Volume One, Chapter Three: This Good-for-Nothing

Seeing Yun Tianding's humble demeanor, Chu Ming raised an eyebrow. "Do I know you?"

Yun Tianding laughed heartily. "You may not know this old man, Mr. Ye, but you certainly know my granddaughter!"

"Yanyan, come here and thank Mr. Ye!"

Yun Xueyan approached hesitantly, her gaze complex as she looked at Chu Ming.

Recognizing her, Chu Ming grinned. "So, it's you!"

Seizing the moment, Yun Tianding invited again, "Mr. Ye, I've already prepared a banquet at home to thank you for saving Yanyan's life. Please, do me the honor and attend!"

Seeing Yun Tianding's respectful attitude, Chen Mingyue instantly felt indignant.

Why? Why should this good-for-nothing—whom I just rejected—receive such hospitality from the mighty master of the Yun family?

Jealousy flared up inside her, and she blurted out, "Master Yun, I know all about this guy! He's utterly useless—how could he possibly have saved Miss Yun? You must have been deceived by him!"

Yun Tianding's face darkened instantly, his voice thundering, "Insolence! Are you mocking me for being blind?"

The aura of a family patriarch was overwhelming; Chen Mingyue trembled all over and nearly collapsed to the ground.

Bai Suzhi hurriedly bowed and forced a smile. "Master Yun, even if you gave us three times the courage, we wouldn't dare mock you! Mingyue was just being thoughtless—please, don't hold it against her!"

Yun Tianding snorted coldly, then turned to Chu Ming. "Mr. Ye, have you been displeased here?"

Chu Ming glanced at the anxious mother and daughter and smiled. "Indeed, a little displeased."

A glint of coldness flashed in Yun Tianding's eyes. "Just say the word, Mr. Ye, and the Chen family can disappear from East City by tomorrow!"

Bai Suzhi was startled. Given the Chen family's status, they were nothing compared to a giant like the Yun family.

She immediately pleaded, tears in her eyes, "Master Yun, please, it's all a misunderstanding! Chu Ming, our families are old friends! I even held you when you were a child!"

"Mingyue, hurry and beg Chu Ming—he adored you when you were little!"

Chen Mingyue saw the mocking smile on Chu Ming's face—just moments ago, she had ridiculed and dismissed him as trash, yet now he could decide her fate. A flicker of vicious malice twisted her features.

"Forget it, I can't be bothered to stoop to their level," Chu Ming said indifferently, waving his hand. Now that he'd seen the true nature of the Chen family, he would never involve himself with them again. An elephant doesn't trouble itself with an ant, for an ant doesn't even deserve a place in its eyes.

"Hmph! Since Mr. Ye has spoken, I'll let your family off this once! Remember—behave yourselves from now on. If you dare offend Mr. Ye again, I won’t be so polite!" Yun Tianding declared.

The mother and daughter trembled, too frightened to speak.

It was only after Yun Tianding personally escorted Chu Ming away that Bai Suzhi finally raised her head, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Has that worthless man really struck it lucky?"

A deep hatred flashed in Chen Mingyue's eyes. "Impossible! He must have tricked Master Yun somehow! Any man I, Chen Mingyue, reject is nothing but trash!"

"But now he's become an honored guest of the Yun family. If he holds a grudge against us, what will we do?" Bai Suzhi's face filled with anxiety.

Just then, a Lamborghini stopped in front of them. Out stepped a frivolous young man, who walked over with a smile. "Xiaoyueyue, were you waiting here just for me?"

It was none other than Wang Qi, Chen Mingyue's current suitor, the eldest son of the Wang family—one of East City's four great clans.

Bai Suzhi's eyes lit up, and she hurried forward, her face woeful. "Young Master Wang, today might be the last time you ever see Mingyue!"

Wang Qi's brow furrowed. "What do you mean by that?"

"We've offended the Yun family. I'm afraid we won't live much longer!" Bai Suzhi embellished the story, recounting what had just happened. Chen Mingyue played the helpless damsel, her voice soft and pitiful. "Young Master Wang, you’re the only one in my heart, but Chu Ming, relying on the Yun family, is trying to force me into marriage. My refusal brought disaster upon the Chen family!"

"If I were to be parted from you, I might as well be dead! Boohoo…"

Wang Qi flew into a rage. "Where did this trash come from, daring to compete with me for a woman? He must have a death wish!"

Bai Suzhi added fuel to the fire. "That Chu Ming is just an orphan—nothing at all. It's the Yun family we can't afford to offend!"

"The Yun family?" Wang Qi's lips curled into a sneer. "I had thought to let them linger a few more days, but since they’ve run into my gun, it seems their fate is sealed!"

He then made a call. "Move ahead with the plan."

Curious, Bai Suzhi quickly asked, "Young Master Wang, what do you mean?"

Wang Qi answered smugly, "No harm in telling you. The three great families of East City have joined forces to swallow the Yun family whole. I’m just sending them on their way a little earlier."

"As for that Chu Ming—without any backing, crushing him will be even easier than squashing an ant!"

Meanwhile, inside the car, Yun Tianding looked at the dignified Chu Ming, growing more satisfied with each glance. At last, he spoke. "Mr. Ye, did you just go to the Chen family to propose marriage?"

Chu Ming didn’t hide the truth. "That's right. Unfortunately, they didn’t think much of me." As he finished, he tore up the marriage contract in his hand and tossed it out the window.

Yun Tianding’s eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "Mr. Ye, you are a man of outstanding talent and character. The Chen family may be blind, but this old man greatly admires you. How about I arrange a match for you instead?"

Without waiting for a reply, he pointed at Yun Xueyan. "My granddaughter is beautiful and accomplished—truly a match made in heaven for you, Mr. Ye. As long as you agree, we can head straight to the civil affairs bureau, get the marriage certificate, and move in together tonight. By next year, you'll have a child!"

Seeing Yun Tianding’s rosy face and enthusiastic vision for the future, Chu Ming was left dumbstruck.

Are all elders so forward-thinking these days?

"Grandfather! What nonsense are you spouting?" Yun Xueyan’s cheeks flushed as she pouted. "This is the modern era! Old Mr. Luo was just making an offhand remark—do you really believe he's my destined one?"

Yun Tianding turned serious. "Yanyan, trust your grandfather—Mr. Ye is the most outstanding man you will ever meet in your life. If you let him go, you’ll regret it forever!"

"I like the sound of that, old sir!" Chu Ming replied cheerfully.

"Does that mean you agree, Mr. Ye?" Yun Tianding’s face lit up with delight.

Chu Ming glanced at Yun Xueyan. "Her figure’s still a bit lacking, but I suppose I can be generous and reluctantly agree."

Yun Xueyan straightened, her chest heaving in indignation. "Scoundrel! Explain yourself—how is my figure lacking?"

As the two young people bantered, Yun Tianding chuckled and closed his eyes, pretending not to see.

Suddenly, he sensed something amiss. He opened his eyes and looked out the window, his voice suddenly sharp. "Xiao Zhang! This isn’t the way home. Where are you taking us?"

A screech of brakes sounded. The driver bowed his head and said quietly, "I'm sorry, Master Yun—I have no choice." With that, he bolted from the car.

Only then did they realize that the vehicle had been driven to a deserted road. In the distance, an off-road vehicle revved its engine and sped straight toward them.