SDT 51

Chapter 51 The Person I Like

This restaurant wasn’t the main banquet hall, it was a small Western-style dining room. During the day, as a member of the S Country military committee’s Lu family, Lu Kongyun had already been personally entertained by Mr. Ye. He’d said he wasn’t feeling well and wouldn’t attend the evening banquet, so he reserved a private room here in advance.

But one of M Pharma’s executives, who also managed the ship, was stationed in the restaurant and immediately came up when he spotted them.

“Mr. Lu!” the manager greeted enthusiastically.

Then he turned and shouted at Yu Xiaowen, “You! Why’d you only hold the umbrella over yourself?”

He hurried closer and whispered fast, “Even if it’s pouring, you keep the umbrella over the guest, you hear? Even if you’re drenched head to toe!”

“…Sorry.” Yu Xiaowen lifted the umbrella higher, holding it above Lu Kongyun again.

The manager bowed. “Mr. Lu, we heard you weren’t feeling well, Mr. Ye specifically asked us to take care of you. And this one…”

He pressed a hand on the captain’s shoulder, bowing together. “I heard this kid offended you yesterday. Tonight, please let us make it up to you!”

Lu Kongyun watched the manager’s arm casually drape across the security captain’s neck, too close for comfort. After a few seconds, he looked away and said, “There’s no need.”

Quick to read the mood, the manager immediately barked, “Don’t just stand there, go put the umbrella back on the rack!”

Lu Kongyun waited until the captain returned before the three of them entered the restaurant together.

He had important “quantum entanglement” business to discuss with Hao Dali, but with the manager here, it’d be impossible. So he said, “You don’t need to apologize. Go handle your work.”

“Oh no, that won’t do,” the manager said cheerfully, leading them toward the private room. “At M Pharma, we never neglect etiquette. This guard’s just inexperienced, never met a guest as distinguished as you before. Please be generous. You’re already here, have a meal with us! We’ll make sure you feel right at home.”

“…Ah, and actually,” the manager added with a knowing smile, “if you’d ever attend the M Country Expo, you’d really see our full potential..”

“I’ll go,” Lu Kongyun said.

“?” The manager froze, he’d heard Lu Kongyun had already turned down the invitation.

Mission accomplished.

The manager could barely contain his delight. “That’s… that’s wonderful, sir!”

Inside the restaurant, Dai Lanshan was already waiting. When he saw them, he got up and came over. The manager greeted him warmly too. “Ah, the second young master of Dai Pharmaceuticals! A pleasure, an honor, please send my regards to President Dai!”

He led the group upstairs toward the private room.

Dai Lanshan lagged behind a little, lowering his voice to tease Yu Xiaowen, “Wow, you really made it big, huh? Even got yourself a ‘martyr brother.’”

“…What?” Yu Xiaowen froze. Earlier Lanshan had only mentioned a twin, what martyr?

Dai Lanshan tilted his chin toward Lu Kongyun. “Why do you think he’s so interested in a little security guard like you? He thinks you’re the quantum-twin relative of some dead police officer.”

He couldn’t hold back anymore and snorted with laughter, then gave him a look full of disbelief. “Whatever you are, quantum, ion, whatever, you hit the jackpot. You’ve got Lu Kongyun backing you now. Doesn’t matter what you were before, that’s over.”

Yu Xiaowen stood frozen for a few seconds before forcing his legs to move again.

In the private room, the four of them sat down, Lu Kongyun on one side with Dai Lanshan to his left and the manager to his right, Yu Xiaowen seated across.

The manager stood first, raising his glass. Since Dr. Lu didn’t drink, he didn’t insist, he just made a polite toast, expressed his respect, and downed his own glass in one gulp.

Meanwhile, a storm was raging inside Yu Xiaowen’s head.

The appearance of his first love brought back the damp air of Manjing, the city he’d long tried not to remember. He told himself not to feel it, to numb it, to treat it like a draft of wind passing through. He couldn’t go back. The more he remembered, the more it hurt. He had to accept that.

But the words “martyr police officer” soaked into him like spilled water on a napkin, spreading fast, pulling him right back into the emotions he’d buried.

He knew he’d never been confirmed as a “martyr.” His so-called betrayal had only remained unresolved because there wasn’t enough evidence to convict him.

