Chapter 11: The Family Recognition Banquet

Ruan Li finally gathered her courage and turned around, only to find that the man had somehow appeared right behind her without making a sound.

“You didn’t hear anything just now, right?” she asked nervously, her eyes betraying her guilt.

Fu Huaizhou slightly nodded, studying her with an unreadable expression. “Why don’t you take a guess?”

His tone carried a hint of a threat, and Ruan Li realized that he had definitely overheard her. Trying to deflect, she forced a smile and changed the topic. “Uncle, when did you arrive? I didn’t hear a thing. Did my family fail to welcome you properly? I should go and discipline them right now.”

She tried to walk past him, but Fu Huaizhou stood firm, blocking her path like a wall.

“What’s the matter? Do you want to announce my arrival with gongs and drums?”

Ruan Li looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. “If that’s what you want, I could arrange it.”

Fu Huaizhou quietly gazed into her eyes, clearly waiting for her to confess. Wherever he stood, people’s eyes followed, and it seemed like everyone was watching them. To outsiders, it looked like they were having a standoff, the tension almost palpable.

“Isn’t Fu Huaizhou fresh back from abroad? Why does he seem so familiar with her?” someone asked, seeing Fu Xingchuan enter the hall just after.

“Oh, that’s probably because of his nephew, Fu Xingchuan. But it looks like he’s reprimanding her right now.”

Ruan Li’s mind raced, and she quickly whispered an excuse to Fu Huaizhou. “I was talking about Fu Xingchuan. He’s two years older than me—so kind of old. I absolutely didn’t mean to offend you.”

Relieved at her quick thinking, she exhaled. Fu Huaizhou already knew she didn’t want to marry Fu Xingchuan, so it wasn’t too risky to say.

Just as she finished, she caught sight of the very person she had just mentioned—Fu Xingchuan himself. Feeling awkward, Ruan Li forced a smile in his direction, trying to appear friendly.

Fu Xingchuan gave her a strange look.

Well, that was useless, Ruan Li thought, exasperated. She withdrew her gaze, only to meet Fu Huaizhou’s dark eyes again.

“Uh…” Ruan Li hesitated as she noticed that even after her explanation, Fu Huaizhou’s expression hadn’t softened.

If anything, he seemed even colder.

Feeling uncomfortable, Ruan Li fiddled with her fingers, glancing up at him cautiously. “The banquet is about to start, Uncle… Maybe my dad will need me for something soon?”

At this, Fu Huaizhou finally turned and walked away. The air seemed to loosen around them, and Ruan Li let out a deep breath.

“Wow,” Ye Mian, who had been standing nearby, gave her a thumbs up. “I thought my legs were going to give out. Third Master Fu is way too intimidating.”

Ruan Li, still recovering from the tense encounter, turned to her. “Why didn’t you warn me?”

“I was blinking like crazy, trying to signal you, but you didn’t notice at all.”

Ruan Li sighed. “Whatever.” She still couldn’t understand why Fu Huaizhou’s mood hadn’t improved, even after her explanation. Maybe he just had a perpetually icy demeanor?

Shi Xun, who had been quietly observing, was holding back laughter. This was the first time he had seen Fu Huaizhou taken aback. And of course, it was because Ruan Li had said something unintentionally dense.

She had called Fu Xingchuan old for being two years older than her, but Fu Huaizhou, as his uncle, was a whole eight years older than her! No wonder Fu Huaizhou wasn’t pleased—he must have been silently fuming.

“You’re something else,” Shi Xun teased, giving Ruan Li a thumbs up. “The last time Third Master Fu made that face was when we pranked him on his 18th birthday and put wasabi in his cake. He had to eat a whole piece on camera without losing face.”

As they chatted, the lights in the banquet hall dimmed, and a soft spotlight illuminated the grand staircase. From the second floor, a young woman in a custom white gown descended slowly, her long train carried by attendants.

It was Ruan Shu, walking down like a true princess. The light followed her graceful descent as she made her way to the high platform in the center of the hall, where Ruan Cheng and Zhou Min stood proudly beside her, their faces beaming with joy.

“Thank you all for attending,” Ruan Cheng began, holding Ruan Shu’s hand tightly. “After all these years, I’m overjoyed to have found my biological daughter. Allow me to introduce her—this is my daughter, Ruan Shu.”

Ye Mian squeezed Ruan Li’s hand softly, and the two exchanged glances. Ruan Li shook her head lightly, unbothered by the attention that briefly shifted toward her. She had never truly considered herself the rightful daughter of the Ruan family. After years of emotional preparation, she was at peace.

Some guests glanced in Ruan Li’s direction, curious, but she returned their stares without flinching. That’s when her eyes unexpectedly met a pair of deep, dark eyes.

Fu Huaizhou was watching her too, for reasons unknown.

Fu Xingchuan, seated next to him, turned slightly and asked, “Uncle, did the Ruan family hold a banquet like this when I was a kid? I don’t remember it at all.”

Fu Huaizhou swirled the wine in his glass and replied indifferently, “No.”

Ye Mian observed the scene and shook her head. “Back in the day, the Ruan family didn’t have the standing they do now.”

Shi Xun nodded in agreement. “This might be the peak for them.”

Ye Mian gave him a sideways glance. “That’s not set in stone.”

Even if the engagement with the Fu family fell through, there were still other wealthy families in Beijing, and Ruan Shu was sure to have her chances with them.

“They’re about to start the opening dance,” Ruan Li noted.

“It better not be Fu Xingchuan dancing with her,” Ye Mian muttered in annoyance. “That would be a slap in your face.”

“No, they wouldn’t do that. Too many people are watching—it would look bad.”

As Ruan Li predicted, Ruan Cheng bypassed Fu Xingchuan and made his way toward their group instead.

“Second Young Master Shi,” Ruan Cheng addressed Shi Xun. “I’ve heard that you’re quite skilled at dancing. Would you do us the honor of partnering with my daughter for the opening dance?”

Shi Xun froze. He hadn’t anticipated being roped into this, but with everyone watching, there was no easy way out.

“Of course, Ruan Cheng,” he replied, glancing briefly at Ye Mian.

Ye Mian gave him a knowing look, as if she’d expected this all along.

As Shi Xun and Ruan Shu took to the dance floor, Ruan Li watched the scene unfold, then nudged Ye Mian’s arm. “Annoyed?”

Ye Mian scoffed. “They’re both terrible dancers.”

Ruan Li nodded in agreement, though she couldn’t actually tell if Shi Xun was a bad dancer. She had learned to dance from private tutors when she was younger, but Ye Mian and Shi Xun had grown up learning together, as their families were neighbors.

Ruan Shu, on the other hand, must have hired a coach recently, just for this event. Still, it was obvious to everyone that her high heels had left painful marks on Shi Xun’s shoes.

“I wonder if Shi Xun will be able to walk after this,” Ruan Li mused sympathetically.

Ye Mian let out a soft snort. As they were chatting, a figure suddenly appeared before them, slightly bending down and extending a hand toward Ruan Li.

“Ruan Li, care for a dance?”