Chapter 83

Chapter 83

Soft, romantic music filled the air, complemented by an ethereal wedding banquet decor.

Every guest surrounding the main stage was dressed exquisitely and solemnly, their extravagant jewelry and cufflinks broadcasting their wealth to the cameras.

The hosts still hadn’t shown up, leaving the room in hushed anticipation.

In this perfectly hushed atmosphere, only the emcee on stage held a microphone hidden within a bouquet, reciting in a smooth, polished tone the epic love story between Patriarch Yu and his young Chinese boyfriend.

But the couple themselves were nowhere to be seen. Guests could only watch a flashy but tastefully edited montage on the massive screen behind the emcee.

The guests exchanged glances: "..."

What kind of engagement ceremony doesn’t even have the couple present?

Following the emcee’s closing remarks, the guests offered half-hearted, obligatory applause.

At the end of the day, these banquets were all about networking.

The attendees were the cream of the crop. As most of the staff withdrew, leaving only the guests, the real party—flowing drinks and all—kicked off.

At last, Patriarch Yu made his entrance. On his engagement day, he wore a pristine white suit with a vibrant rose pinned to his chest, a calm, pleased smile on his face.

Most of the crowd recognized Yu Li.

But the Yu Li they had seen before was a sharp, unshakable powerhouse who had worked his way up from the grassroots of the overseas Yu Family at sixteen. With his talent, he contributed to numerous Yu Family projects, winning Patriarch Yu’s trust through sheer competence and ascending directly to the upper echelons of the overseas Yu Family.

Over the years, Yu Li had almost become the mysterious Yu Family Patriarch’s public spokesperson.

Many speculated that this was because the young patriarch, who had ascended to power early, was in poor health and had thus chosen Yu Li, a collateral relative, as his successor.

Few had ever dared to underestimate Yu Li.

When it was suddenly revealed that the Yu Family Patriarch and Yu Li were one and the same, the revelation sent shockwaves through the room, accompanied by a bitter realization that they’d been played all along.

What was the point of all this?

Outwardly, they pretended not to understand, but deep down, they understood perfectly. Anyone with even slight knowledge of the mysterious Yu Family Patriarch and Yu Li’s upbringing knew that concealing his identity and operating as a collateral relative to gain experience within the company had been necessary.

In the early years, especially after Yu Li’s parents died in a plane crash, the sole direct heir had yet to mature. Back then, neither the overseas Yu Family’s headquarters nor its branches were as stable and compliant as they were now.

Regardless of who Yu Li’s future partner might be, he was undeniably the only anchor holding the overseas Yu Family together.

However, if his partner were male, the Yu Family’s calm façade was bound to crack.

The young man surnamed Gu, whom Yu Li was set to marry, was a no-show at the engagement banquet. Those who approached Yu Li with glasses of red wine in hand knew better than to pry.

Gu Yihong had long since disappeared to who-knows-where.

Nobody would dare cause a scene here. Yu Li simply instructed his assistant to keep an eye on him before putting the matter out of mind.

Old Master Su was escorted forward by Su Wanlin, who wore a genial smile. Su Linyuan and Song Manman stood nearby, offering smiles of their own when Yu Li glanced their way.

No one mentioned the true relationship between Gu Yubai and the Su family.

Everyone present understood what this meant—Gu Yubai was officially cut off from the Su family.

Before long, Old Master Su felt fatigued, and Su Wanlin helped him out. Song Manman was clearly giving the cold shoulder to Su Wanlin—even on such an occasion, they were clearly just going through the motions.

Su Linyuan, living proof he was their flesh and blood, appeared all cultured charm. Yet at this moment, instead of leaving with Old Master Su and his father, he remained, smiling and chatting with others, exchanging contacts.

---

The banquet was hitting its stride. While a few still lingered in the main area, standing and conversing, most had found companions and moved to the lounge areas to socialize.

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the entrance.

