Chapter 33 Birthday Party (Part 1)

After leaving the café, Lu Han thought about attending Su Qin Xue's birthday banquet tonight and felt that he should prepare a gift. It wouldn't be appropriate to arrive empty-handed. But what to prepare? Lu Han found himself in a dilemma. For a wealthy family like the Su's, money was just a number; they had luxury cars and villas aplenty, and they were in the jewelry and gemstone business. Moreover, they already possessed the finest emerald, the Imperial Green. What jewelry could compare? Lu Han felt somewhat headache as he aimlessly walked down the street. Suddenly, he saw a large pure water advertisement on the side of a bus, "Chase Dreams Pure Water, twenty-seven layers of filtration to give you a flying sensation, bringing you back to your childhood dreams!" An idea sparked in Lu Han's eyes. He went to the parking lot, retrieved his car, and raced home. Then, he took out the five-hundred-year-old ginseng he had bought from an old man. These medicinal herbs also contained spiritual energy, but for some reason, Lu Han could not absorb it; he seemed to be only able to absorb it from antiques. He broke off a root of the ginseng and took an unopened bottle of mineral water out of the refrigerator. Opening the bottle, he placed the ginseng root inside, then from his lower abdomen, he activated his spiritual energy to dissolve the root mix into the water. The combined spiritual energy of the ginseng and Lu Han made the clear mineral water turn a hint of blue, making it look very beautiful. Thinking it over, Lu Han also cut a little piece of the eight-hundred-year-old "Taishui" and similarly, dissolved it into the water. This time, the blue in the mineral water deepened, resembling a vast blue sky. But soon, it turned transparent again, reverting to its previous state. Lu Han tasted the water and felt invigorated. His qi and blood seemed to boil, a warm current rushed to his lower abdomen, making every limb and bone feel incredibly comfortable. The water now contained spiritual energy, as well as the medicinal effects of the ginseng and Taishui. It was no exaggeration to say that not only ordinary people but even those who practiced cultivation would greatly benefit from drinking this water. In a critical moment, it could even save lives. After practicing at home for a while to recover the depleted spiritual energy and checking the time, he found it was almost time to go. Lu Han drove towards Wangjiang City's largest five-star hotel. ... At the parking lot outside the Grand Hotel Jiangdu, luxury cars were everywhere, attracting the attention of many onlookers who were taking photos, almost mistaking it for a car exhibition. This time, using Su Qin Xue's birthday as an opportunity, the Su family planned to fully display the Imperial Green to Wangjiang's high society, hence all the guests were wealthy and influential. Those not worth at least ten million yuan were not on the invitation list. When Lu Han arrived, the parking lot was full, and he had no choice but to park his car two streets away and walk over. At the entrance of the hotel stood eight men in brand new security uniforms from Jiangdu's largest Golden Shield Security Company, who were in charge of all security measures for the evening. From a distance, Lu Han spotted two acquaintances talking and laughing at the hotel entrance, seemingly waiting for someone. Qiu Shaoze wore a black suit, appearing mature and steady, his handsome face brimming with confidence. Next to him was Ning Yongyi, also in a suit but his covered with gold pieces, shining under the lights and looking quite flashy. Lu Han approached them, and both men were taken aback upon seeing him. Ning Yongyi's eyelids twitched a few times as at the antique auction, not only did this kid ruin his plans, but he also prevented Su Qin Xue from bidding with him, eventually leaving himself embarrassed. Seeing Lu Han now, his anger flared. Stepping forward, he blocked Lu Han's path with a cold voice: "What are you doing here?" Lu Han looked at him oddly, "Of course, I'm here for the birthday banquet." "And you think you qualify? Are you worth over ten million yuan?" Ning Yongyi started to mock him, having long wanted to teach Lu Han a lesson but never found the opportunity. Qiu Shaoze also approached, patted Ning Yongyi on the shoulder, and said, "Why bother with this kind of freeloader, Ning? There's so much delicacy tonight that he could never afford in his life. Naturally, he wants to join the fun." Lu Han couldn't be bothered with these two men; in his eyes, they were nothing but two mad dogs. He pushed Ning Yongyi aside and spoke indifferently, "Let the way be for a good dog." Ning Yongyi could no longer contain his anger. Reaching out, he attempted to grab Lu Han's shoulder; having practiced in Shaolin for a few years, he had some skill and wanted to make Lu Han beg for mercy. However, as if Lu Han had eyes on his back, he smoothly dodged Ning Yongyi's grab and continued towards the hotel. Ning Yongyi was stunned; his grab was a Shaolin capture technique, attacked from behind, yet it was evaded. With determination, he was about to move forward when Qiu Shaoze held him back and whispered, "Chu, the younger, is here." On hearing this, Ning Yongyi reluctantly glanced at Lu Han before turning back with an instant smile, greeting Chu the younger with Qiu Shaoze. "Chu, long time no see; tonight we definitely won't return until we're drunk!" "Yes, Chu, we've been looking forward to your return from abroad." The man referred to as Chu was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, dressed in a fitting Italian bespoke suit with slanting bangs covering his forehead; his handsome face kept a gentle smile. He was Chu Li, the son of Wangjiang's richest man Chu Yu, young and rich, handsome and unrestrained, without the prodigal airs of other rich second generations. After graduating from college, he studied abroad in the United States and obtained a Ph.D. in computer science from MIT. Without relying on his father, he founded an electronic commerce group company. Chu Yu was the role model for all young generations in Wangjiang. Chu Yu responded with a nod to the warmth of Qiu Shaoze and Ning Yongyi. The trio laughed and entered the hotel together. ... Lu Han took the elevator to the top floor and was dazzled by the sight as he entered; the hotel's top floor was beautifully decorated, as if in a palace, with a red carpet leading to a gold-lit stage in the center of the hall. It was still a buffet, with long tables full of food and drinks lining the hall's periphery, with waiters continually pushing carts through the crowd. The hall was already filled with many guests, aged from twenty to thirty-five or so. As it was Su Qin Xue's birthday, it seemed inappropriate for the older generations to come, so they sent their younger representatives. The women were dressed in beautiful evening gowns, and the men in various suits mingled and chatted, creating a lively atmosphere. Lu Han suddenly felt out of place, as if he was the only one in casual wear, but he didn't mind. He casually took a glass of red wine from a nearby serving cart and went to a corner to drink alone.