Zhao Yuan took the Moonlit Stars Necklace and placed it around Lin Xue's neck himself.
This time, Lin Xue didn't refuse.
The exquisite necklace didn't overshadow Lin Xue's radiance; it enhanced it. Already as beautiful as a Fairy, she now seemed to glow, so breathtakingly lovely that people dared not look at her directly.
In that instant, everyoneâman or woman, young or oldâwas captivated by her splendor.
The minds of many were filled with poetic lines: "Fluttering like a startled swan, graceful as a swimming dragon; radiant as autumn chrysanthemums, lush as the pines of spring." It had to be said that Cao Zhi's description of the Luo God's beauty in the *Ode to Luoshen* seemed to perfectly capture the essence of Lin Xue.
At this moment, Lin Xue was a Fairy, a goddess; a sprite, an angel!
Zhao Yuan watched her with a smile, his eyes filled with adoration.
The scene was so sweet it was almost sickening. While having this public display of affection shoved in their faces, people couldn't help but sigh in admiration, "What a perfect couple!"
Of course, not everyone was happy about itânamely Ye Feng, Chang Yun, and the three other men who had designs on Lin Xue.
They were all suitors for Lin Xue, and seeing her looking as beautiful as a celestial, their desire to possess her skyrocketed. The sight of her and Zhao Yuan's public display of affection made the five of them gnash their teeth in hatred. Their handsome faces twisted in rage, becoming as ferocious as Rakshasas.
Ye Feng clenched his fists, his body trembling with rage. He wished he could rush up, beat Zhao Yuan to a pulp, and drag Lin Xue away.
Just as his reason was about to be consumed by flames of fury, a hand rested on his shoulder. A steady voice followed. "Son, don't be rash. You still have a chance."
Ye Feng turned to look at his father and asked in astonishment, "They're practically all over each other in public. What chance do I have?"
Father Ye whispered, "Lin Xue might like this kid, but that doesn't mean President Lin and his wife do. As long as they're against it, it won't matter if Lin Xue is head over heels in love with him. It'll be useless!"
Ye Feng nodded, thinking his father had a point. But then he frowned again. "How could Uncle Lin and Aunt Xue possibly dislike him? The guy's a big spenderâhe gave Lin Xue a birthday gift worth tens of millions!"
A smirk played on Father Ye's lips as he said slowly, "First of all, you can't buy someone's approval with an expensive gift. Second, those online prices are all hype. Who knows what that necklace is really worth? Besides, no matter how great that necklace is, it was a gift for Lin Xue alone. We, on the other hand, have gifts prepared for President Lin and his wife."
"Go give them the gifts now. This move will, one, win you favor with President Lin and his wifeâa roundabout strategy. Two, it'll make that kid look bad! We gave gifts to Lin Xue's parents, but he didn't. It'll immediately highlight his lack of manners! And after he gave Lin Xue such an expensive treasure but gave her parents nothing? He's bound to earn their resentment!"
As the saying goes, the older the ginger, the spicier the bite. Despite being at a disadvantage, Father Ye hadn't let anger cloud his judgment like his son. Instead, he had immediately devised a counterattack.
Ye Feng considered his father's plan. 'Even if it doesn't help me win over Lin Xue,' he thought, 'it'll definitely cause problems for Zhao Yuan and ruin his moment!'
At that thought, most of Ye Feng's frustration melted away. He looked at Zhao Yuan, who was gazing lovingly into Lin Xue's eyes, and sneered inwardly. 'Go on, enjoy your little show. Let's see if you're still smiling in a few minutes!'
After taking a deep breath, he took a gift box from his mother's hands and strode toward Lin Xue.
Aside from the Ye Family, everyone else was baffled by his actions.
"Ye Feng, what are you doing?" Lin Xue frowned, instinctively stepping to the side to shield Zhao Yuan behind her, worried that Ye Feng might try to harm him.
The sight filled Ye Feng with a seething hatred, but he controlled it masterfully. He didn't let it show, even managing to force a smile as he turned to Xue Wanyun. "Aunt Xue, today is Lin Xue's birthday, which was also the day of your great trial. So, in addition to the diamond necklace I brought for Lin Xue, I've prepared a special gift for you as well."
With that, he placed a gift box into Xue Wanyun's hands. He then turned to Lin Liqiang. "Uncle Lin, thank you for bringing the beautiful, fairy-like Lin Xue into this world. I have a gift for you as well."
Lin Liqiang was about to refuse, but Father Ye interjected smoothly, "President Lin, Madam Lin, this is just a heartfelt gesture from my son. Please don't refuse, or you might hurt his feelings."
Since Father Ye had put it that way, Lin Liqiang felt he couldn't refuse. He exchanged a glance with Xue Wanyun, then nodded. "Well, if it's a heartfelt gesture, we'll accept it. Thank you, Ye Feng."
"You're welcome." Ye Feng was giving the performance of a lifetime, playing the part of a perfect gentleman. He smiled and said, "The gifts themselves aren't particularly valuable, but they represent my sincere feelings. I hope Uncle Lin and Aunt Xue will like them."
Father Ye added, "President Lin, Madam Lin, go on, open them. These two items are the hottest, most sought-after things in Rongcheng City right now. I'm sure you won't be disappointed."
"Oh?"
Lin Liqiang's interest was piqued. He opened the gift box and took out a small wooden box and a small porcelain vial.
Xue Wanyun opened her gift box as well. It contained the same two items, though the small porcelain vial was a slightly different color and shape.
Standing nearby, Zhao Yuan saw the contents of the two gift boxes and couldn't help but let out a soft "Hmm?"
Ye Feng shot him a glance and thought to himself, 'So the kid knows what he's looking at.'
Meanwhile, Lin Liqiang had taken out the box and the vial. When he read the words written on them, he gasped in surprise, "Is this... Soul-Stabilizing Incense and Vitality Pills?"
Xue Wanyun also exclaimed, "I have a box of Soul-Stabilizing Incense too, and a bottle of... Beauty Pills!"
Hearing this, the living room erupted in a commotion.
Everyone knew that the most popular products in Rongcheng City at the moment were Soul-Stabilizing Incense, Beauty Pills, and Vitality Pills. The only problem was that all three were incredibly rare. Even with a recent increase in production, demand still far outstripped supply, making them extremely difficult to obtain. No amount of money could guarantee a purchase; you had to personally go to Hundred Herbs Hall, take a number, and wait in line.
Lin Liqiang and Xue Wanyun had gone to Hundred Herbs Hall to get numbers themselves. However, their appointments were still months away, much to their disappointment. They never imagined that today, they would receive these very items they had been dreaming of!