Care Guide to Raising a Max Level Leaf in Apocalypse - 20
“Chief!” Feng Chuyao rushed over in a hurry, dressed in a small formal dress. “I heard about tonight’s celebration banquet…”
Upon seeing the ambiguous posture of the two inside, she instantly covered her mouth.
Only then did Si Yin Yuan realize that he and Ji Jiu were in a too intimate position. He had almost embraced Ji Jiu entirely.
Feng Chuyao gave a slightly improper smile and said, “Hehe, you guys continue.”
She even considerately closed the door for the two.
Si Yin Yuan said, “…come back.”
Feng Chuyao returned, holding the skirt of her dress. She loved the color red, and even the banquet dress she wore was a stunning yet tasteful red with a slit design that accentuated her figure.
Seeing that the two had separated, she revealed a regretful expression.
Ji Jiu didn’t quite understand Feng Chuyao’s fluctuating emotions, but Si Yin Yuan had already placated him. He sat happily beside them, holding a strawberry-flavored nutritional drink.
Si Yin Yuan spoke seriously, “Rumeng and the others still need time to recover emotionally and aren’t suitable for attending the celebration banquet. You and Yue Chengren suffered the least harm, so I hope you can attend.”
Feng Chuyao showed her standard smile with eight teeth, “Of course, that’s fine.”
This was a skill she had learned from idols in her dreams.
For a moment, Si Yin Yuan began to doubt his own judgment.
Feng Chuyao quickly explained, “I really haven’t been greatly influenced by the dream garden. Really.”
But then she couldn’t control the professional smile on her face.
She carried herself gracefully, as if ready to walk the red carpet at any moment.
“…”
The celebration banquet was scheduled for 8 pm, and the guild had sent evening dresses for Si Yin Yuan and Ji Jiu.
They were designed in black and white, looking like a set of couple outfits no matter how you looked at it.
After the apocalypse, many conventional norms had been broken, and same-sex relationships had become something survivors were accustomed to. However, Si Yin Yuan didn’t expect that the rumors about him and Ji Jiu would become more and more outrageous.
Ji Jiu didn’t understand the subtleties of human interactions and happily changed into the new clothes.
It was his first time wearing formal attire, and he looked even more suitable than expected. The well-fitted suit perfectly accentuated his waistline, making him look like an otherworldly little prince. Standing next to Si Yin Yuan in his black suit, the two had completely opposite auras yet surprisingly harmonious.
As the protagonists of the banquet, they immediately caught everyone’s attention upon their entrance.
A mix of astonishment, goodwill, and malice directed from the crowd, with a majority of attention focused on Ji Jiu.
Si Yin Yuan subtly positioned himself to block Ji Jiu’s view, worried that the young man might be afraid, and he wanted to say something to reassure him.
But as soon as Ji Jiu looked up, his gaze wasn’t directed at anyone else; it was fixed on the biggest celebration cake.
As if all those curious about his identity were just roadside weeds, less important than the chocolate ball on the cake.
Noticing the man’s focus, Ji Jiu asked softly, “Can I have that cake?”
In this gathering of influential figures, no one cared about the cake. They were engaged in discussions and suspicions with one another, leaving Ji Jiu to be the only one genuinely interested in the food.
Si Yin Yuan suddenly felt that this celebration banquet, which clashed with the scarcity of resources in the post-apocalyptic world, was not entirely pointless.
At least it could make one foolish child happy.
He nodded and handed Ji Jiu a knife, fork, and a small plate, “Go ahead.”
Though it wasn’t time to cut the cake yet, when the protagonists of the celebration spoke, others could only fake their smiles.
The moment Ji Jiu cut the cake marked the start of the banquet, and music began playing.
Many people came to talk to Si Yin Yuan with their wine glasses in hand, but Ji Jiu continued eating cake, observing his owner surrounded by people.
Standing next to him were two members of the management team, conversing in hushed tones.
“This time, six forces are attending the banquet.”
“Six? How come?”
“Those without special abilities didn’t come, they only sent some gifts.”
“I heard their radicals have started marching again and clashed with the welcoming party for Chief Si today.”
Their voices grew louder, and one of them looked up to find Ji Jiu curiously watching them.
Their expressions turned awkward; it felt like they were gossiping about someone’s private affairs and were caught by the person’s partner.
In reality, Ji Jiu was just curious why they were holding colorful cocktails and not drinking them.
He had never tasted alcohol before.
His gaze began to wander around the banquet.
“What are you looking for?” Fang Sheng appeared out of nowhere, followed by his lackey Bai Tian.
Right before this, the lackey whispered to him, “I’ve already investigated. Chief Si hasn’t officially acknowledged any relationship with that little beauty. It must be just a fling. When the time comes, you can use both soft and hard tactics; he won’t dare to make a fuss. Even if he does, Chief Si won’t turn against you for a lover.”
As the son of the leader of the base security team, Fang Sheng had been taking advantage of his status for a long time. When he saw Ji Jiu sticking his head out of the car window during the day, he swore to himself that he would definitely get this person.
It was the first time he encountered someone whose appearance and temperament perfectly matched his taste.
He didn’t expect Ji Jiu to look even more attractive at the banquet. He was like a meticulously crafted little young master, even if he ate cake a bit too fast, it didn’t diminish his exquisite aura.
