Chapter 93 The Focal Poin (1/2)
The social circles of the grand families of the Chu royal city were not considered big, but neither were they small.
The scions of the grand families had their own social circles, too.
For example, as a member of a grand family of lower status, Yang Zixi was closest to the third young mistress of the Zheng family Zheng Qiuhe and others of similar backgrounds, who were all members of grand families with lower status.
Ren Jiapei's social status, however, consisted of members of intermediate-level grand families and was considered one level higher than Yang Zixi's original social circle.
”Sister Jiapei, is your friend Sister Zixi? Reputation cannot compare to reality; she is truly a great beauty.”
A young man about twenty years old in a green robe gave the young lady beside Ren Jiapei a look, then quickly and self-consciously looked away. That young lady was beautiful, but she was not for him. That beautiful young lady was the one whom First Young Master Shi Yu of the tycoon Shi family had his eye on. This was no secret in the Chu Royal city.
”Mhm.”
Ren Jiapei nodded and introduced the young lady to the young man. ”Sister Zixi, this is the second young master of the Hu family, Hu Qing.”
The young lady glanced at Hu Qing and nodded casually by way of greeting. Her detached demeanor forestalled any attempt at further conversation and created an unbridgeable gulf between them.
”This is?”
Just then, Hu Qing's gaze fell on the youth in white beside the two ladies, and a curious look flashed across his eyes.
”This is my Big Brother Zhou, not someone from our social circle.”
When Ren Jiapei uttered the three words ”Big Brother Zhou,” the respect in her tone was evident.
”Surnamed Zhou?”
At the same time, Hu Qing noticed that when the young lady beside Ren Jiapei looked at the youth surnamed Zhou, the coldness in her eyes disappeared and was replaced by gentle warmth, just as if she was looking at her sweetheart.
”Brother, may I have a private word with you?” Hu Qing asked Zhou Donghuang with a smile and a gleam in his eye.
”Huh?”
Zhou Donghuang gave a start, then nodded casually and stepped aside. Hu Qing followed him.
”Brother.”
Hu Qing did not beat about the bush as he walked over to Zhou Donghuang and said, ”From what I know... in the Chu royal city, and even within the country of Yunyang, there is no grand family and above with the surname Zhou. I warn you, keep your distance from Yang Zixi... that is the lady whom First Young Master Shi Yu of the tycoon Shi family has his eye on, and if he knows Yang Zixi has developed feelings from you, he will not let you off.
”The Hu family and Ren family have good relations, and I consider Jiapei as my own sister, and since you are her friend, I have to warn you,” Hu Qing said.
”You wanted to speak to me privately just for this?”
Zhou Donghuang was taken aback at first, then smiled casually. ”Thanks for the reminder... However, I don't care whether that Shi Yu will let me off or not.”
Shi Yu? The first young master of the tycoon Shi family? If he remembered correctly, he had already killed Shi Yu's father Shi Hao three months ago.
At that time, the level-eight adept of the Shi family had been present and had witnessed him kill Shi Hao. However, Zhou Donghuang could not help laughing bitterly to himself… Now, even someone who had seen him and Yang Zixi for the first time could tell that Yang Zixi had feelings for him?
”Brother, I've said all that I needed to say... what you do next is your own business.”
Hu Qing shook his head at the ignorance of the youth before him.
In his opinion, he had reminded the youth for Ren Jiapei's sake and had done all he could.
If the youth wanted to court death, there was nothing he could do about it.
If it wasn't for the Ren family backing Sister Jiapei when she rashly took in Yang Zixi three months ago, she would be in deep trouble now... even so, the Ren family has already lost the opportunity to cooperate with the Shi family.
If this youth with no background insists on flirting with Yang Zixi, he is simply trying to get himself killed!
...
As the day progressed, the back courtyard of the Wei family mansion, which was the venue for the gathering of the scions of the grand families, became rowdier.
When Zhou Donghuang and his group arrived, the scions of only a few grand families had arrived.
After several hours, the scions of more than ten grand families had already arrived. Among them were several daughters of the lesser grand families that had turned Yang Zixi away after she had been expelled from the Yang family.
However, not all the daughters of the grand families who had been close to Yang Zixi were like Zheng Qiuhe.
One or two of them took the initiative to approach Yang Zixi and apologize to her and express their sorrow. Of course, there were even more who were like Zheng Qiuhe and totally ignored Yang Zixi, as though they had never had any relationship with her before.
In the past, this would have upset Yang Zixi. However, over the past three months, she felt more peaceful than she had ever felt, because she had put this incident behind her and was no longer affected by it.
Whether the daughters of the prominent families who had been close to her apologized to her or ignored her did not matter, it was no longer important to her now. Now, all she cared about was the youth in white who was standing at a table laden with fruits and helping himself to the fruits.
”Sister Jiapei, do whatever you need, I'll go and find Big Brother Donghuang.”
After exchanging greetings with Ren Jiapei, the young lady began walking towards the youth standing nearby. And that youth who had previously been as good as invisible to everyone else around him became the focus of everyone's attention as the young lady walked over to him, a smile blooming on her face and replacing her cool expression.
”Who is that?”
”Earlier, other than Ren Jiapei, Yang Zixi was giving the cold shoulder to everyone else... now she actually smiles to this youth?”
”Who is this youth in white?”
”Is there such an outstanding person among the grand families of the Chu royal city?”
...