Chapter 59: Birthday Party
As a wealthy lolita—well, barely a lolita—Mushroom rarely faced genuine difficulties. After all, problems solvable with money weren't real problems.
Yet judging by the frantic messages flooding his phone, she'd clearly encountered one now.
Xia Feng called her back immediately.
"What's wrong?"
"Are you okay? Are you sick?" Mushroom asked, confused.
"I'm fine. You know how I disappear sometimes." Xia Feng brushed it off. "Just tell me what's going on."
"Oh! Right!" Her tone shifted abruptly, turning solemn. "Feng, I need you to come to a banquet with me."
"Banquet? What banquet?"
"Liszt's 50th birthday celebration."
"Liszt?" Xia Feng froze. The Hydrangea Prince's birthday banquet? He vaguely recalled Wei Shutong mentioning it and asking if he wanted to attend.
He'd declined, of course. Aristocratic socializing was tedious.
Mushroom's mother had died young, and while her father was nobility, she'd only ever mentioned him in passing. Their relationship was strained, so Xia Feng had never pried. Some sorrows were better left unspoken.
"Your father's forcing you to attend the prince's party, isn't he?" Xia Feng guessed.
"Kinda. Not exactly." She mumbled.
"Not exactly?"
"Well… actually, my father is the Hydrangea Prince. He says I have to go this year."
"Oh, your father's the prince." Xia Feng nodded softly, then paused. Two full seconds passed before his mouth slowly fell open, eyes widening. O_o "…What?"
"Don't blame me! I didn't mean to hide it!"
"..."
"Hello? Are you still there?" Mushroom's crisp voice piped through the phone.
Xia Feng coughed. "Your Highness, I've been blind and disrespectful—even joked about being your dad. Do I still have a chance at redemption?"
Mushroom's eyes suddenly sparkled. "You could dress as a girl, and I'll forgive you~"
"Haha! Goodbye—"
"Wait! Don't hang up! You haven't agreed to the banquet yet!"
"At least give me a reason. Why me?"
"It's… my first time back in years. I've got social anxiety." Her voice dropped. "And he always forces me to call that vixen 'Mom.' I refuse—"
"Got it. When's the party?"
"Tomorrow night at seven. You have to come!"
Xia Feng smiled. "Don't worry. I'll back you up. No one's bullying you on my watch."
"Yay!"
After more chatter, he hung up and pulled out the {Location Card}. The grid map on its back displayed two glowing dots—one red, one blue.
The red marked No. 11; the blue, himself.
The scale in the lower right corner indicated each grid section represented 5,000 kilometers.
Over eight sections separated the dots. Player No. 11 was somewhere like Zone 48—far from Zone 51.
It'd take at least a day or two to reach him.
Buzz—
The phone vibrated again. Xia Feng glanced at the screen.
Rarely, it was a message from the Witch of Destruction.
[Experience Pack: Free tomorrow night?]
[Xia Feng: No.]
[Experience Pack: Need a favor.]
[Xia Feng: I said I'm busy!]
[Experience Pack: Accompany me to a banquet.]
"..."
[Xia Feng: The prince's birthday banquet?]
After a pause, Mu Qingtong called directly.
Her calm, gentle voice came through: "The prince has two sons. Both fancied me. The younger died, and the eldest still sends flowers to the Mu family manor monthly."
"Oh, classic. You need me as your human shield?"
"Not a shield. You're my fiancé. This is your duty," Mu Qingtong said sweetly.
Xia Feng rolled his eyes. "Duty? Where are my rights then?"
"What was that?" Mu Qingtong's beautiful eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Oh, I said the moon looks lovely tonight! I'm going to sleep. Bye!"
"So you'll go?"
"I've no merits except being kind. I don't want to attend, but since you asked so sincerely...I'll reluctantly help—beep—"
The call disconnected mid-sentence. Xia Feng stared at the screen. "How rude."
Buzz-buzz—
Just as he set the phone down to shower, it vibrated again.
[Old Wei: Free tomorrow night?]
"Wow, this opening feels familiar."
[Xia Feng: Let me guess—the prince's birthday?]
[Old Wei: Kid, you're going whether you like it or not. The prince specifically requested you!]
(End of Chapter)