Zhou You presented his gift, intended for the young Master Zhou. Though he was reluctant, Su Ting'er had prepared it for him. It was all part of the necessary formalities.

Madame Zhou nudged her son, Zhou Yichen, who begrudgingly accepted the gift. Assuming that his newfound older brother wouldn't offer anything of value, he opened it in front of everyone. Inside the elegant wooden box was a set of game cards, the latest craze. It might seem dull to adults, but students would surely love them. They were also quite expensive.

Zhou You, being out of touch with student trends, hadn’t researched the gift thoroughly. While offering the cards, he genuinely added, "If you don't like them, feel free to gift them to someone else." Given Zhou Yichen's dedication to martial arts, Zhou You assumed he might not even have time for games.

Zhou Yichen’s expression shifted, "It's a complete set! Where did you get it?" He had money but some of these cards were impossible to buy, regardless of wealth.

"I'm glad you like it," Zhou You sighed with relief internally. His first impression of this ten-year-old half-brother wasn't favorable, and he didn’t wish to engage more than necessary.

"You are indeed thoughtful, big brother. May I know who these friends are?" Zhou Huajin had met Zhou You once but hadn't been introduced to his friends, save for the slightly familiar Shao Qi.

Zhou You first introduced Su Ting'er, a known figure to the Zhou family. He casually introduced him as a close brother. Su Ting'er gracefully stated he was now the steward of Litchi Manor and was visiting family today.

The revelation that the former owner of the grand Litchi Manor had become a steward was shocking. It further solidified the idea that Zhou You’s friends were not ordinary individuals.

"This is Shao Qi. His identity is confidential, but he and the other three are military personnel," Zhou You introduced pointing at Miao Miao and the others.

Upon hearing "military," everyone asked which military district. Shao Qi presented his military ID with a friendly smile, "No secrets among family. We're from the Central Military District and currently stationed at the Sixth Military Factory."

Hu Shancheng hadn’t expected to overlook such an influential figure. The design on Shao Qi’s ID indicated at least a major general rank.

Miao Miao, with a playful gaze, teased, "Young Master Zhou, we meet again. I heard you almost died after drinking 20 milliliters of the spirit water. Had I known, I wouldn't have given it to you."

"It's you!" Zhou Yichen exclaimed, "The scam artist! No wonder you could afford this manor!"

Madame Zhou was unaware of this incident. To prevent misunderstandings, Zhou You detailed the events without embellishing them, causing some faces to turn red with embarrassment.

Zhou Huajin reprimanded his younger son gently, apologizing to Zhou You before allowing him to introduce the next guest.

"This is Mr. Cheng, the young master of Wan Jian Sect," Zhou You observed their reactions, realizing they had prior knowledge of Cheng Suyan. It made sense; they must've looked into his circle of acquaintances, and Cheng Suyan was the most recognizable among them.

"Pleasure to meet you," Hu Shancheng exchanged pleasantries with Cheng Suyan, mentioning a past encounter with the Sect Master. Cheng Suyan, knowing Zhou You's reservations about the family, responded with a curt nod.

Unfazed by the awkward atmosphere, Zhou You continued, "This is Long Gan, formerly a team leader of an exploration team from the Jiangnan Base. He now travels with us."

"Ah, Team Leader Long, I've heard of you," Hu Shancheng remarked. Despite not having thoroughly researched Zhou You's entourage, he recognized the famous name from the Jiangnan Base.

"And this is Li Yunxi, the first person I met after descending the mountain. It was thanks to her team that I was able to leave the Yunlan mountain range. After the loss of her family and friends, she decided to join me. I consider her my sister," Zhou You said.

Fearing misunderstandings about her relationship with Zhou You, Li Yunxi dressed in a gender-neutral fashion for the occasion. Still, her aura as a junior martial artist was undeniably captivating.

Mrs. Zhou remarked inappropriately, "Miss Li is truly beautiful. It's a pity she's just a sister. If only there could be something more between you two. Your father is quite concerned about your marriage."

Li Yunxi hurriedly replied, "Madam, you jest. Being by Zhou's side is a blessing for me. He took me in and taught me martial arts; I regard him as a benefactor."

Shao Qi chimed in with a half-smile, "Mrs. Zhou, don't hastily play matchmaker. Zhou has numerous admirers; his marriage is not something the elders need to worry about. Good intentions might sometimes lead to unintended outcomes."

Zhou Huajin gave him an extra glance, feeling a bit uneasy. If Shao Qi could make such a remark, it indicated that his relationship with Zhou was out of the ordinary. Although society now accepts same-sex relationships, he hoped his son would marry a woman and have children.

"Enough of this. Now that everyone's acquainted, let's sit and dine. We can chat while eating," said Hu Shancheng, redirecting everyone to the dining area and ending that topic of conversation.

Chapter 127: Did You Think I'd Be Moved?

The villa's dining room had a long, square table. Hu Shancheng took the head seat, with Zhou Huajin's family on one side. He pulled Zhou to sit next to him, while Zhou's friends occupied the other side.

No matter the occasion, seat arrangement had its significance. Seeing Shao Qi confidently take the seat next to him without anyone objecting, Hu noted that Cheng Shaozong chose a middle seat to avoid sitting with Shao Qi. Su Ting'er didn't sit but instead stood behind Zhou, shoulder-to-shoulder with Butler Wu, drawing everyone's attention.