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I AM DESPERATE!
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{Chapter: 175 Yan Ruyue's fantasy!}
Lin Yuan had already seen through Ye Feng's every intention from the very beginning.
He knew exactly what Ye Feng was planning.
Yet Ye Feng, blissfully unaware of Lin Yuan's deep insight, still thought he had successfully concealed his schemes. In Ye Feng's mind, Lin Yuan was oblivious—completely in the dark, being led around without a clue.
When Ye Feng noticed the faintly proud look on Lin Yuan's face, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
Make him, Ye Feng, bow his head?
Ridiculous.
As a Heavenly Soldier King—a title earned through countless victories and unparalleled skills—how could he possibly humble himself before someone like Lin Yuan?
What had just transpired was not an act of sincere apology or submission. It was a carefully masked attack.
What Ye Feng had truly done was attempt to poison Lin Yuan during their handshake.
Naturally, the poison was not lethal. Ye Feng was cunning enough to know that in a public event like this, outright murder would be impossible to cover up.
This time, Ye Feng was playing the long game.
Rather than risk immediate exposure, he decided to inflict a slow, gradual decline.
A little weakness today, a little vulnerability tomorrow.
Eventually, he believed he could deal with Lin Yuan at a time and place of his choosing—where there would be no eyes watching, no witnesses, and no repercussions.
The poison Ye Feng had transferred wasn't mild, though.
The concentration was potent enough to induce symptoms resembling a nasty fever: fatigue, dizziness, muscle weakness, and an uncomfortably high body temperature.
And if left untreated, these symptoms would torment Lin Yuan for at least three to four days.
Just thinking about Lin Yuan suffering through those miserable days made Ye Feng feel a sense of satisfaction bubble up inside him.
He couldn't help but smirk internally.
After believing he had successfully accomplished his goal, Ye Feng saw no reason to linger.
The false humility he had plastered across his face vanished in an instant, swept away as though it had never existed. Without looking back, he turned on his heel and strode away from the gathering.
But as he turned, Ye Feng failed to notice a crucial detail.
When Lin Yuan had patted him on the shoulder just moments ago in a seemingly friendly gesture, it wasn't merely an act of camaraderie.
It was a counterattack.
Unaware, Ye Feng subconsciously scratched the back of his neck, feeling an odd itch where Lin Yuan had touched him. Despite the slight irritation, he simply smiled and walked away, none the wiser.
Lin Yuan, watching the departing figure of Ye Feng, allowed himself a soft laugh.
He could have easily neutralized the poison Ye Feng had used against him.
In fact, with his divine-level mastery of medicine and poison, Lin Yuan could nullify it before it ever had a chance to take effect.
But more importantly, Ye Feng had no idea that during the shoulder pat, Lin Yuan had surreptitiously sprinkled a special powder onto his skin.
Lin Yuan was nothing if not meticulous.
He had spent days refining not just antidotes and healing medicines, but also a wide array of exotic compounds, poisons, and countermeasures.
Knowing that Ye Feng possessed advanced medical knowledge, Lin Yuan had deliberately chosen a substance that would fly under his radar.
A truly deadly poison would have alerted Ye Feng instantly.
No, Lin Yuan chose something far more fitting for the situation.
Something subtle, yet devastating in its own right.
It was a harmless-looking medicine Lin Yuan jokingly called the "Shit Poison."
Created using ingredients like croton seeds, senna leaves, and several other potent herbs, the powder was designed to trigger violent gastrointestinal reactions.
It wasn't deadly, nor was it even classified as a true poison.
In fact, in small doses, it could be used medicinally to treat severe constipation.
However, when applied in a carefully measured amount—like Lin Yuan had done—its side effects became almost comical.
The victim would experience unstoppable bowel movements, relentless stomach cramps, excessive flatulence, and embarrassing diarrhea.
And since the powder was absorbed through the skin and activated slowly, Ye Feng wouldn't realize what was happening until it was far too late.
Lin Yuan had perfected this "medicine" through painstaking refinement, adjusting the potency to ensure maximum effect without immediate detection.
Right now, as Lin Yuan leaned back and observed the scene calmly, he noticed that Ye Feng had returned to the dining tables and resumed eating.
But already, the signs were beginning to show.
---
Gurgle... gurgle...
A low, rumbling noise erupted from Ye Feng's stomach, loud enough that a few heads nearby turned in curiosity.
The sudden sound broke the quiet chatter around the table.
Several people shot curious glances at Ye Feng.
Feeling their stares, Ye Feng offered an awkward smile, trying to brush off the moment.
Gu Qingshan, sitting nearby, frowned slightly in concern and asked, "Brother Ye, are you alright? You don't look too good."
Ye Feng quickly waved him off, putting on a brave face. "I'm fine, really. I know my own body. It's probably just the wine."
Gu Qingshan nodded slowly, accepting the explanation.
After all, he knew of Ye Feng's exceptional medical knowledge.
If Ye Feng said he was fine, who were he to question it?
Ye Feng returned to his meal, forcing down a few more bites of food and a few sips of wine, pretending everything was normal.
Meanwhile, the banquet continued.
One by one, the guests began taking out their carefully prepared gifts for Mei Yuxian, stepping forward to present them with polite smiles and well-wishes.
While the Mei Family Banquet wasn't solely focused on feasting and celebration, everyone understood that it was proper etiquette to offer a token of respect, particularly on Mei Yuxian's birthday.
After all, most of the guests attending the banquet came from prestigious and respectable families. Their backgrounds were solid, their reputations well-established, and their social etiquette reflected years of refined upbringing.
