Chapter 84

Oh no, Grandpa Tan’s birthday was ruined.

Ye Mingxuan’s limbs went numb. He swayed unsteadily until Tan Size caught him around the waist. Looking up, his eyes reddened. “Sir… I… I didn’t hit him… I didn’t mean to ruin the birthday banquet either…”

“You ruined Old Master Tan’s birthday!” Zhao Dongxuan was determined to pin all the blame on Ye Mingxuan. “What are you still doing here? Go reflect on your actions behind closed doors! Stop embarrassing yourself!”

She switched to a mocking expression and called out to the people behind her: “Gentlemen of the press, it’s nothing serious. Just an insignificant person. We’ll handle this privately with Mr. Tan shortly.”

“An insignificant person?” Tan Sizhe’s face turned cold as his voice deepened. “Say that again? Who is insignificant?”

Zhao Dongxuan froze, her eyes darting nervously. “This… I just want Mr. Tan’s birthday banquet to proceed smoothly. Mr. Tan, let’s discuss this matter later.”

Tan Sizhe twisted his lips. His piercing gaze was like a blade—if it had form, it could have executed Zhao Dongxuan on the spot. A mocking laugh escaped his throat, growing wilder and wilder until he couldn’t stop.

Ye Mingxuan clearly noticed the trembling in the man beside him. “Sir?”

Was the master laughing? No, the master was furious.

Tan Sizhe pinched the bridge of his nose. In an instant, the laughter vanished. He raised a hand. “Take them away.”

Bai Yu stepped forward: “Take all three of them away.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, several black-clad bodyguards moved in to seize the trio. Ye Xiangkai’s wrists were twisted behind his back. “Mr. Tan! Why are you taking us away? There must be some misunderstanding!”

“Whether there’s a misunderstanding or not, Mr. Ye knows the truth.”

Ye Xiangkai and Tan Sizhe exchanged glances, hearts pounding. For some reason, Ye Xiangkai felt an illusion that Tan Sizhe already knew.

No, Ye Xiangkai shook his head. No, don’t think that.

“Mr. Tan, it must be a misunderstanding!” Zhao Dongxuan cried out. “We were helping ensure Mr. Tan Senior’s birthday banquet went smoothly. Tan—”

With a clatter, a white object fell from her pocket. It bounced down the stairs, rolling to a stop right before Mr. Tan Senior.

Tan Jing stood behind her father, her keen eyes immediately spotting it. “Dad, isn’t this my earring? The one I lost!”

The elderly Mr. Tan picked up the earring. Its white pearl gleamed.

Standing behind her father, Tan Jing’s keen eyes immediately recognized it: “Dad, isn’t that my earring? The one I lost!”

Old Master Tan picked up the earring. The white pearl glowed with a cold, pale light in his hand. Clutching it, he confronted Zhao Dongxuan: Mrs. Ye, why is my daughter’s earring in your possession?”

“I…” Zhao Dongxuan’s face flushed with panic for a moment before she offered an awkward smile. “But didn’t you say, Old Master, that you’d give me jewelry…”

“Nonsense!” Old Master Tan pointed at her, his voice rising. “I agreed to give you jewelry, but I never said you could take my daughter’s things!”

Tan Jing snatched the earring. “Mrs. Ye, so you stole my earring?”

Mrs. Ye stealing from the Tan family?! Major news!

Reporters snapped photos frantically, some recording everything with voice recorders, others scribbling furiously with pens.

Zhao Dongxuan panicked: “Misunderstanding! Misunderstanding! I found them!”

“Finding something that belongs to the owner and not returning it—if that’s not stealing, what is it?” Uncle Ma retorted.

Tan Sizhe gave Bai Yu a meaningful glance. Bai Yu shouted, “Take her away!”

“Misunderstanding! Old Master Tan, this is truly a misunderstanding!”

Tan Sizhe turned away. “Grandfather, I need to speak with you privately. Let’s go inside. Uncle Ma, please escort Mingxuan back to his room to rest.”

“Sir.” Ye Mingxuan grabbed Tan Sizhe’s sleeve.

Tan Sizhe placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered, “Let Uncle Ma tend to your wounds first, okay?”

Ye Mingxuan paused for two seconds, his chest heaving violently. “Sir, I also need to speak with you.”

“What is it?”

Ye Mingxuan’s heart pounded wildly. He closed his eyes briefly before looking up. “Xiao Li.”

Xiao Li froze, then stumbled down the stairs. “Master! Sir!”

Tears welling in her eyes, she cried out, “Mr. Ye and the others really didn’t mean to hit me! Please don’t blame them!”

Ye Xiangkai and the other two were stunned, as was Old Master Tan. “What’s going on?”

