Chapter 495 - 494: Welcome Banquet 3

"I just want to know, why did you refuse us?"

"You must understand, the Situ Family is renowned in France, and even throughout the world."

"Once you become a part of the Situ family, your life will be turned upside down."

"Don’t you want to see what kind of changes those would be?"

Fang Yun felt that Yun Zijin simply didn’t yet understand the Situ Family’s global social standing, which was why she hadn’t agreed to return to the Situ family.

"I don’t. The status the Situ Family holds in France is something I can achieve in Hua Country on my own."

"And if I can’t do it, I still have my boyfriend. You should be aware of the Lu Family’s status in Hua Country, shouldn’t you, Ms. Fang?"

One could say that the Lu Family’s status in Hua Country far surpassed that of the Situ Family in France.

"It seems you’re determined. I won’t force you. However, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you don’t cherish it and come to regret it later, trying to return to the Situ family won’t be so easy."

Since Yun Zijin was giving it up herself, Fang Yun couldn’t interfere too much. She could only hope that Situ Yunliang wouldn’t take it too hard.

It was not for others to judge how Yun Zijin had turned out after growing up on her own.

"I won’t regret it."

Joining the Situ Family would mean that all of Yun Zijin’s personal information would have to be re-registered, which was no small undertaking.

Besides, Hua Country didn’t allow dual citizenship. Returning to the Situ Family would require changing her nationality, and Yun Zijin certainly wouldn’t do something so foolish.

"As long as you don’t regret it."

After saying this, Fang Yun fell silent. She had asked everything she wanted to ask. Since Yun Zijin remained so adamant, she couldn’t very well kidnap her and drag her back to the Situ Family.

Besides, regarding Yun Zijin, Fang Yun knew they were related by blood, but that was the extent of their connection.

In their hearts, Situ Yunliang was still more important.

"The fruit wine at this hotel is quite good. Would you like to try some?"

Seeing that Yun Zijin had only been drinking juice, Fang Yun tried to recommend the fruit wine she had ordered after carefully tasting it herself.

Unlike other alcoholic drinks, fruit wine wasn’t harsh. It had a hint of sweetness, a low alcohol content, and was very suitable for women.

"Thank you, but I don’t drink."

’It’s not that I never drink, but in a setting with so many strangers, I avoid alcohol if I can.’

’I’m very aware of my low tolerance. One or two glasses would be enough to knock me out, so it’s better not to start drinking at all.’

The two sat in silence. Before long, Fang Yun made an excuse about needing to greet some guests and left the table.

Not long after Fang Yun left, Tu Tutu popped up out of nowhere.

"Zijin, you know people from the Situ family?"

Tu Tutu didn’t know about Yun Zijin’s connection to the Situ family. Seeing that Fang Yun had just left their table, she asked casually.

"Not really. We just happened to sit together and say hello."

’My connection to the Situ Family has never been widely publicized online.’

’Since I don’t plan on acknowledging them as relatives, I have no intention of publicizing our relationship in any way and causing unnecessary trouble.’

"Is that so?"

Tu Tutu had a feeling things weren’t that simple, but since Yun Zijin had said so, she didn’t press the issue.

’Everyone has secrets they don’t want to talk about. I don’t need to get to the bottom of everything.’

"Of course. What else could it be? When is Yaoyao getting here? Has she messaged you?"

Yun Zijin was starting to feel a bit bored. These kinds of banquets were held for people who wanted to use the event to talk business and expand their networks.

For someone like Yun Zijin, who had no such desires, it was just plain boring.

"Not yet. There’s a really congested stretch of road on the way from her place, so it’ll probably be a while."

Tu Tutu glanced at her phone and showed Yun Zijin her chat history with Su Mengyao.

"At this rate, the banquet will have already officially started by the time they get here..."

"Probably, but it’s fine. A lot of people don’t arrive on time. Take President Xiao Lu, for example. At most banquets, he basically just makes an appearance and then leaves."

Tu Tutu figured the only reason he was staying so long at this banquet today was probably because of Yun Zijin.

’Oh, and there’s also that Brother Lu in the wheelchair.’

Thinking of Lu Yunzhou, Tu Tutu looked at Yun Zijin again, hesitating to speak.

"Just say what you want to say. You don’t have to be so reserved with me."

Since she considered Tu Tutu a friend, Yun Zijin wasn’t going to get hung up on such things.

"That person who came with you and President Xiao Lu today, is he really President Xiao Lu’s older brother?"

"I’d only heard that President Xiao Lu had an older brother, but I’d never seen him before."

"I can’t believe I actually saw him today. But I never expected that he would be..."

Tu Tutu didn’t finish her sentence, but Yun Zijin knew what she wanted to say: that for Lu Yunzhou’s first public appearance, he was in a wheelchair.

"Of course it’s true. Brother Lu just had an accident and injured his leg, so it’s difficult for him to walk. He’ll be fine after a while."

Yun Zijin knew that with Lu Yunzhou appearing in a wheelchair, the social circles of Dijing would have new gossip to talk about for a while.

’However, they probably won’t imagine that his use of a wheelchair is only temporary.’

"Oh! So that’s what it is. I thought..."

"You thought what? That Brother Lu’s legs were paralyzed?"

Yun Zijin bluntly stated what Tu Tutu had left unsaid.

Tu Tutu quickly covered Yun Zijin’s mouth. "Stop! Good heavens, you can’t just say things like that!"

People could guess it in their minds, but they absolutely could not say it out loud.

Tu Tutu didn’t even dare to imagine the consequences if the person in question overheard.

"It’s fine. When Brother Lu appears in public in a wheelchair, most people would have the same guess. You’re not wrong."

If Yun Zijin hadn’t known the truth, she would have guessed the same thing as Tu Tutu.

"Still, his injury hasn’t even healed. Why would he want to come out and attend a banquet?"

’If it were me, injured and confined to a wheelchair, I would absolutely never show my face in public.’

"Brother Lu has been cooped up in the sanatorium every day. He was starting to go stir-crazy. He came out this time to get some fresh air and have a change of scenery."

’Anyway, if it were me, I would have thrown a fit long ago if I’d been forced to stay in a hospital for so long without being able to leave.’

"You have a point. Being stuck in a hospital all the time would make anyone feel depressed."

"Zijin, Tutu, I’m here!"

Just as the two were chatting, Su Mengyao suddenly popped up from behind them.

Su Mengyao almost scared the daylights out of Yun Zijin and Tu Tutu.

"Why did you just pop out like that? Don’t you know you can scare someone to death!?"

"I was standing behind you for a while, listening to your serious conversation. I didn’t have the heart to interrupt."

"But this Brother Lu you were talking about—who is he?"

Su Mengyao had arrived late and hadn’t seen Lu Yunzhou, so she didn’t know that the legendary older brother of Lu Yunque had come.