Early the next morning, assistant Wei Mian noticed something was off with Secretary Gu Yin as soon as he stepped out of the elevator.

The assistants had networked with colleagues last night, and today, since they were to meet the big boss, everyone had made special preparations in advance, bringing gifts that were rare treasures from across the Federation.

For him, attending the boss’s family banquet was both an honor and a challenge. If he made any mistakes, it could spell the end of his career.

Luckily for him, with Xiao Zong’s guidance, Wei Mian had already prepared a rare antique inkstone, which he had purchased at a high price from an auction house. In fact, Xiao Yan’s home was filled with inkstones, and there were more valuable ones, but the important thing was the thought behind it. Xiao Zong’s close associates were judged by Old Master Xiao based on their true abilities.

But Wei Mian didn’t know what kind of gift Gu Yin had brought. As one of the boss’s potential matchmaking candidates, and with both families being acquainted, surely the boss had helped him prepare something?

The Gu family’s financial situation was modest by the standards of Lin City, living in a 90-square-meter apartment in the old district, but they had long-standing neighbors and little transient population, which made it relatively peaceful. Compared to those pioneering on colonial planets, their life was quite fortunate.

Wei Mian’s family situation was similar, which made it easy for him to feel a natural sense of empathy and camaraderie with Gu Yin due to their shared background.

He had expected Gu Yin to be an early riser, given his habit of morning exercise, but Gu Yin didn’t come downstairs until 7 o’clock.

The long night had passed in the blink of an eye. Gu Yin only got a shallow nap as dawn broke, haunted by vivid dreams of passionate shouts.

Gu Xiao Yin had undergone a transformation after obtaining martial arts secrets, as if he had broken through his body’s vital meridians overnight, leaping from quantitative accumulation to qualitative change, now glowing with righteous energy.

Wei Mian: …

Why did it feel like a strong gust of wind had just hit him?

“Morning, Wei-ge.” Despite being sleep-deprived, Gu Yin cheerfully greeted him.

Wei Mian quickly glanced at him.

Everything seemed normal at first glance, but there was something subtly different about him.

Gu Xiaoyin had entered military school at 14 and was exceptionally admitted at 15. He was the youngest and one of the most senior members of the special forces codenamed [Alpha].

As an instructor, he had been strict, and his team members always felt a sense of distance from him, which led to him missing out on the shared experiences and knowledge of his peers.

He didn’t retire until he failed to woo Xiao Zong during his heat period.

Thanks to his teammates unselfish support, Gu Xiao Yin had opened the door to a new world, learning about matters not covered in biology class.

Gu Yin had genuinely believed he was a beta all this time. After all, he wasn’t affected by pheromones, and like all military betas, he assumed he would marry a gentle, delicate omega—why an omega? He didn’t know, maybe it seemed more prestigious?

Then he went and differentiated into an unprecedented military omega.

When his differentiation first occurred, his pheromone release was unstable, and heat periods happened frequently, leaving him flustered and confined at home for over a month.

Even now, his heat periods hadn’t fully stabilized. Sometimes they were so mild that no one noticed, and sometimes, like in the car, they crept up unnoticed.

The military doctor said the best place for him was school, where the environment was simple, the pressure was low, and there were school doctors who could regularly monitor him.

Omega heat periods were highly sensitive, with all bodily sensations amplified several times, to the point where even the feel of bed linens could make one tremble.

However, in the “study materials,” alphas also seemed to be very comfortable.

Xiao Zong’s cold, beautiful face, his perpetually tight, thin lips, and his often teasing, slightly mocking peach blossom eyes—if they were colored by desire—

They’d probably look amazing.

Gu Yin felt he was overestimating himself, but he sincerely wanted to see that high-and-mighty, calm, and restrained alpha lose control.

Thus, Comrade Gu Xiao Yin set a small goal for himself, to get into the boss’s bed.

“…What are you smiling about?”

Wei Mian, after finishing his briefing on important matters, couldn’t help but ask.

Why does he look like a schemer? He didn’t voice that thought, though, because in Wei Mian’s mind, Gu Yin was still a pure-hearted little brother.

What bad thoughts could an omega possibly have?

He just blushed a bit, that’s all.

Gu Yin quickly rubbed his face and then seriously asked, “Is the old master really as fierce as the rumors say?”

He’s much worse than the rumors, Wei Mian thought.

