A week after officially signing the contract, Zhu Ming decided to announce his marriage publicly.

Zhu Ming’s social circle was extremely simple, mainly consisting of two groups: Zhu Yingying and his fans.

Zhu Yingying’s side had been perfectly settled over dinner. As for his fans, Zhu Ming didn’t beat around the bush. During a live stream, he casually mentioned the news of his marriage.

“Don’t ask too much. The person is from District Six, a jewelry designer, younger than me. I can’t reveal more than that.”

After consolidating the cases on his desk, Zhu Ming felt a sudden thirst and waved his hand dismissively. “Besides, I might do a few offline medical inquiry tours in the future. There’s nothing much to say. I’m logging off.”

Busy searching for water, he hastily ended the live stream.

He didn’t even notice that the chat was flooded with question marks and comments like, “Aren’t there only a few well-known young jewelry designers in District Six?” “Could it be who I think it is?”

When Zhu Ming returned with a plate of fruit from the kitchen, he saw Zhou Zhou holding his phone, hesitating to speak. “Zhu-ge, you and Xi Xianqing are on the hot search now.”

Zhu Ming with watermelon in his mouth: “… Ah?”

Five minutes later, Zhu Ming put down his phone and said in a depressed manner. “Strange, I didn’t even mention a name ah. How did they figure it out ah?”

“First of all, the bridal carry you pulled off at the birthday banquet already sparked a lot of rumors.”

Zhou Zhou sighed in exasperation. “Second, I don’t need to remind you how much buzz surrounds Xi Xianqing. If he ever entered the entertainment industry, it would be a complete storm. Plus, with the details you shared, it’s really easy to decode.”

“Lastly, Zhu-ge, I hope that you really have a more accurate understanding of your own popularity.”

Zhou Zhou advised earnestly. Behind him, the roe deer bobbed its head in agreement. “Do you know how long it takes me to handle your private messages every day? Do you know how many agency invitations I’ve turned down on your behalf?!”

Zhu Ming was really a bit shocked.

He simply intended to give his fans an explanation, but he greatly underestimated both the size of his fan base and Xi Xianqing’s popularity. He also hadn’t anticipated how quickly information spreads on today’s streaming platforms.

Worried that this might have some impact on Xi Xianqing, he hesitated for a moment before sending him a message: “Sorry, I didn’t expect things to blow up like this. Will you be in trouble?”

After a while, Xi Xianqing replied, “It’s fine.”

Zhu Ming didn’t think that he was really fine.

However, given that their relationship was merely a contractual arrangement and not a genuine romantic one, if Xi Xianqing said he was fine, Zhu Ming saw no need to press further for the truth.

In reality, Xi Xianqing wasn’t entirely unbothered.

This hot search came rather suddenly, and at that time, Xi Xianqing was in the process of changing his clothes for the dinner party.

Ye Lu put down her phone with a hint of concern and suggested, “How about we tell the old man that you’re busy preparing for the assessment tonight? We could use this as a chance to lay low for now.”

Xi Xianqing glanced at the phone screen briefly before turning away, “No need.”

“They’ll find out sooner or later,” he said, lowering his gaze as he adjusted his watch strap. “Rather than explaining it myself, it’s better to let the news leak early. Who knows? It might even throw some people off balance in advance.”

Ye Lu thought it over carefully and couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m sure your Second Uncle is already losing his cool, probably plotting how to make things difficult for you tonight.”

Today was Spring Flower Day in District Six, which marks late spring and early summer when flowers and plants are at their most vibrant. Though it was a minor mid-year festival, it carried the meaning of reunion and joy. According to Xi Family tradition, it was necessary to gather for a meal.

The Xi Family was large, and their gatherings were typically held in a spacious, cleared-out venue to ensure peace and quiet.

However, just as Xi Xianqing stepped out of the car at the restaurant entrance, the sharp cries of a child echoed from a corner.

Turning his head, he saw a well-dressed woman yanking a young girl by the ear. “It’s just a short congratulatory message, why can’t you remember it? Stuttering like that, how will you recite it for your grandfather later?”

