Three days passed by in the blink of an eye.
Lin Shihan's birthday banquet had already begun.
Younger sister Han Ruxue went directly to the birthday banquet venue with her roommates, while Han Feng chose to walk there to exercise—and, more importantly, to save money.
The venue for the birthday dinner was the Lin Family Manor.
Today, Lin Shihan was dressed like a princess. Holding a glass of champagne, she was speaking with a man wearing a white shirt.
When Lin Shihan saw Han Feng arrive, she did not even have time to greet the man in the white shirt before hurriedly running over:
“Brother Han Feng, you’re here!”
After Han Feng reminded her, Lin Shihan kept the secret between the two of them and followed Han Ruxue in calling Han Feng older brother.
The man in the white shirt looked at Han Feng strangely, his eyes filled with jealousy!
How could this shabbily dressed fellow, who looked like a poor wretch, be so important to Lin Shihan?!
This man was named Zhao Honglin. He was also one of Lin Shihan’s suitors, and the two of them were childhood sweethearts.
However, Zhao Honglin’s family was merely wealthy. In Lin Jianzhong’s eyes, Wang Feipeng was therefore the best son-in-law candidate!
Zhao Honglin had endured it all this time. After all, compared with Wang Feipeng, his former self had indeed possessed no real advantage.
But things were different now.
A high-ranking official had appeared among Zhao Honglin’s relatives, one whose position was even higher than Wang Feipeng’s father’s. Moreover, Zhao Honglin’s family was wealthier than Wang Feipeng’s. Naturally, he became Lin Jianzhong’s better choice.
After Lin Shihan had clearly expressed her dislike of Wang Feipeng last time, Lin Jianzhong had gone with the flow and shifted his stance, contacting Zhao Honglin’s father with the intention of bringing Zhao Honglin and Lin Shihan together.
Lin Shihan disliked Zhao Honglin as well, but as the legitimate daughter of a great family, she truly had no control over her own marriage.
Today, Zhao Honglin had come to confess his feelings to Lin Shihan. But then some shabby nobody suddenly appeared and attracted the attention of the woman he loved. How could Zhao Honglin tolerate that?!
He also walked over with a glass of champagne and arrogantly extended his hand toward Han Feng:
“Kid, I’m Zhao Honglin. I just returned from studying abroad, and I have some influence in Binhai.
You seem to have a decent relationship with Shihan. If you run into any difficulties in Binhai in the future, feel free to come to me.
In Binhai, there’s practically nothing I can’t handle.”
Arrogant, superior, overbearing.
Zhao Honglin was shaking hands with Han Feng for Lin Shihan’s sake, hoping to suppress Han Feng while winning Lin Shihan’s favor.
A poor wretch like him would surely be eager to make the acquaintance of a colossal figure as wealthy as himself.
But contrary to Zhao Honglin’s expectations, Han Feng merely took a glass of champagne from the tray held by a nearby attendant and casually clinked it against Lin Shihan’s:
“Happy birthday.”
Every movement was smooth and effortless, as if he had not seen Zhao Honglin’s outstretched hand at all.
“I’ll go find Ruxue first.
You carry on.”
After offering his birthday wishes, Han Feng walked straight toward Han Ruxue without looking at Zhao Honglin even once.
Zhao Honglin was so furious he nearly exploded. Just as he was about to go cause trouble for Han Feng, a large hand clasped his shoulder:
“Well, well! Isn’t this young master Zhao!”
Zhao Honglin turned around and saw Wang Feipeng.
“Wang Feipeng! Long time no see.”
Zhao Honglin said with a false smile.
He had previously addressed Wang Feipeng as Brother Wang.
But things were different now.
One of his relatives was Wang Feipeng’s father’s superior, so Zhao Honglin no longer considered Wang Feipeng worthy of his attention.
Seeing Zhao Honglin’s attitude, Wang Feipeng could not argue with him. He merely put on the same fake smile and said:
“Since you’re here today, what gift have you prepared to win the beauty’s heart?”
