The Lin Family.
After Mu Chenyuan left, everyone else quickly followed suit. Since Master Mu himself said it was getting cold, it was certain they were going to target the Lin Family next! Not only did they have to leave, but they had to leave fast, even faster! It was best if it seemed like they had never been there at all!
Looking at the suddenly empty hall, Lin Shang's expression turned extremely ugly.
Bai Zhi's mother hurried over. She grabbed Bai Zhi and, not caring whether she was willing or not, simply dragged her away.
On the other side, Bai Qiwei, the Bai family patriarch, was also ushering the Bai Family's guests to leave.
"Brother, is it really okay for us to leave like this? After all, it's Bai Zhi's engagement party!"
Bai Qiwei glared at the cousin who had spoken. "What engagement party? We came here today just to meet the Lin Family and get to know them. If it's suitable, we become in-laws. If not, we obviously have to leave."
"Ah?"
In less than ten minutes, the once lively hall was left with only the Lin Family members themselves.
They looked at each other, the same thought echoing in their minds:
It's over. The Lin Family was finished.
They had originally thought that by Lin Shang currying favor with the Bai Family, they could ascend to a higher level. They never imagined that An Yan, abandoned by Lin Shang, had actually caught the eye of an influential figure!
Lin Shiping felt weak and collapsed to the ground.
"Dad!" Lin Shang hurried over and supported Lin Shiping. "Quickly, call an ambulance."
The Lin Family was thrown into chaos.
...
「An hour later.」
A Rolls-Royce slowly pulled up at the An Family's doorstep.
As soon as An Yan pushed the car door open, she heard an affectedly gentle female voice: "Oh dear, my young lady, you're finally back. Your dad has been waiting for you for several hours!"
The speaker was An Yan's stepmother, Bai Xiaoyun. Dressed in a sharp, branded suit, her corporate elite demeanor was quite clearly defined. Her facial features were striking, yet the corners of her eyes seemed to hook, hinting at a personality that wouldn't lift a finger without benefit. An Yan knew this woman had held a certain amount of power in the company over the years. Unfortunately, her father, despite his poor health, had always kept a tight grip on power. So, no matter how competent Bai Xiaoyun was, she was just a high-level employee.
Bai Xiaoyun put on the air of an elder. Her face was arranged into a warm smile she had clearly practiced as she stepped forward to help An Yan open the car door. She appeared gentle and amiable on the surface, but inwardly, she was full of contempt and scorn.
Although she hadn't gone to the Lin Family's event, she knew, crystal clear, everything that had happened there. Abandoned by Lin Shang at the engagement, and just to save face, An Yan had randomly grabbed a man on the spot. A girl raised in the countryside indeed lacked any discretion! She even dared to carelessly trifle with matters affecting her reputation. Hmph!
An Zhongbo, hearing the commotion, maneuvered his wheelchair out of the villa. "Yanyan, did something happen? Why were you so long?"
Before An Yan could even speak from the car, Bai Xiaoyun shot An Zhongbo a sharp glance and chided, "Can you even speak properly? What could possibly happen to the child?"
With that said, her gaze suddenly darted into the car. "Yanyan, who is that in the car...?"
Bai Xiaoyun lowered her voice and whispered, "Yanyan, your mother is no longer with us, and your father is a man, so some things are inconvenient for him to say. But as your stepmother, it's my duty to remind you that we girls should respect and love ourselves. You can't just get involved with any unsavory men, dear."
An Zhongbo's expression darkened, and he glared at her unhappily. "Shut your mouth. The child just got back, and you're spouting nonsense?"
Bai Xiaoyun looked at him helplessly, her voice tinged with grievance. "I'm just worried about Yanyan. After all, she's a girl. If some improper man were to tarnish her reputation, wouldn't you be heartbroken?"
"Improper man, are you referring to me?"
A long leg, clad in black suit trousers, emerged from the rear of the car, followed by a tall, imposing figure! The man exuded a powerful presence. His black attire, combined with his temperament, accentuated his distinguished aura. The overwhelming sense of pressure made Bai Xiaoyun subconsciously step back several paces, hiding behind An Zhongbo as she steadied his wheelchair.
