Chapter 62: Wild Banquet

"Jason, quickly give Uncle Steve and Sister Jenny a hug! Be polite, you understand?"

Xu Wang drove the car and called out without looking back.

"No, no, no, no! No need, no need! Really no need!"

Steve hurriedly refused, pulling Jenny along as he sidled away in a desperate attempt to avoid Jason.

However, the backseat of a car was only so big, and Jason's hugs were not so easily evaded.

Amidst two piercing screams, Mr. and Mrs. Steve were swept into a crushing bear hug by Jason.

His robust pectoral muscles compressed the pair, distorting both Steve's and Jenny's faces out of shape.

Yet, faced with the overwhelming enthusiasm of Jason and Xu Wang, the two found it hard to refuse.

After all, they had only recently received help from Xu Wang—the monumental kind of help that saves lives.

Even so, while Jason might be simple-minded, his strength was truly terrifying.

Even though Jason had already held back his strength, the couple still felt as though they were being squeezed to the point of agony.

Their mouths fell open involuntarily, and their souls felt as though they were about to be squeezed right out of their bodies.

Their minds even instinctively began to flash through the revolving lantern of past memories.

Steve couldn't help but wonder: When on earth had he ever hugged Jason when he was a child?

It seemed there was no such memory.

Thus, a sudden realization struck him with cold terror: Had he somehow managed to board a runaway pirate ship?

Xu Wang was even more unreliable than he had imagined.

Fortunately, Jason didn't actually intend to choke Steve and the others to death.

After holding them for a few agonizing seconds, he finally released his grip, leaving the two slumped like limp piles of mud across the seats.

Xu Wang glanced back through the rearview mirror and said cheerfully, "Look, Jason, the two of them are so happy they've passed out. Everyone really likes you, you know. You need to have some confidence, kid! You're a big star!"

Jason looked down at the couple, then up at Xu Wang, and happily raised both hands, the eyes behind his mask curving into cheerful crescents.

Mr. and Mrs. Steve had no idea how long they had been unconscious.

They were jolted awake by the sudden swaying of the vehicle.

The moment they sat up, they realized the car had already stopped.

In fact, Xu Wang and the others had already gotten out.

Anyone who has ever taken a long-distance car ride during childhood knows the feeling.

Due to motion sickness or sheer exhaustion, falling asleep in a car only to wake up and find oneself already at the destination brings about a magical, trance-like sense of isolation and otherworldly detachment.

Right now, that was the exact sensation gripping Steve and Jenny.

Clutching their heads, the two of them stumbled unsteadily out of the car.

Breathing in the fresh air outside, the young couple finally began to feel somewhat better.

"Hey, Xu Wang, have we arrived?"

Looking at a small park ahead adorned with countless balloons, Steve figured this must be the venue prepared for Jason's birthday party.

"We should have found it."

Xu Wang planted his hands on his hips and nodded with satisfaction.

"Huh? What do you mean by *should* have found it?"

For some reason, as Steve and Jenny exchanged glances, a sudden, ominous premonition washed over them.

"Let's go! Jason, this is the birthday party I found for you—enjoy it to the fullest! Get hyped!"

Xu Wang tapped his personal terminal, kicking off a lively tune, and strode forward into the grounds, leading Jason and Tiezhu along with him.

"Should we really go in?"

Jenny, whose intuition had always been reliable, hesitated.

"Let's go in. Aren't we supposed to celebrate Jason's birthday?"

Steve figured there shouldn't be any problem; the place certainly looked like it was prepared for some kind of event.

Jenny thought about it and decided it should be fine.

Mostly, she simply couldn't imagine what kind of trouble could possibly arise.

Seeing that Xu Wang and the others had already passed the courtyard walls and were almost out of sight, she quickly hurried to catch up.

Upon entering the park, Steve and Jenny instantly felt their tension ease.

There was no problem at all.

This was simply a very ordinary outdoor banquet venue.

Clean green lawns were dotted with tables displaying buffet spreads, and colorful balloons decorated the surroundings, accompanied by fresh flowers and statues.

Deep within the venue, the pair even spotted a massive cake.

"There are quite a lot of people here."

Having just cheated death in a desolate wasteland, the sight of this peaceful, open-air banquet made the couple once again appreciate the tranquility of civilization.

It made them relax significantly.

