Ye Yanran, clad in a white gown that bared her shoulder, wore a striking red gem on her chest that emitted a radiant glow.
The delicate, pale necklace swayed gently with her every step, accentuating her fair skin as if it were fine jade.
Coupled with her breathtaking beauty, she immediately captivated everyone's attention.
The grand hall fell silent.
Changsun Hao was utterly mesmerized, standing frozen like a wooden statue, his eyes practically glued to Ye Yanran.
Even Jiang Yi had to admit that Ye Yanran was indeed beautiful.
However, Jiang Yi felt no interest whatsoever at this moment.
"I'm sorry, I'm a little late!"
Ye Yanran spoke to Changsun Hao.
Upon hearing her voice, Changsun Hao snapped back to reality.
"It's alright, you're not late at all. You've arrived at the perfect time. Just wait and see how I'll teach Jiang Yi a lesson and avenge you," Changsun Hao said, his face filled with tenderness.
Ye Yanran offered a slight smile.
This smile sent waves of excitement through Changsun Hao.
Ye Yanran had always been cold and distant, but now she was smiling at him.
Changsun Hao felt that since Ye Yanran was smiling only at him, she must be tacitly approving of their relationship.
Furthermore, Ye Yanran was dressed so elegantly, which only made Changsun Hao more convinced that she was interested in him.
Everyone assumed Ye Yanran and Changsun Hao were together and rushed to greet her.
Ye Yanran responded to each of them, her movements and words flawless, exuding an air of royalty. This entranced Changsun Hao.
"Miss Ye is truly beautiful!"
Shen Lu said enviously, "It's no wonder so many young masters of wealthy families fall for her. First, it was Han Kai who was captivated by Miss Ye, and now Changsun Hao is completely smitten."
"There's no need to envy her. If you dressed yourself up properly, you wouldn't be any less stunning than her," Jiang Yi said with a smile.
Shen Lu felt a surge of happiness at his words.
Every woman desires to hear someone she cares about compliment her beauty.
Shen Lu, being a woman, was no exception.
"Yanran, I finally get to see you!"
A voice echoed from outside the hall.
Then, a young master from a wealthy family strode in.
Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Han Kai.
The Han family had been ruined by Qian Taiduo, and Han Kai had become a fallen second-generation heir. However, he remained unwilling to give up on Ye Yanran.
"Yanran, for you, our Han family paid such a heavy price. Our family's number one auction house in the capital was seized, all our subsidiary companies went bankrupt, and I ended up like this. How can you abandon me and be with someone else?"
Han Kai's face was filled with resentment.
"We've already broken up. Stop pestering me!" Ye Yanran said calmly.
"You can't do this to me," Han Kai pleaded, "I truly like you, and I don't want to break up."
Hearing this, Ye Yanran's expression turned to annoyance.
The reason she had agreed to the engagement in the first place was because she saw Han Kai as having some utility. But now that the Han family was completely ruined and Han Kai had lost his usefulness, Ye Yanran naturally wanted to end their relationship.
Poor Han Kai had never even touched Ye Yanran's hand.
"So, you're Han Kai!"
Changsun Hao stared at Han Kai and said sternly, "Boy, don't bother Miss Ye anymore. Otherwise, I'll break your legs. Do you understand?"
"My business with Yanran has nothing to do with you. You have no right to interfere!" Han Kai retorted angrily.
"Who said I have no right to interfere?"
Changsun Hao declared, "Do you know who my father is? My father is the president of the Beijing Chamber of Commerce. It's easier for me to kill you than to crush an ant. Get out of here immediately, or I won't be polite."
Upon hearing that Changsun Hao was the son of the president of the Beijing Chamber of Commerce, Han Kai was stunned.
Changsun Hao was not someone he could afford to offend.
However, Han Kai was still unwilling to back down.
"Young Master Changsun, Yanran and I are engaged. No matter who tries to stop this, I will not back down."
Han Kai was desperate.
"You're looking for death, aren't you!"
Changsun Hao said dismissively, "With your demeanor, you're simply not worthy of Miss Ye. Go take a look at yourself in the mirror. What right do you have to marry Miss Ye?"
"Now, I officially declare that your engagement with Miss Ye is canceled. From this moment on, Miss Ye has nothing to do with you."
Han Kai's face turned extremely grim upon hearing this.
Han Kai was not a fool. He realized that Changsun Hao also liked Ye Yanran, judging by Changsun Hao's tone.
Competing with Changsun for a woman, he knew he wouldn't gain any advantage.
Han Kai scanned the crowd and then spoke, "Everyone, this matter originally had nothing to do with Changsun Hao. But he, relying on being the son of the president of the Beijing Chamber of Commerce, is forcing me to cancel the engagement. I hope you all can help me seek justice."
The crowd also felt that Changsun Hao's actions were indeed excessive.
But Changsun Hao was the son of the president of the Beijing Chamber of Commerce, and they were all eager to please him. How could they dare to oppose him?
Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Han Kai's face was filled with rage.
"Is there no such thing as justice in your hearts? You are all elites of society, powerful figures in the capital. Are you also going to yield to tyranny?"
At this moment, Han Kai was filled with righteous indignation.
However, still, no one paid him any mind.
Jiang Yi watched this scene and let out a cold laugh.
In the past, Han Kai, relying on the power of the Han family, was arrogant and never thought about justice.
Now that he was in trouble and being bullied, he finally remembered those words.
Jiang Yi found it incredibly amusing.
"No one will help you because they dare not. If they help you, they're going against me!"
Changsun Hao's face was full of smugness.
Despair was written all over Han Kai's face.
"Yanran, do you really intend to abandon me? I've sacrificed so much for you, and yet you treat me like this," Han Kai pleaded with Ye Yanran.
"How ridiculous!"
Ye Yanran said lightly, "The reason you've fallen into this situation is not because of me, but because you offended Jiang Yi. That's why you've met this fate."
"I know everything about your situation. You sought trouble with Jiang Yi, and that's why Jiang Yi had Qian Taiduo destroy your Han family."
These words left Han Kai speechless.
Because what Ye Yanran said was the truth.
Han Kai's downfall was due to his deliberate provocation of Jiang Yi, which displeased him. With the help of Qian Taiduo, the Han family was destroyed.
Many people were aware of this matter.
It was not surprising that Ye Yanran knew.
"Stop with the nonsense and get out of here!"
Changsun Hao said impatiently to Han Kai, "If you don't leave now, I'll take action!"
Han Kai remained silent, but his gaze shifted towards Jiang Yi.
Han Kai deeply regretted his actions.
He had no deep-seated hatred for Jiang Yi. It was precisely because he had provoked Jiang Yi that he had ended up in this predicament.