{Chapter: 155 Gui Qingtong wants to propose!}
Cui Yunrong was, by all accounts, an open-minded elder. Despite his age and long-standing status, he wasn't the kind to strictly uphold rigid traditions or place too much importance on the so-called "generation gap." Perhaps it was due to his years of experience, or maybe it was just his personality—but with Lin Yuan, he felt no need for formalities. The young man's temperament and talent had already earned his respect.
Lin Yuan smiled warmly, nodding in acknowledgment. "Alright then… Old Man Cui."
The old man chuckled at the casual address, evidently pleased. He then leaned forward with curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "Xiao Yuan, if I may ask… who's the lucky recipient of that painting?"
Lin Yuan's expression didn't change much, but there was a slight glint of amusement in his gaze. "You might not know, but there's a major banquet being held tonight—the Mei Family Banquet. I plan to give the painting to the matriarch of the Mei Family, Mei Yuxian."
"The Mei Family Banquet? Mei Yuxian?" Cui Yunrong frowned slightly in thought. "I've heard a few things about the powerhouses in Jiangbei, but I'm not too familiar with the Mei Family. They don't have a big presence in Yanjing."
"That's understandable," Lin Yuan replied casually.
Just then, he stood up slightly and adjusted his coat. "Old Cui, I'll take my leave now. I've got to prepare for the banquet."
Cui Yunrong nodded and stood up with him. "Alright, but remember this: you must visit me at the Maanshan Community sometime. And if you ever find yourself in Yanjing, you must drop by. I still hold a bit of influence over there," he added with a playful wink.
Lin Yuan chuckled. "I will. Definitely."
As he turned to go, a soft voice piped up behind him. "Big Brother Lin Yuan, are you leaving already? I want to go to the Mei Family Banquet too. Can I come with you?" Cui Susu's eyes sparkled as she looked at him hopefully, reluctant to part.
"Susu, don't cause trouble," Cui Yunrong reprimanded lightly. "Xiao Yuan has important matters to attend to—he's not like you, with free time on your hands."
Susu puffed her cheeks slightly but didn't argue. Instead, she waved her phone and said sweetly, "Big Brother Lin Yuan, then make sure to message me often on WeChat, okay? That way, I won't miss you too much! Come visit us when you're free!"
"Alright," Lin Yuan said with a smile, waving back.
Just as he was about to leave the room, Susu called out with a cheeky grin, "Next time, I'll bring my dad to your house so he can propose marriage for me!"
Lin Yuan turned around with an amused look, while Cui Yunrong burst out laughing.
"You little rascal," he said with a laugh. "You dare talk like that in front of your father? He'll spank you for sure!"
Lin Yuan laughed too, then descended the stairs of the teahouse, his footsteps light.
After he was gone, Cui Susu turned to her grandfather with a hopeful gleam in her eyes. "Grandpa~, let's head home. And when we do, help me talk to Dad, okay? I really like Brother Lin Yuan! I want to marry him!"
Cui Yunrong stroked his white beard thoughtfully. "Young people these days, always in a rush to get married…" he muttered. But then his eyes softened. "Still, I have to admit, Xiao Yuan is quite impressive. He's calm, well-mannered, and grounded. And even though it seemed like he knew who we were from the start, he didn't make a fuss about it or act arrogant."
He paused, then continued, "The Lin Family of Jiangbei… now that's a solid background. Good enough to be a match for my granddaughter. And most importantly, I find the boy pleasing to the eye. Alright then. I'll speak to your father when we get back."
"Yay!" Susu jumped up with joy, grabbing her phone with giddy excitement. Without wasting a second, she tapped into WeChat and sent Lin Yuan a message.
---
Not long after Lin Yuan had settled into his car, his phone vibrated. He glanced down and saw a new message notification from WeChat. It was from Cui Susu.
The message read: "Brother Lin Yuan! I told my grandpa already. We're coming to the Lin Family to propose marriage! Wait for us!"
Lin Yuan stared at the message, momentarily speechless. He didn't know whether to laugh or feel pressured. But before he could even process the situation, another unexpected message popped up—this time, it was a phone call.
He accepted the call, and a crisp, cheerful female voice came through. "Hello! Is this Brother Lin Yuan?"
"Yes, speaking. Who is this?" Lin Yuan asked, tilting his head. The voice sounded oddly familiar.
"It's me! Qingtong!" the girl exclaimed, sounding slightly offended. "Brother Lin Yuan, you dummy! How could you not recognize my voice? I listen to your song every day!"
"Qingtong…?" Lin Yuan repeated slowly. "How did you get my number?"
"I got it from someone. Don't worry about that. That's not important," Gui Qingtong said excitedly. "The important thing is—Brother Lin Yuan, you're coming to our family's banquet tonight, right?"
"Right…"
"Well, I've already told my mom that I want to marry you! I mean, not marry you right now—but I've asked her to help me propose to you officially! Isn't that great?" she said in one breath, clearly thrilled.
Lin Yuan was utterly dumbfounded. First Cui Susu, now Gui Qingtong? What is happening today? Are proposals suddenly in fashion?
Now, even Gui Qingtong had brought up the idea of proposing marriage.
