Si Moyan stood in front of Wen Yan, blocking her like a massive mountain.
His face was handsome and cold. Despite his young age, he exuded a sharp, awe-inspiring presence, possessing the imperial aura of someone in a position of high authority.
The hand Zhao Hongliang had thrust toward Wen Yan pushed against Si Moyan instead. Even though he used a lot of force, Si Moyan did not budge an inch.
Zhao Hongliang met Si Moyan's gaze. Stared down by those deep, piercing narrow eyes, a chill ran through his entire body.
Wen Yan hugged Si Moyan's arm and peeked out from behind him. President Zhao, what are you afraid of? Are you afraid everyone will find out that the person standing next to you is the real Old Madam Zhao?
Madam Tang and Wan Zixuan took the lead in agreeing:
Exactly! If you have nothing to hide, take off the mask and let everyone see!
The others did not readily agree:
Old Madam Zhao is seventy years old. How could her hair still be so black and shiny? Her skin looks good too. She really doesn't look like an elderly person.
Liu Yunru aged, while Old Madam Zhao became younger. Isn't this too much like a fantasy?
Could the woman beside President Zhao be a mistress he's keeping on the side? Did he cheat because he despised Liu Yunru for becoming old and ugly?
Madam Tang shook her head. I just saw Liu Yunru last week, and she looked her normal age. How could she age so drastically in such a short time? I think there's definitely something fishy going on!
The woman beside Zhao Hongliang glared viciously at Wen Yan.
If it weren't for this woman appearing right on time, she would have succeeded in borrowing her lifespan!
There was no way Zhao Hongliang would let the woman beside him take off her mask. After coming to his senses, he lowered his voice and said, I'll help you leave.
Just as Zhao Hongliang was about to help the woman away, Wen Yan moved with lightning speed and yanked the mask off the woman's face.
When the crowd saw the woman's face clearly, they all gasped in shock.
That wasn't some mistress Zhao Hongliang had found outside; it was clearly the old lady looking twenty or thirty years younger!
Standing to the side, Zhao Yu's eyes widened.
Grand... Grandma... you actually became younger?
Zhao Hongliang and Old Madam Zhao were completely stunned.
Panic and disbelief flashed in their eyes.
Just what was this Miss Wen's background? How did she know about their plan?
Old Madam Zhao glared at Wen Yan with an angry expression. What does our Zhao family's business have to do with you? Don't meddle in other people's affairs. If you know what's good for you, leave immediately!
A cold sneer curled the corners of Wen Yan's lips. The kowtowing ritual wasn't completed. You'd better worry about yourself first!
Old Madam Zhao suddenly remembered what that highly skilled master had told her. If the kowtowing ritual wasn't completed, her body would age at an accelerated rate, and her lifespan would be severely reduced...
Old Madam Zhao wanted to kneel down again, but Wen Yan's voice rang out like a demonic chime. Didn't that master tell you that the kowtowing ritual must be done in one continuous breath and cannot be interrupted? Otherwise, you will suffer a backlash.
As soon as Wen Yan finished speaking, Old Madam Zhao began coughing violently.
Her appearance changed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The guests widened their eyes, filled with disbelief.
I was just envying the Zhao family's atmosphere earlier. This is such a slap in the face!
Old Madam Zhao is so old, yet she actually kowtowed to borrow her daughter-in-law's lifespan. This is too vicious and sinister!
Whoever becomes a daughter-in-law of the Zhao family is truly unlucky for eight lifetimes! Although Liu Yunru comes from a poor background, she still bore a son for the Zhao family. Even if she didn't have merits, she put in the hard work. To think they actually wanted her life. It's too terrifying!
Who would dare to associate with the Zhao family in the future? What if we accidentally offend them, and they find a master to borrow our lifespans?
I'm going to terminate my cooperation with the Zhao family as soon as I get back. I'll never have any contact with them again!
Me too. I won't be relatives with the Zhao family anymore.
Facing the pointing and gossiping of the guests, Zhao Hongliang and Old Madam Zhao looked extremely awful.
She's spouting nonsense! Don't believe her! Zhao Hongliang had completely lost his composure, roaring in defense.
Wen Yan looked at Zhao Hongliang and Old Madam Zhao, who looked as if they wanted to slice her into a thousand pieces. She gently tugged at the corners of her lips. Aren't you all curious as to why Zhao Hongliang agreed to let Old Madam Zhao borrow his own wife's lifespan?
The guests nodded.
