C13 Invite Him out

Ye Yimei's heart ached for her brother, Ye Feng. She was all too aware of the difficult circumstances he had been living in, especially considering the challenges faced by his adoptive mother.

Upon hearing Wei Zecheng's words, she couldn't deny the truth in them. The Ye family was not at the top of the hierarchy, and the Wei family was significantly more powerful. The weight of this reality bore heavily on Yimei's heart.

She had no desire to accept Wei Zecheng's marriage proposal, yet his timing made it nearly impossible for her to decline.

Wei Zecheng had cleverly seized upon Yimei's predicament to propose at just the right moment.

"Yimei, I'm not trying to pressure you today. It just so happens that I'm proposing to you now," Wei Zecheng said.

"Young Master Wei, I understand your intentions, but I..." Yimei began.

"You claim you're not pressuring me, yet what is this if not coercion?" she was cut off by Ye Feng's interjection.

Yimei was taken aback, not expecting anyone to step in and come to her aid at such a moment, and she was visibly moved.

Yet, she knew that despite Ye Feng's intervention, it was unlikely that the situation would see any significant improvement.

"Ye Feng, surely you wouldn't want me to air all your dirty laundry, would you?" Wei Zecheng challenged.

"What does my past have to do with your proposal to my sister?" Ye Feng retorted.

"Nothing, perhaps. But be aware, I know quite a bit about you," Wei Zecheng warned.

"What are you implying? Are you threatening me?" Ye Feng countered.

"Ye Yimei, I'll ask you plainly: do you or do you not accept this proposal?" Wei Zecheng pressed.

"I..." Yimei hesitated.

"There's no need for threats, Wei Zecheng. If you truly love her as you claim, you wouldn't force her hand at a time like this," Ye Feng stood firm.

"I'm not forcing her. Ask her yourself if she's willing to accept," Wei Zecheng insisted.

Yimei remained silent, her voice lost in the tension of the moment.

This was a new experience for Yimei. She knew of Wei Zecheng's affections but had never felt she was in a position to be pursued so relentlessly.

Today's events, however, made her realize just how much she was valued, even if the attention was not what she sought.

"You really don't need to be so persistent in pursuing my older sister, Young Master Wei. Surely, a man of your status isn't lacking in female companionship. Or perhaps there's another agenda behind your actions?"

"Ye Feng, consider your position. What gives you the right to speak to me in such a manner? Besides, the Ye family has had a longstanding partnership with us. Our ties are deeply intertwined. Are you certain you want to turn down this marriage proposal now?"

"What are you implying?"

At that moment, Ye's mother arrived just in time to catch these words.

"I mean no offense. I merely wish to remind you that the Wei and Ye families have enjoyed a long collaboration. Creating a rift now would be detrimental to both parties."

Ye's mother was so incensed by his words that she nearly lost her balance.

"What exactly are you suggesting? Surely you don't believe our family would sacrifice our own child for the sake of a business deal?"

"I never said that. However, I trust you're aware of what the right decision is."

Wei Zecheng's comments were far from courteous, and Ye's mother was so infuriated by his unreasonable behavior that she fainted, throwing the banquet into disarray.

In that critical moment, it was Ye Feng who rose to the occasion.

"Someone assist the lady back to her room to rest, and summon a doctor to examine her."

"Understood."

A servant promptly stepped forward to escort the lady to her quarters.

This was the first time Ye's mother had encountered such outrageous conduct, and it left her so enraged that she collapsed, yet the instigator saw no fault in his actions.

"I've only spoken the truth. There's no need to feign unconsciousness to escape the situation."

Initially, Ye Feng wasn't overly upset, but Wei Zecheng's statement now felt like a personal affront.

"What exactly are you trying to say, Young Master Wei? You were the one who spoke out of turn and behaved irrationally. And now, after causing my mother to faint from anger, you claim to be in the right?"

"I'm not claiming to be right, but I am speaking the truth. There's no need for you to take issue with that. I do hope you'll reconsider and accept my marriage proposal."

Wei Zecheng had addressed his earlier remarks to Ye Feng, but his final comment was aimed at Ye Yimei.

Ye Feng was utterly infuriated by these words. Deep down, he knew that his mother's collapse was, to some extent, because there was truth in Wei Zecheng's words.

Ye Feng had committed an act of sheer irrationality.

"Someone escort Young Master Wei out, please."

"What! Ye Feng! Repeat that! You dare to ask me to leave?"

Ye Feng had lost his cool, but the others hadn't. To actually send Young Master Wei packing would be to seriously offend the Wei family.

The Wei family's status was top-tier. The Ye family couldn't afford to clash with them, nor did they wish to make enemies of them.

Becoming adversaries with the Wei family could jeopardize the Ye family's stocks and other affairs.

Yet now, Ye's mother had been angered to the point of fainting by Wei Zecheng. If Ye Feng did nothing, it would be a display of his own helplessness.

But under the current circumstances, Ye Feng truly had no authority to direct others to follow his commands.

He was, after all, the child who had only been acknowledged that very day. Ye's mother hadn't formally entrusted him with the Ye family's reins.

So, naturally, the subordinates wouldn't act on his word.

Ye Feng felt somewhat awkward, yet he was aware that he truly had no power to compel others to heed his instructions.

Moreover, he could sense that Wei Zecheng had an air of dominance about him here.

"Young Master Wei, I suggest you leave on your own accord. Otherwise, I can't vouch for what might happen next."

Wei Zecheng, recognizing the resolve in Ye Feng's gaze, understood that if he didn't leave, Ye Feng might very well force him out.

Without a word, Wei Zecheng surveyed the room, aware that his departure was inevitable. However, he was certain that Ye Feng, seemingly powerless, wouldn't just let this slide.

After Wei Zecheng's departure, Ye Feng declared the banquet to continue.

Everyone present was aware that Ye Feng had just made an enemy of Wei Zecheng and was likely to face repercussions. Yet, no one dared voice this concern.

Except for Ye Yimei.

"Feng, thank you for stepping in for me this time."

"There's no need for thanks. I couldn't stand by and watch you be forced into a choice you didn't want to make. And after what Wei Zecheng did to our mother, I couldn't let it go."

Ye Yimei was moved, but he also realized that Ye Feng had crossed a line with someone they couldn't afford to provoke. He couldn't help but feel worried.