Chapter 950: Being Unreasonable

Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“Exactly!” Nangong Xiyu chimed in quickly, “Miss Ye, today’s gathering is a rare occasion for everyone. There’s no need for us to end it on a sour note. Such an outcome wouldn’t benefit anyone!”

Huangfu Jingzhang and Zhongyu Liuying wore unpleasant expressions. They didn’t want to yield to Ye Leng’an, so they remained silent. However, deep down, they understood that if Ye Leng’an chose to leave now, Huangfu Ruiling would undoubtedly follow suit without hesitation. In that case, today’s birthday celebration would become nothing short of a complete farce.

Ye Leng’an didn’t press the issue further. She simply cast a faint glance at Huangfu Jingzhang and Zhongyu Liuying, then calmly took a seat.

She genuinely didn’t care whether she stayed or left. If Huangfu Ruiling didn’t care about Huangfu Jingzhang and Zhongyu Liuying, then she certainly wouldn’t either.

Nevertheless, she harbored no significant ill will towards Huangfu Jingxian and Nangong Xiyu. Now that they had intervened, she saw no need to insist on leaving.

As Ye Leng’an took her seat, a collective sigh of relief swept through the room.

After all, if Ye Leng’an had insisted on leaving, there was little anyone could do. Today’s gathering would have ended in complete embarrassment. Especially Huangfu Jingzhang and Zhongyu Liuying, who felt a tinge of fear creeping into their hearts. They weren’t afraid of Ye Leng’an leaving; they feared Huangfu Ruiling’s departure.

If, on Huangfu Jingzhang’s birthday, Huangfu Ruiling suddenly left, the news would undoubtedly spread like wildfire. Everyone would then learn of the strained relationship between Master Huangfu and his parents. Outside, they would lose all face. This was an outcome they absolutely could not accept.

Soon, calm was restored to the scene. However, one person remained standing awkwardly in place. That was Zhongyu Lingshan.

She hadn’t anticipated things taking this turn.

In truth, if Zhongyu Lingshan simply returned to her seat, the situation would have returned to normal. But to everyone’s surprise, she didn’t. Instead, she picked up her wine glass, as well as the one from before, and approached Ye Leng’an again, offering her the drink with an apologetic smile.

“Miss Ye, what happened just now was improper. I apologize for my behavior and hope you won’t take offense. This glass of wine is my gesture of apology to you.”

With that, she downed her own glass in one gulp, exuding a sense of boldness. Then, she handed the other glass to Ye Leng’an.

Witnessing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They had worried that Zhongyu Lingshan might take offense at Ye Leng’an’s words and escalate the situation. But now, it seemed their concerns were unfounded. Zhongyu Lingshan truly lived up to her upbringing in a prominent family. In terms of demeanor and composure, she far surpassed Ye Leng’an.

All eyes turned to Ye Leng’an. With her acceptance of the drink, the situation could be resolved smoothly.

Ye Leng’an took the glass from Zhongyu Lingshan but didn’t drink from it. Instead, she sat there, gazing at Zhongyu Lingshan, and remarked with a faint smile, “Miss Zhongyu, it seems to me that you’re quite eager for me to drink this glass of wine?”

“Indeed,” Zhongyu Lingshan replied, her face displaying a cold smile. “Because it signifies your willingness to bury the hatchet with me and let bygones be bygones!”

Her words were delivered naturally, devoid of any resentment, earning her further favor in the eyes of those present.

“Oh, I see.” Ye Leng’an nodded, wearing a radiant smile. However, her next words sent a chill down everyone’s spine. “I thought you might have tampered with this wine, hence your insistence on me drinking it.”

As soon as those words left her lips, the complexion of everyone present changed drastically.

Especially Zhongyu Liuying, whose expression turned even uglier. She spoke up immediately, “Ye Leng’an, are you suggesting that I wanted to harm you?”

She had arranged everything today, from the dishes to the drinks.

Everyone had witnessed it clearly. The drinks were brought in by the servants and poured by the servants. Zhongyu Lingshan had merely brought them over. Under the scrutiny of all, she couldn’t have done anything untoward. So, she felt that Ye Leng’an’s insinuation was baseless.

Ye Leng’an glanced at Zhongyu Liuying in bewilderment. Though she didn’t speak, her gaze spoke volumes. It was evident she thought Zhongyu Liuying was being foolish. When had she ever implicated her?

Zhongyu Liuying naturally understood Ye Leng’an’s implication. She was on the verge of erupting into a fit of rage and hurling insults.

However, she was restrained by Huangfu Jingzhang, who shook his head at her.

Though furious at Ye Leng’an’s behavior, under Huangfu Jingzhang’s silent reprimand, she could only swallow her anger for the time being

Ignoring Zhongyu Liuying, Ye Leng’an turned her attention back to Zhongyu Lingshan and continued, “Miss Zhongyu, aren’t you going to explain?”

“Miss Ye, I’m not sure what you’re implying,” Zhongyu Lingshan retorted, her expression darkening as she met Ye Leng’an’s gaze, brimming with discontent. “I extended an olive branch to you out of goodwill, but it seems you can’t appreciate it. To think you’d interpret a simple toast as a malicious act against you. Miss Ye, it seems you truly suffer from delusions of persecution!”

With that, she lifted the glass of wine and took a sip. “Miss Ye, do you still believe there’s something amiss with this wine?”

Initially, many had harbored doubts about Ye Leng’an’s claims. Now, Zhongyu Lingshan’s actions only served to convince them that Ye Leng’an was being unreasonable.

“But I still believe there’s something wrong,” Ye Leng’an replied, her smile lazy but her gaze piercing. “Miss Zhongyu, I have a feeling you possess the antidote to the poison in this wine. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have drunk it so readily.”

“Why must you accuse me falsely, Ye Leng’an?” Zhongyu Lingshan’s expression grew more sour, her dissatisfaction evident. “I’ve already proven myself to you, yet you persist in finding fault. Why not simply admit you have no intention of forgiving me?”