Jiang Yingying clung to Zheng Yuan, creating an awkward scene.
"Oh, Yingying, what's going on between you and Young Master Zheng?"
A nosy noblewoman, thoroughly enjoying the drama, teased with a smirk.
She was Bai Xiu's aunt and Bai Shaojun's mother, who had always disliked Bai Xiu.
Now that Bai Xiu's engagement had fallen through, she was naturally in high spirits.
Jiang Yingying blushed and said, "It's nothing like that, Auntie. You're overthinking it."
"So, what exactly is the status of your engagement with Bai Xiu?" the noblewoman prodded, feigning casualness.
Zheng Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly.
He had heard about Jiang Yingying's engagement to the Bai family—clearly, she was trying to use him as leverage.
Truthfully, he had no real interest in Jiang Yingying, but after their one-night fling, he felt obliged to play along.
The Bai family was insignificant anyway—crushing them would be effortless, and this could serve as a convenient favor.
Zheng Yuan chuckled. "Modern society advocates free love. Arranged marriages are outdated. Besides, Yingying is beautiful and kind-hearted. If Bai Xiu wants to pursue her, he’ll need to step up his game."
"What nonsense! Why would I chase her?"
Bai Xiu yawned lazily.
Jiang Yingying instantly flared up. "You fatherless, motherless loser! Look at yourself—what kind of toad dares dream of climbing the Jiang family’s ladder? The Bai family isn’t even worthy!"
The entire Bai family’s expressions darkened.
Even the noblewoman’s face stiffened.
"If you want to insult Bai Xiu, fine, but why drag the Bai family into it?"
The Old Madam’s expression was complicated as she shook her head subtly.
Perhaps it was a blessing that such a woman hadn’t married into the Bai family.
An Yi’s gaze turned icy.
Bai Xiu seemed to sense his intent and stopped him with a raised hand.
He fixed Jiang Yingying with a rare sharpness in his usually indifferent eyes.
"Back when the Jiang family was ostracized and nearly driven out of the capital, it was the Bai family who sheltered you. When your businesses were on the verge of collapse due to poverty, it was the Bai family who funded you. And now you dare say we’re not good enough?"
"You bite the hand that feeds you. How amusing—the Jiang family truly has no shame."
Jiang Yingying’s face darkened. "That’s all ancient history. What’s the point of dredging up old grievances now?"
Zheng Yuan sneered from the side. "Bai Xiu, why argue with a woman? A man doesn’t need talent, but he should at least have some dignity—"
"Move aside!"
Suddenly, a petite waitress wearing a cap, babbling in an unfamiliar language, stumbled forward while carrying a large tray piled with sauces.
The silver tray went flying.
Thud!
Neither Zheng Yuan nor Jiang Yingying escaped—both were splattered head to toe in thick, sticky sauces.
The clumsy girl was none other than Ziyue.
Seeing her plan succeed, she couldn’t help but flash a mischievous grin.
Jiang Yingying stared at her ruined, expensive dress, her face purpling with rage. "You! You little brat! Do you have a death wish?"
Zheng Yuan, equally disgusted by the mess on his clothes, scowled but held back.
Having just preached about men needing composure, he couldn’t afford to lose face now.
"Ah-bah, ah-bah!"
Ziyue stammered, feigning panic.
Uncle Liu rushed over, apologizing profusely. "My deepest apologies, you two. This girl is deaf and mute—please forgive her."
"Being deaf and mute doesn’t excuse her! If her hands are reckless, she deserves to be hit!"
Jiang Yingying raised her hand to strike.
Ziyue quickly turned pleading eyes toward An Yi.
An Yi arched a brow and caught Jiang Yingying’s wrist. "Sorry, but she’s my sister."
"You—"
Jiang Yingying paled at the sight of An Yi, her bravado crumbling.
This was the man who had effortlessly taken down the Jiang family’s prized martial artist earlier.
With her wrist in his grip, fear surged through her.
Just then, a clear voice rang out from the entrance.
"The Qin family of Changbai Mountain—Qin Shan—wishes the Old Madam longevity like the pines and prosperity everlasting."
A burly young man, built like a gorilla, strode confidently into the courtyard.
"The Qin family of Changbai Mountain!"
The crowd buzzed with shock.
Though most weren’t deeply involved in martial arts circles, they knew—
The Qin family was a legendary ancient martial clan, its lineage stretching back dynasties!
These were no ordinary business families—they were untouchable elites.
Zheng Yuan’s eyes lit up with excitement.
Who’d have thought a simple birthday banquet would yield such an opportunity?
This was his chance to network with true power players!
To secure a foothold in the upper echelons of society, connections like these were indispensable.
The Old Madam studied Qin Shan curiously but smiled warmly. "Young man, you are…?"
She couldn’t recall any ties to ancient martial families.
Qin Shan grinned. "Old Madam, I’m Bai Xiu’s classmate—we’re like brothers!"
At this, Zheng Yuan and Jiang Yingying’s expressions soured.
"Big deal—so he has an influential friend," Jiang Yingying muttered bitterly.
She knew that if their bond was genuine, the Jiang family wouldn’t dare touch Bai Xiu.
Qin Shan’s gaze swept the room and landed on An Yi. His eyes brightened. "Hey, you—"
An Yi smirked and raised a finger to his lips.
Qin Shan laughed. "Damn, all four of us are here now! Old Liu’s lagging behind."
"The Liu family of Sichuan—Liu Dachao—wishes the Old Madam fortune as vast as the eastern seas, brilliance as enduring as the sun and moon."
Next, Liu Dachao sauntered in, dressed sharply in a white suit.
