Li Yunhui strode closer.

He saw Cheng Huanzhen standing beside Li Shuyun, holding a plate and picking out various dishes from the dining table. Each time, he would pick up a small morsel with his chopsticks and ask, “Do you want to eat this?” If Li Shuyun shook his head, he would place the food on his own plate. Then he would reach out with his chopsticks again, pick a new dish, and ask, “Do you want to eat this?” If Li Shuyun nodded, he would put it onto Li Shuyun’s plate.

Li Yunhui heard the brown-haired young man say with some distress, “Don’t get any more, I won’t be able to finish it if you do. There’s still cake.”

Only then did Li Yunhui notice a large bag from “XX Cake” sitting beside Li Shuyun.

Li Yunhui: …?

Who? Who was serving Li Shuyun??

Hearing Li Yunhui’s voice, Cheng Huanzhen’s hand paused. He turned around and greeted Li Yunhui, “Hello, Yunhui. I’m getting food for Shuyun.”

Li Yunhui was extremely surprised. “You know Shuyun?”

Cheng Huanzhen replied, “We just met.”

Li Yunhui: ?

Li Yunhui hesitated, uncertain. “Are you always this forward with people?”

He shifted his gaze to Li Shuyun. When the young man in the white shirt saw him looking, he gave an embarrassed smile and softly called out, “Brother.”

The moment Li Yunhui saw Li Shuyun, he knew that his earlier advice to “just refuse if you don’t want it” had gone completely in one ear and out the other.

…As expected. No matter how you looked at it, he seemed like a stray picked up from the street.

Could Li Zhenghen and his mother really have produced such a soft-tempered child??

Li Yunhui was frustrated by his lack of assertiveness.

He glanced at his phone. The polite amount of time to stay at the banquet had more or less passed. Leaving now would no longer be considered rude.

So he simply called to Li Shuyun, “It’s about time. Let’s go.”

Cheng Huanzhen looked at him. “You’re leaving?”

Li Yunhui nodded. “I’m taking him to experience the fun side of the Imperial Capital.”

But before leaving, Li Yunhui planned to first probe Cheng Huanzhen’s thoughts. Last time, when he had told Cheng Huanzhen his irresponsible speculations about Cheng Yu’s death, Cheng Huanzhen had listened patiently but didn’t believe him.

But this time, something had happened to someone in the Cheng family.

According to reliable sources, Cheng Huanzhen was very close to the missing Cheng Yiming. After the latter’s disappearance, Cheng Huanzhen had been desperately searching for him. Li Yunhui had initially been skeptical about how much he cared, but now, seeing Cheng Huanzhen’s haggard appearance, Li Yunhui knew instantly that the rumors were true.

But before he could speak, Cheng Huanzhen spoke first.

He looked steadily at Li Yunhui and asked, “I want to ask you something. The matter you were investigating before, are there any results yet?”

Li Shuyun looked up curiously.

Li Yunhui raised an eyebrow. “Not yet. The family of the person involved is unwilling to trust or help me. How am I supposed to find any results like that?”

Cheng Huanzhen asked, “What if I help you?”

Li Yunhui smiled. “You’ve finally come around.”

Cheng Huanzhen lowered his gaze and said, “I’m worried it might be related to my little uncle… After all, it’s the same year, the same month.”

Neither of them considered this matter a secret that needed to be hidden, so they conversed quite naturally amidst the crowd.

Li Yunhui pondered, “But I heard Cheng Yiming wasn’t in good health before he disappeared. So many days have passed… Forgive my bluntness, but he might already be gone.”

Cheng Huanzhen’s expression was calm, and his tone was flat as he said, “I won’t be content until I see for myself.”

Li Yunhui remarked, “Just like Ah Ji. I admire that.”

Li Yunhui was about to say something when he suddenly turned back to glance at Li Shuyun.

Li Shuyun seemed completely uninterested in their conversation, quietly lowering his eyes and eating his strawberry cake one small bite at a time. He was a quiet, even-tempered, soft boy whose personality was very indistinct.