Outsiders rarely had much contact with Old Master Xiao, so his public image was still fairly positive. Upright, fair, strict, and capable.

But Wei Mian, having followed Xiao Zong, had seen the old master in private—like any ordinary elderly man, he could be irritable, critical of his juniors, and sometimes made decisions that seemed irrational.

But with his 90th birthday fast approaching, what was there to argue about?

“Repeat the key points and special instructions I just mentioned,” Wei Mian prompted.

Even though Gu Yin had been distracted earlier, he hadn’t forgotten a single thing. He obediently repeated everything in front of Wei Mian.

Satisfied, Wei Mian gave him a few more reminders before letting him go.

When Xiao Zong came downstairs, Gu Yin’s eyes lit up.

Second Young Master Xiao never disappointed when it mattered. Gone was the tiredness and laziness of yesterday. Today, he was sharply dressed in a well-fitted suit, exuding elegance and power, the very image of a top-tier corporate elite.

For him, this was like the general manager of Henghua meeting the company’s chairman, not a grandson meeting his grandfather.

“Commander Xiao arrived at the villa late last night, accompanied by Mr. Zhou,” Wei Mian reported, always keeping his ears open for the latest updates.

Xiao Jingchuan was similar to Xiao Zong in many ways. While Xiao Zong had returned with two people and a cat, Xiao Jingchuan had come back with only Zhou Hengqing.

Zhou Hengqing was Xiao Jingchuan’s spouse, working in a civilian role at the Federal Military Department. His father was a mid-level officer in the Federation, and as the youngest child in the family and a beta, his parents wouldn’t dream of sending him into the special forces to face life-and-death situations.

At a young age, Xiao Jingchuan had already become a brigadier general in the Northwest Military District of H Country, seen by many as a rising star. With steady progress, he was expected to enter the Federal Military Department within a few years. He was young, and his career trajectory was ahead of most. Some speculated that he might one day rise to the rank of Federal Marshal.

Countless generals had vied to marry their daughters to him.

But when the Xiao family encountered trouble, these people vanished without a trace.

The only one who extended a helping hand at the time was Zhou Hengqing’s father. The Xiao family was in desperate need of stability—if public opinion fully turned against them, both the company and Xiao Jingchuan’s career would be doomed.

So, Xiao Jingchuan decisively entered into a marriage alliance, with no complaints, marrying someone he had only met once.

He treated it like executing a military order.

As it turned out, Zhou Hengqing’s father had great foresight. Not only did the Xiao family weather the storm, but their business transformation was timely, and Xiao Jingchuan soon took command of the Northwest Military District.

People say that fortune favors the brave, and many later regretted their earlier actions, but once the rice was cooked, there was no going back.

Still, few people believed in the marriage. They thought the two were ill-matched, and as time went on, and the couple remained childless, many scheming individuals began eyeing Xiao Jingchuan’s position once more.

Xiao Zong had heard about these rumors. Some even hinted that he should help broker new matches for his brother, showing just how widespread the gossip had become.

Xiao Zong had little impression of this sister-in-law of his. Though she attended family gatherings, they had exchanged only a handful of words over the years.

The short-legged cat, hearing movement downstairs, eagerly jumped down from the stairs. In its excitement over the new environment, its short legs tripped over themselves, and it tumbled down the last step, rolling straight to Gu Yin’s feet, pouting for comfort with a pitiful “meow.”

Xiao Zong’s Napoleon Munchkin cat was show-quality, a prime blue-and-white with a sweet doll-like face, bright blue eyes, and a fluffy tail—a true feline beauty.

But its face-first tumble was anything but elegant, and the commotion it caused was quite large.

The poor kitty meowed miserably, and Gu Yin squatted down to pet it, his heart aching. The short-legged cat seized the opportunity to climb into his lap, but its legs were too short to jump up, so Gu Yin had to lift it into his arms.

Xiao Zong glanced at the cat, and Gu Yin seemed to catch a hint of a strange smile on his face.

…Commander?

Gu Xiaoyin suddenly realized something and lightly gasped.

He seemed to have uncovered a huge secret.

—

Old Master Xiao loved traditional architecture, and the villa was built by the lake, with mist swirling around it. The overall design featured classic Chinese flying eaves and pavilions.

Xiao Zong’s European-style villa stood out in stark contrast amidst the complex.

