Chapter 63: When the Storm Does Not Pass
The moment the Leng twins left the dance floor, the suffocating tension in the room did not dissipate—it only thickened. The guests, high-status figures who had never been rendered speechless before, remained frozen, as if still processing what had just happened.
Leng Qingxue and Leng Qiuhan had dominated the entire event without saying a single word.
And that, more than anything, was terrifying.
Jiang Yuixen, ever the composed matriarch, sipped her tea with an amused glint in her eyes. "It seems my children have made quite the impression."
Leng Zhen, who had been observing silently, finally spoke, his voice calm but laced with approval. "It was never a matter of whether they would stand out. Only how much."
Their sons, positioned strategically around the ballroom, shared knowing glances.
Leng Yuxian, the eldest, leaned back against his chair, exuding an aura of unshakable authority. "It's fascinating how people keep underestimating them."
Leng Zhaoyan scoffed. "Not for long."
Leng Haoyu, meticulous and calculating, adjusted his cufflinks. "They've already made their move. Now, it's time to see how the others react."
Leng Yichen smirked, watching the fallout with interest. "And from the looks of it, not everyone is taking it well."
Indeed.
Ruolan stood stiffly by her mother's side, her face carefully neutral, but her trembling fingers betrayed her frustration. She had planned for this night to be her moment, the event where she would finally stand on equal footing with Qingxue.
Instead, she had been completely overshadowed.
She knew Gu Zeyan was watching, but he wasn't watching her.
His gaze was still following Qingxue.
Silent. Calculating.
Ruolan's stomach twisted.
She had worked so hard to craft the perfect image—the delicate yet intelligent young lady, the ideal heiress, the girl every young elite should admire.
Yet, no matter how much effort she put in, she couldn't change the reality that had been made painfully clear tonight.
Qingxue didn't even need to try.
And that was precisely why she was untouchable.
Gu Zeyan finally withdrew his gaze and turned slightly, as if sensing someone's stare. His golden eyes landed on Ruolan, indifferent. A mere glance before he looked away.
The dismissal stung more than anything else.
Before Ruolan could collect herself, another presence made itself known.
"Leng Qingxue, huh?"
The voice was casual, almost lazy, but the weight behind it was unmistakable.
Li Shen had approached.
Gu Zeyan's eyes darkened slightly, but he said nothing.
Li Shen chuckled, swirling the wine in his glass before taking a sip. "What an interesting little sister you have, Young Master Leng." His sharp golden eyes flickered toward Leng Yichen, who only raised a brow in response.
"You've been keeping her hidden for quite some time."
Leng Yichen smirked. "And yet, she still managed to steal the entire night without effort. Imagine what would happen if she actually tried."
Li Shen laughed softly. "Indeed. And that's exactly what makes her dangerous."
He turned slightly, glancing toward the twins, who had now settled at their family's private seating area. Qingxue, as always, remained composed, sipping her tea without the slightest concern. Qiuhan sat beside her, his cold gaze scanning the room, making it clear that any unwanted approach would be dealt with immediately.
Li Shen's smirk deepened.
Gu Zeyan, who had remained silent, finally spoke, his voice measured.
"You sound as if you're interested."
Li Shen's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Oh, I'm beyond interested."
For the first time in a long while, Gu Zeyan's grip on his glass tightened.
The storm had not passed.
It had only begun.