"The Zhao family's patriarch in Donghai City never expected that the prominent Zhao family would sell their own daughter to please others."
"Let's not even talk about sending my own daughter into the fire pit for power. Don't forget, I have a marriage contract with Zhao Ning'an."
"Yes, even if your Zhao family refuses to acknowledge this marriage contract, I can't just sit idly by and ignore it."
At the Zhao family's villa in Donghai City, an engagement banquet was taking place.
As the leading prestigious family in the local area, it was evident that the Zhao family attached great importance to this engagement.
A young man dressed in the chauffeur uniform of the Xia family was present. Although his appearance was ordinary, he had a distinct charm about him.
At that moment, he was seated at the far end, gazing boldly at the crowd attending the banquet.
The Zhao family had put a great deal of thought into this engagement banquet. As a result, not only were the guests local celebrities, but even prominent figures from other cities were invited.
In such a crowd, it was safe to say that the young man in the chauffeur's uniform stood out and attracted significant attention.
Who is this person?
"I remember he once gave me a ride. He was the chauffeur for the Zhao family. It seems his name is Ye Fan."
"What's going on with the Zhao family?"
"Don't you know yet? He was originally Zhao Ning'an's chauffeur, but after causing some trouble, he was dismissed for a time. Perhaps Miss Xia took pity on him and allowed him to attend."
People whispered among themselves, clearly viewing Ye Fan as a joke in the past.
Regarding these remarks, one of the elders of the Zhao family could no longer hold back.
"Ye Fan, you're arrogant."
"Do you think you can meddle in the affairs of my Zhao family? Furthermore, when you claim to have an engagement with Zhao Ning'an, you're spouting nonsense."
"Who doesn't know you're a liar trying to cling to an old, worthless piece of paper from 80 years ago to marry a Zhao family daughter? It was our Zhao family's pity for you, an unemployed man, that allowed you to work as a chauffeur here."
"But you always stirred up trouble while driving, getting into fights every three days."
This was Zhao Ning'an's uncle speaking. His face was twisted in anger as he loudly reprimanded Ye Fan, even revealing some of Ye Fan's past transgressions.
Hearing this ridicule, Ye Fan responded with a contemptuous smile.
"Who are you fooling? Letting me drive? I can confidently say that among everyone present, I'm the only one who truly treats Zhao Ning'an well. If I hadn't been here, she wouldn't even know where you hypocrites had sold her."
Ye Fan's defense of Zhao Ning'an seemed to make sense to him, but a young woman who overheard his words couldn't stay silent. She immediately stood up to rebuke him.
"Since you keep claiming it's for Zhao Ning'an's benefit, why don't you dress properly? Wearing the Zhao family chauffeur's uniform, what do you think others will think? Isn't this disrespectful to Zhao Ning'an?"
"This banquet is an engagement party for the Zhao family's daughter and a nobleman from the imperial capital. In other words, at least half the people here are here for Zhao Ning'an. Your shabby attire and crude words are a direct insult to her!"
The guests also began to feel that Ye Fan truly seemed to lack common sense.
After hearing this, Jiang Xia realized something was wrong. Her expression darkened slightly, but she still maintained her composure.
"Ye Fan, we should have thrown you out from the start so the Zhao family wouldn't lose face."
Other Zhao family members present also began mocking Ye Fan after this commotion.
Following such an uproar, Zhao Chen, the head of the Zhao family, could no longer remain silent.
It must be noted that Ye Fan's actions not only offended the Zhao family but also disrespected the nobleman from the imperial capital.
This young man was someone who could not be offended.
"Silence." A powerful aura suddenly filled the room, stifling the atmosphere.
As soon as Zhao Chen spoke, everyone in and outside the Zhao family fell silent.
At forty years old, Zhao Chen was in his prime and had held a high position for a long time. Even his level of cultivation surpassed everyone else present.
"Ye Fan, you came all the way from the mountains to my Zhao family. Even though you kept insisting that my father signed a marriage contract with your master, the writing on that old engagement paper you hold is long faded. Moreover, my father isn't even here, so I told you to wait until he returned to make a decision."
"After that, I wanted to arrange a decent job for you, but you insisted on becoming my daughter's chauffeur to be closer to her. Yet, time and again, you caused trouble, and every time, I personally sent someone to bring you back."
"And this is how you repay me?"
As expected of the family patriarch, Zhao Chen's words carried weight, but they didn't faze Ye Fan.
"To be fair, the Zhao family has treated me well, but as Zhao Ning'an's fiancé, I can't just stand by and watch you send her off to marry a useless playboy."
Ye Fan's words were sincere, and his tone was strong. To someone who didn't know better, he might have seemed genuinely righteous.
After speaking, Ye Fan looked affectionately at Zhao Ning'an.
Everyone followed Ye Fan's gaze and saw him looking at Zhao Ning'an.
This young woman embodied the standard of Eastern beauty, with thick black hair neatly combed behind her head. Her delicate face exuded a subtle charm, with a high nose bridge and prominent forehead giving her a striking three-dimensional elegance. Her deep black eyes, not to mention her tall and captivating figure, were mesmerizing. At the age of nineteen, she stood 1.7 meters tall.
Her small, silk-covered legs were visible beneath her black gown, and her five-centimeter crystal heels added to her noble and graceful appearance.
Throughout the entire commotion, her demeanor had remained unchanged—neither sad nor happy, completely indifferent to Ye Fan's gaze.
Playboy...?
Hearing this, Zhao Chen's expression darkened, and he could no longer hold back. He had never expected Ye Fan to dare call the young master a playboy in front of everyone.
However, the guests present showed subtle, amused expressions, with a hint of mockery in their eyes.
Although many of the young masters had secretly ridiculed Ye Fan in their hearts, none dared to show it openly.
Before coming, their families had warned them: the individual visiting the Zhao family this time was a big shot from the imperial capital.
Only someone as reckless as Ye Fan would dare to mock him directly.
Everyone's eyes shifted to the man behind Zhao Ning'an—a young man seated there.
The young man, about the same age as Zhao Ning'an, was holding a wine glass, gently swirling it, his eyes fixed on the red wine inside.
It seemed as though nothing in the world could concern him.
This was Kang Xiang, the man rumored to be engaged to Zhao Ning'an.