Chapter 111: A Gift of One Hundred Million!

“Is that you?”

Ye Wushang’s expression darkened.

Pei Qinghu sat upright in the chair, legs crossed, his tone calm and casual: “Well? Surprised?”

“Long before you two married, Ruo Xue and I already knew each other,” he continued.

“At the time, she chose to stay at the university to prepare for her postgraduate exams, while I went abroad to study. But the bond remained.”

“Today is her grandfather’s sixtieth birthday. As an old acquaintance and friend, isn’t it normal for me to come and offer my congratulations?”

His words were calm, yet laced with provocation.

Even though they were divorced, bringing another man to such an occasion was nothing less than a slap in Ye Wushang’s face.

“Enough, you useless fool! If you want to congratulate grandpa, find a seat quickly and stop blocking the way. Grandpa will be coming out soon!” Lan Ruoshuang snapped impatiently, pushing him aside.

Zhao Renfang spat on the ground in contempt and sneered, “If it weren’t for the old man insisting, Tiger would have married Ruo Xue long ago. They might even have children by now. It’s all because of you, the jinx…”

“Mom, please stop!” At that moment, Lan Ruoxue, unable to hold back any longer, stood up and pulled Ye Wushang aside, whispering: “Wushang, don’t misunderstand. I didn’t ask him to come; it was my mother and the others…”

“Anyway, we’re divorced now. Whichever man you’re with doesn’t concern me.”

Ye Wushang shook his head indifferently, his voice void of emotion, “I’m here today just to congratulate grandpa on his sixtieth birthday, nothing more.”

“Afterwards, we should discuss the cooperation between the An and Lan families seriously. As for everything else, I neither mind nor care.”

Having said that, he turned and walked to a corner at the far end, casually pulling over a chair to sit down.

The relative sitting nearby looked utterly disdainful and moved several seats away, fearful of catching bad luck.

In Pei Qinghu’s eyes, Ye Wushang’s choice to step aside was a sign of submission.

Recalling how this ‘useless’ man had ruined his plans several times, seeing him suffer a setback brought Pei Qinghu some satisfaction.

Though he couldn’t eliminate him outright now, humiliating and shaming him thoroughly was not a bad option.

“Tiger, don’t be angry. After dinner, I’ll make that useless guy leave so he won’t block your view.” Zhao Xiue smiled and even tugged at Lan Ruoxue, advising: “Ruo Xue, you must accompany Tiger well and not neglect him.”

“Yes, sis. Tiger is not only from a noble family but also treats you well. You’d better seize the opportunity.” Lan Ruoshuang giggled coquettishly.

Lan Ruoxue’s face darkened, speechless and choked.

She knew Pei Qinghu, but only casually.

Though ambitious, she always preferred to rely on herself rather than take the easy way through connections or marriage as a gamble.

Pei Qinghu, the eldest son of a prestigious family with high status and power, could indeed smooth many paths if she joined forces with him.

But the road to success was naturally arduous; she would rather enjoy the journey than climb straight to the top and reap the rewards without effort.

She fully understood her mother and sister’s intentions but chose to ignore them.

After a perfunctory reply, she lowered her head, silently stealing a glance at Ye Wushang.

For some reason, she felt uneasy, fearing he might think she had deliberately invited Pei Qinghu to provoke him.

After all, at the hotel earlier, tensions were high and the conflict fierce.

“Grandpa is here!”

Just as the atmosphere grew tense, someone shouted, and everyone turned their heads.

Two servants were gently supporting Elder Lan, who walked slowly toward the main seat.

“Clap, clap, clap.”

Thunderous applause erupted instantly.

Everyone stood, voicing their congratulations and flattering praises.

“Wishing the head of the family blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountains.”

“May you have this day year after year, and this moment age after age.”

“Looking forward to celebrating your seventieth and eightieth birthdays!”

Faced with the tributes, Elder Lan, his complexion rosy, only nodded in acknowledgment.

His spirit was good, yet his face bore a grave expression.

It was clear he was not particularly pleased.

“Sit, everyone, sit,” Elder An gestured.

He was always low-key and disliked such ostentatious gatherings.

If not for his children’s insistence, he would have preferred to stay in his room, enjoying some quiet.

However, his previously solemn expression softened instantly when his eyes caught sight of Ye Wushang in the corner. “Wushang, you came too?”

It was a pleasant surprise.

A trace of a smile appeared on Elder Lan’s face.

Ye Wushang bowed respectfully and said, “Yes, grandpa. I heard it’s your sixtieth birthday today and came specially to congratulate you.”

“Haha, very good,” Elder Lan said with a beaming face, waving his hand, “Why are you sitting over there? Come, sit beside me.”

The seats beside him were reserved for Lan family dignitaries or esteemed guests.

Even Zhao Xiue could only sit at the edge.

Yet when he spoke, inviting Ye Wushang to the main seat, all eyes turned sharply.

