Cen Zhiyuan's remark about "postpartum confinement" completely transformed the oppressive atmosphere in the ward into one of hilarity. Even Jia Yanzhen couldn't hold back his laughter, his face beaming.
Although he knew it was impolite to laugh at this moment, hearing such words from the usually stern and aloof Cen Zhiyuan created a stark contrast, making the comedic effect overwhelmingly strong.
Zhou Jinbai's face darkened like a piece of charcoal, and the black flames burning on him seemed almost tangible.
Cen Zhiyuan merely cast a dismissive glance at him before turning to leave.
Watching Cen Zhiyuan's proud retreating figure, the old woman felt an overwhelming sense of self-reproach.
She and Zhou Jinbai had long foreseen all of this, but who could have imagined it would arrive so suddenly?
If time could turn back, the old woman would never have allowed Lin Xingwan to be with her grandson. Then, they could have continued to live, instead of facing separation and heartbreak.
"Jinbai..." The old woman wanted to say something to Zhou Jinbai, but after opening her mouth several times, she didn't know how to comfort him.
She had already hinted and implied as much as she could in recent days.
However, she knew that none of it would be of any use to her grandson.
"You all should leave now. I want to be alone. Don't worry, I won't do anything to harm myself."
Zhou Jinbai glanced at the people in the room. They knew he kept his word, so they eventually left.
As the door to the room closed, Jia Yanzhen said to the old woman, "Grandma, you should go back. I'll stay and watch over Big Brother."
Although Jia Yanzhen and the old woman, and Zhou Jinbai, didn't have much of a blood relation anymore, it was entirely due to Jia Yanzhen's thick skin and shamelessness that, in the eyes of outsiders, Jia Yanzhen was now closer to the old woman than her own grandson.
To be fair, if Zhou Jinbai, Jia Yanzhen, and the old woman were to walk down the street, people would definitely assume Jia Yanzhen and the old woman were the actual relatives.
"You've been working hard for Jinbai these past few days. Since Jinbai has already assured us, let's all go back and rest." The old woman's face was etched with fatigue. After speaking, she turned and left.
Jia Yanzhen watched the old woman's retreating figure disappear, then glanced at the closed door of the ward before leaving as well.
Three days later, Star Picking Tower.
In the prime commercial heart of Yan Jing, where land was as precious as gold, Star Picking Tower stood in stark contrast to the surrounding towering skyscrapers, yet it was the tallest wooden building in all of Yan Jing, its floors even exceeding those of the surrounding high-rises.
Of course, due to height restrictions in Yan Jing, the skyscrapers in the city center were at most ten stories high.
Otherwise, with its wooden structure, Star Picking Tower would find it difficult to support dozens of floors.
The entire Star Picking Tower was adorned with lanterns and banners. Those who didn't know might have thought a wedding banquet was being held there.
But those who were invited knew that this was the Duan family's first appearance in decades.
Despite such a grand and magnificent banquet, there were only a handful of cars parked at the entrance.
Lin Xingwan, standing on the top floor, looked down at everything below, her face filled with anxiety.
"It's already six in the evening, but I heard fewer than ten people have arrived, and they are all minor figures. Are you sure tonight's banquet will truly be packed with guests?"
Duan Muxing had told her that tonight's banquet was where she would be formally introduced to everyone. From then on, she would no longer be the unremarkable Lin Xingwan, but Duan Muxing's fiancée. Those who desired the Duan family's divine medicine would fawn over her. This was also her key to entering high society and investigating her mother's affairs from years ago.
"Don't worry, the banquet starts at seven. There's still an hour."
Compared to Lin Xingwan's impatience, Duan Muxing appeared much calmer.
After speaking, Duan Muxing turned to Lin Xingwan and said, "Come here, squat down."
Lin Xingwan: "???"
Seeing that the man wasn't joking, she walked to Duan Muxing's side and squatted down.
Lin Xingwan tilted her head slightly, her gaze full of confusion fixed on Duan Muxing.
Duan Muxing, sitting in his wheelchair, leaned slightly towards Lin Xingwan. When he reached out, Lin Xingwan instinctively flinched back.
After confirming that Duan Muxing wasn't going to harm her, Lin Xingwan allowed him to place his hand on her face.
Of course, Duan Muxing was merely adjusting the mask on Lin Xingwan's face.
Although the imitation skin mask on Lin Xingwan's face was well-applied, it was still her first time. Duan Muxing re-adhered a few of the rougher areas.
This face was designed by Duan Muxing specifically for Lin Xingwan.
Once attached, it made her look completely different from her original appearance.
"This mask doesn't seem to fit your face perfectly. I need to sculpt it carefully."
To Duan Muxing, Lin Xingwan was nothing more than a piece of art at this moment.
Their eyes met, and it was only then that they realized how intimate such an action was for them.
Lin Xingwan awkwardly withdrew her body and stood up again.
Of course, Lin Xingwan's mood was nothing but awkwardness. However, Duan Muxing felt as if his calm demeanor had been suddenly disturbed.
"Young Master..." A subordinate rushed in.
"Speak."
"Miss Cen Zhiyuan of the Cen family has arrived."
Upon hearing this, Duan Muxing said to Lin Xingwan, "It seems it's time for us to go down. And your name is Xu Qingdai."
Lin Xingwan nodded and pushed Duan Muxing's wheelchair as they walked downstairs.
The news that Miss Cen Zhiyuan of the Cen family was attending the banquet instantly spread throughout Yan Jing.
Even the Cen family was giving face to the Duan family, so how could the noble families of Yan Jing refuse to do so?
Suddenly, all the prominent families in Yan Jing began to stir. They understood clearly that with the Duan family's reappearance, the power dynamics of Yan Jing would need to be redrawn.
Below Star Picking Tower.
