Extraordinary Realm from Persuasion System

After much talking and all kinds of excuses, Zhang Beixing reasoned with logic and moved with emotion. His lips nearly wore out before he finally persuaded Elder Chen to give up on the idea of matchmaking for him. He breathed a sigh of relief, still shaken by the experience.

Zhang Beixing quietly approached Liu Yi, lowered his voice, and asked in a hushed tone, "Teacher Liu, did you already know this was going to happen but just chose not to tell me?"

"Of course not, Beixing, you can't slander your master like that. Do I really seem like that kind of person to you?"

Naturally, Liu Yi would never admit it; after all, that was his only pastime.

Zhang Beixing's mouth twitched, and in a low voice, he said, "Then please explain why, after Elder Chen arrived, you just happened to appear three meters away, like you used some once-in-a-lifetime teleportation skill, right? But isn't your surname Liu?"

"Uh... well... COUGH, COUGH, how should I put this? It's a coincidence, just a coincidence!" Liu Yi argued stiffly.

Watching him adamantly deny it, Zhang Beixing's mouth twitched again, and he couldn't be bothered to argue. After all, what had happened had happened, and complaining wouldn't change anything. But he knew he had to be more careful in the future. Otherwise, one day he might just be conned by Teacher Liu into becoming someone else's live-in son-in-law! He was still young and had no desire to enter the marital graveyard so soon!

But to be honest, the Chen Family has a large estate and a prosperous business; that seems quite appealing...

Following Elder Chen, Zhang Beixing walked into the Chen Family's martial arts training ground. The training ground was spacious and imposing. There were quite a few wooden dummies placed around, with a huge open space in the middle where the Chen Family scions and disciples sparred and honed their skills. Beside the open space, quite a few people were standing—the Chen Family women who had arrived earlier via other paths.

Seeing them, Zhang Beixing was startled. It wasn't because they were exceedingly beautiful, beautiful enough that Zhang Beixing couldn't look away. It was because among them, Zhang Beixing saw an all-too-familiar face that should not have been there.

"Chen Rourou?"

Looking at the tall, fair, and beautiful girl standing among the group, Zhang Beixing was shocked to his core!

WTF? You're actually a member of the Chen Family? If you're from the Chen Family, then why on earth are you practicing Karate and badmouthing Martial Arts online? Dang girl. You're all about the shock value, completely turning expectations on their head, aren't you! With your 100-pound frame, you must have 99.9 pounds of rebellious bones in there!

These were the thoughts racing through Zhang Beixing's mind as he looked at Chen Rourou.

Noticing his expression, Elder Chen raised his eyebrows and revealed a knowing look. He cleared his throat with a couple of coughs, looked at Liu Yi, and asked, "Brother Liu, if I remember correctly, you're currently employed at Shi University, and young nephew Zhang also attends Shi University, right?"

"Yes, that's right. What's on your mind, elder brother?" Liu Yi replied, turning to ask, not quite understanding why Elder Chen was suddenly bringing this up.

Then, Elder Chen said, "Nothing much. I just remembered that I have a granddaughter named Chen Rourou who also studies at Shi University, in medicine. She seems to be quite well-known, selected as the campus beauty by those students who like to gossip. Brother Liu, does that ring a bell?"

"That... actually, no. Sorry, elder brother. Once I'm engaged in work, I don't pay attention to anything else..." Liu Yi was a bit embarrassed. In all his years working at Shi University, he had been fully dedicated to his job and hadn't paid attention to such matters. Besides, Liu Yi taught economics, which didn't intersect at all with Chen Rourou's field of study!

Elder Chen didn't seem upset; he just patted Liu Yi's shoulder and said, "Ah, come on, with our relationship, do we need to bring this up? I understand you. So, young nephew Zhang, do you know her?"

Zhang Beixing: "..."

I know her! Not only do I know her, but I also nearly got into a fight with your granddaughter and almost beat her up. Now she brings me milk tea every day to ingratiate herself!

Hearing Elder Chen's words, Zhang Beixing felt understandably awkward. If circumstances allowed, he would have liked to whip out his phone and record a VLOG titled 'What's it like to be treated well at someone's house after almost beating up their granddaughter?'

After a moment of silence, Zhang Beixing knew he couldn't hide it. So he nodded and said, "I know her!"

"Ha-ha-ha, as long as you know her, that's good. Since you're from the same school, young nephew Zhang, why don't you go say hello?" Elder Chen asked, inwardly impressed with his own cunning.

This is working out perfectly! he thought. I might be getting on in years, but I still have a thousand tricks up my sleeve! Just by having Zhang Beixing greet Chen Rourou, with her beauty, wouldn't this young man with so much potential be completely smitten? Then I can just coax Zhang Beixing into marrying into the Chen Family. If Zhang Beixing goes far on the path of Martial Arts, it will consequently boost the Chen Family's status in the Martial Arts world! And even if things go awry, with Zhang Beixing's solid footing, he could easily pick up some leg techniques. At the very least, becoming a leg technique master in Northern River Province wouldn't be out of the question! If nothing else, being a Direct Disciple of Teacher Liu as a live-in son-in-law would be more than enough!

Elder Chen's mind was abuzz with schemes.

Listening to him, Liu Yi, however, was starting to sense something fishy.

This treatment... How is it so similar to when I first visited the Chen Family years ago? No, not similar, it's exactly the damn same! Only the people have changed, and the spiel has been updated, but the intention hasn't changed at all. So after he failed to get me all those years ago, now he's targeting my disciple!