Xiao Li wiped her tears. “I… I didn’t dare say…”

“Tell the truth!”

“Ever since Mr. Ye and the others arrived, they’ve constantly beaten us—their methods are cruel and despicable! But they put on this righteous facade and deceived you, Master!”

“You’re talking nonsense!” Ye Xiangkai roared, his voice trembling with guilt. “This is blatant slander! What proof do you have?”

Zhao Dongxuan interjected: Master Tan, you must believe us!”

“The proof is on my arms!” Xiaoli stepped before Master Tan and rolled up her sleeves.

Immediately, Xiaoli’s arms were exposed before everyone. Upon seeing them, the crowd gasped in unison.

Her arms were covered in scars—bruises and bloodstains crisscrossed the skin, several already scabbed over. It was obvious she’d been beaten.

“This… this can’t be!” Ye Xiangkai’s eyes widened. “We didn’t do this! We didn’t do this!”

“The evidence is right here!” Old Master Tan roared furiously. “I invited you as guests, not to abuse my servants!”

Zhao Dongxuan looked at Xiaoli, who glanced at her before quickly averting her gaze. Realizing what had happened, Zhao Dongxuan shouted, “You bitch! You slandered us! I only pushed you against the wall!”

“Ah…” The onlookers gasped in horror.

Zhao Dongxuan realized what she’d said and immediately clamped her mouth shut, her face turning as pale as a ghost.

Ye Xiangkai’s legs trembled, and he nearly fainted. It was over. Everything was ruined.

Mrs. Ye stealing from the Tan family?! And abusing servants! Major news!

Reporters scribbled furiously with their pens.

“Mr. Ye, please address this directly. Is this an admission of guilt?”

“Were you visiting the Tan family as guests? If so, why steal and mistreat their servants?”

“Mr. Ye, why did you cause a scene at Old Master Tan’s birthday banquet? What grudge do you hold?”

Simple microphones and cameras all crowded forward. Ye Xiangkai was practically on his knees. Bai Yu ordered the bodyguards to block the reporters: “Back off! Everyone back off! Don’t crowd forward!”

Tan Sizhe pulled Ye Mingxuan toward the open space, taking a few steps to avoid the reporters rushing toward him.

After watching for a while, Uncle Tan completely lost his patience: “Sizhe, what the hell are you doing? Where did you find this guy? He’s turning this place into a complete mess. Get him out of here!”

Uncle Ma ordered his men to take him away. Old Master Tan heaved a heavy sigh and addressed the crowd: “The banquet continues.”

Ye Yufan was lifted off the ground. Watching Tan Sizhe embrace Ye Mingxuan and prepare to leave, his eyes turned bloodshot with jealousy and rage, nearly driving him mad: “Why does he get to stand here?! He’s a fraud! He deceived all of you!”

Ye Mingxuan flinched violently, turning back in shock.

Tan Sizhe tightened his arms. “Take him away!”

“He’s a fake! He’s not a Ye family child at all! He has no right to stand here!! He was brought here to marry into the Tan family in my place! He’s nothing but a servant!!”

Everyone froze in place at the outburst, staring toward the center of the staircase. Old Master Tan was so stunned he lost his voice. He looked at Ye Yufan in disbelief, then at Ye Mingxuan, his voice wavering: “What are you talking about?”

Ye Mingxuan felt as if he’d fallen into an ice cellar. The surrounding chill enveloped him, bone-deep cold, yet the heavy weight on his heart finally lifted.

The truth was out at last. He wouldn’t have to lie anymore. He wouldn’t have to hurt those around him with deception.

Ye Mingxuan closed his eyes, exhaling heavily as two clear tears streamed down his face. “I’m sorry, Sir. The truth is…”

Tan Sizhe covered his mouth. Ye Mingxuan froze, his eyes reflecting Tan Sizhe’s intense love.

“There was no replacement.”

“There has always been only Ye Mingxuan.”

Ye Mingxuan blinked, tears falling onto Tan Sizhe’s arm, his eyes filled with utter bewilderment.

Tan Sizhe swallowed hard: “I’m sorry, Mingxuan.”

“I knew all along.”

Ye Mingxuan froze: “What…”

“What?” Ye Yufan gasped. “This can’t be… this can’t be…”

Zhao Dongxuan and Ye Xiangkai were both incredulous: “What? Impossible! Impossible!!”

Hadn’t they kept it hidden perfectly?! Tan Sizhe knew all along?! Had he been acting all this time?!

“What do you mean ‘substitute’?” Tan Sizhe sneered. “It seems the Ye family has been indulging in too many daydreams, fantasizing about entering the Tan family’s gates. That’s why they concocted such lies.”

