With Old Master Su's words, Chen Feng felt a wave of relief. Su Ziye also broke into a smile.
"That's right, Grandfather. Chen Feng is sensible and humble. He would never deliberately deceive you."
The guests present nodded in agreement. Theoretically, given the Chen Family's background, there was no need to forge anything, let alone swagger around with a counterfeit. It was well known that the current Chen Family was a notch above the Su Family in status. In Hangcheng City, Chen Feng's father was an undisputed dragon among men. Such a prominent family wouldn't stoop to faking a Mountain and River Map.
Most likely, he had been scammed!
"Old Master, Ziye and I have been in love for a long time," Chen Feng announced, his words sending a stir through the room. "My intention today was to take this opportunity to discuss our marriage."
Su Ziye nodded, her cheeks flushing with a hint of excitement.
At the same time, the young master of the Chen Family waved his hand grandly, declaring with a swagger, "Old Master, rest assured, I, Chen Feng, will be part of the Su Family from now on. The Su Family's affairs are my affairs. Today, I'll cover all the drinks for this banquet. Consider it a celebration for Ziye and me tying the knot soon."
Instantly, thunderous applause erupted, mixed with incessant shouts of congratulations. Engulfed by the crowd, Old Master Su's face was flushed and he was beaming with joy.
Su Xiyang stood on the periphery, shaking her head in resignation. Thirty years ago, her grandfather had been a figure in Hangcheng City who could summon the wind and rain. Though he had fallen from grace, his ambition was undiminished. He pinned his hopes on the younger generation, hoping to use aristocratic marriages to make the Su Family rise once more.
For Su Xiyang to have caught the eye of Wang Yanwen was, in the old master's view, a perfect opportunity for the Su Family to leap through the dragon's gate. However, Su Xiyang had refused. This refusal naturally displeased Old Master Su, and he hadn't given her a single pleasant look recently.
Perhaps, for Grandfather, the happiness of us granddaughters isn't important. What he cares about is whether he can use us as bargaining chips for the Su Family's resurgence.
Su Xiyang sighed, feeling a bit lost. Great families have always been as deep and treacherous as the sea.
Shen Fanyun understood this as well. He reached out and patted Su Xiyang's shoulder in a comforting gesture.
Su Xiyang instinctively dodged his touch. She disliked even the slightest physical contact with anyone, regardless of gender or relationship.
"Now, about your father?" Shen Fanyun said, getting back on track.
Only then did Su Xiyang remember. She looked around but couldn't see Su Ming anywhere. It was strange. Her father wouldn't miss such an important occasion, especially since it was at their own home. Where could he have gone so late at night?
"Hey? You... you're Shen Fanyun?"
A voice, full of astonishment and surprise, came from behind. The newcomer, a young man who had just entered, had average looks but carried himself well. That was the advantage of being rich—even if you were as ugly as a toad, once you were spruced up, you became a golden toad.
Shen Fanyun frowned and turned to look. It had been so long that for a moment, he couldn't recall who this was, though there was a vague sense of familiarity.
Su Xiyang was equally puzzled. She had assumed Shen Fanyun was an outsider, yet here in her own home, she had met someone who knew him. The man had called him by his full name, so there was probably no mistake. She recognized this person. His name was Hong Tao, and his family ran a small business. It wasn't large, but in the eyes of ordinary people, they were at the top of the world.
"His name is Hong Tao," Su Xiyang whispered.
"Hong Tao?" Shen Fanyun murmured, and then it finally came back to him. This was one of his former classmates and also one of Han Feng's little lackeys. After more than a decade, the Hong Tao he remembered as being fat with big ears had transformed. Not only was he fit and sturdy, but all traces of his former chubbiness were gone. No wonder he hadn't recognized him at first glance.
"It really is you." Hong Tao moved closer, looking Shen Fanyun up and down.
Su Xiyang suddenly took a disliking to Hong Tao's actions. His gaze didn't hold the joy and excitement of a long-awaited reunion. Instead, there was a hint of schadenfreude. Weren't they classmates? Did they have some kind of deep-seated grudge against each other?
"You... you actually dared to come back to Hangcheng City, heh," Hong Tao remarked provocatively, retracting his gaze. The statement left Su Xiyang completely baffled.
Shen Fanyun asked, "Why wouldn't I dare to come back?"
"Back then, *he* made it very clear that if you dared to return, he'd break both your legs without hesitation. You didn't think he was joking, did you?"
The person Hong Tao referred to was, of course, Han Feng, one of the most powerful scions in Hangcheng City. As he spoke of him, Hong Tao's tone dripped with an unbearable arrogance and pride, as if mentioning Han Feng was like boasting about eighteen generations of his own ancestors, filling him with immense pride.
Shen Fanyun shook his head. A person's appearance and build might change, but their character... that's a different story. As the saying goes, a leopard can't change its spots, and Hong Tao is a prime example. I wonder what sense of superiority he gets from kissing up to Han Feng like this.
"Bro, you'd better run. We were classmates, after all. I can pretend I didn't see you tonight, and I won't snitch," Hong Tao said with a smirk. "Otherwise, if you stick around too long, you're one hundred percent going to be in trouble!"
He then muttered to himself, "I'll leave as soon as I deliver my gift. What a coincidence, I've got a class reunion to get to next—for our graduating class. Heh, what are the odds?"
"A class reunion?"
"It's been many years. I've really missed my classmates," Shen Fanyun said with genuine feeling. He wouldn't have known about it if Hong Tao hadn't mentioned it.
Since it's happening, why not go see everyone? After ten years, I really do miss some of the classmates I was close with. When I got into trouble back then, a few of them secretly helped me out a lot. I've always carried that debt of gratitude in my heart.
"You're not actually thinking of going to the class reunion, are you? Are you crazy?" Hong Tao's eyes widened, thinking he must have misheard. This guy is actually ignoring Han Feng's warning? Not only has he returned to Hangcheng City without permission, but now he plans to brazenly attend a reunion?
Shen Fanyun didn't answer Hong Tao immediately. Instead, he turned to Su Xiyang and shrugged. "Looks like I'll have to visit your father another day."
"Yeah, go do your thing," Su Xiyang nodded.
As he was about to leave, Shen Fanyun paused and said seriously, "If you're not comfortable sleeping at home, you can go to the suite I got for you."
Su Xiyang was speechless.
She knew perfectly well he was talking about the presidential suite at the Yunxiao Hotel. Yesterday, she had gone there just to take a look out of curiosity, only to be forcibly kept there by Shen Fanyun. She had been like a helpless lamb, completely at the mercy of that scoundrel as he had his way with her.
I won't be fooled a second time!
"Get lost!" Su Xiyang snapped. "There's no way I'm going."