Apparently, word had gotten out that the Yin Family planned to pick a son-in-law at the engagement dissolution banquet. Every family with an eligible bachelor sent someone—if they couldn't attend, they tried to get an extra invitation, hoping to bring their sons for the Yin Family to consider.
If that didn't work, they'd even try to split an invitation between families!
And believe it or not, three families actually teamed up and came to Sunset Manor with just one invitation.
When Ethan Yin greeted them, he couldn't help but twitch his lips.
It seemed his little sister really was the most sought-after girl in town.
Look at that—the Nixon, Bloom, and Yan families all used a single invitation, but showed up with a whole crowd.
Ethan Yin looked at them speechlessly and said, "And you three are...?"
"Oh, it's just been a while since we've seen you, Mr. Yin! We've been wanting to visit, but didn't want to interrupt your work. When we heard about the banquet at Sunset Manor, we thickened our skin and came. Mr. Yin, we know we're crashing, so please forgive us!" Mrs. Nixon said shamelessly. "Our Nathan just got back from studying in the States, so we brought him to broaden his horizons. Nathan, say hello to Mr. Yin."
Nathan: "...Hello, Mr. Yin."
Ethan Yin: "...Hello."
Yin Yuheng immediately put on a warm smile. "What are you ladies saying? Why can't you come by whenever you want? Sunset Manor belongs to my mom, and you three have been close friends with her for ages. Whenever you feel like dropping in for a bite or some fun, don't hesitate—you're always welcome here! Honestly, having you here boosts the Manor's reputation. Who doesn't know Mrs. Ning is a famous inheritor of intangible cultural heritage? That's a legacy everyone envies! And Mrs. Hua, you're too modest—your three sons are all outstanding, and girls from every prominent family would love to marry into yours. Plus, your youngest is my classmate! That bond can't be matched. And Mrs. Ye, you're too kind. They say people who love food are blessed, so the more you visit, the luckier both our families get!"
With Yin Yuheng's sweet-talking, the three ladies couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear.
The young masters from all three families exchanged glances with Yin Yuheng.
Suddenly, they understood why, after Yin Yuheng took over Yin Enterprises, he managed to accomplish in two years what others needed twenty—expanding new business lines while keeping the old ones steady, and boosting the company's market value by five percent.
Considering the sheer size of Yin Enterprises, a five percent increase is no small feat.
No wonder people say, comparing yourself to others is the quickest way to feel bad!
"You're such a charmer," the three ladies said, holding Yin Yuheng's hand like he was their own son. "You must visit us when you have time! Our homes might not be as grand as yours, but we've got mountains, rivers, and plenty of good vibes. Stay for a week or two and we'll treat you like royalty."
"Of course, Aunties! I'll definitely visit when I have time," Yin Yuheng replied enthusiastically. "My mom will be thrilled to see you all—she probably has a million things to catch up on. Shall I take you to her now?"
"Alright, let's go chat with your mom for a bit," the three matriarchs said, happily following Yin Yuheng inside.
The young masters glanced at each other, seeing nothing but respect in each other's eyes.
You really have to hand it to him.
Everyone knows the women's market is huge—whoever wins it becomes the darling of the business empire.
Yin Yuheng became CEO of Yin Enterprises in his early twenties, all thanks to the girls’ products company he founded from scratch. In less than a year, it became a household name. In just two years, he captured half the national market.
His outstanding management skills earned him unanimous approval from the board, promoting him to CEO ahead of schedule.
No one has ever shaken his position.
Now that's real talent.
Honestly, none of them were thrilled to be here, lining up to be picked. They were all proud sons of noble families, after all.
But seeing Yin Yuheng, all their reluctance melted away.
If they really got a brother-in-law like him, their future would be one wild rollercoaster!
Guests kept arriving at Sunset Manor, and within half a day, the place was packed.
With everyone here, it was finally time for the real fun to begin.
"Here we go!" Yin Yuzhen ran over, waving a list dramatically. "I've got the names of all the contestants for today's selection—let's place our bets and see who wins my uncle's favor!"
[Irrelevant system message skipped.]
With that, Yin Yuzhen slapped the list onto the table.
Swish, swish, swish.
