This person is clearly a male protagonist in a female-oriented novel, yet he is excessively lucid.

As the wedding drew to a close and night fell, the neon lights of Shanghai cast a gentle and tender glow over the city.

Inside the new house, bright red "double happiness" characters adorn the doors and windows, and soft, warm light filters through the sheer curtains, falling on the dragon and phoenix quilt, every corner imbued with the sweetness of newlywed life.

Xiao Yilin had just finished showering. Her long hair was loosely tied back, with a few strands clinging to her neck. It was soaked with moisture, and tiny water droplets still clung to the ends. A faint fragrance of her bath lingered around her.

She changed into a loose, bright red silk nightgown, the hem of which draped lightly like flowing clouds, making her skin appear even more radiant.

Her cheeks were flushed with a natural blush from her bath, her eyes shone with a languid softness, and even her voice carried a soft, gentle quality, as if she had just finished showering.

"Honey, you're finally back."

Xiao Yilin is now two months pregnant. Although her belly is still flat, she always subconsciously protects her waist. Every move she makes reveals the tenderness of a new mother.

Yu Chenzhou took off his coat and sat lightly on the edge of the bed. His fingertips avoided the water droplets in her hair, gently brushing along the cuffs of her nightgown. His tone was filled with an overwhelming tenderness.

"You must be exhausted."

"You've been busy with socializing and pleasantries all day, and you just took a shower. Lie down and rest; don't tire yourself out or the child, and don't catch a cold."

Xiao Yilin shook her head, leaning lazily into his arms, and hooked her arm around his neck. The fresh scent of her bath mingled with the steam from her hair, filling the air between them. Her tone was playful and teasing, and her eyes shone with a sweet smile.

"It's alright, it's just a pity about this wedding night."

As she spoke, Xiao Yilin took Yu Chenzhou's hand, gently pressing it against her still-flat stomach, her fingertips softly caressing it, a hint of smugness in her voice:

"Isn't it a pity that someone is filled with joy but can only watch from the sidelines?"

Yu Chenzhou leaned down and placed a soft, lingering kiss on the corner of her lips. His palm gently covered her lower abdomen, his movements so light as if afraid of disturbing something. His tone was gentle yet helpless, but his eyes were full of tenderness.

"Silly girl, with you and our two little darlings by my side, how could I have any regrets?"

Your well-being and the baby's safety are more important than anything else.

His fingertips gently circled her lower abdomen, then suddenly he remembered something, a soft light appearing in his eyes, and his voice softened even more:

"By the way, the doctor said you were having twins during the last ultrasound, which is a pleasant surprise."

Xiao Yilin's eyes lit up instantly. She snuggled closer to him, her cheek lightly pressed against his shoulder, her voice soft and expectant:

"You bet I'm still dreaming."

But upon closer reflection, it makes perfect sense.

Do you think it could be twins, a boy and a girl?

"To make a perfect pair, how wonderful!"

Yu Chenzhou tightened his arms around her, gently stroking the stray hairs at the side of her neck with his fingertips, wiping away the remaining moisture, his tone tender and full of longing:

"Twins are naturally wonderful. Whether it's the older brother protecting the younger sister or the older sister accompanying the younger brother, they create heartwarming moments."

The two boys are in big trouble; they'll probably turn the house upside down.

Xiao Yilin smiled and poked his chest, her charm tinged with a hint of languor:

"Haha, if it were two little girls, you'd be in for a lot of work!"

"Because you'll become the personal knight of three princesses, and you'll be too busy to handle everything."

Yu Chenzhou kissed the top of her head, his palm still gently resting on her lower abdomen, his doting affection reaching the very core of his being.

"That's great! I wish I could spoil the three of you rotten and give you the best of everything in the world."

The two snuggled together, their breaths mingling, filled with anticipation for their family of five. The sweetness completely dispelled the fatigue of the day.

As night deepened, Xiao Yilin fell into a deep sleep in his arms, her breathing light and even, her long eyelashes drooping like butterfly wings. Yu Chenzhou carefully covered her with the blanket, gently kissed her forehead, his eyes filled with tenderness and peace.

His parents had already given him instructions, telling him to rest early after settling in with his relatives and to leave the trivial matters for the next day. At this moment, he only wanted to cherish the tenderness in his arms and savor this peaceful and tranquil life.

The next morning, in stark contrast to the tranquility and gentleness of the new house, the hotel corridor was no longer peaceful.

Sunlight streamed through the cold glass window, illuminating the dust floating in the air and revealing the greed deep within people's hearts.

Yu Chenzhou's parents, Yu Changgui and Lin Guilan, got up early to get busy, intending to urge their relatives to pack their luggage and get into the car arranged by Yu Chenzhou to return home.

However, many people deliberately delayed their trip by saying things like "I want to spend a couple more days exploring" or "I don't want to take the bus; I'm currently buying high-speed rail tickets."

The relatives gathered in twos and threes in the corridor, whispering in very low voices, but every word they said was about asking Yu Chenzhou for help. Their scheming and desire for something for nothing was completely undisguised.

