The next day, Chen Yi first visited the hospital, bringing some toys and snacks for little Nan Nan and handing over the newly acquired nine hundred thousand yuan to Aunt Liu.
Little Nan Nan's health was stable, and she was undergoing the final preparations for her surgery, which was scheduled for the following Wednesday.
With the one hundred thousand yuan Chen Yi had previously donated, the orphanage now had a total of one million yuan in funds. After covering Nan Nan's medical expenses, there would still be eight hundred thousand left—enough to sustain the orphanage for at least one or two years, barring unforeseen circumstances.
Yet, Chen Yi was far from satisfied.
Having grown up deprived of both material and emotional security, his sense of safety was abysmally low. A million might seem like a fortune to most people, but to Chen Yi, it was far from sufficient.
What he aimed to do was to ensure that the orphanage would never again have to worry about material needs.
After leaving the hospital, Chen Yi leisurely made his way to Han Wenxue's birthday banquet.
Han Wenxue had arrived early at the party, but there was no sign of Chen Yi even after a long wait.
Surrounded by a group of so-called business elites showering her with compliments and flattery, her face had grown stiff from the forced smiles.
But Han Wenxue wasn't the only one searching for Chen Yi—Feng Kun was also scanning the crowd.
Unlike the anticipation on Han Wenxue's face, Feng Kun's expression was dark and brooding.
Earlier that day, Feng Kun had suggested that Han Wenxue make her entrance arm-in-arm with him for the sake of decorum. However, she had flatly refused, and their disagreement had escalated into a heated argument.
When Feng Kun demanded to know the reason for her refusal, Han Wenxue's answer nearly made him explode with rage: she was worried Chen Yi might misunderstand.
Feng Kun was livid.
He, the scion of a prestigious family, was being overshadowed by a mere fortune-teller?
Now, seeing Han Wenxue constantly glancing toward the door, it was obvious to Feng Kun that she was waiting for Chen Yi. His hatred for Chen Yi deepened.
He knew full well that Han Wenxue was merely using Chen Yi as a shield, but that only made him angrier. If she needed a shield, why couldn't she pick someone more respectable? Why a fortune-teller of all people?
His fury toward Han Wenxue was now coupled with a seething resentment for Chen Yi, who had the audacity to play along.
"Feng Shao, you've got good taste. This girl's got the looks and the figure. When you're tired of her, why not let me have a turn?"
The speaker was Ji Hao, a childhood friend of Feng Kun's. With his slicked-back hair parted in the middle and a smirk on his face, Ji Hao had been Feng Kun's partner in many misdeeds over the years.
Unlike Feng Kun, who had learned to keep a low profile in recent years, Ji Hao remained as brazen as ever, relying on his family's influence to act recklessly without fear of consequences.
"Of course. What's the point of being brothers if we can't share the good and the bad?"
A cruel smile spread across Feng Kun's face.
Had Ji Hao made such a comment before their argument, Feng Kun would have turned on him immediately.
Though he had toyed with countless women, none had ever captivated him the way Han Wenxue did. Her elusiveness only made her more desirable, driving him to obsession.
He had even entertained the idea of making her his official wife if she behaved.
But their earlier argument had shattered that notion entirely.
To hell with her status as an overseas Chinese! So what if my family reprimands me again or sends me to the provinces to reflect?
"Ji Hao, that guy's here. It's time for you to take the stage."
Chen Yi finally arrived at the banquet, wearing the same outfit as the day before. Feng Kun recognized him instantly.
"That guy? Just look at him—he doesn't even know how to dress properly. I'll take care of him right now and save you the trouble, Feng Shao," Ji Hao said disdainfully, his gaze filled with contempt.
"Be careful. That guy's not as simple as he looks. Don't end up biting off more than you can chew."
"Heh, just watch. He's nothing but a fortune-teller. If I can't handle someone like him, I might as well quit this city altogether."
Feng Kun despised Ji Hao but never showed it openly.
He believed in maintaining connections with all kinds of people, as long as they could be useful. The key was knowing how to leverage them for the right tasks.
This time, Ji Hao was his chosen tool to deal with Chen Yi.
"Wait. Let me say hello first. We can't go too far in front of Wenxue, or it'll ruin the plan."
Feng Kun stopped the eager Ji Hao and walked toward Chen Yi.
But just as he was about to greet him, a figure moved faster, stepping in front of Chen Yi.
Han Wenxue, dressed in a pristine white gown, looked like a lotus blooming out of water—fresh, elegant, yet with a touch of alluring charm.
She glided through the crowd like a graceful butterfly, stopping in front of Chen Yi and taking his arm.
"I thought something came up and you wouldn't make it," she said, her tone soft and intimate.
Chen Yi, no fool when it came to women, immediately understood from the astonished gazes around him that Han Wenxue was using him as a shield.
Though annoyed, he suppressed the urge to walk away, reminding himself that she was Old Master Han's granddaughter. Playing along, he responded, "How could I miss your birthday?"
Chen Yi's years of experience navigating the world of Feng Shui had honed his acting skills to perfection.
His performance was so convincing that the onlookers, seeing the affectionate look in his eyes, genuinely believed the two were a couple deeply in love.
Their gazes shifted to Feng Kun, now tinged with subtle mockery.
"That shameless woman!"
Feng Kun's low growl was filled with barely contained fury. If not for the crowd, he would have beaten the pair to a pulp right then and there.
The purpose of this banquet was to declare his claim over Han Wenxue.
Yet here she was, publicly humiliating him.
Those familiar with Feng Kun couldn't help but sigh. They knew Han Wenxue and Chen Yi had thoroughly offended him.
Feng Kun's vindictiveness, especially toward women, was infamous.
Years ago, he had dumped a college girl he had grown tired of. When she found a new boyfriend, they happened to run into Feng Kun while out shopping. Enraged, Feng Kun had his bodyguards abduct the couple. The man's legs were broken, and the woman's face was scarred before they were dumped outside the university gates in the dead of night.
The incident caused quite a stir, and Feng Kun was sent away by his family for three months of reflection.
When he returned, he seemed reformed, no longer as brazen as before.
But those who knew him understood that he had merely gone underground, becoming even more dangerous.
Now, seeing how much effort Feng Kun had invested in Han Wenxue, the current situation was both surprising and intriguing.
"Let me introduce everyone. This is my boyfriend, Chen Yi, a renowned Feng Shui master in Quancheng. If any of you in the real estate business encounter Feng Shui issues, feel free to consult him. I guarantee he's the best."
Han Wenxue seized the moment to fan the flames, officially presenting Chen Yi as her boyfriend.
Chen Yi's name carried some weight in Quancheng, and several people immediately came over to greet him.
However, others kept their distance, knowing Feng Kun wouldn't take this lying down. They anticipated a storm of retaliation, one that Chen Yi, no matter how skilled, couldn't possibly withstand.
"Haha, Master Chen, I've long heard of your reputation. How about showing us a demonstration today?"
A shrill, duck-like voice rang out.
The speaker, with his slicked-back hair and gold chain, was none other than Ji Hao.
Watching the seemingly affectionate couple, Feng Kun's teeth ground audibly in rage. He gave Ji Hao a subtle nod, signaling him to proceed with their plan.
Feng Kun was determined to ruin Chen Yi, ensuring he could never hold his head high in Quancheng again.