Ye Zhentian’s loud and clear voice, amplified by the microphone, echoed through every corner of the entire banquet hall.

“...and it is also the engagement day of my daughter and Zhou Family’s virtuous nephew, Lu Qi!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall was stunned!

There had been no hint of this matter before.

Now, without any warning, the engagement of Ye Xi and Lu Qi was announced publicly.

All the guests’ faces were filled with shock and bewilderment.

In the corner, Zhou Huai appeared unusually calm.

In fact, from Ye Zhentian’s words just now, Zhou Huai had already made some conjectures.

Now, everything was confirmed.

No wonder Zhou Feng had specifically come to warn him not to cause trouble.

It turned out he was afraid he would come out and interrupt his precious stepson’s engagement ceremony.

How ridiculous.

In the center of the dance floor, Ye Xi’s smile instantly froze.

She looked at her father in disbelief, her clear eyes filled with shock and confusion.

“Father!”

The Young Miss’s voice trembled slightly due to shock.

“You... what are you talking nonsense about?”

“When did I ever say I would get engaged to Lu Qi?!”

Ye Zhentian still wore that gentle smile on his face, as if he hadn’t noticed his daughter’s pale complexion.

He said cheerfully:

“Xi’er, you are already eighteen years old, an adult, and it’s a good age to talk about marriage.”

“Coincidentally, Zhou Family’s virtuous nephew Lu Qi is a talented man and has admired you for a long time.”

“You two, one is the apple of our Ye Family’s eye, and the other is the future hope of the Zhou Family, both are esteemed A-rank professionals.”

“This is simply a perfect match of talent and beauty, a match made in heaven!”

“So, I took the liberty of discussing it with your Uncle Zhou, and we decided to hold an engagement banquet for you first.”

“It won’t be too late for you to get married in another two years.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Feng, who was at the main table, immediately stood up, walked onto the stage with a beaming face, and took over the conversation.

“Haha, thank you, Brother Ye, for your high regard! For our Lu Qi to be able to marry such an excellent and beautiful girl as Xi’er, it is absolutely his good fortune cultivated over three lifetimes!”

The two sang in harmony, as if this matter had long been set in stone.

Below the stage, the guests, who had been silent for a moment, also reacted.

Scattered applause began, quickly merging into a continuous sound.

“Congratulations, Family Head Ye! Congratulations, Mr. Zhou!”

“Yes, yes, Young Miss Ye Xi and Young Master Lu Qi are truly a match made in heaven!”

“A strong alliance, from now on, Donghai City will be the Domain of your two Families!”

Flattery rose and fell.

But everyone present knew that this was nothing more than a naked Family alliance through marriage.

For the children of these prominent Families, their marriages were often not their own choice from birth.

Many people, moreover, gloated as they cast their gaze towards Zhou Huai in the corner.

It was well known that before this, Ye Xi’s true childhood sweetheart, and even her de facto fiancé, was that Zhou Huai.

Just now, Young Miss Ye Xi had been intimately close with that Zhou Huai, even embracing him in public.

How much time had passed since then?

In the blink of an eye, the person she loved was about to become someone else’s fiancée.

Who knew what this Young Master of the Zhou Family was feeling at this moment.

“I don’t agree!”

Ye Xi’s angry voice interrupted the insincere flattery throughout the hall.

She was trembling with rage, her chest heaving violently.

“I absolutely will not get engaged to that Lu Qi!”

“This engagement banquet, I don’t acknowledge it! It doesn’t count!”

Ye Zhentian’s smile finally receded, his expression darkened, and [N O V E L I G H T] his tone was stern.

“Nonsense!”

“Marriage has always been decided by parents and matchmakers since ancient times!”

“I’m putting it out there today, this marriage, you will agree whether you want to or not, and if you don’t agree, you still have to agree!”

“Someone!”

He shouted sharply.

“The Young Miss is tired, help her back to her room to rest!”

Two maids, who had already been prepared, immediately stepped forward, intending to assist Ye Xi.

“Get lost!”

Ye Xi flung their hands away.

She looked at her father, the father who had doted on her most since she was a child, now appearing so unfamiliar.

