Chapter 50

Chapter 50

On the day of the Yi family's engagement ceremony, the Lin family showed up dressed to the nines.

Everyone from the Lin side was there, except for Lin Chengyan, who was shooting a commercial.

Yi Lixian hadn't expected that when he'd just told his wife to make sure the Lins knew they "had to come," they would actually arrive in such numbers. It was a real show of respect toward the Yi family, which surprised him.

(To give someone "face" in Chinese culture means to show them public honor and respect—a key social concept.)

Smiling, Yi Lixian shook hands with Lin Rusong. "Thanks for coming out for this."

Truthfully, they were really just here for the drama.

But there was no way they could say that to Yi Lixian. Lin Rusong cleared his throat lightly and said, "The engagement of the younger generation is always a big deal."

While Lin Rusong and Yi Lixian exchanged pleasantries, Lin Tingyue, who was still linked arm-in-arm with Lin Xiawan, had already started looking around the room for the couple of the hour.

"Found them!"

Qin Jiamei, who was chatting with Bai Yaxin, paused briefly—what was that sound?

Still smiling, she continued, "Your son and daughter are both so outstanding. If they ever looked for partners, you’d be pretty picky, wouldn’t you?"

"When it comes to marriage, everyone feels the same way. But they’re still young, and kids these days know what they want—they might already have someone in mind."

Bai Yaxin’s words made Qin Jiamei sigh. "You're telling me!"

Her son was still putting up a fight even though the engagement was happening today!

Bai Yaxin joked, "What do you have to worry about? Your son is getting engaged."

"That’s true, that’s true," Qin Jiamei replied. Today was supposed to be a happy day—she couldn’t let her mood ruin the celebration. Smiling again, she offered, "Your seats are over there—I’ll show you."

Bai Yaxin declined politely. "You should stay here to greet other guests. We can find our way."

With that, Bai Yaxin called Lin Yuhuan, Lin Xiawan, and Lin Tingyue to follow her.

As for Lin Rusong… she had completely spaced on him.

Lin Rusong: "...”

He was used to it by now.

Seated at their table, Lin Tingyue was still bummed—she had caught sight of Yi Tianrui earlier but hadn’t gotten a good look. However, once most of the guests had arrived, Yi Lixian and Qin Jiamei came over with Yi Tianrui themselves.

They even exchanged business cards with Lin Yuhuan. (In East Asian cultures, exchanging business cards is a formal ritual that signals mutual recognition and respect between professionals.)

In many well-to-do families, once a child becomes engaged, they’re seen as stable enough to start taking on more responsibility.

It seemed Yi Lixian and Qin Jiamei wanted Yi Tianrui to connect with Lin Yuhuan early, laying the groundwork for future collaboration.

The Lin family didn’t follow such traditions, so even though Lin Yuhuan wasn’t married yet, he was already top of his game among his peers.

After slipping the card into his pocket, Lin Yuhuan turned and met Lin Tingyue’s wide-eyed look.

Thinking she was interested in such matters, he revisited an earlier subject. "I still haven’t decided on the candidate for that startup. Tingyue, are you interested?"

Lin Tingyue gave a quick head shake.

"Eldest brother is so impressive, I totally look up to you."

Lin Yuhuan: "…"

Thankfully Lin Chengyan wasn't here, otherwise he'd cause another scene.

Lin Xiawan offhandedly mentioned, "In a few days, my team and I are heading overseas for a tournament."

Lin Tingyue also looked at Lin Xiawan with admiration.

"Wow, Sister Xiaowan is incredible too!"

Lin Xiawan smirked in satisfaction and even took a moment to hand Lin Tingyue a dessert.

Lin Yuhuan: "…"

Are all the Lin kids like this? Am I the only sane one here?

"It's starting, it's starting!"

Lin Tingyue clasped her hands excitedly, and even Lin Yuhuan instinctively turned his gaze toward the center of the stage.

"Welcome, everyone, to the engagement banquet of Mr. Yi Tianrui and Ms. Jiao Yihan."

The host was enthusiastic, and the crowd responded with applause, getting the crowd pumped up.

But when the stage lights came up fully, everyone realized there were more than just two people up there.

Host: "?"

He panicked and checked his notes—there was no mention of three people.

And even the parents of both sides hadn’t come up yet, so what was this…?

The host quickly regained his composure and said, "The entourage can step down now."

No response.

Come on! The host was getting anxious. Anyone with half a brain should have left by now, right?

The host’s mind raced, but before he could salvage the situation, Yi Tianrui grabbed the hand of the man beside him and stepped forward boldly.

He grabbed the mic from the host and declared, "Everyone, today is indeed my engagement banquet—but not with Jiao Yihan. It’s with Wu Qisi."

Host: "?"

Not only was the host bewildered, but the entire audience was equally stunned.

Yi Tianrui looked lovingly at Wu Qisi beside him. "Even if my parents don’t approve, Qisi, I will still be with you."

Yi Lixian and Qin Jiamei were frozen in shock, and by the time they snapped out of it, Yi Tianrui was already about to leave with Wu Qisi.

"You disrespectful son, stop right there!"

Yi Lixian rushed onto the stage and blocked Yi Tianrui and Wu Qisi. "If you want to leave with him today, over my dead body!"

Qin Jiamei also implored, "Tianrui, how can your father explain this to the Jiao family?"

Jiao Yihan had never seen anything like this before and had already broken down sobbing, with her parents trying to comfort her.

Hearing this, Jiao Yihan's father said, "The Yi family owes us an explanation today! Is this how you humiliate people?"