Lin Yuan rubbed his temples with a faint headache. It wasn't like he was opposed to people wanting to propose to him—but what troubled him more was the fact that, despite Gui Qingtong's sweetness and gentle demeanor, he simply wasn't physically attracted to her. In particular, he couldn't overlook her underdeveloped figure! Flat chest!
What truly stirred his desires was not the daughter, but the mother—Mei Yuxian.
Mature, elegant, and possessing an allure that only experience could bring, Mei Yuxian's voluptuous curves were far more tempting in his eyes than Gui Qingtong's youthful innocence.
'What should I do in this situation?' Lin Yuan sighed internally, running through different scenarios in his mind.
'How am I supposed to face Gui Qingtong tonight at the banquet?'
'Mei Yuxian… that stunning woman... I absolutely can't miss my chance with her.'
'But if I go after her, what happens with Gui Qingtong…?'
The tangled mess of emotions and complications gave Lin Yuan a headache. He leaned back and exhaled.
"Alright," he muttered, half-joking to himself. "Time to rely on the classic three noes: No contact, no negotiation, no compromise."
(Translator's Note: The "Three Noes" originally referred to Taiwan's diplomatic stance toward the mainland, but here, Lin Yuan's jokingly applying the principle to dodge emotional entanglements.)
After chatting with Gui Qingtong for a few more minutes and offering vague responses to her eager words, Lin Yuan politely ended the call.
He still had things to do—important things.
Today, he had seen Ye Feng make his way to Maanshan Park, which meant one thing: that arrogant protagonist was definitely going to attend the Mei Family Banquet tonight.
Although Lin Yuan had been reborn into this world and had already influenced some of the story's developments, the main plotline of the original novel was stubbornly persistent. It still moved forward, as though guided by an invisible thread.
Maybe this was what people called "protagonist's luck"—that natural gravitational pull of destiny that continuously created opportunities for Ye Feng.
But tonight, Lin Yuan had a plan—carefully laid out over the past two days—and he wouldn't allow Ye Feng to reap the rewards of another fortunate twist. He was going to disrupt the script completely.
---
Lin Yuan drove to a place on the outskirts of town—a humble-looking facility known as Meihua Ceramics.
Despite its modest appearance, this factory held a reputation for producing some of the most traditional and exquisite ceramics in the entire Jiangbei region. Their ancestral kiln techniques were unmatched.
As soon as Lin Yuan stepped out of the car, his refined appearance and dignified bearing immediately drew attention. Wearing a custom-tailored suit, a polished wristwatch glinting beneath his sleeve, and carrying himself like someone used to being in control, he clearly wasn't an average customer.
The factory director, an older man with a slight hunch, was the first to greet him personally. "Ah, a distinguished guest! Are you here to commission some custom ceramics?" he asked respectfully.
Lin Yuan smiled faintly and retrieved a receipt from his coat pocket. "I'm here to pick up a porcelain clay jar. I placed an order a few days ago—blue and white, traditional design. I also requested that it be fired in the old ancestral kiln."
The factory director carefully studied the receipt, then nodded in recognition. "Yes, yes! I remember. Please wait just a moment, I'll bring it to you right away."
After a few minutes, the director returned, holding a large blue and white porcelain jar wrapped in thick protective cloth. It gleamed subtly under the light, its patterns intricate and steeped in traditional beauty.
As he handed it over, the director spoke with some hesitation. "Just to inform you, since you insisted on using the ancestral kiln, we couldn't avoid some glaze shrinkage. There are minor flaws, but—"
Lin Yuan waved his hand, already inspecting the piece. "That's precisely what I wanted. The authentic reduction in glaze texture is only achievable with the traditional firing method."
(Glaze shrinkage is a natural imperfection in the ceramic process, where certain areas may lose surface glaze due to intense heat. While seen as a flaw by some, collectors often prize it for authenticity and uniqueness.)
Still holding the porcelain jar, Lin Yuan turned to glance at another row of very similar ceramic jars stacked nearby. He pointed. "Are these the same design as mine?"
The factory director followed his gaze, then looked to one of the younger employees. The employee immediately nodded. "Yes! Those are the blue and white porcelain jars Chairman Mei ordered. You said you wanted the exact same design. I followed your specifications precisely. Except for the intentional glaze shrinkage from the ancestral kiln, everything else is identical!"
Lin Yuan stepped over and closely examined the jars. The motifs, the brushwork, even the curvature—it was an impeccable imitation.
Satisfied, he nodded and said, "Good job. It's very convincing."
He paid in full and personally carried the porcelain jar to his vehicle. The weight of the jar was symbolic—it held not just traditional value, but also strategic value.
This wasn't just a decorative item.
Tonight, at the Mei Family's grand banquet, Lin Yuan would use this blue and white porcelain jar as his weapon.
A sharp, hidden blade—meant to strike directly at Ye Feng's rising momentum.
---
Evening descended, bringing a crisp breeze over the city.
At the Yan family villa, preparations for the banquet were also underway.
In her room, Yan Ruyue stood in front of a tall mirror, wearing a sleek, elegantly cut dress. She turned slightly, observing her silhouette from different angles, clearly nervous.
She looked at her mother, Song Xuan, and asked with concern, "Mom, does this dress go well with these heels? Is it too much?"
Tonight's banquet was not just a social gathering—it was a battlefield in disguise.
And everyone had a part to play.