Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The wedding reception carried on.

After Yu Jingmo gifted Tian Ruan the sandalwood and jade bead bracelet he had kept on his person for over two decades, those who came forward to offer their congratulations were noticeably more polite.

Yu Jingmo led Tian Ruan to meet his "family," introducing the elderly man with a slightly stooped figure seated at the head of the eastern table: "This is Grandfather."

Tian Ruan greeted, "Hello, Grandfather."

Elder Yu responded with a cold snort.

Tian Ruan didn’t mind. Yu Jingmo continued the introductions: "This is Second Uncle, Third Uncle, this is Second Uncle’s son, this is Third Uncle and Third Aunt’s son and daughter-in-law, and this is their daughter, Yu Ti..."

And these were just the immediate family members. Counting distant relatives, there were a good hundred people.

Tian Ruan didn’t bother remembering any of them, simply nodding at everyone.

Yu Jingmo remarked, "Are you a beckoning cat?"

Tian Ruan nodded, "..."

Yu Jingmo’s lips curved slightly.

From then on, Tian Ruan only needed to play the role of Yu Jingmo’s newlywed spouse—a gold-digging vixen who slept her way to the top—and accept toasts from the guests.

"I don’t drink," Tian Ruan said.

Yu Jingmo replaced the red wine with sparkling water for him. "This has no alcohol."

"Thank you." Tian Ruan took a sip. It was cherry-flavored, crisp and refreshing, likely prepared specifically for those who couldn’t drink.

"Allergic to alcohol?" Yu Jingmo asked.

"No, I'm not much of a drinker."

Yu Jingmo spotted several clearly high-status foreigners raising their glasses to him from a distance and said, "I’ll be right back. Don’t wander off."

"...Mm."

Tian Ruan watched as Yu Jingmo walked toward a corner of the banquet hall, conversing fluently with a group of obviously distinguished foreigners, effortlessly switching between Chinese, English, and French.

He Lansi weaved through the perfumed crowd of elegantly coiffed guests, raising a glass of red wine with a teasing smile. "Congratulations on your marriage."

Tian Ruan nodded, mechanically repeating the toast. "Thanks for showing up. The honor's mine."

He Lansi burst into laughter. "Are you programmed or something?"

Tian Ruan replied, "From my perspective, you’re the ones who are programmed."

Side characters in stories, NPCs in games—their sole purpose was to assign quests, create crises, and dispense rewards for the protagonist, all to pave a golden path for them.

And the male lead of this book, Yu Shang, stood just ten meters away, chatting with someone.

He Lansi’s slit, vulpine eyes swept over Tian Ruan. "That outfit flatters your figure well. Did Yu Jingmo pick it for you?"

Tian Ruan’s attire was indeed striking—an understated yet luxurious white silk ensemble with a narrow mandarin collar trimmed with semi-transparent lace. The shoulders were slightly broadened, the chest tailored with vertical seams, and the waist cinched at the back. In contrast, the sleeves billowed slightly like lotus roots, tapering at the cuffs and also embellished with lace.

Light and sheer, the fabric shimmered like a wisp of cloud under the lights, with silver buttons adding a subtle gleam that gave him an ethereal glow.

As for the black pants and retro round-toe leather shoes, they just played second fiddle.

"Yu Jingmo actually likes the innocent type," He Lansi teased. "Even if it's just an act."

Tian Ruan didn’t respond, praying the wedding banquet would wrap up soon so he could figure out how to slip away.

"What a stuck-up kitten."

Tian Ruan cringed. "I don’t want to talk to you."

He Lansi took a sip of wine and elegantly set down the empty wineglass. "You're the first person who dares to speak to me in that tone."

Tian Ruan: "You’ve read too many cheesy CEO romances."

"..."

A paunchy middle-aged man approached with a warm smile. "Director He and Young Master Tian seem to be having a pleasant chat? What are you discussing?"

As he spoke, the man extended a sweaty mitt toward Tian Ruan. "Pleasure to meet you. Zhao Quan."

Tian Ruan had no desire to shake hands with such a greasy paw, so he simply nodded. "The pleasure’s all yours."

Zhao Quan’s face twisted slightly. His hooded, beady eyes and sagging under-eye bags couldn’t hide the reek of a man marinated in booze and vice—a smell that blended with his tailored suit into the unmistakable aura of someone long steeped in indulgence.

Tian Ruan casually stepped back two paces.

Director He arched a delicate brow, his strikingly handsome features forming a sharp contrast with Zhao Quan. "Director Zhao, looks like you two aren’t exactly vibing."

Zhao Quan sneered. "Young Master Tian has just married into the Yu family, so naturally, he’s riding high. There’s still a long road ahead. I look forward to collaborating with the Yus."

Director He shrugged. "Yu Jingmo has always had a sharp eye. With that dumpster-fire of a portfolio—half of it already rotten—getting the Yu family to invest would be like squeezing blood from a stone."

Zhao Quan remained cold. "Who knows? The business world is a battlefield. No guts, no glory."

Director He shot back with a frosty grin. "Then I wish Director Zhao a triumphant victory."

The two raised fresh glasses of wine and clinked them. By the time they turned back, Tian Ruan was already seated at a table ten meters away, picking at a petit four, completely detached from the scene.

"..."

A girl sat down beside Tian Ruan—Yu Ti, the granddaughter of Yu Jingmo’s third uncle, as previously introduced.

"Xiao Shufu!" Yu Ti gushed sweetly. "You’re so handsome."

Tian Ruan was dumbstruck. He didn’t seem much older than her.

