My Ares Son-in-Law

Zhou Keying picked up her phone, unlocked the screen, and found that she had been added to a new WeChat group called "Provincial Capital University Alumni Association". There were already more than a dozen people in the group, and people were still joining. Messages were being sent out very quickly.

She quickly browsed the messages in the group chat; the first one was from Zhang Ziren:

[To all my classmates in the provincial capital, my antique shop opens in three days! Everyone is welcome to come and support me! The address is Renhetang, No. 88 Antique Street, Wenbo New District. Opening at 12 noon, all drinks included. Just come and have a good time!]

Immediately afterward, Li Xiao replied: 【Wow, Ziren's amazing! You actually opened an antique shop? Congratulations! I'll definitely be there to support you!】

Wang Feifei also replied: 【Congratulations, Boss Zhang! Congratulations on your grand opening! I'll definitely be there to share in your joy!】

Zhang Ziren quickly posted another message: [@Jiang Xuanxuan I heard Xuanxuan is also in the provincial capital? Welcome, welcome! It's been so long, you must come! By the way, is Xuanxuan still single?]

Li Xiao immediately teased, "[Haha, Ziren's real intention isn't what it seems. He just opened an antique shop and he's already thinking about finding a partner?]"

Wang Feifei chimed in jokingly, "[Xuanxuan is a top beauty in our high school. The line of guys chasing her could stretch from the school campus to outside. Even though you're a boss now, you might not be good enough for her!]"

Zhang Ziren replied with a wry smile: "Don't talk nonsense. I'm already married. Although Xuanxuan is outstanding, I'm not worthy of her."

Looking at the lively banter in the group chat, Zhou Keying couldn't help but laugh, and the gloom on her face dissipated somewhat.

Jiang Xuanxuan leaned closer to look at the messages on Zhou Keying's phone screen, and couldn't help but purse her lips, her tone teasing: "This Zhang Ziren is quite interesting. He's an honest guy, just like before, and he can't stand being teased."

As the two were talking, messages started flooding the group chat again, and the topic quickly turned to Zhou Keying.

Zhang Ziren sent a message: [By the way, is Zhou Keying also in the provincial capital? I saw her in the news recently; she's a celebrity among our classmates now. She actually landed a 10 billion yuan project with Dansheng Group! That's amazing!]

Wang Feifei immediately chimed in: 【Yes, yes, Ke Ying is amazing! Dansheng Group is a place so big, so many people would kill to get in, and she actually landed a project worth billions! She's our pride!】

Li Xiao's message came quickly, with a hint of barely perceptible sourness in her tone: "Ke Ying is indeed amazing, I admit that. But I heard she found a boyfriend, and it seems... he's not very good?"

Wang Feifei immediately pressed, "What do you mean? Ziren, what do you mean by that? Keying is so great, how could she find such a bad boyfriend?"

Li Xiao replied: "[I heard it from someone else. They said her boyfriend is unemployed, stays home all day, doesn't work, doesn't earn money, and is entirely supported by Keying. He dresses plainly and doesn't seem to have any skills.]"

Wang Feifei sent a surprised emoji: 【Huh? Really? Ke Ying is so outstanding, how could she choose someone like this? Is there some misunderstanding?】

Zhang Ziren sent a message saying: "[There might be something going on. Let's not speculate. It wouldn't be good if we wrongly accused them.]"

Li Xiao, however, persisted and continued sending messages:
[I'm not just guessing; someone actually saw it with their own eyes and even took pictures! That guy just hangs around the neighborhood all day, he doesn't even have a job. I don't know what Keying saw in him, it's such a shame.]

As Zhou Keying looked at the text on her phone screen, the smile on her face gradually faded, and the curve of her lips disappeared little by little. She felt as if something was blocking her heart, making her feel both depressed and aggrieved.

She knew Xiao Chen wasn't unemployed; he had his own things to do, he just didn't want to reveal his identity. But she couldn't explain this to anyone. Jiang Xuanxuan's brows furrowed tightly, her face filled with anger, her eyes showing a hint of displeasure…

Although she had looked down on Xiao Chen before, after what happened at the club, she had developed a sense of awe towards him. Moreover, Xiao Chen was Zhou Keying's boyfriend, and for others to slander him like this was bullying Zhou Keying.

She picked up her phone, her fingers flying across the screen, and quickly sent a message:
[Don't talk nonsense! Xiao Chen is a really good person, and he's especially kind and considerate to Ke Ying. So what if he doesn't have a job? He's talented; he doesn't necessarily have to work to earn money. Don't judge him based on your own standards!]

The group chat fell silent instantly; no one spoke for a good ten seconds.

Immediately after, Li Xiao sent another teasing message: "Xuanxuan, you're protecting him so much, could it be that you've also fallen for him? Otherwise, why are you speaking up for him like this?"

Upon seeing this message, Jiang Xuanxuan was so angry she almost threw her phone away. She quickly replied: 【Get lost! Watch your mouth! I just can't stand you people slandering others. Stop spouting nonsense and making baseless accusations!】

Li Xiao sent a laughing emoji:

Haha, I was just kidding, don't be angry! Since Xuanxuan said so, I must have misheard and wronged him.

So, on the opening day of Zhang Ziren's antique shop, let Keying bring her boyfriend along so everyone can get to know him and we can all see what it's really like. What do you think?

Wang Feifei immediately chimed in: 【That's great! Let's see what kind of man can win over such an outstanding person like Keying. It will put our minds at ease.】

Zhang Ziren also sent a message: 【Yes, yes, yes, bring them! Let's get together and let everyone get to know each other so there won't be any more misunderstandings.】

Zhou Keying gripped her phone tightly, her fingertips turning slightly white. She cautiously raised her head, her eyes filled with worry, staring intently at Xiao Chen, afraid that he would be angry after seeing the defamatory comments in the group chat.

Just then, Xiao Chen finished scanning the group chat messages on Zhou Keying's phone screen. His fingertips lightly swiped across the screen, but his expression remained calm and indifferent, as if those sarcastic and slanderous words were just insignificant dust that he didn't care about at all.

“Xiao Chen…” Zhou Keying’s voice trembled slightly, her tone full of unease, and she quickly tried to comfort him.

"Don't take it to heart. They're just gossipy and like to talk nonsense. They don't know the truth at all. Don't bother with them."

Xiao Chen slowly raised his head, his gaze falling on Zhou Keying's face as he carefully examined her.

In her eyes, there was a hint of genuine worry, a hint of nervousness at his anger, and a barely perceptible expectation... an expectation that he would go, an expectation that he would prove himself, and an expectation that those people would shut up.

His thoughts paused slightly, and he suddenly remembered what he had been pondering... antiques.

The spiritual energy contained within the antique was a crucial source of his cultivation. (End of Chapter)