All eyes turned to Gu Jun as he stepped into the elegantly furnished sitting room. Conversations halted, replaced by measured stares. One by one, the young men and women seated around the room offered polite greetings, verbal gestures as hollow as the social rituals that bound them.
"Hello," someone said with a faint smile.
One of the boys leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other with deliberate casualness. His gaze was sharp, his posture just arrogant enough to signal confidence. "So you're Gu Jun," he said, voice edged with skepticism. "I've heard a lot about you."
Now Gu Jun understood why Aunt Tang seemed cold. Uncle Tang, being close to both his parents, likely hoped to match him with one of his daughters, most likely the elder, Tang Mei. But Aunt Tang clearly disapproved. To her, he was just a rural boy who got lucky enough to enter a prestigious university, worthy of some respect, perhaps, but not good enough for her daughter.
Typical dog-blood drama.
Amused and slightly annoyed, Gu Jun answered, "Really? What exactly have you heard?" He now realizes that this boy likes Tang Mei.
The boy blinked, taken aback by the unexpected boldness in the reply. He had expected stammering humility or awkward thanks—not this sharpness.
One of the girls, seated near the window with a cup of tea in hand, laughed outright. Her hair was immaculate, her skin radiant, her posture regal. She radiated an air of confidence only long exposure to social admiration could grant. She tossed her hair with practiced grace, locking eyes with him.
Gu Jun studied her carefully. Her aura felt familiar—not the cultivation kind, but something in the bones, in the presence. A rhythm he'd seen before. Then it clicked.
"You look a lot like my girlfriend," he said casually, as if stating the weather.
Her smile paused. "Excuse me?"
"You're from Tianhai Royal University, right?" he continued, voice smooth as velvet. "Then you must know her. Her name is Bai Yue."
The air in the room thickened like sudden fog. Jaws tightened, spines straightened, and glances passed like whispers. The girl's fingers froze around her teacup.
Then she smirked. "You're clever. You know who I am, and you know who my sister is. What exactly is your goal here?"
Gu Jun leaned against the side of a nearby cabinet, utterly at ease. "No research. Just memory. And honesty. I'm not playing games—I really am dating your sister. Which, by my calculations, makes you my sister-in-law."
Her smirk vanished. "That's impossible."
"Is it?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "Then let's test it. Where's your sister right now?"
"She's… away. On vacation."
Gu Jun chuckled softly. "You're behind on the news. She's already back in Tianhai. In fact, we returned together, me, Bai Yue, and Rong Xi. You know her, too, don't you? We're all quite close."
Her expression tightened, her eyes flicking briefly to her companions, who were now looking increasingly uncomfortable.
He continued, tone measured, but heavy with implication. "This last vacation, your sister didn't just travel. She came to my village. Things got… well, let's say a little emotional. So now, I am preparing to take responsibility for my actions. We're announcing our engagement soon."
The girl's lips parted slightly, stunned into silence.
"You're lying."
Gu Jun looked at her and said, "You still do not believe me. Actually, you can ask your sister. Oh, I forgot to add, Wang Wei was on the train. He wanted to harass Bai Yue, so I slapped him. He was very angry and tried to attack me at the train station. So Bai Yue was angry. She ordered the driver to hit Wang Wei. I am a little concerned about this issue."
Someone in the room gasped.
"You're joking," Bai Xue said sharply, but her voice lacked conviction.
"Am I?" Gu Jun shrugged. "You have a phone. Check it. I'd love to know if there are any new developments. Frankly, I'm worried about the backlash myself."
Reluctantly, she pulled out her phone and began scrolling, fingers twitching as she navigated her elite network's gossip channel. A few seconds later, her eyes widened, mouth slightly open. She scrolled faster, clicked a few images, photos of Bai Yue at the station, a short video of Wang Wei shouting angrily, a blurred image of a car speeding off.
Her composure shattered.
"You… really are her boyfriend."
Gu Jun nodded solemnly. "Yes. And, technically, your brother-in-law."
She looked away, biting her lip.
"Hmph. It's not so easy to earn that title."
"I agree," Gu Jun said mildly. "But since Bai Yue chose me, maybe give her some face. It doesn't cost much to call me 'Brother-in-law,' does it?"
There was a long silence. Then she muttered, under her breath, "Brother-in-law…"
A smile tugged at the corner of Gu Jun's mouth. The social theater unfolding in front of him was almost too easy. This was one of his greatest strengths, one of the finest non-cultivation techniques he'd honed over the years: psychological manipulation. Every gesture, every phrase, every pause was calculated to stir emotion, to destabilize opposition, to bend people gently toward his narrative. He didn't need force; he needed belief. And belief came from performance.
He could feel it now, the subtle ripple in the air—his twin shadows, his hidden guardians, watching from their invisible perches. Among them, one pulse of anger stood out: Di Yan.
Gu Jun turned back to the girl. "So, sister-in-law… what's your name?"
Still dazed, she answered, "Bai Xue."
"Nice to meet you properly, Bai Xue." He paused for effect. "What's the current status on the Wang family side?"
Bai Xue straightened, indignation finally bubbling up in her voice. "You've caused a huge mess. The Wang family is furious. Most of the pressure is falling on Rong Xi, but Bai Yue is also being dragged into it."
Gu Jun raised an eyebrow, but shrugged dramatically. "What can I say? Bai Yue loves me too much. And I have my suspicions that Rong Xi might, too. Women do wild things when they're in love with someone… exceptional."
The room collectively choked on silence. One of the boys looked like he wanted to punch him, and others were disgusted. Gu Jun remained serenely indifferent.
At that moment, the door opened and Uncle Tang entered the room. He paused, eyes scanning the group. He seemed immediately aware of the odd, tense atmosphere.
"What's going on here?" he asked lightly. Then he turned to Gu Jun, his voice warm. "Have you seen my daughter Tang Mei yet?"
Gu Jun smiled, bowing his head slightly. "Ah, Sister Tang Mei. I was just about to greet her. Sister Tang Mei, how have you been?"
All eyes turned to Tang Mei. She stood near the far side of the room, half-shadowed by a tall, arched window. Her expression was carefully neutral, but her eyes betrayed a storm of emotion, frustration, confusion, and resentment.
She had resisted her father's matchmaking plans for months. To her, the idea of marrying some obscure boy from a backwater village had been insulting. But now? Now the boy she had rejected as beneath her had a powerful girlfriend.
She opened her mouth to speak, hesitated, and then said simply, "Welcome to the Tang residence."
Gu Jun gave her a graceful nod. "Thank you. I'm honored."