"Xiao Shufu, don’t mind what they think. I like you just fine." Yu Ti’s features didn’t resemble her grandfather’s but bore a faint likeness to Yu Jingmo, especially her almond-shaped eyes—both carried a sly, icy glint when they looked at someone.

Yu Jingmo’s gaze was colder, while Yu Ti’s held more flirtatious charm.

"What’s wrong?" Yu Ti touched her face.

Tian Ruan returned the compliment. "You’re very pretty too."

Yu Ti giggled, laying it on thick. "Xiao Shufu, are you really twenty? You look seventeen or eighteen."

"Yeah."

"You don’t like my family, do you?"

"Hmm."

Yu Ti didn’t expect Tian Ruan to be so blunt. After a moment’s thought, she said, "Apart from me, my family doesn’t like you much either. So it’s square."

"Hmm."

"Uncle, can you say something other than ‘hmm’?"

Tian Ruan glanced at the half-eaten cake in front of him. "Can it wait till I’m done eating?"

Yu Ti: "...Fine."

Then Yu Ti sat beside him, watching as he finished the whole cake before obligingly handing him a glass of champagne. "Even I’m allowed to drink this."

The alcohol content in champagne was minimal. Tian Ruan took a small sip and instantly fell in love with it. "Yummy."

Yu Ti beamed. "Right? This orange champagne is the best."

"Hmm, thanks."

"Hahaha, no need for formalities with family." Yu Ti happily downed another glass.

Nearby, Yu Ti’s mother, Shen Wanyue, smiled. "Look how happy Ti-Ti is."

Elder Yu still looked stern, exuding authority.

However, the one in charge now was Yu Jingmo, so the younger generation weren’t too intimidated. Yu San, a middle-aged man with graying hair, chimed in. "Dad, Jingmo has kept to himself ever since his mother passed. It’s rare for him to start a new family. As long as the two of them are happy..."

"Hmph, new family?" Elder Yu scoffed. "What’s Tian Yuan’s background? He’s not some nobody."

Yu San said, "Regardless, Jingmo has helped us a lot. If he likes—"

Yu Er cut in, "What help? Have you forgotten how he pushed our eldest brother to his death?"

"Second Brother, how can you say that? Eldest Brother knew what he was doing was illegal. If not for Jingmo’s efforts to protect us, would we even be sitting here chatting today?"

"You’re being naive, forgetting Eldest Brother’s kindness."

"Enough!" Elder Yu slammed his cane on the floor.

The room went quiet, and even the surrounding noise seemed to hush.

Yu Ti turned in shock toward her family. "What’s going on?"

No one answered.

Yu Shang took a seat beside her.

"Brother, what happened?" Yu Ti whispered.

Yu Shang replied flatly, "Grown-up stuff. Stay out of it."

Yu Ti protested, "You’re not exactly grown up either."

Yu Shang said coolly, "Exactly, so I’m staying out of it."

"..."

Tian Ruan dove into his third cake. He loved the blend of cherries and whipped cream—cool, creamy, and sweet. Paired with another sip of champagne, it was heavenly.

Yu Shang had been observing Tian Ruan for a while, noticing how completely unshaken and steady he was, like he was in his own little world...

"Tian Yuan," Yu Shang called.

Tian Ruan didn’t realize he was being addressed, too absorbed in poking around with a small fork to explore the chia seeds hidden in the cake layers—crunchy with a great texture.

Yu Shang drummed his fingers impatiently on the small rectangular dessert table. "Tian Yuan."

Tian Ruan looked up. "Yeah?"

Yu Shang was stunned silent for a second. "Who else would I be calling?"

"Oh, what’s up?"

"Your attitude is the problem."

"What attitude?"

"Playing it cool like it’s not your problem."

"With this attitude, we’re like father and son, right?" Tian Ruan chuckled. Given how Yu Shang had behaved in the bathroom, was he really in any position to demand a better attitude?

Yu Shang, of course, clammed up.

The two faced each other wordlessly, leaving only an awkward silence between them.

Yu Ti, confused, asked, "What’s going on?"

Yu Shang: "Grown-up stuff. Stay out of it."

"You were a kid two seconds ago."

"Well, now I’m not."

"..."

Yu Shang had looks just as sharp as Yu Jingmo’s, and his height had already reached 185 cm. In another two years, he’d definitely turn into a tall, dreamy guy at 188 cm.

But at seventeen, Yu Shang still carried some kid-like cluelessness. After frowning for a long moment, he apologized to Tian Ruan, "In the bathroom, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have just stood there like a statue."

"What happened in the bathroom?" Yu Ti immediately pressed. "What’s the situation?"

"Not your concern."

Yu Ti glanced between the two, eyes wide with horror. "Bro, why aren’t you calling him ‘Dad’? Do you have the hots for him?"

The moment the words left her mouth, both men looked like they’d seen a ghost, totally shell-shocked.

Yu Shang’s brows furrowed sharply. "What the hell are you talking about?!"

At the same time, Tian Ruan jumped in, "Seriously, Yu Shang has someone he likes—that person from Class Six..."

"This is a topic I’m also very interested in," a smooth, icy voice said as long, graceful fingers landed on Tian Ruan simultaneously.

Tian Ruan’s shoulders stiffened instantly. He slowly turned his head to meet Yu Jingmo’s stupidly handsome face.

Yu Jingmo smirked, but his eyes stayed cold, looking down at him. "So, it turns out you know more about my kid than you do about me."

Tian Ruan: "...”

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