After coaxing Yu Zixuan to sleep, Yue Chengfeng, wearing only a bathrobe, tiptoed out of the bedroom.
Although he had promised Yu Zixuan they would get their marriage certificate tomorrow, marriage was not solely a matter for the two of them.
He needed to inform the Yue family patriarch first.
As Yue Chengfeng walked through the main hall, he noticed that the Yue residence was still brightly lit, and the servants showed no signs of retiring.
He went to the patriarch's room, found a moment, and then went to the study, where he saw Yue Chengzhong and the patriarch.
"Dad, Second Brother? Why aren't you asleep?" Yue Chengfeng asked curiously. "Did something happen?"
"Qing Tian and her stepsister just encountered some scoundrels on the main road outside the Yue residence. Although there were no serious injuries, the incident is somewhat suspicious, and I was discussing it with your second brother," the patriarch replied. He then looked at Yue Chengzhong and asked, "Has your eldest brother returned yet?"
"Not yet. The Li family patriarch's birthday banquet is very grand this time, with many business guests. Eldest Brother will likely be delayed for some time," Yue Chengzhong replied, then turned to Yue Chengfeng. "Are you looking for Dad about something?"
"Yes, there's something," Yue Chengfeng said hesitantly as he brought up his and Yu Zixuan's affairs. "Zixuan wants to seize the day and get the marriage certificate tomorrow, then we can choose a suitable date from the one Dad had calculated for the wedding. It's better sooner than later."
"Zixuan is a good woman. She's usually generous and dignified, willing to indulge you, and easy to get along with," Yue Chengzhong said, lightly punching Yue Chengfeng's chest with a closed fist. "You must treat her well after you're married."
"Yes, I will," Yue Chengfeng replied, lowering his head with a smile, looking a bit shy.
"This is a matter for you young people. Just do as you see fit. If you're getting the certificate tomorrow, go to the Yu family first in the morning to present the betrothal gifts," the patriarch said, having no objections to the young couple's marriage. "Don't keep them waiting."
"Understood, Dad," Yue Chengfeng replied solemnly.
Just as the matter was settled, Yue Chengzhong received a call from the police. They informed him that the investigation was ongoing but, out of concern for the Yue family, they wanted to notify them that police forces had been deployed nearby and assured the Yue family that such incidents would not recur.
After exchanging a few polite words, Yue Chengzhong hung up the phone.
"Is Qing Tian alright?" Yue Chengfeng asked, frowning upon hearing about the call. "How could something happen on the main road outside the Yue residence?"
Who dared to be so bold as to snatch someone at the Yue family's doorstep?
"Qing Tian is fine. She should be asleep by now. As for tonight's incident... it's hard to explain in a few words. We'll have to wait for the police's results," Yue Chengzhong didn't know where to begin explaining.
A kidnapping that made no sense, and then being returned inexplicably.
To suggest that Xia Qingyu staged it herself would be too deliberate, and Xia Qingyu's attitude didn't quite seem like it.
But if not...
What was the other party's intention?
A warning?
Could it be related to the Li family's banquet tonight?
Although the Li family's banquet was rumored to have its share of excitement, the Yue family only wanted to focus on their business and had no intention of vying for a piece of the pie at the Li family's event.
If they truly wanted to warn someone, shouldn't they be warning the Lei family, who were also in the antique and jewelry business?
What were they trying to do?
He wondered what the Li family banquet looked like at this moment.
Indeed, the Li family residence was quite lively at the moment, but in a different sense of liveliness.
Dazzling lights, opulent decorations, and glittering gold and silver artifacts that blinded the eyes.
It seemed that an event like this, without any mishaps, would be a disservice to its luxurious grandeur.
First, the host family's daughter claimed her belongings were missing, only to find them with her stepsister.
Then, a young master, after drinking too much, lifted a skirt and pinched a face, deservedly getting slapped and dragged out.
And now, the belated Third Young Master Lei was clashing with Mr. Gu again.
Those nearby wisely cleared a space, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire.
Even Chairman Shao, who was in conversation with Mr. Gu, laughed awkwardly, claimed he had friends to greet, and quickly slipped away.
Seeing Chairman Shao leave, Third Young Master Lei irritably said to Mr. Gu, "I didn't expect you to have a backup plan."
The Shao Corporation was originally the partner he wanted to secure. Now it seemed Gu Yaoyang had beaten him to it.
If it weren't for the charade Xia Qing Tian had put on, he wouldn't have been late, nor would he have fallen behind Gu Yaoyang.
Thinking of this, Third Young Master Lei's mind suddenly cleared, and he finally understood the purpose of Xia Qing Tian's earlier act.
So, she had been instructed by Gu Yaoyang to deliberately delay him on the road his car was supposed to take?
"I don't understand what you're talking about," Gu Yaoyang shifted his gaze from Third Young Master Lei's face to the timid Lei Xirui, nodding. "Xirui, long time no see."
"Brother Yaoyang," Lei Xirui greeted Gu Yaoyang, smiling a little shyly.
"Why are you so late?" After the greeting, Gu Yaoyang's gaze returned to Third Young Master Lei.
However, being a bit late wasn't entirely bad.
Otherwise, the daughter who lost her belongings earlier would have used the timid and introverted Lei Xirui to wrong her stepsister.
When the problem was pointed out, that daughter would then shift the blame to Lei Xirui, claiming she was led in the wrong direction of thought by Lei Xirui's words.
Lei Xirui was inherently inarticulate, and coupled with Third Young Master Lei's protective and indifferent nature.
A few words to silence everyone would not only fail to clear Lei Xirui's name but also give her a rather unfavorable reputation.
Third Young Master Lei didn't care about others' opinions and appeared indifferent, but Lei Xirui's delicate disposition made it impossible for her to be nonchalant.
Later, while Third Young Master Lei was discussing matters with Chairman Shao, the depressed and helpless Lei Xirui hid in a corner, shedding tears, and was then harassed by a drunken rogue who lifted her skirt and pinched her face.
With onlookers all around, no one protected Lei Xirui, turning her into a spectacle.
Although Third Young Master Lei discovered it in time and prevented further escalation, fiercely teaching the rogue a lesson, Lei Xirui's personality became increasingly introverted and sensitive. Subsequently, she became more reliant on medication to maintain clarity and normalcy.
As Lei Xirui grew more quiet and despondent, the Lei family's business declined, and others escalated their treacherous schemes.
Now, the traitors within the Lei family had been purged earlier, and the matter that would have caused the Lei family to completely lose its credibility was resolved by Xia Qing Tian at last year's auction.
Such a situation would not have occurred in the Lei family, and Lei Xirui would not have encountered the unpleasant events of today.
Indeed, things were already much better.