Just then, a ripple of restlessness seemed to sweep through the venue of the party, as numerous young men’s gazes simultaneously shifted toward the grand entrance of the banquet hall, their eyes brimming with excitement and anticipation.

As the doors to the banquet hall opened, a graceful figure slowly made her way inside.

Clad in a form-fitting purple gown that showed off her perfect S-curve figure, on her feet were fifteen-centimeter stilettos that added to her statuesque height, as if her perfect features were meticulously sculpted to the golden ratio, all harmoniously combined, with a pair of bright, pearl-like eyes revealing a hint of frostiness.

This woman, both in figure and in looks, was of the highest caliber. Yet, she radiated a strong presence, giving off an illusion of unapproachability—an aura that suggested she was to be admired from a distance but not trifled with.

Ye Luo immediately recognized her as a woman of immense pride and presence, akin to a powerful female magnate.

And this very woman was none other than the intended fiancée of the Ye Family’s eldest son—Ling Qingya.

Moreover, she was the target of Ye Luo’s current ambitions. As soon as he laid eyes on her, he understood that this mission would likely be no easy task. Such a woman was undoubtedly hard to get close to, especially since Ling Qingya had always had a dim view of him and had repeatedly attempted to call off their engagement.

Upon Ling Qingya’s arrival, countless rays of light seemed to converge upon her. The phrase "radiant brilliance" would aptly describe Qingya at that moment, as she attracted the gazes of all the men in the hall.

Like Situ Luoyun, such a woman stirred in others the desire to conquer, which was why she drew the attention of so many men.

Of course, being the esteemed young lady of the first-rate Zhonghai Ling Family, the heiress to Ling Corporation, and one of the twin jewels of Zhonghai, her titles and status were also among the reasons why so many men noticed her.

"Sister, this woman seems to be even more popular than you are, but aren’t you both the twin jewels of Zhonghai?"

Liu Xiner’s eyes glanced at Ling Qingya before shifting to Liu Shiyun.

"Miss Ling is indeed more outstanding than I am. In just a few years, she has managed to increase the market value of Ling Corporation several times over—a feat I could not achieve," said Liu Shiyun in her gentle voice.

"You’re suited to stay at home and take care of your husband, while she’s suited to work and earn money to support him. The two of you are different," Ye Luo’s voice chimed in with a playful tone.

"Ye Luo, are you implying you want to be that husband?" Liu Xiner asked with a smile at the corner of her mouth.

"Of course, I’ve already made up my mind. Beautiful sister, prepare to take care of me at home, while Ling Qingya can get ready to earn money to provide for the family," Ye Luo said, his eyes gleaming sharply as he rose to his feet and walked over.

"What is this guy up to?" Nie Wenling asked, watching Ye Luo get up and leave, slightly puzzled.

"He is going to meet his fiancée," Liu Shiyun said, her star-like eyes flashing with a hint of unusual color.

"Fiancée? Sister, are you talking about Ling Qingya?" Liu Xiner’s expression changed.

"Haven’t you heard from Lu Qing? He’s the eldest son of the previously renowned Ye Family, one of the four great families of Zhonghai. And his engagement with the young lady of the Ling family should be known to everyone in Zhonghai," Liu Shiyun spoke softly.

"No wonder he said that just now, but wait, doesn’t that mean he wants to win over both jewels of Zhonghai? Ye Luo is too greedy," Liu Xiner said, pouting and humming, her eyes flickering with complex emotions as she watched the retreating figure of Ye Luo. Sitting quietly aside, Luo Jingxuan observed Ling Qingya with narrowed eyes, an unusual gleam dancing within.

"Wife!"

Just as all eyes at the banquet were focused on Ling Qingya, who was slowly making her entrance, a nonchalant voice rose above the chatter, startling the attendees. Their gazes quickly found a young man who was walking straight toward Ling Qingya.

Whoosh!

Upon seeing Ye Luo, Ling Qingya’s delicate face suddenly shifted, her inherent coldness intensifying. Her brows furrowed tightly, and her eyes flashed with a look of disgust.

"Ye Luo, please show some respect. I am not your wife."

Ling Qingya’s voice was cold and clear, carrying a hint of frost.

"We have a marriage arrangement," Ye Luo said with a faint smile, now standing in front of Ling Qingya. "You are my fiancée, so there shouldn’t be an issue with me calling you my wife in the future."

"This arrangement was made by my grandfather and has nothing to do with me. I cannot and will never be with you," Ling Qingya declared, her tone firm and decisive, clearly showing her disdain for this so-called fiancé from the Ye Family.

"Oh my, isn’t this guy the Young Master of the Ye Family?"

"Definitely. The one with a marriage arrangement with Ling Qingya is that good-for-nothing Young Master from the Ye Family, right?"

"I heard this guy had disappeared; people thought he was dead."

With Ye Luo standing there, addressing Ling Qingya in such a manner, the attendees at the banquet quickly recognized his identity.

The Ye Family used to be one of Zhonghai’s most prestigious families, with a heritage deeper than even the Ling Family’s. The Young Master of the Ye Family had quite the reputation in Zhonghai, and of course, his arranged marriage with the young miss of the Ling Family also garnered much attention.

Many had lamented how Ling Qingya, such a ’fine piece of jade,’ was about to be ruined by Ye Luo, the ’pig,’ but then the Ye Family Head died suddenly, and soon after, his only son and daughter-in-law mysteriously disappeared, leaving only Ye Luo as the sole heir.

The vast influence of the Ye Family collapsed in an instant, and the family fell from grace. As for Ye Luo, he vanished for a while, and everyone thought he would never reappear, but to their surprise, here he was at the banquet today, boldly bringing up the marriage arrangement in front of so many people.

"I bet this Young Master of the Ye Family knows his family has fallen, so he’s trying to climb up by this marriage arrangement with the Ling Family to continue living the glitzy life he used to have."

"Hmph, Ling Qingya didn’t think much of Ye Luo even when the Ye Family was still influential. Now that they’ve declined, any hopes of him climbing up through this arranged marriage are utterly impossible."

The young heirs and masters of Zhonghai looked at Ye Luo with sneering expressions.

"Wife, how can you be so heartless?" Ye Luo asked, gazing at Ling Qingya with deep affection. His handsome face carried a look of longing and melancholy, which could easily sway any girl’s heart, but Ling Qingya’s face remained as cold as ever.

"The man for Ling Qingya is not a good-for-nothing like you," she said bluntly, walking past Ye Luo without a second glance.

In that moment, many at the banquet looked at Ye Luo with disdain and mockery in their eyes, chuckling coldly.

"An idiot who doesn’t know his own limitations!"

In the distance, Fang Yan was dressed in a suit, holding a glass of red wine, and watching Ye Luo with a sneer, his eyes filled with deep scorn.