“My wife has always been Ye Mingxuan. I knew his background from the very beginning. I married him knowing everything about him.”

“He has absolutely no connection to your Ye family.” Tan Sizhe looked at Ye Xiangkai, a trace of scorn flickering in his eyes. “Mr. Ye, we invited you here for a birthday banquet. Since you came, you should behave properly. How dare you fabricate such a colossal lie to slander my wife?”

“Is it because my wife also bears the Ye surname? That’s unfortunate.”

Tan Sizhe, with just a few words, painted Ye Xiangkai and his group as madmen slandering Mrs. Ye’s questionable origins and fantasizing about climbing the social ladder.

Ye Xiangkai roared with fury: “You’re lying! You—”

A bodyguard clamped a hand over his mouth. Tan Sizhe sighed. “The Ye family is ill. Bai Yu, take them to the hospital.”

Bai Yu chuckled and cleared his throat twice before approaching Ye Xiangkai. He whispered, “Mr. Ye, think you can get cocky after staying here a few days? Do you really think our Mr. Tan is a pushover?”

“Go home quickly. Your company is probably finished.”

Company… Ye Xiangkai’s hair stood on end. He looked at Tan Sizhe, who was only twenty-six years old, young and handsome. He had been too arrogant lately, treating Tan Sizhe like an ordinary junior.

But he’d nearly forgotten that the man before him could crush him as easily as squashing an ant with a flick of his finger.

Ye Xiangkai’s vision darkened, and he collapsed unconscious.

Zhao Dongxuan and Ye Yufan collapsed to their knees, their legs giving way, and were dragged away by bodyguards.

“Bai Yu, handle the media. Tell them what to say when they leave.” Tan Sizhe clenched his jaw.

“Understood. What about over here…”

“I’ll explain.”

Bai Yu nodded, glancing at Ye Mingxuan. Since earlier, he’d been frozen like a piece of wood, clearly stunned beyond measure.

The Tan family members were equally stunned. Tan Jing and Yangyang’s jaws nearly hit the floor. Tan’s eldest and second uncles were utterly bewildered, while the rest of the Tan family looked completely disoriented.

Especially Old Master Tan. Even after the crowd dispersed and the banquet resumed, he remained clueless: “What are you talking about?”

“What’s this about replacing anyone? Who’s a servant? Why does everything bear the Ye surname?”

Tan Sizhe clenched his fists, unable to meet Ye Mingxuan’s gaze even with a sidelong glance. He felt ashamed of betraying his grandfather’s trust: “Grandfather, about this matter…”

“It’s my fault.”

“It’s my fault.”

The two voices spoke simultaneously. Tan Sizhe froze for two seconds before turning to Ye Mingxuan. Ye Mingxuan, hands clasped before him, approached in small steps, uneasy. “Grandfather, this matter is my fault. It has nothing to do with the master.”

“No, it’s my fault.” Tan Sizhe stretched out an arm to block Ye Mingxuan, stepping in front of him.

Ye Mingxuan shook his head. “No, I deceived the Master!”

“Mingxuan, don’t take the blame.”

“No, this is fundamentally my fault—”

“Enough!” Old Master Tan, furious, tossed his cane to Uncle Ma and pointed at the two of them. “Both of you, come up here!”

…

Half an hour later, after hearing the entire story, Old Master Tan paced angrily in the room. “You hid this from me for so long! You’re utterly unfilial!”

He glanced around, snatched the cane from Uncle Ma’s hand, raised it high, and charged toward Tan Sizhe.

“Dad! What are you doing?!” Tan Jing rushed over to stop him. “The kids didn’t mean it. Xize is already filled with regret. Can’t we just talk this out calmly?”

Tan Sizhe pulled Ye Mingxuan, who had stepped forward to shield him, behind his back and stood tall. “Grandfather, hit me. I can take it.”

“You think I won’t hit you, don’t you!” Old Master Tan lunged forward again, only to be stopped once more by Uncle Ma.

“Uncle Ma, why are you stopping me? Si Ze was in the wrong this time. He deserves a lesson. It’s called ‘spare the rod, spoil the child’!” said Uncle Tan.

Old Master Tan’s beard bristled with fury. He flung his cane aside and plopped into a chair. “What good are you all? Thank goodness I didn’t announce this to the press today. Otherwise, I’d have lost all face!”

Uncle Tan chuckled. “Father, if you ask me, Si Ze is still too young. He simply can’t shoulder the Group’s responsibilities.”

Tan Size lifted his eyes, his gaze cool and detached.

Uncle Tan continued, “Otherwise, we could reconvene the board meeting and have the directors vote on whether Si Ze should remain president…”

“This is a family matter! What does it have to do with the company? Go play somewhere!” Old Master Tan snapped impatiently.