His villa was near Lan Ruo Pavilion, a ten-minute walk away.

They had enough time, but others were even more proactive—the parking lot in front of Lan Ruo Pavilion was already full of cars.

This so-called visit was more like a banquet, held in the hall adjacent to Lan Ruo Pavilion.

After the banquet, Old Master Xiao would choose a few people he liked and arrange private meetings with them, answering all their prepared questions.

Rumor had it that dining with certain financial moguls used to cost tens of millions of Federation dollars at auction, but with Old Master Xiao, it all came down to personal rapport.

Moreover, the Xiao family was never short on money. When guests left the villa, they often received lavish return gifts, making the trip well worth it. That’s why, despite the hassle, everyone still scrambled for a chance to meet the old master.

Xiao Yan usually reserved time before the banquet for family, so Xiao Zong sent Wei Mian and Gu Yin to the hall first while he detoured around the screen wall.

As he walked through, the servants greeted him with, “Young Master Sun.”

These servants had been at the villa for a long time. In the past, they addressed Xiao Sinian as “Young Master,” and after Xiao Zong was raised by Old Master Xiao, they began calling him “Young Master Sun,” a habit that had continued ever since.

Even Xiao Jingchuan didn’t receive this treatment; the servants usually called him “Commander Xiao” or “Chief Xiao.”

As Xiao Zong walked through the lush garden in front of the pavilion, he heard a sweet voice drifting from the hall.

“Really? So we can start after the New Year? That’s great! Thank you, Grandpa! Thank you, Big Brother!”

The wooden house had poor sound insulation, and Leng Haiyun’s voice carried through the entire garden.

Old Master Xiao, with his sharp ears and eyes, knew exactly who the voice was directed at.

Xiao Zong’s polished shoes made a soft tapping sound on the stone path as he took a few more steps, hearing another familiar voice, this one a bit more indulgent. “Haiyun, you’re not a child anymore. Act a little more mature.”

Xiao Zong recognized the voice. It belonged to Leng Haiyun’s uncle, Leng Xia, the current head of the Leng family conglomerate.

Xiao Zong’s pace slowed unconsciously.

He suddenly thought of Gu Yin. He hadn’t had a chance to speak to him this morning.

Gu Yin’s voice was soft, and his temper was gentle. If only he could be a little more assertive; otherwise, Xiao Zong feared he might get taken advantage of in the future.

But it didn’t matter. At worst, Xiao Zong would just have to spend more time teaching him. No one is born knowing how to survive in the world.

In fact, if they hadn’t returned to the Xiao family estate, the two of them might have spent New Year’s Eve at the Lu Ming Mountain Villa.

Gu Yin, aside from his job, was also preparing for the spring exams. If Xiao Zong had the time, he could even supervise his studies.

That wouldn’t be too bad either—certainly better than the current situation.

When he returned, he wouldn’t give Gu Yin so much work. After all, Wei Mian could handle it alone. (Wei Mian: ???)

The garden path was winding, but even at a slow pace, the distance of a few dozen meters was quickly covered.

The hall’s wooden doors were wide open, and the moment Xiao Zong appeared, the atmosphere inside froze for a few seconds.

The old master was in a good mood. Seeing Xiao Zong, he didn’t scowl as he usually did but said, “Ah Zong, you’ve come. Sit down.”

Xiao Zong’s gaze swept through the hall: Xiao Jingchuan sat to the old master’s left, and to his right sat Leng Haiyun and Leng Xia, in order of proximity.

Leng Xia, despite being the head of the Leng family, sat below his junior, showing no signs of discomfort. Leng Xia was truly a man who could bend and adapt.

This subtle seating arrangement would have been unthinkable for anyone else, but the old master always turned a blind eye to Leng Haiyun’s breaches of protocol.

Xiao Zong silently took a seat next to Xiao Jingchuan, across from Leng Xia.

The old master didn’t continue their previous conversation but turned his attention to Xiao Zong, asking, “I heard you brought Xiao Gu back?”

“Yes, Grandpa,” Xiao Zong replied.

The old master said no more, appearing satisfied.

A brief silence fell over the hall as everyone mulled over their own thoughts. Just as Leng Haiyun was about to break the silence, the old master asked again, “How’s it going between the two of you?”

Xiao Zong responded calmly, “We’re just getting to know each other for now. Yin Yin is still young.”

