"We’re leaving." Yang Feng said the second his parents disappeared out of sight. He wrapped his fingers around her thin wrist. His patience had reached its limit and he could not tolerate anyone here.

  "Why?" Zhao Lifei allowed herself to be dragged by him, however, she quickened her steps to match his so that no one else could see she was being forced to walk closer to the exit.

  "Yang Feng, wait." She changed their course of direction and pushed his hands off of her. His vicious eyes became even more threatening by her behavior. Then it calmed down when she took the same hand and entwined their fingers. She pulled him to a quiet hallway.

  "What’s wrong?" She saw how upset he was when everyone else was too busy attempting to read his nonchalant expression. Everyone always sensed his murderous intent but never the reasons behind it.

  "One job. They had one job and they couldn’t properly execute it." Yang Feng cornered her into the wall, her back touching the wallpaper. She could distinctly hear classical music traveling from the banquet to the far right.

  "I’m not bothered by it. You shouldn’t be as well." She brought his head down and cupped his face. "If we leave like that, we’re letting them win."

  "But you’re not happy—"

  "I’ve become accustomed to her presence. It does not anger me as it once did in the past." She drew circles on his face, her touches light as a feather. The tender smile on her face made his heart flutter. "I’ve realized there’s nothing to fear, as long as I have trust in you."

  Yang Feng was elated by her words. He once told himself that he would anticipate seeing the woman she would flourish into. And look at what she had become. A strong and confident woman.

  "I will speak to my father and grandfather. The Sus will no longer have any connections to us. I will sever all ties with them." Yang Feng brought his head down and leaned his forehead onto hers. "No one will disrespect you like this anymore."

  He sealed his words with his mouth. Their kiss started slow and gentle, treasuring the moment. His hand slipped to the back of her neck and one of hers slid down to rest on his face, the other cupping his face. He hid her with his body, one arm settling onto her lower back, pushing their bodies together. He could feel her curves and breasts against him, his friend hardening. Their lips tangled together, gentle as if they were slow dancing to the romantic songs playing outside.

  Then their kiss deepened. Devotion turned into wistful, ardent where he licked her bottom lip to seek entrance. She opened up for him, the same way her legs will also do very soon. She let out a small moan when his tongue moved in, and the hand resting on her back squeezed her behind.

  He kissed her furiously until she was breathless and on the verge of collapsing. He released her lips, allowing her to catch much-needed air. In the meantime, he kissed her closed eyelids, her long lashes, her smooth cheeks, small forehead, adorable nose, her chin, and then moved his way to the back of her ears. He showered the sides of her neck with thorough attention.

  Eventually, his teasing lips ended up on the same spot where he created his first mark. It had not faded yet. She had expertly hidden it with layers of color-correcting concealer and foundation. No one could see it unless they were standing as close to her as he was.

  He licked his thumb, ready to wipe it off, but she pushed him away before he could do so. "Don’t." She whispered to him, her ears turning red when she noticed how hungry he was. He looked like he could eat her alive. His eyes were practically undressing her and taking her up on a bed.

  "We’re in public and I don’t want your parents to see."

  "Why?" He bluntly and shamelessly asked her, even though he already knew why. He enjoyed seeing her flustered behavior and the lovable ramble she sometimes went on. A ghost of a smile rested on his lips when he saw she was already in the process of having a mental breakdown.

  She opened and closed her mouth, stumbling over her words. She groaned out of frustration and glared up at him.

  He patted her head. "There, there. It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me." He cheekily grinned, wrapping his arms around her, one hand grasping the back of her head and the other protectively around her body.

  "You’re mean."

  Yang Feng had a wry expression on his face. She had no idea that she was the biggest bully in their relationship. Day and night, she teased him. Every time she smiled at him, his heart would uncontrollably race. Kissing her was torturous, for he had to endure his excited member. He could not wait for the day she would finally grant him entrance, for the minute the gates opened, they would never close again——

  Yang Mujian was surrounded by people but kept to himself. Yang Ruqin was attempting to engage in a conversation with him and usually, he would respond to his granddaughter. But today, he was not in the best of moods to entertain her.

  Yang Ruqin pretended she wasn’t ignored. She could feel the laughing eyes of her cousins who were eagerly waiting for her to make a mistake and lose the Patriarch’s good favor. Everyone here was a wolf in the disguise of a lamb. Their exaggerated compliments and ingenuine smiles bothered her. She didn’t like it and could not stomach the food with them around.

  "Grandfather tends to be quiet. Why are you upset by it? I thought you knew grandfather well enough."

  "You’re his favorite, so I’m sure he’ll talk to you soon."

  "I think it’s because you stopped being a model. The people are talking about your unannounced and abrupt departure."

  "Oh my, I haven’t seen you in a long time. I heard about the incident with Mu Ting, I hope you’re alright? It’s such a shame that your older brothers are involved in the Underworld, but you don’t even know self-defense."

  That was a low blow, everyone could see it. Yang Ruqin’s entire body stiffened, becoming as hard as a rock. She would never forget the helplessness she felt. Her eyes prickled with tears of frustration. She wanted to lash out, she truly did. But with the heavy scrutiny on her, she did not open her mouth.

  "Says the one with twenty bodyguards. What do you need them for?" Zhao Lifei appeared behind the gossiping cousins. Through the corner of her eyes, she could see Yang Ruqin’s nonchalant expression.

  Zhao Lifei took a brief overview of the beautiful woman cladded in scarlet red. "It’s not like you’re important in the first place."

  Originally, Zhao Lifei did not want to sit at this table, since it seemed to be reserved specifically for the Yang family. She knew exactly why the Fan Clan was not present. Neither of them approved of Yang Qianlu and Fan Jielan’s marriage, especially when the latter was promised to another.

  Zhao Lifei didn’t voice her discomfort or thoughts to Yang Feng, but it seemed he already noticed it in advance when he steered her far away from the table.

  Yang Ruqin was originally going to keep her mouth shut and beat her cousins when the family was not watching. She wasn’t aware she was tightly clenching her hand cloth until it slipped to the ground in a wrinkled, rumpled mess.

  Yang Xiaojing’s face turned beet red at the insult directed her way. She could feel the eyes of her cousins, waiting for her to reply. "And who invited you to this conversation?" She scoffed, turning around to face the fool that said this to her.

  "I did. Do you have a problem with that?" Zhao Lifei’s smile deepened, crossing her arms. No one bullies Qinqin without her permission.

  Yang Xiaojing’s haughty expressions deepened. "Wow, you’re shameless. It seems the rumors are true." She didn’t see the looming grim reaper behind Zhao Lifei.

  Yang Feng was briefly engaged in a conversation with Chen Gaonan about ending the legacies of a few families. His ears twitched when he heard the hurl of insult towards his wife.

  "It’s quite sad and pathetic when you can’t find a better insult, so you have to dig through the past." Zhao Lifei boredly yawned, her eyes skimming over the name card. Yang Xiaojing. Huh, so she did have the surname to back her up.

  Yang Xiaojing opened her mouth and then closed it. Her arrogance disappeared faster than a deer being chased. Standing behind Zhao Lifei was a heavily intimidating man with his hands signature tucked in his pockets, the same pose as a local thug, but the way he sported it, made him look like the mob’s boss instead.