MCFEM C7

Chapter 7: The Overwhelming Taste of Tea

“…Can someone come save me…”

The message Ying Jiayi sent into the group chat received no reply. She took a deep breath, set her phone aside, and numbly continued to endure Yu Zhou’s spring-breeze-like enthusiasm.

“Jiayi, are you hungry? I’ll go over there and get you a slice of cake.” Yu Zhou asked with a smile, unconsciously closing the distance in how he addressed her.

“Sure, thank you, hurry along then.” Ying Jiayi replied coolly, watching as Yu Zhou, utterly at ease, asked the servers about cake flavors, then carefully picked a plate, all the while managing to exchange a few words with the young ladies selecting cake beside him.

Originally, the arrangement had been for Ying Jiayi to look after Yu Zhou, since it was his first time attending such a banquet. They were afraid the boy might feel uneasy surrounded by strangers.

But really, what part of him needed looking after?

Honestly, she admired this type of person a little. With that kind of shamelessness, he was bound to succeed no matter what he did. Why insist on hanging himself from her tree?

Did she really look like such an easy pushover? Were her signals of resistance not obvious enough?

Heaven help her—how could anyone be so thick-skinned?

Taking advantage of the gap, she grabbed the two boys standing idly by watching and pulled them closer, gritting her teeth.

“This guy’s practically in my face already, and you two aren’t stopping him?”

Gu Yang asked quietly: “Weren’t you supposed to be madly in love with him?”

“Get lost… You actually believed Yu Bai’s nonsense.” Ying Jiayi took a deep breath to steady herself. She wasn’t trying to be rude—it wasn’t in her upbringing.

But looking at Yu Zhou, she couldn’t help but see “freeloader” written on one cheek, “phoenix man” on the other, and the horizontal banner across his forehead: “Restoring the ancestral line in three generations.” It was impossible to have a normal conversation.

“I’m stepping out for some air. One of you handle this for me.”

“Well, obviously it’s gotta be our Gu-ge.” Yu Bai immediately recommended with full enthusiasm. “Fair skin, good looks, family background—unbeatable competitiveness.”

Ying Jiayi found that very reasonable, so she patted Gu Yang’s shoulder and, ignoring his totally unmotivated expression, entrusted him with the heavy responsibility.

After reluctantly parting ways with those young ladies, Yu Zhou hurried back with a plate of cake.

He hadn’t forgotten his mission for the night—he couldn’t afford to get distracted.

But just as he turned around, he saw Ying Jiayi leaning close to the two boys, whispering something together.

His previously triumphant face instantly fell.

Before he could go over, Ying Jiayi had already left the hall.

“Jiayi just went outside, so you can keep that cake for yourself.” As Jiayi’s loyal bestie, Yu Bai naturally stood on her side. He gave Yu Zhou a look full of disdain.

“You’re Jiayi’s classmates?” Yu Zhou, after adjusting his mood, put his mild smile back on. “Seems like you’re close. What were you whispering about just now?”

“Not much. Just ordinary friends.” Gu Yang returned a smile, then answered the second half: “She asked me to look after you.”

The way he tried to cover it up, plus the unintentional “family” tone in his words, instantly made Yu Zhou uncomfortable. The overwhelming taste of tea made his teeth ache. “Well then, thank you so much.”

Gu Yang casually tucked back a long strand of hair at his temple. “It’s just my duty. No need to thank me.”

Yu Zhou’s eyes locked onto Gu Yang’s wrist, where a ruby pigeon-blood bracelet glinted underlaid with diamonds. The sight pierced his heart.

He knew Jiayi attended an expensive private school, so of course her classmates were all wealthy.

Even though Uncle Liu had already reached a private understanding with him, agreeing to marry his only daughter to him, Yu Zhou still felt a sharp sense of crisis at this moment.

After all, among powerful families, strong alliances were far more common.

…And besides, this guy had a face women would definitely like.

Yu Zhou’s heart was sour with jealousy, but on his face he still forced a warm smile, dragging Gu Yang into conversation, circling around as he probed for information.

“Xiao Zhou, what are you doing standing here?” A woman in a white strapless evening gown walked over. “I just saw Miss Ying outside. Why aren’t you with her…”

Before she could finish, Yu Zhou silenced her with a frown.

