Chapter 27: Su Xue Stuns the Crowd

*Slap!*

Before Xu Quan could even react, Ye Fan raised his hand and struck him across the face again. He arched an eyebrow and said, "Since your parents didn't teach you how to behave, I'll teach you myself!"

In that instant, the scene—which had been buzzing with excitement over the arrival of Xu Ming, the head of the Xu family—fell into a deathly, stunned silence. Everyone present was struck dumb, their faces drained of color. None of them had imagined that this man, Ye Fan, would dare to strike the son of the Xu family head, right in front of him, without a moment’s hesitation.

After exchanging bewildered glances, the crowd began to whisper.

"This Ye Fan is truly audacious. To hit the son of the Xu family right in front of the patriarch? He’s in big trouble now!"

"Indeed, the ignorant fool. He’s challenging the head of the Xu family and the family itself. His days are numbered!"

"Exactly. He has a death wish. How can someone of his standing compare to the status of the Xu family?"

As the whispers swirled, the battered Xu Quan flew into a rage and roared at Ye Fan, "Ye Fan, how dare you hit me in front of my father? This is an open provocation! My father will never let you get away with this!"

Xu Ming’s expression turned grim. He issued a stern command: "Men, seize Ye Fan for me—"

"I’d like to see who dares to touch Mr. Ye!"

Before Ye Fan could speak, a sharp, authoritative voice cut through the air from behind the crowd. As the onlookers turned in astonishment to see who had spoken, Xiao Yun—the world's richest man—hurried onto the scene, accompanied by his chief bodyguard, A-San.

When the crowd recognized the world’s richest man, Xiao Yun, they broke into a cold sweat, completely at a loss. Xu Ming, the head of the Xu family, walked up to Xiao Yun, bowed respectfully, and asked, "Mr. Xiao, do you know this man?"

Xiao Yun replied with a solemn face, "Know him? He is my benefactor."

Hearing Xiao Yun call Ye Fan his benefactor and seeing the profound respect in his eyes, Xu Ming muttered to himself, "Ye Fan, consider yourself lucky. I’ll spare you for today!"

***

After muttering to himself, Xu Ming spoke up: "Ah, so he is Mr. Xiao's benefactor. It was truly a case of 'the water flooding the Dragon King’s temple'—a misunderstanding! Since he is Mr. Xiao's benefactor, he is also a benefactor of the Xu family!"

Xu Quan, who had been beaten, was confused by his father’s sudden shift in attitude. "Father, he hit me like this! Why are you treating him this way?"

*Slap! Slap!*

Before Xu Quan could react, Xu Ming slapped him twice across the face and reprimanded him sternly, "Are you deaf? Didn't you hear what Mr. Xiao just said? Ye Fan is Mr. Xiao's benefactor, and therefore, a benefactor of our Xu family!"

After the loud scolding, Xu Ming leaned in close to Xu Quan’s ear and hissed, "Shut your mouth immediately! If you dare to cause trouble again, I won't forgive you. I will deal with Ye Fan in my own time."

Xu Quan, who had been about to lash out at Ye Fan again, clamped his mouth shut and said nothing more.

Just then, after exchanging greetings with Ye Fan, Xiao Yun turned to the gathered crowd and announced, "Distinguished business magnates, I hereby announce that the designated partner for the Xiao Group in Yunzhou is a daughter of the Su family!"

Upon hearing "daughter of the Su family," Su Mei looked smugly at Su Xue, who stood nearby, and gloated, "Su Xue, did you hear that? You always claimed to be better, smarter, and prettier than me. Well, now I’m the one who’s superior. I’m the one getting the partnership with the Xiao Group, and I’m the one with the stunning looks!"

The other members of the Su family joined in, mocking and belittling Su Xue.

"That's right. You're both daughters of the Su family, so why is there such a difference? Our Su Mei has peerless beauty and extraordinary talent; she is the pride and joy of the Su family! And you, Su Xue? You ruined your face for the Ye family and turned into a monster. How can you be so naive as to think you could work with the Xiao Group? Do you even know who they are? They are the wealthiest family in the capital!"

As the Su family continued their verbal assault, Su Mei walked up to Xiao Yun, bowed respectfully, and said, "Mr. Xiao, I am Su Mei, a daughter of the Yunzhou Su family. Thank you for your recognition. I will not betray your trust and will ensure this partnership is a success!"

Xiao Yun waved his hand with a cold, serious expression. "I do indeed intend to grant the contract to a daughter of the Yunzhou Su family, but that daughter is not you."

The members of the Su family, who had been basking in Su Mei's success, were stunned into silence. They were bewildered. They racked their brains, recalling that while the Su family had three other daughters, those three were still in school. Among the adult daughters, besides Su Mei, there was only Su Xue.

***

However, Su Xue had been disowned by the family because of the Ye family incident, and even her own father, Su Wei, had ignored her. Furthermore, when she had tried to save the Ye family, her face had been burned, leaving her a disfigured wreck.

As the members of the Su family stood there guessing without an answer, a bewildered Su Mei asked Xiao Yun, "Mr. Xiao, there are no other daughters in our Yunzhou Su family besides me. Have you made a mistake?"

Xiao Yun, his face stern, declared, "The person the Xiao Group intends to partner with is Ms. Su Xue!"

The moment the words left his lips, the Su family was shaken to its core. They broke out in cold sweats, completely overwhelmed. None of them had imagined that the mighty Xiao, the richest man in the capital, would choose to partner with Su Xue instead of Su Mei!

Su Mei, in particular, looked shocked. "Mr. Xiao, your project is one that relies on personal image. Su Xue’s face is disfigured; she isn't qualified! She will only tarnish your project's reputation!"

Just then, Su Xue—following a subtle signal from Ye Fan—removed the silk scarf covering her face.

The moment the scarf was unveiled, everyone present froze. The Su Xue standing before them was not the disfigured monster they had expected, but a woman of breathtaking, otherworldly beauty, like a goddess descended to earth. Even though Su Mei was considered a beauty in Yunzhou, when she stood beside Su Xue, she paled in comparison. In terms of both beauty and temperament, Su Xue completely crushed her.

The Su family was stunned. Su Mei was left speechless. They exchanged bewildered glances, gasping in disbelief.

"This is impossible. Su Xue's face was burned—how could it be completely healed?"

"That's right! Didn't the hospital say that even if a god came down to earth, it couldn't be cured?"