"I told you," he murmured. "Our time doesn't end, it just evolves. And tonight, we have only just begun to let the world see what we have built."
She smiled up at him, the light catching the glint in her eyes. "Let them see. Let them remember."
The music swelled, then faded. Applause followed, a swell of appreciation, of admiration, and beneath it all, of recognition.
The Lu family had stepped into the light, and the world was watching.
As the applause faded and the second piece of music began, other couples joined the floor. But the attention still lingered on the Lu family, on the striking balance of elegance and power they carried so effortlessly.
Lu Zhi Hao and Wan Ruyi drifted toward the edge of the dance floor, allowing their children space to be seen, to move, to lead. This, too, was part of the design. A quiet handoff, deliberate and natural.
Lu Zi Zhen danced with the elegance of a man born to diplomacy. His movements were controlled, his conversation charming, already weaving connections that would echo in boardrooms and government corridors alike.
Ting Cheng was quieter, more cerebral, but his sharp eyes missed nothing. As his partner laughed at something he said, he used that moment to scan the room—every face, every rival, every potential ally. Calculating.
And Ting Zhou—His movements were slightly less polished, but there was something genuine in them that drew attention. The daughter of the cultural ambassador smiled warmly at him, her earlier reserve softening.
From the sidelines, several ministers murmured to one another:
"They're not just showing power tonight. They're showing succession."
"Who do you think would succeed him? Lu Zi Zhen or Lu Ting Cheng?"
"They already have high positions in the company. Ting Cheng is a CEO, and Lu Zi Zhen is a FINANCE DIRECTOR... Already succeeding in their respective roles."
"Zhi Hao is thinking three generations ahead."
"He has always been a long-game strategist."
Near the grand staircase, the press kept a respectful distance, but cameras clicked steadily. Flashes caught moments that would be tomorrow's headlines—"The Legacy of Lu: A Family That Defines Power."
Lu Zhi Hao reached for a glass of juice from a passing tray held by their men and handed one to Wan Ruyi.
"They are doing well," she said, her eyes following their children.
"They are being seen," he corrected gently, watching Ting Zhou help his partner with her bracelet mid-dance. "Which is the first step to being remembered?"
She turned to him with a smirk. "Always the strategist."
He touched the rim of his glass to hers. "Always the protector."
They toasted quietly—no grand gesture, just a shared moment in the shadows of their family's rising legacy.
Soon, other couples got over to the dancing floor as Lu Zi Zhen and other boys stepped out of it. Their partners went back to their parents as they went around toasting and having a little chat here and there until they were exhausted.
They took a seat on the couch while facing their parents, who were seated on the other single couch a few steps away from them.
The brothers barely had time to settle into the plush couch before a soft rustle of evening gowns and a waft of expensive perfume signaled an incoming presence approaching them.
Lu Zi Zhen, ever composed, was the first to glance up.
A trio of young women, all dressed in elegant silks and satin, approached with careful steps and confident smiles pasted on their faces, knowing what kind of families they came from, daughters of diplomats, business tycoons, and high-ranking officials. Each one poised, each one clearly aware of who they were walking toward.