Curious, extremely curious!
Could Zhao Hongliang be a mama's boy?
Even the dog-catching squad would spit in disgust if they saw a black-hearted beast like him.
Back away, back away!
Zhao Hongliang's face turned a mixture of blue and purple. He clenched his hands into fists, his eyes bulging out. My mother did not borrow anyone's lifespan. Miss Wen, if you have evidence, please show it. If not, I will send you a lawyer's letter!
Wen Yan raised an eyebrow. When your mother kowtowed to Liu Yunru, Liu Yunru's health took a sudden turn for the worse. When the kowtowing ritual wasn't completed, your mother rapidly aged. This is obvious to everyone. What evidence do I need to produce? Do you think everyone is blind?
Madam Tang and Wan Zixuan nodded in unison. Yes, we all saw it with our own eyes!
Zhao Hongliang gritted his teeth. Nonsense. Do you have any substantial evidence?
Wen Yan glanced at Old Madam Zhao's face, which was clouded with dark energy. She said in a clear, cold voice, With the lifespan borrowing failed, Old Madam Zhao will definitely suffer a backlash within three days. The Zhao family had better prepare for a funeral!
Before Old Madam Zhao and Zhao Hongliang could say anything, Wen Yan added another sentence, Zhao Hongliang is not a mama's boy, and Old Madam Zhao is not his biological mother. Their true relationship is that of lovers.
As soon as Wen Yan said this, everyone was dumbfounded.
Zhao Hongliang and Old Madam Zhao's minds buzzed as if they were going to explode!
How did this woman know everything?
The first to react was Zhao Yu. He jumped up and pointed at Wen Yan's nose. What the hell are you spouting? How could my grandma and my dad be lovers? My grandma is over twenty years older than my dad. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart...
Before Zhao Yu could finish his sentence, Si Moyan grabbed him by the collar and tossed him straight off the stage.
Brat, try shouting at my wife one more time.
Zhao Yu stood up from the ground, wanting to climb onto the stage, but after meeting Si Moyan's frosty, cold eyes, he didn't dare to move a muscle.
She slandered my dad and grandma. She's a bitch!
The other guests also discussed among themselves:
This is too exaggerated. I don't believe it anyway.
Indeed. The Zhao family has been in Hong Kong for about twenty years. Back when Old Master Zhao was still alive, he and the old lady were quite in love. They had always been an original married couple!
Facing everyone's doubts, Wen Yan spoke unhurriedly, Zhao Hongliang's biological mother died of a difficult labor when giving birth to him. Zhao Hongliang lacked maternal love since childhood. When Old Master Zhao married Old Madam Zhao, the teenage Zhao Hongliang fell in love with her at first sight.
The two of them did plenty of indecent things behind Old Master Zhao's back. For Zhao Hongliang's sake, Old Madam Zhao aborted the child she had with Old Master Zhao, just so no one would fight Zhao Hongliang for the inheritance.
The Zhao family's business grew better and better, and the whole family moved to Hong Kong to expand. The people around them all thought they were an original family. Later, Old Master Zhao suddenly fell ill and passed away. It was precisely because he discovered their illicit affair and was angered to death.
"Of course, as Old Madam Zhao grew older, Zhao Hongliang's affections for her waned compared to before. He did have genuine feelings when he married Liu Yunru, because after all, who doesn't like a young woman? However, Old Madam Zhao remained the true love of his life, and the two of them had been constantly searching for a way to make Old Madam Zhao young again."
"A year ago, they met a spiritual master. Zhao Hongliang paid a heavy price to have the master reveal the method for Old Madam Zhao to regain her youth, which was to steal someone's lifespan by kowtowing!"
"Every night at exactly midnight, Old Madam Zhao would dress in red and kowtow right outside Liu Yunru's bedroom door. Today's birthday banquet is the final step in the ritual. Once Old Madam Zhao completes her three kowtows, Liu Yunru will drop dead on the spot!"
As Wen Yan dropped bombshell after bombshell, every nerve in Zhao Hongliang's body tensed up.
He panicked uncontrollably, his breathing growing rapid. "Absolute nonsense! How could the old madam and I be lovers? This is the most ridiculous joke in the world!"
Wen Yan looked at Zhao Hongliang, the veins throbbing on his forehead, and smiled faintly. "President Zhao, I never make baseless claims. If you don't believe me, please look at the big screen."
Suddenly, an image flashed onto the large screen on the stage, making everyone's jaws drop to the floor!
