A few days passed after the kissing incident.
In the blink of an eye, Yan Shouyi had been in Rongcheng for half a month. After November began, the temperature in Rongcheng plummeted.
The people of Rongcheng always said that Rongcheng only had summer and winter, with no spring or autumn. The transition between summer and winter always caught people off guard.
Shanghang Arts School issued winter uniforms to the security team. Yan Shouyi wore his, looking quite upright. Although he didn't possess the imposing posture of a veteran soldier standing like a pine, he still exuded a unique heroic spirit.
In contrast, Long Feicheng appeared much more disheveled. His uniform was a size too big, hanging loosely on him. He never fastened his buttons properly, and his rolled-up pant legs revealed socks of different colors. If not for the word "Security" written on the badge on his shoulder, students would likely mistake him for some vagrant sneaking into the school.
How to describe Long Feicheng's demeanor?
Let's put it this way: if there were an incident of theft or threat on a bus, the police would first question Long Feicheng...
In the past few days, Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong had resumed their previous relationship, often eating meals and strolling around campus together. Of course, Yan Shouyi would take off his security uniform, and Lin Zitong would wear her mask, otherwise, rumors would spread and damage their reputations.
On the other hand, Long Feicheng and Lu Caiwei's progress was slow. When they were in the dormitory, Long Feicheng would often pluck flowers from somewhere and chant, "She loves me, she loves me not," plucking off the petals one by one.
If the last petal said, "She loves me," Long Feicheng would fall asleep with a blissful smile.
If the last petal said, "She loves me not," Long Feicheng would deliberately tear the last petal in half, then say, "She loves me," and fall asleep just as blissfully.
For a while, Yan Shouyi couldn't tell if he or Long Feicheng was the one head over heels in love. By all accounts, Long Feicheng seemed to have a lower IQ than himself.
There was still no news from the Lin family, so Yan Shouyi wasn't in a hurry to go to Guling. Otherwise, if Liu Jingkang had any more malicious intentions and imprisoned him again, it would be quite troublesome.
He planned to repair the Liu family's ancestral residence after Liu Jingkang had negotiated with the Bai family.
One afternoon, Yan Shouyi was in the security office lecturing a few students who had gotten into a fight. These students came from well-off families and had fought over a girlfriend. As the head of the security team, Yan Shouyi brought them to the security office for a reprimand.
However, they clearly didn't take Yan Shouyi very seriously. Yan Shouyi looked not much older than them, and some of the arrogant students were shaking their legs with disdain, completely disregarding Yan Shouyi.
Just as Yan Shouyi was racking his brain on how to teach them a lesson, Long Feicheng called from the doorway, "Brother Yan, someone is looking for you."
"Who is it?" Yan Shouyi asked, puzzled.
Long Feicheng pointed outside the window. Yan Shouyi leaned out to look and saw three expensive Land Rovers parked below the security building. From the cars emerged men dressed in black suits and sunglasses, men who looked like they could fight.
One of them took off his sunglasses and said respectfully, "Mr. Yan, our sect leader requests your presence."
This person was Huang Hai. With his new attire, Yan Shouyi almost didn't recognize him.
Lushan Sect, indeed. They were making themselves look like the Triads...
Yan Shouyi turned back speechlessly and found that the students who had been so dismissive of him moments ago had suddenly become incredibly well-behaved, their eyes filled with admiration.
"Brother Yan, are they here for you?" a student asked.
Yan Shouyi nodded. "Is there a problem?"
"No, no, no problem!" The students shook their heads like rattles, appearing honest and simple.
Yan Shouyi couldn't understand the students' thought process. He instructed Long Feicheng to supervise them in writing self-criticism reports and went downstairs to meet Huang Hai.
As soon as Yan Shouyi walked out of the security office, the students breathed a sigh of relief, their expressions a mixture of strangeness and excitement:
"Damn, I didn't expect our school's security team leader to be part of the Triads!"
"Yeah, look at the uniform Land Rovers and men in suits downstairs. Brother Yan clearly has an unusual status!"
"But what do they mean by 'sect leader requests your presence'?"
"Are you stupid? Sect leader means the boss of the Triads. In the past, gangs had leaders, helmsmen, and elders. They liked to play this game, so why can't we?"
"I think 'sect leader' sounds much more impressive than 'boss'. I just don't know what Brother Yan's status is..."
"Someone who can have the Triad leader send so many people and such a car to pick them up must have an extraordinary status. We don't need to think too much, just listen to Brother Yan from now on and follow him!"
The students nodded in agreement.
