Guan Hao elegantly swirled his wine glass. He sat down beside Lin Xiyue with a look of interest and glanced toward Luo Xiu at another table.

"Xi Yue, is that your husband?" he asked. "Hah, he's even more foolish than I imagined. A real country bumpkin."

Lin Xiyue's expression soured. She ignored Guan Hao and was about to get up to help Luo Xiu when Lin Youpeng forcefully held her down. Lin Youpeng gave Guan Hao a polite smile before turning a serious gaze back to Lin Xiyue.

"Xi Yue, haven't you caused enough embarrassment?" he said sternly. "This isn't the time for you to go over there. Let Xu Tao and Lin Fei handle it."

Zhang Cui came over and grabbed Lin Xiyue's wrist. "Come with me. We can wait this out in the restroom." With that, she dragged Lin Xiyue away.

At that moment, the young couple, Xu Tao and Lin Fei, had already reached Luo Xiu's table.

Xu Tao was fuming, looking like he wanted to slap Luo Xiu across the room. Just as he was about to speak, Ah Qian stepped forward, blocking his and Lin Fei's path.

"Is there a problem?" Ah Qian asked, his face expressionless.

Lin Fei gave Ah Qian a sweet smile. "I'm so sorry, Brother Qian, for this spectacle."

"If you have something to say, say it," Ah Qian replied flatly.

Lin Fei paused. This is my chance to publicly humiliate Lin Xiyue, who I've always been jealous of. She then pointed at Luo Xiu and announced in a loud voice, "Mister Luo here is my brother-in-law. He's just come from the countryside and doesn't understand etiquette or rules. He has offended all of you, and on behalf of my sister, I apologize!"

Upon hearing this, everyone at the table gave Lin Fei an odd look before turning their collective gaze to Luo Xiu. But no one said a word. The atmosphere became eerily quiet. Luo Xiu himself seemed completely oblivious, continuing to eat his food.

Meanwhile, Sun Gaozhi, who was sitting to one side, wore a meaningful expression. Having navigated the underworld for decades, he was as sharp as they come. From Xu Tao and Lin Fei's attitude, it's clear his relationship with them isn't good. Or perhaps... his relationship with the entire Lin Family is poor. But I don't get it. With Mister Luo's abilities, even our Sun Family would have to treat him like an ancestor. How could a trivial family like the Lins... Could it be...? At this thought, Sun Gaozhi exchanged a glance with A Gui. They both seemed to grasp a part of the truth.

Xu Tao offered an awkward, apologetic laugh before glaring at Luo Xiu. "Don't they feed you at home?" he scolded. "Why come here to freeload? Go home! Stop embarrassing us!"

At this, Guan Hao, who couldn't sit still any longer, walked over. The thought of Lin Xiyue being married to such a hick infuriated him. "Grandfather Sun, it's your eightieth birthday today. Allowing such a person to come in and eat at your table... isn't that terribly unlucky?"

Seeing Guan Hao step in to help, Lin Fei and Xu Tao were no longer as timid in the presence of so many powerful figures. They suddenly felt a surge of confidence.

Lin Fei said in a stern voice, "Luo Xiu, go home! This is no place for you!"

However, Luo Xiu remained indifferent, continuing to eat as though he were immersed in his own world, completely ignoring them. And yet, not a single one of the powerful figures at the table dared to say a word. Sun Gaozhi had just given them all an order: Mister Luo does not like to be disturbed while he is eating.

Guan Hao smiled. "If it's inconvenient for you, Grandfather Sun, I can take it upon myself to ask Mister Luo to leave."

Lin Fei glanced at Guan Hao gratefully, then smiled apologetically at the table. "I'm so sorry, everyone. Our Lin Family will be sure to discipline him properly later."

Just then, the sound of high heels approached from behind.

"Make way!"

Stunned, Lin Fei turned her head and saw Sun Li, dressed like a princess, standing there. A single glance at Sun Li made her feel utterly inferior, and she quickly stepped aside. The surrounding guests turned their admiring gazes toward Miss Sun.

"Is that the Sun Family's Miss Sun? It's my first time seeing her up close."

"She's even more beautiful in person than in the photos."

"The goddess of my dreams!"

Guan Hao looked at Sun Li, his eyes full of adoration. "Xiao Li, why are you so late?"

"This has nothing to do with you. Scram." Sun Li couldn't even be bothered to glance at him. At this moment, her eyes were only for Luo Xiu. She stared at him, pouting, her little fists clenched as if she were furious.

Seeing this, Xu Tao began cursing Luo Xiu in his head, assuming he had somehow angered Miss Sun. "I'm so sorry, Miss Sun," he began hastily. "This is just a..."

But before he could finish, he saw Sun Li grab Luo Xiu's hand.

