Chapter238

After finishing his words, he seemed ready to bid farewell. The father and son duo never had much in common, and now even less so. Moreover, it was getting late.

Su Ting'er politely offered, "Mr. Zhou, would you like to stay the night? We have a spare guest room."

Zhou Hua Jin could sense the implied message to leave and felt a mix of awkwardness and annoyance. However, in front of everyone, he didn’t want to cause a scene with Zhou You. Standing up, he responded, "No need. I must be at the hospital. I'll visit you another day."

"Alright, let me walk you out," Zhou You offered, escorting him to the door. Shao Qi was still at their side, causing Zhou Hua Jin to take a few extra glances. He thought to himself: If one of the two girls was Zhou You's partner, Zhou You would have introduced her. Perhaps he was overthinking it.

Just before getting in his car, he asked Zhou You, "You're not getting any younger. Have you settled down yet?"

"Not yet."

"I know several families with eligible young ladies. I could introduce you to them. Marriage is something one should take seriously. Now that you're in Yang City, it might be time to consider such matters."

Zhou You responded with a neutral expression, "No need. I've mentioned that I won't stay in Yang City for long. I'll be traveling in the upcoming years, not really suited to settle down with a lady from a prestigious family. If I ever do, I'll let you know."

Zhou Hua Jin assumed Zhou You was hinting at finding a martial arts practitioner as a spouse. In this age, lineage mattered less than martial prowess, with children of such unions inheriting enhanced physical abilities.

"By the way, what's your martial arts rank?" Zhou Hua Jin wondered. If Zhou You was highly ranked, he should host a welcoming feast for him to integrate quickly into the Yang City base. With one genius son and potentially another powerful one, the Zhou family could rise to prominence.

"I'm not sure, actually. I haven’t had a chance to verify. I'll let you know when I do."

Zhou Hua Jin nodded, presuming Zhou You might be of a lower rank and felt shy to disclose. Without pressing further, he left for the Lychee Villa.

Watching the departing lights, Shao Qi nudged Zhou You with a playful grin, "Your future father-in-law seems invested in your personal life. He'll probably start setting you up with girls. Don't you want to use me as a shield?"

Zhou You shrugged, "That's his business. As for you, we'll discuss after your probation."

A gleeful Shao Qi responded, "So I'm on probation now? How long? A month?"

"A year," Zhou You replied, turning away. Shao Qi followed, cheerfully saying, "Someone as talented as me usually gets confirmed early."

The next day, the well-informed Wang Mang sent housewarming gifts and also invited Zhou You and his group to his son's birthday banquet.

Su Ting'er received a personal invite as well. "The only fault with Wang Mang is how he dotes on his son. Every year there's a grand birthday celebration. If his son were accomplished, it would be understandable, but he’s quite the opposite. It’s baffling how Wang Mang can boast about him so frequently."

Shao Qi agreed wholeheartedly, "I've only heard of parents being overly indulgent, but now I've seen it."

Zhou You sighed, "The celebration is next week. If we attend, we should bring a gift. Honestly, I don’t feel like gifting that kid anything. Just thinking about young Master Wang makes me roll my eyes. Such an insufferable child."

Su Ting'er promptly replied, "Rest assured, younger brother. I will have everyone's gifts ready. Given your new presence and the favor you've shown to Wang Mang, he will surely introduce you prominently at the banquet. It's a great opportunity to make connections, as nearly all the influential figures will be present."

"That sounds grand indeed."

The night passed quietly, and everyone awoke late the next day. By now, everyone had adopted the habit of meditating before sleep and after waking. Everyone's inner strength had significantly improved, with the most evident change being the increased power when executing their techniques. Their internal and external strengths complemented each other.

After breakfast together, Su Ting'er, aware of their unfamiliarity with Yangcheng Base, enthusiastically introduced the tourist spots and fun places. But the attractions didn't interest them. After all, what could be more beautiful than the Yunlan Mountain Range?

"You might be interested in the Martial Arts Association's holographic simulation games. It's cutting-edge technology. Many play it, and it's said that beyond the entertaining games, it's also used for combat training. In winters like this, when it's inconvenient to go outside, martial artists are most passionate about ranking matches. Those who make it to the top ten each month receive generous prizes from the Martial Arts Association."

"Oh yes, how could I have forgotten that? I heard the holographic games were released, but our Jiangnan Base always seems a step behind. I haven’t had a chance to try it yet," said Cheng Yuran, eagerly finishing a piece of grilled meat, excited about trying the new game.

"How is strength determined in the game? Can martial artists bring their skills into it?"

Shao Qi explained, "What one knows is deeply ingrained in the mind. The holographic MMORPG uses brainwaves to make virtual scenarios incredibly realistic. Whatever you can do in reality, you can also do in the game. Some even say you can learn from the game, though it depends on one's learning habits."

"Is it hard to rank in the top ten?" Zhou You was eager to try, as no young man could resist the allure of such advanced games.

"You'll find out soon enough. I'll have a holographic gaming pod sent over later. We can avoid the crowd at the Martial Arts Association. However, there's another exciting place we should visit today." Shao Qi handed out tickets to everyone.

Su Ting'er received a ticket and exclaimed upon seeing the words on it, "It's a ticket to the Yunzong Auction House! These are rare." But considering Shao Qi's status, it made sense.