"Little Li, congratulations on finding the love of your life. Did Second Uncle arrive too late? My apologies, my apologies."

The newcomer was dressed in a white suit, bearing some resemblance to Yu Li but looking much older.

This was Yu Li's father's younger brother. Before even stepping fully into the room, he loudly congratulated Yu Li on finding his "true love," instantly seizing the attention of everyone still present.

Trailing behind Yu Li's uncle was a young boy—petite and doll-like, clad in a pink suit, wearing a sugary smile.

Yu Li's gaze froze for a heartbeat on the boy behind his uncle, his eyes turning stormy as he immediately recognized him.

It was Su Shengli.

Who would have thought that after disappearing for two years, he would reappear—following Yu Li's uncle?

Yu Li's glance swept over him indifferently, not even offering a greeting, as if Su Shengli were not worth a glance.

Had Yu Li treated him this way two years ago, Su Shengli would have thrown a tantrum. But now, he remained smiling behind Yu's uncle, his expression as docile and obedient as ever.

Yu Li instantly understood Su Shengli's current role.

A canary. (Chinese metaphor for a kept lover)

"Second Uncle."

Yu Li gave a slight nod, his attention entirely on his uncle, who was barely containing his glee.

Yu's uncle stepped forward and embraced Yu Li, his face—so similar to Yu Li's yet far more genial and refined—all teeth in a crocodile grin.

Though they shared a resemblance, their temperaments were night and day.

Yu Li was more strikingly handsome and aristocratic. Were it not for his engagement banquet, most would remember him as cold and composed.

Unlike now, where despite dealing with a disliked relative, he kept up his polite mask.

Others might not have noticed the lightning flash of recognition in Yu Li's eyes when he looked at Su Shengli, but Yu's uncle certainly did.

A subtle smirk curled his lips as he pulled Su Shengli forward.

"Little Li, you must recognize him. They say he was once the adopted son of the Su family, who had ties with our Yu family. Funny how things work out—when this boy came to me, I didn’t know his background. Now that I do, it’s a bit awkward."

"After all, the Yu and Su families once had a betrothal agreement. If not for your sudden engagement to a boy, I wouldn’t have known you swung that way. Had I known earlier, I wouldn’t have touched him."

"Given the engagement, isn’t he more meant for you than your current fiancé?"

"Ah, what a pity I found out too late. What a misunderstanding—how could I, your uncle, hand-me-down a boy I’ve already had to my own nephew?"

Yu's uncle put on a show of helpless remorse, as if genuinely lamenting the missed connection between Su Shengli and Yu Li.

Yet the malice in his words was dripping from every word.

Others were unaware of the marriage pact between the Yu and Su families, but Yu Li's second uncle knew. Others didn't know the actual blood relation between Gu Yubai and the Su family, but the second uncle did.

Yet he still dared to compare Gu Yubai—who appeared unrelated to the Su family—with Su Shengli, his own lover and the former adopted son of the Su family.

He had brought Su Shengli here just to get under his skin.

If Yu Li had truly pursued Gu Yubai solely because he liked men and the Yu and Su families happened to have a marriage pact, this situation would have made him sick to his stomach.

But that wasn't what happened.

The outcome was the same, but the process was entirely different.

It was precisely because Yu Li had fallen for Gu Yubai first that the engagement followed. From start to finish, it had nothing to do with the Su family.

Gu Yubai was just unlucky enough to carry Su blood.

Yu Li wouldn’t blame Gu Yubai. He knew full well that his second uncle’s goal was to push his buttons—it had nothing to do with Gu Yubai himself.

He wasn’t curious how Su Shengli had ended up by his second uncle’s side, but he had to admit, the man had managed to anger him with just a few words.

The smile on his face disappeared entirely.

Yu Li coldly countered his second uncle’s earlier remarks.

“Don't play dumb, Uncle. As long as you’re fond of your lover, your nephew would never steal him from you.”

