Chapter Thirty-Seven: Presenting a Gift

Yang Li let out a sharp scream, glaring resentfully at Lin Yi before crouching down in her formal dress.
“Song Qi, are you alright?” she asked with concern.
“I’m… I’m fine,” Song Qi replied, his face pale.
Seeing his condition, Yang Li’s heart ached. She pointed at Lin Yi and shouted angrily, “What’s wrong with you? It was just a handshake with this little wretch, did you have to be so rough?”
Lin Yi shot her a cold glance that made her shiver, silencing any words she wanted to spit out.
Many in the room witnessed this scene and were surprised.
No one had expected someone to cause trouble at a Yang family banquet.
“Isn’t that the Song family’s main heir? How did he get beaten?”
“I heard it was because someone shook hands with his girlfriend.”
“That’s way too impulsive; it was just a handshake. He’s making a big deal out of nothing. He’s in trouble now. Everyone knows the Song family is powerful, and Song Yu is fiercely protective.”
“It’s a shame. If the Song family gets angry, even his little girlfriend will suffer.”
Yang Yujia listened to the discussions around her, finally recalling Song Qi’s identity.
Her gaze grew complicated as she looked at Lin Yi—this incident had started because of her.
Moreover, when Lin Yi stood up for her, she felt an unfamiliar sense of safety, something she had never felt with Yang Junqi.
“What’s going on?”
At this moment, several security guards approached.
Yang Li’s face brightened. With a haughty air, she barked at the guards, “You two, detain those two immediately and strip them for a thorough check. I suspect they’re here to steal.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The guards recognized Yang Yujia, but so what?
In the whole Yang family, everyone knew the third daughter, Yang Junqi, was the least favored, and by extension, so was Yang Yujia.
“Let’s see who dares,” Yang Yujia said coldly, her face set.
“Heh, sorry about this.”
The guards strode toward her.
The onlookers watched coldly; not a single person chose to help.
Even though Yang Yujia tried to look resolute, she was still just a young girl. Instinctively, she stepped back, colliding with a strong chest.
Lin Yi patted her thin shoulder. Since he had promised Sister Yang to come, he would naturally look after Yang Yujia.
“Trying to play the hero, kid?” sneered the burly head of the guards.
Lin Yi said nothing, merely glanced at the head guard with an indifferent look and gripped his neck in one swift motion.
The nearly two-hundred-pound guard was lifted like a chick.
“Let… let go,” the guard choked out, face flushed, pounding Lin Yi’s arm.
He might as well have been hitting steel; pain shot through his hand.
“Very well.”
Lin Yi’s voice was icy. With a flick of his arm, the fat guard flew like a bowling ball, crashing into his colleagues.

The crowd was astonished at how effortlessly Lin Yi subdued the guards.
Yang Li was startled—she hadn’t expected Lin Yi to be this ruthless.
These guards were expensive hires. While they might not be able to take on ten men at once, handling a lean guy like Lin Yi should have been easy.
But the outcome was quite the opposite.
Seeing Lin Yi still approaching, Yang Li grew frightened. “What… what do you want?”
Lin Yi replied calmly, “Nothing—just want to teach you a lesson.”
If he hadn’t come today, Yang Yujia might really have been stripped by them.
Song Qi met Lin Yi’s dark eyes and felt a chill in his heart.
He now understood—this was a reckless youth who cared nothing for status or background, only his fists.
Song Qi’s eyes darted. He shouted at Lin Yi, “I only wanted to wipe some dirt off Yujia’s hand. You broke my wrist without asking, and I wasn’t even going to hold it against you. Now you want to teach me a lesson?”
“You’re lying!” Yang Yujia fumed.
But her words were ignored.
Someone barked, “Enough! Do you really think you can do as you please here?”
“Young people these days have no composure. Society isn’t about who can fight—it’s about connections and background.”
“You, apologize to Young Master Song and get out of here!”
Instantly, the crowd sided with Yang Li and Song Qi.
Both had status and connections, and it was a chance to curry favor.
As for Yang Yujia, an unimportant member of the family—who cared what she thought?
At that moment, Yang Yujia tugged Lin Yi’s arm and said evenly, “Lin Yi, let’s just leave.”
Lin Yi looked at her, thought a moment, and nodded. “Let’s go.”
No one dared stop them as they left.
After all, Lin Yi had just laid out several guards with ease. They could win an argument, but not a fight.
Yang Li watched their departing backs with a sneer.
“Hmph, Yang Yujia, what good is it that your boyfriend can fight? He’s still just a country bumpkin.”
She turned to thank the guests; they smiled and resumed their own conversations.
For them, it was just a small favor extended.
If they could win Song Qi’s favor—the main heir—he could be a powerful ally in the future.

…
Yang Yujia looked up at the sky and asked, “You’re not angry that I stopped you, are you?”
“Not at all,” Lin Yi shook his head.
She smiled apologetically. “I’ve seen this sort of thing too many times in the Yang family. It’s your first time here, so really it’s me who dragged you into this.”
“It’s fine. Since I promised Sister Yang, no matter what happens, I’ll stand by you,” Lin Yi reassured her.
Yang Yujia stared at him for a moment, then whispered, “Thank you.”
It was almost eleven o’clock.

The patriarch of the Yang family made his entrance. Everyone rose respectfully to greet him.
Yang Manli stepped forward with a gift. “Father, I wish you great success in your endeavors. Here’s a jade ruyi I chose especially for you.”
“Wonderful, wonderful,” the old man replied with a hearty laugh.
The rest were not to be outdone, each presenting their own gift.
Not a single present was worth less than fifty thousand yuan, and the old man’s smile grew wider.
Yang Junqi presented her gift. Yang Manli teased from the side, “Little sister, why does your gift smell so odd? Don’t tell me it’s cheap herbal medicine?”
Yang Junqi ignored her.
Everyone’s eyes fell on Yang Junqi.
“Father, this is a wellness prescription I prepared for you, along with three doses. I wish you health and longevity.”
She handed over her gift, the result of long research and careful consideration.
To her, the value of a gift lay in the sentiment, not the price.
But the patriarch only snorted coldly, not even glancing at it, and motioned for a servant to take it away.
Yang Manli leaned in and whispered, “Our family has always practiced Western medicine. You bring herbal remedies for Father? You’re making us look bad in front of everyone. The only reason he didn’t throw you out is for the family’s reputation.”
Yang Junqi’s face was expressionless, but her clenched fingers betrayed her turmoil.
Once the gifts were given, it was nearly time to eat.
The patriarch took the seat of honor, surrounded by the family elders.
At the next table sat Yang Manli and the other children.
Yet, despite being the third daughter, Yang Junqi was placed in a corner.
With her were Yang Yujia and Lin Yi—clearly, this arrangement had the patriarch’s tacit approval.
“This isn’t so bad. Nice and quiet,” Yang Junqi joked with a smile.

Just then, the doorman’s voice rang out from outside.
“The Wang family of Jiang Province—the number one clan—Master Wang Yang and Elder Wang have arrived!”
…
The top ten families of Jiang Province were all present, but the Wang family, as the leading house, drew special attention.
“The patriarch is truly lucky, to have the Wang family’s leaders attend.”
“The Wang family—the one that’s been making waves recently, right? I hear they have major connections, and even the other nine top families are overshadowed.”
“Amazing! It looks like the Yang family is finally about to soar.”
The patriarch hurried to his feet, his face flushed with pride. At his age, aside from family and business, nothing mattered more than reputation.
For all its wealth, the Yang family was still far from the true elite.
The Wang family’s presence was undoubtedly a huge boost to their prestige.