Xia Guofeng quickly bowed to Chen Mo, saying, "Thank you, Young Master, for your magnanimity!"
Chen Mo didn't say anything.
Seeing his clan members leave, Xia Guofeng also exited the banquet hall.
The guests who had attended the engagement banquet today looked at each other, unsure of what to do next. After all, one of the main protagonists was missing.
"Zixin, will you marry me?"
At this moment, Chen Mo's words suddenly drew everyone's attention. Even Yang Yuetong looked surprised. Chen Mo looked at Ren Zixin with utmost sincerity. He had felt Ren Zixin's pulse when he held her hand and detected a pregnancy, though it was faint. As a descendant of an old ancestor, Chen Mo couldn't be mistaken. He wasn't the type to abandon his responsibilities, so he would give Ren Zixin a proper status.
"I, I..." Ren Zixin was also stunned. She hadn't expected Chen Mo to propose, and it all felt so sudden. Ren Genshuo and the others, however, were overjoyed. Choosing Chen Mo was far better than choosing the Xia family!
"Wait a moment." Just as Ren Zixin was about to respond, Yang Yuetong spoke up. The Ren family members tensed, fearing that this powerful elder sister would object to her brother's proposal.
"Slap!" Yang Yuetong raised her hand and smacked Chen Mo on the back of his head. "You brat, you propose without a ring?"
Chen Mo chuckled sheepishly, "Second Sister, I just didn't have time to buy one."
Yang Yuetong extended her hand, took off a ring from her finger, and gave it to Chen Mo. "Consider this a gift from Second Sister."
Seeing this, Li Chongtian and the other were shocked. Others might not know the significance of this ring, but they did.
"Thank you, Second Sister." Chen Mo gratefully accepted the ring without hesitation.
"Zixin, will you marry me?" Chen Mo solemnly asked Ren Zixin again.
"Marry him, marry him!" Suddenly, Qi Xiaotian from the audience shouted. The crowd then began to cheer.
Ren Zixin felt as if she were dreaming; everything seemed so surreal. She nodded gently, and a tear of happiness slowly rolled down her cheek. Chen Mo raised Ren Zixin's hand and slowly placed the ring his second sister had given him onto her ring finger.
Applause erupted throughout the venue.
"Good, good!" Ren Genshuo said, approaching them with a fawning smile. "Xin Xin, congratulations, may lovers finally be united."
However, Chen Mo ignored him and led Ren Zixin towards Yang Yuetong. "Zixin, this is my Second Sister."
"Second Sister." Yang Yuetong nodded. "Yes, not bad. My brother has good taste. With her figure, she'll surely give birth to a healthy son in the future." Ren Zixin's face turned red at her words.
"If this brat ever bullies you, call Second Sister. I promise I'll deal with him! He's been afraid of me since he was little."
"Yes, thank you, Second Sister," Ren Zixin replied shyly.
"Let's go, we'll talk back at my place." Yang Yuetong turned and left with Chen Mo and Ren Zixin.
"Xin Xin." Ren Genshuo called out again.
However, Ren Zixin and Chen Mo continued forward, completely ignoring him. Ren Genshuo stood there, stunned and disbelieving. Qi Yuanxiao, standing nearby, said mockingly, "Mr. Ren, I told you, you'd regret opposing your daughter's relationship with Mr. Chen."
With that, Qi Yuanxiao and the others descended from the stage. Ren Genshuo remained rooted to the spot, unable to speak for a long time. He regretted his decision completely. If the Xia family had lost face today, their Ren family would be utter fools, likely becoming a laughingstock among all the noble families. They had missed a golden opportunity and now deeply regretted it.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry and chase them! Tell Xiao Xin that the family agrees to all her demands!" an elder, trembling, instructed Ren Genshuo.
"Dad, is it too late to go now?" Ren Genshuo asked, his face ashen.
"It's not too late. Xiao Xin is very filial; she wouldn't stand by and watch us perish!" the elder said anxiously.
Ren Genshuo gave a bitter smile. "Is that so? Then you go. As the head of the family, aren't you much better than me, the second son?"
The elder was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Ren Genshuo said self-mockingly, "What else could I mean?" With that, Ren Genshuo turned and walked directly towards the door, leaving the elder and the others standing there, looking at each other in bewilderment.
After leaving, Chen Mo and the others followed Yang Yuetong to a villa.
"Sister, is this your house?" Chen Mo asked, somewhat surprised. He knew this villa was close to the city center, and more importantly, it occupied at least five mu of land. In the expensive city of Jinling, such a villa would cost at least nine figures.
"I'm often away, so I bought it many years ago," Yang Yuetong replied with a faint smile.
"Second Sister, what are you doing now?" Chen Mo was very curious about Yang Yuetong's current occupation. He now understood why Li Chongtian had been so protective of him at the Ouyang family. It was all because of his second sister.
"Do you want to know?" Yang Yuetong poured them both a glass of red wine. Chen Mo nodded.
"When the time is right, I'll tell you," Yang Yuetong said, keeping him in suspense.
Chen Mo was speechless. "Alright, all of you are keeping secrets from me, even Eldest Sister. I'm starting to suspect you're setting a trap for me to fall into."
Hearing Chen Mo's complaint, Yang Yuetong's heart trembled. But then she smiled and said, "Remember, all your sisters would never harm you, even if their lives were in danger." Chen Mo knew this to be true.
"Congratulations on your engagement." Saying this, Yang Yuetong raised her glass. Just as Ren Zixin was about to pick up her glass, Chen Mo quickly said, "You're pregnant, you can't drink."
"Cough, cough, cough!" Suddenly, Yang Yuetong, who had just taken a sip of red wine, nearly choked to death. She looked at Chen Mo in shock and asked, "What did you just say? She, she's pregnant?"
Chen Mo nodded. Ren Zixin was equally shocked, her eyes wide with disbelief.