"Elder brother, this is a bit underhanded, don't you think?" Liu Yi pressed down on Zhang Beixing's shoulder, pulling him slightly back as he spoke to Elder Chen in a low, pointed tone.

Pretending to be clueless, Elder Chen laid his hand on Zhang Beixing's other shoulder and pushed outward, saying as he did so, "Brother Liu, what are you talking about? I'm just asking my young nephew Zhang to meet a fellow student. How is that underhanded?"

"Elder brother, what do *you* think?" Liu Yi's grip tightened.

Elder Chen was not to be outdone. "Brother Liu, as you know, I'm getting on in years, and my memory is really not what it used to be!"

Caught in the middle, Zhang Beixing thought: Are you two out of your minds? Damn it, if you two have a problem, settle it privately! Getting me stuck between you, with one pulling and one pushing. This is seriously messed up! At this moment, I feel like Emperor Xian from the game Three Kingdoms Kill. On the left is Dong Zhuo, dragging me back. On the right is Divine Cao Cao, pushing me out. I'm just damn stuck in the middle, unable to do anything!

Zhang Beixing's face twitched uncontrollably. He was so angry his veins felt like they were popping.

However, after a while of this tense standoff, Elder Chen and Liu Yi simultaneously relaxed their grips, looked at each other, and said in unison, "In that case, shall we meet on the stage?"

Having said that, both fell silent for a moment, then again in unison said, "Good!"

There was another silence.

Then they turned around.

Elder Chen said to Zhang Beixing, "Young nephew Zhang, I'm going to spar with your master now. During this period, you can chat with Rourou and the others. You're all classmates; you should have something in common."

Liu Yi then said, "Don't listen to him. It's fine to chat, but keep it to those of your own generation. Just chat with Elder Chen's sons. Chen Rourou is of a younger generation; it's inappropriate for you, as an uncle, to chat with her!"

With that, they paid no further attention to Zhang Beixing's reaction and headed straight for the open space in the middle, with a look that said today it would either be one's end or the other's!

Zhang Beixing was flabbergasted!

I chat with her often at school; what more is there to talk about?

Forget it, I'll try to appease both sides! Otherwise, when they start questioning me, I won't be able to face either of them!

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Beixing chose the most balanced approach. He looked at Elder Chen and Liu Yi. Noticing that they were still muttering trash talk and hadn't started fighting, he took the opportunity to walk to the side and strike up a conversation with Chen Fenghua.

"Brother Fenghua, is that your daughter over there?"

"Yes, Brother Zhang, my beloved daughter Chen Rourou." Chen Fenghua and Zhang Beixing had spoken before, so they didn't need to introduce themselves again. Zhang Beixing took the chance to confirm his suspicion: no wonder this old buddy looked familiar; he was Rourou's dad!

"Radiant beauty, unsurpassed brilliance, she truly is the pearl of a great household," Zhang Beixing racked his brain for some idioms and used them all, adopting the manner of an elder genuinely praising her.

"You flatter her too much." Chen Fenghua didn't doubt his sincerity and gladly accepted the compliments.

Meanwhile, not far away, Chen Rourou watched Zhang Beixing intently, her eyes wide as saucers, totally baffled. Ever since Zhang Beixing was brought in by Elder Chen, Rourou had taken notice of him.

First, I was surprised, then overjoyed. The flame of revenge that was nearly extinguished in my heart flickered once more. After all, where am I? The Chen Family! This is my turf! Zhang Beixing entering the Chen Family is tantamount to walking into a trap, asking for trouble! I could yell out and have twenty or thirty well-trained people round him up for a beating.

But, Rourou thought about it and still didn't act, because she knew that as good as it would feel to get revenge on Zhang Beixing now, her school life would be just as miserable afterward. Moreover, when Zhang Beixing came in, he was all smiles with her family's elder, obviously a distinguished guest of her grandfather. So, to get back at him, she had to find another strategy.

Just as Rourou couldn't quite think of a new strategy, Zhang Beixing was already chatting with her father and even came over to say hello to her, his manner considerate and utterly gracious, nothing like the threatening and intimidating persona he had shown her before.

"Miss Chen, hello. I am Zhang Beixing, a Direct Disciple of the Chen Clan, specializing in Yue Family Martial Arts."

"Good, good... hello..."

Something is off!

If only the setting were more appropriate. Otherwise, Rourou would have rushed up, grabbed Zhang Beixing's hand, and asked him:

"Beixing, are you really Zhang Beixing? If someone is threatening you, then blink your eyes, say something! Show the bastardly attitude you usually have, the arrogance! You being so polite is messing with me; what am I supposed to do?"

But unfortunately, Rourou couldn't act like this. And thus, she could only watch as Zhang Beixing and her father talked more and more amicably, moving from being peers discussing matters to calling each other brothers, until it was almost like they were about to become sworn brothers.

"Rourou, this is Master Liu's disciple. By seniority, you should call him uncle."

"Ah? That..."

"COUGH, COUGH, isn't that inappropriate, Brother Fenghua?"

"There's nothing inappropriate about it. We are brothers of equal standing; Rourou naturally should call you uncle."

In that moment, Rourou's eyes became empty, and even the small flame of revenge in her heart was snuffed out.

To put it in internet terms: The enemy has already taken our command post; this game is totally screwed! In the end, all of her inner turmoil reduced to a single sentence:

"Hello, Uncle Zhang."

"Sigh!"