast?"
Although he said nothing, it didn't mean he was unaware of what was going on. Ling Nuan was curious about this, so he simply asked for her.
Fu Qili took a second look at Huo Linsheng.
Apparently, this question didn't quite fit his usual style.
"The young master of the Wen family set it," Fu Qili explained. "He organized this gathering today. Isn't he always infatuated with Meng Shuluo? Now that she's in Jing City, he must show more courtesy."
Hearing this, Ling Nuan thought it might really be a coincidence.
The Chef's Feast, this private kitchen, was indeed popular among the wealthy circle.
The young master of the Wen family that Fu Qili mentioned, Wen Li, usually loved to dine at the Chef's Feast.
"Showing courtesy on his own, yet dragging us all into this?" Huo Linsheng held Ling Nuan's hand and asked as they walked inside.
Fu Qili let out a soft scoff. "You know as well as I do that the would - be lover is eager, but the beloved is uninterested. When the young master invited her to dinner, she flat - out refused. So, he had to take the roundabout way, saying that a bunch of friends heard she was in Jing City and wanted to get together. That's why Meng Shuluo agreed."
Then, he added an aside, "By the way, it's not peaceful at the Chef's Feast today."
"What happened?" Huo Linsheng glanced at Ling Nuan from the corner of his eye.
"Not long ago, a private detective was caught at the entrance of the Chef's Feast," Fu Qili replied.
He was just sharing a piece of gossip, but he didn't know that the two listeners' moods had changed.
Ling Nuan tightened her grip on her hand, truly stunned.
She knew that the Chef's Feast had good privacy, but the private detective she hired had taken photos around the Chef's Feast before and was quite familiar with the place. He shouldn't have been discovered so easily.
If he was discovered, then the next plan couldn't proceed. She could only fall back to Plan B.
As for whether the private detective would expose her, Ling Nuan wasn't worried at all. She had contacted the detective online, and the deposit was transferred from an overseas account. It would be impossible to trace it back to her.
Huo Linsheng didn't know the details. When he heard that the private detective was caught, he couldn't help but worry that Ling Nuan might be exposed.
"Really? That's quite a rarity. Any follow - up?" Huo Linsheng asked.
Fu Qili was curious. "Why are you suddenly so into gossip?"
Before Huo Linsheng could reply, the three of them just reached the door of the reserved private room. It was quite lively inside, but the main character, Meng Shuluo, wasn't there.
She had just returned from outside and happened to hear the last two sentences of Huo Linsheng and Fu Qili's conversation.
"The Chef's Feast called the police and sent the person to the police station. They should be able to find out who the mastermind is soon," Meng Shuluo said to explain.
As soon as she spoke, the three of them turned to look at her.
Huo Linsheng frowned slightly. Apparently, he was not satisfied with this result, but due to Meng Shuluo's presence, he quickly composed himself and nodded slightly at her. "Long time no see."
"Indeed, it's been a long time," Meng Shuluo said with a smile. Then her gaze fell on Ling Nuan. "This must be your girlfriend, Miss Ling Nuan, right?"
Without waiting for Huo Linsheng to answer, Meng Shuluo stepped forward and extended her hand to Ling Nuan. "Miss Ling, seeing is better than hearing."
Meng Shuluo was friendly.
Ling Nuan shook her hand. "Miss Meng."
After greeting each other, they withdrew their hands. Meng Shuluo was neither cold nor overly intimate with Ling Nuan. After the greeting, she complimented Ling Nuan a few more times. "Miss Ling is really beautiful. No wonder you've captured even Linsheng, who has such high standards."
Ling Nuan smiled.
Meng Shuluo then turned to Huo Linsheng. "Speaking of this private detective, it's a bit related to you."
"Me?" Huo Linsheng seemed puzzled.
"Yes. The private detective was here to take pictures of Huo Xiao. Huo Xiao seems to have reserved a table here to treat someone today, probably for something related to her husband's company," Meng Shuluo said, then joked, "You and Huo Xiao should thank me."
"Why do you say so?" Huo Linsheng wasn't surprised that it was about Huo Xiao. He also knew there was another important person involved.
Meng Shuluo didn't seem to know much about this.
She explained with a smile, "I just happened to pass by and saw that private detective acting furtively. So I helped call the security guards."
Ling Nuan paused for a moment.
She could hardly believe it. "It was you who discovered him, Miss Meng?"
Meng Shuluo smiled shyly. "It's quite embarrassing. The last time I came to the Chef's Feast was several years ago. They've redecorated here, and I took the wrong way. Who would have thought that by accident, I just happened to come across that private detective."
Ling Nuan: "..."
Should she say that her luck was so bad that even God was helping Huo Xiao?
However, there was still a trace of doubt in her heart, so she couldn't help but take a few more looks at Meng Shuluo.
But Meng Shuluo looked natural, and besides, she was the one who told this story herself.
Fu Qili added beside them, "After all these years, your sense of direction hasn't improved at all?"
"Too much, Fu Qili. You shouldn't rub salt into someone's wound," Meng Shuluo pretended to be angry.
Fu Qili laughed and replied, "My bad."
The group chatted at the door for a while, which caught the attention of those inside the private room. Wen Li walked over. Seeing them, he complained, "What are you whispering about at the door? Hurry up and come in."
Although Meng Shuluo wasn't from Jing City, there were business dealings between the companies, so naturally, the younger generation would have some contact.
They might not have a very close relationship with Meng Shuluo, but everyone would give her face.
Ling Nuan took a quick glance. Those present today were basically from the top - tier families in the Jing City circle. People like Qin Huan wouldn't show up here.
Ling Nuan also met two old acquaintances here.
Qi Yang and Zhao Leli.
Since Wen Li organized this gathering, once everyone was present, he took on the responsibility of the host.
"Shuluo rarely comes to Jing City to play. Don't be polite to us. If you need anything, just tell us. Make yourself at home!" Wen Li said with a beaming smile. Then he invited everyone to toast Meng Shuluo.
However, while everyone was drinking wine, Meng Shuluo was drinking juice, and no one had any objections.
Ling Nuan was a bit surprised.
There were quite a few girls present, but apparently, this was a special treatment only for Meng Shuluo.
Huo Linsheng noticed Ling Nuan's confusion and whispered an explanation, "Meng Shuluo has been in poor health since childhood and can't drink alcohol."
Ling Nuan understood.
Wen Li caught a glimpse of the intimate way the two were acting and got excited again. "Although Shuluo comes to Jing City occasionally, she's an old acquaintance of ours. But there's a newcomer here today."
As soon as he said this, everyone's eyes fell on Huo Linsheng and Ling Nuan.
Wen Li joked, "Brother Linsheng, care to introduce?"
Huo Linsheng usually hung out with Xu Shichen and Fu Qili, but his relationship with Wen Li was also okay.
He gave a soft laugh, scanned the crowd with his eyes, and said, "Ling Nuan, my wife."
As soon as he said this, the whole private room fell silent.
Wife?