Jing Shaohuai, Mo Yu, Mo Shuo, Mu Ziyue, and Shang Xiaojin all crowded around, forming a circle to check out the list.
The list had all the details on today's eligible bachelors.
Age, height, education, experience, dating history, family gossip—even personality and family assets—everything was laid out crystal clear.
Jing Shaohuai glanced over and said, "I still think Fan Wuling has the best shot. Out of everyone, he's the most mature."
"Most mature also means oldest! Our Nuo is only twenty-one!" Mo Yu retorted. "I think Yan Shilang is a solid pick. Mo Shuo, what about you?"
Mo Shuo nodded. "Nuo is already strong enough—she doesn’t need someone even more dominant. So I agree, Yan Shilang’s a good choice."
Mu Ziyue shook his head. "Actually, I think Ning Shao, who just arrived, is pretty good—steady, reliable, perfect family material."
At his last words, 'perfect family material,' everyone shivered for no reason.
Shang Xiaojin drawled, "Hard to say. I think plenty of the others have a shot too. A bunch of aunties have gone to chat with Aunt Gu—I bet they're trying to work her connections. Aunt Gu's been close to all these ladies for years, so I hope she won't get put on the spot."
"No need to worry about that," Yin Yuzhen said. "My aunt may seem easygoing, but when it comes to principles, she won't budge an inch. C'mon, let's place our bets—once you pick, no changing your mind!"
"Aren't you afraid you'll get in trouble for betting so openly?" Mi Xiaoying's voice called out from behind them.
The group straightened up, looked up, and spun around—all in perfect sync.
Today, Mi Xiaoying wore a graceful pale blue dress that made her look taller—delicate and ethereal.
Yeah, height was always Mi Xiaoying's Achilles' heel.
At just 1.6 meters, she was dwarfed by a crowd of men averaging 1.85.
"Xiaoying, aren't you curious who'll win in the end?" Yin Yuzhen couldn't help but pull Mi Xiaoying into the fun. "Take a guess!"
"Not really," Mi Xiaoying laughed. "As long as Yina picks someone decent, I'll support her. You guys have your fun, but don't go overboard! If the guests find out, how embarrassing would that be?"
"Got it, got it," Jing Shaohuai and the others nodded quickly, whispering, "We're just betting among ourselves—won't let it slip."
"Alright, I'm off to get busy," Mi Xiaoying checked the time. "The banquet's about to start, so keep it low-key."
With that, Mi Xiaoying tapped each of them on the shoulder. "No troublemaking."
"Yes, ma'am!" they replied, laughing and joking.
Meanwhile, in the main hall, all the young men brought by their parents were sizing each other up, calculating their own odds of winning.
They were secretly rating each other, pretending not to care, while trading compliments in a round of business flattery.
Honestly, a room full of handsome guys is a real feast for the eyes.
It felt like the whole world just got brighter.
At that moment, Gu Miao and Count Field were waiting in a room for the banquet to officially begin.
Compared to everyone else's excitement, Gu Miao's gloomy mood was plain to see.
Count Field shot him a mocking glance, thinking, "A second personality is still a second personality—never fit for the spotlight."
If Gu Miao's primary personality were here, even in this situation, he wouldn't lose his cool.
Of course, if Gu Miao's main personality were in charge, he wouldn't let this happen in the first place!
Gu Miao had been standing by the window for ages.
He watched one handsome, charismatic young man after another enter Sunset Manor, and his heart grew more and more uneasy.
All these men were here to compete for Yina Yin.
The more Gu Miao thought about it, the more resentful he felt.
She’s his fiancée—why should he have to compete for her?
Seeing Gu Miao's pale, tormented face, Count Field sneered. "Regretting it now, are you?"
Gu Miao didn’t answer, just stared out the window, fists clenched.
Count Field chuckled coldly. "You brought this on yourself."
Gu Miao’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
Outside, the banquet was about to begin. The air buzzed with excitement and anticipation.
Inside, Gu Miao’s turmoil only deepened.
He couldn’t help but think—if only things had gone differently.
But now, it was too late for what-ifs.
All he could do was watch the game unfold, powerless to change a thing.
The sound of laughter and music drifted in, mocking his loneliness.
And the night had only just begun.