C38 It's All Thanks to You!

Shen Geyao could hardly believe her luck. Just moments ago, the man who had been holding her tightly was now sitting on the railing, gazing at her intently.

Not wanting to overthink it, Shen Geyao quickly stepped back, fumbling to zip up the back of her dress.

"Need some help?" he asked, knowing full well that it's nearly impossible for a woman to zip up the back of her own dress.

"Jerk! I don't need your help!" Shen Geyao shot back, determined not to go near him.

A playful glint danced in Liang Chenyu's eyes, as if being called a jerk didn't bother him at all. "Are you sure you don't need help?"

"Help yourself!" Shen Geyao's eyes inadvertently flicked downward, and her face flushed crimson. This guy could think of inappropriate things at any time!

Liang Chenyu glanced down, unable to suppress a soft chuckle. "It's all thanks to you."

"You're crazy!" With the zipper finally up, Shen Geyao didn't waste a second. She dashed towards the end of the corridor as fast as she could.

She knew nothing good ever happened when she crossed paths with Liang Chenyu. But right now, she was supposed to be Liang Xinghao's girlfriend. In the Liang family, she couldn't afford to have any ambiguous relationships with other men.

Her agreement with Liang Xinghao was still in place, and she couldn't break it unilaterally. Otherwise, Xiaoping and the other kids would be in trouble.

Shen Geyao hurried toward the main house, weaving through countless corridors. Finally, she spotted Liang Xinghao searching for her in the flowerbeds from a distance. She felt a wave of relief that he hadn't gone looking by the artificial lake.

Gathering her skirt, Geyao quickly made her way to Xinghao. He noticed her immediately, his long strides closing the distance between them. "Grandma's looking for you. Let's head back."

"Okay," Geyao replied, catching her breath as she walked over.

Xinghao, however, noticed something amiss, his gaze settling on her flushed face, his brow furrowing slightly. "What's going on? Why's your face so red?"

"I..." Her face reddened even more at the memory of what Chenyu had done earlier. To hide her discomfort, she looked down and mumbled, "I ran all the way here, maybe a bit too fast."

Xinghao relaxed, offering a slight smile. "It's fine. Grandma's really easygoing. She won't be upset if you're a little late."

"But you seemed pretty anxious," she remarked, sneaking a glance at him, surprised at how easily she had deflected his concern. This Young Master Hao wasn't as difficult to deal with as she had thought. In fact, being around him was quite pleasant.

"That's because I don't want to keep Grandma waiting. I want to give her the best," Liang Xinghao said with a smile, his elegance and warmth shining through.

Shen Geyao felt a bit moved. Young Master Hao truly cared for his grandmother, which was rare in such affluent circles.

As they reached the entrance to the banquet hall, Liang Xinghao paused and extended his arm. Shen Geyao was momentarily confused but then understood his gesture. She took his arm, and together they entered.

The banquet hall was beyond anything Shen Geyao had imagined, with its opulence and grandeur. The decor and arrangements were stunning, and there were at least a hundred staff members attending to the guests, even though it was just a family gathering with only a few dozen attendees. The staff-to-guest ratio was nearly two or three to one!

This event was more extravagant than any royal banquet from ancient times. It was a level of luxury Shen Geyao couldn't have fathomed before coming here.

"Yao, you're here," the matriarch called out from a distance, waving her over. "Come here."

Liang Xinghao gently led Shen Geyao to the center of the banquet hall.

As soon as she arrived, countless eyes turned to Shen Geyao. Tonight's gathering was mostly attended by members of the Liang family. The matriarch preferred smaller gatherings; otherwise, there would have been many more people present.

"Let me introduce everyone to our family's newest member, Yao," the matriarch announced. It was clear she was fond of Shen Geyao, and with this introduction, her place in the Liang family was solidified. At the very least, she was now on equal footing with people like Liang Yueyin and Liang Yuqi.

In the corner, some complex glances were cast in Shen Geyao's direction. She knew there were many family members she hadn't met yet. Whether they were present tonight was uncertain; the family was large and complicated, making it difficult to recognize everyone at once.

The matriarch proudly led Shen Geyao around, showing off her future granddaughter-in-law. Geyao had no choice but to follow, meeting elegantly dressed women with titles like Eldest Madam, Second Madam, and Third Madam, which was enough to make anyone's head spin.

Third Madam Lu Qiaoyun, constrained by the matriarch's presence, showed no warmth towards Shen Geyao, but at least she behaved appropriately.

The other ladies, out of respect for the matriarch, treated Shen Geyao with a semblance of friendliness. However, what they truly thought in private was anyone's guess. Each one of them had their own hidden agendas, making the atmosphere even more complicated than the Shen family itself.

Shen Geyao was well aware that everyone had their own thoughts, but she never concerned herself with things beyond her control. After accompanying the matriarch for a while, they finally returned to the head of the table.

"Yao, let me introduce you to a few of your uncles," the matriarch said, holding Shen Geyao's hand and seating her beside her. This gesture was certainly enviable, as the seat next to the matriarch was usually reserved for someone specific.

Eldest Master Liang Tianxiang couldn't help but tease, "Mom, aren't you worried Laojiu will be upset that you've given his seat to this young lady?"

The matriarch glanced at him, still holding Shen Geyao's hand tightly. "Laojiu isn't that petty. Don't disparage him."

Only then did Shen Geyao realize that seating arrangements in this large family had their own significance, and she had taken the seat of this mysterious Ninth Master. It seemed that this Ninth Master was the matriarch's favorite among her many sons.

Just as they were speaking, a commotion arose at the main entrance of the banquet hall, seemingly due to someone's arrival. Liang Xinghao glanced toward the door, suddenly stood up, and announced with a smile, "Uncle is back."

Seeing this, he took the initiative to walk over and greet them.

From where Shen Geyao was sitting, he couldn't see what was happening at the entrance. He hesitated, wondering if he should get up and greet the newcomer as well.

Judging by Liang Xinghao's reaction, this uncle held a significant position in the Liang family. Xinghao had never shown such respect for any other uncle.

Who exactly was this legendary uncle, and what made him such an important figure?