Qin Jiamei apologized to them, but Yi Lixian's face darkened as he snapped, "You trying to start a mutiny? You *will* get engaged to Jiao Yihan today, or else—"

"Or else what? You want to kill me or Wu Qisi?" Yi Tianrui scoffed. "This whole time, it’s been *you* pushing for me to marry Jiao Yihan. You know damn well I love Qisi, yet you keep forcing the issue. This disaster is *your* fault! If you're so obsessed, *you* marry into the Jiao family!"

"You—" Yi Lixian pointed at Yi Tianrui, shaking with rage.

"Don’t even say it—but it’s true. Yi Lixian actually had an affair with the wife of the Jiao family’s second son. These past few days, they’ve been planning the engagement banquet together, and there were hints they were getting back together."

What???

Out of the blue, he’d been cuckolded. Jiao Hongchang was furious enough to explode. He turned to his wife, only to find she couldn’t even meet his eyes.

"Ahhh, you damn cheaters!"

Jiao Hongchang lunged forward and started fighting Yi Lixian.

Qin Jiamei jumped in to break it up, but eventually security *dragged* them apart. Jiao Hongchang was still cursing furiously when Qin Jiamei anxiously asked, "Are you hurt, honey?"

Suddenly, a man burst into the banquet hall and overheard her. He stared in disbelief. "Jiamei, weren’t you supposed to leave with me? Why are you still worried about him?"

Qin Jiamei stammered, "D-don’t be ridiculous! Today is Tianrui’s engagement banquet!"

Lin Tingyue’s vision swam.

"Who the hell is *this* guy?"

Even the bystanders were dying to know!

"This man is actually Yi Lixian’s younger brother?!"

"Ever since Yi Lixian rekindled things with another man’s wife, he’s grown more and more resentful toward his own wife, and his temper has gotten worse. Qin Jiamei kept confiding in Yi Liyang, hoping he could talk some sense into Yi Lixian. But Yi Liyang had been eyeing his sister-in-law for a while. He swooped in and… the two of them just…"

"This is a total trainwreck."

Tell me about it!

"You betrayed me?" Yi Lixian wasn’t stupid. With his own brother barging in saying that, if he still didn’t get it, he’d be a fool.

Furious, Yi Lixian raised his hand to slap Qin Jiamei.

But Yi Liyang shoved him aside and pulled Qin Jiamei into his arms. "You’ve been screwing around too!"

"I’m a man—I *can* fool around!"

"Since when does being a man excuse cheating?"

"That’s bullshit."

"Don’t worry, sis. I’ve got you."

With that, Yi Liyang straight-up carried his sister-in-law out.

"Holy crap, now I’ve seen everything."

After they left, Yi Tianrui also prepared to leave with Wu Qisi.

No way Yi Lixian was letting them walk out.

"Yi Tianrui, if you walk out that door, consider yourself dead to me!"

"Did you even think about me—the son you supposedly love—when you were cheating? Let’s get one thing straight: it’s not you cutting ties with me—it’s me cutting you loose as parents!"

Yi Tianrui was beyond disappointment. He wasn’t the least bit intimidated by Yi Lixian’s threats and simply turned away, taking Wu Qisi’s hand in his.

He shoved aside the bodyguard who tried to hold him back. Yi Lixian snarled through gritted teeth, “Fine! Go find my second son then. If I lose one child, I still have another!”

“Actually, you don’t have any sons left. Your eldest came out as gay, and your second kid transitioned.”

Wait, what???

The crowd was floored.

If Yi Lixian saw his second child now, he’d probably drop dead from rage on the spot.

Talk about perfect timing.

“Dad, what's going on? Isn't today supposed to be Big Brother's engagement party?” Yi Tianqi stared in shock at the mess before him.

Why was Dad battered and bruised while Mom and Big Brother were nowhere to be seen?

Yi Lixian eyed the woman standing before him—voluminous curls cascading over her shoulders and an hourglass figure—with suspicion. “Who are you?”

Tianqi tossed her hair. “It’s me—Tianqi, Dad.”

“You—you disgraceful child!”

His anger left him speechless, and sure enough, he collapsed unconscious.

The engagement party had gone completely off the rails, and the Lin family still hadn’t managed to eat a bite.

Fortunately, Lin Yuhuan had the foresight to book a restaurant ahead of time.

As they sat down, Bai Yaxin sighed, “Who could’ve seen this coming at an event like this?”

Lin Yuhuan consoled her, “There’s always a reason behind things.”

Lin Tingyue, who had been skimming the menu, looked up curiously. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, if Yi Lixian hadn’t been so stubborn and unfaithful, none of this would’ve happened.”

She nodded along, then returned to the menu.

“Wow, these pepper-salt shrimp look amazing.”

“Hmm… The steamed egg with sea urchin looks delicious too.”

“How about some abalone?”

“The cheese-baked lobster alone has me drooling!”

Everyone else was practically salivating but kept straight faces, while Lin Tingyue burst into giggles.

Everyone got to pick their top dish, and in the end, every single dish served was something she loved.

She was over the moon.

"Today went exactly how I hoped!"

Bai Yaxin said affectionately, "Dig in!"

"Okay!"

As they ate, Bai Yaxin noticed a woman and young man nearby who looked like mother and son.

She sighed, "Some parents cherish their children so dearly, while others insist on forcing their will on them."

Lin Rusong replied, "True."

Lin Tingyue looked where Bai Yaxin was staring.

"They're not mother and son—they're the mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law's lover!"

Huh?