Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Gift

Li Yating deliberately arranged for Lin Feng to sit beside her, then told the hotel manager to begin serving the dishes. Thus, the celebration banquet commenced.

"Lin Feng, people say you have something to do with Tang Yun Yun, Miss Tang. Is it true?" Li Yating leaned close, whispering softly to him. Her breath was fragrant, and the musk-laced perfume she wore was alluring.

"Have something to do? You mean the rumors that I’m Tang Yun Yun’s kept man?"

"How could that be! I know you’re definitely not some pretty boy, nor a useless son-in-law. I’m just... curious."

"There’s nothing between me and Tang Yun Yun. She merely represents the Tang family and maintains friendly ties with me."

"So that’s how it is..."

Li Yating breathed out in relief, her worries eased. Yet, as she reconsidered, she reminded herself: Lin Feng was already married to Yao Qian Qian. Why was she worrying about this at all? Was she planning on becoming the other woman? Shameless!

But when she lifted her gaze and looked at Lin Feng’s profile, her heart raced again—like a wild creature bounding and leaping within her chest, nearly breaking free.

Every nuance of Li Yating’s behavior was observed by Liu Jian, whose heart burned with anger.

"Li Yating, you wretched woman! I’ve gone to such lengths to please you, and you barely acknowledge me. Instead, you favor a married man, a useless son-in-law!"

"Just wait. Once you’re mine, you’ll be begging beneath me every night!"

With these thoughts, Liu Jian stood up, flashing a confident smile, and produced a diamond necklace, announcing loudly, "Yating, I specially selected this three-carat genuine diamond necklace for you. It’s worth one hundred thousand yuan. Let me help you put it on!"

He pulled out the ornate necklace and opened it in front of everyone. Under the lights, the three-carat diamond sparkled intoxicatingly. Most of the colleagues present were women, and they had no resistance to such exquisite, luxurious items.

"Wow! That diamond is dazzling! One hundred thousand yuan—Liu Jian really lives up to his reputation. What a lavish gesture!"

"Seriously, if someone gave me such a huge diamond, I’d marry him without hesitation!"

"Yating, you’re so lucky. Liu Jian is truly a golden catch!"

Women are just like that; before a diamond, the troubles of Phoenix Pavilion Hotel are forgotten instantly. All eyes were riveted to the stone, full of envy.

Liu Jian’s lips curled into a proud smile as he cast a contemptuous glance at Lin Feng. His expression was arrogant, as if to say:

"See this? The difference between pedigree and wealth! You want to compete with me for a woman? You’re not even qualified, you worthless son-in-law!"

Lin Feng naturally saw the disdain in Liu Jian’s gaze, but such insignificant pests were beneath his notice.

"Yating, let me help you put it on!" Liu Jian offered.

"Liu Jian, it’s too expensive. I can’t accept it," Li Yating tried to refuse, but Liu Jian ignored her protests, stepping behind her and, with exaggerated gentleness, fastened the diamond necklace around her delicate neck. His hands lingered on her shoulders, acting out his role.

At that moment, Ke Feng suddenly stood up, clapping loudly and shouting, "Together! Together!"

Ke Feng started the chant, and a chorus of diamond-besotted female colleagues joined in, turning the private room into a scene of public courtship.

"Together!"

"Together!"

"Together!"

Liu Jian, sensing the moment, dropped to one knee and produced a blue enchanted rose from behind, gazing at Li Yating with tender ardor.

"Yating, from the very first moment I saw you, I’ve been deeply in love. Every day at the Yao Group, I watch over you, pursue you, hoping you’ll see my devotion."

"This love is eternal—even the seas may dry or the fields turn to dust, but it will never change. Yating, I love you. Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Oh—" Amid the raucous encouragement of their colleagues, the situation spun out of control. Li Yating felt a heavy, invisible pressure. If she refused him outright, she’d publicly embarrass Liu Jian, making future encounters at work unbearably awkward. Yet if she didn’t refuse, she’d be accepting a man she felt nothing for—indeed, one she disliked.

Seeing her hesitation, Liu Jian pressed his advantage, saying, "I, Liu Jian, have kept myself single all this time, just for you, Yating. Unlike certain people who are married but still chase after women, even willing to be the plaything of rich heiresses. Yating, you can’t let yourself be misled anymore!"

His words struck directly at Li Yating’s secret feelings for Lin Feng. The rumors about Lin Feng flirting with Tang Yun Yun and being her pet were, of course, malicious gossip spread by Liu Jian himself within the company—to smear Lin Feng and eliminate his rival.

Li Yating thought of Lin Feng, and her heart ached. Yes, Lin Feng was a married man. Was she about to break up someone else’s marriage and become a shameless mistress?

"I..." Li Yating began, struggling to find her voice, about to accept Liu Jian’s proposal.

But at that moment, Lin Feng spoke suddenly:

"Yating, if you don’t want to, just refuse. There’s no need to compromise yourself. Don’t let a gift force you to do something against your will."

As he spoke, Lin Feng produced a jade Buddha amulet he’d prepared and held it out to Li Yating.

The moment her fingers closed around the amulet, Li Yating felt a surge of soothing energy flow through her, as if it cleansed her entire being. Instantly, all the external pressures vanished, and she felt an unprecedented sense of ease and happiness.

"Thank you, Lin Feng," she murmured, gazing at him with heartfelt gratitude.

Liu Jian saw Lin Feng offer her a jade amulet and immediately sneered, "Lin Feng, are you stupid? These days, jade fakes are everywhere—even the experts get fooled. This thing of yours is probably just a worthless stone! And if it’s real, it’d be worth a million. Got that kind of money? You, a penniless son-in-law—did you sell a kidney for it?"

"That’s right! Yating, don’t let yourself be tricked by a fake!" Ke Feng chimed in, joined by several colleagues who had already been bribed, all echoing the mockery.

But none of that mattered anymore.

Li Yating valued sincerity, not money or appearances. Summoning her courage, she removed the diamond necklace from her neck, placed it back in its box, and returned it to Liu Jian.

"Sorry, Liu Jian. I already like someone else."

"What!" He had spent a fortune and enormous effort, hoping to win her tonight. He never expected his hundred-thousand-yuan diamond would lose out to Lin Feng’s so-called worthless stone!

At that moment, Liu Jian finally snapped, screaming hysterically:

"Li Yating, I’ve bent over backwards for you, chasing you every day like a pathetic dog! And you reject me for a worthless son-in-law’s fake stone?"

"Li Yating, I’ll give you one more chance. Will you or won’t you be my girlfriend?"

Liu Jian’s face twisted with rage, as if he would explode if he did not get his way.

Just then, a clear, cold voice rang out from the doorway:

"A worthless stone? This so-called worthless stone could buy ten Yao families!"