CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: YOU’RE TOO UGLY

"Why are you here?"

Ye Xuan paused for a moment, her face turning green with anger, and ran up to Ye Ningwan without regard for decorum.

Ye Ningwan looked innocent, "It’s Auntie’s birthday, how could I not come to celebrate? Although I didn’t receive an invitation, I can’t forget Auntie’s kindness, so I had to come thick-skinned."

"Didn’t receive an invitation? Xuanxuan, what’s going on? Didn’t I ask you to personally deliver the invitation to Ningwan?" Mrs. Lin scolded displeasedly.

Ye Xuan’s face turned various shades of green and white, feeling embarrassed at having her lies exposed in public; she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

Lin Yuyang added insult to injury, "Humph, she definitely intercepted the invitation secretly, not wanting sister Ningwan to come."

Mrs. Lin said with a stern face, "Forget it, Xuanxuan, since Ningwan is here, I won’t hold it against you this time. But next time, if you dare act on your own, I’ll be very displeased."

"Thank you, Mom, I promise I won’t do it again," Ye Xuan quickly apologized.

Lin Yuyang’s gaze was fiery as he looked at Ye Ningwan; Ye Ningwan looked exceptionally beautiful today. Her light green dress flowed gracefully, making her seem like a fairy descended from heaven.

However, before he could take in enough of her beauty, he suddenly felt a cold, sharp gaze on him, frightening him into turning his head.

And thus, he met Zhan Hanjue’s eyes.

Lin Yuyang quickly gave up.

Although he was unwilling to admit it, why were Zhan Hanjue’s eyes so intimidating?

Could it be because he was blind before?

"Ningwan, come to Auntie’s side," Mrs. Lin smiled and waved at Ye Ningwan.

Ye Ningwan smiled and walked over.

Mrs. Lin held her hand, stroking it repeatedly, "You look even more beautiful than before, and your complexion is much better, which reassures me."

"Thank you for your concern, Auntie. I also feel my complexion has improved recently, so despite not receiving an invitation, I came to let you see for yourself," Ye Ningwan said with a smile.

Mrs. Lin gave Ye Xuan another glare and explained to Ye Ningwan, "Your second sister is just like that, don’t take it to heart."

"Auntie, you’re joking; she’s my second sister, how could I be angry with her?"

"Is Mr. Zhan’s eyesight really recovered?" Mrs. Lin asked.

Ye Ningwan nodded, "Yes, you could say that fortune smiles on me, I’m truly blessed."

"Indeed, at first, I felt sorry for you, marrying someone like that... Who would have thought his eyesight would recover so quickly. I heard it was treated by Divine Doctor Bai Zhi, and he’s very hard to come by; you truly are lucky," Mrs. Lin sighed.

"Perhaps my parents are watching over me from above! Especially my mother, who always worried about me being wronged; if she knew I’m happy now, she’d surely be glad," Ye Ningwan also sighed emotionally.

Mrs. Lin’s eyes briefly showed a strange glint.

Although it passed quickly, it didn’t escape Ye Ningwan’s notice.

"Your mother passed away so young; whenever I think of it, it saddens me greatly. Anyway, let’s not mention this sad matter. Later, make sure to stay by Auntie’s side; I’ll introduce a few elders to you who were acquaintances of your parents," Mrs. Lin said.

Ye Ningwan smiled and nodded, but quickly said, "Auntie, I also brought a gift for you, but it’s not suitable to show here. How about we find a place where I can give it to you?"

"What kind of gift is so mysterious? Must it be kept secret?" Mrs. Lin laughed.

Ye Ningwan said, "You’ll know when you see it."

Mrs. Lin nodded with a smile and led her to a room.

However, Zhan Hanjue stopped Ye Ningwan, looking at her with deep eyes.

Ye Ningwan smiled and patted his hand, "Don’t worry, I’ll return shortly with Auntie, wait for me here."

Zhan Hanjue had no choice but to release her hand, watching her leave.

Ye Xuan, seeing Zhan Hanjue alone, boldly approached to strike up a conversation, "Mr. Zhan, do you remember me? I’m Ye Xuan, Ningwan’s second sister. Originally... it should have been me marrying into the Zhan Family with you. Ningwan insisted on competing with me, and things went astray, causing us to..."

"I don’t remember, lucky it wasn’t you, too ugly," Zhan Hanjue coldly interrupted her, then left her in shock.

Ye Xuan was about to lose it!

Was she ugly?

Zhan Hanjue actually... actually said she was ugly?

"Ha, serves you right. Failed to flirt and even got insulted for being ugly; are you ready to give up now?" Lin Yuyang suddenly appeared behind Ye Xuan, ridiculing her.

Ye Xuan, angrily, turned back to glare at him.

Since their fallout, Lin Yuyang had been living extravagantly outside, surrounded by different women.

So Ye Xuan wasn’t afraid to be seen trying to flirt with other men.

However, being caught being rejected and insulted as ugly, she couldn’t bear it.

After glaring at him, she snorted coldly and left.

Meanwhile, Ye Ningwan and Mrs. Lin headed to the upstairs bedroom.

After entering and closing the door, Mrs. Lin asked with a smile, "What kind of gift is so mysterious? Quickly show Auntie."

Ye Ningwan curled her lips, fetched an envelope, and took out a photograph.

At first, Mrs. Lin thought she was about to receive a card and felt dismissive of it.

Even though their Lin Family wasn’t as grand as the Zhan Family, it was still one of the four major families in Jiangcheng, why care about money?

Petty-minded, not presentable.

However, when she saw it wasn’t a card but a photograph, Mrs. Lin was dumbfounded.

As Ye Ningwan turned over the photo and handed it to her, her face became more and more unsightly.

Suddenly it turned pale as paper, her expression filled with terror.

Trembling hands reached out, taking the photo, scrutinizing it several times, before her voice shook as she sternly questioned, "Where did you get this photo? How do you have this?"

Impossible, she couldn’t have this photo.

Back then, the person holding it blackmailed her and promised to destroy the negatives, leaving only one photo.

Later, to feel assured, she secretly sent people to his home to steal and destroy all the negatives. She even found him, beat him severely, confirming there were no other negatives before sparing his life.

How could Ye Ningwan have this photo?

It shouldn’t exist in this world anymore.

"Auntie is very nervous?" Ye Ningwan observed the terrified Mrs. Lin while maintaining an uncommonly calm demeanor.

Mrs. Lin took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

She hurriedly tore the photo into pieces, scattering them on the ground.

"Ningwan, who gave you these photos? They’re fake, photoshopped, not real, don’t believe it."

"Fake? Really? But this photo was taken over ten years ago, back then such advanced photoshop technology wasn’t available. Auntie, I know it’s real and I know the person who took it blackmailed you with it."

"That person gave you this? Did he not destroy it?" Mrs. Lin panicked, pale she stumbled backward.