The little girl was sobbing so hard she could barely catch her breath. Her spiritual manifestation, a tiny yellow oriole, trembled as it huddled at her feet.

Xi Xianqing had little interest in interfering with others’ family matters. But as he stared at the tear-streaked face of the girl, he finally paused and spoke in a light, indifferent tone, “Cousin-in-law.”

The woman had been about to scold further, but upon looking up and seeing Xi Xianqing, her expression froze. She hurriedly pulled the girl behind her. “Aiya… it’s Xianqing ya.”

Xi Xianqing: “It’s time to go in.”

“Yes, yes.” The woman retreated awkwardly, “we’re heading in now.”

Xi Xianqing’s gaze lingered on the girl’s sobbing figure but he remained silent.

Ye Lu shook her head. “Everyone’s desperate to have their children gain the Old Master’s favor. Poor child, only seven or eight years old, at an age when she should be playing, yet her wings are forcibly clipped.”

Xi Xianqing withdrew his gaze, “Let’s get in.”

As the waiter pushed open the doors to the banquet hall, the moment Xi Xianqing stepped in, the spacious room fell into silence.

A myriad of gazes landed on him—some feigning warmth, some gibberish, but most carried traces of resentment and ridicule. Over the years, Xi Xianqing had grown accustomed to such looks, and he walked into the hall with quiet composure.

At the head of the round table sat an elderly man wearing glasses, his expression unreadable, with a stately white crane standing behind him. This was none other than Xi Jianfeng, District Six’s most renowned civil engineering expert and the current leading figure who had made timeless contributions to the field of architecture over the past decades.

Setting down the agarwood beads he had been fiddling with, Xi Jianfeng beckoned, “Xianqing, come sit.”

Xi Xianqing nodded, “Grandfather.”

To Xi Jianfeng’s right sat a young woman with sharp features and neatly cut short hair—Xi Sen.

The seats to his left and right were occupied by two young people, making it blatantly clear: in a few years, when Xi Jianfeng passed, the position of the family representative would fall to one of these two.

In his youth, Xi Jianfeng was famously a romantic and a brilliant talent. He had three wives over the years, resulting in five sons and two daughters

Each of these children had their own accomplishments in the arts. In the early years, they all believed themselves to be Xi Jianfeng’s successor.

On the surface, they appeared to share a bond as siblings, but behind closed doors, they engaged in fierce and relentless battles. It was a cutthroat competition: you might sabotage my art shop’s reputation, while I’d spit on the paintings displayed at your art exhibit.

However, as decades went by and with rapid advancements in technology and healthcare, the old man defied expectations and lived into his 90s. By then, his children had grown gray at the temples, and their desire to continue the rivalry had waned.

Realizing they no longer had a shot at becoming the family’s representative, they shifted their focus to a new competition—pitting their descendants against each other. The eagerness to highlight others’ shortcomings often surpassed their concern for their own children. If someone mocked their daughter’s lack of artistic talent, they’d retaliate by criticizing another’s son for his poor character.

Any small incident would be exaggerated and brought up during family gatherings, all in the hopes that their child would catch Xi Jianfeng’s attention.

Over the years, the competition had narrowed down to just two remaining candidates who were beyond reproach.

One was Xi Sen, the daughter of Xi Xianqing’s second uncle. She had grown up as the apple of everyone’s eye, renowned as a brilliant and talented woman.

The other was Xi Xianqing.

Xi Xianqing’s talents had been unexpected to all, largely because his father, Xi Mingsong—the fourth son of Xi Jianfeng—was considered the family’s unspoken disgrace.

An oil painter who pursued romance, Xi Mingsong had left home at a young age. It was only after he passed away somewhere far from home that the Xi Family discovered the existence of his son and daughter and brought them back into the fold.

When Xi Xianqing first arrived at the Xi Family home, he was only about five or six years old—a child with a face as cold as frost, clutching tightly to his sister’s hand, standing silently at the entrance.