Chapter Twenty-Six: You Don't Need to Explain to Me

At that moment, Lin Fang sensed something was amiss. She hurried over, glanced at the invitation, and immediately broke into a smile. Turning to Yuan Dongyang, she said, "Tsk tsk, Dongyang, look at this. It’s all in the past now. Why did you have to alarm Chairman Li over it? That whole Maosheng Chamber of Commerce thing didn’t really harm us—hardly an offense. Just a phone call to clear things up would have sufficed. Organizing a banquet to apologize is just too much, honestly."

The Chu family knew a little about Chu Biyue and Chen Mingsheng borrowing money, but Chu Biyue hadn’t explained it fully, only saying it was a scare but all was well in the end. She was afraid that telling them the full story would frighten them. So when Lin Fang heard about this, she understood the general idea right away.

But she would never have thought to associate it with that good-for-nothing Ling Feng. She assumed it was yet another honor that Yuan Dongyang had brought to their family.

If not for the Yuan family’s young master, would Li Jimiao or Chen Mingsheng have given their family the time of day?

Yuan Dongyang was taken aback for a moment, then his brows furrowed and he curled his lips in disdain. "Oh, Li Jimiao, right? Well, I did call him once about Biyue’s incident, but he made all sorts of excuses. So I mentioned it to my dad, and my dad said he’d consider acquiring his company to teach him a lesson. Li must have heard about it and rushed over to apologize. At least he knows what’s what. But whether I’ll forgive him or not depends on his attitude. Offending me is one thing, but offending my Biyue? That’s unacceptable!"

The more Lin Fang listened, the happier she became. "Biyue, listen to that! My son-in-law, oh my, tsk tsk, he really does care about you. You should treat Dongyang better in the future. It’s not easy to find a rich, obedient husband like him, even with a lantern in hand."

Then she turned to Zhang Bihua, lifting her chin. "You may go now. Tell Chairman Li our whole family will definitely attend the day after tomorrow. The Chu family won’t refuse Chairman Li’s invitation."

Hearing this, Zhang Bihua finally felt relieved. No matter how pretentious this old woman acted, her task was done. The Chu family’s door wasn’t much, but the airs they put on were really something. Even though she was the vice president of Maosheng Chamber of Commerce, she hadn’t even been invited in for tea.

"Yes, yes, the day after tomorrow Chairman Li will send a special car to pick you up. Thank you, goodbye."

After Zhang Bihua left, Lin Fang and the others went on praising Yuan Dongyang, taking the opportunity to mock Ling Feng as well. At this point, what could Ling Feng say? Chu Biyue, meanwhile, looked increasingly troubled.

"You see? That’s how it is. People are divided by rank. When Biyue was in trouble, could you, a country bumpkin, do anything to help? Look at Dongyang."

"He couldn’t do a thing. He’s not even qualified to speak to Li Jimiao!"

"Dad, Mom, I have something to do. I’m heading out," Chu Biyue said, already slinging her bag over her shoulder. It seemed she couldn’t take any more and left without looking back, even as Lin Fang called after her.

Ling Feng had no desire to stay in that room either. Listening to Yuan Dongyang boast any longer would be unbearable—after all, he, not Dongyang, was the one Li Jimiao truly wanted to invite. Yet Dongyang shamelessly took the credit. What scum. Ling Feng followed Chu Biyue out.

That night, Ling Feng came home late, not bothering to cook—mainly because he was afraid Yuan Dongyang would overstay and boast until the roof caved in. When he finally returned, Lin Fang glared at him, ready to start scolding, but Ling Feng simply said he had to work.

That shut Lin Fang up.

Upstairs, Chu Biyue had just finished her shower. She sat on the sofa playing on her phone, her hair still damp, the scent of body wash lingering about her. She wore an oversized blue nightgown that covered her feet, not letting Ling Feng catch a glimpse of skin.

Outwardly she was playing a matching game, but her mind was preoccupied. She hadn’t passed a single level in two hours. When she saw Ling Feng come in, she raised her brows and asked, "Ling Feng, do you think I should go the day after tomorrow?"

Never had Chu Biyue considered that Li Jimiao’s invitation was for Ling Feng’s sake. She, like Lin Fang, assumed it was all thanks to Yuan Dongyang.

The difference was, Chu Biyue had no desire to bask in Dongyang’s glory, nor to have Li Jimiao think she was Yuan Dongyang’s wife.

While most women would wish for their status to rise through their husbands, Yuan Dongyang was not Ling Feng.

Ling Feng answered without hesitation, "Of course you should go. Why not? It’s not costing us anything. Besides, if you don’t go, Li Jimiao might be scared out of his wits."

"But they said my husband should come with me…" Chu Biyue bit her icy, translucent lip in displeasure.

"That’s not a problem!" Ling Feng thought to himself—he never said he wouldn’t go.

"You… you useless coward…" Chu Biyue’s eyes reddened. She jumped up, grabbed a cushion, and whacked Ling Feng on the head with it.

Before Ling Feng could react, there was a loud bang as the door to the inner room slammed shut.