“Hmph, always dodging. How many times have I asked?” The old man’s face immediately soured. “He may be young, but you’re not. Are you planning to wait until he’s 30 before you start thinking about this?”

Xiao Zong remained silent, while Xiao Jingchuan’s face grew tense, as his husband, Zhou Hengqing, was almost 33.

The old master had a sore spot—both of his sons had passed away, and his two legitimate grandsons, one a soldier constantly on the battlefield, and the other a businessman who had recently faced danger twice, had yet to produce any heirs.

With no grandchildren left behind, Old Master Xiao had once lamented to his war buddies that, at his age, he didn’t even dare to die, fearing that the family might face another catastrophe at any moment.

Leng Haiyun, who had toned down his flamboyant style since getting off the plane, was dressed modestly today. He chimed in obediently, “I was just lucky to meet someone I liked. We’re still waiting for Grandpa to give his approval, and if everything’s good, we’re planning to hold the wedding early next year.”

As soon as he finished speaking, both Xiao Zong and Xiao Jingchuan maintained blank expressions, while Leng Xia shot a sharp glance at him, silencing Leng Haiyun immediately.

Sure enough, Old Master Xiao’s voice turned cold. “Bringing them back after pregnancy—too late, don’t you think?”

Xiao Yan’s hair was white, and his face was covered with age spots. The scar near the corner of his eye looked even fiercer.

His features no longer bore much of the handsomeness of his youth, but the imposing aura of an elder in power was even more apparent on him.

Despite his weakening legs, Old Master Xiao never let anyone assist him. Even as his figure gradually stooped, he remained a towering tree that sheltered the Xiao family from the storms.

As a proud alpha, the most humiliating thing in his life was the scandal his second son, Xiao Sinian, had caused with his affairs outside.

Leng Haiyun was momentarily stunned, and once he processed the words, he felt utterly humiliated. Stammering, he muttered, “I’m sorry, Grandpa. I was too impatient…”

“I don’t care about the modern ways you young people pursue,” the old master said with a dark expression, “but you cannot let your poor choices harm the child. In the end, it’s your own fortune that will suffer.”

These words were a direct slap in the face, leaving Leng Haiyun pale and both angry and anxious.

‘Old and still wicked,’ Leng Haiyun thought bitterly. Old Master Xiao could turn hostile in a heartbeat. He was clearly mad at the two Xiao brothers for not living up to his expectations, but now he was taking it out on Leng Haiyun, nitpicking even though he’d brought someone back!

—He was still going to marry him, wasn’t he? Once they confirmed the baby was an alpha or omega, wouldn’t they get married anyway?!

Leng Xia’s ability to handle the situation was far superior to Leng Haiyun.

“You’re right, Grandpa. I’ve already scolded him for it. This kid’s been working at the entertainment company lately, surrounded by so many omegas, but he didn’t care about any of them. Then he meets this one, and suddenly, he’s head over heels, chasing after them like a lovesick puppy, with no shame, bringing flowers and picking them up from work, practically turning into their little sidekick. It’s ridiculous.”

“But luckily, they come from a clean family, and we can’t treat them unfairly. That’s why we’ve rushed to make things right.”

Leng Xia’s words had the desired effect.

Back in the day, Xiao Yan had pursued Luo Yun actively. At that time, Xiao Yan already held a high military rank and was very proud. But when he met Luo Yun, a military doctor, his pride turned to dust, and he devoted himself wholeheartedly until they finally got together.

Xiao Zong smiled slightly.

Bai He Valley hadn’t been a wasted trip. They must’ve heard plenty of the old master’s stories.

Sure enough, the old master’s expression softened, and he stopped pursuing the matter. He then turned his attention to Xiao Jingchuan. “Is Xiao Zhou here?”

“He is,” Xiao Jingchuan responded, sitting with military-like formality. He was dressed in his uniform and clearly treated this meeting with the old master as a formal, no-mistakes-allowed event. “He’s in the hall.”

Xiao Zong, on the other hand, sat in a much more relaxed posture, with both hands resting on the armrests of his chair. His gaze quickly swept over Leng Xia.

Leng Family Group had a wide range of businesses, covering many industries, but their entertainment company was the most well-known.

Amidst this murky water, the family members private lives were highly chaotic. Leng Haiyun wasn’t the first illegitimate child, nor would he be the last.

