The banquet was quite dull.

Whether it was past rural feasts, hotel weddings, or the current banquet, Lin Zheyu found them all uninteresting.

Wouldn't it be more enjoyable to spend this time drinking with a few friends, listening to music, and watching dancers twist their snake-like waists?

Soon, the banquet began, and after a round of pleasantries, dishes started to be served one by one.

As a prominent family in Songyi City, the Xu Family hosted a banquet with an incredibly rich menu featuring high-end dishes that tasted great.

Unfortunately, sitting with Qiu Gaoxuan and a few others dampened his enjoyment.

If he were with Jia Yanrong and the others, Lin Zheyu could have been more at ease.

After the meal, there were theatrical, dance, and music performances.

The troupe often performed for Xu Jingwu and was excellent, and Lin Zheyu listened intently.

"Mr. Lin, Mr. Xu requests your presence." A maid approached and announced.

"Mr. Xu, Xu Qin Yi?"

Lin Zheyu asked, as Xu Qin Yi was the only Mr. Xu he was familiar with in the Xu Family.

"Yes, please follow me."

"Alright."

Lin Zheyu stood up and followed the maid to the rear garden.

Funing Garden was large, featuring a covered corridor and several turns before they arrived at the back garden adorned with fake mountains and ponds.

In the pavilion, several young men and women were seated.

Besides Xu Qin Yi, Chen Xihong, and Ren Qingfeng, whom he had met before, there was also a woman he recognized, none other than Ren Qingfeng's sister, Ren Qingying.

Ren Qingying was dressed in purple, with a round face and a small dimple at the corner of her mouth.

Her face was like the morning glow, eyes like autumn water, skin smooth like cream, her smile a blooming flower, her complexion snowy white and pink, captivatingly beautiful.

Aside from Ren Qingying, there was another incredibly beautiful woman he hadn't seen before.

"Mr. Lin is here, please have a seat."

Xu Qin Yi said with a smile, inviting Lin Zheyu to sit beside him.

"You've met the two of them before, so I won't introduce them."

"The young lady beside Ren Qingfeng is his sister, Ren Qingying, well-read and skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

"The young lady beside Miss Ren is my cousin Xu Yuxiang, she's a close friend of Miss Ren, equally well-read and skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting." Xu Qin Yi introduced with a smile.

"I'm Lin Zheyu, nice to meet you both."

Lin Zheyu greeted the two women with a smile.

Ren Qingying gave him a slight smile, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Meanwhile, Xu Yuxiang looked displeased, rolling her eyes at him.

Lin Zheyu was a bit baffled, not sure how he had offended this Xu Family miss.

"Yuxiang, don't be rude, call him Yu," Xu Qin Yi said, giving her a stern glance.

"No need for such formality, you can just call me Zheyu." Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

He seemed to have figured out the situation: the woman named Xu Yuxiang was probably arranged by the Xu Family to meet him.

She was indeed pretty, quite good-looking.

But these days, there were many pretty girls, and Lin Zheyu didn't pay much attention; he had seen many more beautiful than Xu Yuxiang at Baihua Tower, and they were quite skilled.

"Alright, Yu."

Xu Yuxiang reluctantly called out.

"Well, Yuxiang is in a bit of a bad mood today, Mr. Lin, please don't mind. She's usually a good-natured person, you'll understand if you spend more time with her," Xu Qin Yi said somewhat awkwardly.

If it weren't for the fact that among the Xu Family's young women of suitable age, the unmarried and pretty one was only Xu Yuxiang, he wouldn't have wanted her to come either.

This girl was too uncooperative.

"It's fine, no problem."

Lin Zheyu waved it off and looked toward Ren Qingying.

"I'm finally meeting Miss Ren Qingying; if it weren't for the porridge Miss Qingying made for me back then, I might have perished outside the city."

"This glass of wine is a toast to Miss Qingying, I'm grateful for your lifesaving kindness."

Lin Zheyu lifted his glass and said.

Ren Qingying looked a bit surprised upon hearing this. She recalled that Qingfeng had mentioned Mr. Lin fled from Jiunan City to Songyi City.

With a gentle smile, Ren Qingying showed her dimples, giving a calming and pleasant impression.

She gracefully lifted her glass and said, "Mr. Lin, you're too kind. Without me, someone as blessed as you would surely have found fortune even in adversity."

"No wonder when you arrived, you kept staring at my sister. I thought you fancied her, but it turns out it was for this reason!"

Ren Qingfeng suddenly realized.

"Qingfeng, don't talk nonsense," Ren Qingying quietly said.

"I'm not talking nonsense."

"Mr. Lin, do you think my sister is beautiful? Are you interested in becoming my brother-in-law?" Ren Qingfeng grinned mischievously at Xu Yuxiang.

He thought this girl was quite clueless; with someone as talented in both literature and martial arts as Mr. Lin, how could she not be interested?

In Ren Qingfeng's view, Lin Zheyu was much better than the sons of the city's prominent families, and bringing him into the Ren Mansion as a son-in-law would be a good choice.

"Cough, cough."

Xu Qin Yi cleared his throat, giving Ren Qingfeng a hard look, having anticipated his ill-intent in bringing his sister Ren Qingying along.

"Mr. Ren is joking, Miss Qingying is kind and beautiful, far beyond my reach."

"Moreover, marriage is a significant life event, subject to parental commands and the matchmaker's words. With my parents and kin not around, I have no thought for marriage right now."

Lin Zheyu politely declined.

"Qingfeng, weren't you going to take Miss Qingying to admire the flowers? Xiaoxuan, take Mr. Ren and Miss Ren to see the flowers."

Xu Qin Yi quickly interjected as he noticed Ren Qingfeng about to say more.

Ren Qingying couldn't help but chuckle; she knew Xu Qin Yi was trying to match Yuxiang with Mr. Lin, so she didn't want to intrude.

"Alright, Qingfeng, come with your sister to see the flowers."

Ren Qingying stood up and pulled Ren Qingfeng up.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.