"Who is Third Aunt lecturing? Who lied to you?"
A cold male voice with natural authority broke the bullying atmosphere in the dining room.
Instantly, everyone's gaze shifted to the newcomer, and Xuan Yang was finally freed from their scrutiny.
She also looked at the man.
Zhou Dang was still dressed as he had been that afternoon—dark suit, with a white shirt underneath that matched well with a marriage license photo.
His trousers wrapped around his long, straight legs, his posture upright, carrying an indescribable handsomeness.
Chen Yinrong smiled warmly as she watched him approach, her tone entirely different from when she spoke to Xuan Yang: "A Dang, you're just in time. Xuan Yang was lying using your name, saying she married you."
"We were just teaching her a lesson."
Zhou Dang's handsome face turned cold. He glanced at Chen Yinrong, then looked at Xuan Yang, who stood motionless by the table. As he walked toward her, he said coldly, "She didn't lie to you."
What?
Everyone watched Zhou Dang stride over to Xuan Yang with long steps, naturally put his arm around her shoulder, protective like a hen shielding her chicks: "We did get married."
Everyone froze, incredulous.
The large dining room was dead silent.
Zhou Dang stood tall beside Xuan Yang, like a tree, a mountain, giving her an unprecedented sense of security: "We just got the marriage certificate today, still fresh. Would you like to take a look?"
As he spoke, he scanned the crowd, and with his other hand, he pulled a small red book from the inner pocket close to his heart, generously offering it out.
...
The dining room remained silent.
No one dared to take what Zhou Dang offered.
Xuan Yao and Chen Yinrong were close enough to clearly see the gold-embossed characters on the red book.
There was no doubt—it was a marriage certificate.
But Xuan Yao still couldn't believe it.
How could this be?
How could Zhou Dang marry Xuan Yang?!
It's impossible!
Xuan Yang must have used some lowly trick to drag Zhou Dang into acting with her!
Chen Xingyue was equally shocked. Unlike others, he wore all his emotions on his face and had no sense of tact. He blurted out his thoughts in front of all the elders: "No way, Dang Ge, who carries their marriage certificate in their chest pocket?"
"And are you crazy to actually marry Xuan Yang?!"
Then, a thought struck Chen Xingyue. His shocked expression turned complex, and finally, he looked at Zhou Dang with half doubt and half gratitude: "Dang Ge... you didn't sacrifice yourself for me, did you!"
"You went too far!"
Zhou Dang: "..."
After finishing his imagination, Chen Xingyue put on a serious face and continued solemnly: "With a brother like this, what more could I ask for!"
Then he patted his chest and promised Zhou Dang: "From now on, Dang Ge, you are my second father. Tell me east, I won't go west! I would go through fire and water for you, no matter what!"
Even Zhou Dang was speechless now.
Chen Xingyue's parents fell into an awkward silence.
Chen Xingyue looked at Zhou Dang with tears of gratitude, but Zhou Dang ignored him. He gently squeezed Xuan Yang's shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Don't listen to his nonsense."
Xuan Yang glanced at him, then at Chen Xingyue.
She thought about it—Zhou Dang wouldn't marry her just out of brotherly loyalty to Chen Xingyue.
Getting back to the point, she looked at her adoptive parents again and cleared her throat: "Dad, Mom, since Zhou Dang is here, if you have any questions about our marriage, you can ask us all at once."
Mr. Xuan let out an 'ah,' still in shock, his eyes dazed as he looked at Zhou Dang, his lips moving but unable to find words.
Mother Xuan was the same.
She had never expected Xuan Yang to actually latch onto Zhou Dang.
That was Zhou Dang, the future head of the Zhou family, a man even Xuan Yao couldn't handle.
"Aren't you..." Mother Xuan finally spoke, whether out of reluctance or defiance: "Aren't you supposed to marry the Huo family's daughter?"
Zhou Dang glanced at her coldly, his brow slightly furrowed: "Just a rumor. Where did you hear that, Mother-in-law?"
Mother Xuan instinctively looked at Chen Yinrong, but she said nothing.
After a pause, she asked Zhou Dang again: "Then why did you choose Xuan Yang? She's just an adopted daughter of our Xuan family."
"If we're talking about excellence, my Xuan Yao..."
Mother Xuan broke off, the rest of her words dying in Zhou Dang's icy stare.
He looked at her with a glare so cold it felt like freezing needles, full of menace.
Though Mother Xuan didn't quite understand, she knew that if she continued, Zhou Dang would no longer treat her with respect as his 'mother-in-law.'