Leng Xia’s own background was somewhat unclear as well. He had been raised by the legitimate wife of the previous family head, but rumors had it he wasn’t biologically related. In large, well-resourced families, especially those with good genetic stock, talented individuals often emerged, and the ability to rise above many siblings was no small feat.

For those unfamiliar with the inner workings, it almost seemed like the old master had been teaching Leng Xia rather than Leng Haiyun all these years.

Leng Xia noticed Xiao Zong’s gaze and returned it with a faint smile.

It was still early in the day, yet aside from Leng Xia, an outsider, everyone else had been reprimanded.

But Xiao Zong had a clear understanding. Leng Haiyun’s current position was entirely thanks to Leng Xia managing everything behind the scenes. In the past, Leng Xia rarely appeared in public, but now he could even accompany the family to pay respects at the grandmother’s grave. Leng Xia’s ambitions clearly extended beyond just that.

This was also the reason why Dr. Lu had insisted Xiao Zong return home.

People are like that—once they believed Xiao Zong was losing power, some of the old subordinates would start shifting their allegiance to the Leng family.

Who they worked for didn’t matter. Besides, it was Old Master Xiao who had promoted them, not Xiao Zong.

Second Young Master Xiao maintained a polite, emotionless smile in return.

“Old Master,” a servant announced, entering the room with a secretary, “the time is almost here.”

The old master waved his hand and said in a deep voice, “Bring out ‘Hades.’”

—

Meanwhile, poor Assistant Wei was completely unaware that his boss was showing blatant favoritism.

The exterior of Lan Ruo Pavilion was a traditional Chinese building, but inside, it was a European-style hall, with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and mosaic flooring.

The atmosphere was tense. This large annual visit had people anxiously waiting for the host family to appear. Everyone was restless, their minds unable to settle.

When academic overachievers get nervous, they react differently from others. For instance, Wei Mian and Fang Chi, whenever they were stressed, would randomly start debating over topics like—

“If you’re a backup for one omega, you’re just a backup. But if you’re a backup for a hundred omegas, then the omegas become your backup. That’s the essence of the transformation from quantitative change to qualitative change,” Fang Chi argued.

“That’s not how it works,” Wei Mian quickly countered, “If you’re a simp for one person, you’re a simp. If you simp for a hundred people, you’re still going to end up with nothing in the end.”

Gu Xiaoyin had no idea how the conversation had veered in this direction. All he could think about was the possibility of meeting Xiao Zong’s grandfather later, and the thought made him so nervous that he asked for the umpteenth time, “Is my tie crooked?”

“No, darling, you’re perfect,” Fang Chi replied without even looking up.

“Don’t call me that,” Wei Mian said, turning Gu Yin around and inspecting him from head to toe. “You’re fine, Secretary Gu. Even if the chairman wants to see you privately later, you’ll be fine. Don’t stress yourself out.”

“Mm…” Gu Yin was about to thank him when he heard someone nearby scoff.

He turned his head to see a very young omega, who looked a few years younger than him.

The omega was incredibly good-looking. A face small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, with delicate, fair skin and finely sculpted features that gave him a trendy, exotic appearance. He had a youthful allure, a blend of innocence and seduction that even Gu Yin found stunning.

Several assistants were fussing over him, constantly asking if he was thirsty or hungry. He had just stood up because he was tired from sitting for too long.

On an occasion like this, even a second-generation rich kid like Fang Chi had cleaned up nicely, with his hair slicked back neatly. Since Fang Runjin would be arriving at Xian Yun Villa later, he was representing the Fang family today, which technically made him a relative of the Xiao family. But even Fang Chi didn’t have such a grand entourage.

Gu Yin had even less reason to stand out. He had only learned last minute that Xiao Zong was taking him to Xian Yun Villa, and he didn’t even own a proper formal suit. It was Wei Mian who had brought out the graduation gift he had originally prepared and given it to him in advance.

The omega glanced over, gave a contemptuous look, and scoffed through his nose, “How shabby.”

His voice was actually quite nice, and he would probably sound lovely singing, but his attitude made people hesitate to approach.

Wei Mian’s face darkened.

Working-class folks couldn’t compare to the lavish spending of the wealthy, but since he was able to give this gift, it was certainly presentable within their circle.

Moreover, the recipient was the future boss’s wife. What was meant to be a pleasant occasion was now turning awkward—such was the reality of the upper-class hierarchy.

