C12 Everyone Was Looking down on Him

Wei Zecheng pondered that since they weren't blood relatives, it was likely that their relationship could shift. With that in mind, he knew he needed to stay vigilant about how to protect himself.

"Ye Feng, as I recall, you were once just a regular student. Now that you've ascended to the role of the Ye family's Young Master, how does it feel?" he inquired.

Ye Feng remained quiet, unsure of what to say. Indeed, as Wei Zecheng had pointed out, he had only recently taken on the mantle of the Ye family's Young Master and was uncertain about how to navigate this new reality.

Under normal circumstances, his five older sisters would have come to his aid in such a moment, but Wei Zecheng's questions were straightforward, not leaving them any room to interject.

"Is this the first time the Young Master of the Ye family has encountered such a predicament? Are you unaccustomed to it, or just unsure how to respond?" Wei Zecheng pressed.

With each question, Ye Feng's head dipped lower, as if trying to shrink away from the spotlight, at a loss for a suitable reply.

"Were you often bullied during your school days, Young Master Ye? If so, it's time to stop being so timid. Hasn't anyone taught you that to avoid being bullied, you mustn't show weakness?" Wei Zecheng challenged.

"What exactly are you implying, Young Master Wei?" Ye Feng asked, sensing the hostility in his words, even if he didn't fully grasp his intent.

"I'm merely stating the obvious. I'm sure you've encountered a variety of people during your school years. How did you handle them?" Wei Zecheng continued probing.

"Life is full of encounters with all sorts of individuals. Am I supposed to deal with each one?" Ye Feng retorted, his response revealing his reluctance to engage with the question.

"You don't need to handle everything, but I remember you've been involved in quite a few incidents before. Shall I recount them for you?" Wei Zecheng's tone was taunting, and Ye Feng felt the sting of insult, yet he was powerless to respond.

He knew he couldn't forever lean on the support of his five sisters for survival.

"Back when you were in school, did a lot of things happen to you? Like, were you ever bullied, or if you were, did you find a way to fight back?"

Wei Zecheng noticed that Ye Feng was silent despite his prodding, and he took that silence as confirmation of the truth in his words.

Seeing Ye Feng's reaction only fueled his urge to divulge more.

He was eager to share Ye Feng's past embarrassments with everyone, hoping to sway Ye Yimei's opinion of him.

Wei Zecheng had been smitten with Ye Yimei for quite some time and had been actively courting her, but to no avail.

He brought up Ye Feng now because he had witnessed Ye Yimei's defense of him and sensed that there could be deeper feelings brewing between them.

If he didn't seize this moment, he might lose his chance with Ye Yimei forever.

Besides, the Ye family wasn't the untouchable dynasty it once was.

With the right amount of pressure, he was confident he could achieve his desires.

In the midst of Ye Feng's quandary, Ye's mother approached.

"Feng, there's another business associate I'd like you to meet. Please, come with me."

Ye Feng realized his mother was offering him an escape and gratefully accepted, following her away.

Now, only Ye Yimei, Wei Zecheng, and a few other relatives remained.

Wei Zecheng, undeterred by Ye Feng's departure, was ready to seize the opportunity to continue speaking, as long as Ye Yimei was present.

"I remember seeing Ye Feng before, when he was nothing but a poor student, scrimping and saving to buy gifts for a girl he liked. But that girl never gave him a second glance. What kind of money was he saving? Mere coins, five and ten yuan notes. It's anyone's guess how he managed to scrape together even that."

Ye Yimei, listening on the sidelines, felt a twinge of discomfort.

Yet, she couldn't offer any rebuttal at the moment; she had never walked in Ye Feng's shoes, nor did she truly understand his struggles.

As Wei Zecheng observed the growing contempt for Ye Feng among the others, he knew his moment had arrived. He produced the ring he had long been holding onto and, dropping to one knee, he proposed to Ye Yimei.

"Yimei, I've had feelings for you for quite some time and have always kept an eye on you. I believe we could be incredibly happy together, so will you marry me?"

Ye Yimei gazed at Wei Zecheng, who was kneeling before her, her heart a whirlwind of emotions. Deep down, she was reluctant to accept the proposal, yet she was aware that a refusal might provoke him to retaliate against the Ye family.

At that moment, Ye Feng returned and stumbled upon the scene, uncertain whether to intervene. He had overheard some of Wei Zecheng's earlier remarks and was painfully aware of his tarnished reputation. It seemed likely that he was the subject of everyone's disdain.

Despite this, watching his elder sister in this predicament, he felt an urge to act.

The atmosphere had grown tense, with onlookers treating the situation as if it were a spectacle, all curious to see how it would unfold.

Wei Zecheng realized that without further persuasion, Yimei might not accept his hand in marriage.

"Ye Feng, your timing is perfect. I've long admired your sister. Please, help me convince her to accept my proposal."

When Wei Zecheng noticed Ye Feng's hesitation, he understood that a mere plea wouldn't suffice, so he added more to his argument.

"Your sister is far too talented to be confined to a small place. Joining the Wei family will surely provide her with ample opportunities for growth. And if you don't step in to support her now, do you want her to end up with nothing, just like you?"

Wei Zecheng's blunt words were far from courteous, yet the bystanders seemed to agree with him, considering Ye Feng's current status as inconsequential.

With just a few sentences, Wei Zecheng had painted Ye Feng as a failure, reinforcing the image of a hopeless dreamer in the eyes of others.

They didn't consider Ye Feng's past or the circumstances he had come from; they only saw a man with no prospects, unlikely to find success within the Ye family.