Fighting for love

At that, Tang Yi looked at Sylus and changed tack. "Of the five men you chose, there are clearly others better suited to being your principal husband than this fleet commander. I really don't know what you were thinking. Should I say you have poor taste, or that you're not very bright?"

Although Xiao Yan knew Sylus wouldn't be swayed by this sort of provocation,

Tang Yi still disgusted her to death.

Sitting on the sofa in the seat of honor, Jiang Miao curled her lip in irritation the moment Tang Yi spoke.

She had invited her two sworn enemies, Second Miss Tang and Eldest Miss Fang, to this afternoon tea.

In truth, she wanted them to see just how loving and happy Xiao Yan was with the men they had once chosen.

She wanted Tang and Fang to suffer a proper setback.

Now Tang Yi was challenging Xiao Yan without even maintaining basic decorum. Of course Jiang Miao couldn't stand for that.

She gave a fake smile. "Oh, Tang Yi, this is my husband-selection banquet. I specifically invited you as an honored guest. Surely you can show me a little respect instead of saying things beneath your standing in public?"

It was a veiled jab at Tang Yi for being petty, small-minded, and ill-mannered.

"Was anything I said wrong?" Tang Yi was even more displeased with Jiang Miao.

Xiao Yan had always kept a low profile at school and rarely socialized.

Jiang Miao, however, had been extremely popular at school, with everyone answering her call. She also had Xiao Yan, the eldest daughter of the Xiao Family, one of City S's three great families, backing her up. It wouldn't be unfair to say Jiang Miao borrowed another's power to throw her weight around.

Her resentment had built up for so long that any casual remark could ignite Tang Yi's anger.

She sneered again. "He should have been mine in the first place. Who knows what methods the Xiao Family used..."

"I gave it some thought." At this point, Sylus interrupted Tang Yi. "The person you're talking about seems to be me?"

The moment the man she fancied spoke, Tang Yi's attention was instantly drawn to him.

She actually had the nerve to tell Sylus, "Who else could it be? I've thought it over, and you must have refused to attend my husband-selection banquet because certain people coerced you."

Sylus was amused. Crossing his legs, he bent the arm resting on the sofa's armrest and propped his fingertips against his temple.

After silently watching Tang Yi for a few seconds, Sylus raised an eyebrow. "All I remember is that when your Tang Family delivered the invitation, they threatened my subordinate, saying I'd pay for it if I didn't attend?"

Xiao Yan switched into spectator mode.

Given what Sylus was like, it already counted as his good deed for the day if he didn't threaten anyone. How could he tolerate someone else throwing their weight around in front of him?

Was Second Miss Tang really going to hit his sore spot right off the bat?

Tang Yi's face alternated between pale and red. "They must have made a mistake. I never told them to handle things that way."

"Fine. Even if someone conveyed the message incorrectly, there are things I've already said that I don't mind repeating."

Sylus's smile vanished. "I, Sylus, have no interest in the position of Second Miss Tang's principal husband promised by the Tang Family. I didn't in the past, I don't now, and I never will. Stop wasting your effort."

Oh, this felt so good to Xiao Yan.

Even her scalp tingled a little.

Who said women had to fight one another?

Sylus liked fighting, so let him do it. With his combat prowess, it would be strange if he didn't infuriate Second Miss Tang half to death!

Looking ready for a good show, Jiang Miao's eyes shone as her gaze traveled between Sylus and Tang Yi.

Xing Xiaowan and Tang Qi wore the same expressions, waiting for Second Miss Tang to humiliate herself.

"Besides, I already belong to Xiao Yan now." When Sylus spoke of this, a little gentleness showed through. "My wife and I are in love. We're newlyweds, still at the stage where we're inseparable and can barely bear to part. Second Miss Tang, please stop scheming to stir up trouble and damage our marriage. Otherwise, I'll be unhappy."

"..." Lectured by a male beastman like a chastened child, Tang Yi lost face completely.

She swept her gaze over the faces of the husbands around her.

All five had their heads lowered. Not one dared stand up and say a word on her behalf.

