C5

"It's impossible for them to just throw me out!"

Wang Cheng scoffed, shaking his head slightly as he mocked, "Who do you think you are, that a third-rate family would discard their heir for you? You have no idea what a third-rate family means in this city!"

"How could I not know?"

Chen Ping chuckled, about to speak further, but Wu Xiaojuan interrupted with a sneer, her tone dripping with sarcasm, "Chen Ping, others might not know your background, but I do. You're just a poor kid from the countryside. How could you possibly understand what a third-rate family represents? Let me tell you, to a third-rate family, crushing you is as easy as stepping on an ant!"

"Is that so?"

Chen Ping replied, perhaps in a past life that was true, but this was no longer the past.

Wang Cheng laughed, "Of course it is! You're so ignorant, you have no idea what a third-rate family is capable of! Their power is beyond anything you can imagine."

Chen Ping smiled and looked up, "But do you know what I represent?"

Before Wu Xiaojuan and Wang Cheng could respond, Chen Ping continued, "It means that wiping out a mere third-rate family in this city is as easy for me as stepping on an ant! It means that if I say there shouldn't be a third-rate Wang family here, countless forces will rush to eliminate them for me!"

Xiaojuan tilted her nose up, completely doubting that Chen Ping had such abilities. Coming from a well-established family, Wang Cheng was even more aware of the influence and resources of such families, so he naturally didn't believe it either.

However, they could never have imagined that Chen Ping's words were entirely true.

Chen Ping continued, "What I'm saying is true. If you don't believe me, feel free to test it! But I suggest you don't, or else..."

He looked at Xiaojuan and said calmly, "Xiaojuan, you'll end up being beaten to death by the Wang family."

After a brief pause, Chen Ping turned to Wang Cheng and said evenly, "And Wang Cheng, you'll become the family's disgrace! At that point, the Wang family will likely throw you under the bus to appease my anger."

Chen Ping was dead serious. Even without considering past events, just in the present, a mere third-rate family in a place like this couldn't possibly stand against a Sublimity Stage Expert. And there would be countless groups willing to support such an expert.

"Hmph! You sound so convincing!" Xiaojuan scoffed, clearly unconvinced. Beside her, Wang Cheng was equally skeptical, his expression darkening. He sneered, "Chen Ping! You've got some nerve! Whether you're bluffing or not, just for saying these things, you're done for!"

"When the time comes, I want to see how you, just one Chen Ping, can bring down my family!"

Xiaojuan followed up, "When the day comes that you have to admit defeat, I'd like to ask, what does being part of a third-rate family mean to you? And what do you mean to it? I hope you'll still be as boastful then as you are now!"

"Xiaojuan!"

Chen Ping was about to retort, but Lee Jiayao frowned, looking a bit displeased. She said, "It's my birthday today. Can you guys not argue?"

"Alright, alright! We'll listen to you!"

Xiaojuan seemed unwilling to upset Lee Jiayao and quickly put on a smile. Then she looked at Chen Ping and said condescendingly, "Chen Ping, for Jiayao's birthday, I won't argue with you today. But after today, just you wait!"

"Chen Ping, we'll take our time with this! I'll make sure you understand that it's always the families who hold the power in this world!" Wang Cheng sneered.

With that, Xiaojuan pulled Wang Cheng over to Lee Jiayao. Xiaojuan smiled as she took out an elegant gift box and handed it to Lee Jiayao, saying, "Jiayao! Happy Birthday! I personally picked out this Dior perfume for you. It's not a limited edition, but it's worth over five thousand dollars!"

After speaking, Xiaojuan glanced at Chen Ping with a smug look, as if she were showing off.

"This is too much..."

Lee Jiayao was about to refuse, but Xiaojuan's eyes flickered toward Chen Ping, and she loudly said, "It's Jiayao's birthday today. Everyone, show her your birthday gifts!"

Quickly.

Lee Jiayao was surrounded by gifts, each one more extravagant than the last. The cheapest was worth hundreds of dollars, and there was even a Cartier necklace worth over a thousand, along with an LV bag valued at two or three thousand.

"Wow!" Wu Xiaojuan's eyes were filled with envy, though she hid her jealousy well.

At that moment, Wu Xiaojuan turned to Chen Ping and said, "Everyone brought gifts. You didn't come empty-handed, did you?"

Then, as if realizing something, Wu Xiaojuan added, "Oh, I almost forgot. You're from the countryside, and your family isn't well-off. You probably can't even afford a gift worth a hundred dollars!"

With Wu Xiaojuan's words, all eyes turned to Chen Ping.

Lee Jiayao knew about Chen Ping's situation, and she felt a twinge of guilt for inviting him to her birthday party, only for him to be put on the spot.

Quickly, Lee Jiayao stepped in to defend Chen Ping. "It's my birthday, and I'm just happy to have everyone here. That's all that matters to me!"

"Jiayao! Happy Birthday!" Chen Ping said as he approached Lee Jiayao. With sincerity, he handed her a charm, saying, "This is a good luck charm to keep you safe. Make sure to keep it close to you!"

Lee Jiayao looked at the charm in her hand, feeling a bit puzzled. Was this supposed to be a birthday gift? She wasn't too concerned about whether Chen Ping brought a birthday present or not. Even a simple ten-dollar gift could make her happy for weeks. But this charm—what was it supposed to mean? Do people give charms for birthdays?

"Is he wishing me safety and peace?" Jiayao thought she understood Chen Ping's intention, and a wave of sweetness washed over her.

Just then, Wu Xiaojuan burst out laughing. "Chen Ping, I've been around for years, and this is the first time I've seen someone give a charm as a gift!"

"Where did you get this charm? From some scam artist? Ten dollars? Maybe twenty?"

"Bringing some fruit would have been better than a charm! At least with fruit, everyone could have a bite!"

Wu Xiaojuan mocked, and the group of teenagers with her joined in the laughter.

"A charm as a birthday gift? That's hilarious!" Wang Cheng laughed heartily. "Is this charm supposed to be from some master?"

"You know, those legendary masters can sell a simple charm for at least a million dollars, sometimes even more!"

"Is your charm worth millions?" Wang Cheng continued to mock.

At that moment, an elderly man in traditional attire, supported by a young woman, approached. The old man came up to Lee Jiayao and kindly asked, "Young lady, may I take a look at this charm?"

Lee Jiayao quickly handed over the charm. The elderly man in traditional attire examined it closely, his body trembling ever so slightly. Then he said, "Young lady, would you be willing to sell this charm to me? I'm prepared to offer three million dollars!"