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Chapter257
However, after witnessing the actions of Zhou You and Shao Qi, he was momentarily unsure about whether to proceed.
"Old Zhou, why haven't you introduced me yet? With such an outstanding nephew, I'd love to hear him call me 'Uncle'." A close friend of Zhou Hua Jin approached with his daughter.
Zhou Hua Jin didn't hesitate. Regardless of future connections, he had to make introductions to friends, "Come, let's have a drink... Son, this is your dad's good friend and the commander of the city defense team, Mr. Fu."
Zhou You respectfully greeted him, "Uncle Fu."
"Ah, such a promising young man! You're even more accomplished than your father. Oh, this is my daughter, Fu Zixuan. She's two years younger than you. You two should have plenty to chat about."
Zhou You nodded to the girl, who glanced briefly at his face before her gaze settled on Shao Qi, seemingly unable to look away.
Zhou You found it amusing and ironic; when it came to charming others, how could he compete with Shao Qi?
Zhou Hua Jin, wise in his years, noticed his niece's infatuation and was a bit displeased. His outstanding son was overlooked, suggesting her judgment might be flawed.
Moreover, if Zhou You truly had that kind of relationship with Shao Qi, he had inadvertently introduced a romantic rival to his son. A miscalculation indeed.
Shao Qi, originally interested in getting to know the Zhou family friends, saw the scene and wasn’t inclined to engage. He draped an arm around Zhou You, whispering, "I'll sit over there. Be careful not to be charmed by any vixens."
"Hmph, I've already got a fox beside me. Who could compare to you?"
Shao Qi chuckled, patting Zhou You's shoulder and left with his group. Zhou You, not wanting to engage with strangers, excused himself, "I have some matters to discuss with Mr. Wang. Please excuse me."
Commander Fu smiled awkwardly at his friend, "I apologize... I didn't expect it to be like this."
Zhou Hua Jin, seemingly unconcerned, remarked, "I'm fine, but it seems our previous plan might not work. My son might already be spoken for."
Commander Fu pulled his daughter close, warning her, "Control your emotions and don’t chase after the wrong person."
"Dad..."
"Enough. If he's not yours, he's not yours. There are many outstanding young men in Yang City."
Fu Zixuan had rarely taken a liking to anyone, especially after seeing Shao Qi's swift actions earlier, which left her utterly smitten. Who wouldn’t be drawn to such a tall, handsome, slightly roguish young man?
Zhou Hua Jin came to a realization; he couldn't intervene in his son's matters and decided to not complicate things further.
He left the event early. As this was Zhou You’s first public appearance in Yang City, he didn’t bring along Zhou Yichen. This made Yichen very upset, feeling as if his father was sidelining him after finding his elder son.
Previously, he was the sole heir of the Zhou family, showered with attention and love. Now, an older, accomplished brother appeared, threatening his position at home.
"This can't continue. I won't let that man establish himself in Yang City!" He whispered to Lady Zhou.
Lady Zhou, still resentful about not being invited to the banquet, replied bitterly, "Of course I don't want him staying in Yang City either, but what can we do? Your father has finally found him. How could he let him go?"
"Why should he leave? Unless his reputation is utterly destroyed or... forget it. I'm still too young and powerless against him. Let him have his moments of glory for a few years."
"You fool! In a few years, he could consolidate power in Yang City. Your father's connections are limited, and you can hardly leverage them at your age. We can't just hand him such advantages. We need to make him leave sooner."
Zhou Yichen yearned for the days when it was just the three of them as a family. However, he wasn't naive. They didn't have the strength to confront Zhou You, especially with the formidable people surrounding him. If they made a move and failed, both he and his mother would be doomed.
"Don't worry, I won't act recklessly. We'll plan this out in the long run."
Chapter 131: Aftermath of the Murder
Zhang Dingshan has been discreetly monitoring Zhou You and his crew. Several times, he mustered the courage to approach and identify himself but hesitated, fearing they might not recognize him, which would be a huge embarrassment.
Watching Zhou You and Shao Qi's impressive actions, Zhang Dingshan was deeply impressed. Indeed, talent is boldness personified. In the base, killing isn't particularly unusual. Rules are man-made, and in this era, talent grants privileges. The stronger the person, the greater the privilege. He wondered what level of power Shao Qi possessed.
At halftime, Lord Xu sent someone with a congratulatory gift. The military commander also sent a generous present. Of course, figures like the city lord and the commander wouldn't attend a youngster's birthday personally, but their gifts indicated their high regard for Wang Mang.
Sang Liwu, accompanied by Tang Lian, toasted Wang Mang with a casual "Happy Birthday" before turning their glasses to Zhou You and his group. To show appreciation for his benefactors, Wang Mang had specially arranged for Zhou You's group to sit at the main table. Each guest who came to toast would also share a drink with them.
"We meet again. I didn't expect to be so mistaken. I apologize for last time. This drink's on me; you decide the rest," Sang Liwu raised his glass to Zhou You.
Last time at the Beast Capture, Sang Liwu mistook him for someone's accessory. One glance from Zhou You left him petrified with fear. He regretted it immediately and has since kept tabs on this group, having seen their in-game performance, he wouldn't dare to consider Zhou You ordinary.
Zhou You didn't hold it against him. If not for Sang Liwu's distinctive appearance, he would've probably forgotten about him.
After toasting everyone, Sang Liwu introduced Tang Lian, "This is Tang Lian, the most skilled martial artist in our group. He's not much of a talker but loves to spar. If you're willing, maybe offer him some pointers?"