Uncle Tang looked at the group, his eyes sweeping over their varied expressions — some blank, others still struggling to process what they had just heard.
He gave a faint smile. "So, all of you are here," he said in a calm, even tone. "Let's go. I've booked a restaurant for dinner."
"Thank you, Uncle," a few of them replied.
They filed out of the house. Only Uncle Tang and Gu Jun looked composed. The rest walked like actors between scenes—silent, confused, awkward. A few steps behind, two boys shot Gu Jun resentful glances, their fists clenched just enough to reveal the growing hostility inside.
After all, the cold goddess of Tianhai Royal University, Bai Yue, had been taken. And not by someone from their world of polished shoes. No. She had chosen him. A village boy.
Soon, they entered the restaurant Uncle Tang had reserved. A sleek Western-style venue with velvet seats, candle-lit tables, and a private room already prepared. Waiters in black-and-white uniforms greeted them with subtle bows.
Uncle Tang remained mostly silent during the meal. He listened to the conversations but said little. His eyes occasionally rested on Gu Jun with a faint, unreadable look—half approval, half regret.
He already knew most of what had happened. His sources were fast. He had received word not long after the train incident. He wasn't pleased, but he wasn't surprised either. Gu Jun's mother—Zi Feng—was no ordinary woman. Her will wasn't something anyone could casually oppose, not even someone like him.
There's no telling what Zi Feng has already planned for him. If she's decided on his marriage, whether to my daughter or someone from the Bai family, then the outcome may already be sealed. My Mei'er… she never stood much of a chance.
Still, a father can dream.
After dinner, Uncle Tang and his wife returned to the house, leaving the younger group to entertain themselves.
They headed for a nearby bowling alley, its neon lights flashing faintly beneath the night sky. Laughter and music spilled from the glass doors. Inside, the atmosphere was bright and loud — a stark contrast to the tension that had hung in the air all evening.
Gu Jun sat off to the side, watching the others bowl half-heartedly. He had no real interest in the game. Instead, he sat casually on a sofa in the lounge area, arms relaxed. On either side of him were Bai Xue and Tang Xin, both pretending not to be too interested in him, while their eyes kept drifting toward him with thinly veiled curiosity.
"So tell me honestly," Bai Xue finally said, raising an eyebrow. "How did you convince my sister? Did you bribe her? Threaten her? Use blackmail?"
Tang Xin giggled. "Yes, yes! Brother Gu Jun, I'm a huge fan of Sister Bai Yue, too. She's like… untouchable! And you—well, you're not bad-looking, but you're not that guy, you know? There are guys with family backgrounds and genius talent lining up behind her. What did you do to her?"
Gu Jun looked at them and smiled lazily. "Girls, have some respect. One of you is my sister-in-law, and the other is like a sister to me. Is this how you talk to family?"
The two girls rolled their eyes in unison and snorted.
Bai Xue narrowed her eyes. "Stop dodging. What really happened? You cast some kind of spell?"
Gu Jun leaned back further. "If you want details, ask Bai Yue herself. But since you're curious, I'll tell you one thing." He paused, letting the silence stretch. "I didn't pursue her. She pursued me."
Both girls stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter.
"Hah! Stop lying, brother-in-law," Bai Xue said, shaking her head.
"Impossible," Tang Xin added, giggling. "You're just a normal guy. Village boy, barely eighteen… what, you saved her from a bandit in the mountains or something?"
"I can't help it if the truth sounds unbelievable," Gu Jun said with a shrug, expression perfectly innocent.
To his own surprise, Gu Jun found himself enjoying the moment. It was rare—this light teasing, this playful banter. Although he was the same age as them, his soul had been shaped in a crucible of strict discipline and relentless training. For someone like him, small slices of youthful normalcy like this felt almost like a luxury.
The laughter. The challenge. The disbelief. It was all strangely refreshing.
Eventually, they finished their games and stepped out of the bowling alley.
But not everyone was smiling.
The two boys from earlier still looked at Gu Jun with unconcealed resentment. Now, Gu Jun stood not only as a rival but as someone who had already won.
Gu Jun already knew the identities of the two boys who had been eyeing him with veiled hostility.
One of them was Yang Ling, a direct descendant of the Yang family, one of Tianhai's five First-Class Families. The Yangs were a purely judicial clan; generations of judges, prosecutors, and legal scholars. While their military and financial strength were not particularly impressive compared to the others, their influence in the legal system made them one of the most stable power bases in the city. What they lacked in force, they made up for in resilience and institutional roots.
The other was Su Yuchen, son of Major General Su Bai, the third-highest commander in the Tianhai Military Region. Gu Jun recalled that Su Bai had long served as one of Zi Feng's most trusted people. Di Yan maintained regular contact with him.
From the way Yang Ling acted around Tang Mei — the subtle looks, the unnecessary helpfulness, the attempts at quiet closeness — it was clear to Gu Jun that he had a crush on her.
Finished with the evening's performance, Gu Jun quietly excused himself and left.
He hailed a taxi and told the driver to take him to a quiet corner near Tianhai Royal University — a small, inconspicuous coffee shop nestled between two bookstores. The kind of place frequented by students and professors, hidden enough to serve as a discreet meeting point.
As he stepped inside, the soft hum of conversation greeted him. But within minutes, the energy shifted.
The barista became stiff. The few customers inside hastily finished their drinks. One by one, they stood up and left, as if following an invisible command.
In less than ten minutes, Gu Jun was the only person remaining.
He sat by the window, slowly lighting one of his Imperial Cigarettes, its fragrance faintly herbal with a sharp undertone.
Not long after, the bell above the door jingled.
Two men entered.
The first walked with crisp, purposeful steps. Around thirty years old, well-groomed, his presence both sharp and deferential. This was the Ninth Elder of the Gu Empire — one of the Three Executors overseeing the Tianhai Plan.
Behind him walked an older man, perhaps in his fifties. Though his expression was careful, Gu Jun caught the flickers in his eyes, reverence, fear, excitement, and something else... a touch of fanaticism.
Both men stopped a respectful distance from his table.
The Ninth Elder bowed slightly. "Greetings, Your Highness."
Gu Jun nodded once, exhaling a lazy stream of smoke. Then he turned his gaze to the older man.
"Who is he?"
The Ninth Elder answered promptly. "This is Hong Biao, current leader of the Imperial Bull Gang."
Hong Biao kept his head low, but Gu Jun could feel his eyes studying him, searching for confirmation, clinging to myth and legend made flesh.
"I see," Gu Jun said flatly, before glancing out the window.
After a pause, he asked, "What's the current situation?"
"Everything proceeds as expected," replied the Ninth Elder. "Your influence in Tianhai is growing in the shadows."
Gu Jun nodded again, slowly flicking ash into the tray. "Keep your eyes on the Yang family. I want to know if they're interacting with my mother. Track any shift in their judicial appointments, family gatherings, and private meetings. Discreetly."
"As you command."
He turned toward Hong Biao and spoke with a lazy half-smile. "And you…"
Hong Biao straightened slightly, sweat beginning to form at the edge of his brow.
"I might drop by the Imperial Bull Gang sometime," Gu Jun said, his voice casual. "If I get bored."
Hong Biao bowed deeply. "It would be our greatest honor, Your Highness."
Gu Jun gave no reply. He simply took another drag from his cigarette, his gaze returning to the fading lights outside the window.