"Grandmother, I was wrong. I've racked my brain, and I still don't know what I said wrong."
"Please, just tell me!"
Ye Fei pleaded.
"You tell me, do I, such a great beauty, really have no attraction for you at all?"
"Why do you keep talking about breaking off the engagement?"
He Jingyao said angrily.
Upon hearing the reason, Ye Fei couldn't help but cradle his forehead.
He then explained,
"Miss He, you are naturally as beautiful as a heavenly flower!"
"But I have genuinely loved my senior sister since I was young."
"Moreover, if I were the type to change my affections easily, you would look down on me too, wouldn't you?"
Hearing this explanation, He Jingyao calmed down.
Indeed, frankly speaking, if Ye Fei were the type to fall in love with anyone he saw, she would certainly not think highly of him.
"Forget it, I can't be bothered to argue with you."
"It's getting late, let's both get some rest!"
He Jingyao said later.
After wishing each other goodnight, they retired to their respective rooms.
The next day, which was the day they were to attend the banquet.
Both were dressed in their finest attire.
"Ye Fei, have you brought the gifts?"
He Jingyao reminded him.
"Don't worry, don't worry, the blood jade is ready."
Ye Fei confirmed.
Then, they directly took a business car to the venue of the banquet.
This time, the business car parked at the entrance of the Cloud Top Hotel as usual.
"Miss He, please alight!"
After Ye Fei alighted, he directly extended an invitation to He Jingyao.
Then, her delicate hand rested on Ye Fei's palm.
They walked into the hotel hand in hand.
After their invitation letters were verified at the entrance, they smoothly entered the hotel lobby.
The Cloud Top Hotel had once again been booked by the Yuan family, who were hosting the birthday banquet today.
"Ye Fei, rest here for a moment, I'm going to greet them!"
Upon seeing her family's close associates, the Luo family, He Jingyao gave a few instructions before rising and walking over to the two people from the Luo family.
Ye Fei, on the other hand, sat aside to rest.
As time passed, the hotel lobby became bustling with people, all engaged in conversation.
Ye Fei's gaze fell upon the Song father and son, with whom he had a grievance.
At this moment, he saw the Song father and son fawning over a young man in a striped suit who looked quite unconventional.
Ye Fei couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
As if sensing the gaze upon him, Song Cheng, the young master of the Song family, looked directly in the direction of the gaze.
Seeing that it was Ye Fei, Song Cheng's expression immediately changed, filled with malevolence.
Ye Fei, however, paid no mind to such a clownish figure.
"Ye Fei, my parents have arrived."
"Sorry, I just met them, I've kept you waiting."
He Jingyao finally managed to get away and hurried over.
"It's time, they're starting to present gifts, let's go too."
He Jingyao said again.
Then, the two of them also walked over.
"Thank you all for attending my father's eightieth birthday!"
The current head of the Yuan family held a considerable position in Jiang City, especially since everyone was here for the coveted spot he held.
The elder sitting on a huanghuali armchair was dressed in a red Tang suit, his face was flushed, and his mood was exceptionally good.
Standing beside him was a young woman in a qipao with her hair styled up, possessing striking beauty.
This woman, wasn't it the one Ye Fei had encountered when he went out to gather herbs?
Ye Fei muttered to himself.
"Mr. Yuan, this is the birthday gift specially prepared for you by our Song family. Please accept it!"
Song Cheng, holding a wooden gift box, personally presented it to Old Master Yuan.
"Thank you, thank you!"
The old man stroked his beard and expressed his gratitude.
"Mr. Yuan, this contains your favorite item. You can open it now and take a look!"
Song Cheng prompted.
"Oh, then I must take a good look!"
Song Cheng's words directly piqued Old Master Yuan's curiosity.
After all, everyone knew he was passionate about carving and his greatest pleasure was collecting exquisite jade wares.
"Open it for me, let me see its true appearance!"
Old Master Yuan directly instructed the bodyguard beside him.
All eyes were focused on the wooden box.
With a *clack*, the wooden box was quickly opened by the bodyguard, and a white jade artifact of perfect quality, resembling a divine dragon, appeared before everyone's eyes.
"Hiss, could this be the jade artifact that sold for 180 million at the auction a few days ago?"
"The quality is simply flawless!"
Others also began to discuss.
This time, the Song family had indeed spared no expense.
"Quick, bring it to me to see!"
Old Master Yuan said impatiently.
"The texture is warm and smooth, without a single impurity, and the carving can only be described as perfect!"
"What a treasure, what a treasure!"
Old Master Yuan exclaimed, finding it difficult to put down.
He then called over his old friend, the president of the Jiang City Jade Association, Old Mr. Kong.
"Old friend, come and appreciate this with me!"
Old Master Kong was also interested. Leaning on his cane, he quickly appraised the jade with Old Master Yuan.
He then concluded,
"This is indeed a rare treasure!"
"And it was clearly prepared with great care."
Hearing this, Song Cheng and his father's mouths split into wide smiles.
He then turned his head and saw He Jingyao and her companions standing not far away.
He immediately had an idea and said again,
"Mr. Yuan, this gentleman beside me also wishes to present his gift!"
"Since everyone's gifts have been displayed, let's take a look at theirs as well!"
"I'd like to broaden my horizons too!"
"What do you say, kid?"
Song Cheng looked at Ye Fei and the others with a triumphant air.
He was confident that Ye Fei and his group couldn't produce anything valuable, which was why he provocatively wanted Ye Fei to lose face at the banquet!
"Song Cheng, why must you be so aggressive!"
"It remains to be seen who will lose face today!"
He Jingyao retorted.
He Jingyao's father had indeed prepared a gift, but with such a dazzling display before him, he was hesitant to present it.
Seeing their hesitant expressions, Song Cheng became even more aggressive.
"See, I was right!"
"You simply didn't prepare it with care!"
"It seems this spot is destined to be our Song family's!"
"Hahaha!"
Song Cheng burst into triumphant laughter.
"Loser, I haven't even spoken yet!"
"It's not your place to be so presumptuous in front of me!"
Ye Fei hadn't expected such a situation to arise during the time he went to the restroom.
"It's you, Ye Fei!"
Before Ye Fei could even speak, Yuan Bing recognized him.
"Didn't I leave you my number?"
"Why haven't you called me?"
Yuan Bing hadn't expected to see Ye Fei here and was currently overjoyed.