Chapter 546: Returning to Ning’an! Virtue Complete

Ouyang Ke took a deep breath. His gaze, full of complex emotions, swept over Chen Sheng, and his lips moved.

But in the end, he said nothing. He whirled around and pushed the door open, his steps slightly unsteady as he left.

Even now, he still couldn’t accept this absurd reality.

After all, what son in this world could calmly accept such a turn of events?

His mother was getting a new man.

And that man was a friend he considered a peer, a confidant.

What was even more stifling…

From now on, he might even have to treat him as an elder.

This cascade of shocks, this complete upheaval, was like a cold tide threatening to drown him.

Gazing at her son’s devastated, retreating figure, a hint of worry filled Lan Yufei’s eyes. She spoke softly to Chen Sheng.

“I’m going to check on Ke’Er… and try to comfort him.”

“Go on.”

Chen Sheng gave a slight nod, not stopping her.

He understood how Ouyang Ke felt.

Such a sudden upheaval of the natural order of relationships was not something an ordinary person could easily digest and accept. It required time and space.

Once Lan Yufei had also hurried away, Sun Yuzhi, who had been watching from a distance with her arms crossed and a faint smile on her lips, finally sauntered into the now slightly disheveled guest room.

She closed the door behind her, her cool gaze landing on Chen Sheng.

“I told you long ago not to get too involved with a complicated woman like Lan Yufei. Now that everything’s out in the open, how does it feel?”

“It’s a trivial matter, nothing to worry about.”

Chen Sheng just smiled, unconcerned. He walked to the table and poured himself another cup of tea.

“A trivial matter?”

Sun Yuzhi’s delicate brows knitted together as she stepped closer.

“Seducing your friend’s mother… If word of that gets out, it will be a major blow to your reputation. In the Jianghu, a person’s reputation is everything.”

“So what if it gets out?”

Chen Sheng took a sip of tea, his tone as composed as ever.

“Lady Lan is the recognized number one beauty in all of Nanzhao. She is peerlessly elegant, and her Cultivation is extraordinary. When people find out, I imagine there will be far more who are jealous than who are critical.”

“You…”

Sun Yuzhi was left speechless by his nonchalant attitude. Then, a thought seemed to strike her. Her eyes flashed, and she lowered her voice.

“Then what about Nie Lingxi? She is your legitimate fiancée. Aren’t you afraid she’ll… resent you for it when she finds out?”

At this, Chen Sheng looked up at her and retorted,

“This matter… haven’t you already been so kind as to inform her for me?”

“You… how did you know?”

Sun Yuzhi froze, a rare look of shock and embarrassment appearing on her coolly composed face.

She had never imagined that Chen Sheng seemed to know everything about her secret dealings.

“A guess.”

Chen Sheng put down his teacup, his smile gentle.

“I know your character, more or less.”

“Besides, Lingxi… she’s generous and understanding. I’m sure she can appreciate my circumstances.”

“Hmph!”

Sun Yuzhi turned her head away, her red lips twisting into a slight pout. She said no more, but her folded arms seemed to tighten.

…

“Ke’Er, I… your aunt… was rash. Please don’t… don’t take it too hard.”

Meanwhile, Lan Yufei had caught up to Ouyang Ke, her form of address subtly changing.

Ouyang Ke stopped in his tracks and turned, a look of astonishment on his face.

“Mother, you… you no longer see me as your son?”

“Of course not. It’s just… I’m not your birth mother, after all. I was afraid you might be thinking certain things, so…” Lan Yufei explained hesitantly.

“Don’t worry, Mother. Since this is your choice, I will support you completely.”

Ouyang Ke let out a heavy breath.

His mother and Chen Sheng had already consummated their union. What else could he say?

He just couldn’t accept it all at once.

“That’s good.”

Lan Yufei breathed a secret sigh of relief.

The last thing she wanted was for Ouyang Ke to oppose the union vehemently.

Though they weren’t mother and son by birth, Ouyang Ke was her older sister’s child. She had watched him grow up, and in her heart, he was as good as her own son.

“But… that Chen Sheng… he’s not a suitable partner for you.”

Ouyang Ke could no longer hold back his true thoughts.

As a friend, as a brother…

…Chen Sheng was perfectly fine.

But the idea of him becoming his mother’s partner was something Ouyang Ke was deeply resistant to.

Because Chen Sheng was not a good man.

Back in Ning’an, he had numerous female companions, and that Sun Yuzhi was one of them.

On top of that, Chen Sheng already had a fiancée.

How could he possibly be a suitable partner?

Moreover, from what he had observed, Chen Sheng was cold and unfeeling. To him, women were likely just tools to be used.

“Don’t worry. Chen Sheng is a man worth trusting. I believe in him.”

Lady Lan said in a solemn voice.

She knew what Ouyang Ke was worried about.

But from what she had come to understand of him recently, Chen Sheng was, on the whole, worth it. She couldn’t say for certain that he was a man of deep sentiment and loyalty, but he was far from being heartless or treacherous.

Furthermore, she possessed the Phoenix Yin Gu King, while Chen Sheng possessed the Dragon Yang Gu King.

For them, the Yin-Yang Union was the only and best choice.

“Then will he marry you?”

Ouyang Ke asked again.

This time, Lady Lan was silent.

Although Chen Sheng had promised her a proper title, she had no confidence that he would formally marry her with all the proper rites.

“If the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect is offered as a dowry, would Chen Sheng agree?”

After a few moments of silence, Ouyang Ke suddenly asked.

“What nonsense are you spouting? The Ten Thousand Poisons Sect is the Ouyang Family’s legacy, built over generations. How could it be used as a dowry?”

Lady Lan frowned upon hearing this.

“I will remember everything you have done for me, Mother. If it would make him treat you better, I am willing to give up the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.”

Ouyang Ke said with the utmost seriousness.

“Enough! Do not say another word. I will not bargain with the Ouyang Family’s legacy. Chen Sheng’s ambitions lie in his Cultivation and in the imperial court; he has no interest in the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.”