Villain? No, I'll catch up with the protagonist after passing the civil service exam.

The next morning.

The early autumn mist had not yet completely dissipated.

A convoy of black Mercedes-Benz cars, adorned with red ribbons, marched grandly down the main road of Jinghai City.

The wheels rolled over speed bumps on the asphalt road, making a dull screech of rubber. A faint smell of gasoline emanated from the exhaust pipe.

Lu Jingyan sat in the back of the lead car.

He wasn't wearing his police uniform today. He had changed into a well-tailored black bespoke suit.

The fabric is crisp and structured. The lines at the shoulders are full and firm.

A bright red silk flower was pinned to the lapel on his left breast. A red ribbon with gold trim hung down below, printed with the words "Best Man".

The tip of the safety pin scraped against the fabric. It was a little in the way.

Lu Jingyan raised his hand and used his rough fingertips to straighten the red flower.

The man next to me was so nervous he kept rubbing his hands together.

Too much hairspray was used, and the carriage smelled strongly of apple essence.

"Second brother, do you think my bow tie is crooked?" The eldest brother tugged at the red bow tie around his neck, his forehead covered in a thin layer of sweat.

"It's not crooked." Lu Jingyan placed his hand on his knee.

"This is a wedding procession, don't let anything go wrong." The older brother took a deep breath, his hands trembling so much that he couldn't even feel the car door handle properly.

"Don't worry. I'm here."

Lu Jingyan's voice was not loud. It was calm and steady, which greatly reduced the anxiety in the carriage.

"You promised me, you have to keep an eye on security today." The older brother swallowed.

Lu Jingyan didn't reply. He turned his head and looked at the street scene rushing past the window.

The wedding procession went smoothly.

There were no messy wedding pranks. When the bridesmaids saw Lu Jingyan's cold and hard face, they even skipped three of the door-blocking games.

11:00 AM.

The convoy stopped in front of the largest seven-star hotel in Jinghai City.

The glass revolving door rotates back and forth. Cold air escapes from the door.

The banquet hall is on the third floor.

The entire hall was covered with a thick red carpet. It was so soft and yielding that it seemed to absorb all the sound of footsteps.

A huge crystal chandelier hung overhead. The white light shone on the round table laden with wine glasses, somewhat dazzling.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of expensive perfumes and high-end liquor fermentation.

This is quite a spectacle.

The woman's family is in the building materials business, and the man's family has also invited many prominent social figures.

Next to the main table, several VIP tables were already full of people.

A fat man with slicked-back hair was leaning against the back of a chair covered with a golden yellow cover.

He was holding two strings of small-leaf sandalwood beads, the walnut-sized beads clinking together.

This man is called Master Li.

He used to run an underground bank in the southern part of the city. He employed about a hundred thugs and always carried several machetes when he went out.

Later, Lu Jingyan rounded up the whole gang and sent them to the Northwest to dig sand for three years. They were just released last year and have now transitioned to the legitimate building materials business.

"Hey waiter! Why is this tea cold? Go and get a new pot of Da Hong Pao."

Uncle Li had a thick cigar between his fingers. He didn't light it, just held it in his mouth and chewed it to satisfy his craving.

He glanced at the business owners at the table, his tone revealing the arrogance of someone who used to be a big shot.

"I'm not saying this is bad, but the banquet today is just so-so. Last time I had this at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai..."

He was bragging.

A thin, bony man approached from the side, holding a glass of baijiu (Chinese liquor).

This is a familiar face. Nicknamed "Viper," he used to work as a sewing machine operator after smuggling contraband from interstellar space.

"Third Master, I heard that the groom's best man today is a big shot?" Viper asked in a low voice.

Master Li chuckled.

He slammed the cigar on the table, making a loud thud.

"What big shot? In Jinghai City, besides those guys from the Special Investigation Team, who else is more powerful than the heavens? Even if the King of Heaven himself came today, he'd have to pour me, Li Laosan, a drink!"

He slammed his hand on the table, making the bone plates on it clang loudly.

Several other business owners nearby quickly followed suit with smiles and agreement.

Just then.

A commotion arose at the entrance of the hall.

The emcee, microphone in hand, shouted at the top of his lungs, "Please welcome the bride and groom!"

The wedding march suddenly roared in. The bass from the speakers sent shivers down everyone's spines.

Third Master Li touched his belly and stood up.

He planned to take his wine glass to the head table and assert his authority as an elder. He also wanted to establish a reputation with the groom's family, making future business negotiations easier.

He carried a half-empty glass of Moutai. His leather shoes swayed confidently across the red carpet as he strode forward.

I had just walked to the side and behind the main table.

A tall man in a black suit was standing at the intersection of the main table and the aisle.

The man's hands were folded together and hung casually in front of him.

His back was as straight as a steel bar. A section of the white shirt edge peeked out from the cuff of his suit jacket.

The red flower on the best man's chest rose and fell slightly with his breathing.

Third Master Li's gaze moved upwards along the red flower.

I got a clear look at that profile.

Her jawline is sharp and well-defined. Her short, black hair looks clean and refreshing without any hairspray.

The man seemed to have sensed something.

Turn your head to the side.

His deep black eyes swept over silently. There was no anger, or even much emotion.

It's like looking at a bag of damp cement piled up on the roadside.

Li Sanye's feet felt like they were nailed to the ground.

He swallowed the cigar bits he was chewing down his throat.

"cough!"

He got stuck. His face instantly turned a deep purplish-red.

