The chandelier in the banquet hall shone blindingly bright, illuminating everyone's expressions. Head Zhang cleared his throat and spoke loudly, "Thank you all for waiting! After careful consideration, both Mr. Chen and I agree with Mr. Chase Jiang's assessment. Miss Jiang's jade vase is authentic, while Miss Yang's is fake!"
[I'm done for! I knew those old foxes couldn't be trusted!]
[How could they join Chase Jiang, that little liar, and say something so ridiculous?!]
[What now? Bella Yang is getting slapped in front of everyone—can she still marry into the Su family?]
[The Dragon King assessment can't be over already, right?!]
[What the heck!]
[Could it be that there's no main character now, and I'll be left to do a solo act?!]
[No, I must fix this mess and bring the plot back in line!]
Maggie Jiang was frantic, her brain working overtime, coming up with strategies. She didn't know why the plot had suddenly collapsed, but she wasn't about to sit idly by.
[What about Bella Yang?]
[As the female lead, get it together!]
While thinking of a plan, Maggie Jiang glanced at Bella Yang. The sight almost made her lose her temper. Bella Yang looked utterly mortified, her face alternately pale and red, her hands clenched tightly, her body trembling slightly. Her mouth opened and closed several times, but she couldn't say a word.
[What a pathetic excuse for a character!]
[What's the point of just being angry? Say something!]
"How about you just blow up and call in all your helpers, and let's have a 'bow down to the Dragon King' moment?"
"Slap everyone in the face!"
Maggie Jiang gritted her teeth in frustration. She wanted to rush over and personally teach Bella Yang how to handle this situation. This female lead was too much of a hassle! As long as Bella Yang didn't collapse entirely, there was still room to salvage this. But if even she backed down, things were beyond saving.
While Maggie Jiang was pulling her hair out in distress, Chase Jiang, who could hear her thoughts, was having the time of his life. His big eyes squinted into crescent moons, and he mumbled to himself, "Big liar, this is gonna drive you crazy!" He felt utterly satisfied. "Let's see you fantasize about my abs now, hmph!" Chase Jiang was in a state of pure bliss.
Just then, amidst the increasingly mocking stares from the crowd, Bella Yang finally erupted. Her fists clenched, and her voice was low but firm. "I don't know what conclusions you gentlemen have reached, but could you please provide evidence and explain it clearly? I don't accept this result!"
Hearing these words, Maggie Jiang's eyes lit up, and she immediately spoke up, "Still refusing to admit defeat, huh? Fine, let's make sure you have nothing to say. No need for the experts to waste their breath; we don't want anyone accusing us Tianhai folks of bullying a foreigner!" With that, Maggie Jiang grabbed both jade vases and shoved them into Bella Yang's hands. "Take these to the capital and have your trusted experts take another look. The genuine one can't be faked, and the fake can't be made genuine! If you still can't admit the truth, just leave!"
Bella Yang looked at the jade vases in her hands, then at Maggie Jiang, her heart filled with glee. This second daughter of the Jiang family was exactly as the rumors said—someone who only knew how to bluster and act rashly! What was supposed to be a done deal had suddenly turned into a twist. "Is she trying to show me how to be graceful?" Bella Yang thought, a sneer creeping onto her face. "What a fool!"
Seizing the opportunity, Bella Yang was quick to respond. "Alright! Since you're so confident, I'll accept. Within three months, I'll have a master from the capital reappraise these vases, and we'll settle this once and for all!"
The two exchanged words, quickly settling the matter with no room for others to intervene. Chase Jiang, observing the whole exchange, rolled his eyes and silently scoffed. "Big liar, the capital is my turf. No matter how many times you reappraise them, you'll end up admitting defeat!"
However, would Maggie Jiang really give Bella Yang the chance to go through with this? The answer was obviously no. Maggie Jiang had already considered Chase Jiang's influence and was only using the reappraisal as a delaying tactic.
Then, Maggie Jiang spoke again: "Why wait for three months? I'll give you three years! So no one can say I, Jiang Shao, am narrow-minded!" Meanwhile, in her mind, she was thinking,
[I've already gone this far—there's no way this fool would actually go for another appraisal, right?]
[The capital belongs to that little trickster Chase Jiang!]
[Just drag this out until she gets married, and that'll be that.]
[Who's going to remember this in three years?]
[If she's stupid enough to go through with it...]
[I'll secretly get someone to smash these two vases!]
[I can't let that little trickster Chase Jiang fool me again!]
Ethan Su overheard her thoughts, and it felt like a whirlwind of mixed emotions hit him. He tilted his head, staring blankly at Maggie Jiang. How could this be the same Maggie Jiang who had once pursued him so fervently, always caring for him?
He couldn't understand why she was so determined to see Bella Yang marry into the Su family. Was all her affection for him a lie? Was there a deeper purpose behind it?
A sense of frustration that he had never felt before surged within him. He had always been the center of attention, admired and respected—this feeling was completely foreign. At that moment, Ethan Su glanced at Chase Jiang again. His instincts told him that this man, as outstanding as himself, must know something.
Ethan Su silently resolved that once the banquet was over, he would have a word with Chase Jiang. As for Maggie Jiang… she still didn't realize that he could hear her thoughts, so he'd better not make any rash moves just yet.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]