The room froze. Gasps and stunned silence followed as everyone turned to stare at Yu Zhengwei, then at Lixue.
Her cousins exchanged bewildered looks, while some of the older relatives gawked openly.
Even Yu Guangshan's eyes flickered with surprise, though his expression quickly returned to its usual stern one.
Qin Sayou, seated on the other side of Yu Zhengwei, looked as though she had been struck. Her elegant features twisted in barely contained outrage.
"Zhengwei!" she exclaimed, her voice sharp enough to draw everyone's attention. "What are you doing?"
Lixue hesitated for the briefest moment before walking forward, her expression unreadable. She moved with a quiet grace, her poise only serving to deepen the tension in the room.
Qin Sayou stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the polished floor. "You cannot seriously mean for her to sit here," she said, her tone low but furious. "This is the family table, Zhengwei. You're making a mockery of tradition by—"
