Chapter 441: Chapter 441; Orchid Charity Event

"You don’t need to put your hand on me," Lu Yuze said calmly. His voice stayed low, but the weight behind it made the air feel heavier.

For a split second, Lu Cheng hesitated.

That was all Ting Fei needed. He stepped forward smoothly, placed a firm but polite hand over Lu Cheng’s wrist, and applied just enough pressure to loosen the grip without drawing more attention.

"Second Young Master," Ting Fei said quietly, his tone polite yet firm, "please maintain decorum."

Lu Cheng’s jaw clenched, but he released Lu Yuze’s arm.

Lu Yuze stayed where he was, posture relaxed yet commanding. His presence alone held the attention of everyone nearby.

Lu Chen finally spoke, his voice measured. "You speak of a wife, yet no one has seen her, no one knows her name, and there has been no announcement. Do you expect people to simply accept that?"

Lu Yuze’s gaze shifted to him. His expression gave nothing away.

"I don’t require acceptance," he replied. "Only understanding of boundaries."

Lu Cheng let out a short, frustrated breath. "Or perhaps there is no wife at all. Perhaps this is just another one of your... distractions."

The accusation hung in the air.

Lu Yuze said nothing for a moment. Then he lifted his glass again, took another slow sip, and set it down lightly on a nearby table. His movements were completely composed.

"If that helps you sleep better," he said, "you are free to believe it."

The words were spoken without heat, yet they carried more sting than any raised voice could have.

Lu Cheng’s face darkened further, but Lu Chen placed a restraining hand on his younger brother’s shoulder.

Lu Yuze let his gaze rest on them for one more second. Then he stepped away, his attention already moving elsewhere, as if the entire exchange had held no real importance.

Ting Fei followed close behind, posture straight, eyes alert as he kept watch on the two brothers.

Lu Yuze did not look back.

He had said everything he needed to say.

Whether they believed him or not no longer mattered.

Lu Yuze had barely taken a few steps away from his brothers when the atmosphere around him shifted once more. This time it was not tension that followed him, but a different kind of attention, heavier, calculated, and filled with clear intent.

Several powerful men began approaching him, not all at once, but in a careful, measured sequence that showed both hierarchy and awareness. These were not ordinary businessmen. They were men who controlled entire industries, who could shift markets with a single decision, and who rarely sought anyone out unless there was real gain to be had.

Yet here they were, moving toward him.

Not because of the Lu Conglomerate.

Because of him.

Although Lu Chen stood as the official head of the Lu Conglomerate, a name that still commanded respect across cities, those who truly understood the current power structure knew where the real influence lay. The conglomerate Lu Yuze quietly controlled operated on a much larger scale. It expanded into sectors others had not even anticipated, moving with such precision that competitors were always left reacting instead of leading.

Even the Lu Conglomerate itself was no longer his equal.

"Mr. Lu," one of the men greeted, stepping forward with a polite nod. His tone was respectful, but a subtle eagerness threaded through it. "It’s rare to see you in person. We’ve only ever followed your movements through reports and numbers."

Lu Yuze picked up another glass of wine from a passing waiter. He acknowledged the man with a slight tilt of his head. He offered no unnecessary warmth and no dismissal. He simply stood there, and that alone was enough to hold every eye on him.

"I prefer to keep things efficient," he replied evenly. "Public appearances are rarely necessary."

"That is exactly why this is such an opportunity," another man added, joining the conversation smoothly. "Your ventures have been impressive. Especially the expansion into international logistics and private infrastructure. Many of us have been hoping for a chance to collaborate."

Lu Yuze’s gaze shifted briefly to him. The silver in his eyes caught the light, making it difficult for the man to hold his stare for long. Combined with his unusually pale hair, Lu Yuze stood out effortlessly in the room, impossible to overlook even among so many powerful figures.

"I don’t collaborate without purpose," Lu Yuze said calmly. "If there is something worth discussing, it will happen at the right time."

The men exchanged quick glances. None of them looked offended, only more intrigued.

They had expected this response.

His reputation was well known: reserved, precise, and difficult to approach.

And yet, undeniably influential.

"I heard," one of them continued, lowering his voice slightly, "that your subsidiary recently secured the eastern port contracts. That would place your network ahead of most international chains."

"It already has," Lu Yuze replied without hesitation.

There was no arrogance in his voice.

Just a simple fact.

The kind that could not be challenged.

A short silence followed before another man stepped closer, his expression more calculated.

"With that kind of reach, your influence will only continue to grow. It would be beneficial to establish connections early."

Lu Yuze studied him for a moment, then allowed the faintest curve of a smile to touch his lips.

"Connections are only useful when they are necessary," he said. "At the moment, I have no lack of them."

The message was clear.

He was not here to seek alliances.

He was the one being sought.

Behind him, Ting Fei stood silent and steady, observing every shift in the conversation. He could see it plainly, the way these powerful men adjusted their tone, their posture, and even their choice of words when speaking to Lu Yuze. It was more than respect.

It was a calculation mixed with caution.

Not far away, Lu Chen watched the interaction with an unreadable expression, while Lu Cheng’s gaze grew even darker. The difference in how people responded to Lu Yuze was obvious, and it sat heavily with him.

The men around Lu Yuze continued speaking carefully, not pushing too hard, yet unwilling to waste the rare opportunity.

"At the very least," one of them said with a polite smile, "we hope this won’t be the last time we see you at such events."

Lu Yuze lifted his glass slightly in acknowledgment, but made no commitment.

"That depends," he said calmly.

"On what?" the man asked.

Lu Yuze’s gaze shifted, not toward them, but downward, in the direction of the main hall below where Shuyin was moving through the crowd.

"On whether there is a reason for me to be here," he replied.

The answer was simple.

But the meaning behind it was not.

The men followed his line of sight instinctively, though none of them fully understood what, or who, he was referring to.

Ting Fei, however, understood perfectly.

And he said nothing.

Because some things were not meant to be explained.

Lu Yuze had just begun to turn away when the tension behind him finally snapped.

Lu Cheng could no longer hold back.

He strode forward in a few firm steps until he stood directly in front of Lu Yuze, his face tight with long-building frustration.

"Lu Yuze," he said, his voice loud enough to carry across the nearby area despite others pretending not to listen. "Father and Mother have been trying to reach you for days. Why aren’t you answering their calls? Why haven’t you gone back to see them?"

Lu Ting followed closely behind, his presence quieter but equally heavy.

Lu Yuze turned slowly. His silver eyes settled on them with a calm that only made the anger in front of him stand out more sharply.

"I will go when I have time," he said evenly. "I am busy."

"Busy?" Lu Cheng let out a sharp breath, refusing to accept the answer. "Or are you just avoiding everyone again like you always do? Tell me, Lu Yuze, when did you become this selfish?"

There was no hesitation and no attempt to soften the accusation.

Lu Yuze’s gaze sharpened slightly, though his expression stayed composed.

"Do you want to see my schedule?" he asked, his voice quiet but edged. "Or would you like to explain exactly what you need me for?"

Lu Cheng stepped even closer, his voice dropping but growing heavier with emotion.