"Our clothes are much too dirty right now. Wouldn't it be a bit impolite?"

Jenny felt deeply embarrassed as she took in the sight of the surrounding guests dressed in formal suits and evening gowns.

Just then, a master of ceremonies dressed in a white suit hurriedly approached them.

He looked at the two with a suspicious gaze: "You must be Steve and Jenny, right?"

"Yes, is there something we can help you with?"

The couple blinked in surprise.

The emcee didn't actually know what was going on either.

He glanced toward Xu Wang in the distance and pointed a finger: "That gentleman over there asked me to take you to change your clothes."

Upon seeing Xu Wang, a wave of sudden understanding washed over Steve!

Jenny also chimed in happily, "That's wonderful! We were just fretting over this. He's so thoughtful."

The emcee scratched his head: "I shouldn't speak out of turn, but shouldn't you have put your clothes on before coming here?"

"I'm so sorry, it was all rather sudden."

Jenny quickly pulled Steve along to apologize.

"No worries, we prepared in advance precisely to handle situations like this. Follow me, we need to hurry."

With that, the emcee turned and led the way toward a nearby building.

Completely reassured by this point, Steve and the others hurried to keep up with the emcee's pace.

Jenny leaned close to Steve's ear and whispered, "Xu Wang actually prepared quite professionally."

Steve nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Xu Wang was already swaggering through the banquet with his "son" and his dog.

The peculiar image of these two individuals and a dog clashed so jarringly with the formal banquet that countless gazes turned toward them in curiosity.

Xu Wang could hear the whispers rippling through the crowd.

The guests were all guessing at the identities of these unexpected arrivals.

"Are they friends or family of the bride?"

"Are they friends or family of the groom?"

"Surely not? Would friends and family dress like that?"

"Are they crashers here to cause trouble?"

"Doesn't look like it. They're acting completely calm, with not a trace of guilt."

"Maybe they were hired to perform a show?"

"That makes sense."

Ignoring the murmuring crowd, Xu Wang looked down at Tiezhu: "Hand over the dog bowl, I'll get you some grub."

Hearing this, Tiezhu promptly dropped its dog bowl onto the ground.

Xu Wang didn't hold back at all, using tongs to pile a mountain of grilled meat straight from the buffet grill into the bowl.

"Woof woof woof!"

Tiezhu was ecstatic.

"Jason, don't be shy either. Today is your birthday, eat your fill!"

As he spoke, Xu Wang was already stuffing food into his own mouth.

Food crumbs sprayed out as he talked.

Not only was Xu Wang eating, but he was also taking food away with both hands.

In no time at all, both his hands and his mouth were packed to maximum capacity.

Jason didn't actually need to consume food to sustain his vital functions.

Yet, seeing Xu Wang take the lead, he obediently mimicked his actions.

However, the items Jason's massive hands could carry far exceeded what Xu Wang could manage.

Within moments, his pile reached the height of a small hill.

The nearby catering waiter was thoroughly terrified by the sight.

The surrounding guests also gradually began to sense that something was deeply amiss.

Just then, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted at the top of their lungs: "The bride and groom are arriving!"

With that, the guests abandoned their scrutiny of Xu Wang's group, hastily turning around to welcome the guests of honor.

Yet, the moment they turned, the guests froze once more.

Right before their eyes, a newlywed couple was indeed approaching.

The man was handsome, the woman stunning.

They were dressed impeccably in a tailored suit and a wedding gown.

Yet, their faces were utterly unfamiliar; it seemed none of the attendees recognized them either.

Mr. and Mrs. Steve, clad in a tuxedo and a wedding dress, felt their minds go completely blank!

Under the gaze of the entire crowd, even as foolish as the young couple were, they finally realized they had stumbled into a massive mix-up.

"Hey! Steve! Jenny! Come over and eat some cake!"

Xu Wang's sudden, booming shout instantly drew the attention of the entire banquet.

He was already standing by the cake, happily slicing away.

Noticing so many people staring at him, Xu Wang waved enthusiastically and greeted the crowd with extreme warmth!

"Hello everyone! Are you all here to celebrate my good son's birthday, too? I had such a hard time finding this wild banquet, but please don't stand on ceremony—make yourselves at home!

"Keep the music playing! Keep the dancing going!

"Yee-haw—!"