My Ares Son-in-Law

A strange, contradictory aura, a mixture of danger and tranquility, lingered around Xiao Chen like wisps of smoke.

Dangerous because he seems to possess an unknown power that makes people hesitant to approach him; reassuring because being with him inexplicably gives one a sense of security and peace of mind, as if no difficulty is insurmountable as long as he is there.

Zhou Keying's heart skipped a beat uncontrollably. Her already flustered heart was now pounding wildly, like a deer running around in a panic.

She suddenly realized that, setting aside his incredible fighting skills and his chilling authority in the coffee shop, Xiao Chen himself... was actually quite good-looking.

Especially those eyes, as deep as the vast universe, as if they held the secrets of the entire starry night.

It's as if countless stories are being told there, with the glitter of stars and the depth of the night sky, making it impossible to look away once you've entered.

"Don't think too much."

Xiao Chen's deep and calm voice, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, interrupted her reverie.

His voice was so flat that it betrayed no emotion, as if everything that had just happened in the coffee shop had nothing to do with him.

It wasn't all for my sake?

Zhou Keying was slightly taken aback, a hint of confusion flashing in her beautiful almond-shaped eyes, a confusion as unfathomable as the twinkling stars in the night sky.

If not for her, then for whom?
Could it be... for his own pride?
She recalled Xiao Chen's almost arrogant words in the coffee shop, the phrase "I will make your Zhou family understand what true...unreachable" really means, which echoed in her ears like a thunderclap.

A wave of worry instantly overwhelmed that subtle flutter of excitement.

She worried that Xiao Chen might cause her unnecessary trouble due to a moment of impulsiveness, after all, the Zhou family had a certain status and influence in this city.

"Xiao Chen,"

She took a deep breath, her tone became serious, and her eyes were full of apology, "I apologize to you on behalf of my second aunt."

"That's just how she is. She's used to measuring everything by money and status. In her eyes, it seems that only money and power are the most important."

"So she speaks very harshly, every word is like a knife, stabbing straight into people's hearts."

"But... she's not as bad at heart as she seems."

"She has been blinded by the superficiality and utilitarianism of this society, which is why she has become so mean and selfish."

Even she herself didn't find her words convincing.

After all, everyone has seen what my second aunt has done. Those hurtful words and disdainful looks cannot be covered up by simply saying "she's not a bad person."
"Oh, I see."

Xiao Chen's reaction was extremely calm, his tone as casual as if he were talking about the weather, as if he wasn't the one who had just experienced the storm and tense standoff in the coffee shop, but just a bystander who had nothing to do with him.

He calmly raised his hand, his movements natural and fluid, as if he had arranged it all in advance.

An empty taxi, as if receiving some silent summons, slowly glided to the side of the road and came to a steady stop.

The taxi driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror, a hint of doubt in his eyes, but didn't ask any further questions. Xiao Chen walked steadily to the car, reached out and opened the door, his movements swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

He bent down and sat in the car, his body ramrod straight, exuding an indescribable air of efficiency.

Then, through the lowered car window, he looked at Zhou Keying, who was still standing there somewhat dazed, and said in his usual calm tone, "You have a driver, so I won't see you off."

"I have to go now."

The words were concise and clear, without any unnecessary pleasantries or lingering affection.

After saying that, without waiting for Zhou Keying to react in any way, not even a simple nod or a word of response, the taxi driver skillfully stepped on the gas.

The car sped off like an arrow, quickly merging into the traffic and weaving through the endless stream of vehicles before disappearing around the street corner, leaving only a faint trail of exhaust fumes.

Zhou Keying stood alone at the edge of the bustling square, surrounded by a crowd of people, including commuters rushing to work, children playing and laughing, and couples strolling hand in hand.

But all this lively scene became blurry in her eyes at this moment.

The cold winter wind blew her wisps of hair across her forehead, and the coolness slid down her cheeks, but she didn't feel it at all.

The blush that hadn't faded from her face was the blush that had risen when she was embarrassed by Xiao Chen's words and actions in the coffee shop, but now it was mixed with a deep sense of astonishment.

He just... left like that?
Didn't they even say hello?
Zhou Keying felt as if something was blocking her heart, making her feel suffocated.

She stared blankly in the direction the taxi had disappeared, her eyes somewhat vacant.

It was as if the person who had just turned the tide in the coffee shop and uttered the bold statement that "the Zhou family is unattainable" was not him, but a hero she had imagined.

But those sincere words and those firm eyes still lingered in her mind.

A feeling that was hard to describe, whether it was disappointment or anger, welled up inside me, like a jumble of mixed flavors.

She was disappointed because she had thought that after what had just happened, their relationship would be different, even if only slightly; she was annoyed because he had just left without a word. Did he find it annoying to spend even one more minute with her?

She originally wanted to press him to find out what the source of his confidence was!
Zhou Keying wasn't the kind of person who would be easily swayed by a few grand words. She wanted to know what Xiao Chen's plans were and what his trump cards were.

How dare someone with shallow roots in the ancient city, who even needs to be taken in by others, make such a bold statement as to shake the Zhou family's giant ship that has been entrenched in the provincial capital for a century?
Is it because of his unpredictable and supernatural kung fu skills?

Zhou Keying frowned. Although she admitted that Xiao Chen's kung fu was very impressive, the strength he displayed in the coffee shop shocked her.

But this world is ultimately a chessboard built of money and rules. How much of a wave can an individual's bravery stir up in the face of a huge family force and complex business rules?

Thinking of this, a sense of worry welled up in her heart, both for Xiao Chen and for the ambiguous relationship between herself and him.

After calming down, Zhou Keying felt that her thoughts, like the surface of a lake disturbed by a storm, were gradually returning to calm, and reason regained its firm grip.

She tilted her head slightly, gazing at the somewhat gloomy sky above the square, and sighed softly, a sigh tinged with helplessness and frustration. (End of Chapter)