C15 The Yang Family Proposed

Zhang Luo ascended in the elevator with a glass of red wine in hand, making his way to Lin Kai and Yang Miao's room. Upon arrival, he handed the wine to one of Di San's men at the door and then departed.

This act of vengeance was for Yang Yuan!

Inside the room, Lin Kai was intoxicated, mistaking Yang Miao for Yang Yuan, though Yang Miao was sober and terrified as Lin Kai advanced toward her, prompting her to scream frantically.

The door burst open. "Who's there? Damn it, don't kill my buzz!"

"Open up!"

Lin Kai's mouth was forcibly filled with the drugged wine by Di San's henchman.

"Here's a little left for you, enjoy!"

Yang Miao was painfully aware of what was in the wine and desperately struggled. When she resisted, two more men entered and pinned her to a chair, prying her mouth open to pour the rest of the wine down her throat.

"Zhang Luo, you son of a bitch! Boohoo... Brother Ming, save me!"

The trio exited the room, closing the door behind them.

The evening was supposed to be one of spectacle, yet they ended up being the victims.

Soon the drug took effect; Yang Miao felt unbearably hot, her face flushed and feverish, while Lin Kai, overwhelmed by the heat, began ripping at his clothes.

Zhang Luo returned to the private room to find Di San and Yang Yuan seated opposite each other. Yang Yuan had lost her appetite, understandably shaken by the night's events. She peppered Di San with questions in the private room, but he seemed to ignore her, engrossed in his meal.

"Let me introduce you, this is my friend, Di San!"

"Hello, I'm Di San, a friend of... Zhang Luo!"

Di San, prompted by Zhang Luo's introduction, finally engaged in conversation with Yang Yuan, nearly slipping up in his speech.

After a brief exchange, they all took their leave.

The following morning, Lin Kai awoke to find Yang Miao beside him, disheveled. With her back to him, her face was obscured. Having drunk excessively the night before, Lin Kai had no recollection of the events and mistakenly believed his plan had been a success.

"Yang Yuan..."

As Lin Kai reached out to embrace her, Yang Miao leapt from the bed, wrapping herself in the blanket.

"Why is it you?"

Lin Kai was taken aback upon seeing Yang Miao.

"Don't ask anymore. I don't hold you responsible for this."

After speaking, Yang Miao crouched by the wall and began to cry. She remembered drinking the spiked red wine last night, and if there was anyone to blame, it was that scoundrel Zhang Luo.

Meanwhile, Yang Ming, who had been resting in the hospital, slowly opened his eyes. Aside from some minor injuries, he was otherwise unharmed.

Yang Yuan and Zhang Luo were just waking up when they received a text from their grandfather, stating he had an important matter to discuss at home today.

"It must have been you who hurt Yang Ming last night. I should go. You better stay away!"

Zhang Luo was confused, but Yang Yuan was certain that it was Zhang Luo who had caused Yang Ming's injuries last night. Given that Zhang Luo was already disdained by the family, attending the meeting would surely result in a barrage of criticism.

"It's okay, we'll go together!"

Zhang Luo could sense Yang Yuan's concerns and quickly got ready, reassuring her.

Yang Ming wouldn't dare publicize yesterday's incident. It was clear that Yang Shuozheng had other matters to discuss. Until Yang Yuan returned to Exbought Group, no one could mistreat her.

"What happened to your face?"

Yang Ming left the hospital early and arrived at his grandfather's house.

"I had too much to drink last night!"

Yang Ming was aware that he had tried to set up Yang Yuan the previous day. If he admitted that Zhang Luo had hit him, his grandfather would be furious, but probing further would only bring trouble upon himself.

"You're about to take charge of Yang Group, and you're still living recklessly?"

"Grandfather, it won't happen again!"

"I'll handle the matter of reinstating Yang Yuan's position. You just need to apologize in front of everyone."

"I'll follow your lead, Grandfather!"

Previously, Yang Ming would never have considered apologizing, but he had been the one to suffer in every scheme against Yang Yuan. This time, he readily agreed.

As the morning breeze ushered in the dawn, sunlight streamed through the windows of the villa, casting a lazy glow over everything within.

The villa bustled with distinguished guests. Since the signing ceremony with Comoxize had gone awry, the Yang family had been scrambling for a solution. Everyone gathered was eager to hear how the patriarch, Yang Shuozheng, would handle the situation, hoping to gain something for themselves in the process.

"Today, I've brought you all together to formally invite Yang Yuan to rejoin Exbought," he announced to the assembly. "And the contract her father signed to acquire the subsidiary will be nullified right here and now!"

Before his kin, Yang Shuozheng dramatically shredded the contract and cast it into the air. The room was transformed into a winter wonderland as fragments fluttered down like the season's first snowfall. Yang Jianchuan watched with a heartwarming sense of pride; his grandfather wasn't merely tearing up a piece of paper, but rather, he was acknowledging his daughter and offering forgiveness for past mistakes.

With her grandfather's blessing, Yang Yuan graciously accepted.

As Yang Ming was about to offer his apologies, a servant burst through the door, exclaiming, "Mr. Lin has arrived!"

"Excuse the interruption, but I've come today to ask for a hand in marriage," declared Mr. Lin upon entering.

"Mr. Lin, while I'm aware of your longstanding affection for Yang Yuan, she is already wed," Yang Shuozheng responded.

"Master, it is Yang Miao to whom I wish to propose," Mr. Lin clarified.

The room erupted into a frenzy of chatter.

Lin Kai's affection for Yang Yuan had been common knowledge within the Yang family. They were a perfect match, yet destiny had not favored their union.

"Mr. Lin has presented a dowry of six million yuan," announced the bearer of gifts.

"A set of pearl and jadeite bracelets," he continued.

"A pair of platinum rings,"

"And a matching set of gold and jade figurines."

...

"Please review the list of gifts, Yang Shuozheng," said an elderly man in a suit, as he approached and handed over a red paper to the family patriarch.

In contrast, when Yang Yuan and Zhang Luo married, there were no such extravagances; the Yang family had managed all the wedding arrangements.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Luo found that a single night together had kindled a genuine affection between them.

Lin Kai, for his part, was refreshingly decisive, displaying his generosity in one grand gesture.

Yang Miao emerged from the crowd, her cheeks flushed with color. "You?"

"Don't worry, I'll take responsibility for you!"

Her heart fluttered at Lin Kai's words, though there was no need for him to take responsibility for last night's events. They barely knew each other, having met only a few times.

Yang Ming was taken aback, on the verge of apologizing for the first time in front of the Yang family, when Lin Kai arrived.

Seizing the moment, Yang Ming approached Yang Shuozheng.

"I think we should take this opportunity to hold the engagement ceremony tomorrow evening! Miaomiao, what do you say?"

Within a matter of minutes, Yang Miao had completely fallen for Lin Kai, shyly nodding in agreement.

Three years prior, the following day had been the most unforgettable of Yang Yuan's life—the day she married Zhang Luo. Now, watching the bashful Yang Miao and Lin Kai, who had once loved her deeply, Yang Yuan turned and burst through the door, fleeing.

Zhang Luo was all too aware that Yang Ming had orchestrated this to reopen Yang Yuan's wounds.

"Yang Miao truly brings honor to the Yang family, securing a connection with the prestigious Lin family. The Yangs are finally making a name for themselves."

"Unlike Yang Yuan, who married a nobody and gained nothing!"

"She couldn't bear it and ran away, didn't she?"

Zhang Luo's grip tightened and then released. Just yesterday, he believed he could protect Yang Yuan, but he hadn't anticipated the depth of her emotional wounds. This time, however, he was determined to make everyone see him in a new light.