The gazes of everyone present were fixed, stunned, upon the doorway, where a tall, elegant young man stood, impeccably dressed and radiating an air of confidence. Beside him was a slender, graceful girl, clad in a floor-length, off-the-shoulder gown. Her beauty was breathtaking, her presence extraordinary—at once commanding and sensual, simultaneously charming and pure. This cascade of qualities manifesting in one young woman instantly captivated the entire room.

The men were utterly dumbfounded, their eyes wide open. Even the most composed gentlemen lost their composure, left speechless, mouths agape. A waiter pouring wine spilled it all over a male guest in front of him, yet the man seemed oblivious, his gaze, like the waiter's, fixed solely on Su Chan, as if he wished to consume her with a single gulp.

The women, however, looked upon Li Yundong with shining eyes, their admiration boundless: such a handsome, dashing, and vibrant young man was truly a rarity. Who could this noble son belong to? Ah, if only I were the companion beside him!

Faced with the scrutiny of so many eyes, Su Chan momentarily felt timid, instinctively trying to shrink back behind Li Yundong. Li Yundong gently squeezed her forearm and whispered, "Don't be afraid!"

Su Chan whispered back, "Their stares are so frightening... like they want to eat me alive."

Li Yundong smiled, "It's fine, I'm here!"

Hearing Li Yundong’s warm and strong words, Su Chan was instantly put at ease. She glanced at him with a lovely smile. At this moment, the little fox seemed to forget her true identity, forgot the power of a cultivator, as if she were truly just a delicate, beautiful, and captivating noble heiress.

Zhou Qin and Ding Nan were also staring at Su Chan in a daze. A single phrase kept echoing in Zhou Qin's mind, which she softly uttered without thinking, "If I am moved to pity, how much more so for a lowly servant?"

Ding Nan heard her and also stared intently at Su Chan, murmuring, "Indeed..."

During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, an official’s young student married a woman named Li as a concubine. When the official's principal wife, a (junzhu, princess or noble lady), heard of it, her jealousy flared into a raging fire, and she took a knife intending to disfigure the concubine. But when the principal wife confronted the concubine, she found the woman slowly combing her hair before a mirror. Her beauty was so exquisite, her words so gentle and sorrowful, that the principal wife, consumed by rage moments before, could not help but soften in awe, drop the sharp knife, embrace the concubine, and utter a saying that would be famous for ages: "If I am moved to pity, how much more so for a lowly servant?"

If the fiercely jealous principal wife was so astonished and moved upon seeing the concubine, how much more beautiful must this girl be to affect those wretched men? How stunning must she be?

In the eyes of the crowd, the girl still possessed the freshness of youth, her eyes holding a natural innocence and purity. If she were to age a few more years, what an overwhelmingly captivating enchantress she would become?

Zhou Qin had initially been the dazzling princess of this evening gala, but Su Chan's appearance instantly cast her into shadow.

Young Master He, who had previously insulted Li Yundong, now stared wide-eyed, almost unable to believe what he saw. Zhou Qin, standing nearby, glanced at him and said coolly, "Young Master He, if I were you, even if no one kicked me out, I wouldn't have the face to stay here. Are you waiting to be humiliated again later?"

He flushed crimson with rage, sputtering, "What kind of nobody is he that he dares to insult me?" He believed himself to be the son of a high official; ordinary people usually treated him with utmost respect and deference. Where did anyone dare to provoke him directly?

But he never expected that Li Yundong never held grudges—because he settled scores on the spot. Li Yundong scanned the room, spotted Zhou Qin and He together, and immediately pulled Su Chan over, truly coming to slap his face.

Seeing Li Yundong and Su Chan approaching, He’s face became extremely unnatural, as if sitting on pins and needles. He wanted to leave, but his previous words prevented him from backing down gracefully.

Li Yundong smiled and nodded to Zhou Qin, then turned to He and asked, "Do you still have anything you want to say this time?"

He's face instantly reddened, leaving him speechless.

Li Yundong looked He up and down, pulled Su Chan closer to his side, and stated, "The only reason my Su Chan doesn't dress up is so that certain people who judge by appearance and clothes don't feel inferior! It's not that she can't, it's that she chooses not to! Do you understand? Do you need me to translate that more plainly?"

Between men, the hardest slap is not the one delivered with the most force, but the one delivered in front of the most beautiful woman. Even a gentle touch in that context is an absolute, crushing disgrace.

Li Yundong delivered a solid slap across He's face, truly turning it the purple-red color of pig liver.

Li Yundong left He choked for words, feeling only a satisfying release of anger. He turned to Zhou Qin and said apologetically, "I apologize, I wasn't referring to you all. However, Su Chan and I came here in high spirits, only to encounter this sort of thing. It’s truly ruined the mood. I brought Su Chan here precisely so that certain short-sighted snobs could see who she is, lest they never change their base nature!"

He bristled with fury, pointing at Li Yundong, "You..."

Zhou Qin coldly cut He off, "Young Master He, if a person insults others, they invite their own humiliation. You brought this upon yourself. What did I tell you earlier?"

He glared at Li Yundong with fierce, venomous eyes, boiling with anger.

Li Yundong possessed the Golden Core True Qi, his vitality and essence being impossibly robust. Combined with his youthful spirit, his pride was naturally sky-high; how could he give such a person a second thought?