It had to be said that Sylus was far too capable. He was one of the underworld's foremost figures. Even the daughters of wealthy families hardly dared provoke him, let alone these men.

"Hmph." Tang Yi snorted. "Then I wish you a long life together."

Sylus brought the conversation to a close in a deep voice. "Then thank you for your kind wishes, Second Miss Tang."

Xiao Yan's sister squad had won a round.

When Xing Xiaowan introduced her two husbands, she couldn't have been more confident.

Both men were fair-skinned, beautiful, and outgoing, a good match for Xing Xiaowan's cheerful personality.

When they greeted Xiao Yan, it seemed both had been coached beforehand.

Each thanked Xiao Yan for taking such good care of their wife in the past.

Xiao Yan gave Xing Xiaowan a helpless look and received a little tongue-out grimace in return.

After that, Fang Xinlei called her five beastman husbands to their feet.

The Fang Family was quite powerful, and the husbands Eldest Miss Fang had chosen looked much more reliable than Tang Yi's five.

At least they were all well-mannered, observed proper etiquette when greeting her, and showed Xiao Yan ample respect.

After the five sat down,

Fang Xinlei considered how to win a round back and recover the ground her good friend Tang Yi had lost.

What she said to Xiao Yan was a cut above Tang Yi's approach. "Xiao Yan, I've heard people in the military have lots of secrets. If there are too many secrets between spouses, wouldn't that really affect communication?"

She was targeting Caleb again.

Caleb remained silent, effectively acknowledging that he did have "lots of secrets."

"People in the police seem much the same." Fang Xinlei turned her gaze to Xavier, whom she very much fancied. "A-Xing, do you tell Xiao Yan about things at work?"

What the hell was A-Xing?

Xiao Yan frowned at Xavier.

Xavier blinked innocently at Xiao Yan. Partner, I didn't!

Then he frowned slightly and looked at Fang Xinlei.

This Eldest Miss Fang really was a green tea bitch.

She patted her little head. "Oh dear, look at me. How could I ask a question like that to your face? I know perfectly well that institutions like the military and police are famous for their strict rules. Of course they absolutely forbid disclosing secrets to anyone."

Xavier: "..." I need to think carefully about how to deal with her.

"Then why ask?" Rafayel cut in forcefully. "Eldest Miss Fang, you knowingly did something you shouldn't. Isn't that a little too underhanded?"

Oh? Had Rafayel declared war?

Xiao Yan, Jiang Miao, Xing Xiaowan, and Tang Qi all grew excited.

"How could you say that about me, A-Yu?" The other person Fang Xinlei fancied was none other than Rafayel.

Sounding hurt, she said, "I didn't mean anything by it. I was just so happy to see you all, and I wanted to show some concern for you..."

"Don't call me that." Rafayel made a show of rubbing the goosebumps on his arms. "My name isn't A-Yu. It's Rafayel. Please use my full name, thank you."

"So..." Xavier had also thought of a countermeasure.

He looked at Fang Xinlei expressionlessly. "My refusal to let you choose me as your husband is something that makes you this happy?"

Xiao Yan got it at once!

He was using a beauty trap to dig a pit for Eldest Miss Fang!

But Fang Xinlei didn't understand the twists and turns of Xavier's thoughts.

She thought he had said that to test whether she still cared about him.

She immediately tried to make her feelings clear. "After you rejected me, I was upset for so long!"

"How long?" Xavier continued in the same flat tone. "It hasn't even been three months since July. You seem quite happy to me, inseparable from your five husbands. Aren't you?"

"Those five?" Fang Xinlei fell straight into the trap Xavier had dug. "I can end things with one of them. As long as you still want to come to my side, I can arrange everything!"

Holy crap... Xiao Yan resisted the urge to cover her face in embarrassment.

Could she really say something like that so carelessly?

Xavier sighed mournfully. "Alas, I'd still only be one of five at my wife's side. Why would I go to all that trouble to start over with you?"

"You mean..." Fang Xinlei felt she really had a chance!

Excited, she said, "I can have only you. As long as you agree, I'll make you my principal husband, my only husband!"