Unbeknownst to Yan Shouyi, the rumor of him being a high-ranking Triad member was thus born.
In the future, at Shanghang Arts School, any male student would give him some face, and he would even receive "entry applications" from freshmen.
Later, Yan Shouyi pondered endlessly, wondering how he had become associated with the Triads!
He arrived downstairs and said helplessly, "Your attire will have a bad influence on the school."
Huang Hai replied, "Our Lushan Sect must have something unique, right? If we all wore Taoist robes, the impact would likely be even greater."
What he said made sense, leaving Yan Shouyi momentarily speechless.
Huang Hai continued, "Today, the sect leader is hosting a banquet at Xihuyajv, and Mr. Yan is invited to attend."
Yan Shouyi cupped his hands. "I respectfully accept."
As Yan Shouyi got into the car, Huang Hai waved his hand, and these Lushan Sect disciples, dressed like Triad members, also got into their cars. The convoy quickly drove out of Shanghang Arts School.
Sitting in the car, Huang Hai introduced Yan Shouyi, "Xihuyajv is the only restaurant built on the waters of West Lake in Rongcheng. Their chefs are descendants of imperial chefs from the palace. It is now open only to a select few, and only hosts three tables of guests per day."
If this had been said to an ordinary person, they would likely have been overwhelmed with flattery. But Yan Shouyi, having seen the world, simply nodded slightly, indicating he had heard.
Although feudal society had ended many years ago, the seeds of feudalism remained in people's hearts. Some top dignitaries liked to play by feudal rules.
For example, setting up an imperial throne at home, enclosing a residential complex as a harem, and hiring so-called imperial tailors to make clothes...
Yan Shouyi had seen all of that, so he felt nothing about it. Whether it was an imperial chef or a roadside barbecue, it made no difference to him. The key was who he was eating with.
Huang Hai secretly thought that Yan Shouyi's state of mind was both lofty and stable, truly worthy of being a descendant of Lu Ban.
In Huang Hai's eyes, this was a beneficial meeting for the Lushan Sect. However, Yan Shouyi maintained a degree of caution.
It was uncertain whether this was a Hongmen Banquet, after all, Huang Hai and Zhou Yuquan might fear him, but the Lushan Sect leader might not.
He wondered if the sect leader would give him some face if, when absolutely necessary, he mentioned his relationship with Lin Zitong, the direct disciple of the Lushan Sect leader...
The convoy slowly drove through the streets of Rongcheng. The November wind swept fallen leaves, adding a touch of desolation to the usually bustling West Lake. The most popular boating activity found no visitors today.
Soon, the cars drove onto the internal roads of West Lake and stopped by the shore. As Yan Shouyi got out of the car, he noticed a straight bridge corridor leading directly to the center of West Lake.
In the center of West Lake stood a three-story waterside pavilion. Professional bodyguards were stationed at the four corners of the pavilion, and occasionally, beautiful waitresses could be seen bustling inside.
"You all wait here. I will escort Mr. Yan into Xihuyajv," Huang Hai instructed, turning back.
After bowing, these Lushan Sect disciples stood on either side of the Land Rovers. Yan Shouyi felt speechless. If one said they weren't Triad members, no one would believe it, given their professional demeanor.
There was a checkpoint at the entrance of the bridge corridor. Not only did one have to present credentials, but they also had to undergo security checks, which indicated the noble status of those who entered and exited.
The staff did not show any prejudice towards Yan Shouyi because of his humble attire. As long as one had credentials, they were esteemed guests of Xihuyajv. Even if they were dressed like beggars, the staff had to treat them like emperors.
However, during the security check, Yan Shouyi was unwilling to take off his shoulder bag, which caused some difficulty for the staff.
Huang Hai knew that the bag contained the belongings of Yan Shouyi, a descendant of Lu Ban, and it was impossible for him to remove it for security checks. Thus, after much negotiation with the staff, they finally allowed him to pass.
Stepping onto the bridge corridor, a gentle breeze brushed his face, and the shimmering West Lake was indeed a beautiful sight.
Huang Hai followed and introduced Yan Shouyi:
"Mr. Yan, I heard that there is another distinguished guest at Xihuyajv today. They requested that the boating activities on West Lake be suspended, saying that tourists boating on West Lake would disrupt their dining and sightseeing."
Upon hearing this, Yan Shouyi's brow furrowed slightly. "What guest is so esteemed? Just for a meal, they have sealed off the entire West Lake. Is West Lake their property?"
"Mr. Yan, you are actually correct. West Lake is their family's," Huang Hai replied. "They are—the Li family of West Lake."