Chapter 114: Acting

Ye Zhentian's loud and resonant voice spread through the microphone to every corner of the banquet hall.

"…Furthermore, it is the engagement day between my daughter and my worthy nephew, Lu Qi of the Zhou Family!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience was shocked!

Not a single whisper of this matter had been leaked beforehand.

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

The faces of all the guests were filled with bewilderment and shock.

In the corner, Zhou Huai appeared surprisingly calm.

In fact, from Ye Zhentian's words just now, Zhou Huai already had some speculations in mind.

Now everything had been verified.

No wonder Zhou Feng had specially run over to warn him not to cause trouble.

It turned out he was afraid that he would run out and interrupt his precious stepson's engagement ceremony.

How ridiculous.

In the center of the dance floor, the smile on Ye Xi's face instantly froze.

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

"Dad!"

The young girl's voice trembled slightly due to shock.

"What… what are you talking about?"

"When did I ever say I was going to be engaged to Lu Qi?!"

Ye Zhentian still wore that genial smile on his face, as if he didn't see his daughter's pale complexion.

He said cheerfully:

"Xier, you are already eighteen, an adult, and it's a good age to talk about marriage."

"Coincidentally, my worthy nephew Lu Qi from the Zhou Family is talented and handsome, and he has admired you for a long time."

"The two of you, one is the apple of our Family's eye, and the other is the future hope of the Zhou Family, and both are noble Grade A Professionals."

"This is simply a match made in heaven, a talented man and a beautiful woman!"

"Therefore, I acted on my own accord and discussed it with your Uncle Zhou to hold an engagement banquet for you first."

"It won't be too late for you two to get married in a couple of years."

As soon as his words fell, Zhou Feng at the main table immediately stood up, walked onto the stage beaming with joy, and took over the conversation.

"Haha, thank you Brother Ye for your flattering praise! For our Lu Qi to be able to marry such an outstanding and beautiful girl like Xier, it is definitely a blessing he cultivated over three lifetimes!"

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

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

Sparse applause sounded, which soon merged into one.

"Congratulations, Family Head Ye! Congratulations, Mr. Zhou!"

"Indeed, indeed, Young Miss Ye Xi and Young Master Lu Qi are truly a couple made in heaven!"

"A strong alliance! From now on, Donghai City will be the world of your two families!"

Flattering voices rose one after another.

But everyone present knew clearly that this was nothing more than a blatant Family political marriage.

The children of these big families, from birth, often had no control over their own marriages.

Many people even cast gloating glances at Zhou Huai in the corner.

As everyone knew, before this, Ye Xi's true childhood sweetheart, and arguably her predetermined fiancé, was that Zhou Huai.

Just a moment ago, Young Miss Ye Xi had been acting intimately with that Zhou Huai, and even embraced him publicly.

How long had it been?

In the blink of an eye, the person of her heart was about to become someone else's fiancée.

Wondering what the eldest young master of the Zhou Family was feeling in his heart at this moment.

"I do not agree!"

Ye Xi's angry voice interrupted the hypocritical compliments of the audience.

She was trembling all over with anger, her chest heaving violently.

"I refuse to be engaged to that Lu Qi!"

"I do not acknowledge this engagement banquet! It doesn't count!"

The smile on Ye Zhentian's face finally subsided, his expression sinking and his tone becoming majestic.

"Nonsense!"

"Since ancient times, matters of marriage have been decided by the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words!"

"I am putting my words here today; whether you agree to this match or not, you must agree!"

"Someone come!"

He shouted sharply.

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

Two maids who had been prepared long ago immediately stepped forward, trying to support Ye Xi.

"Get away!"

Ye Xi shook off their hands.

She looked at her father, the father who had loved her the most since childhood, who now appeared so unfamiliar.

Tears could no longer be suppressed and burst out of her eyes.

"I said!"

"I would rather die than marry Lu Qi!"

Ye Zhentian's face turned livid, and he said sternly: "You don't have a choice!"

Seeing the father and daughter at daggers drawn, the atmosphere was tense to the extreme.

Zhou Feng stood up once again, playing the role of a peacemaker.

"Brother Ye, don't get angry."

He smiled to smooth things over.

"Niecy Xier is still young and ignorant, it's normal for her not to figure things out for a moment."

"When the banquet is over, we will properly persuade her, she will figure it out."

Zhou Huai took all of this in, watching with great interest.

He could somewhat see through the clues.

The farce before his eyes was simply a show deliberately put on by Ye Zhentian for the people of the Zhou Family to see.

The subtext was ready to burst out.

Look, in order to let Ye Xi marry Lu Qi, I have gone to this extent.

Not hesitating to coerce my own biological daughter publicly.

Isn't that very sincere?

But why on earth was this?

The Family's position in Donghai City was clearly on par with the Zhou Family, and even surpassed them in certain Domains.

What on earth could force Ye Zhentian to sell his daughter's happiness just to establish a connection with the Zhou Family?

Countless thoughts flashed through Zhou Huai's mind.

But now was not the time to consider these.

Now, it was his turn to take the stage.

Didn't Zhou Feng worry that he would run out and cause trouble?

Sorry.

This trouble, he had to make!

Just when those two maids looked at each other and prepared to forcibly carry Ye Xi away.

A steady sound of wheelchair rolling came from the corner.

Driven by Xiang Yu, Zhou Huai slowly drove out from the shadows, entering everyone's field of vision.

At this moment, the eyes of countless guests lit up.

The scene they had long looked forward to was staged after all.

"Here it 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 is trash and a cripple, since he dares to stand up at this time, I respect him as a real man!"

Zhou Feng looked at Zhou Huai's figure, his brows instantly knitting into a 'Chuan' shape, and his eyes held undisguised threats.

"Did you forget what I said just now?!"

"Get back here right now!"

Zhou Huai acted as if he didn't hear, letting Xiang Yu push him to the very center of the banquet hall.

Under the lights, his pale face appeared exceptionally calm.

When Ye Xi saw Zhou Huai, she was stunned at first, and then a thick worry flashed in her eyes.

"Brother Zhou Huai!"

Zhou Huai showed her a gentle smile and made a gesture to reassure her.

At the main table, Liu Yuru slammed her wine glass onto the table with a "bang" and stood up with a face full of disgust.

"Zhou Huai! You piece of trash! Do you dare to disobey your dad's words?"

"Why aren't you rolling back quickly! Don't make a fool of yourself here!"

Facing the angry scolding of this couple, Zhou Huai smiled.

He scanned the audience, his voice not loud, but clearly transmitted to everyone's ears.

"You guys are truly too heartless."

"As an older brother coming out to say a word of congratulations, is that really not allowed?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone showed surprised expressions.

Even Liu Yuru looked at him with some suspicion.

"Would you be so kind-hearted?"

The smile on Zhou Huai's face grew even brighter.

"Of course I have to congratulate them."

He paused, turning his gaze 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 be engaged to our beautiful eldest Young Miss of the Family."

"From now on, there will finally be someone to properly take care of my foolish younger brother."

"You tell me, as an older brother, can I not come out and congratulate them?"

As soon as these words were said.

The expressions of Zhou Feng and Liu Yuru instantly changed drastically!

Inside the banquet hall, there was also an uproar!

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

"Lu Qi has become a fool?"

"Zhou Huai, what do you mean by those words?"