"See that brash kid hogging all the attention? He's my son!!"
Chen Xiaowan felt a sense of glory she'd never experienced before, not even when marrying Ye Xuan's father. Her son had truly brought her honor today.
Guests and relatives marveled, thinking there was nothing more to wish for than such a son.
"Of course."
An opportunity for his mother to shine was exactly what he wanted.
"Really? That's wonderful, young friend Ye. Thank you."
Seeing Ye Xuan agree, Lin Xiuyan was overjoyed. He immediately personally unfurled a sheet of Xuan paper on the table for Ye Xuan. Chen Bingyan shot him a glare.
Ye Xuan smiled faintly and approached the table. Gathering his qi, he held the brush and positioned it over the upper right corner of the ancient Xuan paper. He began by writing the three characters 'Xiaoyao You.'
Then, without hesitation, he swept the brush downwards,
"In the northern darkness, there are fish, the first is called Kun. The Kun is so large, I know not how many thousands of li across; it is transformed into a bird, whose name is Peng. The Peng's back is so wide, I know not how many thousands of li across; when it rages and flies, its wings are like clouds that hang in the sky. This bird, when the seas move, will migrate to the southern darkness..."
Whoosh~
Lin Xiuyan's eyes lit up as he watched the flowing calligraphy and the vividly imaginative words. The literary talent was impressive.
The surrounding guests, though not fully understanding, felt the calligraphy was powerful as they watched the brushstrokes dance like dragons and snakes.
And this was merely the beginning...
"Furthermore, if water is not accumulated deeply, it cannot bear a large boat. If you pour a cup of water into a hollowed hall, a tiny piece of straw becomes a boat; place the cup there and it will stick, for the water is shallow and the boat is large. If wind is not accumulated deeply, it cannot bear large wings..."
"...In the south of Chu, there are the spirits of the underworld, who live five hundred years for spring and five hundred years for autumn; in ancient times there was the great Chun tree, which lived eight thousand years for spring and eight thousand years for autumn..."
Chen Dezhu's family, "!!!!"
What was this?
How could that kid possibly...!!
Even though they didn't understand much about literature, they knew this was remarkable. But why was it that brat who still had downy fuzz on his upper lip?
The eyes of the surrounding guests widened in disbelief. They never imagined they would hear such a piece today; it was truly a timeless masterpiece.
"...Whoever can conform to the rightness of Heaven and Earth, and ride the six breaths, and wander in the boundless, what then will they need? Therefore it is said: The perfectly realized man has no self; the divinely realized man has no achievement; the sagely realized man has no fame."
Completed in one go!
Lin Xiuyan's face flushed with excitement. He slapped his thigh with a "Pa!" "Good!"
"Well said! 'The perfectly realized man has no self; the divinely realized man has no achievement; the sagely realized man has no fame'!!"
"Such literary talent is unparalleled, truly magnificent!!"
Seeing such writing, Lin Xiuyan licked his lips. He resolved to have it framed and displayed in the most prominent position at the museum for all to admire upon his return.
Luo Tianyi's eyes shimmered as she witnessed this, clearly also not having anticipated Ye Xuan's talent to be so extraordinary.
First, the two birthday gifts, the Longquan ink paste and the ancient Xuan paper, had made a strong impression. Then, the two poems, "Shui Diao Ge Tou" and "Xiaoyao You," further solidified it.
Any one of these four items alone would have been a powerful blow to their opponents. These four consecutive, invisible slaps left Chen Dezhu's mind reeling, as Ye Xuan's performance far exceeded his expectations.
During the birthday banquet, Chen Dezhu and his son were like clowns, their faces burning with shame. Rong Ningning, in her anger, had even left the banquet.
"Hehe, Cousin Ye Xuan, you really did it. Uncle's family's faces look absolutely terrible."
Chen Yan'er chuckled, having not seen Uncle's family so outmaneuvered in a long time, and was in a great mood.
"Good job, my boy. You did wonderfully."
Chen Xiaowan gave her son a thumbs-up, her son had brought her so much honor today. Ye Xuan's father was also beaming, "Well done."
"Your mother is rarely this happy."
After the banquet, Ye Xuan's parents drove home. Ye Xuan, meanwhile, drove his supercar with Luo Tianyi to Yangcheng Times Square, planning to have some couple time and watch a movie. After all, it was rare for them to have time alone.
However, as Ye Xuan and Luo Tianyi headed towards Times Square, a black van followed them.
Ye Xuan glanced at it through the rearview mirror and paid it no mind, driving on.
At Times Square, they bought movie tickets and found a booth to wait. There was still fifteen minutes before the movie started.
"Wife, I'm going to the restroom. Want to come?"
Luo Tianyi, "........"
"Hmph!"
"As if I'd go to the restroom with you."
Luo Tianyi pouted. Already corrupted by him, she instinctively thought of some embarrassing scenarios. "Hurry up and go. The movie's about to start."
"Alrighty~"
"Here, wife, husband gives you a kiss."
With that, under the envious gazes of many couples around them, he kissed Luo Tianyi's lips. It felt very good. Sudananovel.com
"Stop being lovey-dovey, hurry up and go~~"
Luo Tianyi could feel the envious looks from those around them. Was it really necessary for him to draw so much attention?
*Creak~~*
A woman in the shadows gritted her teeth. That kid who had made her lose so much face must pay. But it was a pity about such a handsome face. She'd drug him first, and after she was done with him, she'd cripple him.
A venomous plan formed in her mind, and a sinister smile curved her lips. This woman was none other than Chen Yuting's wife, Rong Ningning, the only daughter of Rong Changhe, Yangcheng's richest man.
Rong Ningning had always been a vindictive and scheming woman. Although Chen Yuting appeared fortunate to have married the Rong family's daughter, no one knew the hell he lived daily. At home, he was more obedient than a kitten. However, it was only because he was decent in that regard that she hadn't divorced him.
Of course, outsiders knew none of this.
"Second Uncle, you must get back at Ningning later." Rong Ningning coquettishly linked arms with a middle-aged man beside her. This man was Rong Ningning's second uncle, Rong Sihai, Rong Changhe's right-hand man, and a formidable individual in his own right.
The Rong family's rise to become Yangcheng's richest was partly due to his clandestine methods.
"Heh heh, don't worry, Ningning. That brat dared to embarrass you, I'll have someone break both his legs later," Rong Sihai said with a chuckle, affectionately ruffling Rong Ningning's head. Having no children of his own, he had long regarded Rong Ningning as his own daughter.
A few minutes later.
Times Square, a certain room.
*Click~*
As Ye Xuan entered a room, Rong Ningning, along with Rong Changhe and three burly henchmen, also entered the room and immediately locked the door.
"Ye Xuan, my cousin, when you were stealing the spotlight at the banquet, did you ever think..."
"Shut up!"
Rong Ningning was immediately cut off by Rong Sihai's sharp rebuke. The moment Rong Sihai saw Ye Xuan, he jolted, and a chill ran down his spine. "Young Master Ye... how could it be him!!!"