Tears, no longer able to be suppressed, streamed from her eyes.

“I said!”

“I will die before I marry Lu Qi!”

Ye Zhentian’s face was ashen, and he said sharply, “It’s not up to you!”

Seeing the father and daughter at loggerheads, the atmosphere became extremely tense.

Zhou Feng once again stepped forward, playing the role of a peacemaker.

“Brother Ye, don’t be angry.”

He smiled and tried to smooth things over.

“Niece Xi’er is still young and ignorant, it’s normal for her not to understand at first.”

“After the banquet, we’ll persuade her properly, and she’ll understand.”

Zhou Huai observed all of this, watching with interest.

He had begun to see some clues.

This farce before his eyes was entirely a play intentionally staged by Ye Zhentian for the Zhou Family.

The subtext was obvious.

Look, to get Ye Xi to marry Lu Qi, I’ve gone to such lengths.

Even forcing my own daughter in public.

Isn’t that very sincere?

But why was this happening?

The Ye Family’s status in Donghai City was clearly on par with the Zhou Family, and even surpassed it in some Domains.

What could possibly force Ye Zhentian to sacrifice his daughter’s happiness to ally with the Zhou Family?

Countless thoughts flashed through Zhou Huai’s mind.

But now was not the time to consider these things.

Now, it was his turn to make an appearance.

Wasn’t Zhou Feng worried he would come out and cause trouble?

Sorry.

He had to cause this trouble!

Just as the two maids exchanged glances, preparing to forcibly escort Ye Xi away.

A steady sound of wheelchair wheels rolling came from the corner.

Zhou Huai, pushed by Xiang Yu, slowly emerged from the shadows and entered everyone’s line of sight.

At this moment, countless guests’ eyes lit up.

The scene they had long awaited was finally unfolding.

“Here he comes! It looks like that Zhou Huai finally couldn’t sit still!”

“There’s a good show to watch! The ex-fiancé snatching the bride on the spot? This plot is much more exciting than a movie!”

“Although he’s a good-for-nothing, a cripple, but he dares to stand up at this moment, I respect him as a man!”

Zhou Feng looked at Zhou Huai’s figure, his brows instantly furrowed into a frown, and his eyes held undisguised menace.

“Did you forget what I just said?!”

“Now get back here!”

Zhou Huai acted as if he hadn’t heard, letting Xiang Yu push him to the very center of the banquet hall.

Under the lights, his pale face appeared unusually calm.

When Ye Xi saw Zhou Huai, she was first startled, then a deep worry flashed in her eyes.

“Brother Zhou Huai!”

Zhou Huai gave her a gentle smile and made a reassuring gesture.

At the main table, Liu Yuru slammed her wine glass onto the table with a “thud,” standing up with a look of disgust.

“Zhou Huai! You good-for-nothing! Do you dare to disobey your father’s words now?!”

“Now get back here! Don’t make a fool of yourself here!”

Facing the angry reprimands of the couple, Zhou Huai merely smiled.

He looked around the hall, his voice not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone’s ears.

“You truly are too heartless.”

“Is it not allowed for me, as a brother, to come out and offer a word of congratulations?”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone showed expressions of surprise.

Even Liu Yuru looked at him with some suspicion.

“You’d be that kind?”

Zhou Huai’s smile grew wider.

“Of course, I must congratulate.”

He paused, his gaze turning to Lu Qi, who was still stuffing pastries into his mouth, and his voice suddenly rose.

“Now that Lu Qi has become a fool, he can still get engaged to our beautiful and charming Young Miss of the Ye Family.”

“Finally, someone can take good care of my foolish younger brother.”

“You tell me, as a brother, can I not come out and offer my congratulations?”

As soon as these words were spoken.

Zhou Feng and Liu Yuru’s expressions instantly changed dramatically!

The banquet hall was also in an uproar!

Ye Zhentian, furthermore, furrowed his brows, his sharp gaze instantly locking onto Zhou Huai, and he asked in a deep voice:

“Lu Qi became a fool?”

“Zhou Huai, what do you mean by that?”