Evan Lin followed behind Charles Chen into the house.
The first floor of the villa was a spacious living room. In the center stood a large round table, and several people in chef uniforms were busy at work.
Today, Susan Pang wore a black V-neck long dress, looking elegant and dignified. When she saw Charles Chen and the others come in, she smiled gently: "Charles, Lucy, you’re here."
"Susan, I brought some supplements for Manager Sheng. He’s just recovered, so he needs to take extra care." Lucy Lu handed over several gift boxes, big and small.
"Oh, we agreed it’d just be a simple dinner—no need for gifts." Susan Pang shook her head with a soft smile. "Haiyang is still upstairs in the study. I’ll go ask him to come down."
"By the way, Leo, when is Neil coming?" Susan Pang turned to Leo Liu and asked.
"Oh, Susan, Manager Ping went to pick up Doctor Wu the Miracle Healer. Doctor Wu’s been traveling these days, helping people in other places, so Manager Ping drove out of town to get him." Leo Liu grinned, deep wrinkles creasing his face.
"Neil really went the extra mile. If he hadn’t invited Doctor Wu, who knows when Haiyang would’ve recovered." Susan Pang sighed with heartfelt gratitude.
"Manager Ping said privately it’s just what he ought to do. He didn’t want us mentioning it to you, or bringing it up at all. That’s just how Manager Ping is—always does more than he says. No wonder people call him honest." Leo Liu chuckled.
"And since Manager Ping knew you were hosting us for dinner, and invited Doctor Wu, he also told Shen to drive over and bring the hospital dean and a few attending doctors along."
Leo Liu kept talking, glancing sidelong at Charles Chen.
Susan Pang smiled warmly. "Haiyang really put in the effort. I'll have a good chat with him later." She glanced at Charles Chen and Lucy Lu. "You two sit down first, I'll go upstairs and call Haiyang down."
Susan Pang swayed her hips as she went upstairs. As soon as she left, Leo Liu looked at the sour-faced Charles Chen and chuckled, "Manager Chen, you don't look so good. Feeling unwell? Should I ask Miracle Doctor Wu to check you over later?"
"No need, but thanks for your concern," Charles Chen snorted. In the company, Leo Liu's position was never higher than Charles's—he used to be so humble and low-key every time they met.
But now, after everything that's happened, Leo Liu didn't even bother to show Charles any respect.
Lynn Chen saw all this and could clearly sense Susan Pang deliberately ignoring her dad. It made her chest tighten with discomfort.
She always thought her dad was successful out in the world. She never imagined he'd have a day like this.
Lynn Chen tilted her head and spotted Evan Lin standing on the other side of the living room. Annoyed, she strode over. "Hey! You're here to eat, not to wander around. What if you break something in their house?"
Lynn's tone was sharp, but Evan ignored her. Lynn turned to follow his gaze.
"These paintings are so boring. What's there to look at?" Lynn Chen muttered.
Sixteen grid paintings hung on the wall.
Each painting showed a person in a different pose—pulling with brute force, lying flat, swooping like an eagle, or roaring like a tiger.
The brushwork was rough, but every painting radiated a fierce, domineering aura.
"It's a boxing style," Evan Lin muttered. "It imitates animals, mainly tigers and lions. Looks powerful and wild, but the strikes are so brutal they hurt the user as much as the enemy." Lynn Chen heard this and raised an eyebrow.
"You know boxing?"
Lynn Chen looked unconvinced. Then she remembered what happened at Imperial Grand the other day. Her face changed, and she sneered, "Well, I guess you do know a thing or two. Otherwise, how could you be so tough?"
"You just stood there while my classmates got beaten up. So tough, but what good is it? All talk, no action." Lynn fumed, still angry for her classmates who got roughed up.
Evan glanced at Lynn, who was glaring at him, and replied calmly, "You only think I stood by while your classmates got hit. But did you ever consider, if I hadn't stepped in at all, you and your friends would've gotten more than just a beating?"
"Besides, they're your classmates, not mine. I don't owe them anything. As for you, I only helped because I promised Aunt Lucy I'd keep you safe. Otherwise, your fate wouldn't matter to me."
Evan's voice was flat. Lynn's face flushed red, but she couldn't get a word out.
Just then, the door opened.
Henry Shen, looking a bit thin, walked in with several doctors from the hospital.
"Dean Lu, we really have to thank your hospital's doctors this time. And here—Director Yvonne Yun, and this..." Henry Shen glanced at the young doctor beside Yvonne, momentarily forgetting her name.
"I'm Lucy Lu," she said. She'd come along for the meal today, but also because the dean wanted her to observe and learn. Dean Lu hoped she could pick up something from Miracle Doctor Wu.
Only Lucy Lu and Yvonne Yun knew that Haiyang Sheng's recovery took two rounds of medicine.
"Oh, Dr. Lu. Thank you all so much for helping with Manager Sheng's case," Henry Shen beamed. "Manager Ping should be arriving soon. Please, have a seat."
Henry Shen chatted as he guided Dean Lu, Yvonne Yun, and Lucy Lu toward the dining table.
Lucy Lu took in her surroundings.
"This place is really nicely decorated," Lucy Lu muttered, earning a side-eye from Yvonne Yun. "Then you'd better work hard and marry into a good family."
"Director Yun, what are you even talking about?" Lucy Lu stuck out her tongue, then suddenly froze, her eyes locking onto something.
Once she was sure she hadn't mistaken him, Lucy Lu turned, strode over, and stood right in front of Evan Lin. Her eyes widened with surprise and delight. Smiling, she said, "Hello, we meet again."
"Are you here for the banquet too?" Lucy Lu asked, sizing Evan up from head to toe.
Next to Evan, Lynn Chen was stunned, eyeing the woman who'd suddenly walked over with suspicion.
She wasn't as tall or pretty as Lynn, but her figure was seriously curvy.
Lynn glanced at Lucy Lu's impressive chest, then looked down at her own. It was like comparing flat plains to rolling hills.
Lynn frowned at the thought.