I created the Bureau of Anomaly Control

Tang Xueluan's grandfather, Shu Shengyuan, wore a gentle smile, but this expression, which didn't quite belong to his age, suited his face perfectly. Ma En had felt a similar sensation with Xiaoyao.

When age and vigor appeared simultaneously on a person, they seemed neither like an aged soul residing in a middle-aged body, nor merely a middle-aged person who had lived a few extra years, but possessed a unique spiritual countenance.

It was as if they possessed the advantages of both the elderly and the middle-aged, while discarding most of the disadvantages.

Was this longevity?

The middle-aged man revealed an elderly-like, benevolent smile, and said in a gentle and patient tone:

"Ma En, my son is already waiting for you inside. He will represent the Shu family to discuss the matter you raised. This should be your first meeting, but you will definitely be talking frequently in the future.

"Yunpeng is the most outstanding young man in the Shu family. He will be responsible for more and more of the family's affairs in the future. Regarding the matter of Xiaoyao, he will communicate with you through Xiaoluan from now on. After all, this matter is not a small one for the Shu family."

His meaning was clear. Although Ma En could still maintain this cooperative relationship with Tang Xueluan in the future, Shu Yunpeng would definitely be closely monitoring matters concerning Xiaoyao. This was no longer something Tang Xueluan could decide.

This was also the reason he had been called here to meet with Shu Yunpeng.

Shu Shengyuan looked at Ma En with the benevolent gaze of an elder looking at a junior, and then said naturally:

"Yunpeng will discuss the specifics with you, but I came here not to talk about these things. I came here to personally see what you look like, to be able to make my granddaughter recognize you at a glance."

Ma En blinked, somewhat unprepared for him to say this.

Shu Shengyuan looked at him with a smile:

"It's not that I don't trust my granddaughter's judgment of people, nor that I don't believe in your abilities. I just don't think she could see through you so easily—the leader of the Salvation Alliance who is contending with us in the Southern Federation.

"No matter how good her judgment is, she couldn't really see through someone like you. Moreover, when faced with matters concerning you, she hasn't wavered even once. Even though we all think there's a cliff ahead, she insists on following you and jumping down. And after seeing you, I finally understand the reason for her unwavering resolve.

"Because of your appearance."

Shu Shengyuan's words were actually subtly speaking up for Tang Xueluan, but Ma En still didn't understand why he would say these things before discussing such serious topics.

To this, Ma En could only feign modesty and say:

"I think it's because Tang Xueluan understands how to communicate with us ability users. We have no interest in those roundabout tactics. Sincerity is the best key to our door."

Shu Shengyuan said with a smile:

"You're not wrong, but I'm not saying these words for nothing. I've lived for so many years, and I can see clearly what young people are thinking. You may not have noticed, but my granddaughter actually has some affection for you, so I'd like to ask you…

"What do you think of Xiaoluan?"

Sensing something was amiss, Ma En turned his head to look at Tang Xueluan. The beautiful woman still wore the faint smile she had when she first saw him, and no emotion was revealed on her face.

Shu Shengyuan didn't give Ma En a chance to answer, and continued directly:

"Although Xiaoluan is a few years older than you, she's much more beautiful than those twenty-year-old young women. And you've seen my current appearance. If she wants, she can look this young for the rest of her life.

"Moreover, you know Xiaoluan's personality. She's a particularly understanding and gentle girl, and she also has her own opinions. Not to mention, our Shu family's conditions can be said to be a good match for you. Her father can already be said to be the next generation's head of the Shu family. I think she's worthy of you.

"What do you think?"

As he spoke, a hint of expectation seemed to appear between Tang Xueluan's brows, but Ma En immediately realized that the object of this expectation was not the scene her grandfather described, but something else.

And at this moment, Ma En also noticed the strangeness of this "old man's" kind face. He had felt a strange sensation when he said the second paragraph, and now he could be sure what it was.

Utter hypocrisy.

That's right, Shu Shengyuan wasn't a real old man, so his deliberate pretense of a kind old man's posture was hypocritical. The following words were not a warm-hearted elder trying to matchmake his granddaughter.

But a cold transaction.

What he described was actually a "political" marriage. Obviously, Shu Shengyuan valued his current worth and was not reassured by his current cooperative relationship with Tang Xueluan, so he proposed further deepening the relationship.

And in this conversation, Tang Xueluan was one of the countless commodities in this transaction, and even one of the less important ones. What the Shu family really put on the scales was something more abstract and complex.

It seemed that longevity hadn't made him "better."

"I'm sorry," Ma En replied with a gentle and polite expression. "But I don't have any thoughts of starting a family yet. Right now, I want to focus more of my energy on my career."

Shu Shengyuan still wore the kind expression of an elder, and said enthusiastically as if he were arranging a marriage for his granddaughter:

"Is that so? It's very good for young people to think this way, but marrying my granddaughter will have considerable benefits for your career and abnormal path. Yunpeng is the most outstanding son, and Xiaoluan is now his only daughter.

"As long as you enter the Shu family, no matter what your surname is, you can be a member of the Shu family."

As he said this, he seemed to completely forget that Tang Xueluan could become an only daughter because her sister had been brutally assassinated not long ago.

Ma En still had a smile on his face, but his eyes became a little calmer:

"Miss Xueluan is a very good girl, but I don't have any feelings for her."

Hearing this, Shu Shengyuan nodded slightly, then smiled and reached out to pat Ma En's shoulder:

"I didn't expect that there are still young people in the Federation who are so pure in their treatment of love. Very good.

"Go in."

Then he stood there and watched them, while Tang Xueluan raised her leg to lead Ma En in. Just as she passed Ma En, she glanced sideways at him with a rather complex and subtle look.

And she immediately retracted her gaze, as if afraid that the man behind her would notice her movements, but Ma En still clearly received the meaning she wanted to convey.

And after excluding some vague and unimportant emotions, the remaining things gradually converged in Ma En's eyes into a thick emotion…

Gratitude.