"You can eat later. Come with me, now!"

She yanked an unwilling Luo Xiu up from his chair. "Where are we going?" he asked.

Sun Li looked at him with a resentful gaze and pouted. "Didn't you see the messages I sent you? You're so late! If you ever stand me up again, I won't let you off the hook!"

Luo Xiu took out his phone and saw that there were indeed quite a few messages from her. "Sorry, I hadn't checked my phone."

Sun Li's expression suddenly brightened into a smile as she linked her arm with his. "It's fine. Come on, I had a suit custom-made for you. I'll take you to go change."

With that, she led Luo Xiu toward the back, their intimacy making them look like a couple deep in love. They left Lin Fei and the others standing there, completely dumbfounded.

Guan Hao watched Sun Li and Luo Xiu's retreating figures, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. His expression was unspeakably dark. With Lin Xiyue, maybe I just wanted to play around. But Sun Li... she's the woman I truly love. I just don't understand. Where did I go wrong?

At the table, Sun Gaozhi and the others let out a collective, quiet sigh of relief. While Luo Xiu had been there, his invisible aura had been so oppressive that none of them, for all their power, had dared to make a sound. To them, he was like a fierce beast guarding its meal; no one dared to disturb him. It was only ordinary people like Guan Hao and Lin Fei who had felt nothing at all.

Just then, Ah Qian walked up to Lin Fei and Xu Tao. "Considering today is the Old Master's birthday, I'll let you off this once," he said coldly. "Remember, Mister Luo is a guest of the Sun Family. If you dare disrespect him or spread rumors again, you'll find you no longer have a place in Sea City."

Hearing this, Lin Fei's face went pale, and she quickly bowed her head in apology. How could a hick like that become a guest of the Sun Family? Does he deserve it?

Guan Hao sneered. "How did a piece of trash like that become a guest of the Sun Family?"

SLAP!

The sound echoed as A Gui stepped forward and struck him across the face. "Young Master Guan, please watch your words."

Guan Hao was stunned by the slap, staring at A Gui in disbelief. He couldn't imagine that he, the esteemed Young Master of the Guan Family, would be slapped in public. But he knew perfectly well who A Gui was and what he was capable of. Even though he'd been hit, he could only endure it.

"Just you wait!" he snarled, before turning and storming away in a rage.

After Guan Hao left, Lin Fei and Xu Tao bowed again in apology. Xu Tao gathered his courage and asked timidly, "Mister Gui, may I ask what the relationship is between my brother-in-law and Miss Sun?"

A Gui looked at them and said flatly, "It's nothing special. Mister Luo just saved our young miss's life once."

"I see. In that case, we won't disturb you any longer."

With that, the couple sullenly returned to their original table.

"Damn it, that country bumpkin really is lucky!" Xu Tao muttered.

Lin Fei's face was full of disdain. "So what? He got lucky and saved Miss Sun once. Does he think that's enough to change his station? A mutt is still a mutt!"

「Meanwhile.」

As soon as Luo Xiu stepped out of the changing room, Sun Li, who had been waiting outside, rushed to meet him. Today, she wore a white cocktail dress with a short skirt, her slender legs wrapped in sheer, gradient stockings. Her high heels were adorned with lace butterfly bows. She looked both innocent and alluring, truly a princess.

Upon seeing Luo Xiu, Sun Li's already bright eyes sparkled even more, seeming to shimmer with light. Luo Xiu was already handsome with good skin, but now, in a tailored suit with his hair styled, his charm was amplified by his cool, carefree aura.

Sun Li giggled, her cheeks blushing slightly. "See? The clothes really do make the man. You're so much more handsome now."

Luo Xiu walked to a mirror and smiled. "You're absolutely right."

"Hmph, so vain. I give you one compliment and it goes straight to your head, doesn't it?" As she spoke, Sun Li stepped in front of him and rose onto her tiptoes to adjust his collar.

Luo Xiu breathed in her faint, sweet fragrance. His gaze drifted downward and he caught a glimpse of something through her low neckline before quickly averting his eyes.

Sun Li clearly noticed. Her face flushed as she said in a coy voice, "What are you looking at, you pervert." She then leaned even closer, pressing herself almost completely into his embrace. "So naughty. For that, I'm definitely not letting you look."

"I think they're about done over there. That hick should have been kicked out by now. Xi Yue, let's go back."

Just then, Zhang Cui's voice came from the direction of the restrooms, followed by the clicking of high heels. Zhang Cui and her daughter, Lin Xiyue, walked out.

Luo Xiu turned his head, and his eyes met Lin Xiyue's.

Seeing Luo Xiu and Sun Li in such an intimate position, Lin Xiyue froze, utterly dumbstruck.

"Luo Xiu, you..."

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