Chapter 70: Bold Action

Old Madam Su was utterly pleased with the guests’ reactions. She nodded with a smile and gave Pan Yixuan a meaningful glance.

Pan Yixuan immediately stepped forward, taking his place in the most prominent spot in the banquet hall, shining like a star under the lights.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the eldest young master of the Pan family in Maple Leaf City, Pan Yixuan. Moreover, he is a great benefactor to our Su family!” Old Madam Su announced loudly, her smile growing even brighter.

Her words sent a shock through all the guests present.

The eldest young master of the Pan family? A great benefactor to the Su family? What on earth was Old Madam Su implying?

In a corner of the hall, Patriarch Zhao Shibo of the Zhao family, together with Zhao Ziyun and Liu Hong, cast puzzled glances in that direction.

Su Qingli seemed to have realized something, and her expression instantly became grim.

Old Madam Su laughed heartily and continued, “I’m sure you all find this strange—why would I say that Pan Yixuan, the eldest young master of the Pan family, is a great benefactor to the Su family? The story begins with the fire at our Su family’s medicinal company…”

“Our medicinal warehouse caught fire, and seventeen tons of herbal medicine were destroyed, causing a direct loss of more than two hundred million yuan.”

“In such a critical moment, it was none other than Pan Yixuan who personally persuaded the Bai family to lend us their assistance, enabling the Su family to weather the crisis.”

“Though it was the Bai family who helped us, without Pan Yixuan, the Su family would have been doomed. Therefore, on behalf of all the Su family members, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Pan Yixuan!”

With her statement finished, Old Madam Su turned to Pan Yixuan and gave him a deep bow.

It wasn’t just Old Madam Su—other members of the Su family also saluted Pan Yixuan, shouting out, “Thank you, Young Master Pan, for your help! You are our family’s benefactor!”

The guests erupted in astonishment.

No one had expected that it was the Pan family who had stepped in to help the Su family through the crisis.

No wonder the Su family, which had been on the verge of collapse, suddenly revived, purchasing large quantities of medicinal herbs and stabilizing their position.

“Young Master Pan is truly noble and righteous, putting me to shame,” a smiling middle-aged man remarked.

“I never thought Young Master Pan would be so loyal and passionate. The Su family’s resurgence thanks to your help is a tale worth telling,” praised a noblewoman in a long dress.

“Indeed, the young master of the Pan family is a man of honor,” echoed another.

Watching the Su family bow and express their gratitude, hearing the guests sing his praises, Pan Yixuan was filled with pride, his heart surging with excitement.

Look! This is me, Pan Yixuan!

Su Qingli, do you see it? With my brilliance, who could ever eclipse me?

That Jiang Hao is nothing more than a good-for-nothing living off a woman—how could he compare to me? He must be dreaming!

In the corner, Patriarch Zhao Shibo’s face showed a dawning realization.

“So it was Pan Yixuan who helped the Su family out of their predicament. No wonder the Su family treats him with such importance,” Zhao Shibo commented, and both Zhao Ziyun and Liu Hong nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Jiang Hao slowly set down his glass of red wine.

His expression was icy, and a fierce anger simmered in his heart.

He had been the one to call the Bai family, asking Bai Qiming for help—so why was all the credit going to Pan Yixuan?

Jiang Hao was not someone who cared for fame or recognition, but seeing Pan Yixuan take the credit was intolerable, especially since Pan Yixuan had repeatedly targeted him.

He was about to speak up.

But before he could say a word, a woman’s voice rang out across the hall.

“That’s not true! You’re all mistaken—the person who called the Bai family wasn’t Pan Yixuan!”

The speaker was Su Qingli.

Su Qingli hurried forward, standing before everyone, and anxiously declared, “Grandmother, Dad, Mom, you’re all mistaken! It wasn’t Pan Yixuan who called the Bai family. What qualifications does he have to ask the Bai family for help? The Pan family may be one of Maple Leaf City’s top five families, but how could they possibly persuade the Bai family, the wealthy elite from the provincial capital?”

Her words plunged the surroundings into silence.

All the guests looked at Su Qingli and the members of the Su family with confusion—they truly didn’t understand what was happening.

The Su family had just publicly thanked Pan Yixuan, but now a woman from their own family was suddenly contradicting them. What was going on?

Could this be internal strife within the Su family?

Zhang Liping glared fiercely at Su Qingli and demanded angrily, “Qingli, what nonsense are you spouting! The Su family survived the crisis because Young Master Pan called the Bai family and lent us one hundred and twenty million yuan. If not for that, we would have fallen apart!”

“Yes, Qingli, stop making trouble, will you? This banquet is so important—how can you ruin it like this?” Su Bingming chided with a frown.

But Su Qingli refused to back down. Stubbornly, she looked at Old Madam Su and said, “Grandmother, it really wasn’t Pan Yixuan who called the Bai family—it was someone else. You have to believe me!”

“Enough!” Su Tianming suddenly shouted, striding quickly to stand before Su Qingli.

His face twisted with anger, he glared at her and snapped, “Su Qingli, I’ve tolerated you long enough. Ever since you married that good-for-nothing Jiang Hao, you’ve always sided with outsiders! I used to let it go, but do you know what occasion this is? How can you act out at such an important banquet?”

“But I’m telling the truth! You’re really mistaken!” Su Qingli insisted stubbornly.

She had barely finished speaking before Su Tianming raised his hand, aiming a harsh slap at her face.

Su Qingli was about to be struck, but at that moment, a hand suddenly reached out and firmly grasped Su Tianming’s wrist.

“My woman isn’t someone you can hit as you please,” Jiang Hao said coldly.

Yes, it was Jiang Hao who had caught Su Tianming’s hand, shielding Su Qingli from the blow.

Jiang Hao had not intended to intervene, but seeing Su Qingli so fiercely defending him and about to be struck, he could no longer hold back.

“Let go of me! Jiang Hao, who do you think you are to dare lay your hands on me!” Su Tianming roared as he struggled desperately to free his wrist, but Jiang Hao’s grip was like a steel vice—no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break free.