Afterlife Department

18:30. 

Everyone's attention was immediately caught when a handsome man dressed in a swallow-tail coat appeared and walked towards the center of the stage. When everyone saw that a microphone is in his hand, they all realized that it was the emcee. 

"Oh, my god! Even the servants are good-looking!" a female celebrity guest exclaimed and her cheeks flushed because of admiration and excitement. 

"Shush!" someone gestured to her in the table beside them. 

The female celebrity immediately fell silent. She knows no one should be provoked here. "Lei Shan." She called to the tall and handsome man sitting beside her. 

Lei Shan is her senior in their company.. She was very lucky to be here because Lei Shan chose her as his female companion. Of course, she didn't dare to have thoughts towards Lei Shan even though she was chosen. 

"I'm sorry." She apologized and hung her head. 

"Let's just watch." Lei Shan told her. 

"Okay!" her spirit immediately lifted. Although he didn't admonish her, but she now behaved herself. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant evening to you all." The emcee started. He spoke some welcoming words with a smile before he halted his speech. "Without further ado, let us all welcome the royal family!" he said and motioned his hand with a bow. 

Everyone rose from their seats and clapped as they all subtly craned their neck to have a better look at the gran staircase where the royal family will descend. 

"His Royal Highness Jason Matthew Baurne – " the emcee announced as Jason Baurne appeared. " – with his husband, Maxwell Campbell, and their son, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Justin Peter Baurne!" he spoke. 

Jason Baurne stopped in the middle and turned to Maxwell who appeared, together with Justin standing beside and holding his hand tight. Jason's smile became warmer as he waited for his family to reach him. Then, he held Maxwell's hand tight and, together, the three of them descended the stairs and were welcomed with a loud applause. 

"I – " Maxwell muttered under his breath when he felt everyone's gazes on them three. 

Jason winked at him. "You're breathtaking." He whispered. 

Maxwell immediately blushed and he shyly lowered his gaze. But, a sweet smile is on his lips. "Ah." He muttered when he saw that there was no one on their table. Hao Baiyun and Gu Xingfeng didn't sit. 

Jason followed his gaze and he helplessly smiled. "Uncle Kane will arrange it." He said as he pulled the chair for Maxwell to sit before he sat beside Maxwell. Meanwhile, Justin sat on the seat on the other side of Jason. He's very well-behaved. 

"His Royal Highness Jonathan Alexis Baurne!" the emcee announced. "Together with his husband, Lu Si." He said. 

Jonathan and Lu Si appeared and then coolly descended the stairs. Both their actions are very synchronized. 

"You've arrived on time." Jason spoke as Jonathan and Lu Si sat on their seat.

"His Royal Highness, James Hendry Baurne!" the emcee spoke and turned to Jason's father who is now descending the stairs. 

James doesn't like to be on the limelight, thus he hurriedly sat on the table. If not for Huo Ling, his nephew, he wouldn't be present in this party tonight. 

The emcee and the royal family. "…" he's so fast! They thought. 

The emcee recovered his composure. "His Majesty – " he spoke. 

Everyone immediately held their breath as they looked at the man that appeared on the gran staircase. 

" – Joseph Winston Baurne!" the emcee spoke before he clapped his hands. 

Everyone followed suit. Joseph, although old, but his eyes are full of spirit. He walked towards the emcee and the emcee handed the microphone to him. Then, he spoke some welcoming words before he joined his family on their table and he sat on the main seat. 

The woman who is accompanying Lei Shan tonight whispered to Lei Shan. "The royal family is small in number." She said. Her voice has a faint disappointment. "And they appointed the crown prince position this early." She added and looked at the adorable Justin. 

Lei Shan nodded. The woman didn't speak anymore and just waited for the main star of the night to appear – Huo Ling. 

"Now, for the main celebrant – " the emcee spoke without any nonsense. " – let's all welcome, His Royal Highness Howee Jackson Baurne!" he said and clapped his hands. 