Why had no one told her the man An Yan casually brought along was so eye-catching?
Upon seeing the man's impeccably handsome face, An Zhongbo was stunned. "Yanyan, this is...?"
"Li Tianyao! My fiancé!"
During that hour in the car, An Yan had already confirmed that she had provoked a man she currently couldn't afford to antagonize. This meant that from the moment he agreed, the initiative in their relationship was no longer in her hands. Fortunately, they were only engaged. There was still a long time between engagement and marriage.
"He's your fiancé??" An Zhongbo was shocked.
If he wasn't mistaken, this had to be the patriarch of the Li Family from Shangjing City, right? The formidable Ninth Master Li, whose words alone could bankrupt someone?
"He is your fiancé, then, then..." Lin Shang was nothing!
An Yan said straightforwardly, "Oh, I only found out Lin Shang was engaged to someone else when I arrived at the Lin Family, so I just found a temporary fiancé on the spot!"
"What?" Snapping out of his shock that his daughter's fiancé was actually Li Tianyao, An Zhongbo exclaimed angrily, "Lin Shang actually dared to cheat? Who gave them the gall? I'm going to call right now and cancel all cooperation with the Lin Family!"
"And the Bai Family!" An Yan reminded him.
An Zhongbo was momentarily taken aback and asked, "What happened with the Bai Family?"
"Lin Shang's engagement partner is Bai Zhi! I think, in this matter, it's unlikely only one side is to blame."
"You're right. There's no need to continue cooperation with the Bai Family either." An Zhongbo's face darkened. Over the years, out of consideration for Bai Xiaoyun, he had given the Bai Family countless benefits. He hadn't expected that after all those benefits, they still couldn't be won over and even dared to snatch his daughter's fiancé! Since it had come to this, he'd rather not have such relatives!
Bai Xiaoyun was startled. If An Zhongbo really turned against the Bai Family, what would she do? "Zhongbo, this matter isn't clear yet. Perhaps Lin Shang was the one pestering relentlessly?"
An Yan raised an eyebrow. "I heard that Auntie Bai was the one who set up Lin Shang with Bai Zhi!" An Yan voiced her suspicion with an air of certainty.
Then, Bai Xiaoyun panicked. "No, I definitely did not. Zhongbo, I knew Lin Shang was An Yan's fiancé; how could I possibly match them up?"
"Then why didn't you attend their engagement ceremony at noon today? Were you afraid of running into me at the Lin's place?"
Li Tianyao watched the young woman with great interest. He had to admit, her vengeful nature was quite to his taste.
Bai Xiaoyun was livid. She had always thought An Yan was just an unsophisticated country girl who had never seen the world. She never expected this little country bumpkin to be so difficult to deal with.
An Zhongbo had also figured it out. Bai Xiaoyun had always placed great importance on the affairs of the Bai Family. She was always worried that if she didn't act quickly, she, an illegitimate daughter of the Bai Family, would be forgotten. Yet, today, for such an important occasion as Bai Zhi's engagement, she hadn't mentioned a word about it from beginning to end.
Earlier, she had even received a phone call. The caller had said the Lin Family had broken off the engagement with An Yan, and that An Yan had grabbed some man off the street to slap Lin Shang in the face. The caller had belittled the man, making him sound worthless. But in reality, even if Ninth Master Li hadn't revealed his identity, his inherent aura was undeniable. Was the caller blind to think he was worthless? Clearly, the caller was trying to use Bai Xiaoyun! They wanted Ninth Master Li to become dissatisfied with the An Family, thereby diverting any potential crisis from their own Bai Family! Such a malicious scheme!
Bai Xiaoyun was still desperately trying to justify herself. "Zhongbo, I didn't go because I had to stay home with you and wait for Yanyan to return!"
"Shut your mouth!" An Zhongbo interrupted her irritably. "You don't even realize you're being used!"
Bai Xiaoyun froze, clearly not understanding.
An Zhongbo could only lower his voice and explain more clearly, "Li Tianyao is the head of the Li Family from Shangjing."
"What?" Bai Xiaoyun's mind buzzed, and her complexion instantly turned pale.