The 78th Chapter

-hmm. In fact, I’ve always yearned for living in the south since childhood. My family lives in the north where winters are extremely cold; I don’t even want to go out of my house. Since young, I’ve dr...Chapter 78

Ruan Zhao merely gave these women a cold glance. Those female demons who were chattering away and waving their hands earlier immediately shut up, standing quietly by his side as if even their breathing had become cautious.

"Dad, good morning," Ruan Zhao nodded to Father Ruan.

Father Ruan smiled and nodded back. The young woman beside him became very nervous at the sight of Ruan Zhao, and Father Ruan turned his head and whispered soothing words to her.

Ruan Zhao swept his gaze over and saw Ni Xuanyi sitting on the sofa. Immediately, a smile lit up his face as he strode towards her.

When he smiled like that, it left all those women around him dumbfounded.

"Xuanyuan, you came early. I was planning to go to Ruan Xi's room to pick you up!" Standing beside Ni Xuanyi, Ruan Zhao stared at her with a covetous look.

Ni Xuanyi hurriedly stood up. "Thank you, Brother Ruan Zhao, but there’s no need for you to bother with me if you have other things to do."

"How can I not You are my guest!" Looking at Ni Xuanyi, Ruan Zhao's expression was lively and animated.

When did she become his guest!

Ni Xuanyi couldn't help but smile inwardly. Turning to look at the dozens of people in the living room staring at her in shock, she felt somewhat nervous as she looked back at Ruan Zhao. "You... you should go and attend to your business first..." Because of Ruan Zhao’s high regard for her, she had already become the focus of everyone's attention.

Ruan Zhao just stared at Ni Xuanyi, as if missing a second was a waste of life. "Xuanxuan, let's go eat together!"

Ni Xuanyi turned to look at Ruan Xi; Ruan Xi nodded at her. Following Ruan Zhao towards the dining hall, she suddenly remembered Meng Meng and asked in a low voice, "Brother Ruan Zhao, where is Meng Meng now"

Ruan Xi was also thinking about Meng Meng but was too afraid of his elder brother to ask him himself; he looked at Ni Xuanyi with great gratitude when he heard her question.

Ruan Zhao stopped walking and looked intensely at Ni Xuanyi, as if trying to see through her thoughts.

Ni Xuanyi immediately smiled and said, "I don't know whether Brother has had breakfast yet. I've been worrying about it."

Hearing Ni Xuanyi call Meng Meng 'Brother,' Ruan Zhao was delighted. He said smilingly, "How about this I'll have Meng Meng come over to eat with us and tell Father about the marriage between Ruan Xi and Meng Meng at the same time."

Ruan Xi nodded eagerly.

The Ruan family was large; their dining hall was spacious, with three tables set up inside it surrounded by green palm pots.

Ruan Dad and Ruan Zhao sat at the main table. Ruan Zhao's mother, who had been Ruan Dad’s first wife but passed away long ago, wasn’t present. The second wife and Ruan Xi’s mother were seated with a few middle-aged women and their daughters at the second table. Younger women occupied the third table. New female guests that Ruan Dad had brought back without Ruan Zhao's approval also sat at this table, all sizing each other up.

Following Ruan Xi to the second table, Ni Xuanyi was about to sit down when she heard Ruan Zhao calling out to her from the main table. "Xuanxuan, come here and sit next to me."

Ni Xuanyi clearly heard everyone in the dining hall gasping collectively. She dared not defy their wishes and shook her head repeatedly. "No, I'll just stay here."

Ruan Zhao stood up and walked two steps to Ni Xuanyi's side, gently saying: "Why don't you sit over there"

Ni Xuanyi nervously held onto Ruan Xi's hand, "I'll just stay here. I want to be with Sister Ruan Xi."

Seeing Ni Xuanyi like this, Ruan Zhao smiled and said: "Third Concubine, why don't you and Ruan Xi come over to our side too!"

"Ah!" Ruan Xi's mother was somewhat overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness and hurriedly looked at Father on the main table. Ever since giving birth to Ruan Xi, she couldn’t remember when she last had intimate moments with her husband, let alone sit together for meals.

Ruan Zhao glanced subtly at his father.

Father nodded indifferently and said: "Caiyun, you bring Xi over here."

When Mother saw this, she had tears welling up in her eyes. After all these years, she thought that Master had long forgotten about her name. Ruan Xi felt heartache seeing his mother like this and reached out to help her up as they walked towards the main table together.

Ni Xuanyi also followed closely behind Ruan Zhao to the main table, where Ruan Zhao courteously pulled out a chair for Ni Xuanyi.

Seeing that his daughter was in good spirits, Father took advantage of the moment to invite Zhu Zhu, the young woman he had recently brought home: "Zhu Zhu, why don't you come sit over here too"

Zhu Zhu first glanced at Ruan Zhao. Seeing no reaction from him, she suppressed her joy and sat down beside Father.

Ruan Zhao didn’t even spare a glance at that woman; he only stared intently at Ni Xuanyi. Ni Xuanyi kept looking towards the entrance and felt relieved when Meng Meng walked in with great energy.

The people inside the room mostly knew Meng Mang and were aware that he was a friend of Ruan Xi's. When Ruan Zhao beckoned for Meng Mang to sit at the main table, everyone present was taken aback and thought privately that Lady Three’s quarters would soon be favored.

Ruan Zhao did not stand up; instead, he sat in his seat and said quietly, "Father, everyone, I have an announcement today. Ruan Xi and Meng Mang will be getting married shortly. Before their wedding, which is three days from now, I will hold a betrothal ceremony for them."

The people inside the room were surprised by this news but did not dare to ask any more questions, including Ruan Xi's parents.

"The banquet location will be our home. Everyone should prepare accordingly." After glancing at Ni Xuanyi, Ruan Zhao swept his cold gaze over everyone present, causing shivers down their spines.

"In the next few days, Miss Ni will be staying here. You must all mind your words and actions; do not say anything inappropriate or do anything that would embarrass me."

The room echoed with a resounding chorus of "Yes," even startling sweat from Ni Xuanyi's back.

Just how terrifying was this Ruan Zhao, to instill such fear in these women who were as clever as Einstein

Meng Mang was quite surprised by Ruan Zhao’s words. With wide eyes, he stared at Ruan Zhao in astonishment until Ruan Xi pinched his leg; only then did he begin eating along with the others.

During breakfast, Ruan Zhao didn’t eat much himself but kept fetching things for Ni Xuanyi.

He poured her a glass of juice, then milk. He brought her a sandwich and served her a bowl of porridge. Not knowing exactly what she liked to eat, he took a little bit of everything for her.

Ruan Zhao’s family knew that Ruan Zhao had an unpredictable temperament and did not like getting close to any women. Seeing him care so much for Ni Xuanyi today, they couldn’t help but sneak glances at her; sitting in her seat, Ni Xuanyi felt as if pricked by needles all over.pink hues.Up ahead was a shallow lake where unidentified birds were dancing and flying across its surface. The sunset painted絢麗燦爛的晚霞渲染著天邊。天空。The temperature difference between day and night here was h...