Lin Guilan understood the personalities of these relatives all too well.

They usually lived peacefully and rarely interacted, but now that Yu Chenzhou had married Xiao Yilin, they saw it as him boarding the "fast boat" of the Xiao family.

They rushed forward to share the spoils, clearly using the wedding as an excuse to seek personal gain.

Just as she was hesitating whether to call Yu Chenzhou, her cousin Lin Tingting came out of the guest room, having shed the restraint she had shown at yesterday's wedding.

He feigned a timid demeanor, grabbed her arm without a word, and pulled her to the end of the stairwell. His face was deliberately shy, but his eyes concealed a shrewd calculation.

"Second Aunt, there's something I'd like to tell you."

Lin Tingting lowered her voice to an extremely low hue, almost whispering in Lin Guilan's ear, her eyes filled with undisguised anticipation and a hint of subtle calculation.

"My partner and I have been together for several years, and we've met each other's parents. We plan to settle down in Shanghai this year."

But as you know, housing prices in Shanghai are outrageous. We've saved up for years, living frugally, and it's not even enough for a down payment on a small apartment.

"Look... Brother Chen Zhou is quite capable now, he's even related to the Xiao family through marriage, and he has a wide network of connections. Could you lend us a hand and help us with a down payment?"

As she spoke, she gently shook Lin Guilan's arm, her tone full of pleading, as if as long as Lin Guilan nodded, the matter would be mostly settled.

Upon hearing this, Lin Guilan's heart skipped a beat; she had indeed guessed correctly.

She looked embarrassed and gently pulled her arm away.

"Tingting, buying a house is no small expense. I can't make the decision myself; I have to ask Chenzhou and Yilin for their opinions."

Besides, they just had their wedding, so they might not be flush with cash.

"Second Aunt, please plead with me!"

Lin Tingting hurriedly grabbed Lin Guilan's sleeve tightly, as if afraid she would run away. Her tone was even more urgent, and a thin layer of water welled up in her eyes as she pretended to be desperate.

"Now that Brother Chenzhou is related to the Xiao family by marriage, and the Xiao family is so rich and powerful, this amount of money for buying a house is just a drop in the ocean for them, and it's not a big deal."

We had no other choice but to come to you because we were desperate and had nowhere else to turn.

We're all family, blood relatives, he can't just stand by and watch me be homeless in Shanghai, unable to even settle down in a stable little home, can he?

She deliberately emphasized "family," attempting to use kinship to manipulate others, completely ignoring the fact that she herself had been secretly mocking Yu Chenzhou for "climbing the social ladder" with others the day before.

The tugging and whispering between the two quickly attracted many of the stranded relatives. People who were originally scattered at the doors of the various guest rooms gathered around, listening intently with eyes full of curiosity and eagerness.

Seeing this, his cousin Yu Chenhai immediately seized the opportunity, pushing through the crowd to step forward. A shrewd smile was plastered on his face, but his eyes were sizing up Lin Guilan's expression, trying to find a breakthrough from her.

"Second Aunt, Tingting is right."

We're all family, blood is thicker than water, so helping each other is only natural.

I also have something I'd like to ask Chenzhou for help with. If this is done, it will benefit our whole family.

He paused, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense, and only continued after everyone was staring at him:

"My company is currently preparing for a new project in the hottest new energy field. The prospects are excellent, and we have done a lot of market research. We just need some start-up capital."

Uncle Xiao has been in the business world for so many years, with a wide network of connections and a keen eye for business. Could you please ask Chen Zhou to put in a good word for him and persuade him to consider investing in my company?

"If the project succeeds, I will definitely remember Shen Zhou's help. Then I can help my family get rich, and our Yu family will benefit too."

As soon as these words were spoken, the relatives immediately erupted in a commotion, gathering around Lin Guilan.

The uncle stepped forward, slapping his thigh and speaking with righteous indignation:

"Shen Hai is right! Now that Shen Zhou has the ability and has found a good marriage partner, he should help his own family."

We're all family; we share both prosperity and adversity. Now that he's doing well, how can he forget his poor relatives and forget his roots?

The uncle chimed in, completely ignoring the embarrassment of being politely rejected at yesterday's wedding:

"Tingting buying a house is a big deal. The Shenhai project can make the whole family rich. Shenzhou helping out is just a small favor. This is how a junior should act."

Not to be outdone, the cousins' wives also stepped forward to express their demands.

Someone pulled Lin Guilan aside and pleaded, "Second Aunt, my child will be starting primary school next year. Good schools in Shanghai are hard to get into. Could you ask Chen Zhou to help find someone to arrange a good school for my child?"

Someone sighed, "My family's business has hit a bottleneck and is about to collapse. I'd like Chen Zhou to introduce me to some of the Xiao family's resources and point me in the right direction."

Some people even asked for jobs directly: "Second Aunt, my husband is unemployed at home. Let Chen Zhou arrange an easy and respectable job for him. The Xiao family has the resources, so it shouldn't be difficult."