This person was somewhat annoying.
Originally, Ji Jiu didn’t want to pay him any attention, but Fang Sheng kept pressing him with questions.
And he even blocked his way with what he probably thought was a handsome posture.
Ji Jiu frowned, “I’m looking for drinks, and you’re blocking my way.”
He really wanted to try those colorful liquids and see what they tasted like.
Fang Sheng felt a tingling excitement; however, he couldn’t be too obvious during the banquet. He only gave Ji Jiu a greasy smile out of sight of others, “Of course, I can take you to get a drink.”
“Really?” Ji Jiu looked skeptical, “If you lie to me, I’ll hit you.”
After saying that, he raised his tender little fist threateningly.
It had no intimidation whatsoever.
This just made Fang Sheng even itchier, but he didn’t dare to be too obvious in the presence of others. He could only give Ji Jiu a greasy smile where nobody else could see, “Of course, I promise the drink will be delicious.”
Ji Jiu raised his chin, “Then let’s go.”
Such a little act of petulance from a beauty seemed more like coquetry.
Driven by Ji Jiu’s beauty, Fang Sheng was nearly overwhelmed. He declined the dog’s company, afraid the flunky would make him lose this opportunity, and he led Ji Jiu alone to find drinks.
All the way, he kept spouting boring and playful words, trying to show off his sense of humor.
But Ji Jiu found him noisy, and if it weren’t for the promise of good drinks, he would have knocked this man out and thrown him out.
Fang Sheng was excited but didn’t want to appear too obvious at the banquet. He locked the door after they entered an empty room, revealing a triumphant smile.
Ji Jiu swiftly dodged the man who suddenly lunged towards him and asked in confusion, “Didn’t you say there’s good alcohol?”
He was still craving his drink.
Fang Sheng, after being evaded, didn’t think much of it. His gaze towards Ji Jiu carried a lecherous desire and a nauseating affection. “Poor little lamb, do you know that you can’t escape tonight?”
He was eager to undo his belt, “There’s no good alcohol, but there are good things here…”
Before he could finish his sentence, a violent impact struck his jaw, causing intense pain.
He fell to the ground in disbelief, looking at Ji Jiu, who appeared delicate and weak, knocking him down with a single punch.
Though he rarely used it, Fang Sheng was also an awakened person with the ability of “Sharp Transformation,” which allowed him to make anything he touched sharp. A twig he picked up could become a sharp sword, and even a random piece of paper could turn into a lethal weapon.
Seeing Ji Jiu’s angry expression, he instinctively felt fear. He grabbed a soft and fluffy pillow in the room and transformed its edges into sharp points before throwing it at Ji Jiu.
However, the pillow was directly swallowed by the black mist.
“What should I do?” Ji Jiu looked somewhat troubled. “You saw something you shouldn’t have.”
“You, you…” Fang Sheng’s eyes gradually filled with terror. “This can’t be possible!”
Before he could say more, another punch struck him. Ji Jiu’s attacks were chaotic but forceful, as he was genuinely angry.
If it weren’t for this fraud, he would have been enjoying the colorful cocktails by now.
“Stop, stop!” Fang Sheng spat out blood. “I’ll tell you the purpose of this celebration, just spare me…”
Ji Jiu wasn’t particularly interested, but he thought this information might be useful for his owner. So, he stopped and unceremoniously pressed his foot on Fang Sheng’s face. “Speak.”
Fang Sheng had lost two teeth and spoke with a mix of gasps, “I’ll tell you… the celebration was initially proposed by the Church. After tonight, rumors will spread within the base that the Hunter’s Association extravagantly held the celebration during resource shortages, aiming to incite dissatisfaction among the old humans. Those old humans are the easiest to be manipulated…”
“The purpose of this celebration is to create friction between the Hunter’s Association and the group of non-awakened old humans.”
Even in this embarrassing situation, Fang Sheng’s words did not forget to include his disdain for ordinary non-awakened people, using the terms they disliked to refer to them.
He tried to please Ji Jiu, “Can you spare me now?”
Ji Jiu kicked him in the face, “No.”
He wasn’t done beating him yet.
Meanwhile, at the other side of the banquet, after finally getting rid of those who came to flatter or probe him, Si Yin Yuan found that Ji Jiu, who should have been obediently eating cake, was nowhere to be seen.
Also missing was the famously nonchalant Fang Sheng.
Si Yin Yuan’s face darkened instantly. He strode over and grabbed Fang Sheng’s lackey by the collar, his eyes showing a dangerous glint. “Where are they?”
The lackey was terrified, looking at Si Yin Yuan’s menacing aura, he realized the situation was even more serious than he thought. He stammered, “I-I don’t know…”
A strand of golden flame ignited just two centimeters away from his face.
Si Yin Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, “Think carefully before you speak.”
Everyone knew his “Vitality Extraction” was an extremely domineering ability. Once it touched a living person, that person would instantly turn into a pile of bones whose vitality had been drained.
The lackey was frightened out of his wits, so he hurriedly spilled the beans about Fang Sheng’s plan to deceive people, trembling as he pointed, “They, they went that way, it’s been ten, fifteen minutes already.”