Chapter 10 Chapter 10

Chapter 10

1

The corridor from the front hall to the central hall was extravagantly carpeted in red, strewn with fallen petals, and the lanterns hanging from the eaves shone like stars.

Both the front hall and the central hall were filled with guests.

But people are ranked, and so were the guests.

The guests in the front hall could only get a distant look at the Chen family members, but having Mr. Chen's chief steward personally attend to them was already a great honor.

After all, there were far more people kept outside the door, wanting to enter but unable to.

The guests in the central hall, on the other hand, were on a higher level in terms of both status and wealth.

They were more composed and more resplendent.

Now, the Chen residence, which was usually gloomy and silent both day and night, radiated a different kind of decadent vitality.

Servants came and went in an orderly manner, carrying various exquisite trays to the tables before respectfully withdrawing.

Before them were rockeries and ponds, beside them were pavilions and towers. Everywhere was brightly lit, and guests chatted and laughed merrily, creating a truly decadent and lavish splendor.

The Second Young Lady, as the hostess of this banquet, was like a noble swan receiving admiring gazes from the crowd.

She lifted her chin haughtily, her long, fair neck adorned with a lustrous pearl necklace. Her smooth, delicate silk gown outlined her graceful figure. Wearing white gloves, her gaze haughty and proud, she stood at the center of the crowd, radiant and dazzling.

Ms. Liang, dignified and elegant, also wore a rare, faint smile on her face. Though it didn't show much warmth, it lacked her usual coldness and harshness.

It was said that the Chen family had always upheld the traditions of an aristocratic family. Seeing it today, it was indeed extraordinary.

Everyone knew the meaning behind this birthday banquet. Upon seeing the Second Young Lady, they all came forward to exchange pleasantries.

After a round of flattery, the Second Young Lady's face shone even brighter.

There were many promising young men present, and an equal number of young ladies with varied temperaments.

While the Second Young Lady was in her element, the Young Master looked annoyed. He said to the middle-aged woman beside him, "Auntie Chen, I'm still young. Isn't this too rushed?"

Facing this young man she had raised since childhood, the middle-aged woman's expression was gentle, her eyes holding a rare tenderness.

"Young Master, this is the Master and Madam's wish."

But the *gaokao* was coming up soon; the Young Master had no mind for this.

Moreover, he felt all those radiant young ladies looked the same.

Today, Mr. Chen was not present, and Ms. Liang was by the Second Young Lady's side. After the middle-aged woman left, the Young Master glanced around and immediately slipped away from the crowd, finding a quiet corner to hide in within minutes.

He truly didn't understand. Ever since his eighteenth birthday, his father had been insisting he marry early.

As if this were the most important thing in his life.

He didn't understand, found it absurd, and even felt fear due to his father's intensely oppressive attitude.

So much so that he now dreaded marriage and having children, his heart only wanting to escape.

—

Just as the banquet reached its most harmonious and lively moment, the sound of someone being stopped came from outside the door. A woman walked in openly and unabashedly.

When Lin Chenxin stepped across the threshold, the servants outside knew they couldn't stop her. Not daring to disrupt the atmosphere inside, they all stood pale-faced outside the door.

Ms. Liang's expression turned slightly cold. She gave a meaningful glance, and the servants outside immediately left, looking relieved.

Lin Chenxin walked up to the Second Young Lady without any reservation and said with a smile, "Living in the same residence, such a major event as the Second Young Lady's birthday banquet, and I, as the elder sister-in-law, was actually unaware. I'm so embarrassed."

The surroundings quickly fell silent. Everyone looked as one at this suddenly appearing young woman.

She was dressed simply, her demeanor casual; she didn't look at all like someone who had come to attend the banquet properly.

The Second Young Lady's expression could no longer be described as merely unpleasant.

"Elder sister-in-law? Could it be the Eldest Young Master Chen's..." someone beside her remarked.

The Eldest Young Master of the Chen family was indeed a mysterious figure.

It was said he had been frail since childhood, always confined at home, not even attending school outside.

Those outside only knew of the existence of the Eldest Young Master but had never seen his face.

Of course, what was most widely known about Eldest Young Master Chen were the incidents some time ago where both his newlywed wives had died suddenly.

Perhaps it was considered too inauspicious, but this recent wedding was held so quietly that no one knew about it; it was completed without a sound.

One person said to a middle-aged man in a suit beside him, "I heard your daughter visited the Chen family some time ago. Why didn't it work out?"

The middle-aged man replied without changing his expression, "Young people's marriages should be based on mutual consent. It seems there was a more suitable match."

The person beside him smiled and said no more.

For some reason, the brides the Chen family found for that Eldest Young Master were all girls from ordinary backgrounds.

The first two were, and this one even more so.

They say a fallen phoenix is not as good as a chicken, but this Lin's Pastry Shop couldn't even be considered a phoenix's tail feather.

Now fallen into decline, burdened with bad debts, it was even more unfit for such an occasion.

Now entering the Chen family, it wouldn't be that one offered herself for money and the other went along with it...

But this Miss Lin certainly had a tough fate.

A flicker of mockery passed through someone's eyes, revealing a faint, ambiguous smile.

Yes, they knew this Miss Lin.

Noticing the ill-intentioned gaze from the side, Lin Chenxin turned her head and directly met the man's eyes.

The man's expression faltered slightly. He straightened up, but his gaze did not soften.

Lin Chenxin didn't speak, nor did she fear the eyes looking at her from all around. She just looked at the man expressionlessly.

Her aura was exceptionally open and upright, carrying a sharpness that made one almost ashamed to meet her gaze directly.

In the quiet air, this tall, burly man actually grew uncomfortable under Lin Chenxin's unwavering, unflinching stare.

Suddenly, he was the one everyone was staring at.

Just as the surrounding gazes began to turn toward the man, he picked up a wine glass to cover his face, a flicker of humiliated anger flashing in his eyes.

Lin Chenxin casually looked away, without a hint of triumph on her face, remaining calm yet exuding a presence too striking to ignore.

“Why so quiet? Eat and drink as you please. I’m not here to cause trouble—I’m just here to celebrate in my capacity as the sister-in-law.” Lin Chenxin raised the corners of her eyes, looking directly at Ms. Liang and the Second Young Miss.

A lavishly dressed young lady remarked, “So where's your gift?”

“What do you mean? I do.”

“Where is it?” the Second Young Miss sneered.

Lin Chenxin lifted her chin and declared with righteous confidence, “My heartfelt sincerity.”

The air fell silent for two seconds before laughter rippled through the crowd.

Seeing the Second Young Miss’s stormy expression, Lin Chenxin curled her lips into a playful smile. “What, do you think my heartfelt sincerity isn’t precious enough?”

Just as the Second Young Miss was about to lose her temper, Ms. Liang gave a sidelong glance and said, “Please escort the Young Mistress to her seat.”

The middle-aged woman immediately stepped toward Lin Chenxin.

Lin Chenxin glanced at the woman’s outstretched hand and avoided it. “Don’t get handsy in public—people might think you’re trying to threaten me.”

She strode forward without hesitation and unceremoniously took the seat reserved for the guest of honor.

The middle-aged woman’s eyes turned cold, but after a moment, she silently retreated.

After this commotion, the atmosphere had grown somewhat strange.

Many in the crowd exchanged meaningful glances.

They likely hadn’t expected this Miss Lin to be so reckless and unhinged.

Lin Chenxin couldn’t care less about what they thought.

Sometimes, it pays to be a little crazy.

“What a pity your eldest brother couldn’t be here. If he could see such a lively scene, he’d surely be delighted.”

Seated but still not settling down, Lin Chenxin offered a smile.