Chen Yang's kick silenced the entire Zhou Family.

Everyone stood frozen in place, their expressions filled with utter shock.

How… how can he be this strong?

Several tense breaths passed.

"Songquan, Songquan, are you all right?" Zhou Yingqiang ran frantically toward Zhou Songquan, yelling, "Are you hurt anywhere?"

Zhou Jingyuan glanced at Zhou Songquan, then fixed his gloomy eyes on Chen Yang. While marveling at the young man's fearsome strength, he also resented him for being so heavy-handed. If Songquan were permanently injured, it would crush the hopes of the Zhou Family. His breath came in ragged gasps, his chest heaving with turmoil.

Zhou Yufei, Zhou Yinghao, and Peng Ya were completely dumbstruck, frozen to the spot.

Just one kick? It was over with just one kick…

"Cough, cough!" Zhou Songquan coughed violently, and a trace of color finally returned to his ashen face. He grasped Zhou Yingqiang's hand, struggling to his feet. He shook his head and said, "I'm fine. It's just a minor injury!"

Then, he stared hard at Chen Yang, his bloodshot eyes glinting with shock and fear. Only he knew the terrifying power contained within that kick. He had a feeling that even several more of him couldn't have withstood that blow.

Who on earth is this guy?

"It's good that you're okay, it's good," Zhou Yingqiang sighed with immense relief. If Zhou Songquan had been seriously harmed, he would have risked his own life to bring Chen Yang down.

He then spun around abruptly, pointed at Zhou Songquan's two guards, and ordered, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and arrest this thug! He dared to strike my Songquan so heavily. I think he's tired of living!"

The two guards had just snapped out of their daze. Despite their shock, they didn't obey Zhou Yingqiang's command, looking instead to Zhou Songquan, whose orders they solely followed.

"Uncle, you really have no shame," Chen Yang said. "You were the one who forced me to spar with him. Now that he's lost, you're the one ordering my arrest!"

Chen Yang asked earnestly, "After living to such an old age, did you waste it all learning how to be a dog?"

"You… you… you insolent fool!" Zhou Yingqiang's face twisted viciously, turning livid as he pointed a trembling finger at Chen Yang, gritting his teeth.

With his hands shoved casually in his pockets, Chen Yang shrugged. "If it weren't for Yufei's sake, he'd already be a dead man. Shouldn't you be thanking me?"

"You…" Zhou Yingqiang nearly crushed his teeth. He said coldly, "Do you realize the crime of injuring a Sixth Grade Military General?"

"Wasn't this supposed to be a friendly spar, as the old master suggested? If you insist on charging me with a crime, then bring it on. I'm ready!" Chen Yang glanced at Zhou Jingyuan, a playful smile touching his lips.

Zhou Yingqiang laughed out of sheer rage. "Good! You're very good!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Uncle. I also think I'm not half bad," Chen Yang said with a cupped-fist salute, his words audaciously provocative.

Zhou Yingqiang nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. That damned brat!

Zhou Songquan signaled the two guards not to act rashly, then said to Zhou Yingqiang, "Dad, it was my own carelessness! Forget it. Let's drop the matter!"

Afterward, his gaze toward Chen Yang turned utterly glacial, filled with venom. From the day he was promoted to Military General, he had been the jewel of the Zhou Family. Everyone took pride in him, which in turn elevated the family's status in Qingqiu Dao. But today, he, the shining pearl, had been kicked to the ground in front of the entire family. Recalling the humiliating sight made his cheeks burn with shame.

Yes, he had been outskilled, but was he, a dignified Sixth Grade Military General, supposed to lose face like this?

He etched this grudge deep into his heart.

Zhou Yingqiang could only retract his gaze with a glower. He indeed had no grounds to stand on in this matter. But this is Qingqiu Dao, he fumed internally. I have a hundred ways to kill him!

"Well, Dad, we'll be going now. We still need to go back and get the room ready," Zhou Yinghao said to Zhou Jingyuan.

Zhou Jingyuan didn't make a sound, merely nodding his head slightly.

With their family's departure, the others didn't dare to linger, and they all left with a complex mix of emotions.

"Chen Yang, that was a brilliant kick!" On the way back, Zhou Yinghao gave him a thumbs-up and laughed heartily. "Songquan is arrogant and unruly, and my older brother always acts like he's above everyone else. I've been fed up with them for a long time!"

"They definitely won't let this go so easily," Peng Ya said. Although she also felt a sense of satisfaction, she couldn't help but worry.

Zhou Yinghao waved her concern away. "Of course they can't swallow this affront, but Chen Yang has shown his capabilities. My dad will certainly take that into account. How could he allow such an outstanding grandson-in-law to be harmed?"

"That's true," Peng Ya smiled, her gaze toward Chen Yang growing increasingly fond.

Beside them, Zhou Yufei also let out a sigh of relief, but she watched Chen Yang with a look of puzzlement and scrutiny. What is this guy's real story?

Chen Yang, however, could only offer a bitter smile inwardly. My in-laws like me so much. How furious and heartbroken will they be when the lie is exposed? Ugh… this charade is getting harder to maintain.

Back in the courtyard, Peng Ya pulled Chen Yang over and pointed to a nearby room. "This is Yufei's room. Although it hasn't been occupied for a while, it's cleaned every day. It's perfectly tidy!"

"Tonight, you and Yufei will sleep in this room!"

Chen Yang: "..."

He instinctively glanced at Zhou Yufei, only to see her look astonished, quickly lowering her head as a blush crept up her cheeks.

"Auntie," Chen Yang said hastily, "is this… really appropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it? Don't tell me you two want to sleep in separate rooms?" Peng Ya replied. "Just treat this as your own home. There's no need to be so formal. Just relax!"

"Your aunt is right. Besides, there are no spare rooms for you to sleep in separately!" Zhou Yinghao added, assuming Chen Yang's hesitation was due to politeness and youthful shyness.

"No! We aren't..."

Before Chen Yang could finish, Zhou Yufei hurriedly cut him off and nodded to her parents. "Okay, Mom, Dad. You two should get some rest, too."

"Alright!" Peng Ya smiled and nodded, leading Zhou Yinghao into the adjacent room.

Chen Yang: "..."

"If you kept talking, you would've given us away!" Zhou Yufei said, patting her chest with palpable relief. Her voice was a little strained as she added, "It's just sharing a room. It's not like we haven't been alone together before!"

"How about I sleep on the sofa?" Chen Yang suggested, pointing to the couch in the living room.

Zhou Yufei rolled her eyes. "What would my parents think if they saw that? And how would you explain it?"

Left with no choice, Chen Yang headed into the bedroom.

Having just showered, Zhou Yufei changed into loose pajamas and lay on the left side of the bed, a faint fragrance wafting from her. Chen Yang lay on the far right edge, his back to her. Both of them stared into the silent darkness with wide-open eyes.

After what felt like an eternity, Zhou Yufei finally broke the awkward silence. "Hey, could you move over a bit? There's a draft in the middle. It's cold!"

Chen Yang didn't speak but scooted a little closer.

"A little more!"

He didn't move again.

Suddenly, Zhou Yufei turned over and hugged him, pressing her body tightly against his back. She whispered, "Be honest. You don't feel anything for me at all?"

"..."

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