Naturally, many of them had brought along gifts of considerable value.
Whether it was antique jade, limited-edition jewelry, rare paintings, or even family heirlooms temporarily loaned for display, each gift served a dual purpose—celebrating Mei Yuxian's birthday and simultaneously demonstrating their family's influence.
Mei Yuxian received them all with grace and poise, her smile unwavering as she accepted each present, politely expressing her gratitude to every guest. Despite the extravagance surrounding her, she maintained her elegance, showing neither arrogance nor favoritism.
Amid the crowd, Lin Yuan stood quietly, observing.
In his hands, he held a scroll—a carefully wrapped ink painting titled The Ink Plum Blossom. Though his fingers gripped it gently, there was a sense of deliberation behind the gesture.
He had no intention of presenting it just yet.
Now was not the right moment.
Timing was everything in these social settings, and Lin Yuan was well aware of that. Giving the painting too soon would seem rushed and out of place. It would interrupt the flow of the banquet, especially since the elders were still in the process of offering their own gifts.
People like Lin Jianjun, Meng Yuelan, Song Xuan, and Qiao Jianye—figures of considerable status and influence—were all stepping forward in turn to present their offerings to Mei Yuxian.
As a junior in both age and rank, Lin Yuan understood it would be disrespectful to disrupt their order.
Unbeknownst to him, however, a pair of eyes were locked onto him with intense curiosity.
Yan Ruyue had been quietly watching him.
The moment she noticed the scroll in Lin Yuan's hand, her heart skipped a beat, and her breathing grew shallow. Her gaze locked onto the painting, and a flurry of thoughts flooded her mind all at once.
'Is he finally giving me that painting?' she wondered, excitement bubbling beneath the surface.
'That's the Ink Plum Blossom, isn't it? It's worth 50 million! Can he really be giving that to me… just for a pair of gloves?'
'It feels a bit much… but also… it's him. Maybe he thinks it's fair.'
Her mind raced as she tried to make sense of Lin Yuan's intentions.
'Wait, today is Aunt Mei Yuxian's birthday. Wouldn't giving it to me now steal the spotlight from her? Isn't that a little inappropriate? But still… I'm looking forward to it so much…'
Yan Ruyue bit her lower lip gently, trying to contain the anticipation swelling within her.
She tried her best to keep a neutral expression, but the corners of her mouth were already beginning to curl up in a smile.
'I can see the painting. It's definitely the one. He'll give it to me soon, I just know it. But I mustn't let him know I figured it out. If he senses that I guessed his plan, he might change his mind out of pride.'
'As soon as he hands it to me, I'll act completely surprised. I'll widen my eyes, maybe even cover my mouth. That'll make him feel accomplished. He'll think he truly touched me.'
'Truthfully, I love that painting. It's beautiful. It's rare. And it's connected to many memories.'
Her thoughts suddenly took a more mischievous turn.
'And when I get my hands on it, I'll make sure to show it off in front of that flat-chested little brat who thinks she's better than me. Her face will be worth a million on its own. She'll go pale with jealousy.'
'Of course, I'll have to protect it. If she realizes Lin Yuan gave it to me, she might try to ruin it out of spite. I won't give her the chance.'
Still lost in thought, Yan Ruyue kept her eyes glued to the painting, her expression softening with every passing second.
From the outside, it looked like she was simply daydreaming. But to those around her—particularly the men who had been silently admiring her—her dreamy expression and occasional giggles were devastating.
Several of the so-called "licking dogs" who were vying for Yan Ruyue's affection felt their hearts shatter. They had never seen her look at anyone like that. And now, her gaze was clearly directed at Lin Yuan.
As for Gui Qingtong, who had been observing quietly, she furrowed her brows.
She couldn't help but feel something was off.
That triumphant gleam in Yan Ruyue's eyes, followed by the smirk she threw in Gui Qingtong's direction—it was too blatant to ignore.
Gui Qingtong had no idea what Yan Ruyue was so proud about, but she didn't like it one bit.
Unfortunately, Lin Yuan remained oblivious to all of this.
He hadn't the faintest idea that Yan Ruyue believed the scroll in his hand was meant for her.
At this very moment, Lin Yuan was thinking carefully about how to present the painting to Mei Yuxian in the most impactful, memorable way possible. He wasn't about to just walk up and hand it over. That would be too plain.
He needed a moment, an opportunity—a perfect opening that would make the gift feel unforgettable.
While Lin Yuan's mind was preoccupied with crafting that moment, another situation was brewing not far away.
Ye Feng, who had been seated for some time and had tried to maintain a sense of composure, suddenly rose from his chair.
Unlike Lin Yuan, who had attended the event with his parents, Ye Feng had come alone.
Which meant he had to personally carry and present his own gift to Mei Yuxian.
He walked confidently toward the center of the banquet hall, reaching into his pocket for the prepared item.
But then—
Suddenly, an intense, uncontrollable sensation surged from deep within him.
It was sharp. Sudden. Urgent.
A cold sweat broke out on his forehead as his entire body stiffened.
What the hell?
His eyes widened slightly.
Why now…?!
It was as if a dam inside his body had cracked open, and the floodwaters were moments away from bursting through.
There was no subtle warning—no gentle ache. It was a tidal wave of pressure directed at one very specific location.
His face twitched. His steps faltered.
Ye Feng clenched his thighs together slightly and paused mid-step, pretending to adjust his sleeve.
In truth, he was trying desperately to maintain control.
The urge was overwhelming.
His internal organs had betrayed him.
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