Chapter 5: Unexpected Encounter

“Damn, he fights like that? Trained, right?”

Someone in the crowd gathering at the restaurant entrance spoke up.

“So scary…”

Inside the restaurant, the area around the incident table was a mess. All the dining customers had moved far away.

The pervert’s kicked companion staggered up, leaning against the wall. The moment he took a step forward, Lu Shi froze him with a single glare.

They were used to bullying others, eating rich food every day and not lacking in strength. Standing there, they were no match for this guy in terms of sheer size. But his movements were too fast, too agile. He targeted only the most painful and vulnerable spots, and his eyes were so fierce…

The alcohol they’d drunk turned into cold sweat seeping down their backs. The man swallowed, glanced at his boss being yanked by the collar, and didn’t dare make a rash move.

Lu Shi tightened his grip, a vein bulging on his thin wrist: “I’m talking to you.”

The pervert frantically clawed at his collar. The shirt he wore today had buttons that were hard to undo, plus his neck was thick. Now, he was being choked, his face turning the color of pig liver.

Ding Wei watched on the sidelines, terrified. “He’s suffocating!”

Lu Shi glanced at him, then released the pressure. “No fun. Scram.”

The pervert coughed violently. His two companions helped him up, and they scurried out of the restaurant in a complete mess.

“Bro, thanks for helping me. You—”

Ding Wei was picking up the broken porcelain shards on the floor. Before he could finish his thanks, he saw the guy who had just taken on three and won wobble and sit down on a chair, his face pale and a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.

Ding Wei rushed over. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?!”

Lu Shi bent over and coughed twice.

Maybe his illness hadn’t fully healed. He’d only moved vigorously for a bit, and now his legs gave way. The moment his nerves relaxed, he felt all strength drain from his body.

“I’m fine.”

Lu Shi looked up toward the entrance, intending to check how far those three losers had crawled. Instead, he unexpectedly met a pair of cold, indifferent eyes.

Shen Zheming stood out in the crowd—not just because of his height, but because he was surrounded like a star surrounded by the moon. It was impossible not to notice him.

His clean, sharp brows and eyes held no extra smile. His single eyelids made his gaze deep and aloof. His lips were pale, with thin, sharp lines, exuding an aura of “keep your distance.”

Fate was really f*cking strange.

In his previous life, Lu Shi had scrambled and struggled in the company, desperately trying to win JuShang Bank’s favor, but couldn’t even find a path. Now, having given up and decided to completely let loose, he had run into the bank’s heir twice in two days.

Lu Shi was the first to look away. He stood up and patted the shoulder of the worried restaurant manager.

“I’ll cover these losses. I’ll also pick up the tab for the whole place today.”

Ding Wei and the manager both widened their eyes. “What?!”

Hearing someone was paying, the customers who had been cowering in corners to avoid being caught in the fight slowly shuffled back to their seats. The restaurant gradually returned to its previous relaxed atmosphere, as if nothing had happened.

Ding Wei grabbed Lu Shi’s arm. “Bro, that’s too generous. How about we split it?”

Lu Shi said, “I don’t want your money.”

Ding Wei stood dumbfounded. “Huh? Then what do you want?”

Lu Shi deliberately paused for several seconds, sizing Ding Wei up.

The crowd at the door all went silent, ears perked up in curiosity.

Huo Qian let out a “whoa” and whispered furtively to Shen Zheming, “He’s not into this kid, is he? I didn’t expect that after just a month in the capital, he’d be so open-minded.”

Shen Zheming shot a glance at Huo Qian and removed his hand from his shoulder.

Seeing Ding Wei’s neck gradually turning red in his silly daze, Lu Shi burst out laughing.

At eighteen, he might have understood nothing, only focused on winning that insignificant affection.

But now, inside this shell was Lu Shi at twenty-four. He could see right through what Ding Wei was imagining.

Lu Shi stopped teasing. “I want to be friends with you.”

Lu Shi thought such an abrupt offer of friendship might confuse Ding Wei. But the guy was simple-minded.

“Really?” Ding Wei’s eyes lit up. He grabbed Lu Shi’s hand. “You scared me, bro. I was just about to say—let’s become sworn brothers! Those moves of yours were so cool!”

