He squinted his azure eyes, his jaw like a perfectly crafted sharp blade, slightly raised, intentionally: "Guess."

With that, he pushed the door open and left.

Her mood was like a basin of water, disrupted by the stone he threw in for no reason.

Maybe it was uncomfortable to think he treated her like his other mistresses.

She stood in a daze for a while, rubbed her chest vigorously, took a breath, and walked out as if nothing had happened.

***

Castle, first floor, banquet hall.

The crystal chandelier shone magnificently over the entire hall, emanating a radiant splendor.

Along the horseshoe-shaped banquet table sat the elders and important figures of Beiming Hall.

At the back of the banquet hall, Beth parted the curtain, and Liang Anya saw the scene outside.

Si Yuheng had changed into a black formal suit, sitting at the foremost part of the long table, at the center of everyone.

Tonight, he was tall and straight, his eyebrows and eyes still alluringly arrogant, yet his every move was infused with more noble elegance than usual, reaching to the bone.

Indeed, Ryan held a significant position in Beiming Hall, sitting to the left of Si Yuheng.

Miss Vivi sat beside her father Ryan, dressed in a violet evening gown, like a typical European noblewoman from the movies.

There were also several young women, dressed as beautifully as Vivi, occasionally glancing at the man at the main seat.

The atmosphere was solemn, luxurious, and silent.

This was a European court-style banquet she had only seen in movies, different from any banquet she had attended at home.

"Are these women also Principals of Beiming Hall?" Liang Anya was curious.

They all seemed just over twenty, delicate and charming.

"No, they are daughters or sisters of the Principals. Every time Beiming Hall holds such a banquet, the Principals bring their young ladies along, just to catch the Hall Master’s eye... including the Kasey Miss Liang knows, who is the daughter of an officer under Beiming Hall and was given to the Hall Master by her father during a banquet."

This... really is like choosing concubines!

Liang Anya was speechless.

Growing up in this environment, this man really couldn’t lack women, even if he didn’t want them, there would be subordinates trying every way to deliver them to his bed.

Tsk tsk. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Today’s banquet is to welcome the Hall Master, let’s raise our glasses together—"

Ryan’s aged and deep voice rang in the dining hall.

Others raised their red wine glasses in front of them.

"Wait a minute." Si Yuheng’s three indifferent words left a row of wine glasses suspended in mid-air.

"Besides the welcoming banquet, there’s something else to announce today."

As the man spoke, Ryan and others had guessed eight or nine out of ten.

Vivi’s face slightly changed, her slender fingers curled, gripping the stem of her glass tightly.

Si Yuheng’s trusted aide walked to the door, raised the curtain: "Please, Miss Liang."

Liang Anya took a deep breath, feeling like she was about to take a college entrance exam, she had no choice but to pick up Xiaoxiao, and follow the subordinates out.

Si Yuheng stood up with a flourish, his naturally tall stature particularly outstanding, giving a sense of oppression. As he took Xiaoxiao into his hands, in that instant, the fierce flames in him seemed to recede, replaced by a fatherly tenderness.

With one hand supporting Xiaoxiao’s neck and the other firmly gripping her waist and hips, he displayed his precious treasure to everyone’s view as if showcasing a rare gem.

Wearing a princess dress, Xiaoxiao looked like a tender Little Meatball, not at all stage-shy, her large eyes wide open, looking at everyone.

Si Yuheng restrained his affectionate expression, looked at his subordinates, and returned to a serious demeanor:

"I believe everyone knows by now, this time I’ve brought back a mother and her daughter from China. Tonight, I solemnly announce to everyone that this baby is my biological daughter, the eldest lady of Beiming Hall. She will be my heir, the future new mistress of this castle. From today onwards, treat her as you would treat me."

The whole room was in an uproar—

The Hall Master announcing the baby girl as his daughter wasn’t surprising...

But announcing the baby as the heir at such a young age, wasn’t he putting too much emphasis on her?

No, this wasn’t just emphasizing the child...

But emphasizing the child’s birth mother!

However, since the Hall Master had already spoken publicly, who would dare say anything.

Obviously, the Hall Master didn’t want to give them any chance to speak, hence announcing in advance without notice.

Ryan’s face darkened, if this baby was the heir, wouldn’t the baby’s birth mother’s status also become important?

It wouldn’t be surprising even if the Hall Master married this Asian girl according to procedures.

Vivi naturally had the same thought as her father, shivering involuntarily, glanced at her father.

Ryan coldly eyed Liang Anya, his tone undisguisedly disdainful: "Are you sure this baby is truly the Hall Master’s bloodline? Many Asian women, in order to climb into prestigious families, will stop at nothing, doing whatever lowly things to achieve it."

Si Yuheng had long known these elders would have doubts, took a paper from his assistant, and "啪" gently tossed it in front of Ryan.

The most authoritative DNA report was revealed before everyone.

No one had any objections anymore.

Ryan still didn’t intend to give up: "Since this child possesses the bloodline of Beiming Hall, we will surely consider her our little mistress, but—"

Saying this, he looked at the slender figure next to Si Yuheng, his voice colder: "...however, it seems Miss Liang is not quite suitable to stay here."

Si Yuheng returned the baby to Liang Anya’s arms, gazing at Ryan with a smile that wasn’t a smile, his tone and expression mismatched with coldness: "What do you want to say?"

Ryan enunciated: "Traditionally, only the Hall Master’s wife can live in the castle, because of this, the Hall Master’s previous women were all placed outside, and it wouldn’t be right to make an exception for Miss Liang and break the Beiming Hall’s generations-old rule."

Ryan started, and the other principals nodded in agreement.

"The young lady can certainly stay, but Miss Liang staying in Beiming Hall is inconvenient."

"The Hall Master can arrange for Miss Liang outside."

"Indeed."

...

Liang Anya’s breath hitched, so Beiming Hall had such a rule.

But it wasn’t surprising, aside from being the mother of Si Yuheng’s child, she was nothing.

Not even a mistress.

Even domestically, slightly more traditional prominent families wouldn’t allow a woman without status to live in their homes.

Let alone a Western European family like Beiming Hall.

At the same time, she finally understood why he told her in the cloakroom earlier, that no matter what happened at the banquet later, she should just obediently stay by his side.

Waves of opposition, discussions, disdainful tones, hostile gazes, all rushed at her like a landslide, it was really overwhelming.

That’s why he reminded her in advance...