Chapter 231: Coming of Age Ceremony

That night, Gu Yang was drunk, his steps swaying unsteadily.

Liu Yiyi tried to support him, but she was pushed away several times.

Left with no choice, she could only follow closely by his side.

The two of them returned to Gu Yang's dormitory, one following the other.

This was already the second time Liu Yiyi had entered this room.

The room was simple and straightforward.

Gu Yang lay on the bed, unconscious from his intoxication.

"Editor Gu?" Liu Yiyi stood by the bed and called out twice in succession, but he didn't even open his eyelids.

"So, his tolerance is only this much."

She let out a sinister chuckle, and then began to search through Gu Yang's room without restraint.

She didn't miss the wardrobe or the desk.

After a period of searching, she clearly hadn't found what she wanted, and finally, her gaze fell upon a locked drawer next to the desk.

After confirming that a key was required to open it, she walked back to the bed.

A thing like a key would, of course, most likely be kept on his person.

It wasn't in his shirt pocket. Just as she was about to reach for his trouser pocket, her wrist was suddenly gripped.

"What are you doing?"

Gu Yang, who should have been in a deep sleep, had actually suddenly woken up, his cold eyes staring intently at her.

Caught completely off guard, Liu Yiyi felt a moment of panic, but she quickly spoke in a concerned tone: "I saw that you were asleep and wanted to take off your coat so you could be more comfortable."

Gu Yang said nothing; he just stared at her.

A fine layer of cold sweat broke out on Liu Yiyi's forehead.

One second.

Two seconds.

Five seconds.

Gu Yang actually closed his eyes again, as if his previous reaction had merely been a response to his drunkenness.

"Editor Gu, are you still awake?" Liu Yiyi cautiously confirmed once more.

Gu Yang had indeed fallen back into a deep sleep.

Liu Yiyi let out a long breath of relief.

This man was far too alert. She had originally planned to stay here tonight, but it seemed that wouldn't work now.

If he woke up again and discovered her intentions, she would likely startle the snake.

Although the opportunity was rare, there was no need to rush. With this thought in mind, she slipped out silently.

The moment the door closed, Gu Yang actually opened his eyes once more...

***

Under the shroud of moonlight, the publishing house at night was exceptionally tranquil.

Su Yan stood in the very center of the courtyard. Without the bustle of the daytime, she was able to see more clearly.

She walked through every corner of the courtyard, searching for even the slightest clue.

Why did Granny Li mention this place in the letter?

And why was Gu Yang's publishing house located exactly here?

She never believed in coincidences, so there must be something else here that she hadn't discovered.

But this time, things were contrary to her expectations; even at night, the interior and exterior of the entire publishing house remained as normal as ever, with no hint of a problem to be found.

Tonight, she was destined to return empty-handed.

***

The next day.

"Su Yan, you were right. The Zhou family's event this time has invited almost every famous family in the circle; even some capable individuals are on the guest list. Our family received an invitation as well. Because my younger sister and I have been training out in the world, Father arranged for someone else to come this time. However, I have already contacted the messenger, and he will deliver the invitation in a moment."

Ma Chulong explained the situation to Su Yan in detail.

Su Yan remained expressionless, though she felt a flicker of interest in the so-called Zhou family event.

"What kind of event is it?"

Ma Chulong replied, "The coming-of-age ceremony for the Zhou family heir."

Su Yan frowned. "Just a coming-of-age ceremony, and they've made such a massive spectacle out of it?"

Ma Chulan couldn't hold back and began to chatter in explanation.

"Su Yan, there's something you don't know. The Zhou family has an ancestral land, and it's said that a very powerful treasure is kept inside. The Zhou family's ancestral rule is that only during the coming-of-age ceremony of each generation's heir is there one chance to retrieve this treasure. But unexpectedly, through more than ten generations, not a single heir has successfully obtained the treasure. Therefore, in recent decades, the Zhou family has begun to widely invite capable people to enter the ancestral land together."

"If anyone can help the Zhou family heir obtain this treasure, they will not only be allowed to pick any treasure they want from the Zhou family's treasury, but the family will also promise to do three things for them—anything at all."

"Including murder and arson?" Su Yan asked.

"Yes, including murder and arson." The siblings gave an affirmative answer simultaneously.

It was precisely because the conditions offered by the Zhou family were enticing enough that so many talented individuals and eccentrics were drawn to it, even families of equal standing to the Zhou family were moved.

Moreover, they all desperately wanted to know: what exactly was the treasure that could cause the Zhou family to make such a grand move?!

Hearing this, Su Yan finally understood.

"When is the coming-of-age ceremony?"

"The day after tomorrow. We can just head straight there with the invitation when the time comes." Ma Chulong felt that the timing of this trip was excellent.

Ma Chulan, however, thought of another issue. "If we go there, we'll definitely run into Kong Yueqing and the others, right? I wonder what kind of expression they'll have when they realize we are members of the Ma family."

Just thinking about that scene made her feel it would be quite amusing.

Ma Chulong gave her a doting look before turning back to Su Yan.

"Su Yan, the Kong family doesn't know your identity. If you don't want to be exposed, you can endure a bit of grievance and pose as Lanlan's maid."

That way, they could protect her under a legitimate pretext.

Ma Chulan nodded in agreement. Although Su Yan didn't look like a maid at all, she wondered if Su Yan would mind such an arrangement?

"Fine." Su Yan agreed very readily. Such an arrangement was indeed for her own good; otherwise, without an invitation, she likely wouldn't even be able to enter the Zhou family gates.

***

At the publishing house.

Gu Yang no longer looked at all like someone suffering from a hangover.

"Gu Yang, what is wrong with you?" Lu Feng hadn't even entered yet, but his voice arrived first.

His tone was impatient and carried a hint of interrogation.

Gu Yang had just brewed himself a cup of strong tea; seeing Lu Feng enter, he didn't even put it down.

"Were you with Liu Yiyi last night?"

Gu Yang's movement of drinking tea paused for an instant, then he looked up at him.

Lu Feng immediately realized his phrasing was wrong and corrected himself: "You were drinking with Liu Yiyi, and then you got drunk?"

That was the most important part.

Gu Yang did not deny it.

Lu Feng felt terrible. In truth, having a meal or a drink with a colleague wasn't anything special, but it just had to be yesterday.

His fiancée had just arrived, and he went out drinking with a female colleague that very night, getting dead drunk—who would think that wasn't a problem?

"What exactly is going on between you and Liu Yiyi? Are you two very close?"

After drinking the strong tea, Gu Yang felt much better. "What did Liu Yiyi say?"

Looking at his current calm demeanor, Lu Feng suddenly thought of a saying

*The Emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is.*

(End of Chapter)