Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Do you like this gift?
Translator: 549690339
Twilight Hour had arrived.
Yu Ran’s birthday feast finally officially began.
First to speak, naturally, was Yu Lang.
He stood on stage with a smile, raising his cup and saying, “I thank you all for coming to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. This cup is to everyone!”
After finishing his words, Yu Lang drained his cup.
The crowd erupted with cheers, and someone laughed, “Family Head Yu is truly generous!”
Then Yu Lang continued with a smile, “As everyone knows, this birthday feast is also my daughter’s coming of age celebration. From now on, my little girl is all grown up!”
Laughter rippled through the crowd while many young men stared at Yu Ran with fervent gazes.
Yu Ran, feeling somewhat shy, lowered her head, yet her eyes stealthily glanced towards Xue An.
Xue An was leisurely sipping his wine, as if these external affairs had nothing to do with him.
Yu Ran bit her lip with a hint of annoyance.
Just then, a young man could no longer contain himself, rushed forward with a box in his hands, and said excitedly, “Miss Yu, happy birthday! This is my gift to you!”
Yu Ran accepted it and smiled out of politeness, “Thank you!”
But the young man didn’t leave. “Miss Yu, please open it and see. It’s a token of my affection.”
Yu Ran had no choice but to open the box.
Inside was a resplendently bejeweled garment.
“Miss Yu, this is something I brought back from abroad. It’s the work of a master…” The young man wanted to continue.
Yu Ran closed the box impatiently, “I’m sorry, I’m not interested in these things.”
The young man was left speechless and reluctantly retreated.
Yu Ran’s behavior made many who were eagerly waiting to present their gifts tense up.
However, Yang Xudong chuckled. He had already made detailed inquiries about Yu Ran’s preferences and knew that she didn’t like overly luxurious items.
Thus, the gift he prepared for today was indeed ingenious.
Clearing his throat, Yang Xudong approached Yu Ran with a slight smile.
“Sister Yu Ran, guess what this is?”
With that, Yang Xudong proudly opened a box he had brought with him.
Everyone held their breath before finally seeing that it contained a painting.
The painting depicted a woman sitting alone by the river, her profile captured in the scene. At first glance, the painting appeared simple, but the more one looked, the more it seemed to resemble Yu Ran.
Even Yu Lang couldn’t help but be slightly startled.
“Could this be… the work of the master painter, Huang Hun?”
“Uncle Yu has sharp eyes indeed. Yes, this is a piece personally painted by Huang Hun!” Yang Xudong declared smugly.
A wave of astonishment spread through the crowd.
Huang Hun.
He was a grandmaster in the world of traditional Chinese painting, residing in Zhongdu. It was said he had retired from painting, and yet here was his personal work.
Yang Xudong then passionately said to Yu Ran, “Sister Yu Ran, this is what you looked like last year when I chanced upon you by the river. That image has lingered in my mind ever since, so I requested Huang Hun to capture it. This time, I’m presenting it to you!”
The gift was both grand and meaningful, prompting many people to admire it aloud.
Yet Yu Ran remained calm, merely nodding gently.
“Thank you!”
Yang Xudong felt a twinge of disappointment in his heart, having thought that such a gift could move Yu Ran.
Nevertheless, he smiled and then suavely stepped down from the stage.
Instead of returning to his seat, he headed straight for Xue An.
All eyes turned to follow.
Yang Xudong stood in front of Xue An, a cold smirk appearing on his face.
“My friend, you too have come to celebrate Miss Yu’s birthday, where is your gift?”
Many of the young men couldn’t help but inwardly cheer.
Indeed, Yang Shao played this hand very elegantly.
Looking at this fellow dressed in plain clothes, he probably hadn’t prepared a gift.
With that, he likely wouldn’t have the face to stay any longer.
But Yu Ran’s expression changed drastically, and she was about to erupt.
Xue An, however, smiled.
“You’re talking about my gift?” Xue An spoke indifferently.
Yang Xudong nodded, “Of course!”
Xue An shook his head, “I’m sorry, I indeed did not prepare a gift for her.”
A mocking smile appeared on Yang Xudong’s face, “Is it that you didn’t prepare… or is it that you couldn’t afford to?”
Many people burst into laughter.
Some people downright openly said, “By the looks of it, he probably couldn’t afford it!”
“Tsk tsk, really can’t understand why they would invite such a pauper.”
Among these comments, Xue An remained calm, “Although I didn’t prepare a gift for Yu Ran, I have prepared a generous gift for the Family Head of the Yu family!”
“Oh? For Uncle Yu?” Yang Xudong was startled.
Xue An picked up the long package and smiled at Yang Xudong, “Do me a favor and deliver it over!”
Yang Xudong wanted to refuse, but he was so curious about what it was that he took it.
Yu Lang was also somewhat baffled at this time.
It was clearly his daughter’s birthday party.
Why would someone give him a gift?
But when he received the package, his expression changed slightly.
At that moment, Xue An smiled faintly, “Open it and have a look! Inside, I think you’ll be quite surprised.”
His voice wasn’t loud, but it clearly reached every person’s ear.
Yu Lang’s face grew solemn as he quickly unwrapped the package.
When he saw what was inside, everyone’s face changed color.
Because it was actually a sword!
A long sword that shimmered like autumn water!
Many sharp-eyed people recognized the sword at a glance and couldn’t help but exclaim in shock.
“It’s the Dragon Roar Sword!”
“Isn’t this the personal sword of Yu Yang?”
Yu Lang’s face turned starkly pale as he turned his head to look at Xue An sitting far away by a table.
“You… you really came!”
Xue An nodded, “Since I said I would come, then of course I must! Right, Family Head Yu?”
With his words, the Dragon Roar Sword in Yu Lang’s hand let out a faint cry.
Yu Lang’s expression was dark and terrifying, “Xue An, you killed my son Yu Yang, and yet you dare to come here. Do you really think the Yu family has no one to stand for it?”
This statement was like a massive bomb, leaving the entire venue in dead silence.
What?
This man is the Mr. Xue who cut down Yu Yang with his sword?
Many people couldn’t help but recall that rumor.
It was said that the Mr. Xue who cut down Yu Yang had declared that he would enter Lingnan in seven days and exterminate the Yu family with his sword!
At the time, no one believed it.
They thought it was simply impossible!
But today, Xue An’s arrival had confirmed that point!
Unexpectedly, he had really come.
Not only had he come, but he had also brought the Dragon Roar Sword with him.
Only Yu Ran stood there, her complexion pale as death, her soul seemingly shattered as she stared at Xue An.
He… he was the murderer who killed her third brother?
No wonder his surname was Xue!
I was so foolish!
I should have thought of it earlier!
At this point, Xue An was still seated in his original spot, only lifting his head to smile at the pallid Yang Xudong.
“What do you think, is this gift acceptable?”
How could Yang Xudong dare speak a word, his legs were now shaking uncontrollably.
Then Xue An looked at Yu Lang and shook his head slightly, “It’s not that I want to bully the Yu family for lacking someone to stand up for it, I just want to experience for myself if the Sword Dao of your Yu family is, like your son, so… inadequate!”