Zhou Huai raised his eyebrows.

He looked at the newcomer.

The person's identity appeared in his mind.

Zhou Qi.

His eldest uncle's son.

By seniority, he was his cousin.

"Is something wrong?" Zhou Huai's tone was devoid of warmth.

Zhou Qi grinned, revealing a smile he thought was friendly.

"Cousin, don't be so cold."

He swirled his wine glass, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Huai.

"It's rare for you to come out, and it's for Ye Xi's birthday banquet."

"You, could it be that you're still pining for Ye Xi?"

Zhou Huai didn't look at him, picking up the red wine from the table and bringing it to his lips.

The cool liquid slid down his throat.

Only then did he put down the glass and utter three words.

"None of your business."

The smile on Zhou Qi's face froze for a moment.

He was a bit surprised.

"I didn't expect that after moving out of the Zhou Family, your words would become so firm."

"I'm just kindly reminding you, you and Ye Xi had a good relationship since childhood."

He leaned in, lowering his voice, with a hint of condescending pity.

"But the way you are now, you're not worthy of her. It's better to give up early."

Zhou Huai smiled.

He finally raised his eyes, looking directly at his cousin.

"I think you're truly meddling in other people's affairs."

"What happens between Ye Xi and I, is it your place to comment?"

"A mere clown, daring to seek attention in front of me?"

Zhou Huai's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.

"Before I get angry, get lost."

Zhou Qi was stunned by these words.

The weak, gloomy cousin he remembered, how dared he speak to him in such a tone?

After realizing what happened, a sense of humiliation surged in his heart, and his face turned crimson.

"Zhou Huai! I'm your cousin, at least! How dare you speak to me like that!"

"I..."

The rest of his words caught in his throat.

A chilling coldness, without warning, shot up from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

A huge sense of crisis, like a net, tightly enveloped him.

His gaze moved downwards uncontrollably.

A dark, metallic-glowing claw had emerged from the shadow beneath his feet at some point.

Five sharp knuckles were gently resting on his neck.

That icy touch made all the hairs on his body stand on end.

"What... what is this thing?"

Zhou Qi was scared to the point of his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, his voice changing pitch.

Across from him, Zhou Huai on the wheelchair quietly sipped red wine, his eyes indifferent.

"So... are you really going to continue talking?"

How could Zhou Qi dare to say another word?

Fear filled his heart; he could even hear his own teeth chattering.

"Get out."

Zhou Huai's voice fell.

The shadowy claw resting on his neck silently retreated into the shadows, as if it had never appeared.

Zhou Qi felt as if he had been granted a great pardon, his body went limp, almost collapsing to the ground.

He didn't dare to look at Zhou Huai again, scrambling into the crowd and fleeing in a panic.

This scene was witnessed by several people not far away.

Their faces were full of suspicion.

"What's wrong with Zhou Qi?"

"Why did he run away in such a panic, like he saw a ghost?"

"I don't know... He seemed suddenly very afraid of ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) that Zhou Huai."

"Are you kidding? What's there to be afraid of a useless cripple?"

Just then, the lights in the hall suddenly dimmed.

A spotlight shone on the spiral staircase on the second floor.

Elegant music began to play.

As the absolute protagonist of the night, Ye Xi slowly descended.

The moment she appeared, she attracted everyone's attention.

The Young Miss wore a moon-white evening gown, simple yet elegant in style.

The dress was adorned with tiny silver threads, flowing with a starlight-like radiance as she walked.

She wore no makeup, yet her skin was fairer than snow, and her bright eyes sparkled, as if all the stars in the sky were crushed within them.

Noble, graceful, and so beautiful that people dared not look directly at her.

"Oh my goodness, Young Miss Ye Xi is too beautiful today."

"Yes, she's like a fairy who stepped out of a painting."

"Whoever can marry her must have accumulated blessings in their past life."

Exclamations of admiration rose and fell.

Ye Xi's gaze swept through the crowd, quickly landing on the quiet figure in the corner.

A bright smile instantly bloomed on her face.

Holding her skirt, she exchanged a few brief pleasantries with the surrounding guests, then, like a dancing butterfly, she moved through the crowd, heading straight for Zhou Huai.

Seeing this, many Young Masters from wealthy families felt a pang of jealousy.

"What's going on? Why is Young Miss Ye Xi going directly to that good-for-nothing?"

"Exactly, what's so good about that Zhou Huai? He's a cripple, yet Young Miss Ye Xi is still so close to him."

"Alas, childhood sweethearts' feelings aren't so easily broken."

Ye Xi didn't care about others' discussions.

She ran to Zhou Huai, held her skirt, and playfully twirled around.

The hem of her evening gown traced a graceful arc.

"Brother Zhou Huai, am I pretty today?"

Her voice was crisp, like a clear mountain spring, with a hint of a little girl's innocent charm and anticipation.

Zhou Huai looked at her, his eyes full of smiles.

"When are you not pretty?"

He paused, then changed the subject.

"However, I can make you even prettier today."

Ye Xi softly "Oh'd," her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Brother Zhou Huai, how do you plan to make me prettier?"

Zhou Huai didn't speak, he just tilted his head towards Xiang Yu behind him.

Xiang Yu quickly retrieved a long, exquisitely packaged gift box from his personal storage space.

This scene once again attracted the attention of the surrounding guests.

They were all curious what kind of gift this good-for-nothing, who had been kicked out of his home, could give to the Young Miss of the Ye Family.

Looking at the shape of the box, it was most likely a piece of clothing.

Some people showed disdainful smiles.

As the esteemed Young Miss of the Ye Family, Ye Xi lacked nothing, especially various designer clothes.

The evening gown she was wearing now was already a masterpiece by a top designer, showcasing her beauty to the extreme.

They didn't believe Zhou Huai could produce anything more stunning.

Xiang Yu handed the gift box to Ye Xi.

Zhou Huai's voice also sounded at this moment, gentle and solemn.

"Happy birthday, my little princess."

Ye Xi's small face instantly flushed with a hint of red.

She took the gift box and eagerly opened the lid.

The moment the lid was lifted.

Buzz—!

A dazzling, holy radiance burst forth from the gift box, instantly illuminating every corner of the banquet hall.

The light was soft and not harsh, carrying a sacred, noble aura.

Everyone enveloped by the light felt their spirits lift, as if their Souls had been purified.

"Holy cow!"

A Young Master who was close by instinctively blurted out a curse.

"What... what kind of clothes are these? They actually come with a Holy Light effect?!"