Billionaire's Long Journey of Chasing His Love-Chapter 342 - 307: I’ll Have Someone Look into It (Three More Updates)
After dinner, You Jia and Ai Ni were discussing the wedding details with the elders in the main hall, while Lu Jia took the others to the side hall.
Lu Jia suggested, "The royal orchestra is performing at nine o’clock, and it’s still early. Let’s have some drinks to liven things up first."
Tong Airui shook his head. "I don’t drink. To avoid spoiling the fun, my wife and I will take a walk outside."
"Brother Airui, I’ll have someone guide you," Lu Jia said, ready to call someone.
Tong Airui stopped him. "I won’t get lost. You all carry on. We’ll come back when the performance begins."
"No need to return here. Just head straight to the garden. That’s where the stage is set up."
"Alright." Tong Airui took Yi Luowa’s hand and walked out the door.
The two of them wandered slowly, admiring the palace scenery while chatting.
Yi Luowa tilted her head toward Tong Airui. "Honey, is it that you can’t drink, or you don’t know how to drink?"
"I can drink, but I can’t afford to. Drinking leads to trouble. In my position, I must remain disciplined," Tong Airui said with a smile, gazing at her. "I heard you hold your liquor pretty well. That first time you won a car race, you downed a whole cup of champagne. How did you feel afterward?"
Yi Luowa glared at him playfully. "Right after drinking, I felt completely fine. But when the effects kicked in, I felt like a goddess floating in the clouds for two days."
Tong Airui burst into laughter. "That’s why I didn’t even ask—I just dragged you out of there."
"Sigh... After that incident, I never touched alcohol again." Yi Luowa scratched her head and glanced around. "Where are we headed?"
"The sleeping quarters," Tong Airui replied with a smile.
"Heading back to the sleeping quarters so early?" Yi Luowa muttered with displeasure, still thinking about the upcoming performance.
"Haha..." Tong Airui laughed, ruffling her hair firmly. "What are you thinking? My second uncle is resting alone in the sleeping quarters right now. Don’t you want to spend some time with him?"
Yi Luowa smacked her forehead in frustration. "With Huo Li taking care of my second uncle recently, I almost forgot my own responsibilities. If Second Uncle finds out I’m so careless, he’ll definitely be hurt."
"You’re not to blame. You’ve had so much on your plate, and besides, Huo Li has been taking excellent care of him—there’s nothing for you to worry about." Tong Airui clasped her hand tightly. "By the way, why isn’t Huo Li here this time?"
"At first, she said she was coming, but later claimed that her status wasn’t appropriate for attending Ai Ni’s wedding." Yi Luowa pouted. "She’s been acting kind of odd lately. I asked her about it, and she said it’s just one of those days every month when women don’t feel great. She’s brushing me off. I’ll ask her again when I return."
"Why have I never noticed you feeling moody?" Tong Airui asked with a grin.
Yi Luowa shrugged. "I’m usually fine. On the contrary, your reactions are worse than mine."
"Only the person feeling it knows how bad it is!" Tong Airui smiled helplessly and embraced her, walking slowly toward the sleeping quarters. "Just one more month, and it’ll be your birthday. Do you have any plans? If you don’t, I’m going to make some for you."
Yi Luowa shook her head quickly. "You three didn’t celebrate your birthdays, so I won’t celebrate mine either."
"On our birthdays, Ai Ni was in S Country, Aino was in Raman, and I was left on my own, busy until midnight before coming home—no chance to celebrate. Anyway, I’ve already received your gift, the best one I’ve ever had in my whole life."
Tong Airui’s lips curved slightly; he vividly remembered the scene from that day. He hadn’t expected his little wife to gift herself to him.
"Wife, where did you buy that outfit you wore for my birthday? I want to have someone pick up a dozen of them."
Yi Luowa instinctively held her waist. "Who knows where Huo Li found that! I swear I’ll never wear something like that again. Just thinking about that day makes my waist ache."
"Where does it hurt? I’ll rub it for you." Tong Airui’s large hand on her waist began to misbehave again.
Yi Luowa puffed up her cheeks and glared at him angrily.
From a hidden corner, Shi Qing shot them a venomous look before turning back toward the direction they had come.
Yi Luowa and Tong Airui finally arrived at Yi Weiyang’s sleeping quarters, where the three of them chatted for a while. Yi Luowa eventually brought up Huo Li. "Second Uncle, what’s going on with Huo Li lately?"
Yi Weiyang paused. "What’s wrong with her?"
"She seems pretty down."
Yi Weiyang furrowed his brows slightly. "She’s just being temperamental. She’ll get over it soon enough."
Yi Luowa pouted, puffing up her rosy cheeks. "Second Uncle, do you know why she’s upset? So I can give her some targeted advice to cheer her up."
Yi Weiyang deliberately avoided Yi Luowa’s gaze. "How would I know what’s on a woman’s mind?"
