Sleepless Sky Huo Le's words struck a slightly familiar chord with Lin Yu.

He gave a light cough, correcting Sleepless Sky Huo Shu. "I have no intention of marrying Miss Huo Le."

Sleepless Sky Huo Le immediately chimed in.

"Exactly, who said I was getting married? I'm planning for Furbollo to pursue Sleepless Sky Huo Xing!"

Hearing this, Sleepless Sky Huo Shu was even more shocked, speaking up agitatedly.

"Sleepless Sky Huo Xing? How on earth did you come up with that?"

But the Saint-Land Kui beside him was even more agitated than Sleepless Sky Huo Shu.

"What?! Sleepless Sky Huo Xing! You… how dare you!"

Saint-Land Kui looked towards Lin Yu.

The social mask on this young master of the Saint-Land family briefly cracked. The polite attitude he had maintained towards Lin Yu out of consideration for "Sleepless Sky Huo Shu's favor towards him" also vanished for a moment.

"You lowly Commoner actually dares to dream of marrying a direct descendant of the Sleepless Night Family? Sleepless Sky Huo Le… do you think your foolish plan will gain your family's approval?"

Sleepless Sky Huo Le spoke calmly.

"In fact, this afternoon, Furbollo and I already paid a visit to Mother."

She didn't spell it out completely, as even Sleepless Sky Huo Le didn't know exactly what Lin Yu and her mother had discussed.

But those words were enough to make Saint-Land Kui's entire face flush red with anger.

"Damn it, damn it… how could the Sleepless Night Family Head agree?! He's not even a Peerage Noble, not even Upper Class or a Noble… he's not even from Sleepless City!"

Sleepless Sky Huo Shu quickly looked at Saint-Land Kui. "Brother Kui, don't be hasty. Mother might have just 'not opposed' it. There's still room for things to change."

Of course, in Lin Yu's view, if he really were to marry Sleepless Sky Huo Xing on behalf of Furbollo, the Sleepless Night Family Head might indeed agree with both hands raised…

So Sleepless Sky Huo Le's words weren't exactly lying.

Lin Yu was just a bit curious.

"I say, isn't Sleepless Sky Huo Xing's own brother Sleepless Sky Huo Shu? Why is this Saint-Land Kui more agitated than Sleepless Sky Huo Shu?"

A rare, slightly pleased smile appeared on Sleepless Sky Huo Le's face as she lowered her voice to respond.

"Simple. Saint-Land Kui is a suitor of Sleepless Sky Huo Xing—he's the highest-status one among all your potential rivals."

"Really? Isn't he the future heir of the Saint-Land family with a smooth road ahead? Does he still need a marriage alliance with Sleepless Sky Huo Xing?" Lin Yu said, surprised. "Didn't you say Sleepless Sky Huo Xing has a terrible reputation?"

"He's not seeking a marriage of convenience for profit. Saint-Land Kui genuinely likes Sleepless Sky Huo Xing himself—even though Huo Xing has a peculiar temperament, it seems he just likes that type," Sleepless Sky Huo Le said seriously. "Precisely because he might inherit the Saint-Land family in the future, he doesn't need to use his marriage to climb or seek profit. He just needs to choose a prestigious accessory, and Sleepless Sky Huo Xing happens to fit his needs… a direct descendant of the Sleepless Night Family, but not a favored one."

"However, it's also because of this that Mother has never agreed to his requests."

Lin Yu thought for a moment and accepted this setting.

Although he had always heard about how awful Sleepless Sky Huo Xing's personality was, considering that Saint-Land Kui's hobby was going to the outskirts of the Outer City, to Gray Three Streets, to take on high-difficulty commissions and play the mercenary, it seemed acceptable that he might have some special preferences in choosing a partner.

At this moment, Saint-Land Kui, who had somewhat calmed down, looked at Lin Yu and spoke coldly again.

"Furbollo, is it? You're quite something… I actually admire bottom-feeders and outsiders like you who will stop at nothing to climb to the top. It's just a shame your efforts are directed the wrong way."

"To achieve your own goals, you actually dare to lay hands on Sleepless Sky Huo Xing—you are making an enemy of me."

Lin Yu looked at Saint-Land Kui and suddenly asked.