For a time, various demands intertwined, full of self-righteous demands and emotional blackmail. Lin Guilan was caught in a dilemma and could only repeatedly say, "I'll go talk to Shen Zhou," barely managing to cope.

Lin Guilan was cornered and had no choice but to force a bitter smile as she tried to escape her relatives' encirclement. Yu Changgui followed beside her, his face growing increasingly grim.

As soon as the two reached the corner of the stairwell, Lin Guilan dialed Yu Chenzhou's number, her tone full of difficulty and helplessness:

"Shenzhou, could you come to the hotel?"

These relatives are all crowding around you, wanting your help, and they won't rest no matter what you say. Your father and I just can't persuade them otherwise.

Yu Changgui also took the phone and said in a deep voice:

"Make it clear to them that there is no such rule in our family, and they shouldn't try to make trouble by taking advantage of our relationship."

Yu Chenzhou, who had just finished having breakfast with Xiao Yilin, immediately responded upon hearing the call:

"Dad, Mom, I'm coming right away. Don't argue with them yet, let me handle it."

After hanging up the phone, Yu Chenzhou got up to change his clothes, his tone tinged with apology:

"Linlin, some relatives at the hotel have something to take care of, so I have to go there."

"Stay home and rest, don't overwork yourself, and don't overthink things. I'll come back to be with you as soon as I've finished dealing with this."

Xiao Yilin nodded, gently smoothing the wrinkles between his brows, and instructed:

"Don't get angry with them, be mindful of your words, and come back soon."

Yu Chenzhou bent down and kissed the corner of her lips, then subconsciously touched her lower abdomen before grabbing his coat and hurriedly leaving.

Upon arriving at the hotel, Lin Guilan pulled him aside and, in a low voice, recounted all the relatives' requests, her eyes filled with guilt.

"Chenzhou, I know you are sensible and principled, but they are our relatives after all. They all spoke so earnestly, and some even acted pitiful. Your father and I couldn't just refuse them directly, for fear of hurting the harmony between relatives."

"What do you think should be done about this?"

She and Yu Changgui were caught in the middle, torn between not wanting to put their son in a difficult position, but also not wanting to strain their relationship too much.

After listening, Yu Chenzhou's tone was calm yet carried an undeniable firmness, and there was no hesitation in his eyes:

"Mom, Dad, I'll handle this."

"Friendship is friendship, and rules are rules. I will not agree to their demands."

He turned to Yu Changgui's mother and said:

"You guys go back to your rooms and rest. I can handle things here. Don't stay here and suffer."

Yu Changgui wanted to say something more, but Lin Guilan stopped him. The two looked at each other, nodded, and turned to go back to their guest room.

They also knew that once their son's temperament was set, it wouldn't change easily.

Yu Chenzhou took a deep breath, completely suppressing the tenderness and affection in the new house, calmly walking towards the area where relatives were gathered.

A chilling aloofness instantly enveloped him; his back was ramrod straight as a pine tree; a thin layer of ice covered his brows and eyes; and every step he took exuded an undeniable determination.

He had long seen through these people's greed and scheming, and never thought of compromising. He would not let so-called "family ties" cause him to lose his composure or disturb the peace of his family. At this moment, all that remained was his disgust and determination towards this coercive demand.

At this moment, the relatives were still gathered around the guest room door, discussing how to persuade Yu Chenzhou. Their tone was full of confidence, as if Yu Chenzhou would definitely agree to their request.

Upon seeing Yu Chenzhou approach, everyone immediately stopped talking, shut their mouths, and turned their gazes to him, their eyes filled with anticipation, calculation, and a hint of barely perceptible tension.

Yu Chenhai was the first to react, forcing a warm smile and quickly stepping forward, about to speak:

"Shen Zhou, I need to tell you something..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yu Chenzhou raised his hand to interrupt him.

Yu Chenzhou stood in the center of the crowd, his originally gentle aura instantly vanished, replaced by a coldness in his eyes, and his back straightened ramrod straight.

His gaze, sharp as a knife, slowly swept over everyone present. His tone was calm yet carried an immense sense of pressure as he spoke clearly, word by word:

"Dear elders, brothers and sisters, brothers and sisters, my mother has told me all your requests."

It's not that I'm heartless, but these are things I can't help with, and I absolutely won't help with.

These words, spoken without any preamble, directly stated their stance, and the resolute tone left the relatives present stunned.

As soon as he finished speaking, the scene fell into a deathly silence, as if the air itself had frozen.

The smiles on the relatives' faces froze instantly, replaced by expressions of astonishment and disbelief. They stared wide-eyed at Yu Chenzhou, as if they couldn't believe their ears.

After a long while, the uncle was the first to react. His face instantly darkened, and his tone was full of dissatisfaction and questioning, with a hint of domineering arrogance stemming from his age.

"Chen Zhou, what do you mean by that?"

We're all family, blood is thicker than water, how can you not even help me with a small favor?

Now that you're living a good life and have become a big shot, do you look down on us poor relatives?

Have you forgotten where you came from?