{Chapter: 161 Yan Ruyue's initiative and the jealous Gui Qingtong!}
As Yan Ruyue began walking toward Lin Yuan, the wealthy young men surrounding her struggled to maintain their composure. Though their expressions remained calm on the surface, their hearts were pounding with nervous anticipation and barely restrained excitement.
Each one of them silently hoped—no, willed—that she was approaching them.
After all, who wouldn't want to be the center of attention for Jiangbei's Ice-Cool Goddess?
But as they watched her graceful figure glide past, their expectations shattered.
Yan Ruyue didn't so much as glance at a single one of them.
Instead, her focus was fixed ahead—on the grand staircase leading to the second-floor entrance.
"Wait… is she walking toward the entrance?"
"No way… Don't tell me…"
"Is she going to meet Lin Yuan?"
A ripple of disbelief spread through the crowd like wildfire.
"That can't be! Is she actually approaching the young master of the Lin family?"
"Impossible…"
Though everyone admitted that Lin Yuan was undeniably good-looking and came from an established and powerful family, the last thing they remembered was that the engagement between him and Yan Ruyue had already been dissolved.
"Wasn't he the lovesick fool who kept chasing after her, only to be repeatedly rejected and humiliated?"
"Didn't Yan Ruyue despise him the most?"
Suspicion and curiosity swirled through the minds of everyone present like a brewing storm.
Some still tried to convince themselves otherwise.
"Maybe she's just heading downstairs and he's blocking the way…"
"Yeah, that must be it."
"Or maybe she's going to scold him again. After all, how can she let that kind of guy keep pestering her like a dog?"
People scrambled to create logical explanations to soothe their egos and maintain their imagined superiority over Lin Yuan.
"The young master of the Lin family? He's just a pitiful guy who still dreams of her, and now she's going down just to avoid eye contact!"
"Exactly! Sure, he might be tall and handsome, and his family has money, but that's it. Compared to us? He's nothing! Yan Ruyue was right to break off the engagement!"
Their mockery and dismissive comments echoed through the crowd as they mentally downgraded Lin Yuan, labeling him as nothing more than an obsessed fool, a man destined to be ignored.
But then—
Everything they assumed was obliterated in an instant.
Right before their eyes, Yan Ruyue walked straight up to Lin Yuan.
Her face, usually cold and untouchable like a snowy mountain peak, suddenly melted into a warm spring breeze. That icy aura of detachment dissipated as she looked at Lin Yuan with a peach blossom smile—a smile so radiant and soft it could make flowers bloom in winter.
"You're here," Yan Ruyue said gently, her voice carrying an undeniable trace of joy and familiarity.
Lin Yuan's lips curved into a calm smile as he responded, "Yeah, I'm here."
That brief, casual exchange was like a thunderclap in the hearts of the men who had been watching.
Silence.
The atmosphere went completely still. You could almost hear the sound of dozens of hearts breaking in unison.
Kacha…
Their expressions froze, their minds blank.
How could this be?
How could that guy—the one they had just been ridiculing—be the recipient of such a soft and sincere gaze from the Ice Goddess herself?
They could hardly process it. How could someone like Lin Yuan, who they had all regarded as a pathetic, love-struck fool, suddenly be standing there with Yan Ruyue smiling at him like that?
Envy surged in their veins like poison.
And what followed shattered any last hope they had of winning Yan Ruyue's attention.
She twirled.
Without warning, Yan Ruyue did a graceful spin in front of Lin Yuan, her black strapless gown fluttering slightly with her motion. Her cheeks were flushed with a shy blush, and her eyes never left Lin Yuan's face.
Her voice was soft, uncertain—unlike anything they had heard from her before.
"This… this look today… Is it okay?" she asked timidly, her tone filled with anticipation.
It was a rare sight. This was no longer the cold, unreachable heiress.
This was a woman nervously seeking the approval of the man she admired.
The gown she wore was clearly chosen with care. It resembled the elegant outfit from that unforgettable day, down to the strappy high heels—the very same heels Lin Yuan had bought for her.
Lin Yuan's eyes calmly scanned her from head to toe. He gave a sincere nod of approval, a trace of fondness in his voice.
"Well, it is very suitable and beautiful."
The compliment hit her like a gentle breeze, and her entire face lit up.
Her smile deepened, brighter than before. The color in her cheeks intensified, but instead of hiding it, she looked at Lin Yuan with growing boldness.
"And… and you… you look really handsome tonight, too…" she said, stumbling slightly over her words as she mustered the courage to return the praise.
Lin Yuan smiled again, his composure never faltering. He nodded and replied softly, "Thank you."
---
It wasn't just the group of wealthy young heirs who overheard the exchange between Lin Yuan and Yan Ruyue—others present at the banquet who were familiar with both of them also caught the conversation.
And like a pebble tossed into a calm lake, shockwaves rippled through the crowd.
"What… is going on here?"