The half-glass of Moutai he was holding swayed slightly, spilling some of the liquor onto his expensive trousers.

He was completely unaware that the cold liquor was sticking to his thighs.

I could only feel a chill emanating from the gaps in my back bones.

This...this face...

Even if he were reduced to ashes, Li Laosan would still recognize him!

He was a living saint who single-handedly stormed into the underground bank, broke three of his ribs with one foot, and sent him to dig sand for three years!

That cosmic deity who supposedly disarmed the alien fleet!

"Third Master? Why aren't you leaving?"

The venomous snake followed behind, peering out and asking a question.

Following Li Sanye's stiff gaze, I looked over.

The snake's fangs snapped shut instantly. The upper and lower teeth clashed, making a clicking sound.

With a tremor of his hand, the liquor glass fell onto the red carpet with a "clatter." The glass didn't break, but the liquor spilled all over the floor.

The two stood in the middle of the passageway, their legs trembling.

Lu Jingyan turned around.

He looked at the two pale-faced acquaintances and took half a step forward.

The leather shoes made no sound when they stepped on the blanket.

"Li Laosan".

Lu Jingyan spoke. His voice wasn't loud, and it was mostly drowned out by the surrounding wedding music.

But to Master Li, it was louder than an antimatter cannon exploding.

"Sir, sir..."

Old Master Li suddenly slammed his legs together. He didn't dare make a sound with the beads in his hands, clutching them tightly in his sweaty palms.

My waist involuntarily bent at a ninety-degree angle.

"I...I've come to offer my congratulations...and give you a gift." He stammered, his tongue barely moving.

Lu Jingyan put his hands into his trouser pockets.

"Today is my older brother's wedding." He looked at the other person. "I'll take care of the security."

Just this one sentence.

Li Sanye felt like his heart was about to stop beating.

"Understood! I definitely won't cause you any trouble!"

He was covered in sweat and took three steps backward.

Then he suddenly turned around, grabbed the terrified snake, and practically tumbled and crawled back to the VIP table.

The business tycoons at the VIP table were still unaware of what was going on.

"Third Master, aren't you going to offer a toast?" A shopkeeper handed him a cigarette.

"Respect my ass!"

Third Master Li pushed the cigarette away and frantically wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

He plopped back down in his chair, his hands on his knees, his back ramrod straight.

Just like when I was in the prison canteen back then, I was very disciplined, listening to the guards' lectures.

"Sit up straight, everyone! No one is allowed to make a sound!" He gritted his teeth and warned his tablemates in a low voice.

"At this banquet today, even dropping a chopstick is considered disorderly conduct! Everyone, just eat your food!"

The business owners exchanged bewildered glances. But seeing Master Li's deathly pale face, they dared not ask any further questions and straightened their posture.

This eerie silence spread through the guest area like a cold virus.

Not long after.

Those big shots who used to be involved in the underworld but later reformed all recognized the best man standing next to the head table.

The banquet hall, which was just moments ago bustling with noise and clinking glasses, is now quiet.

Suddenly it became quiet.

They stopped playing drinking games. Their voices became barely audible.

Even the waiters were puzzled. These bosses, who usually act all high and mighty, were being unusually careful with their food today, as if afraid of breaking the plates and bowls.

Then came the toasting ceremony.

The bride and groom walked off the stage with their wine glasses in hand.

Logically speaking, these seasoned veterans would definitely take the opportunity to put on airs, manipulate the groom's family, and make some harmless lewd jokes.

result.

Master Li took the lead. Dozens of bigwigs dressed in designer suits stood up in unison.

They left their seats and lined up in a straight one-way line.

The line was so neat it looked like they were doing morning exercises in a detention center square.

Li Sanye held his wine glass so low that the rim almost touched the groom's belt buckle.

"Wishing you a long and happy marriage. We are both law-abiding citizens."

He held the cup with both hands, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp. He drank so fast that tears welled up in his eyes, but he didn't dare cough a sound.

The groom, who was also Lu Jingyan's older brother, held a wine glass with a blank expression.

He turned his head and glanced at Lu Jingyan, who was following behind him.

Lu Jingyan's lips twitched subtly, a half-smile playing on his lips.

He raised his hand and touched the red flower on his chest.

His gaze swept over the row of bigwigs standing ramrod straight.

No one dared to look him in the eye. Those whose gaze swept over them unconsciously hunched their backs.

On a side table in the corner of the hall.

A white tablecloth was laid out. On the table was a plate of freshly served garlic lobster.

Zhao Tiezhu was wearing a tight-fitting gray suit. His tie was undone and hung crookedly around his neck.

He was holding a red lobster claw in his hand, and was using his large molars to crack open the hard shell.

Bruce sat beside him, dressed in a black suit, head down, cutting the steak into square pieces with a knife and fork.

The two were identified as relatives or friends of the man, mingling among the guests to freeload off him.

"Click."

The lobster shell broke. Zhao Tiezhu slurped up a mouthful of the salty, savory shrimp juice inside.

He looked up at the group of big bosses lining up to offer toasts not far away.

She then glanced at Lu Jingyan, who stood motionless to the side.

Zhao Tiezhu wiped the oil off his mouth with a tissue.

He nudged Bruce, who was eating steak, with his elbow, and leaned his large body closer.

Zhao Tiezhu and Bruce, dressed in suits, mingled among the guests. Zhao Tiezhu muttered to himself, "Goodness, with the director standing here, this wedding is more solemn and serious than a courtroom."