“…,” Uncle Tan gave an awkward chuckle. “Alright.”

Uncle Tan II: “Brother, that’s not fair. Everyone can see how well Si Ze performs at the company. It’s just that when it comes to filial piety, he falls short. All the pampering Dad gave him was wasted.”

Old Master Tan snorted. “When it comes to filial piety, what right do you have to speak? Si Ze visits me twice a month. What about you two? I barely see you all year!”

Uncle Tan fell silent.

Old Master Tan had been troubled by the matter involving Tan Si Ze and Ye Ming Xuan, but his anger shifted after his two sons started this commotion: “Get out! Both of you, get out!”

Uncle Tan and Uncle Tan knew they were in the wrong: “Father, please don’t be angry.”

Mr. Tan sat in his chair, his anger giving way to a pang of sadness. At eighty, his face bore the full weight of life’s hardships: “I just wanted my children and grandchildren to gather together, all happy and harmonious. That’s why I chose to invite the reporters today. My original intention was to make everyone happy. Who knew this would happen…”

“It’s all because none of you ever come to see me!” A glistening tear formed in the old man’s cloudy eyes as he raised his withered hand to wipe his face.

“Dad!” Tan Jing rushed over, crouching beside him to support his back. At this moment, she spared no harsh words for her two brothers. “Are you satisfied now? If you hadn’t stopped coming home, Dad wouldn’t have been deceived by Ye Xiangkai and his crew!”

Uncle Tan protested, “But… but how is this my fault?”

Uncle Tan II snapped, “Shut up! Keep your mouth shut!”

Seeing Old Master Tan’s distress, they all gathered around to comfort him. Ye Mingxuan stood beside Tan Sizhe, his head bowed in sorrow.

Tan Sizhe pondered for a moment. “In that case, everyone should stay the night.”

The others looked up. Tan Jing said, “That’s a great idea. Since we’re already here, why not stay a few days? It’s been ages since our whole family was together.”

Uncle Tan and Second Uncle exchanged glances. “Alright, we’ll all stay.”

The others nodded in agreement.

Old Master Tan looked up, surprised. “Really?”

Uncle Tan: “Really! Dad, we’ve neglected you too much lately. This time, we’re all staying!”

“Excellent!” Old Master Tan stood up, suddenly radiating youthful energy. “Uncle Ma, have someone prepare the rooms!”

Uncle Ma nodded. “Right away, I’ll give the order immediately.”

Old Master Tan finally smiled, instantly lightening the room’s atmosphere. Everyone sat together chatting, creating a lively and bustling scene.

Symphonic music drifted up from the banquet hall on the first floor, mingling with the chatter on the second floor and adding to the festive New Year atmosphere.

Tan Sizhe turned to look for Ye Mingxuan, only to find the person who had been beside him moments ago gone.

He had asked Uncle Ma to watch over things here and went out to look for Ye Mingxuan. After searching the second floor without success, Tan Sizhe thought for a moment and ran up to the third-floor terrace. Sure enough, he saw Ye Mingxuan standing by the railing.

His back was turned to Tan Sizhe, his shoulders heaving with sobs. The sound of his crying reached Tan Sizhe’s ears, making his heart ache.

“Mingxuan.”

“Please don’t come closer, sir.”

“Alright, I won’t come closer.” Ye Mingxuan stood before the railing, his frame so frail it seemed the wind could carry him away. Tan Sizhe felt a surge of worry and took a few steps back. “Mingxuan, I’m sorry. I knew about this from the very beginning but didn’t tell you.”

“If I never tell you, would you also keep it from me forever?”

Ye Mingxuan shrugged his shoulders and wiped away tears. Tan Sizhe reached out: “Come here, okay?”

“I have no money.”

Tan Sizhe’s hand froze mid-air as he heard Ye Mingxuan say, “I have no family background, no status. I’m not the son of a wealthy family. I’m just a servant in the Ye household.”

“I’m just Ye Mingxuan. Do you still like me, sir?”

Tan Sizhe withdrew his hand, his eyes brimming with heartache. The words he’d been holding back threatened to spill out. He swallowed hard and said, “I love you, Mingxuan.”

A fierce gust of wind swept through, billowing Ye Mingxuan’s loose robes like the wings of a white dove.

Hot tears fell onto the railing. Ye Mingxuan sniffed twice, his eyes red as he turned back. “Sir.”

Like a migratory bird answering a call, he plunged into his harbor. Ye Mingxuan embraced Tan Sizhe, burying his face in his chest. “Sir, why are you so good to me?”

A patch of burning dampness pressed against his chest. Tan Sizhe wrapped his arms around Ye Mingxuan’s waist and leaned down to kiss him. “Because you deserve it.”