Inside a palace-like villa, in a resplendent hall gleaming with gold, the Xu Family patriarch sat upright in a principal seat carved with dragons and phoenixes, his expression dignified and solemn. All manner of antiques and artworks stood beside him, displaying the Xu Family's deep foundations and extraordinary status.
Xu Xin, the woman who had once attended the same school as Liu Yun, was currently being forced by the Xu Family patriarch to stand in the center of the hall. Her face was filled with helplessness and struggle, while her eyes revealed confusion and fear toward the future. Several Xu Family elders sat or stood nearby, their gazes all focused on Xu Xin as though awaiting her final answer.
"Xu Xin, do you know that Liu Yun is now a Councilor-level powerhouse? His future is limitless." The Xu Family patriarch's voice was low and forceful, every word seeming to carry immense weight. "If our Xu Family can form a marriage alliance with him, we will gain unprecedented opportunities for development. This is not only for the Xu Family, but also for yourself."
Upon hearing this, Xu Xin's face turned even paler. She knew full well of Liu Yun's strength and potential, yet her heart was filled with resistance toward this marriage. She had once shared a vague and innocent romance with Luo Feng. Although those feelings had grown increasingly quiet in recent days, she still held onto her yearning and hopes for love.
"Grandfather, I..." Xu Xin had barely opened her mouth before she no longer knew how to continue. Her gaze drifted between the Xu Family patriarch and the elders around her. In the end, she could only lower her head helplessly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "I... I don't want to marry Liu Yun."
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