After a long while, Ling Feng rubbed his forehead. Oh no, does she think Li Jimiao invited her and Yuan Dongyang? No wonder she called me useless…

Ling Feng wanted to explain, but no matter how long he knocked, there was no response. At last, it sounded like a high-heeled shoe hit the doorframe, so he didn’t dare knock anymore.

The next morning, Ling Feng got up early to wait for Chu Biyue, hoping to explain things. But as soon as he started, Chu Biyue cut him off coldly, "You don’t need to explain. I don’t care."

Damn, why did that sound so familiar?

Then Chu Biyue, keeping her face cold, asked a few questions about the contract and said she was going to the Ling Feng-Biyue Consortium today to finalize some operational details.

Bad timing, Ling Feng thought. He had to deliver gifts to Young Master Qi later!

"Biyue, maybe you should go another day. Mr. Chen signed the contract personally—his subordinates might not know the details. I have something to do today…"

"You don’t need to explain. We don’t have any relationship anyway… Besides, what can a useless coward like you do?" With that, Chu Biyue shot him a glare and went downstairs.

Ling Feng was left standing at the top of the stairs, completely at a loss.

Damn, this unlucky woman really holds a grudge.

Noon. First Avenue. Grand Dynasty Hotel!

The Grand Dynasty was one of Jiangzhou’s top three five-star hotels. Today was the engagement of Qi Ye, eldest son of the Qi family, one of Jiangzhou’s four great families. To display their splendor, the Qi family had booked the entire hotel and spent half a month on decorations.

The entrance was festive and lively, a parade of luxury cars and a crush of people. Every guest entering or leaving was a local tycoon or high official. The women were dazzling in their finery and jewels; the men were dressed to the nines in expensive suits.

Unfortunately, the weather was uncooperative—a fine, steady rain was falling.

As the banquet was about to begin and guests were still arriving, a golden Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled up outside.

Fang Jingmei was already on the guest list, so when she stepped gracefully from the car, no one found it odd.

What happened next, however…

Fang Jingmei opened a paper umbrella the color of blood-red sunset and, with utmost respect, assisted a young man out of the car.

The young man was tall, imposing, with a cold, proud face and a hint of menace at his lips. The temperature seemed to drop as soon as he appeared; many people shivered involuntarily.

His expression made it clear—this was no ordinary guest.

Without sparing a glance at the crowd, hands clasped behind his back, the young man strode directly toward the banquet hall.

"Jingmei, thanks to your invitation, otherwise it would have been hard for me to get in today," he said.

Fang Jingmei blushed in shame, her voice trembling. "Your Majesty, please don’t mock your servant. I know I have offended your majesty and deserve extermination. I bitterly regret my mistake…"

Behind Ling Feng and Fang Jingmei, Zhao Che’s phone suddenly rang. He answered, a look of delight spreading across his face as he hurried after Ling Feng.

"Your Majesty, news has just come in—the elders in the Magic City, upon learning of your return, are overjoyed. They say the nation’s fortune will endure. The Dragon King himself has issued an edict, bestowing upon you the title ‘King of Peerless Merit.’ The Governor of Jiangdong is on his way to present the imperial decree in person."

Fang Jingmei trembled, her shame deepening as a strange emotion surged through her. Tears welled up and spilled down her cheeks. Only today, after Ling Feng summoned her and spared her from being sold to the Southeast Region, did she realize she had unknowingly offended the most powerful man in Yanxia.

"Ah, even if all power under heaven were mine, what of it? She still won’t look at me with respect." Ling Feng had been chastened by Chu Biyue that morning and was still feeling down. He could slay tens of thousands single-handedly, unmatched on the battlefield, amass the world’s wealth and possess trillions, yet with his own wife, he was helpless.

So much for being the ‘King of Peerless Merit’—what a joke.

"Welcome, President Fang. Please come in!"

At the door, the security guards checked the invitation, then respectfully greeted Fang Jingmei. She was a renowned beauty and CEO in Jiangzhou, and they’d long heard of her. But seeing her, so elegant and distinguished, holding an umbrella for someone else left them astonished.

Especially when they saw the young man’s outfit, they were dumbfounded.

This imposing, aloof young man with a blade-sharp gaze was dressed in a deep purple ancient-style robe, bound with a jade belt studded with pearls as large as longans. Hundreds of golden and silver threads embroidered eight fierce golden dragons onto his brocade robe.

Gold at his waist, purple on his back, a dragon robe and a jade belt!

In ancient times, he would have been a mighty general or a prince of royal blood. Now, wearing such a knockoff costume on the street, you’d have to be either crazy or a professional performer.

The guards didn’t think he was crazy—not with Fang Jingmei by his side. Besides, Ling Feng’s composed demeanor and commanding presence were unlike anything they’d ever seen. Anyone else in that outfit would have looked ridiculous, but on him, it seemed perfectly natural—flawless, even.

As for the deadly glint in his eyes…

The guards suddenly remembered that President Fang knew many male celebrities. Perhaps this was some minor actor she’d hired to add some flair to the banquet.

So they didn’t stop them and let the three of them in. In fact, they thought to themselves, This pretty-boy actor really plays the part well. And hey, maybe he and President Fang will put on a good show tonight, too.