He instantly shot a glare back.

Li Yundong’s stare was so sharp that even seasoned martial artists might falter. How could a spoiled brat like He endure it?

He immediately flinched away, retreating a step, feeling both shocked and terrified. But he quickly regained his composure, cast a final look of shame and rage at Zhou Qin, gritted his teeth, and quickly departed.

Li Yundong watched He's receding back and gave a cold laugh. He turned to Zhou Qin and said, "I apologize for putting you in a difficult position. I think perhaps this banquet is not a suitable place for me to stay."

Zhou Qin frowned slightly. Ding Nan, seeing this, immediately chuckled, "Li Yundong, that's unfair of you. Zhou Qin has already offended Young Master He for your sake, and now you plan to just leave? Even if we were willing to let you go, look around; no one here will let you leave!"

Li Yundong turned and saw that most of the young men in the hall were casting glances toward Su Chan, while the women and older men were looking at him, their eyes shining, clearly eager to strike up a conversation.

Li Yundong hesitated, about to speak, when a familiar voice sounded from nearby.

"Li Yundong, you've finally arrived!" Li Yundong turned to see Feng Na and Cheng Cheng walking over with smiles.

Seeing the two girls, Li Yundong smiled, "You came too."

Feng Na nodded to Zhou Qin as a greeting, then smiled, "Not just us; Zhou Qin also invited Chris and the others."

As she spoke, Feng Na pointed to a corner of the hall, and Li Yundong indeed saw the group of foreigners from the University of Pennsylvania gathered together, chatting and drinking heartily. These foreigners were clearly accustomed to such social gatherings, frequently erupting in loud laughter from their corner.

When Li Yundong’s gaze swept toward them, Chris and John, among others, keenly noticed his look and glanced back. When their eyes met, Chris scoffed and turned her head away from Li Yundong, while John raised his glass in a gesture of respect toward him.

Li Yundong chuckled inwardly: John is much more decent. With an attitude like Chris's, she still wants to become my apprentice? She must be dreaming!

Zhou Qin noticed that Li Yundong no longer seemed intent on leaving. The slight furrow in her brow gradually smoothed out, and she smiled at him, saying, "Li Yundong, enjoy yourself. If you want anything to eat, go to the head table." Then, Zhou Qin nodded toward Su Chan beside Li Yundong before gracefully departing.

Li Yundong watched Zhou Qin leave with such elegance and poise, muttering to himself: Why doesn't this girl seem like a normal person? She seems more like an old woman who has lived for decades! I can't see a hint of her true nature! Whoever marries such a woman will surely be utterly controlled; it would be terrible luck for eight lifetimes!

Feng Na walked up to Li Yundong and nudged him with her elbow, whispering, "Well, now you know what a true noble lady is like, right?"

Li Yundong watched Zhou Qin effortlessly mingling and greeting guests, sighing, "Yes, what exactly is her background?"

Feng Na lowered her voice, "I just asked around; I heard she's the daughter of a Vice-Provincial Governor."

Li Yundong sucked in a sharp breath. "With such a deep background, why come to study at our university?"

Feng Na shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe the princess party's young lady has her own plans?"

Li Yundong suddenly realized, "Does that mean the person I just offended might be from the Crown Prince Faction?"

Feng Na burst out laughing, gloating, "Are you scared now?"

Li Yundong also laughed heartily, neither confirming nor denying. Beside him, Su Chan tugged at Li Yundong’s sleeve, looking at him pitifully, "Sir, you’ve been talking so much, your little darling is so hungry her stomach is sticking to her back!"

Li Yundong finally remembered that he and Su Chan hadn't had dinner yet. He slapped his forehead. "I completely forgot!" He smiled at Feng Na, "Su Chan and I are going to eat first; we'll chat with you later."

Feng Na laughed, "You haven't eaten yet? Surely you didn't intentionally skip dinner just to feast now, did you?"

Li Yundong chuckled and gave her a thumbs-up. "You know me so well!"

Li Yundong and Su Chan arrived before the head table. It was a long rectangular dining table, stretching over fifteen meters, laden with every kind of delicacy: cakes and desserts, poultry and fish, stir-fries, and nourishing soups.

Su Chan’s eyes were dazzled, and she nearly drooled onto the table. She reached out to grab a roasted chicken, but Li Yundong quickly hit her hand. "Idiot, grab a plate first, then use the tongs beside the food to clip what you want onto your plate!"

Su Chan looked at the overwhelming array of food and felt a sense of betrayal, expressing her disappointment, "Didn't you say I could eat whatever I wanted?"

Li Yundong was almost in tears laughing. "Idiot! Everything you clip onto your plate is yours! You can eat as much as you like!"

Su Chan immediately perked up, her eyes gleaming. "Really?"

Li Yundong, by now, had already clipped a chicken leg onto his own plate and was beginning to eat heartily, mumbling indistinctly through a mouthful of food, "Fake. I was lying to you. All this food is poisoned. You just watch me eat!"

Su Chan, seeing Li Yundong eating with oil all over his mouth, didn't believe him for a second. She stamped her foot in frustration, shouting loudly, "You big liar! You infuriate me! You dared to sneak a bite!"

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