Lu Shi smiled. “…”

Ding Wei was an Alpha, his palm hot. Plus, he was naturally prone to sweating. After holding for only two seconds, his palm became damp.

Lu Shi subtly tried to pull his hand out.

It didn’t budge.

Just then.

“Ding Wei.”

Shen Zheming’s voice suddenly came from behind Lu Shi.

They had all been in the same high school. Shen Zheming was a campus celebrity, known to everyone.

Ding Wei hadn’t expected his name to be remembered by the young Master Shen. Flattered, he let go of Lu Shi and sheepishly scratched his head. Only then did he notice that the people behind Shen Zheming were mostly classmates from his class and the neighboring one.

Ding Wei: “Ah, you’re all here for a gathering.”

One of Ding Wei’s former classmates said, “Yeah! Come join us! More people, more fun!”

Lu Shi frowned slightly, displeased.

He had just barely settled the trouble and wanted to chat privately with Ding Wei to ask about Uncle Ding’s recent situation.

“You guys have fun.” Lu Shi turned to leave.

Ding Wei suddenly stepped forward to block him.

This was his new buddy! How could he leave his buddy out because of a class reunion?

“Um, Young Master Shen…” The highest status here was Shen Zheming, so Ding Wei naturally sought his approval. “Can we bring my friend along to the gathering?”

Lu Shi thought, ‘Thanks a lot.’

But before he could refuse…

Shen Zheming’s peripheral vision swept over. “Sure.”

And so, Lu Shi found himself—mysteriously, reluctantly, forcibly—sitting in a private room with a bunch of people he barely knew, right next to Shen Zheming.

It was mainly because everyone in the room, except for Shen Zheming’s childhood friend who dared sit beside him, had already GPS-navigated themselves to fill the seats, leaving the one next to Shen Zheming empty.

Lu Shi raised an eyebrow, didn’t care, and plopped down.

“Hey, Brother Lu.”

Halfway through the meal, someone suddenly started stirring.

None of these people cared about face as much as the kids from wealthy families.

In their minds, whoever was skilled was the big brother.

Just a short while ago, they were gossiping about the Chen family’s real and fake son. Now, they were calling him “Bro” as if they were old friends.

“Originally, today was supposed to be Young Master Shen’s treat, but you said you’d cover the whole place. So which one of you is paying? How about rock-paper-scissors?”

“How childish! You’re not ashamed to be so blatant about asking for money?”

“Don’t blame me; the two young masters said it themselves.”

Both spoke at once.

“I’ll pay.”

The room fell into an eerie silence.

Huo Qian spat out his tea. “You two sure have chemistry.”

Lu Shi toyed with the food on his plate and said slowly, “Then you pay for this table. I’ll cover the rest. I said I’d pay for the whole place, so I will.”

With one sentence, he laid it out clearly and neatly.

Shen Zheming didn’t object. He just slightly turned his head when Lu Shi was buried in his noodles.

Lu Shi didn’t eat much. This restaurant was heavy on oil and spice; his plate was basically clean. He had ordered a separate bowl of plain noodles for himself.

Halfway through the noodles, his stomach warmed up, and he let out a satisfied sigh.

His stomach had actually been shrunk by hunger. In the past, when Lu Jinguo went out gambling and Wang Xiuzhi went to work at the factory, there was nothing to eat at home. Lu Shi would split one meal into two, and over time, his appetite had shrunk.

Shen Zheming watched Lu Shi unconsciously stretch out his limbs while sitting.

JuShang Bank had the best business intelligence in the entire commercial world. Naturally, Shen Zheming knew about the Chen family’s affairs and had heard about the scene at the birthday banquet.

He recalled that Chen Youxuan’s face was rounder, not very similar to the Chen couple.

But Lu Shi didn’t seem to resemble them either.

The Chen couple usually presented themselves as gentle and friendly. Lu Shi didn’t differ from them in looks, but in the aura that radiated from within.

His fighting moves just now carried a stubborn, ruthless streak, as if each blow carried the intent of “if you don’t kill me, I’ll kill you.”

Lu Shi took a few more sips of hot water, making himself comfortable. He paused, then suddenly turned his head.

Shen Zheming was looking down at his phone, the screen’s glow lighting up the clean, sharp lines of his profile.

Lu Shi slowly turned back.

Strange. Why did it feel like someone had been watching him?

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