Especially Zhao Xiue, who scoffed and whispered, “Dad, isn’t this inappropriate?”

“He and Ruo Xue are divorced. Letting an outsider sit next to you, that might…”

“Afraid of what?” Elder Lan snorted coldly and shouted, “In my heart, Wushang will always be my granddaughter’s husband.”

“No matter when or where, he’s part of the Lan family.”

“Don’t say sit beside me, I’d even be willing to sit in my position myself.”

Then, pointing at Ye Wushang, he raised his voice: “Wushang, come sit beside me.”

“Don’t care about others’ opinions. Just be yourself.”

“Yes, grandpa.” Ye Wushang nodded and stood up.

By chance, Pei Qinghu was seated right beside Elder Lan.

“Move over,” Ye Wushang said softly.

Pei Qinghu was taken aback and looked up at him. “You want me to move?”

Ye Wushang replied coldly, “If not you, then who? The air?”

“You!” Pei Qinghu was furious.

He hadn’t expected this ‘useless’ man to be so bold as to ask him to give up his seat.

To make way beside Elder Lan, where an empty seat remained, was clearly a challenge.

“Trash, don’t go too far!” Lan Ruoshuang shouted loudly.

Zhao Xiue’s gaze turned venomous as she hissed, “Don’t think you can do whatever you want just because the old man supports you…”

“Bang!”

Before she could finish, Elder Lan slammed the table and bellowed, “Enough noise!”

“It’s just a seat. Is it necessary to make such a fuss?”

“Today is my sixtieth birthday. Do I not have the right to decide who sits where?”

“If you think I’m old and useless, then don’t eat this meal!”

Though old, his heart was not.

He knew Pei Qinghu’s high position and the Lan family’s power meant he could not offend him.

But he felt guilty that his granddaughter and Ye Wushang had divorced.

If Ye Wushang couldn’t even sit beside him at his birthday celebration, he would be ashamed.

Reflecting on the past, if not for Ye Wushang’s father’s support, how could the Lan family have grown from a small workshop to what it is now?

“Qinghu, give up that seat,” Lan Ruoxue whispered, hoping to calm the situation.

Pei Qinghu had come mainly to humiliate Ye Wushang.

Unexpectedly, he was met with a retort right away.

By nature hot-tempered, he would have lost his temper long ago.

But patience now would serve a greater purpose. There was no need to quarrel further with this ‘useless’ man.

“Fine, I’ll get up,” Pei Qinghu took a deep breath, swallowing his humiliation, and stood to move next to Lan Ruoxue, about to sit down.

But Ye Wushang suddenly spoke: “Grandpa means for you to sit there.”

He pointed to the corner seat he had just vacated.

It was not only a marginal spot but also surrounded by less prominent guests.

Among them was a middle-aged woman in her forties, unattractive yet provocatively dressed, giving off a disgusting vibe.

Upon hearing Ye Wushang, the woman even flirted with Pei Qinghu, batting her eyes in a coquettish manner.

Pei Qinghu nearly vomited.

“Trash, we’ll see about this!” Pei Qinghu glared fiercely at Ye Wushang and took the seat he had just been occupying.

Then everyone settled in.

Under Elder Lan’s invitation, the feast commenced.

After several rounds of wine,

“Head of the family, this is a gift I specially chose for you — a ten-thousand-yuan golden brick tea. Please accept it with a smile,” a guest presented his gift, followed by others offering theirs.

“Head of the family, this is a twenty-thousand-yuan Thai Buddhist rosary, wishing you longevity.”

“Head of the family, this is a forty-thousand-yuan agarwood…”

Gifts were presented in turn.

When it was Pei Qinghu’s turn, he stood confidently, holding a beautifully wrapped box, and said: “Elder Lan, I heard you have a passion for antiques and calligraphy, especially scroll paintings.”

“Recently, I was fortunate enough to acquire a ‘Hundred Birds, Pine, and Crane’ painting, personally painted by a master from the Tang Dynasty.”

“Today, I wish to present it to you, with blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity like the Southern Mountains.”

With that, he pressed a button, and the exquisite box opened automatically.

A scroll about sixty centimeters wide and one meter long appeared.

The painting depicted a hundred birds flying together, perched atop a mountain peak.

The birds varied in species and expressions.

Some proud.

Some prosperous.

Some confident.

Others domineering!

All gathered on an ancient pine tree, gazing uniformly toward the distant bright sun.

Symbolizing longevity for ten thousand years!

“Tiger really spared no expense on this gift!”

“Yuan Chongming was one of the Eight Great Masters of the Tang Dynasty, ranking first. His calligraphy and paintings are priceless. This ‘Hundred Birds, Pine, and Crane’ is a royal favorite, worth at least one hundred million on the market!”

“This painting was thought lost for ages, yet Tiger managed to buy it. It’s clear he put a lot of heart into this birthday gift!”

“Our gifts only total a few hundred thousand, but he drops a one hundred million masterpiece. Comparing ourselves to others is infuriating!”

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