His claim

The waltz carried on, their bodies moving in perfect sync, yet beneath the seamless grace, an unspoken tension simmered.

Guo Min's lips parted slightly, but before she could respond, Zihan leaned in, his voice a quiet murmur against her ear.

"They'll try again."

Her eyes flickered. "Who?"

His gaze didn't waver. "Your so-called family. They wouldn't have come tonight just to take cheap shots."

Guo Min smirked, unfazed. "Let them try."

Zihan's fingers pressed slightly into her waist, his movements unfaltering as he guided her through another turn. "They won't get to you," he said simply, as if it were fact.

Guo Min tilted her head slightly, her smirk deepening. "Oh? And what makes you so certain?"

Zihan's grip remained steady, his steps never faltering as he maneuvered her effortlessly across the dance floor. "Because they're insignificant." His voice was calm, but the steel beneath it was unmistakable. "And because you're mine."

Something flickered in her eyes—something unreadable, buried beneath layers of confidence and defiance. "Possessive"

Zihan didn't smile, didn't even react beyond the subtle shift of his thumb against her lower back. "I don't share what's mine, Guo Min."

The weight of his words settled between them, heavy yet thrilling.

She chuckled softly, dragging her nails lightly along the fabric of his shoulder. "Good."

The music began its final descent, the crescendo fading into something softer. Zihan slowed their movements, drawing her closer, his hand resting just a little firmer against her waist. "They'll come back," he repeated, his voice a quiet promise.

Guo Min met his gaze head-on. "And I' don't care"

A slow pause. Then, with a barely perceptible nod, Zihan let the last notes of the waltz guide their final steps.

As the song ended and the applause rippled through the ballroom, he didn't let go. Not immediately.

His fingers traced a slow, deliberate path down her spine before he finally stepped back. "Let's go and catch up with the others".

Guo Min arched a brow but didn't argue. Instead, she let him guide her off the dance floor, their departure drawing more than a few lingering gazes.

Wu Xiang, Yufan, and Wu Lixi were already by the entrance, waiting with the kind of ease that suggested they knew exactly where the night was heading. Ruoxi, ever the instigator, smirked the moment she spotted them.

"Done being the center of attention?" she teased, arms crossed.

Guo Min rolled her eyes. "Says the woman who thrives on drama."

Wu Lixi grinned. "She has a point."

The sudden tug of Zihan's hand sent a ripple of surprise through Guo Min, but she didn't resist. He led her up the grand stage with unwavering certainty, his grip firm, possessive. The chatter in the ballroom quieted almost instantly, heads turning, eyes widening with intrigue.

Under the golden glow of the chandeliers, Zihan stood before her, his tall, commanding presence making the vast stage feel small. Guo Min felt the weight of countless gazes, but her focus was locked on him—the man who had never once hesitated in his pursuit of her.

A hush fell over the crowd as Zihan reached into his pocket, drawing out a small, elegantly crafted box. The air shifted, anticipation thickening like an impending storm.

Guo Min's breath caught as he flipped it open, revealing a ring—one unlike any she had ever seen.

The Zhu family heirloom.

A breathtaking masterpiece of history and power. The platinum band was adorned with a rare blue diamond, deep as the ocean, encased in smaller, flawless stones. A ring not just of wealth but of legacy—one that had belonged to the matriarchs of the Zhu family for generations.

And now, it was being offered to her.

Zihan's gaze never wavered, dark eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. He didn't kneel—he didn't need to. His authority, his devotion, his claim over her was absolute, and he made it known with every measured word that followed.

"Guo Min," his voice was steady, low, but it carried through the vast ballroom like a declaration. "I am not a man who believes in chance, nor do I waste time on uncertainty. From the moment I decided you were mine, there was never another outcome."

Her pulse pounded, but she didn't look away.

"This ring," he continued, lifting it slightly, "is not just a symbol of marriage—it's a mark of my choice." He exhaled, slow, deliberate. "And you are the only choice I will ever make."

The weight of his words settled over her, wrapping around her like an unbreakable chain. She could feel the gravity of this moment, the finality of it.

Silence stretched between them, the entire ballroom holding its breath. But Zihan didn't rush her. He simply stood there, patient, unwavering, as if he already knew her answer.

Guo Min stared at the ring, at the man offering it. Then, slowly, she lifted her hand and he slid the heirloom ring onto her finger, the cold metal sending a shock through her skin. The fit was perfect—because, of course, it was.

The moment it settled into place, the room erupted into applause. Some gasped. Some whispered. Some, like Wu Lixi and Ruoxi, outright cheered.

But none of it mattered.

Because Zhu Zihan had just sealed his claim.

And Guo Min had accepted.