"I am really grateful and honoured to have every one of you here celebrating my return with my family, I hope we all support each other in future and maintain good relationships," he bowed his head and raised his head with a charming smile, they all clapped.

He walked over to where his father stood with some of his business associates.

​​

"Dad," he called.

"This is my son...…" they talked about business and introduced him to some of his business partners and other prominent people before he was hijacked by his mother.

Xiaomeng linked her arms with his, claiming him before other ladies have the chance to approach him.

"I am really jealous of you Mrs Chen, you have such and handsome son who is a surgeon and also a beautiful future daughter-in-law, if only my son could be half as good as your son is," one of the women remarked, although he wasn't comfortable, he went along with the act.

Yu Yan and the others watched them in irritation and anger, Ji Chen almost lost it, but they stopped him from making a scene.

"You are really according to me more praise than I deserve, if not for my parent's support, I won't be here today," he responded.

"And he is even modest and filial," the women started chuckling aloud, they went on discussing amongst themselves before they entered the topic of his engagement which he tried to avoid.

Mrs Chen then walked up to the front of the hall with a glass of wine in her hand.

"I have an announcement to make," she announced, earning their attention.

"Very soon, my son and his childhood friend, Xiaomeng will be getting engaged, the invitation will be sent out to every one of you that are present here as soon as the date is confirmed," she disclosed, the hall soon became filled with laughter and cheering as everyone turned to both especially with their arms linked.

Just then, he spotted the friend group among the crowd, he stared at Yu Yan for a while with guilt in his eyes, but he decided to take care of her later, so he looked away and bowed with a smile on his face, basically admitting he is getting engaged to Xiaomeng.

Disappointment and anger filled their faces as they watched them bow and being congratulated by many, both young and old.

Yu Yan just stood frozen on the spot as she watched them, she felt like her heart was being torn apart watching them, tears dropped out of her eyes unconsciously even though she tried to stop it, she couldn't, how can she when she is watching such a scene in front of her despite what she told him.

"Yu Yan, are you crying?" Jia Yu asked seeing the tears, she quickly wiped her tears and hurriedly walked away.

"Yu Yan!" they called but she didn't turn back.

Chen Kai who was still being congratulated, stylishly went after her, with the excuse that he needed to use the bathroom.

The tears started flowing freely that she no longer had control over it, she clutched her dress tightly, she felt her knees becoming weak, she placed her hand on the wall in a random hallway then she slowly fell to the ground with her dress spread on the floor.

She cried loudly, clutching her dress tighter, she covered her mouth to prevent anyone from hearing her cry, but she needed to pour it out.

"Yu Yan," Chen Kai called softly, finding her cooped up in the hallway, she turned her head slowly, seeing that he is the one, she hurriedly stood up and tried to walk away but she held her back.

"Let me go," she ordered with the tears still threatening to fall.

"Yu Yan, I can explain," he pleaded but she still struggled to free her wrist from his grip.

"You don't need to explain anything, I already know what is more important to you," she snapped her wrist out of his grip, but he quickly walked over to her front.

"Yu Yan, I had no choice but to act along, for the time being, if I can't satisfy my father before my stepbrother secures the huge deal abroad, I will lose the companies including the companies," he explained frantically, holding her hand again.

But she scoffed in disbelief.

"I really can't believe you actually just said that our relationship that is over five years…"

"OVER FIVE YEARS OF MY LIFE!" she thundered, then she scoffed again.

"...Is nothing compared to your inheritance that you are afraid of losing, Chen Kai, I really can't believe you just gave me this explanation...no, I already knew what you really wanted but I kept hoping you will give it all up for me but..." she snapped her wrist from his grip then she walked past him, but he hurried to her front again.

"Yu Yan, please let me explain, it is not what you think, I was planning to tell my mother about us, I…"

"You agreed with the engagement right in front of everyone, what is that going to make me? The b***ch or slut who came in between you and your fiancé," she moved closer to him.

"Chen Kai, we are over, there is no us anymore," she turned around.

"Is that why you prepared your second option?"

She turned around with a confused expression on her face, hoping he doesn't mean what she thinks.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, he walked over to her.

"You and that Han Chen guy, you seemed really close, in fact, too close, considering what type of person you are, it turns out that you already prepared another option after you break up with me," he responded with his index finger pointing at her accusingly.

"Chen Kai!" she thundered, sending a slap across his face.

He rubbed his inner cheek with his tongue then he turned to her.

"I can't believe that just came out of your mouth," the tears that had been gathering in her eyes dropped, the man she has loved and tolerated for over five years actually thinks so little of her.

She clutched her dress and walked away, leaving him standing.

"S**t!" he punched the wall before returning to the hall.

"Godmother, I am really sorry for making you see this, he asked me to hide this from you so I couldn't tell you,".

Unknown to them, Xiaomeng also left the hall, pretending she was sobbing so her godmother went after her, but she led her to the hallway where Yu Yan and Chen Kai were arguing, they hid behind the wall until the duo left.

"Xiaomeng, I am the one who is to be sorry, my son actually hurt your feelings all this while but you...don't worry, I will make things right today," she held her hand and pulled her towards the hall while the latter curled up her lips, anticipating how big a scene her godmother will cause.

She returned to the hall after consistently wiping her tears, that is the only place she can go without having him follow her and she really needed to disappear so she went to bid them goodbye.

"Are you alright, Yu Yan?" Jia Yu questioned, walking over to her. While the other looked at her with pity and empathy in their eyes.

"I-I am fine," she responded but they soon noticed Chen Kai entering the hall.

"Did that jerk go after you?" Ji Chen questioned

"Are you really alright?" An Ke inquired

"How can she be alright after such a thing happened," Han Chen remarked seeing as they were starting to suffocate her with their questions and concerns, they turned to him while he just sipped his wine.

"Guys, I really need to leave, I will see you later," she was about to leave when Jia Yu held her hand.

"I can't let you leave alone, I will come with you," Jia Yu said, sigh!

"We will all come with you," Meng Yao added.

"No, I think I need some time alone, I only returned to go away from him and I didn't want you guys to be worried," she removed Jia Yu's hand from hers then she turned to leave.

But as soon as she turned around, a red liquid bathed her from the top of her head.

Gasps!

Everyone in the hall gasped at the sight of Mrs Chen pouring an entire decanter of red wine from the top of her head, she dropped the decanter to the ground causing it to shatter.

She held her breath as the red liquid drenched her hair and flowed down her face to her dress with her eyes shut, the hateful look in her eyes assured them that she must have found out about their relationship especially with Xiaomeng standing beside her with a pitiful expression on her face.

Chen Kai on the other hand rushed towards them, he quickly removed the handkerchief in his pocket and wiped her face, she slowly opened her eyes to see the narrow eyes glaring at her.

She immediately pushed him away.

"Mrs Chen, what are you doing?" she questioned, trying to be as calm as she can be.

"You really have guts to be asking me that question, how dare you seduce my son!" she retorted, raising her voice, loud enough for everyone present to hear what she was saying.