"He's here!" the female celebrity exclaimed and excitedly patted Lei Shan's shoulder. It was her first time to see Huo Ling's face earlier in the news. Although the news followed after that didn't show Huo Ling's face again, but Huo Ling's face was already embedded in her mind. 

She didn't feel any attraction, but just pure admiration. Those amber eyes are clear and bright, showing full innocence struck her heart. It's as if she felt impure when she saw his eyes and subconsciously wanted to present the best of her. 

Lei Shan decided to ignore her and watched together with everybody as Huo Ling appeared. The royal family all rose from their seat when the last member of their family celebrating their birthday appeared on the grand staircase. 

Everyone held their breath when they saw a tall man brown hair that was brushed up, showing his clean forehead, appeared together with a slender woman wearing a mask. Tonight's party will be a masquerade ball and everybody brought their own mask with them that is matching their clothes. So, the female companion of the prince wearing a mask isn't surprising. Instead, they thought that this woman would definitely be very beautiful and the prince hid her beauty this early so that no one would approach her. 

Of course, they wouldn't dare approach her since she was already labeled as the prince's. No one found any strangeness with the pair, except for two people, and those who are already in the know. And these two people are Hao Baiyun and Gu Xingfeng who are standing with the head butler, waiting for them both be invited by the birthday celebrant. 

"Huh?" Hao Baiyun muttered and his brows knitted. His expression looked bewildered. "Has Huo Ling been this tall?" he asked. 

Gu Xingfeng didn't answer. 

"Also, his body… did he go to a gym the past days to relieve his stress?" Hao Baiyun added. 

The head butler didn't make a sound. Instead, he just smiled. His smile is profound as they all watched 'Huo Ling' held the microphone and gave a speech before he helped his female companion walk towards their table. Then, he raised his head and accurately looked at the direction where Hao Baiyun and Gu Xingfeng stood. 

The head butler immediately moved and guided the two towards the front while the emcee introduced Hao Baiyun and Gu Xingfeng as the prince's friends. Everyone watched with envy, while Hao Baiyun's and Gu Xingfeng's families felt honored because their sons are friends with the prince. 

Huo Ling nodded at everyone, then to his family, before he pulled the seat for her before he sat himself on his seat, together with the royal family, Hao Baiyun and Gu Xingfeng. The emcee then spoke some words before the dinner began. Then, he introduced the entertainers for tonight – a singer, a band, and a theater troupe. 

While having a dinner, 'Huo Ling' raised his head and met a gaze. Then, he glanced at the head butler standing at the side. The head butler immediately went to welcome the guest that arrived. Everyone was busy eating and didn't see this small exchange, nor noticed that a person was added on the royal family's table. 

'Huo Ling' placed some food on his female companion's plate before he turned to the royal family, Hao Baiyun and Gu Xingfeng. "Qi Shan." He introduced the newcomer. 

Hao Baiyun, who was clueless before, has already realized during dinner that 'Huo Ling' is Yi Bing. Then… where is Huo Ling? He thought and frowned. He nodded and smiled at Qi Shan and introduced himself before he focused on his meal. Gu Xingfeng did the same and resumed eating. 

Meanwhile, Qi Shan looked as calm as ever. He glanced at Jonathan and Lu Si. Yi Bing has introduced him to them earlier, as well as to the other members of the royal family, so none questioned him. The head butler personally served him his meal and everyone resumed eating a warm meal while talking about some trifling matters. But, they are secretly wary towards a certain man boisterously laughing with some people sitting on the same table with him. 

He is none other than Kong Chuan. They could've just banned him from going to the party tonight and arrest him, but they didn't do it. It's because the guest list for Huo Ling's birthday party was already publicly announced, thus some people who are eagerly waiting for the birthday party to be broadcasted live is expecting for these guests to appear. If they arrested Kong Chuan, the people would know that something happened to the royal family. Huo Ling's birthday party might be ruined. 

Thus, they didn't do anything, aside from secretly plotting and raising their guard towards him.