184: Already engaged

Gu Xiaoyue's words made Duan Yao pause in surprise.

"What kind of—"

Gu Xiaoyue hurriedly pressed her index finger to Duan Yao's lips, stifling her question.

"Since everyone is here, don't be shy!"

She discreetly signaled to Duan Yao and Xiao Hang.

Xiao Hang immediately understood. He stepped forward, took Duan Yao's hand, and said with deep affection,

"Baby, why didn't you tell me you were coming to the Xiao Family? Are you that impatient to marry me?"

Duan Yao blinked. She didn't understand the situation, but she didn't dare to keep talking.

Gu Xiaoyue chuckled to herself; he certainly got into character quickly!

Before long, Xiao Han hurried over. As soon as she entered the room, she moved to unlock Gu Xiaoyue's chains.

Gu Xiaoyue shook her head, stopping her.

Xiao Han was confused, but before she could ask, two men in black suits entered the room.

Seeing Xiao Hang and Xiao Han there, they paused, then said,

"Young Master Hang, Miss Han, the Master has ordered us to take these two women to the study."

Xiao Hang and Xiao Han didn't object. They stepped aside, letting them take Gu Xiaoyue and Duan Yao away, then followed them.

Gu Xiaoyue, with her hands and feet bound, was carried off by one of the men in black suits.

When they arrived at the study, Xiao Mingyan and Xiao Yun were there, along with Shui Lingyu.

"Grandfather, why did you bring my girlfriend here? We haven't gone public yet!"

Xiao Hang spoke up first to assert his claim.

On the way to the study, he had already looked up most of Duan Yao's background and learned about the dispute between Duan Yao and Yongle Shopping Mall.

This point could serve as a perfect springboard for him to show off his acting skills.

After Xiao Hang finished speaking, not only were Xiao Mingyan and Xiao Yun surprised, but even Xiao Hongjun was taken aback.

"Which one is your girlfriend? The girl from the Gu Family or the girl from the Duan Family?"

"Of course it's her!"

Xiao Hang moved close to Duan Yao, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her affectionately into his embrace.

"Come to think of it, I have to thank Mingyan for playing matchmaker!"

A blush appeared on Duan Yao's face, but she didn't push Xiao Hang away. Instead, she went along with his words and pressed her body closer to him.

Upon hearing that Xiao Mingyan had played matchmaker, Xiao Hongjun became interested.

"Mingyan played matchmaker? Hahaha, tell me the details."

"That starts from when Manager Jiang asked Yao Yao to be a spokesperson—"

Xiao Hang explained that ever since Duan Yao signed with Yongle Shopping Mall, it had been love at first sight, and he had become her number one fan.

Later, when various scandals about Yongle Shopping Mall broke out and Duan Yao was implicated, he had used his status as Xiao Family staff to approach and comfort her after she angrily terminated her contract. The two of them had naturally ended up together!

"Come to think of it, Mingyan was in charge of Yongle Shopping Mall. With such a huge incident, the Xiao Group's stock price dropped a few points, yet you, Grandfather, were magnanimous enough not to hold it against him! I'm even happier because I got the girl! Ultimately, I still have to thank Mingyan!"

Xiao Hang spoke lightly, and while talking, he kissed Duan Yao twice as if to show off their affection.

Gu Xiaoyue, standing to the side, couldn't help but marvel at his acting skills.

Back when Mr. Xiao Hang retired from the entertainment industry, she had been strongly opposed to it!

At the mention of the Yongle Shopping Mall scandal, Xiao Hongjun's expression, which had just cleared up, clouded over again.

He took a deep breath. "Since we are all family, it must be a misunderstanding. What do you say, Yao Yao?"

Duan Yao looked aggrieved, her eyes teary as she looked at Xiao Hang.

"Darling, that woman wanted to kill me to steal my pet. Even if she didn't know about our relationship, she knew I was from the Duan Family! I was terrified; I almost never saw you again!"

Duan Yao had also gotten into character; she didn't even know Xiao Hang's name, but she had to act intimate.

Xiao Hang immediately asked Xiao Hongjun in surprise.

"Grandfather, is what Yao Yao says true? That's going too far! It was just lucky that I happened to run into it. Otherwise, if she had killed Yao Yao, even if it had been done secretly, it would have been discovered eventually! Our Xiao Family would have been pointed at and cursed in the future!"

At this point, Xiao Yun couldn't hold back anymore; she glared viciously at Xiao Hang.

"Do you know she has a God-Rank Pet? So what if I wanted to kill her to take it? Don't you want it? Even if you don't, doesn't Grandfather want it?!"

A hint of madness appeared in her eyes, and Xiao Hongjun slammed his hand on the table.

"Insolent!"

He did want Duan Yao's God-Rank Pet, but there were many people present, and he had to maintain his image of being a person of high virtue and prestige.

If it were decades ago, he wouldn't have cared about such things and would have just taken it by force!

But now he couldn't; how could someone in a high position easily give others leverage against him!

He had tied Duan Yao up because he had been blinded by the God-Rank Pet, truly believing she was just an insignificant child from the Duan Family.

Now it seemed, how could the Duan Family not value her? She did whatever she pleased, and the head of the Duan Family was aware of it; he was just indulging her!

Duan Yao seemed frightened by Xiao Yun and shrank further into Xiao Hang's embrace.

"My God-Rank Pet is a companion beast; it cannot be unbound. If you kill me, it will dissipate between heaven and earth—"

Her voice was as quiet as a mosquito, but the study was quiet, and everyone could hear her clearly.

The air remained stagnant for a moment, then Gu Xiaoyue signaled to Xiao Han again.

"Grandfather, look at how well my brother and Duan Yao get along. They are a perfect match; why not set the wedding date first?"

The implication was that if they couldn't get Duan Yao's God-Rank Pet, then once she married into the Xiao Family, she would be one of them and would naturally have to strive for the prosperity of the Xiao Family!

Shui Lingyu also spoke up, "Old Master, that is possible. You can write the marriage contract first and formally propose to the Duan Family another day. Duan Yao still needs to go to the Lianxin Waterfall for training; Coach Huo and the teachers from the National Competition committee are also looking for her."

"So you are also here looking for Duan Yao?"

Xiao Hongjun frowned, feeling displeased. This Duan Family girl was such a magnet for trouble!

"That is not the case."

Shui Lingyu bowed to Xiao Hongjun.

"I was present when the auction organized by Cousin Mingyan was robbed. He has been mistakenly blaming my junior, Gu Xiaoyue, and keeps causing trouble for her. Xiao Yue went missing during the social gathering last night, and I am just here to try my luck."

Shui Lingyu glanced at Gu Xiaoyue, his gaze so affectionate it seemed to be spinning threads.

Xiao Yun asked with red eyes, feeling aggrieved, "Cousin, aren't you here to see me? Last year you said you would come to see me when you were free. Were you lying to Yun'er?"

Shui Lingyu felt a bit awkward; he had indeed said that at the time to appease Xiao Yun.

And he hadn't managed to find the time to visit her afterward.

"I am sorry."

Gu Xiaoyue spoke slowly, "Ling Yu is too busy with many things and really hasn't had time to visit his cousin."

"You! What is your status to speak like that! Who is your cousin!"

Xiao Yun seemed to think of something; she pointed at Gu Xiaoyue's nose and almost started cursing.

Gu Xiaoyue hopped toward Shui Lingyu and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Because Ling Yu and I have long been engaged; we just haven't made it public!"