“As for my own partner, he is the love of my life—hardly someone to be compared with just any random nobody.”

His gaze swept dismissively over his second uncle, pointedly ignoring Su Shengli the entire time.

Even so, his peripheral vision caught Su Shengli’s unchanged expression despite the obvious slight.

The man had indeed grown a lot in the past two years.

Amused, Yu Li kept his focus on his second uncle.

After hearing Yu Li declare Gu Yubai the love of his life, the second uncle’s face flashed with excitement before he composed himself back to normal under Yu Li’s steady gaze.

“So… you’ve truly fallen for a man, and he’s the love of your life? Tsk tsk, then you—”

Before he could finish, a strange smirk appeared across Yu Li’s face.

“Are you worried I won’t have an heir to carry on the family legacy, Uncle? Concerned I’ll have no children in the future?”

The second uncle’s smile stiffened. He could feel Yu Li’s amused stare resting on him.

His lips twitched before he faked a laugh, his tone full of insinuation.

“Of course not. For a family like ours, getting an heir is hardly difficult. Whether you find a woman outside or use technology, someone will always be willing, won’t they?”

“I just wonder how your ‘love of my life’ would feel about another woman having your baby. Well, in my opinion, you’re both men—he could always have a kid elsewhere too. That would only be fair.”

Though in that case, how could they still call themselves a real couple?

The second uncle’s lips curled in derision.

In an old-money dynasty like the Yus, where generations had passed with only a few lesser branches free from the burden of succession, who else had the luxury of acting lovesick?

The Yu Family Patriarch least of all.

From birth, the main lineage was bred for cold calculation and self-interest.

The overseas Yu family’s rules for its direct descendants had always been harsh. Otherwise, how could he—Yu Li’s own uncle—have been demoted from the family registry and relegated to a branch line the moment his elder brother took the patriarch’s seat?

If not for those rules, he would have rightfully succeeded as patriarch over a decade ago when his brother and sister-in-law died in that plane crash.

Instead, he’d been utterly overshadowed by a middle-school brat, all because of those cursed direct lineage rules!

A sour grimace twisted his lips.

Yu Li knew exactly what ate at his uncle. He also knew Su Shengli’s presence wasn’t just to provoke him—it was a subtle dig into his plans for the family’s future succession.

“So that’s what you call ‘true love,’ Uncle? Then I suppose I don’t count.”

Yu Li smiled faintly. “A powerful seat as the Yu Family Patriarch’s will always attract those eager to please me, heir or not.”

“Unless… you doubt my ability to hold onto my seat? Do you think me so incompetent that I’ll be ousted in a few years?”

As his uncle’s expression grew increasingly rigid, Yu Li’s smile deepened.

“Of course not. No one in the Yu family surpasses you.” The second uncle spat out the words through gritted teeth.

A sudden panic crashed over him, dragging him back to that night over a decade ago when Yu Li had taken away his power.

Back then, had he not wisely given up his claim to the patriarch’s seat, who knew where he’d be now?

At least like this, he could still get in a few jabs. He knew his limits—he was no match for Yu Li.

But as Yu Li himself had said, such a coveted position would always have contenders.

No one could wrest the title from Yu Li directly. Yet if the patriarch’s love for a man doomed the main line to end with him, then every branch descendant would have a shot at becoming his successor!

As long as… they caught Yu Li’s eye.

Not that the nearly fifty-year-old second uncle had a shot.

His spirit broken—until suddenly, he lifted his head, eyes glowing with desperation.

“Then what are your conditions for choosing an heir?”

Yu Li turned to leave, his voice floating over his shoulder.

“Clean bloodline.”

No bastards. That was the baseline requirement.

The second uncle had slept around in his youth, fathering a string of bastards but never marrying.

His offspring would never make the cut.

His face twisted in anger. Was he to sit back while some far-flung Yu relative seized the patriarch’s seat decades from now?

No way!

Was it too late to settle down and have a proper heir now?