Yet Lu Kongyun believed he was a fallen officer.

So that was why he clung to the idea, because he believed Yu Xiaowen was a good man who had died. And when he saw someone similar, he came up with the “twin” excuse.

…That was so very Lu Kongyun.

“Dali, you should raise your glass too,” the manager nudged him, snapping him out of his thoughts.

He stood, holding his drink.

“I…”

As that single word left his mouth, emotions surged even harder.

Lu Kongyun. The person I like. He’s such a good man. So sincere.

He thought about how he’d doubted him earlier, and about how, in Lu Kongyun’s heart, Yu Xiaowen had already been dead for a long time. The thought brought back every sleepless night of separation and shame from when he’d first changed his identity. His hands shook slightly, so he set the glass down.

After a pause, he said softly, “You’re… such a good person.”

A good man who’d been hurt by villains, deceived by them, yet still wanted to take care of a “martyr’s” family.

Suddenly, Yu Xiaowen regretted ever blackmailing him. He picked up the glass again, his voice hoarse. “I’m really sorry.”

“I-I’m not good with words.” He hurried to cover it up, then drained the drink in one shot, hoping the alcohol would hide the redness creeping into his eyes.

“Mr. Lu, you’re amazing,” he said. “Righteous, honorable.”

“Hey, you—” The manager winced at the guard’s clumsy phrasing.

Lu Kongyun looked at him calmly, then raised his own glass and took a small sip.

Dai Lanshan smirked but didn’t say what he was thinking.

The manager glanced between them, Lu Kongyun, with the glass finally at his lips, and the guard across the table, and suddenly, he understood. The head service manager’s rumors had been right.

He stood up. “Dali, come sit here. Keep Mr. Lu company with a drink.”

But once the captain switched seats, he didn’t “keep him company.” He just drank like he was starving for it, downing the kind of expensive liquor he’d never get near otherwise. No matter how the manager tried to signal him, he acted blind.

Until Mr. Lu finally said quietly, “Stop drinking.”

The guard was already wasted, eyes glassy, staring at Mr. Lu with a dazed, sticky gaze that wouldn’t leave him.

The manager quickly stepped in. “Alright, I think we’ve eaten enough for tonight, yeah? Let’s wrap up here.”

He smiled at the guests. “I hope both of you are comfortable on board. If there’s anything you need, just let me know.”

They stood and left the room together.

Outside waited Dali’s teammate and roommate, Da Guang. When he saw them, he approached and bowed politely to the guests, then turned to his captain. “Dali, you drank too much. I’ll take you back to the dorm.”

The manager quickly said, “Mr. Lu, you drank quite a bit yourself. Why don’t you let Dali escort you back?”

He suddenly shoved the drunken captain forward. Hao Dali stumbled, and Mr. Lu instinctively caught him.

Da Guang panicked and whispered urgently behind the manager, “Sir! Hao Dali’s a guard, he’s not–he can’t–this isn’t right–”

“Shut up,” the manager hissed. “Mind your own business.”

“Hao Dali!” Da Guang tried to warn him softly, hoping he’d at least realize the situation, but Hao Dali didn’t. He leaned forward helplessly into Mr. Lu’s arms. Normally so smart and quick, he’d clearly been tricked into drinking too much. Da Guang’s stomach twisted with worry.

But unexpectedly, it was the guest who refused the manager’s “help.”

“He’s drunk too,” Lu Kongyun said. “You take him back to rest.”

Then he turned to the manager. “I want to get some air on the deck before going back.”

The manager froze, then nodded. “…Of course, Mr. Lu. As you wish.”

Lu Kongyun looked down at the guard. “You drank too much. Rest for now. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

He handed the captain over to Da Guang.

Da Guang supported Hao Dali back to their room. Once he was lying on the bed, facing the wall, he stayed silent and still.

“Hao Dali?” Dagang whispered, worried. No response.

He nervously gripped his shoulder and turned him over. “Hao Dali!”

And froze. His brother’s face was wet with tears. He hadn’t made a sound, but his eyes were full of them. Da Guang had never seen him like that before.

“Brother… what’s wrong?”

Hao Dali covered his face with his arm. “Nothing. I’m just drunk.”