Gu Yin also frowned slightly.

He considered himself a bit of a face connoisseur, and as a special forces soldier whose aesthetics had been desensitized, he was usually very forgiving of anything beautiful. But the reason he was only half a face connoisseur was that in Gu Yin’s book, personality could be a dealbreaker.

That’s why he increasingly admired Xiao Zong, who was both beautiful and kind, while he had little affection for this omega.

But he didn’t say anything. This omega was clearly pregnant, and under the circumstances, it was understandable for him to be irritable.

However, the omega didn’t stop. He kept complaining to his assistants, “Didn’t Third Young Master say he’d call me over soon? Why hasn’t anything happened yet, and it’s almost time!”

One of the assistants tried to soothe him, “There must be something else going on. Once the banquet starts, he’ll probably come over.”

“He said he’d take me inside to see Lan Ruo Pavilion!” The omega was clearly displeased with this explanation and snapped, “Go check what he’s doing!”

The assistant was in a tough spot—this was Xian Yun Villa; where would he get the guts to ask?

The commotion drew the attention of some guests nearby. The assistant stood frozen in place, while the omega felt humiliated and angrily shouted, “Are you going or not?!”

He then grabbed a thermos cup from the table and flung it at the assistant. “How dare you! Just because Third Young Master isn’t here, you think you can disrespect me?!”

However, before the cup could land, someone knocked it out of the air, and it clattered loudly on the floor, shattering several mosaic tiles.

“You—!” The omega, clearly startled, nearly jumped out of his skin. “That was boiling water! If it had hit me, it would’ve disfigured me!”

Gu Yin calmly replied, “Oh, then maybe you should be more careful next time.”

His simple retort left the omega speechless.

Fang Chi chuckled, finally ceasing his academic debate on “quantitative and qualitative changes,” and said, “Our dear second sister-in-law has quite the temper, huh? Who said he was all soft-hearted?”

The omega turned to see who had spoken. When he saw that it was Fang Chi, his eyes quickly scanned him up and down. This was not someone he could afford to offend, so he merely replied irritably, “Haven’t you learned your lesson yet, Fang?”

Then he paused, seemingly startled by something—Second sister-in-law?

In an instant, the omega’s gaze shifted toward Gu Yin, filled with hostility and wariness.

“You’re Gu Yin?”

But Fang Chi didn’t give him the chance to be difficult, saying, “I’m not sure who’s getting a lesson right now. Fu Xiaotong, if you’re going to be so rude, I suggest you at least finish high school first. That way, you’ll know when and where it’s appropriate to act out.”

“This is the Xiao family. Leng Haiyun hasn’t even been officially recognized by the family yet. No matter how far down the line, it’s not your unborn child’s turn to take the Xiao name. Focus on securing your position as Mrs. Leng first. If you hadn’t gotten pregnant at just the right time, someone else would’ve been standing here today.”

Fang Chi had spent years mingling with all sorts of people in the chaotic world of entertainment. He’d seen it all and was a master of snide remarks. His sharp words left Fu Xiaotong’s face flushed with anger.

Wei Mian, having spent years as an assistant, quickly interrupted before Fu Xiaotong could start wailing and clutching his belly. “Mr. Fu, given your delicate condition, it might be best to rest at home. You know how much the old master values his descendants’ physical health.”

Fu Xiaotong was left fuming, unable to get a word in.

He had indeed been warned by Leng Xia the day before not to appear weak and frail in front of the Xiao family, as the old master greatly disliked it.

But he was just an omega! And pregnant, no less! Wasn’t he supposed to be pampered by everyone around him?!

“Tch, it’s not like it’s my baby. Why should I care?” Fang Chi muttered quietly.

Gu Yin watched as the omega’s assistant scrambled to pick up the thermos cup, while the omega stood there, red-eyed with frustration. Quietly, Gu Yin asked, “Who’s Fu Xiaotong?”

“He’s a newcomer that Leng Haiyun’s company has been promoting. Dropped out of school to debut. He only turned eighteen a few months ago,” Fang Chi snickered meaningfully, “and Leng Haiyun got his hands on him.”

Just then, Xiao Yan and his entourage arrived.

The moment the old master entered, the hall fell silent, followed by a sudden surge of activity. Gu Yin could feel the energy level in the room skyrocket.

