My Ares Son-in-Law

Zhou Keying stared intently at the old lady on the stage, her eyes filled with anticipation and trepidation.

Grandma Zhou's gaze slowly swept across the entire venue. When it passed over Zhou Keying, it didn't linger at all, but landed directly on Zhou Hao in the audience. A meaningful smile appeared on her lips.

"After repeated discussions within the family and comprehensive consideration of various factors, we have finally decided that the project manager for the Dansheng Group's 10 billion yuan project is..."

She paused deliberately, drawing out her words to whet everyone's appetite. Zhou Hao stood below the stage, his face already beaming with smugness, leaning slightly forward, waiting for his announcement.

"Zhou Hao".

The two words, clearly transmitted through the microphone, resonated throughout the entire banquet hall.

boom……

Zhou Keying felt as if something exploded in her mind, leaving her completely blank. The sounds around her vanished instantly, leaving only the sound of her own rapid heartbeat.

She stood frozen in place, as if under a spell, her whole body ice-cold, forgetting even to breathe.

Applause erupted like a tidal wave, warm and prolonged, as guests cast congratulatory glances at Zhou Hao.

Zhou Hao raised his head with high spirits, his chest straight, and a smug smile on his face. He walked step by step onto the stage, took the microphone from Grandma Zhou, cleared his throat, and began to deliver his "inaugural speech".

"Thank you for the old lady's trust, thank you for the family's recognition, and thank you for the support of all the elders and guests..."

Zhou Hao's voice was impassioned and full of boasting and pride, but Zhou Keying couldn't hear a single word he said.

She stood there, staring intently at the smug face on the stage, at the gratified smile on Old Mrs. Zhou's face, and at the applause from the surrounding guests, whether genuine or feigned. She felt as if the blood in her body had turned cold, chilling her from head to toe.

The agonizing all-nighter, the seventy-page report I had to finish even with my eyelids drooping, the hundreds of documents I had to compile from countless materials, the communication and coordination I had to grit my teeth and persevere through repeated setbacks...

All the effort and hard work went to waste, becoming someone else's wedding dress and Zhou Hao's bragging rights.

Like a fool, she did everything she could to secure the project for her family, only to be kicked aside in the end and have even what she deserved taken away.

Grandma Zhou's promises and past approvals have now become a series of cold jokes, slapping her hard in the face.

"Ke Ying..."

A slightly hesitant voice sounded beside her, interrupting Zhou Keying's daze.

She turned her head blankly and saw Zhou Fenfang standing beside her, her expression complex, a mixture of sympathy, regret, and a hint of barely perceptible helplessness.

"Don't be too sad."

Zhou Fenfang lowered her voice, her tone carrying a hint of comfort.

"This kind of thing is common in families, just take it easy. Hao is the old lady's grandson, and like her, he came from the capital. It's only natural that the old lady favors him."

She paused, then added, her tone tinged with disappointment:
"You're just too naive and foolish. Be more careful in the future, and don't be so stupid as to give away all the credit, only to end up with nothing." Zhou Keying didn't speak, but just stood there quietly, her eyes empty and her face expressionless, as if her soul had been taken away.

She knew Zhou Fenfang was telling the truth, but she was still unwilling to accept it. She was unwilling to let her hard work be trampled on like this, and unwilling to let herself be deceived like this.

She slowly turned around, avoiding all the gazes around her, and walked step by step toward the entrance of the banquet hall.

She didn't want to stay here anymore, didn't want to see those fake smiles, didn't want to hear those harsh applause, and especially didn't want to see Zhou Hao's smug face.

Behind him, Zhou Hao's voice continued, impassioned and full of boasting:

"...I assure everyone that I will live up to the trust of the old lady and the family, and will do my utmost to lead this project to success and create more wealth for the Zhou family..."

The sound was like sharp knives, stabbing viciously into Zhou Keying's heart. Her steps quickened, almost staggering, as she tried to escape this suffocating place as quickly as possible.

She told herself she couldn't cry, couldn't lose her composure in front of so many people, but tears still welled up uncontrollably, blurring her vision.

Just as she was about to walk out of the banquet hall and escape the hustle and bustle, a warm and strong hand suddenly gripped her wrist tightly.

The warmth seeped through her skin and into her heart, dispelling a trace of chill. The force, firm and steady, instantly brought her to a halt in her flustered steps.

She slowly turned her head and saw Xiao Chen standing beside her.

He remained calm, without anger or questioning, simply gazing at her with deep, unwavering eyes, as if they held a vast ocean capable of encompassing all her grievances and resentment.

Zhou Keying opened her mouth, wanting to say something, wanting to pour out all the grievances in her heart, but her throat seemed to be blocked by something, and she could not make any sound. Only tears silently slid down her cheeks.

Xiao Chen released her wrist, gently reached out, and put his arm around her shoulder. His movements were gentle, yet carried an irresistible strength as he gently protected her in his arms.

"Let's go." He said, his voice calm, as if he were just saying, "The weather is nice today." There was no extra emotion, yet it inexplicably gave people a sense of reassurance.

Zhou Keying could clearly feel his body temperature and hear his steady heartbeat. The grievances in her heart seemed to have found an outlet, but they were also soothed by his calmness.

She inexplicably felt that beneath this calm lay a sharpness and decisiveness she had never seen before, as if he could get all the justice for her with just a word from her.

She didn't refuse, letting him put his arm around her shoulder as they walked out of the banquet hall together.

Behind him, the applause was still enthusiastic, and Zhou Hao's voice was still shrill. Those insincere congratulations and smug laughter were all shut out behind him.

The banquet hall doors closed slowly behind them, shutting out all the noise and hypocrisy, as well as all the grievances and resentment.

The corridor was quiet, with only the soft, warm light from the wall lamps casting long shadows of the two people. A faint fragrance filled the air, gentle and tranquil.

Zhou Keying stopped in her tracks, unable to hold back any longer. Tears streamed down her face like a broken string of pearls. She choked back sobs, her voice broken:
“I…I clearly…she clearly promised me…that project was mine…it was my hard work…why…why did she give it to Zhou Hao…”

Seeing her tear-streaked face, Xiao Chen felt a fleeting pang of heartache in his eyes, but he remained silent, simply staying by her side and letting her vent her frustrations. (End of Chapter)