The moment Zheng Yuan saw him, he eagerly stepped forward. "Young Master Liu! What an honor to see you here!"
Liu Dachao blinked. "And you are…?"
"Uh, I’m Xiao Yuan! At the Wuzhou City banquet half a year ago, I was with Brother Sun…"
"Oh. You."
Liu Dachao’s tone was flat. He had no clue who this guy was.
Seeing even Zheng Yuan grovel, Jiang Yingying recognized a heavyweight. Ignoring her sauce-stained dress, she fluffed her hair and batted her lashes at him.
Zheng Yuan pressed on. "What brings you here today?"
Liu Dachao shrugged. "Old Bai’s my bro. Here to celebrate the Old Madam’s birthday."
"Old Bai?"
Before Zheng Yuan could wonder which Bai elder he meant, Liu Dachao had already slung an arm around Bai Xiu’s shoulders.
"This guy’s connections run this deep?"
Zheng Yuan’s stomach twisted with unease.
The Qin family of Changbai Mountain, the Liu family of Sichuan—these were figures he’d been desperate to befriend.
And they were Bai Xiu’s close friends?!
Shooting a glare at the equally stunned Jiang Yingying, Zheng Yuan gritted his teeth.
This damn woman had ruined everything!
Now, he didn’t dare hope for an alliance—avoiding hostility would be a miracle.
Then, another melodious voice announced:
"The Tang family of the capital—Tang Qingqing—wishes the Old Madam blessings of fortune, prosperity, and longevity, with all joys aligned."
Tang Qingqing glided in, radiant in an elegant gown, her beauty illuminating the entire garden.
Zheng Yuan stared, mesmerized.
Compared to Tang Qingqing’s natural grace, Jiang Yingying’s plastic looks weren’t even worth mentioning.
Jiang Yingying tensed immediately.
She recognized Tang Qingqing—the Tang family of the capital!
A powerhouse capable of swaying the nation’s political landscape!
Why was she here?
The Old Madam beamed. "The Tang family’s little princess lives up to her reputation—as stunning as the rumors say."
Today, Tang Qingqing set aside her usual brashness and, holding Old Madam's arm, flashed a sweet smile: "Hello, Old Madam. It's our first time meeting—I'm Bai Xiu's girlfriend."
The moment these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
agon king storylines. At the start, I obtained the "Ultimate Lackey System" - the more I act as a lackey, the stronger I become. What else could I do? I chose to become the personal henchman of the ultimate villain, Su Muwan. I provoke all sorts of chosen ones, snatch away their opportunities, and commit every evil deed imaginable. You ask who's behind me? Hmph! You're not worthy of knowing my lady's name! ...... ....... I am Su Muwan, the eldest daughter of the Su family. Since childhood, I've possessed extraordinary talent in martial arts, which led to my arrogant and domineering personality in my past life. I was even foolish enough to repeatedly challenge those favored by heaven, ultimately resulting in a tragic death. In this life, I must behave and absolutely cannot walk the same path again!! However... SLAP!! "So you're the Dragon King, huh?!" When I saw my little lackey swagger over and viciously slap the Dragon King who was hiding his identity, I felt my heart sink. Su Muwan's suspended heart finally died as she watched Qin Luo, her utterly loyal lackey, standing before her. She fainted on the spot from shock. Heaven is determined to destroy me!! (Pure love 1v1, light-hearted, no angst, single female lead, villain, reincarnation, lackey)
Explosive Plot Song Gua crossed over into another world, bringing along a whole crew of his doppelgangers—all of them mischief-makers. This was a world where everyone could choose a class. Song Gua became a "Bondweaver," capable of borrowing power, while his doppelgangers took on a wide variety of classes, covering just about everything. The number of doppelgangers grew day by day, each one a talented individual with a charming way of speaking. Under Song Gua's brilliant leadership, they would "greet" each other daily and engage in friendly "sparring," pulling off one major scheme after another on Earth. Sometimes they were bandits—stealing bosses, plundering mines, snatching resources. Sometimes they were saviors—descending like divine warriors to face world bosses threatening to massacre cities. Sometimes they even went undercover, infiltrating various major factions to stir up trouble from within, keeping their enemies constantly on edge. To prevent their doppelganger abilities from being exposed, Song Gua made them wear masks with mahjong tile patterns and don Taoist robes in various colors. "Remember, in front of outsiders, call me 'The Dice.'" "Got it! Boss!" "Not 'Boss'—it's 'The Dice.' Think about the vibe, pay attention to the vibe." "Yes! Boss!" "For crying out loud..." From then on, whenever they appeared, they would have their own theme song playing: ~Hey~ paying respects at the mountain stronghold at night~ whose arm is draped over whose shoulder~ gather your courage and follow along...
orn and Humiliation】【Forced Love】 In his past life, Lin Ran was betrayed and murdered by his girlfriend and family, while the yandere female aristocrat, who had treated him as a mere plaything, avenged him by doing in his enemies. Upon seeing the yandere female aristocrat lying in the same coffin, ready to die with him, Lin Ran realized how profoundly mistaken he had been. Reborn, he abandoned the fickle campus beauty and wholeheartedly embraced the yandere female aristocrat's arms. "Ran! If I dig out your eyes and turn them into a specimen, you'll only be able to look at me!" Lin Ran: "Darling, kiss me!" "Ran! If I break your legs, you won't run away anymore, right?" Lin Ran: "Love, hold me tight!" "Ran! If..." Lin Ran: "Hush now! Love me more!" Luo Yao: ... Seeing his scumbag dad: "Take him out!" Seeing his stepmother: "Get rid of her!" Seeing his brother: "Eliminate him!" Seeing his white moonlight: "Send that to Southeast Asia!"
