Yun Family Villa.
Although the location was decent, the slightly old villa, with its outdated decor and furniture bearing the marks of time, silently spoke of the family's current financial straits.
To make matters worse, the mortgage payments for this villa had been in arrears for two consecutive months.
The bank's collection notices represented the economic crisis the family faced.
Today was Yun Xiyue's twenty-third birthday.
Lin Meizhu, in order to leave a perfect first impression on Lu Cheng, had practically invested all the available manpower and resources of the family into this important birthday banquet.
The entire villa was like a chaotic battlefield about to head to the front lines.
And our 'retired War God' Su Yang, the 'Dragon Soul' ace whose stomp outside was enough to make countless powerful figures tremble.
At this moment, he was wearing a faded, old apron, like a servant, shuttling back and forth between the greasy kitchen and the living room, busy to the point of not touching the ground, sweating profusely.
As Su Yang deftly brought dishes from the kitchen to the dining table, he silently told himself in his heart.
Although this is not my home, it is Xi Xi's home.
As long as it can make her happy, make her worry less, what is a little fatigue or a little grievance? All of this is worth it.
His gaze, as it swept over the photo of Yun Xiyue on the living room wall, unconsciously became exceptionally gentle and firm.
However, his silent dedication and protection, in the eyes of some, was merely a sign of weakness and incompetence.
"Su Yang! Are your eyes blind? Or has your brain been kicked by a donkey?"
His mother-in-law, Lin Meizhu's, sharp and harsh voice came from beside him without warning.
Like a foreman, she stood with her hands on her hips, extending her index finger, painted with bright red nail polish, almost poking Su Yang's nose!
"I told you to mop the floor clean! Look!"
"This floor has been mopped three times! Why are there still footprints? Huh? Do you want our distinguished guests to see The Yun Family looking this messy? Do you want everyone to laugh at our family?!"
"Also, I told you to go to the market to buy Australian lobsters! What did you bring back? Boston ones? Are you intentionally taking kickbacks?"
"Or are you just trying to intentionally make Xi Xi lose face in front of her friends?"
"You, surnamed Su! I'm warning you, be quicker! The guests will be here soon! If you dare to delay Xi Xi's birthday banquet, just wait for me to throw all your things out!"
Every word from Lin Meizhu was filled with disdain, contempt, and deep-seated loathing!
It was as if Su Yang, in her eyes, was not even as good as a dog, merely a subordinate, a slave, who could be arbitrarily scolded and ordered around!
However, facing his mother-in-law's constant Make things difficult and merciless insults, Su Yang merely endured in silence.
He lowered his head, clenching his fists, which had once struck fear into countless enemies, tightly, then slowly loosening them.
He said nothing.
He just picked up the mop nearby and started mopping the floor again.
His extreme forbearance, in Lin Meizhu's eyes, only further confirmed his worthless nature as a 'good-for-nothing' and a 'kept man'!
...In the intervals of being ordered around and made to run in circles by his mother-in-law.
Su Yang's thoughts involuntarily returned to last night.
He remembered the call he received yesterday.
It was from a Shanghai businessman whose life he had once saved. When Su Yang contacted him before, he only hoped he could invite a second or third-rate entrepreneur to fill the seats and incidentally resolve the factory order crisis of his father-in-law, Yun Zhenxiong.
But he never expected!
After hearing his request, that friend actually used his immense connections.
He directly managed to invite someone from The Lu Family of Modu, and it was even the legendary sole heir of The Lu Family, Lu Cheng!
That friend told him over the phone that Young Master Lu Cheng had personally promised to attend Xi Xi's birthday banquet to support him!
This news, while making Su Yang feel unbelievable, also brought a hint of pride he hadn't felt in a long time.
This businessman's life-saving favor was just one of his many insignificant connections, yet he didn't expect him to have such power.
After all, several people in high positions owed him favors.
Lu Cheng, the eldest young master of The Lu Family... Although he didn't know what a great price that friend paid to invite such a powerful figure.
But as long as he comes, even if he just shows up at the banquet and says a few words... perhaps his in-laws' attitude towards him will change?
The current financial crises faced by The Yun Family should be just a small matter in front of a behemoth like The Lu Family.
If so, the burden on Xi Xi's shoulders would also be lightened a bit.
Thinking of this, a relieved smile appeared on Su Yang's face again.
As long as Xi Xi can live better, all the grievances he endures are worth it!
...Just then, a light footsteps sounded from the stairs.
Yun Xiyue, meticulously dressed, slowly walked down from upstairs.
Today, she wore an elegant champagne-colored dress. Although it wasn't a top international luxury brand, it perfectly showcased her capable, intellectual, and graceful temperament as a professional woman.
As soon as Lin Meizhu saw her precious daughter come down, she immediately put on a warm, motherly smile, hurried over, affectionately took her daughter's hand, and began to give her advice.
"Oh, my precious Xi Xi! You are truly too beautiful today, even more beautiful than those big stars on TV!"
"Come, come, Mom tells you, among the guests tonight, there might be a very, very important VIP."
"You, you must perform well later and seize the opportunity! Do you understand?"
Listening to her mother's words, Yun Xiyue's delicate eyebrows unconsciously furrowed slightly, and her face showed a hint of helplessness and fatigue.
Her mother was still like this; even though she was already married, she kept dreaming of marrying into a wealthy family and reaching the sky in one step... She subconsciously glanced at Su Yang, who was still working tirelessly, silently mopping the floor not far away, her eyes filled with extremely complex emotions.
She didn't hate her nominal husband, but she certainly didn't love him either.
More than anything, it was a sense of disappointment and numbness.
In her opinion, Su Yang, although diligent and honest, and his personality was gentle enough.
But he was also completely ordinary, making her see no hope for the future.
To this day, she still didn't know why her great-grandfather, before his death, insisted that she marry Su Yang as a live-in son-in-law.
The two of them should have been like two parallel lines that never intersect.
But they were forcibly bound together by a piece of paper called 'marriage'.
Existing in name only, tasteless as chewing wax.