Ye Qiu followed Luo Bing to the resting area of the Luo Family.

Today was a gathering organized by several prestigious families to foster friendship, and it was the most grand in recent years because the elder of the Ye Family was making an appearance tonight and publicly announcing something.

The Ye Family stood at the top among the four great families of Shangjing, and the elder's status was beyond question. Since the elder personally wanted to announce something major, it was an event of great importance, attracting almost all the elites of Shangjing. Many influential figures, usually hard to meet, appeared tonight.

The Luo Family, being a first-tier family in Shangjing, naturally attended, and the old Patriarch of the Luo Family, Luo Guozhang, who was also Luo Bing's grandfather, personally came. He would give face to no one but had to give face to the elder of the Ye Family. Although he had stepped down from the patriarch position, he wanted to rely on the big tree of the Ye Family for a better future for the Luo Family.

The party hadn't officially started yet, so the Luo Family gathered in a specially arranged lounge to discuss matters. Several Luo Family members were present, including Luo Guozhang.

The door opened, and as Ye Qiu and Luo Bing entered, the people who were conversing turned their eyes to Luo Bing, who was holding onto Ye Qiu's arm. Some of the Luo Family dignitaries frowned.

Some of Luo Bing's elders also immediately looked at Ye Qiu, but upon seeing Ye Qiu's ordinary attire, their eyes showed disappointment.

Luo Bing led Ye Qiu up to Luo Guozhang, who was sitting at the head seat, then bowed and said, "Grandpa!"

"Hmm." Luo Guozhang, nearing sixty, had no white hair, though his face was wrinkled. His vigor wasn't as strong as before, but compared to people his age, he was still quite robust. On hearing Luo Bing's greeting, he kindly nodded, genuinely satisfied with his granddaughter, who was as lovely as a lotus rising from the water.

He then turned his gaze to Ye Qiu. Ye Qiu also met the old man's eyes. Having faced the elder of the Ye Family without flinching, Ye Qiu was calm and composed facing Luo Guozhang, who was far less formidable. He smiled slightly and said, "Hello, Grandpa Luo."

"Hmm."

Seeing Ye Qiu calm and collected, Luo Guozhang nodded but then frowned and asked, "Little Bing mentioned that you are currently a student?"

"That's right."

Ye Qiu replied.

Luo Guozhang nodded, then glanced at Luo Bing and Ye Qiu, saying, "You both are still in school, so you should focus on your studies. Where are you planning to go for university?"

Ye Qiu replied, "To the Tibetan Region!"

As soon as Ye Qiu spoke, some of the Luo Family dignitaries couldn't help but laugh.

The Tibetan Region is so remote and desolate; people are eager to leave, yet someone wants to go there.

"Is this the boyfriend Luo Bing mentioned earlier? He really doesn't seem exceptional, just a student who wants to go to university in the Tibetan Region. It seems his family situation isn't great. I don't know what Little Bing sees in him."

"Maybe his sweet talking fooled Little Bing, who is young and naive."

"We have to keep an eye on her; we can't let Little Bing be deceived by this guy. Plus, he's so mismatched with Little Bing, not half comparable to the guy from the Ouyang Family."

Ye Qiu, with keen hearing, naturally heard the conversations, giving him some insight as to why Luo Bing brought him. He thought, "It seems that Luo Bing's family intends to match her with someone from the Ouyang Family, and Luo Bing mentioned me at a critical moment. Who is this person from the Ouyang Family? Could it be Ouyang Feng?"

Ye Qiu wasn't angry at being used as a shield by Luo Bing because he knew she genuinely liked him. Although nothing had happened between them, he was willing to help as long as it was something Luo Bing didn't want.

What intrigued him, though, was who exactly was this person from the Ouyang Family intended to match with Luo Bing? If it's Ouyang Feng, that would be interesting!

The discussions were also heard by Luo Bing, her expression uncomfortable. She glanced at the frowning, pondering Ye Qiu, feeling a tightness in her heart. Just as she was about to speak, Ye Qiu gave her a small reassuring smile and said, "Don't worry; as long as you're unwilling, no one can force you!"

Luo Bing was taken aback, then felt immensely moved. At this time, the elder of the Luo Family, Luo Guozhang, spoke after a long silence, "Ye Qiu, to speak frankly, I had Luo Bing bring you here today to tell you that our Luo Family has arranged with the Ouyang Family to have Luo Bing engaged to the Ouyang Family's young man. You see..."

"I disagree, Grandpa..." Luo Bing interrupted.

Ye Qiu seemed to have anticipated this and merely smiled.

"Little Bing, don't interrupt your grandpa when he's talking."

A Luo Family dignitary rebuked Luo Bing.

Luo Bing replied, "I was wrong, but regarding my lifelong matters, I hope to make my own decisions."

"Luo Bing, be quiet. You're still young and don't understand anything, and what decision do you want to make?"

A Luo Family dignitary stepped forward and, after speaking, looked at Ye Qiu and said, "Luo Bing, is this your decision, this boyfriend of yours? Do you think he matches you? How does he compare to people from the Ouyang Family?"

Ye Qiu frowned; he didn't want to meddle in the Luo Family's matters initially, but he didn't expect this dignitary to target him so directly and offensively, which displeased him. He retorted, "What you said isn't right. What does love have to do with status? As long as two people truly love each other, that's enough. Besides, you say I can't compare to the Ouyang Family, but I'll tell you, even their family doesn't dare say that. Do you believe?"

"Haha, what arrogance, truly unaware of the vastness of the world! Father, I'm resolutely against this brat being with Luo Bing; he shouldn't even think of stepping into our Luo Family!"

"Auntie, you..." Luo Bing looked at her aunt, who spoke so against Ye Qiu, filled with anger and worry, fearing Ye Qiu would be upset. Yet, Ye Qiu remained calm in expression.

"Little Bing, you're still young, don't be deceived by this brat's flowery words."

Luo Bing's aunt said this and then turned to the elderly Luo Guozhang at the head, "Father, I don't think there's anything more to observe; this brat simply doesn't match with our Little Bing!"

But at this moment, Luo Guozhang didn't speak and instead squinted, observing Ye Qiu, who stood there, his expression consistently calm. With years of experience in reading people, he thought Ye Qiu's current demeanor was far from simple.

Just then, suddenly the door to the room was pushed open, followed by loud laughter: "Haha, old man of the Luo Family, today let's finalize the engagement between Luo Bing and our Xiao Feng. From now on, our families will be a powerful alliance, haha…"

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