C9 Ten Million

Lee Wanqing lacked the discernment to recognize that she was wearing an exclusive design by Li Yun, a top fashion master in Z Country. The fabric was a luxurious blend of silk and ice silk, giving the appearance of a simple casual outfit but offering exceptional comfort. Even the buttons were crafted from rare black jade, and Master Li's signature mark was embroidered with gold thread at the hem. This ensemble was valued at over ten million, surpassing the cost of everyone else's attire at the event.

Tang Hao lamented Lee Wanqing's ignorance but chose not to correct her, responding with a mere "oh." When the time came, the banquet commenced. Wanqing shot Tang Hao a glare, biting back her scolding words, and hurried inside, making sure to maintain a distance from both Lin Quansheng and Tang Hao.

Old Mrs. Lin, having recently recovered from a serious illness, sat prominently at the front in a vibrant red dress, seeking to bring cheerfulness to the occasion. Lin Xinguo, Lin Qing, and Lin Lingyu stood by her side, clearly embodying the status of the banquet's hosts. In contrast, Lin Quansheng and Lin Mengyao entered with the other guests, having been ostracized by the Lin family. Old Mrs. Lin didn't afford them even the courtesy of acknowledgment in this setting.

Once all the guests were seated, Old Mrs. Lin cleared her throat and addressed the assembly with gravity. "Welcome to the Lin family's banquet. Your presence here honors me greatly. I would like to take this opportunity to share an important announcement with all of our esteemed friends," she said.

She then gestured to Lin Qing, who was standing beside her, to step forward. Dressed impeccably in a well-tailored suit, Lin Qing cut a striking figure. "I hereby declare that Lin Qing will succeed as the head of the Lin family. I trust that you will all support and guide my grandson, who has much to learn," Old Mrs. Lin proclaimed.

The announcement was met with a wave of applause from the delighted guests. Basking in his moment of triumph, Lin Qing went from table to table, toasting with a confident smile.

When it was Lin Mengyao's turn, her hand shook, and she deliberately spilled red wine on herself. Tang Hao, seated next to Lin Mengyao, quickly stepped in to shield her.

As a devoted husband, it was his unquestionable duty to 'take the hit' for his wife.

The red liquid cascaded down Tang Hao's pristine white shirt, staining his trousers.

Lin Qing, with malice, grabbed a full glass of red wine, aiming to douse Lin Mengyao's face.

However, seeing Tang Hao drenched and disheveled brought him great satisfaction.

He watched Tang Hao's slightly disheveled state and smirked, offering an insincere apology.

"Oh dear, how unfortunate. I've accidentally spilled wine all over my brother-in-law. Someone, bring a set of the servants' clothes for my brother-in-law to change into."

Lin Qing pulled a tissue from the table and daintily wiped the wine from his fingertips.

"Oh dear, this wine is rather expensive. Such a waste. Your outfit probably cost a mere dozen yuan from a street stall. My servants' clothes are tailor-made, costing ten to twenty thousand yuan a set."

"But as the head of the Lin family, I wouldn't bat an eye at such petty cash. Tell me, how much did your clothes cost? I'll reimburse you."

The other guests at the table burst into laughter, amused by Tang Hao's embarrassing predicament.

Lee Wanqing, who had been keeping an eye on Tang Hao, quickly approached.

"Oh, Little Qing, what's this about compensation? We're all family here. It was Tang Hao who wasn't watchful and bumped into you. You're the bigger person for letting it slide. There's no need for repayment."

She smiled, ingratiating herself with Lin Qing.

Tang Hao looked at the smug Lin Qing and curved his lips into a smile.

"No, since the esteemed head of the Lin family has offered compensation, I, in my 'street stall attire,' must indeed be mindful of the money. This sum, though I find it distasteful, could be put to good use by donating it to charity."

Tang Hao busied himself with his phone for a while, retrieving the receipt for his clothes from his assistant. He then presented the photo of the receipt to Lin Qing.

Lin Qing was taken aback by the ten million yuan price tag.

"Are you joking? Ten million for some tattered clothing? You must be out of your mind!" Lin Qing couldn't believe that Tang Hao, a jobless vagrant with mental health issues, could possibly afford such an extravagantly priced garment.

Lee Wanqing was equally incredulous. She grabbed Tang Hao and began berating him.

