◇ 【082】 Engaged!

Gu Yinyin nodded. If she rashly told the people over there about Gu Juan and Xi Lang, not only would she not receive their blessing, but it might also cause a lot of trouble. It was better not to tell them. She felt even more distressed about her brother's limited relatives. As his only relative, she should be the one to support him.

She gently touched Doudou's head. Doudou had already fallen asleep in Gu Juan's arms.

"Who is this child?"

Gu Juan said, "It belongs to Second Brother Xi."

Gu Yinyin said softly, "You guys should go back so that the little guy can have a good sleep. Call me if you have anything else."

Gu Juan told Gu Yinyin to call him anytime if she had any questions, and then left with Xi Lang.

After leaving the school, he noticed that Xi Lang always had a smile on his face.

"how?"

Xi Lang patted his head. "I thought you would tell your cousin that you weren't from the Gu family when she mentioned your grandparents. I'm glad you didn't do that, because I'm the one you can talk to about anything."

Gu Juan chuckled and said, "Look at how petty you are."

Xi Lang accepted his joke without batting an eyelid. He was not worried about his debts, and had already been labeled by Gu Juan as old-fashioned, pedantic, and long-winded. It didn't matter if he had a "small-minded" problem.

…

The door of dormitory 303 was not closed tightly. Gu Juan heard loud laughter coming from inside before entering. He pushed open the door and saw three roommates huddled in front of a computer watching a movie.

"Are you back?"

"Yeah." Gu Juan took out the jam snacks and ice flower cakes Xi's mother had given him and shared them with his three roommates. He sat down at his computer desk and glanced at them. After nearly a year of getting along, the four of them were not only roommates but also friends. He felt that he could tell them about his relationship with Xi Lang. Zhang Cong and Liu Hui were both very perceptive and had known about it for a long time, but they didn't seem to mind. He just didn't know what Zhao Rui's attitude would be.

"Big Boss, Second Boss, Fourth Boss, there's something I think I should tell you."

Zhao Rui and the other two looked at him at the same time and continued to stare at the computer screen.

"Third brother, just tell me what's on your mind." Zhao Rui said straightforwardly.

Gu Juan closed the door and said, "You should remember that I said before that I would tell you who I like."

Zhao Rui's eyes lit up, he paused, and turned around, "Who is she? Is she from our school? Is she pretty?"

Zhang Cong and Liu Hui knew what was going on. They looked at each other but said nothing.

Gu Juan said frankly, "It's Xi Lang, he's my boyfriend. We've already set the engagement date for June 26th, which is August 1st. His family will take care of it."

"Are you planning to get engaged?" Liu Hui was a little surprised. He hadn't been very optimistic about Gu Juan and Xi Lang, but he hadn't expected them to get their families' approval so quickly and get engaged. He grabbed Gu Juan's shoulder and patted him firmly. "Good boy, I don't even have a girlfriend, and you're getting engaged! Congratulations! I'll definitely attend your engagement ceremony!"

Zhang Cong also smiled and nodded, "Congratulations! Liu Hui and I will go together then."

Both of them couldn't help but look at Zhao Rui.

"No, this..." Zhao Rui stood up hastily, looked at Gu Juan in surprise, and spoke incoherently, "Are you kidding me?"

Gu Juan said seriously, "I am serious."

Zhao Rui's face changed. He looked at the bamboo cup that Gu Juan had given him, put it down immediately, and rubbed his hands on his trouser legs unconsciously.

Gu Juan felt a chill in his heart and smiled faintly, "Xi Lang and I are both healthy. If you're really worried, you can go to the hospital for a checkup."

Liu Hui and Zhang Cong looked at each other.

Zhao Rui didn't look directly into Gu Juan's eyes and stammered, "That's not what I meant. Um...my girlfriend asked me out for dinner, so I have to go out for a while."

After Zhao Rui left, Liu Hui and Zhang Cong felt even more embarrassed.

"Third brother, don't think too much." Liu Hui patted Gu Juan's shoulder. "The eldest brother was just too surprised and overreacted."

"Yes, we have lived together for so long, and you know that he is a little bit stupid." Zhang Cong pressed Gu Juan's other shoulder.

Gu Juan was very touched and said solemnly, "Thank you."

After Zhang Cong and Liu Hui went to class, he called Xi Lang.

"Old man, I want to go home and live."

Xi Lang was very perceptive. "Did you tell your roommate about us? Was it Zhao Rui..."

"Um."

Xi Lang immediately said, "I'll call you in a minute. You can move back tomorrow at the latest. It's better to live at home. I'll cook for you whenever I have time. I'll make whatever you want to eat."

"Yeah." Gu Juan smiled.

"He won't go around and tell lies, will he?" Xi Lang still had this concern. The country was still very conservative in this regard, and he was mainly worried about the impact on Gu Juan's life at school.

Gu Juan said firmly, "No. I know him very well. He's not the talkative type. At most, he and I will be strangers in the future."

"There's no need for you to care about someone who doesn't care about you," Xi Lang comforted.

"I see."

Xi Lang was very efficient. The next morning, as soon as Gu Juan submitted his application for day schooling, the school immediately agreed.

Xi Lang quickly drove to the school and helped Gu Juan move all his belongings back to his own home. Gu Juan gave him a sideways glance of protest, but he ignored it.

Gu Juan didn't insist and sent a message to Liu Hui and Zhang Cong respectively to tell them.

When Zhao Rui returned to the dormitory, Gu Juan's bed was empty...

Time flies.

In mid-July, Congzhou University began its summer vacation.