"'Lay hands on' is a bit strong. I haven't even met Sleepless Sky Huo Xing yet…"

Hearing this from Lin Yu, Saint-Land Kui grew even more furious, his anger visibly rising on his face. "Then that's even more Blasphemy! You haven't even met Miss Huo Xing… Marriage is sacred, not to be blasphemed! You don't even know if you like Miss Huo Xing, how can you pursue her?!"

"Are you pursuing a marriage without feelings, without love, only profit?"

Hearing Saint-Land Kui's words, Lin Yu couldn't help but feel a strange sensation.

The words themselves weren't wrong; they were quite correct in principle, but…

"Is this something a Peerage Noble like you should be saying?"

Lin Yu suddenly understood the Sleepless Night Family Head's criticism of the various families.

At the very least, this heir of the Saint-Land family was indeed a bit "naive."

As the future head of one of the Five Great Noble Families, how could he still expect love in his marriage?

Especially since Saint-Land Kui had just attacked him for being a "Commoner"…

On one hand, this guy, as a Noble, seemed to hold quite liberal views on "marriage freedom," but on the other hand, he still retained some feudal notions of "marrying within one's social class."

After thinking it over, Lin Yu looked at Saint-Land Kui and asked sincerely.

"Then have you met Sleepless Sky Huo Xing?"

"Of course, I've definitely met Miss Huo Xing," Saint-Land Kui said righteously. "I've directly experienced Miss Huo Xing's charm, met and conversed with her, and genuinely developed admiration for her from the bottom of my heart!"

Lin Yu countered again. "Then does Sleepless Sky Huo Xing like you?"

Saint-Land Kui fell silent.

Sleepless Sky Huo Le chuckled lightly. "Can Sleepless Sky Huo Xing even tell you apart from other members of the Saint-Land family?"

"Well, I think she probably can…"

Saint-Land Kui muttered.

Sleepless Sky Huo Shu hurriedly spoke up. "It's alright, feelings can be cultivated. Huo Xing is the slow-to-warm-up type…"

But the comfort from Sleepless Sky Huo Shu only seemed to add fuel to the fire.

Saint-Land Kui clenched his fists and looked at Lin Yu.

"Furbollo, I challenge you to a duel!"

Before Lin Yu could answer, Sleepless Sky Huo Le spoke up softly. "My dear cousin Saint-Land Kui, after the 'Equality Act' was promulgated, dueling became illegal. Even you, a Peerage Noble, cannot do it—do you not plan to inherit the Family Head position anymore? I'd be happy to tell Saint-Land Lai this good news."

Saint-Land Kui was speechless again.

But a moment later, he visibly calmed down instead, speaking coldly. "Don't worry, besides 'dueling,' I have many other ways to finish you off… Even if you are favored within the Sleepless Night Family, you are still just a Commoner in the end."

"You're not skilled in combat either… and you 'Otherworldly Visitors' can't possibly be under protection every single moment."

He threatened Lin Yu blatantly, simultaneously extending a hand and making a throat-slitting gesture at him, signaling "you're dead."

And right after Saint-Land Kui finished making that gesture.

*Snap!*

All the lights suddenly went out, plunging the entire restaurant into darkness!

In that instant, amidst the faint sounds of commotion in the restaurant, Lin Yu immediately heard the two sets of bodyguards beside him simultaneously activating various devices and quickly repositioning themselves.

Bright searchlights flared to life, surrounding the three Peerage Nobles separately.

At the same time, Lin Yu felt Sleepless Sky Huo Le vault over the table to shield him.

"You're making your move already, Saint-Land Kui?!"

"What audacity!"

Saint-Land Kui's furious voice came from a distance. "This wasn't me…"

Sleepless Sky Huo Shu's cursing also rang out. "Where's the Jin Nan Family's manager? What's going on here? Why the sudden blackout?!"

Listening to their words, Lin Yu suddenly thought of something.

"Hey, Sleepless Sky Huo Le… what's Saint-Land Kui's birth order in his family?"

"He's the third son. Saint-Land Lai is the eldest…"

After saying this, Sleepless Sky Huo Le's expression changed slightly, also realizing what Lin Yu was getting at. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Saint-Land Kui, be careful! This is targeting your Steward!"