Li Yunhui suddenly called out to him, “Shuyun. What do you think?”

Li Shuyun looked up, surprised and confused, with a little cream still on the corner of his mouth. He asked quizzically, “What?”

Seeing his confusion didn’t seem feigned, Li Yunhui retracted the question. “Oh, it’s nothing.”

He turned back to Cheng Huanzhen and said, “If you’re willing to team up with me, the investigation will definitely progress much faster than it is now. I’ll need you to provide Cheng family intelligence that only you can access, and I’ll share all the intelligence I gather with you. How about it?”

The two quickly reached an agreement and arranged a time to exchange specific information.

Li Yunhui was very satisfied with this. “If Qi Xiuyi were as cooperative as you, the truth would be completely within our grasp! Here’s to our successful cooperation. If there are no other issues, I’ll take Shuyun…”

Cheng Huanzhen interrupted, “Wait.”

Li Yunhui: “?”

Cheng Huanzhen looked steadily at Li Shuyun.

He found it difficult to stop himself from paying attention to someone who so closely resembled his little uncle. Upon a closer look, he discovered that even the way the other person ate cake was identical to how his little uncle ate it before he went blind.

They both liked to use a knife to cut an even smaller piece from the already-sliced cake, push it onto a spoon with a fork, and then bring the spoon to their mouth. It was a somewhat troublesome and complex way to eat, keeping both hands and mouth busy. His little uncle used to say that eating cake this way allowed him to experience its deliciousness to the fullest.

…So what did it mean for Li Shuyun?

Cheng Huanzhen took out his phone. He asked Li Shuyun very seriously, “I’d like to add you on Green-Letter. Is that okay?”

Li Shuyun blinked slowly, looking at Li Yunhui as if asking for permission.

Li Yunhui frowned. “…Why are you looking at me? Add him if you want to.”

Only then did Li Shuyun’s eyes curve into a smile for Cheng Huanzhen. “Okay.”

…

Li Yunhui led Li Shuyun out of the venue. They left through a back door, made several turns, and finally stopped the car on an unremarkable stretch of road.

“A buddy lent me this car,” Li Yunhui gestured to Li Shuyun. “Get in. Be careful not to get it dirty.”

Li Shuyun was a little worried. “But I haven’t told the driver or Uncle Zhao. They’ll worry if they can’t find me.”

Li Yunhui rolled his eyes. “Why are you so obedient? Does being good make Li Zhenghen give you money? Oh, wait, that’s actually a real possibility.” He said perfunctorily, “It’s fine, just get in the car first. When we get there, you can send a message to your driver and just say you met a new friend at the party who’s taking you around the Imperial Capital. Don’t worry, by then you won’t even be at the venue, so he won’t be able to find you.”

After speaking, he paused, perhaps feeling his tone was too dismissive, and added, “You can also rest assured about your safety. I’m your brother, not some bad guy. I’m just taking you to experience the kind of fun you should have in the Imperial Capital. I’ll get you home safely when we’re done.”

Li Shuyun’s originally worried and uneasy expression slowly settled after he finished speaking, as if he truly believed his words. A small dimple appeared on his cheek.

Li Shuyun said, “I understand. I’ll trust you, brother.”

Li Yunhui: “…”

Wait, did Li Shuyun really believe him or was he faking it? Does he have no skill in reading people at all? He just believed him without reservation??

Thinking that this was likely the type of child Li Zhenghen preferred, Li Yunhui couldn’t help but laugh angrily again.

How was he inferior to him? Was it just because he wasn’t “obedient” enough??

The more Li Yunhui thought about it, the angrier he got, and the faster he drove. Weaving crazily past other cars, he reached their destination much faster than expected—the Imperial Capital International Racetrack!

After getting out of the car, Li Yunhui asked Li Shuyun with feigned nonchalance, “Never been here before, have you?”