"You're out of your mind! If you hadn't caused a scene, a simple apology to Lin Qing would have sufficed. But now, you're trying to swindle money with a fake receipt. Do you realize Lin Qing could sue you for fraud?"

"We already have enough to deal with at home, with a disabled person and a madman! The last thing we need is a criminal in the family."

Tang Hao, faced with Lee Wanqing's relentless chatter, was at a loss for words.

The dispute between Lin Qing and Tang Hao caught the attention of the banquet's attendees. Lee Qiyu of the Lee family's clothing company was drawn to the commotion. Rumor had it that there was a garment worth over ten million yuan present.

Lee Qiyu approached the scene, eager to see what the fuss was about.

Yet, upon laying eyes on Tang Hao's attire, her curiosity turned to astonishment.

Isn't that my uncle's masterpiece?

Lee Qiyu, a minor member of the Lee family, ran a high-end clothing business in the city. Thanks to her favorable ties with the main family, she had made quite a name for herself in the fashion world.

During a summer visit to the main family a few years back, her uncle, in high spirits, had taken the younger relatives to see his creations.

Lee Qiyu had spent a considerable amount of time examining the unassuming yet exorbitantly priced garment.

And now, to her surprise, it was right here on this so-called madman!

With her expertise in spotting countless fakes, Lee Qiyu was certain that this garment was the real deal.

This was indeed the ten-million-yuan piece!

Meanwhile, the crowd continued to mock Tang Hao's audacious claims.

"He's clearly lost it. As soon as he heard Young Master Lin mention compensation, he demanded money."

"Such insatiable greed. If he wanted money, asking for a mere hundred thousand would have been enough. Does he think Lin Qing is an easy mark?"

Overhearing the crowd's comments, Lee Qiyu couldn't hold back.

"What do you all know!? This piece is worth far more than ten million!" she exclaimed, storming forward in her crisp white suit.

Her face, a portrait of beauty, was marred by rage as she pointed at the wine-stained shirt.

"Look at this! This is Ink Jade, each piece worth two million! There are five embedded right here on the shirt, and the fabric? It's made of ice silk. And right there in the corner, you can see the emblem of our family patriarch!"

"You've mistaken pearls for mere fish eyes and to make matters worse, you've splashed red wine on it! This is inexcusable! Don't you realize that such a work of art is meant to be admired, not defiled?"

"With the honor of the Lee family at stake, I assure you this garment is from our lineage, and its value is well over ten million."

Tang Hao was at a loss for words. She was berating him, but why was her hand on his chest? Couldn't she see the fiery glare in his wife's eyes?

The red wine drenched Tang Hao's muscular body, accentuating his well-defined physique.

Lee Qiyu's finger was pointedly pressed against Tang Hao's expansive chest muscle.

After a moment's hesitation, Lin Mengyao, seeing that Lee Qiyu hadn't withdrawn her finger, stepped forward in anger, pulling Tang Hao behind her to shield her husband.

She stood there, pouting and stewing in silence.

Tang Hao chuckled and affectionately patted his wife's head.

Lin Qing's head spun with the abrupt turn of events. Could the clothes this fool wore truly be worth over ten million?

He didn't have the funds to cover such a cost. Lin Qing had only recently taken over as head of the Lin family, and in doing so, he had nearly depleted the second house's savings and real estate.

At present, Lin Qing had a mere two million to his name, having not yet had the chance to draw from the Lin family's company accounts.

In a fit of rage, Lin Qing bellowed at Tang Hao.

"I don't believe it! You're lying! How could a lunatic fresh out of a mental institution be wearing such extravagant attire?"

Tang Hao flashed a wry smile, preferring to keep his identity under wraps.

"Sure, I'm fresh out of the mental hospital, but over the years, I've managed to save up a tidy sum. I rented this outfit just for my grandmother's event."

"It took half a day and all my savings. But you, Lin family's esteemed young master, surely you can afford to reimburse the rental company at full value."

"Moreover, the banquet hall is under surveillance. I'll submit the footage to the company, and they will certainly seek compensation from you at the appropriate value." Lin Qing had no way out.

If necessary, Tang Hao could have someone wealthy pose as the rental company to demand payment from Lin Qing. Making this individual squirm would be worth the extra effort for Tang Hao, and he'd enjoy every minute of it.

The onlookers erupted into a buzz of conversation, casting sympathetic glances at Lin Qing.

Young Master Lin's hand had shaken, and just like that, he was on the hook for ten million in damages.

Impressive, to say the least.