Chapter 2 The Birthday Banquet

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Morning.

Su Manman, still in her pajamas and drowsy from sleep, descended the stairs. Upon seeing Ye Feng bustling about in the kitchen, her brows knitted in displeasure as she spoke sharply, “Today is Mom’s birthday. I gave you fifty thousand yuan to buy her a gift—have you prepared it?”

Hearing her question, Ye Feng emerged carrying two bowls of porridge. “Don’t worry. I’ve long since prepared everything.”

In truth, Ye Feng had already readied the birthday gift. As for the fifty thousand yuan Su Manman had given him, he hadn’t touched a single cent. Instead, he’d placed it carefully inside an ornate box for safekeeping. After all, it was Su Manman’s money, and Ye Feng couldn’t bring himself to spend it.

As for the gift itself, if Ye Feng remembered correctly, it was a superb piece of raw Hetian jade embedded with a ruby, a present once bestowed upon him by the head of the Lu family—foremost among the four great families of the capital—in a bid to curry Ye Feng’s favor and secure his protection. But Ye Feng had paid it little mind, never even glancing at it before, and had not expected it would come in handy today.

“I’m finished eating. Clean up, and let’s be on our way,” Su Manman said, casting Ye Feng a sidelong glance before turning to leave.

Outside, a wine-red Ferrari sports car gleamed in the morning light. Su Manman, in high heels, slid into the driver’s seat. Ye Feng locked the villa’s door and, as was his habit, took his place in the back seat.

As for the passenger seat... Ye Feng hadn’t sat there once in the past three years.

They sped through the city and soon arrived at the entrance of Imperial Capital International Hotel, a nationwide chain renowned for its luxury, frequented only by the most distinguished of guests.

After parking, Ye Feng hurried to open the driver’s door for Su Manman, his movements practiced and attentive, shielding her head with his hand as she exited.

A sharp, mocking voice rang out from behind: “Well, if it isn’t Ye Feng. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were the Su family’s servant!”

Ye Feng frowned and turned to see a middle-aged beauty in a cheongsam, her makeup meticulously applied—none other than Zhao Meiyu, Su Manman’s second aunt.

“Isn’t this the Su family’s son-in-law?”

“Son-in-law? The Su family doesn’t even acknowledge him.”

“Look at that pale, pretty face—clearly a man who lives off his wife.”

The snide remarks swirling around them did nothing to deter Ye Feng. He continued to assist Su Manman with care, but Su Manman, furious at the gossip, pushed past him and hurried away with her head lowered.

“Manman...” Ye Feng called after her, standing helplessly in place.

Su Manman whirled around, her anger flaring. “Why are you just standing there? Get over here! Or do you want to embarrass me even more?”

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At the sound of her voice, Ye Feng grabbed the gift and hastened after her.

At the door to the private dining room, Su Manman warned him in a low voice, “Don’t say anything unnecessary once we’re inside. I don’t want you causing me trouble. Do you understand?” Her tone was harsh, her earlier irritation still unresolved.

“Yes, I understand,” Ye Feng replied, eager not to provoke her further.

“Big sister, you arrived before me. Oh, and you brought that useless man along too.” The insult, of course, was directed at Ye Feng.

The speaker was Su Niannian, Su Manman’s younger sister.

By her side stood a strikingly handsome, well-mannered young man.

“Sis, let me introduce you. This is my boyfriend, Wang Chao—the heir to Wang Corporation.”

Wang Corporation, valued at over ten million, was considered a secondary business in Licheng—a genuine young scion of wealth.

Her last words were clearly meant for Ye Feng. Though Su Manman knew her sister hadn’t spoken out of malice, she still felt uncomfortable.

“Oh,” Ye Feng replied mildly, utterly unimpressed. If he wished, such a small company could be ruined in an instant.

Su Manman bristled at Ye Feng’s indifference. How had she ended up marrying such an unambitious man? Even if she regretted it, she kept her emotions hidden.