Gu Juan and Xi Lang went into seclusion once more, raising their cultivation to a higher level. They came out at the end of July and returned to the imperial capital to help their family prepare for the engagement ceremony.

Because there were so many guests to invite, the engagement ceremony was held at the Xi family's villa on Minghu Mountain in the imperial capital. It was the gathering place for Xi Yongchang and Xi Yongming's families, and the venue was large enough.

Around seven in the evening, the lights on Minghushan Villa were ablaze. Security personnel hired from a security company had surrounded the villa tightly, wary of reporters taking advantage of any loopholes.

Luxury cars drove towards Minghu Mountain one after another, stopping quietly in the parking lot within the courtyard. The owners of these luxury cars, seeing each other, exchanged polite nods, exchanged a few words, and then entered, bearing gifts. The atmosphere was somewhat silent. For each of them, attending a same-sex engagement ceremony was a first, and their emotions were naturally mixed.

The banquet hall was bustling with activity. Waiters were shuttled back and forth carrying cocktails. Shrewd businessmen seized the opportunity to negotiate with partners they had long had their eyes on. Well-dressed ladies of noble families were subtly competing with each other for beauty... and gossipy women gathered together, whispering to each other.

"Although I've heard that the third son of the Xi family doesn't like women, I didn't expect him to actually find a male partner and even get engaged."

"So what? What's the status of the Xi family? Who dares to say anything?"

"I don't believe there can be true love between men. Perhaps the Xi and Gu families are involved in some vested interests."

"That's impossible. Everyone knows that the Xi family is the only family that doesn't need a marriage of convenience."

“…”

Han Lin, Li Ruicheng and Zhang Muheng walked in side by side, presented gifts and cash, and then looked around for the two protagonists.

"Where are the people?" Zhang Muheng asked.

Li Ruicheng shrugged, "She's probably still getting dressed?"

"Be careful, Xiao Gu might hear you and beat you up. He's a martial arts master." Han Lin threatened him.

Li Ruicheng's cocktail shook in his hand, and he said guiltily, "How dare he! I'm his brother."

At this time, Gu Yinyin, Liu Hui, Zhang Cong, and Liu Guang arrived. It was the first time for them to witness such a grand occasion. They were stunned for a moment before coming to their senses. They quickly straightened their chests and walked into the hall as if nothing had happened.

Li Ruicheng and Lin Xuan had been entrusted by Gu Juan and Xi Lang a long time ago. When they saw them, they hurried over to welcome them in and did not even ask them to pay the gift money.

"If you want to show your appreciation, just give it to Xiao Gu privately."

Liu Hui and the others gave up. They were open-minded and realized that they were still students and there was no need to compare themselves with those who had already established their careers.

Li Ruicheng and Lin Xuan invited them to have snacks and drinks.

When the auspicious time arrived, the music in the banquet hall stopped.

The guests all looked up the stairs.

Gu Juan and Xi Lang, both dressed in neat black suits, walked down the stairs side by side. One of them was cool and handsome, the other was domineering and handsome. Both of them were outstanding people with extraordinary temperaments that were fascinating.

There was not a single female guest present who did not feel regret in her heart. How could two such outstanding men get involved with each other?

Old Mr. Xi was also wearing new clothes. He looked energetic and walked to the fixed microphone with a rosy face.

"Today is an auspicious day for the engagement of my third grandson Xi Lang and Gu Juan. First of all, I would like to thank you all for coming!"

It turned out that it was Mr. Xi who presided over the engagement ceremony himself. The guests were surprised but did not forget to applaud loudly, and they re-evaluated Gu Juan's status in the Xi family in their hearts.

"My grandson, Xi Lang, was admitted to university at sixteen, graduated at eighteen, and earned a doctorate at twenty. He also opened a securities firm in Country A. After returning to China, he founded a large entertainment company. Chaoge Entertainment is now one of the three largest entertainment companies in China. Gu Juan is no slouch either. He entered university as the provincial top scorer, learned to trade stocks at eighteen, and has made over ten million yuan from that alone. He has now opened the 'Juan Family Flower Base,' which has already generated nearly five million in profits. For most of us, earning five or ten million is a matter of minutes, but this flower base was built by Gu Juan single-handedly. I'm delighted that my grandson can be with him. From now on, Gu Juan is also a child of my Xi family!"

The guests were all in an uproar, congratulating one another. Even if they held contempt in their hearts, no one dared show it on their faces. The incident involving Xi Lang was no secret in their circle. The commotion caused by the Xi family at the time was equivalent to an earthquake in the imperial capital, and the other families were more or less affected. Even now, no one dared to easily provoke the Xi family. Old Master Xi may have retired, but his influence and prestige remained, not to mention Xi Yongchang still held a high position. Didn't you see that even the always restless Xia Zhili had come to congratulate on behalf of the Xia family?

"They both already have their rings on, so there's no need to exchange them," said Old Master Xi with a chuckle. "Enough of the nonsense. Everyone, enjoy your meal and have fun."

The guests all smiled and applauded, and after another congratulation, they found Xi Lang and Gu Juan, toasted them, and then went to talk to people they knew. Although they were here for an engagement ceremony, why not discuss business while they were there?

Adults have their own circles, and young people have their own circles.

After greeting Xi Lang and Gu Yinyin and the others, he went to entertain his friends first.

Gu Juan knew that Gu Yinyin and the others must feel a little uncomfortable in such an occasion, so he took them to the bamboo pavilion in the back garden.

Zhuxuan is a separate courtyard in the back garden, which is both elegant and quiet.

"Thank you for coming. I'm really happy that you're here." Gu Juan smiled sincerely.