Chapter 192 - The First Round with Xiao Yichen

Ye Fan followed Shen Yan to where Dongfang Yunqi and Xiao Yichen were standing; Shen Yan introduced with a smile, “The person I was looking for is him, Ye Fan.”

Ye Fan took a slight step forward and smiled proactively, “Hello, my name is Ye Fan, using ‘Ye’ from ‘Ye Gucheng,’ and ‘Fan’ from ‘extraordinary.'”

“Hello, Mr.

Ye.

I am Dongfang Yunqi, the host here.” Dongfang Yunqi greeted Ye Fan with a smile, stretching out her slender hand for a handshake.

Ye Fan, like a gentleman, gently clasped Dongfang Yunqi’s delicate fingers that resembled jade onions and released them almost immediately, while maintaining his composure and smiling, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Dongfang.

I admire your beauty and intelligence, and your support for charity impresses me even more.”

“Hehe, thank you for your exaggerated praise, Mr.

Ye.

Regarding charity work, Yunqi is just contributing a little bit, far less than Yanyan, who actively travels across the country,” Dongfang Yunqi smiled.

Thereafter, Dongfang Yunqi, as the host, introduced Xiao Yichen, “This gentleman is the son of the chairman of Tongyi Group, Xiao Yichen, the foremost among the new generation’s four tycoons of Hua Hai city.

You must have heard of him.”

“Hmm, someone just told me about him,” Ye Fan responded with a light smile.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yichen’s eyes flickered with displeasure.

“Someone just mentioned him” implied that he had never heard of him before, which felt like a slap in the face on the spot.

However, he concealed it well and quickly showed his trademark confident and warm smile, retorting, “Hehe, Mr.

Ye seems a bit unfamiliar to me.”

Meaning to say, I don’t recognize where this person suddenly popped out from either.

Then, he continued with a smile, “Just now at the auction, Mr.

Ye shocked everyone by bidding a high price of 320,000 for a pair of ornamental walnuts, which was truly unbelievable.

If it were me, I probably wouldn’t have parted with that much.

Mr.

Ye must come from a very wealthy family to support charity so generously.”

That comment was clearly a sarcastic remark, indicating that Ye Fan was foolish for spending 320,000 on a pair of ornamental walnuts, and everyone was laughing at him.

“Hehe, it’s only right to support charity within one’s means, and it has nothing to do with whether my family is wealthy or not.

Besides, those 320,000 were earned by me personally, so there’s no need to worry about my family’s opinion,” Ye Fan said with a light smile, “However, I’m truly impressed by Mr.

Xiao spending three million tonight, the highest contribution for charity.”

Spending 320,000 on a pair of ornamental walnuts may seem like extravagant foolishness to you, but that 320,000 was earned by my own hard work.

How I spend it is my concern, but did you earn the three million you spent tonight for an Ice Jade Guanyin yourself?

Xiao Yichen was inwardly furious, feeling insulted to his face as a second-generation tycoon.

Both Shen Yan and Dongfang Yunqi were sharp individuals and immediately recognized the subtle barbs traded between Ye Fan and Xiao Yichen from the start, with Xiao Yichen decidedly at a disadvantage.

They exchanged glances, unable to understand why Ye Fan was so openly disrespectful to Xiao Yichen.

In fact, Xiao Yichen was also confused as to why Ye Fan was showing him, the key figure among Hua Hai’s new generation of tycoons, no respect.

Although he had secretly plotted to cripple Ye Fan and pursue Li Zhaojun, he thought Ye Fan was still in the dark about everything.

Despite being at a disadvantage, Xiao Yichen maintained his composure well.

Feigning misunderstanding, he laughed it off lightly, “It’s nothing, just three million.

Every year, my family donates no less than thirty million to charity.”

Dongfang Yunqi intervened to lighten the mood, “Giggle, Sir Xiao, your family’s charitable acts benefit and even change the destiny of so many.

Yunqi truly admires that.”

“Hehe, I can’t compare to you.

I give fish, but you teach fishing,” Xiao Yichen said modestly.

Ye Fan said with a light smile, “Haha, I sincerely hope our country has more people like Miss Dongfang and Mr.

Xiao.

Mr.

Xiao, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

As he spoke, he extended his hand, signaling for a handshake.

Xiao Yichen looked at Ye Fan’s outstretched hand and thought Ye Fan was humbled by his family’s awe-inspiring presence and was starting to soften.

Initially, he was disdainful of shaking hands with Ye Fan, but firstly, with beautiful women like Shen Yan and Dongfang Yunqi watching by his side, he couldn’t afford to lack gentlemanly manners.

Secondly, he favored others’ submission to him.

Thus, he also extended his hand to shake hands with Ye Fan.

However, as soon as they shook hands, he immediately felt his hand being clamped by iron tongs, as if it was going to crush his bones.

He endured the severe pain and hastily tried to withdraw his hand, but couldn’t break free at all.

Eventually, he couldn’t help but let out a cry of “Ah.”

His sudden scream immediately attracted more people to look over.

By then, Ye Fan had already released his hand, with an apologetic smile on his face, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt your hand.

Ah, I’m a rough person, just discharged from the military.

I already tried to be gentle, but I still hurt your hand.

I hope Mr.

Xiao won’t take it to heart.”

Standing beside them, Shen Yan’s sexy lips couldn’t help but curl up, her eyes gleamed as they swept back and forth between Ye Fan and Xiao Yichen, clearly unable to suppress a smile.

Dongfang Yunqi didn’t know what expression to wear but internally agreed with Shen Yan’s previous comment that Ye Fan was an interesting friend.

Xiao Yichen’s handsome face turned red with pain, and his right hand shook uncontrollably from the pain, entirely lacking any gentlemanly image.

After a while, Xiao Yichen finally managed to suppress the pain and forced a reluctant smile, “Haha, it’s nothing.”

Having his hand hurt during a handshake was his own fault.

Moreover, the other party had apologized, even though the apology subtly mocked his weakness and lack of strength.

But if he lost his temper on the spot, it would damage his image greatly, possibly becoming a subject for ridicule later.

Therefore, he could only swallow his pride for now and seek his revenge later.

Dongfang Yunqi snapped back to reality and shifted her attention, “Mr.

Ye, we would like you and Yanyan to sing an impromptu duet of ‘Love’s Devotion.’ Would you like that?”

“Haha, I’d be delighted.

It’s an honor,” Ye Fan replied with a smile.

Xiao Yichen, filled with anger and resentment, immediately said, “Wait!

Since it’s a public performance, we have to have some standards for the singers.

Miss Shen’s singing ability goes without saying, but we really don’t know about Mr.

Ye’s.

What if he sings off-key?

Wouldn’t that spoil the mood of the party?

Mr.

Ye, you yourself admitted that you’ve just returned from the military.”

Hearing this, Dongfang Yunqi really couldn’t help but worry a bit.

She looked at Ye Fan, who although had a commanding presence, was clearly tall and robust, not looking like he had an artistic flair, especially adding that Ye Fan had just left the military, so she had to doubt his singing ability.

Unexpectedly, Shen Yan immediately supported Ye Fan, “I think Ye Fan will sing very well.

If it were someone else, then I’d have to sing at the next party.”

It was she who had brought him here; doubting Ye Fan was doubting her!

Xiao Yichen hadn’t expected Shen Yan to be so biased towards Ye Fan, and he was almost furious enough to curse Shen Yan then.

“Um, I trust Yanyan’s judgement and believe that Mr.

Ye can perform ‘Love’s Devotion’ well.” Dongfang Yunqi hesitated for a moment before making her stance known.