"Is that really the famous ice-cold president?"
"Isn't she known for being completely indifferent to men?"
"Why is she acting so warm and affectionate toward Lin Yuan?"
"She looks genuinely happy just because Lin Yuan complimented her?"
"Did she really praise Lin Yuan for being handsome?"
"Just earlier, she was giving everyone the cold shoulder—but now she's smiling like a girl in love just because of a few words from him?"
"And Lin Yuan… wasn't he the one always chasing her around like a licking dog?"
"Why is he standing there now so calm and dignified—completely unfazed even as Yan Ruyue takes the initiative?"
It was as if the entire world had flipped upside down.
Everything they thought they knew about the dynamics between Lin Yuan and Yan Ruyue had just been thrown into question.
The rich young masters—once full of smug pride—now looked utterly dejected and humiliated. Their dreams were being crushed right before their eyes.
They had assumed Yan Ruyue came to the banquet just to make an appearance. That her elegant dress, flawless makeup, and designer heels were just part of her usual image.
Some secretly dared to imagine she had dressed up to impress one of them.
But now? Listening to her gentle words, watching her expressive eyes, and seeing how she beamed when Lin Yuan spoke—it was undeniable.
She had dressed up for him. For Lin Yuan.
That realization hit like a slap to the face.
"No way! There's no way Miss Yan did all this for him!"
"Those heels match her perfectly. They elevate her elegance—how could they be worn just to impress Lin Yuan?"
"I… I feel like she's the one chasing him! Not the other way around!"
"Yes… like she's the licking dog?"
The bitter taste of jealousy coated their tongues. Their pride, hearts, and self-esteem took a heavy blow. Some clenched their fists; others turned their faces away in frustration.
And it wasn't just the men who were emotionally shaken.
Even among the women present, there were subtle signs of envy. Some bit their lips, others glanced repeatedly between Yan Ruyue and Lin Yuan, visibly upset by the intimacy between them.
Following Lin Yuan upstairs were Yu Shanshan, Lu Xiaoxue, and a few girls from earlier—the ones who had mocked him, certain he was just Yan Ruyue's infatuated follower.
Now those same girls were left stunned.
They had laughed and whispered behind Lin Yuan's back, calling him a pathetic licking dog. But at this moment, the scene playing out before them told a different story.
It was Yan Ruyue who smiled nervously.
It was Yan Ruyue who sought his approval.
It was Yan Ruyue who took the initiative.
Their expressions froze as the truth settled in.
It turned out that Yu Shanshan was right. Lin Yuan was not really a licking dog, but it appears to be Yan Ruyue.
Also, seeing Yan Ruyue so close to Lin Yuan, they are a little jealous.
And seeing Lin Yuan and Yan Ruyue talking so close together, Yu Shanshan was a little upset.
Yu Shanshan, although she had defended Lin Yuan earlier, still couldn't hide the discomfort stirring in her heart.
She didn't like Yan Ruyue— And while she could admit that Yan Ruyue had changed, becoming gentler and more genuine toward him, Yu Shanshan simply couldn't bring herself to like her.
In her eyes, Yan Ruyue still wasn't the best match.
Chi Qian is more worthy of Lin Yuan, she thought to herself. Chi Qian's elegance and warmth are irreplaceable.
Yu Shanshan quietly sulked as she trailed behind the group, her gaze occasionally flickering toward the pair.
If Chi Qian hadn't been absent tonight, Yan Ruyue wouldn't have had the chance to shine like this, she thought bitterly.
But Yu Shanshan wasn't the only one with complicated feelings.
From across the hall, another pair of eyes had been fixed on Lin Yuan this entire time.
Gui Qingtong stood beside her mother, Mei Yuxian, engaged in a polite conversation with some prominent guests. Yet her attention never wavered from Lin Yuan.
Watching Yan Ruyue so close to him… hearing her laugh, seeing her twirl like a young girl in love—it triggered something sharp and painful in Gui Qingtong's chest.
She clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning pale and felt unhappy.
She felt some strange pain in her heart.
Jealousy flickered unmistakably in her gaze.
And as if fate were playing a cruel trick, Yan Ruyue happened to look up—and their eyes met across the room.
Yan Ruyue froze for a second.
She recognized that look immediately.
As a woman, she understood that kind of jealousy too well.
And it stung more than she expected.
She had heard from her mother, Song Xuan, that Gui Qingtong would be introduced to Lin Yuan. That thought alone already made her uncomfortable.
But seeing Gui Qingtong staring at her Lin Yuan with those jealous eyes—it made her even more unsettled.
It wasn't just a rivalry now—it was a threat.
Her brows twitched ever so slightly as her emotions shifted. Beneath her calm expression, a storm of thoughts began brewing.
Without breaking her gaze from Gui Qingtong, Yan Ruyue subtly lifted her slender, graceful leg—raising it just a few centimeters off the ground.
It was a small movement. Deliberate, elegant, confident.