"What do you think of Jake?" Xenia's grandfather suddenly asked.
"Dad, isn't this a bit..." Dan understood what his father was getting at.
"What's wrong with it? I think Jake and Xenia are of similar age, and they get along well. If Xenia likes him, it could be a good match," Xenia's grandfather said.
However, everyone in the room understood that Xenia's grandfather's comment was not merely about their current relationship. It was likely because of Jake's background.
Despite Xenia's introduction that made Jake seem ordinary, almost everyone in the room found it hard to believe that Jake was just an average person. They assumed that Xenia didn't fully understand Jake or that he was deliberately hiding his true background. After all, casually gifting a high-level martial art manual was not something an ordinary person would do. Xenia blushed when she heard her grandfather's words. Although she had playfully teased Jake multiple times and felt a bit curious and intrigued by him, the idea of actually dating him felt unexpected and somewhat embarrassing.
"Grandpa, Jake is my teacher," Xenia explained.
"What's wrong with having a teacher? You'll graduate in less than two years, and by then, you won't be student and teacher anymore," Xenia's grandfather replied in an open-minded manner. "I'm not an old-fashioned thinker, and I don't hold rigid beliefs."
For Xenia's grandfather, the family's interests were paramount, and everything else was secondary. Since Jake was single and came from a strong background, he didn't want to miss out on this opportunity.
If their Xenia family had the support of a powerful martial arts sect, they could elevate their status and stability for centuries to come. "Dad, I think we shouldn't rush into this," Dan carefully addressed his father. "Xenia is an adult now, and this decision should be up to her."
While Dan also wished for the Xenia family to prosper, he cherished his daughter's happiness more. He didn't want to sacrifice her happiness for the family's interests.
In this regard, Dan was quite open-minded, something many members of prominent families lacked. In the eyes of many such families, including Xenia's grandfather, family interests trumped everything else. They would willingly sacrifice anything, even their own lives, for the sake of the family's interests.
"Narrow-minded!" Xenia's grandfather huffed, saying, "Everything that happened here tonight will quickly spread among the high circles of J City. There will be many interested in Jake, and Xenia's relationship with him is exceptional. We need to take advantage of it. Is there a more suitable alliance than marriage? Clearly, it was our Xenia family that first established a connection with Jake. If Jake ends up being taken away by other influential families in J City, we'll become a laughingstock and live in the shadow of those families."
It must be said that Xenia's grandfather had a broader perspective and vision compared to Dan. He could see farther and wider. Dan didn't know what to say; of course, he also hoped that the Xenia family could become the top family in J City. However, on the other hand, there was his daughter's happiness, which made him hesitate.
"Xenia, you've always been smart. You should understand the interests involved here. As a member of the Xenia family, you should consider the family's interests rather than just your own feelings. Moreover, I can see that Jake is a decent person. If you and he become an item, it might bring happiness," Xenia's grandfather said. He had always cherished Xenia, but when it came to family interests, that affection didn't count for much.
"Grandpa, I know what to do," Xenia said. She had been pampered since childhood, and now it might be time for her to do something for the family. Besides, she didn't really dislike Jake, and she even had some affection for him. So, her grandfather's words and decisions didn't make her feel uncomfortable.
"However, if Jake's background is really as you say, Grandpa, he might not be interested in me or our Xenia family," Xenia said.
Indeed, a family like the Xenia family seemed quite powerful in the eyes of ordinary people, even unapproachable. However, in the eyes of those who belonged to martial arts sects, especially those from well-established sects with great power that had existed for centuries, the Xenia family might not seem very significant.
Take the Celestial Moon Sect, for example. While it had significant influence in J City and the surrounding areas, it was still considered a newly established sect, less than two hundred years old. However, even such a sect didn't hold the Xenia family in very high regard. When Gary Elder came to the Xenia family, he still maintained a high level of prestige.
Xenia's concerns were not without reason. If the sect behind Jake was more powerful than even the Celestial Moon Sect, it might not see any value in the Xenia family.
Xenia's family members all thought her concerns were valid because they had interacted with these sects enough to know how arrogant their members could be.
"Do your best, and the entire Xenia family will be your support," Xenia's grandfather said, showing his seriousness about this matter. "You've always been outstanding, and there's no reason you can't win over Jake. Even if it doesn't work out in the end, there won't be much loss for our Xenia family."
In the end, Xenia's family decided that they wouldn't give up on either the Celestial Moon Sect or Jake. Dan would continue to handle the Celestial Moon Sect relationship, while Xenia would be responsible for Jake. Xenia's grandfather's suggestion was to try to start a romantic relationship with Jake, and even if it didn't succeed, they should maintain a relationship with him to keep the Xenia family connected, ensuring they wouldn't fall behind other families.
Xenia had mixed feelings about the task her family had given her. However, it seemed that she could openly tease or pursue Jake now.
Meanwhile, Jake was still unaware of the misunderstanding caused by his seemingly insignificant gift, which had garnered significant attention within J City's elite circles.