Being on the shorter side, he was quickly blocked by the gathering guests, able to see only glimpses of the scene ahead through the gaps between heads and necks.

But then he heard a low, rumbling sound, one that made the crystal chandelier overhead tremble.

It was the growl of a beast!

Suddenly, the crowd parted before him, clearing his view. Only then did Gu Yin see what was coming toward him.

A sleek, adult snow leopard, wearing a collar, walked through the group as if no one else existed.

The low growl was a warning, driving away these pesky two-legged creatures.

“Hades!” Old Master Xiao shouted.

The majestic snow leopard swished its long tail through the air, the sound cutting through like a whip, but it didn’t stop. Instead, it sped up.

The crowd scattered like waves, no one daring to approach the leopard.

“Ah—!” Fu Xiaotong screamed, “What is that thing?! Someone, get this beast away from me!!!”

His legs shook as he stumbled back several steps, nearly knocking into someone else. But when he looked back, he realized the snow leopard wasn’t even headed in his direction.

“What are you yelling about!” Leng Haiyun scolded from afar. “Didn’t your assistant tell you?”

The assistant, seeing his job on the line, shook his head frantically, trying to clear his name. “I told him! I said it three times!”

The snow leopard, named Hades, was grayish-white with black spots and bright, piercing blue-gray eyes.

It was quite large for a high-altitude predator, and incredibly fast. Outrunning it was simply not an option.

And no matter how long a wild animal is tamed, it retains its primal instincts. Turning your back on it would only increase the chances of an attack.

Gu Yin took a small step back and saw Xiao Zong smiling faintly at him from afar. Feeling a little dazed, Gu Yin clenched his fists and stood his ground again.

It should be fine, right? The trainer seemed pretty relaxed.

Wei Mian had mentioned that this leopard was a “native” of the mountains. As a cub, it had lost its parents to other predators and, injured and disoriented, had stumbled into Xian Yun Villa, where Old Master Xiao had saved it.

Since then, it had been tamed as a pet, and every year, its food alone cost millions of Federation credits. They had even built a leopard enclosure at the villa just for it.

The snow leopard had its own personal chef and had been eating gourmet meat from the moment it entered the villa. Its tastes had become so refined that it was now incredibly picky and difficult to please.

Fang Chi had once been granted permission by the old master to film the snow leopard’s daily life in its enclosure and posted the video online. It had shot to the top of the trending list that very day.

The video’s title? #UnimaginableLuxury, #HumansEnviousOfCats, #DoesTheXiaoFamilyNeedMoreCats?

The snow leopard had been at Xian Yun Villa for about six years, during which time the Xiao family had risen to prominence.

Even in the interstellar era, many businessmen still believed in a bit of mysticism, and in traditional H Nation culture, the leopard symbolised protection for the family. This made the snow leopard even more beloved by Old Master Xiao.

As the old master’s pet, Hades was naturally treated differently from others. Wei Mian had once said that, following the usual mutual admiration between the elites, Hades would undoubtedly be referred to as “Lord Leopard.”

Gu Yin had laughed at the time.

Some guests had seen Hades before, and others knew that the leopard guarded the Xiao family. Initially, they were scared, but after seeing that it wasn’t aggressive, they couldn’t help but marvel at it.

The snow leopard seemed particularly interested in Gu Yin, circling him twice before brushing its long, thick tail against his legs, sniffing around him, and then sneezing.

As its mouth opened, Fu Xiaotong let out another scream.

What an embarrassment… The assistant, unable to endure all the curious stares, quickly helped him out of the room.

Gu Yin, mustering his courage, reached out a hand. The snow leopard flicked its tail again before walking away.

The big cat’s fur was sleek but prickly to the touch, not soft at all.

“No way…” Wei Mian muttered to himself.

Did Secretary Gu really just attract the affection of a feline?

From afar, the old master glanced over and asked, “Who’s that?”

The secretary replied, “Old Master, that’s Young Master Sun’s secretary, Gu Yin.”

“Old Gu’s grandson, not bad.”

After saying those last two words, the old master said no more.

Leng Haiyun’s face turned ashen.

That good-for-nothing Fu Xiaotong, with nothing in his head but fluff!

Fu Xiaotong was one of Leng Haiyun’s many lovers. During one encounter, Leng Haiyun had accidentally fully marked him, and it had resulted in a pregnancy.