“This is my mother. She’s not used to this kind of environment, so she worries about me.” Yu Zhou quickly introduced her, then pulled his mother away.

Gu Yang said nothing, but his gaze lingered on the jade pendant hanging at the woman’s neck.

This was the second piece he’d seen tonight.

The quality was very similar.

Come to think of it, Yu Zhou’s mother had a role in the original novel too… Zhou Qinqin, wasn’t it?

“Mom!” Once far from Gu Yang, Yu Zhou’s voice dropped low. “Didn’t I tell you not to bring that up in public?”

“What’s wrong with that? I was just asking why you weren’t with Miss Ying,” the woman muttered.

“The person next to me just now was Jiayi’s classmate. What would people think if they heard you say that? They’d definitely assume I had ulterior motives. I told you already—rich people have complicated minds.”

Yu Zhou was simmering inside, but seeing his mother’s embarrassed face, he softened his tone. “I was with Jiayi just now, but she left after a couple of words. I can’t exactly chase her everywhere she goes—that’d make me look desperate.”

“That’s true,” Zhou Qinqin quickly agreed, though she couldn’t help complaining: “But that girl’s temperament is far too independent, always doing as she pleases. Clearly spoiled by her family.”

“I saw she’s even got those long manicured nails. How’s she supposed to do housework…”

“Mom, you saw their house before. They’ve got several maids. Why even bring that up?” Yu Zhou chuckled.

“Even so, not everything can be left to servants. What, once you’re married, you’ll end up serving her? That’s ridiculous…” Zhou Qinqin grumbled.

She was satisfied with this marriage, yes, but that Ying girl didn’t seem the considerate type. She feared her precious son would be wronged.

“Jiayi’s an only child. A little temper is normal. After we marry, I’ll help her change slowly.” Yu Zhou said warmly. “And I’ll make sure she respects you properly.”

Hearing that, Zhou Qinqin finally smiled in relief.

Her husband had died young, leaving her with a child to raise. Because of that burden, the men she met later were all mediocre, and she hadn’t remarried. Until last year, when she ran into Liu Chaoyin again.

She hadn’t expected that the boy who once chased her in high school—with nothing in looks or family background—would transform into the CEO of a listed company.

And that same boy seemed to still harbor some lingering feelings for her.

She had always been a woman who seized opportunities to climb.

Clearly, her son was the same.

“Chaoyin, are you even listening to me?” Madam Ying gently asked, pulling her husband back from his obvious distraction.

“Sorry, I wasn’t. I must be tired lately, maybe because of work.” Liu Chaoyin admitted readily, with an apologetic smile as he placed his hand over hers. “What were you saying?”

Madam Ying opened her mouth, originally wanting to talk about their daughter, but in the end swallowed her words. “Nothing. If you’re tired, go home early and rest tonight.”

Liu Chaoyin hummed in agreement, but his gaze drifted again, falling on the graceful figure in the white gown. Unconsciously, he tightened his grip on the hand in his own.

Watching this scene upon returning inside, Ying Jiayi finally let out a breath of relief, some of her doubts lifting.

[How impressive.] Gu Yang’s voice sounded at just the right moment. [The son-in-law role—he actually managed to snag it.]

[What on earth does Jiayi see in him? Did someone put a spell on her? Or was it just parental arrangement, a matchmaker’s word? Is she really that feudal?]

Ying Jiayi froze.

What did he mean “the son-in-law role”? He couldn’t be talking about Yu Zhou, right?

That didn’t make sense. Leaving aside Gu Yang’s nonsense-tainted first impression, she didn’t even like Yu Zhou that much on his own.

[…So it was a forced melon? A high schooler, learning this kind of dirty game already?]

[He—]

The inner voice cut off abruptly, interrupted by someone else.

What the hell did he just do to me?!

Ying Jiayi screamed inwardly like a prairie dog, wishing she could take off her shoe and hurl it at the idiot who had cut him off.

But the interrupter was no small fry.

It was the host of the banquet himself—the Lu family’s eldest son, Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng, the Lu family’s firstborn, was a generation older than them. After returning from overseas study, he had entered the family corporation. Barring accidents, he would one day inherit the entire Lu empire.