Lin Xingwan and Duan Muxing were already waiting at the entrance.
Many people were curious about the identities of Duan Muxing and Lin Xingwan, but they dared not speak much, only gathering in small groups, speculating about their identities.
"The one in the wheelchair is the descendant of the Duan family. Don't let his young age fool you; his medical expertise is such that even veteran professors seek his advice."
"I remember once, someone's heart had stopped, but the Duan family descendant fought with the King of Hell and brought the person back to life. There are many such incidents, but I was present that time, so it left a deep impression that I can never forget."
"If the one in the wheelchair is the Duan family descendant, then who is the woman standing beside him? She looks gentle and has a good temperament." Someone had already shifted their attention to Lin Xingwan.
"This woman, I suspect, is the servant of the Duan family descendant."
"Impossible. What kind of servant has such a temperament? Although her appearance isn't that of a top beauty, she's still a lovely lady. I suspect she might be the Duan family descendant's lover?"
...
Everyone voiced their opinions, and then, Lin Xingwan's gaze fell upon a woman wearing a purple qipao and a black shawl.
This woman had extremely fair skin. Against the backdrop of black and purple, she looked like a vampire who had just emerged from a castle.
Noble, mysterious, elegant, exuding unparalleled confidence.
Lin Xingwan recognized this woman. It was Cen Zhiyuan!
Lin Xingwan had searched for information about this woman online countless times, but a thousand searches were far less impactful than the shock she felt the first time she saw her.
Her beauty was aggressive, especially the arrogance and pampered upbringing reflected in her eyes, as if silently telling everyone around that even if she were a pet, she would be the most distinguished one, making anyone who saw her feel inferior.
Behind Cen Zhiyuan followed eight burly and intimidating bodyguards. These bodyguards looked straight ahead, and the originally unremarkable corridor was imbued with an aura of pressure and solemnity as Cen Zhiyuan walked through it.
"Duan Muxing, long time no see." Cen Zhiyuan walked up to Duan Muxing, a slight smirk playing on her lips, her expression languid.
"Indeed, it has been a long time. I thought you had forgotten your old friend."
Duan Muxing wore a smile as warm as a spring breeze. To the onlookers, he appeared to be a harmless, gentle young master,
as if the divine physician rumored to bring the dead back to life was not him at all.
"How could I forget? After all, my uncle is waiting for you to extend his life. This time, it's only a matter of how much longer he can last. It's truly tormenting."
Cen Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. Duan Muxing replied, "If you want him dead, your Cen family has countless ways. But if you mention him to me now, it seems your uncle is not someone you wish to see die."
"He doted on me the most when I was a child, so I can't bear to see him die now. I've had someone prepare a hundred-herb garden for you. You can visit it when you have time. It's planted with thousands of medicinal herbs, including century-old ginseng and Tianshan snow lotus. Anything you desire is there. Consider it a gift from our Cen family for the Duan family's reappearance."
Duan Muxing's eyes lit up the moment Cen Zhiyuan mentioned the hundred-herb garden.
"That is truly generous of you." Duan Muxing offered a sincere smile this time.
"You're welcome." With that, Cen Zhiyuan walked inside.
Soon, the heads of Yan Jing's four major families also arrived.
Star Picking Tower truly came alive. Various luxury cars were parked in the parking lot, each easily worth tens of millions!
Someone simply took a photo of the parking lot and posted it online, which instantly became a trending topic.
The parking lot was absolutely spectacular, even more extravagant than a real luxury car exhibition.
However, this was merely the beginning.
Around 6:50 PM, guests were still arriving in an endless stream.
The congratulatory gifts alone filled the entire hall.
"Let's go in," Duan Muxing suddenly said to Lin Xingwan.
"Go in? Aren't there still many people?" Lin Xingwan looked at the people rushing in, seemingly afraid of being late. It seemed impolite for the hosts to leave before all the guests had arrived.
"The people arriving now are merely opportunists. They never intended to come initially, but seeing that other major families have arrived, they rushed over. There's no need for me to wait for them. It will be them seeking me out in the future."
As Duan Muxing spoke, his confidence made him appear like a spirited young man soaring on horseback. Lin Xingwan even wondered how stunning he would have been if his legs were not disabled.
Duan Muxing waited for a long time without a response from Lin Xingwan, and he couldn't help but ask, "What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about your legs," Lin Xingwan replied without hesitation.
"Oh? Really? Why are you thinking about my legs out of the blue?"
Duan Muxing asked.
"I'm wondering if your life would be even more brilliant if your legs could stand."
After Lin Xingwan finished speaking, she heard Duan Muxing's low chuckle, "Even though my legs are crippled, my life is already very brilliant."
"Were your legs like this from birth?"
Lin Xingwan gently pushed Duan Muxing's wheelchair as they walked inside.
"My legs were poisoned," Duan Muxing said. After speaking, a fierce hatred surged into his once gentle eyes!
He recalled his past, running carefree like a bird soaring in the sky, but then everything changed.
One day, he woke up and could no longer feel his legs. He could only sit in a wheelchair like a trapped beast, watching other children play.
Moreover, his parents had also died that day.
Duan Muxing's hands, gripping the armrests of the wheelchair, turned white from the excessive force.
This was a knot and a nightmare he could never overcome in his life.
If the person responsible was not made to pay the price they deserved, Duan Muxing would die with regret.
"Poisoned? That means you can stand up as long as the poison is gone? Your legs don't look atrophied either, just like a normal man's legs!" Lin Xingwan spoke her mind. If someone's legs were truly disabled, they would eventually atrophy and deform due to lack of exercise.
But Duan Muxing's legs showed no such signs, and Lin Xingwan had also noticed that Duan Muxing exercised his legs daily. In his heart, he truly wished to recover and stand up again.