Chapter 12 A Heart In Pieces

Ye Chen had been aware of Lin Feng's presence for quite some time. He had purposely concealed himself, listening in on Yang Yunuo's interaction with Lin Feng. Upon hearing Yang Yunuo's diplomatic response and her refusal to disclose their conversation, Ye Chen felt satisfied and decided to make his presence known. As he descended the stairs, he adopted a condescending tone. Mockingly, he remarked, "Lin Feng, this situation is your doing. I can confidently say that I have never spoken ill of you in front of Yunuo." "Yet here you are, maligning my character in front of others. Not only that, but tomorrow I am marrying Yunuo, and you choose to disrupt her peace by sowing discord." "Why must you resort to such deceit? Can't you be more forthright?" Approaching Lin Feng as if they were old friends, Ye Chen gave him a hearty pat on the shoulder. Shaking his head, he advised, "Brother, show more magnanimity, exhibit more masculinity, learn to let go, and do not stoop lower than a woman!" Despite the anger simmering within him towards the man who had caused harm to his foster mother and spent three months in prison unjustly, Lin Feng managed to suppress his emotions. With a cold smile, he retorted, "Ye Chen, do not revel in your triumph prematurely. I hope you can maintain that smile tomorrow and not find yourself on your knees, begging for mercy." Ye Chen sneered, "Me begging you? You must be dreaming. Wake up, brother, it is already dawn, yet you are still lost in your fantasies!" Standing beside him, Wang Guihua joined in the laughter. "Oh, my poor former son-in-law! Spare us your boasts!" "My esteemed son-in-law, affluent and influential, why would he ever kneel before you, a destitute soul? What does this poor man possess that would compel my son-in-law to beg him?" "Yuno, my dear daughter, was it not right for me to urge you to part ways with this pauper? Look at him, clueless about his next meal, yet he boasts here. If you choose to be with a man like him, will you lead a prosperous life?" Yang Yunuo remained silent, her thoughts filled with bitterness. She pondered, "Mother, what do you truly understand? While life with Lin Feng may be challenging financially, at least I retain my dignity and safety. With Ye Chen, a malevolent individual, if he grows weary of me one day and decides to harm me, I dread to think of my fate." At that moment, Yang Yunuo's father, Yang Songping, descended the stairs. In his youth, Yang Songping had managed a company that eventually went bankrupt due to poor management. The once handsome and charismatic man had aged significantly, his hairline receding to reveal a bald patch in the center, a look colloquially referred to as the "Mediterranean" style. Scratching his balding head, the elderly father-in-law addressed Lin Feng. "Lin Feng, despite your divorce from my daughter and your severed ties with our family, Uncle has a few words for you." "Maintaining a positive attitude is crucial in life. Whether in success or failure, remain true to your principles and refrain from empty boasts." "Look at me, despite the collapse of my company, I face each day with a smile." "Uncle hopes that you will continue to be grounded as you were before." Wang Guihua waved her hand dismissively, "Enough, enough, leave now, you poor wretch. We have wedding arrangements to discuss, so do not disturb us. Off you go!" Lin Feng sighed inwardly, knowing that his words would fall on deaf ears within the Yang family. With a deep gaze directed at Yang Yunuo, he turned and departed. As he reached the door, he heard Yang Yunuo's chilling voice behind him. "Lin Feng, please remember to attend the wedding banquet at the Emperor Hotel tomorrow! If you don't come, Ye Chen from my family will be very disappointed." After saying that, as if a dagger had pierced her heart, she whispered, "Lin Feng, I apologize. If you don't show up, Ye Chen won't release your foster mother. For the sake of her, please bear with a little inconvenience." Lin Feng's body suddenly tensed, caught off guard by Yang Yunuo's insult. It felt like a sharp knife had pierced his heart, causing it to bleed profusely. He turned his head slowly and painfully, glaring at Yang Yunuo with red, resentful eyes. Without a word, he turned and walked away quickly. The look in his eyes seemed to tear Yang Yunuo apart, shattering her heart instantly. She knew she had deeply wounded Lin Feng. Not only would he no longer treasure their past, but he also held resentment towards her. But what could she do? If she didn't act this way, she would offend Ye Chen. If Ye Chen was displeased, both Lin Feng and his stepmother would be in danger. For their safety, she had to endure the pain. Wang Guihua was unaware of Yang Yunuo's thoughts. She believed that Yang Yunuo had fallen in love with Ye Chen. She chuckled triumphantly, "Yunuo, you're such a good daughter. Treating this poor guy this way is the right thing to do." "Remember, not only now but also in the future, don't show him any kindness. Otherwise, he will take advantage of your past feelings and ask for money." Yang Songping nodded knowingly, tapping his bald head, "Daughter, though your mother's words may sound harsh, they are true." "To be honest, this kid Lin Feng is quite hardworking. But hard work alone is not enough, you need luck. Unfortunately, he has been unlucky all year." "Let's not even mention his company, which was thriving but suddenly went up in flames. He is now drowning in debt, a stroke of bad luck." "Consider his foster mother, making hot and sour soup, not earning much, but accidentally putting poison in it, almost harming many people." "Such a person can be deemed unlucky. When you encounter such a person, you should distance yourself. Otherwise, your luck may be affected." "At that point, your career may suffer, or worse, your life may be in danger, and your family may be ruined." "But Ye Chen is different. He not only has exceptional talent but also exudes good fortune. You can see that luck shines upon him." "Moreover, Ye Chen comes from a wealthy background. Once you marry into that family, you will not face any hardships." Wang Guihua, with a gleam in her eyes, continued, "Yes, yes, I have always said that the son-in-law I have chosen is the best." "In all of Piao City, who has as much wealth as the Ye family? Who has Ye Chen's dedication to you? Who has Ye Chen's generosity towards our family? No one! Absolutely no one!" "So, Ye Chen is an unparalleled son-in-law!" Ye Chen was flattered and chuckled, "Mom, Dad, you praise me too much. I still have much to learn, please guide me in the future." As he finished speaking, a sharp pain in his abdomen struck again, causing him to cry out, clutching his stomach, sweat beading on his forehead. This alarmed Wang Guihua, who asked, "Son-in-law, what's wrong?" Ye Chen bent over, gripping his stomach, took a few steps back, and sat heavily in a chair. Gritting his teeth, he said, "I don't know what's happening, but my stomach has been hurting inexplicably these days." "At first, it was bearable, just sharp pains that went away. But now it's worsening, and the pain lingers. I can't take it anymore, please, take me to the hospital."