“All right, let’s go in. We shouldn’t be late,” Su Manman said, pushing open the door.

“Oh, Niannian, you’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for you,” exclaimed a graceful middle-aged woman whose flawless skin revealed her devotion to beauty. This was their mother, Wang Meili.

“Mom, this is my boyfriend, Wang Chao—the future heir of Wang Corporation,” Su Niannian announced, her pride evident.

“Hello, Auntie,” Wang Chao greeted warmly.

Wang Meili was overjoyed that her youngest daughter had landed such a catch, and her disdain for Ye Feng only deepened.

“Oh, Xiao Wang, I’m so glad you could come. Find yourself a seat and make yourself at home,” Wang Meili fawned, completely ignoring Su Manman and Ye Feng by the entrance.

Su Manman felt awkward and embarrassed by her mother’s neglect—she neither wanted to sit nor to leave. Sensing her discomfort, Ye Feng took her hand and led her over to greet Wang Meili.

“Mom, today is your birthday. I wish you happiness and good health!”

Wang Meili looked Ye Feng up and down, noting his loose tracksuit, and rolled her eyes in open disdain. Even Su Manman, by association, fell under her scorn. In Wang Meili’s eyes, her younger daughter’s choice of a wealthy boyfriend stood in stark contrast to Ye Feng—a world apart.

“Oh, just go sit over there. Don’t stand in the way,” Wang Meili snapped, not sparing Ye Feng a second glance.

Feeling wronged by her mother’s attitude but unable to argue, Su Manman went to sit quietly at the side.

Most of Licheng’s wealthy ladies were in attendance; after all, the Su family was among the city’s most prominent, and many had come to celebrate Wang Meili’s birthday.

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“Madam Lin presents a set of gold bracelets.”

“Madam Li presents a large pearl.”

“Madam Yang presents a pair of jade bangles.”

...

“Su Niannian and Wang Chao present a ruby ring.”

“Su Manman and Ye Feng present... a piece of ordinary stone.”

At these words, the guests exchanged glances, then burst into laughter.

“Isn’t this Ye Feng, the live-in son-in-law who married into the Su family three years ago?”

“That’s him. Who knows what the eldest Miss Su was thinking, marrying someone with no status or background. How could a beauty like Su Manman end up with him?”

“I heard that in all these years, Wang Meili has never treated him kindly or allowed him into the Su household. And now, for her birthday, he brings a worthless rock? What a joke.”

Furious at the ridicule swirling around her, Su Manman’s face clouded over. Grabbing Ye Feng, she pulled him into a corner.

Confused, Ye Feng asked, “Manman, what’s wrong?”

Su Manman, seething, retorted, “You have the nerve to ask? I gave you fifty thousand yuan for a gift, and this is what you bring me? I even asked you before we left, and you promised Mom would be pleased. Now you show up with a cheap rock—how much more shame do you want to bring me?”

Having said this, Su Manman felt utterly aggrieved. For a whole year, her useless husband had done nothing but cook, clean, and do household chores. What use was a man like that?

Her own company was struggling with a cash flow crisis, and looking at Ye Feng, she saw nothing but dead weight, incapable of helping in any way. He was hopeless.

Take today, for example: fifty thousand yuan could easily have bought a decent gift, but he brought a worthless stone instead—utter humiliation. If only she’d followed her family’s wishes, things would never have turned out like this. In the past, she wouldn’t have given a man like Ye Feng a second glance.

Seeing her distress, Ye Feng knew she must have misunderstood and hurried to explain, “Manman, you underestimate this stone—it’s not ordinary. It’s an uncut, top-grade Ruby Sun gem, worth over a hundred million.”

“Worth over a hundred million? Don’t be ridiculous. If a common rock could fetch that much, everyone in the world would be a millionaire.”

A mocking voice sounded from behind—the speaker was none other than Zhang Chao, Su Manman’s most persistent suitor.