The events at the Pearl Grand Hotel spread through Beijing like wildfire, a tidal wave of shock and disbelief crashing over the elite. Lei Zhengyang, the Lei family's notorious failure, had single-handedly stormed the Song-Yang engagement banquet, turning their joyous union into a bitter feud.
His brazen declaration—"Yingfei is my woman!"—reverberated, stunning all who heard it. Some branded him shameless, a scoundrel who'd violated a woman and dared claim her. Others hailed him as a true man, fiercely protecting what was his, no matter how he'd gained it. To them, it was a matter of masculine pride, non-negotiable.
In contrast, Yang Yikun, the South's golden heir, became a laughingstock. Word was he lay unconscious in a hospital bed, still reeling from the ordeal.
The scandal erupted with fury, yet strangely, it fizzled into an eerie calm. Unlike last year's scandal, when Song Yunhe, the face-conscious patriarch, had stormed the Lei estate demanding Lei Zhengyang's head, this time, the Songs, Yangs, and Leis fell silent. No roars, no accusations—nothing.
In the Song family's study, Song Yunhe sat in a plush chair, listening to Song Xiyan recount the banquet's chaos. He remained quiet until the tale ended, prompting Song Xiyan to ask, "Father, what do you make of this? Personally, I think the Yang alliance could bolster us, but if it means throwing Yingfei into a pit, I'm against continuing the engagement."
Song Xiyan had seen it clearly: Yang Yikun's venomous outburst, though born of rage, revealed his true heart. Marrying his daughter to such a man was unthinkable.
Song Yunhe didn't respond immediately, not to maintain his authority but because his mind was churning, weighing angles Song Xiyan couldn't see. Finally, he spoke.
"Tell me, in your view, what kind of man is Lei Zhengyang?"
Caught off guard, Song Xiyan answered without hesitation. "A spoiled playboy, a wastrel—the Lei family's black sheep, the most useless among Beijing's elite. It's common knowledge, beyond dispute."
Song Yunhe pressed, "And the Lei Zhengyang you saw yesterday—still the same?"
Song Xiyan opened his mouth, then faltered, words failing him. He had to admit: the Lei Zhengyang of yesterday was a far cry from the fool of a year ago.
"Well… he's different. Before, he was a reckless kid, but yesterday, he seemed… mature. Steady, sharp, even cunning. To have the guts to barge into that scene—I underestimated him."
Song Yunhe shook his head. "You never underestimated him. His change stems from his year in hiding. Despite our family's vast network, we couldn't track him. Can you tell me where he was?"
Song Xiyan shook his head. No one knew.
"Exactly," Song Yunhe said. "If I'm right, Lei Zhengyang had some extraordinary encounter this year. The man who stormed that banquet and took Yingfei isn't the same boy from before. We can't treat him as we did. It's time we rethink our stance on last year's incident."
Song Xiyan's eyes widened, alarmed. "Father, how can we? For a year, we've played the victim, rallying support against the Leis. That's given us a huge edge. Changing our stance now would undo everything!"
Song Yunhe waved a hand, his voice calm but firm. "We both know the real victim was Lei Zhengyang, manipulated by someone we still haven't identified. Someone set this trap for both our families. Now that he's back, the truth will surface. Continuing to feud with the Leis would cost us more than we'd gain. And remember: never underestimate the young. Do you think today's Lei Zhengyang is still a pawn for others to move?"
Song Xiyan fell silent, the weight of his father's words sinking in.
"Even if we shift our stance, no one will dare criticize," Song Yunhe continued. "But we wait until we understand Lei Zhengyang's transformation. I want to know how far he's come. And Xiyan, dig into the Yangs. Yang Juchao strikes me as mediocre—hardly fit to helm their empire."
Though unspoken, Song Yunhe's suspicion of the Yangs was clear. Last year, pressured by the Leis, they'd rushed into the Yang alliance, overlooking critical details. Now, it was time to reassess their true strength.
Song Xiyan nodded, understanding. "And Yingfei?"
"She wants freedom, doesn't she?" Song Yunhe said. "She's suffered enough this past year. Let her have some time for now."
As a Song, duty to the family came first. Song Yunhe cherished his granddaughter, but the family's interests outweighed personal desires. True freedom was a luxury she couldn't have. If needed, he'd orchestrate another alliance.
At the Lei estate, the family gathered, reeling from Tianhai's news. Patriarch Lei Yunbao struggled to believe it, but the reports confirmed it: his "useless" grandson had crashed the Song-Yang banquet and stolen Song Yingfei.
In the hall, Lei Chunping was livid. "That little punk! How dare he? He's making things worse with both families! I'm calling him right now—he's coming home to face family law. No more running wild!"
Lei Chunping clutched his chest, fuming. His youngest son never listened, always causing worry. Couldn't he show a shred of restraint?
Xu Nongli's eyes narrowed, and she rounded on her husband. "You're the punk! Zhengyang stormed that banquet with guts—a real man! And you? A bookworm gone soft, daring to scold him? Lei Chunping, if you've got a problem with Zhengyang, I'll take him and leave. From now on, you're no father to him!"
Xu Nongli was no delicate flower. Her ambition for her son was fierce, but her love for Zhengyang was unmatched, a fact every Lei knew.
"Mom, calm down," said Lei Zhengchen, Zhengyang's second brother. "Dad's just venting—he won't really punish him. But this mess is huge. We need to figure out how to handle it." Though Zhengyang was mocked as a failure, he was still family, and Zhengchen worried for him.
Lei Chunping, who prided himself on integrity, feared his wife's wrath. Xu Nongli wasn't one for reason, especially where Zhengyang was concerned. He privately blamed her indulgence for turning their son into a gambling, womanizing wastrel, but he'd never voice it—nor dare to.
Outmaneuvered by her tirade, he fell silent, playing the mute.
"Grandpa's here," Zhengchen said, standing as Patriarch Lei Yunbao entered, flanked by Zhengyang's uncles.
"What's this, Old Big? Upsetting Sister-in-law again?" Lei Qiuping teased, grinning. All the brothers knew Lei Chunping rarely won against Xu Nongli's fire.
Though annoyed at her husband's criticism, Xu Nongli's concern for her son took precedence. She rushed to Lei Yunbao, voice urgent. "Father, how's Zhengyang? Is he okay?"
"After causing such a ruckus, you think he's fine?" Lei Chunping seized the chance to lecture. "He's pissed off the Yangs and the Songs, leaving us to clean up his mess. As his mother, can't you teach him to act like a man, not some aimless thug?"
"Big Brother, you're wrong this time," Lei Xiaping cut in, the second brother and Beijing's mayor, with a sharper eye for politics. "Zhengyang's stunt was a win for the Leis. I'm impressed—when did the kid get so bold? He beat up Old Third and thumbed his nose at both families. Shame he didn't bring Yingfei back to the Leis—that would've sealed it."
Lei Chunping blinked, stunned. His troublemaking son had blundered into something good for the family?