“I heard that Shihan has recently taken an interest in strange and supernatural matters, so I invited a true grandmaster and prepared to give Shihan a magical artifact.”
Zhao Honglin did not hide anything. He then pointed at Han Feng. “Wang Feipeng, do you know that fellow? Look at how shabby he is. He’s far too arrogant!”
Wang Feipeng looked at Han Feng, the corner of his mouth twitching involuntarily. But remembering that Lin Shihan had forbidden him from revealing Mr. Han’s identity, he could only reply cryptically:
“He’s a very formidable person.
I advise you not to provoke him!”
Zhao Honglin snorted. “Wang Feipeng! You really have grown older and more timid!
Then again, there are too many people you can’t afford to provoke.
Unlike me!
He’s just a poor wretch, yet he dares to act so arrogantly toward me!
Today, I’m going to provoke him!”
Zhao Honglin’s words left Wang Feipeng extremely awkward. He made a few perfunctory jokes, then could not be bothered to concern himself with Zhao Honglin any further.
Most of the guests had arrived, and everyone had presented their gifts.
“Shihan, I’m giving you this diamond rank pendant. May you grow more beautiful every day!”
“Shihan, I had someone buy this saffron from XZ for me. It’s good for a woman’s health!”
“Shihan, everyone in our dorm chipped in to buy you this set of cosmetics. Don’t look down on it!”
Everyone presented their gifts one after another. Those who were still students gave cheaper items, some of which they had even pooled their money to buy.
Those from affluent families gave somewhat better gifts.
But they all represented the giver’s sincerity.
In the end, only Han Feng and Zhao Honglin had yet to give their gifts.
Lin Shihan looked at Han Feng expectantly. The gift she wanted most was Han Feng’s.
Han Feng took the prayer bead bracelet he had made himself from his pocket and handed it to Lin Shihan:
“I made this myself. Don’t look down on it.
Happy birthday.”
The bracelet had six Yellow Dragon Jade beads, strung together with a very coarse thread. Numerous marks covered the beads, as though something had been carved into them.
Since there were only six beads, they were distributed very unevenly. It was not only unattractive; at a glance, it looked extremely cheap.
Everyone around them stared at Han Feng’s gift in astonishment!
Even if you had no money, you could at least have bought a decent handicraft!
Buying six pieces of Yellow Dragon Jade and stringing them together yourself before giving them to someone—honestly, that was treating the recipient far too casually.
“Heh heh!
Yellow Dragon Jade beads cost six yuan each at most.
You strung them together yourself, so you spent only fifty yuan in total, right?”
Seeing this, Zhao Honglin could not help but mock him!
Wang Feipeng had even said this fellow was not to be provoked!
What was there to fear from someone dressed like a pauper who had even given such a miserably cheap gift!
“Thirty-eight. I didn’t spend fifty.”
Han Feng answered frankly.
The entire hall fell silent in stunned disbelief.
You came to attend such a high-profile banquet and gave a thirty-eight-yuan gift?!
You’re far too stingy!
You could at least have given enough to pay for a meal!
“Heh heh! You really have no shame!”
Zhao Honglin snorted disdainfully. “A poor wretch like you should be thrown out!”
As soon as Zhao Honglin said this, the people around them nodded one after another:
“That’s right! You actually have the nerve to present a thirty-eight-yuan gift?”
“This is shameless to the extreme!”
“Look at his ragged clothes. He must have snuck in!”
“To be honest, his presence here lowers the level and class of all of us!”
Such voices continued without end.
Lin Shihan did not care. She immediately put it on her wrist. “Thank you, Brother Han Feng.
A gift made by your own hands expresses your sincerity even more.
I like it very much.”
Zhao Honglin watched Han Feng present such a crude gift, yet remain calm and composed despite everyone’s mockery!
Then he saw the joy on Lin Shihan’s face upon receiving the gift!
Zhao Honglin grew even angrier!
Why!
How could a poor wretch like him win the favor of his goddess!