**Chapter 59: Birthday Banquet**
Mushroom, as a rich loli—well, she could barely be considered a loli. She rarely encountered difficulties, as any problem that could be solved with money wasn’t a real problem. Seeing the constant stream of messages popping up, it was clear she had run into a major one this time.
Xia Feng called her back. “What is it?”
“Are you okay? Are you sick?” Mushroom asked, confused.
“No, no, don’t you know me? I disappear for periods from time to time,” Xia Feng urged. “Get to the point.”
“Oh! Right!” Mushroom’s tone immediately shifted, becoming serious and deep. “Feng, I need you to accompany me to a banquet.”
“A banquet? What banquet?”
“It’s Lister’s 50th birthday banquet.”
“Lister?” Xia Feng paused. The Hydrangea Earl’s birthday banquet, huh. He did remember Uncle Wei mentioning it and asking if he wanted to go. He had naturally declined; such noble social events were pointless to him. Mushroom’s mother had passed away early, and her father was a noble. Xia Feng had only heard her mention that she had a very bad relationship with her father, but she hadn’t elaborated. He hadn’t asked for more details; it was a sensitive topic for her.
“Your father is forcing you to go to the Earl’s birthday banquet, right?” Xia Feng guessed the reason.
“Close enough, pretty much,” Mushroom mumbled in a low voice.
“Pretty much?”
“Yes, actually, my father is the Hydrangea Earl. He said I must attend this year’s birthday banquet.”
“Oh, your father is the Earl,” Xia Feng said softly, nodding. He then paused for a full two seconds, his mouth slowly widening, his eyes bulging open: “Ah?”
“Please, don’t blame me. I didn’t mean to keep it from you.”
“…”
“Hello? Are you still listening?” Mushroom’s crisp voice sounded from the phone, full of confusion.
Xia Feng coughed. “Your Highness, it was my fault for not recognizing your eminence before and offending you. I even tried to be your dad. Do you think I can still be saved?”
Seeing this, Mushroom’s large eyes sparkled. “How about you wear a dress? Then I’ll forgive you~”
“Heh! Goodbye—”
“Hey, hey, don’t hang up! You haven’t agreed to accompany me to the banquet yet!”
“You have to tell me the reason, though! Why do you need me to go with you?” Xia Feng asked, puzzled.
“I… this is the first time I’ve gone back in so many years, and I have social anxiety,” Mushroom’s voice trailed off, becoming lower. “Besides, my elder brother always pressures me to call that vixen ‘Mom’. I definitely won’t do it—”
“Alright, I understand. When is the banquet?”
“Tomorrow night at seven. You must come!”
Xia Feng smiled. “Don’t worry, don’t worry. I’ll be there to support you. I promise you won’t be bullied by anyone.”
“Mhm!”
After chatting for a while longer, he hung up the phone. He took out his {Location Card} and looked at it. On the grid map on the back, two light spots, one red and one blue, were blinking. Red was Player 11, and blue was him. The scale below the grid map showed: 1 segment equals 5000 kilometers. The red and blue light spots were separated by more than eight segments. It looked like Player 11 was somewhere in Area 48, a considerable distance from Area 51. To reach that location would take at least a day or two.
“Buzz—”
His phone vibrated again, and Xia Feng glanced at it. It was rare; it was a text message from the World-Ending Witch.
[Experience Pack: Are you free tomorrow night?]
[Xia Feng: No.]
[Experience Pack: Do me a favor.]
!
[Xia Feng: I said I’m not free, hello!]
[Experience Pack: Accompany me to a banquet.]
“…”
[Xia Feng: The Earl’s birthday banquet?]
After a while, Mu Qingtong called directly. Her calm, gentle voice began, “The Earl has two sons. Both liked me. The second son died, and the eldest son still sends flowers to the Mu Clan manor every month…”
“Oh, I get it. The classic cliché. You want me to be a shield for you, right?”
“Not a shield for me. You are already my fiancé. This is your duty,” Mu Qingtong said softly and gently.
Xia Feng rolled his eyes slightly. “Duty? What about the rights?”
“What did you say?” Mu Qingtong’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.
“Oh, I was saying the moon is really round tonight. I’m going to sleep now. Goodbye!”
“He agreed?”
“I don’t have many strengths, but I am kind-hearted. I didn’t want to attend the banquet myself, but since you’ve sincerely requested it, I’ll reluctantly help— *Beep*— *Beep*—”
Before he could finish speaking, a long dialing tone echoed from the phone. Xia Feng looked at the screen in confusion and muttered, “So rude.”
“Buzz—”
Just as he was about to put down his phone to take a bath, the screen vibrated again.
[Old Wei: Are you free tomorrow night?]
“Good heavens, that familiar opening.”
[Xia Feng: Let me guess, the Earl’s birthday banquet, right?]
[Old Wei: Kid, whether you want to go or not, you have to go this time. Lord Earl specifically asked to see you!]
