“The Nangong family is here too?”

Lin Nantian was puzzled. The relationship between the Nangong family and the Lin family wasn’t exactly good.

Yet, they had taken the initiative to attend his birthday celebration?

Still, guests were guests. With a wave of his hand, he signaled for both families to be allowed inside.

A short while later, two groups of people entered the main hall, led by a young man and woman.

The man was handsome and exuded an air of dignity. His tall and upright posture instantly drew the attention of many young female members of the Lin family, leaving some naïve girls utterly mesmerized.

As for the woman, her eyes were cold, her features breathtakingly beautiful, and her entire demeanor radiated pride and confidence. She completely ignored the admiring gazes of the Lin family’s young men.

At this moment, some knowledgeable juniors of the Lin family recognized them.

“That’s Nangong Xu, the genius of the Nangong family, and Jiang Yanzhen, the prodigy of the Jiang family.”

The younger members of the Lin family couldn’t help but marvel at the pair’s appearance and aura.

“So, this is the famous Jiang Yanzhen from the Jiang family… She really is stunning!” Lin Tian stared at Jiang Yanzhen with wide eyes, his mouth practically watering.

“But the young master of the Nangong family is just as remarkable—so good-looking,” a female junior from the Lin family remarked.

“Why do they look so perfect together, walking side by side like that?”

Someone among the juniors blurted out the thought, and suddenly, everyone began to see them in a different light. The more they looked, the more they felt the two were a match made in heaven.

“If you ask me, both of them reached the Core Formation realm before the age of twenty, and both have formed seventh-grade Golden Cores. Jiang Yanzhen joined Cold Ice Palace, and Nangong Xu joined Xuanming Hall—both top-tier immortal sects. It’s only natural that they seem destined for each other.”

Jealousy was a part of human nature.

The Lin family’s younger generation was well aware of Lin Mo’s engagement to Jiang Yanzhen.

Some of them, unwilling to see someone they knew succeed when they couldn’t, began to stir up trouble.

At that moment, Lin Qingqing suddenly spoke up, “I actually think… Uncle Lin Mo looks even better than Nangong Xu…”

The surrounding gazes instantly shifted to her.

Lin Qingqing blushed and lowered her head shyly.

“Qingqing, don’t tell me you have feelings for Lin Mo?” Lin Tian exclaimed, eyes wide.

“Don’t talk nonsense! I just think Uncle Lin Mo isn’t any worse than Nangong Xu,” Lin Qingqing retorted, her face growing redder as she nervously fidgeted with her hands.

Her words unexpectedly resonated with some of the Lin family’s young women.

“Now that Qingqing mentions it, Lin Mo’s looks and presence really aren’t inferior to Nangong Xu’s…”

“That’s just appearance. In terms of strength, Nangong Xu’s Golden Core is seventh-grade. Didn’t the family head just say that Lin Mo’s is only fifth-grade?”

Every three grades in the Golden Core stage marked a significant power gap. A fifth-grade Golden Core was still far from a seventh-grade one.

Lin Mo had seen Nangong Xu before—just a hypocrite in his eyes.

But at this moment, his attention shifted toward Jiang Yanzhen.

More precisely, to the white-clothed girl standing beside her.

The girl’s beauty was on par with Jiang Yanzhen’s, but her simple attire made her seem less striking at first glance.

She appeared entirely indifferent to her surroundings, maintaining a cold expression throughout.

What truly caught Lin Mo’s interest, however, was not her looks but the fact that, despite being at the same Golden Core stage as him, she gave off an overwhelming sense of danger.

Even his grandfather, Lin Nantian—who was already at the late Nascent Soul stage—had never made him feel this way before.

Something about her felt deeply out of place.

Strange…

“Greetings, Patriarch Lin,” Nangong Xu said.

“Greetings, Grandpa Lin,” Jiang Yanzhen followed.

Jiang Yanzhen’s grandfather had a strong friendship with Lin Nantian, so it was natural for her to address him as ‘Grandpa.’

After paying their respects, Nangong Xu and Jiang Yanzhen presented their birthday gifts.

Lin Nantian didn’t pay much attention to the gifts themselves. He had always been fond of Jiang Yanzhen and specifically arranged for a seat beside Lin Mo.

Meanwhile, Nangong Xu was seated among the regular guests.

The two exchanged a glance but said nothing, taking their seats as arranged.

Lin Mo noticed their silent interaction but chose to remain quiet.

“Brother Mo, it’s been a long time!”

A faint fragrance wafted through the air as Jiang Yanzhen sat naturally beside him.

She stared at Lin Mo for a long while.

In the past, every time she saw him, he was dressed in plain white robes, looking somewhat unremarkable. But today, his entire demeanor had changed.

He was indeed good-looking, but in the cultivation world, appearance was far less important than strength, background, and talent.

Lin Mo responded with a soft acknowledgment but didn’t continue the conversation.

His indifferent attitude unsettled Jiang Yanzhen. In the past, Lin Mo was always the one actively seeking her out, greeting her eagerly.

Now that she had taken the initiative to speak, his detached response made her feel inexplicably displeased.

Lin Mo held no special feelings for this fiancée of his. This allowed him to view things with a clear mind.

He didn’t particularly care if he gained an extra Dao companion, but first, he had to determine whether she was genuinely interested in him.

However, from the past two years of memories, it seemed that ever since Jiang Yanzhen formed her Golden Core, she had been intentionally distancing herself from the original Lin Mo.

The last two times he had sent gifts to her, she had refused to meet him, using the excuse of being unwell and instructing her servants to accept the gifts on her behalf.

Seeing Jiang Yanzhen’s attitude today, Lin Mo could tell—this woman had no romantic feelings for the original owner of this body.

He shifted his gaze to Lin Qingqing.

Coincidentally, Lin Qingqing happened to look at him at the same moment. Her entire face immediately turned red.

See? This little girl was the one who actually liked him.

Lin Nantian noticed the lack of interaction between Lin Mo and Jiang Yanzhen and sighed inwardly, wondering why his grandson couldn’t understand his intentions.

So, he spoke up, “Yanzhen, you must be twenty this year, right?”

Jiang Yanzhen respectfully replied, “Yes, Grandpa Lin. I just turned twenty.”

Lin Nantian nodded, stroking his beard with a smile. “Now that both you and Mo’er have reached the Core Formation stage, it’s time to consider setting a wedding date.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yanzhen’s expression changed, but she quickly responded, “Grandpa Lin, I’ve only recently joined Cold Ice Palace, and I need to focus on my cultivation for the next few years…”

Lin Nantian interrupted her, “Silly girl, marriage is an important matter. Your Jiang family and our Lin family joining together will only benefit both sides.”

“Besides, a wedding only takes a few days. How could that possibly delay your cultivation?”

Jiang Yanzhen, however, argued, “But Cold Ice Palace has strict rules. Even if I get married, I won’t have time to interact with Brother Mo…”

At this moment, Lin Mo, who had been sipping his tea, set down his cup and smiled, “That’s not a problem. We can get married first and take our time developing feelings later.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed Jiang Yanzhen’s face turn extremely ugly—so much so that she even looked a little pale. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught her glancing at Nangong Xu.

On Nangong Xu’s side, he had clearly heard Lin Mo’s words, and his eyes were practically burning with fury, as if he was the one having his fiancée stolen.

Seeing this, how could Lin Mo not understand?

So, these two had already gotten together behind his back.

Poor original owner…

Every woman around him was more ridiculous than the last.

Alright then. Since that’s how it is, he might as well have some fun playing along with Jiang Yanzhen!