HPDBC Chapter 798 Off to Grab a Meal
Chapter 798 Off to Grab a Meal
Following Ye Lingfeng's gaze, Xi Mo's eyes darkened slightly. "You think he's the most likely suspect too?"
"Too?" Ye Lingfeng raised his eyebrows, and a cold smirk slowly curved his lips. "Then let's investigate him first!"
Meanwhile, Zhouzhou had just woken up and was downstairs at the buffet, eating heartily. The father-daughter duo were piling food onto their plates with such enthusiasm that other guests nearly had nothing left to eat.
Seeing the waitstaff casting them an almost mournful look, Zhouzhou scratched her head awkwardly. She gently tugged on Ye Lingfeng's sleeve and whispered, "Daddy, how about we go out for lunch instead? Uncle Commander can reimburse the meal costs anyway."
Hearing this, Ye Lingfeng gracefully wiped his mouth and shook his head. "No need. We'll go grab a free meal at noon."
"Huh?" Zhouzhou blinked, puzzled. "Where are we going to grab a meal?"
It was their first time in Jiang City, and they didn't know anyone here.
"The Lu family," Ye Lingfeng replied.
Both he and Xi Mo had just agreed that the most suspicious person was Lu Mingyuan, the eldest son of the Lu family, Jiang City's wealthiest family. He was supposed to inherit the family fortune, but his mother had passed away when he was very young. Soon after, his father remarried, and his new wife bore several children, leaving Lu Mingyuan without a significant place in the family.
Despite this, Lu Mingyuan was said to have a gentle and even somewhat meek personality. He didn't seem to care that he hadn't received any inheritance and instead dedicated himself to charity, helping many impoverished children in rural areas. He had a very good reputation in Jiang City.
But this was precisely why both Ye Lingfeng and Xi Mo found him suspicious. Growing up in such an environment, having everything that was originally his taken away--could he really be so accepting of it all?
Ye Lingfeng didn't believe it. So, they decided to investigate him first.
Zhouzhou, unaware of these thoughts, didn't ask any further questions. She was simply happy at the prospect of a free meal, grinning from ear to ear, looking as carefree as ever.
Seeing her so cheerful, Ye Lingfeng's expression softened as he gently patted her head. Whether Lu Mingyuan was guilty or not, they'd find out today.
After breakfast, they took Zhouzhou for a brief walk before heading to a hotel where Lu Mingyuan was hosting a banquet. This was a monthly event of his--anyone could come and eat for free.@@@@
When they arrived, they saw a mix of well-dressed elites, regular folks, and even beggars, all gathered there. Zhouzhou's group didn't draw any attention, as it was common for half the population of Jiang City to gather here on this particular day--whether to mooch off a free meal or to establish connections with the Lu family.
Zhouzhou was clearly there for the free food.
As soon as she entered, she exclaimed, "Wow!" at the sight of all the delicious dishes. Unfortunately, she was too short to see much beyond the crowd.
But that didn't matter. Zhouzhou expertly tugged on Ye Lingfeng's sleeve and stretched out her arms.
Clinging to Lu Mingyuan's neck, Zhouzhou whispered, "My daddy's just a big jar of vinegar."
Lu Mingyuan laughed even harder, clearly charmed by the little girl.
"Good uncle, let's go eat!" Zhouzhou urged.
"Alright," Lu Mingyuan agreed good-naturedly and carried Zhouzhou over to the buffet. "What do you want to eat?"
Zhouzhou pointed with her chubby little fingers. "This one, this one, and that one."
Then, with a dramatic flourish of her hand, she declared, "Not those three, but I want everything else!"
Lu Mingyuan burst out laughing and didn't hesitate to start filling her plate with food. Not just a little bit of each item, either--he piled on enough for an entire table.
It seemed he wasn't at all surprised by Zhouzhou's large appetite.
Behind him, Ye Lingfeng and Xi Mo exchanged a glance, silently communicating before both turned away without a word.
Lu Mingyuan didn't seem to notice, focusing entirely on Zhouzhou, who continued to smile at him while devouring her food.
As Zhouzhou finished eating, still without any suspicious movements from Lu Mingyuan, Ye Lingfeng began to wonder. Did Zhouzhou really understand his earlier hint?
Xi Mo also glanced at Ye Lingfeng. Could it be that Zhouzhou thought this guy was just treating them to food, so they should dig in?
The thought left Xi Mo feeling unsettled.
Seeing Zhouzhou pull out her smartwatch to exchange WeChat contacts with Lu Mingyuan, Ye Lingfeng finally couldn't stand it any longer. He swiftly scooped the little chubby girl into his arms.
"Let's go. Look at how greasy your hands are. Time to wash them."
Without giving her a chance to protest, he strode away with her in his arms.
Once they turned a corner, he stopped, pinched her chubby cheeks in exasperation, and gritted his teeth. "Ungrateful little thing. Is food all it takes to make you switch dads?"
"No, no!" Zhouzhou quickly flashed him a sweet smile and pulled a small compass from her bag. She attached the jumping talisman to it.
The compass needle spun briefly before finally pointing towards Lu Mingyuan...