Just as a series of problems had arisen, his uncle had suggested he settle down and marry. With the prospect of a great-grandchild on the horizon and the Leng family having no direct involvement in the Fu Hua Hotel scandal, as the Leng family had been a victim in the affair, they could explain away bribing the bodyguards as nothing more than improper business competition. As long as the old master accepted Fu Xiaotong and the child, everything else would fall into place.

Leng Haiyun had clearly warned Fu Xiaotong that the villa had a snow leopard. It wasn’t friendly, but it wouldn’t bite. All he had to do was ignore it, but Fu Xiaotong had to make a scene in front of everyone.

But wasn’t this beast supposed to be unfriendly? Why had it gone straight to Gu Yin?

Leng Xia’s face darkened, equally unable to figure out what had just happened.

All their long-laid plans had just been thrown into chaos.

“Cat…” Gu Yin suddenly muttered quietly.

Wei Mian, still focused on the imposing Hades, asked absentmindedly, “What did you say, Yin Yin?”

Gu Yin said, “Hades probably smelled the scent of a cat on me, that’s why it came over.”

Wei Mian paused. Gu Yin was probably the only guest today who had been holding a cat.

Gu Yin gazed at Xiao Zong in the distance, deep in thought.

Had…he deliberately brought the cat for this reason?

—

Hades returned to the trainer’s side, and the fierce snow leopard was leashed. Finally, the guests breathed a collective sigh of relief, and the atmosphere quickly became lively again.

Everyone’s attention was once again drawn back to the Xiao family, including Leng Haiyun.

In fact, if Xiao Jingchuan, Xiao Zong, and Leng Haiyun stood together, one could see that Xiao Zong and Leng Haiyun were more similar in temperament. Xiao Jingchuan’s military bearing was too distinct, making him less alike to the other two.

The little scene with Fu Xiaotong hadn’t caused too much disruption. Everyone had been afraid, but he had simply been more embarrassed and socially dead than the others. Plus, no one here knew who Fu Xiaotong was, so the real embarrassment fell on the Leng family, not him.

As the banquet began, Leng Xia approached Xiao Yan to apologize.

“Forget it,” the old master waved him off. “The kid didn’t know Hades, no harm done.”

Leng Xia thought, are we really getting off this easy?

But then, the old master said, “In the future, don’t bring him to occasions like this. Hades is getting old, probably won’t outlive me. No need to make things difficult for either side.”

Even someone as composed as Leng Xia was momentarily frozen by those words.

If anyone in this world understood the old master’s temperament, it was surely Second Young Master Xiao.

Xiao Zong had smoothly thrown Leng Haiyun under the bus without batting an eye. While engaging in polite conversation with the guests, he overheard Leng Xia regain his composure and say, “That young man just now, is he Mr. Gu? I heard he was selected for Second Young Master. As expected, Old Master Xiao has a keen eye. If my nephew weren’t so rebellious, perhaps he would’ve had a chance for the old master to choose someone for him too.”

Leng Xia’s subordinates, sensing the change in tone, quickly joined in, “So, is Second Young Master planning on getting engaged soon?”

The old master said, “Not yet. I knew his grandfather. Today is the first time I’ve met him.”

A subordinate clapped his hands and said with a smile, “Perfect timing, then! Why not call him over and let you meet him properly?”

In theory, the meeting should have happened yesterday, but the old master knew about Xiao Zong’s injury. As much as he was strict, he didn’t want his grandson to suffer from long-term aftereffects at a young age, so he had his secretary tell Xiao Zong that there was no need to wait.

The old master had a good impression of Gu Yin, so he said, “Sure, call him over. And bring that kid Wei Mian along too.”

The secretary went to fetch them.

Soon, Gu Yin was being led over by the secretary. As they passed by Xiao Zong, Second Young Master Xiao, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, casually grabbed Gu Yin’s wrist, flashed a graceful smile at the guests, and said, “Excuse me for a moment, my grandfather has called us over.”

The guests, understanding, laughed and nodded in approval.

All eyes were filled with envy.

Except for Wei Mian: …

What did I miss?!

Why did the boss grab his wrist so casually?!

And why didn’t Secretary Gu seem surprised at all?!

What have they been doing behind my back—

---

Finally 😮‍💨 long chapter has already end 😭
Next chapter will be back to the shorter ones 🥳