Standing on the stage, his face carried a faint apology, but it didn’t look servile. He remained as elegant and refined as ever.

He explained that due to health reasons, the star of the evening—the second young master—could not attend, and apologized, hoping everyone would still enjoy their night.

On the surface, the explanation made sense. After all, the Lu family’s line had always been that the second son had stayed out of sight due to frail health.

“He’s not coming?” Yu Bai exclaimed, shocked. “Seriously? For an occasion this important, if it were me, I’d crawl here if I had to.”

“Really doesn’t know what’s what.” A flippant voice came from behind, followed by an arm draping over Yu Bai’s shoulders. “The Lu family finally acknowledges him, and he can’t even seize the chance? There won’t be a second welcome banquet. A bastard raised outside just doesn’t belong on the stage.”

“Right, Little Bai?”

The boy who sidled up wore their same ceremonial school uniform, his too-long bangs tied back into an apple-style tuft, giving him a goody-two-shoes look.

But Yu Bai, normally a chatterbox, only gave an awkward smile and said nothing.

Because this guy was pure chaos incarnate—a stirrer of trouble wherever he went. Whoever tangled with him ended up unlucky. Better to shut up.

Already irritated, Ying Jiayi shot him a cold glare.

“Well, well, Miss Ying.” The boy waggled his fingers in greeting with a grin. “Don’t be so unhappy. Isn’t this actually good news?”

She knew he meant that an early warning let them plan ahead. Still, she couldn’t help snapping back: “Ye Chen, what’s it got to do with you? I don’t need you teaching me what to do.”

She was so on edge, even a passing dog would’ve gotten kicked.

Since the main character of the evening was fated not to appear, the guests began chatting among themselves.

Their peers gradually gathered together. Gu Yang had seen these same faces all day, and now he was fed up. He turned his head away. “Boring.”

The others were speechless. A moment ago he said he was cold, and now boring. What he really meant was that they were too noisy.

The class monitor, however, was considerate. “If you’re bored, go get some fresh air. There’s nothing much going on now anyway.”

Everyone else nearly exploded with frustration. They were just trying to stick close for more gossip, and here he was, chasing them off.

Ying Jiayi grew anxious, glaring at the monitor.

“I’m not deliberately keeping you in the dark.” The monitor explained calmly. “Here’s the situation: since this afternoon, we’ve been able to hear Ah Yang’s inner thoughts.”

“Whether it’s you, or Shen Mingjun, he knows an awful lot about things related to you. There’s a strong chance it’s not just you—it includes us too.” He paused, his gaze complicated as it lingered on Gu Yang’s retreating back. “But have you noticed? He even knows who you’ll end up with in the future.”

“Damn, that’s practically future sight.” Yu Bai’s eyes went wide. If earlier had just been family gossip, possibly leaked by some Gu elder, then this detail had a whole different weight.

Ying Jiayi fell silent, forcing herself to calm down. “You’re right.”

“So right now, instead of scrambling for intel…”

“…We should verify whether it’s accurate.” Jiayi smoothed her hair, her voice firm. “We need something closer at hand.”

Meanwhile, Gu Yang happened to cross paths with Lu Zheng. They exchanged a polite nod before passing each other. It was then his inner voice emerged again.

“The Lu family’s newly returned young master truly couldn’t attend due to ill health. But the real reason—he has a severe pollen allergy. The hotel corridors were lined with fresh flowers. As soon as he arrived, he went into anaphylactic shock and was rushed to the hospital.”

Hearing this, the classmates nearby exchanged looks, their faces shifting. Ying Jiayi quickly said: “I’ll ask my parents.”

One of the cruelest things in the world was gossip cut halfway. But Gu Yang had no idea the kind of evil he was doing, strolling off with his cup of tea.

Yet just after turning the corner, the tea slipped from his hand with a plop.

Before the porcelain cup could shatter, a hand caught it in time.

At the end of the corridor, Shen Mingjun’s father had an arm around a woman, kissing her recklessly. Her carefully styled hair had come undone. Around her neck hung a jade necklace.

It was Zhou Qinqin.

His wife’s younger sister.