Li Shuyun was stunned by the immense racetrack. Every so often, a car would flash by like lightning, the low, sharp sound of it cutting through the air passing by him: “Whoosh—” “Swish—”

“Mm…” He was quiet for a long while before slowly pulling back his gaze and responding softly, “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Li Yunhui noticed his shock and a smile appeared on his face. He had interacted with Li Shuyun twice. Each time, his impression of Li Shuyun’s personality was the same: very obedient, very soft, with emotions as placid as a vast, flat plain, without any hills or valleys.

But how could a person’s true personality really be so smooth and flat? Underneath that obedient and soft exterior, Li Shuyun must be hiding more to his personality! But no matter what Li Shuyun was hiding… once he was on the racetrack, it would all have to be revealed!

Li Yunhui said with a friendly smile, “Let’s go then. I’ll show you what real fun is!”

But Li Shuyun was hesitant. “But Uncle Zhao forbids me from doing extreme sports. He says it’s very dangerous.”

Li Yunhui said nonchalantly, “Of course it looks dangerous to an outsider. But I’m a seasoned pro; I won’t let anything happen to you. Besides, I’ll be in the same car with you. If I dare to drive and ride in it, what are you afraid of? Come on, less talk, get in!”

Li Shuyun was an obedient child. He listened to the butler, and of course, he would listen to him too.

Soon, Li Yunhui made a call and found a friend. After a brief exchange, the friend lent him a two-seater supercar.

Li Yunhui grabbed a set of protective gear, tossed it to Li Shuyun, and said, “Put it on.”

Then he warmed up a bit himself while putting on his own gear. He skillfully and quickly put on his gear, then looked up to see Li Shuyun still slowly fumbling with his.

Li Yunhui couldn’t take it anymore. “You can’t even do this? Let go, I’ll do it.” He frowned, stepped forward, snatched the gear from Li Shuyun’s hands, and started putting it on him directly.

Li Shuyun obediently replied, “Okay, brother.”

As he dressed him, Li Yunhui once again noticed Li Shuyun’s overly thin frame. The young man stood before him, quietly lowering his gaze, letting himself be maneuvered into the protective gear.

Li Yunhui’s brows furrowed deeply.

He wanted to say something again, but they were about to get on the track, and he wouldn’t get on the track with any unsafe emotions. Frowning, he finished putting on Li Shuyun’s gear, thought for a moment, and said, “Close your eyes and enjoy it. If you get really scared, call out to me, but don’t touch me. Got it?”

Li Shuyun’s eyes curved into a smile. “I understand, brother.”

Li Yunhui: “Mm.”

Li Yunhui took Li Shuyun onto the racetrack. The moment he got on the track, his mood naturally turned to excitement. Li Shuyun, Li Zhenghen—they were all thrown to the back of his mind!

The low roar of the car’s engine thundered on the track. The absolute passion brought on by the absolute speed completely consumed his mind. All the emotions and frustrations of the past few days were utterly annihilated in that moment of roaring speed!

After just a few simple laps, Li Yunhui felt his mind clear and his spirits soar. His whole body felt extremely comfortable.

As the car’s speed slowly decreased, Li Yunhui was left wanting more. The stimulation faded from his brain, and worldly matters finally began to creep back into his thoughts.

Oh, right. His main purpose for coming here today was to peel back Li Shuyun’s layers and see his true colors.

Let’s see. Li Shuyun must be pale with fright right now, unable to even speak, right? After all, he was such a timid person…

Li Yunhui calmed down and turned his head to look.

The young man’s pale, bloodless cheeks came into view. His hands were gripping the supercar’s seat tightly, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his whole body was pressed firmly against the seatback, trembling slightly.

Li Yunhui was a little disappointed. So he really was someone whose inside matched his outside?

But in the next second, Li Yunhui met Li Shuyun’s gaze.

Li Shuyun’s gaze had always been gentle. Like a gurgling spring, when he looked at someone, it made them feel complete trust and softness.

But at this moment, within that gaze that had always been soft and without any hardness, an extremely bright light was now shining. It was sparkling and shimmering, as if a vast cluster of stars was hidden within, erupting with intensely brilliant starlight at that moment.