"You understand me so well, though! Whenever I start sulking, you immediately figure out why."
"You grew up under my watch. How could anything you do escape me?" Yi Weiyang rubbed his forehead. "Huo Li used to be as straightforward as you before her accident. Now she’s changed—if she has concerns, she refuses to share them anymore."
Yi Luowa sighed. "I’ll have a talk with her once I return."
Yi Weiyang glanced at the time. "It’s almost showtime. Aren’t you two going to watch?"
"Second Uncle, are you coming?" Tong Airui stood up to ask.
Yi Weiyang smiled and shook his head. "I’m a bit tired. You two go ahead."
Yi Luowa looked at her second uncle with concern. "Let me help you take off your prosthetic so you can rest early."
"I can do it myself. You two go and enjoy the show."
Under Yi Weiyang’s urging, Yi Luowa and Tong Airui left the sleeping quarters. After walking a short distance, Yi Luowa finally spoke up. "Honey, I think Second Uncle definitely knows why Huo Li is upset. He just doesn’t want to tell me."
"If Second Uncle doesn’t want to talk about it, then don’t ask. I feel like he might have his own concerns as well. Let’s deal with it all when we get back..."
"Drink! Pour me another glass! Ugh... Another one!" Bert’s voice rang out not far away. Tong Airui looked over to see two servants helping him wobble in their direction.
"Why is he drunk?" Tong Airui frowned as Bert moved closer.
Bert staggered unsteadily, raising his hand in an attempt to pat Tong Airui’s shoulder but always missing by just a bit. "Airui, have a drink with me! Ugh..."
Bert hiccupped and reached for Tong Airui’s hand.
Tong Airui dodged his grasp and said to the servants, "Get him back to rest. Make sure he lies on his side!"
The servants responded and helped Bert toward the sleeping quarters.
Even as he was led away, Bert kept shouting, "Airui, come drink!"
Tong Airui shook his head helplessly. "Bert’s drinking capacity is better than Aino’s, but he’s the one who passed out first."
"With Connie by his side, Aino wouldn’t drink too much," Yi Luowa giggled. "It seems like men do need a woman by their side."
"So, you’re saying it’s lucky I have you around?"
"I’m neither a virtuous wife nor necessarily a good mother—you got the short end of the stick marrying me."
"But I feel like I got an incredibly good deal."
Tong Airui crouched down with a grin. "Get on. I’ll carry you."
"What for? People will see us!"
"What’s there to be afraid of? Hurry up. We’ve still got some distance to cover to reach the garden. You’re wearing new shoes today—I don’t want your feet to hurt."
Yi Luowa checked the surroundings before climbing onto his back.
As he carried her along, Yi Luowa swung her little feet happily and asked, "Honey, am I heavy?"
"Not as heavy as a gun."
"Tsk~" Yi Luowa rolled her eyes.
Tong Airui gave her a playful smack on the bottom. "That sounded pretty dismissive. Next time, I’ll show you some new weapons. If you can lift one, you can name any reward, and I’ll give it to you."
"Alright! I’ll start thinking about what I want."
Laughing and chatting, the two finally reached the garden. At the entrance, Yi Luowa jumped down, and they walked in hand-in-hand.
The garden was graced with a grand stage that looked radiant under the spotlight.
A servant led them to their designated seats.
Sitting nearby, Tong Yao glanced at her son with concern and asked, "You two didn’t drink, did you?"
Tong Airui smiled and shook his head.
Tong Yao sighed with relief. "Lu Jia and Bert drank too much, and I was worried about you. Luckily, you made it here safely."
Tong Airui patted his mother’s hand reassuringly. "Don’t worry. I won’t embarrass you while we’re out."
Tong Yao smiled contentedly. "Aino did well today too—he didn’t drink excessively."
Sitting on the far side, Tong Aino leaned forward and joked, "Mom, are you talking bad about me again?"
Long Che tapped him firmly. "Sit properly! The show’s starting."
Music began to play on stage, and the audience instantly fell silent, fully absorbed in the performers’ dazzling acts.
Near the end of the show, several servants suddenly rushed into the venue. Shortly after, Carlos, Clarissa, Ni Lu, Jack, Royce, and Leon left the hall hastily.
Long Che furrowed his brow and exchanged a glance with his eldest son across Tong Yao.
"Something might have happened," Tong Airui mouthed silently.
"Since they didn’t call us, we won’t interfere." Long Che snorted lightly.
Tong Airui nodded in agreement.
Tong Yao, seeing that father and son quietly returned to their seats, said worriedly to Long Che, "I wonder what happened. Shouldn’t we go and check?"
"I’ll have someone look into it."
Just as Long Che finished speaking, Yuan Hang entered and whispered a few words in Tong Airui’s ear.
Tong Airui’s face darkened instantly.
