Chapter 197

Many people speculated whether this had something to do with Meilan. The reason this speculation gained traction was the appearance of Di Junsi.

In truth, it wasn’t what people thought—it was simply that both Di Junsi and Ye Aotian’s father loved this woman. It was mostly just people’s fantasies. But rumors are a fearsome thing.

The clever setting was that this woman became Di Junsi’s wife and even bore him a child. Remarriage was quite common in reality; otherwise, Chen Fan wouldn’t have spent so many years living abroad.

The reason she survived was also a testament to Di Junsi’s strength. This man promised to protect her child, but he didn’t want Meilan to see Ye Aotian every day and think of her former husband.

For a normal man, that was unacceptable. So, a compromise was chosen. But did Meilan not like Di Junsi? That would be unrealistic—she did like him to some extent. She was just an ordinary woman.

Whether as the woman of a powerful man or as someone who made other men stronger, these were all just speculations. Yet it was precisely these speculations that made Meilan’s identity so delicate.

As for Qian Daode, his case involved many factors. You see, a chubby young man might not be deeply loved by young people, but older people tend to instinctively think such a person as nice.

This kind of boy gave off an honest, approachable vibe. In reality, you often saw mothers-in-law encouraging their sons-in-law to eat more and get fatter. Because it was seen as a sign of good fortune.

Perhaps the most authentic part of this novel was Meilan’s character.

However, this also seemed tied to the author’s own experiences. The author’s descriptions seem to mirror his own life, as he was indeed raised by a mother who remarried.

Whether there was love involved was uncertain—no one could fully understand the significance of Meilan’s character. The things novel authors set up were often quite peculiar.

But Meilan’s interaction with Qian Daode was likely just a playful, temporary tease, like an elder toward a younger person.

It was like when a big sister asked a five-year-old boy who said he’ll marry her when he grew up—most sisters would just play along calmly, encouraging him with a smile.

Of course, these were all side notes. As for how things developed between Qian Daode and Meilan, that remained unknown.

At this moment, the focus was on the confrontation between Ye Aotian and Qian Wuyue.

Ye Aotian stared intently at Qian Wuyue and said, “What did you just say to Feifei?”

Qian Wuyue replied, “Does it matter what I said? She’s just an actress. What? Are you taking it seriously? Is this the taste of the Ye family? One likes Cao Zijin, and you like Liu Feifei? That’s really laughable.”

The head of the Ye family watched all this quietly. He wouldn’t intervene in the younger generation’s squabbles, as that would break the rules.

The younger generation’s matters should be resolved by the younger generation. If they couldn’t resolve it, then they were simply outmatched.

Chen Fan sat to the side with his hands in his pockets, watching the drama intently.

Cao Zijin said angrily, “I want to kill her.”

Cao Zijin was getting fired up. Really, this Qian Wuyue was too shameless. An actress? What’s wrong with that? Acting was a job, and it was not like the Qian family didn’t have an entertainment division.

Liu Feifei, meanwhile, looked on innocently.

“You’re not angry?”

Liu Feifei said, “Not angry. I just heard a pig squealing. Oh no, everyone’s looking—I need to cry.”

Instantly, tears welled up. Liu Feifei wiped the corners of her eyes, her head slightly lowered, looking a bit wronged and hurt.

In her heart, she was thinking, Wahhh, last night my secretly stashed pork ribs were stolen and eaten by that awful Chen Fan.

Worst of all, she liked Brother Chen Fan and couldn’t get mad at him. What was she supposed to do? It was so upsetting.

But to outsiders, it looked like Qian Wuyue had bullied Liu Feifei, and since Ye Aotian clearly liked her, his actions were aimed at playing the hero saving the damsel.

Cliché, but never out of style.

“Such arrogance. Good, I like a challenging opponent.”

Qian Wuyue said, “Naturally, I like it too. They say you cultivate the Emperor Heart Technique, which supposedly allows you to fight across a rank. Is that true? I heard you crippled that loser Ye Zifeng?”

Ye Aotian replied, “That’s our family’s business. So, I take it you’re ready to face the Emperor Heart Technique?”

“Of course. Many want to cultivate the Emperor Heart Technique, but too bad, no one succeeds. You did, so naturally, I want to test myself against it.”

Qian Wuyue slowly extended his hand and said, “As for Liu Feifei, honestly, I didn’t say much to her. But that doesn’t matter. Once you’re down, I’m the victor.”

With that, he charged forward.

At that moment, someone quietly stepped forward and said, “Place your bets.”

Everyone looked at Ye Zimei and sighed helplessly—it was this witch.

Then Brother Di walked over and said, “I’ll bet 500,000. I’m buying Qian Wuyue to win.”

This was a symbol of strength. You might be able to fight across ranks, but one was at the peak of fifth rank, while the other had just entered sixth rank. The gap was simply too wide.

Naturally, when Brother Di placed his bet, many others followed suit. Not a single person was optimistic about Ye Aotian.

At this moment, Chen Fan almost wanted to applaud this woman. This plot wasn’t in the original story, but betting was a common trope in many novels. Betting not only fueled rivalries but also made the eventual face-slapping moment all the more satisfying.

Chen Fan watched silently, calculating the odds.

“Let me tell you something.”

“Honey, go ahead.”

“Go get a million and bet it on Ye Aotian to win.”

Cao Zijin looked at Chen Fan helplessly and said, “Can I … bet too?”

“Why does a woman need money? Your money is my money.”

“No way, I don’t even have spending money. Can’t you give me some pocket money?”

Chen Fan said, “Alright, bet another million. If we win, all the money’s yours. That should be enough for you to spend.”

Ye Zimei was stunned. She had just thrown out the idea casually, but who could’ve known that in such a short time, the bets would skyrocket to sixty or seventy million?

Damn, were these people all this arrogant?

Aside from the head of the Ye family, who was optimistic about Chen Fan, the other person betting on him was, unbelievably, Cao Zijin.

Damn it, Chen Fan, you’re the villain! And now you’re trying to make a profit? Was this scene not in the plot?

This author must be a failure. This is a standard novel trope! When the protagonist is fighting, there has to be someone running a betting pool on the side. If you don’t do that, how do you build up the grudge? Damn it, it wasn’t even written. Looks like I’m going to lose money this time.

Ugh, this guy is so shameless.

Meanwhile, the fight in the arena had reached a fever pitch. Neither side showed any intention of backing down. Qian Wuyue’s strength was formidable, but Ye Aotian was no pushover either.

Their fist techniques were stripped down to the simplest, most brutal form.

Just pure clashing. Naturally, there were commentators on the scene, as was customary when the protagonist was showing off.

Brother Di said, “I didn’t expect Ye Aotian to make such rapid progress in just a few days. Qian Wuyue’s skills have always been about strength and defense, but Ye Aotian’s not losing to him in power.”

“Exactly. The Emperor Heart Technique is impressive, but if that’s all he’s got, he’s done for. The Qian family’s greatest strength is endurance.”

“Right. The Qian family is notorious for being stubborn. They can fight, and their stamina is insane. They can keep going for ages. If this is all Ye Aotian has, he’s in trouble.”