Chapter 51: 51. Bringing disgrace upon oneself!

“The Wang family is a long-established family in Haicheng with a profound heritage, having passed down their medical traditions for hundreds of years,” Yuan Youwei was explaining softly to Lin Fan as they waited in the outer courtyard’s living room. “When he was young, Mr. Wang Sr. went to the Imperial Capital as an apprentice, where he mastered the techniques of several medical lineages. After becoming famous, he developed a love for collecting ancient prescriptions and rare medicines. He even has a private medicinal garden in the backyard, planted with countless exotic flowers and herbs he has gathered.

“Lin Fan, this old Wang family mansion used to be an official’s residence during the old dynasty. It’s nearly on par with a Royal Mansion. Aren’t you dazzled?”

Seeing Lin Fan casually scan his surroundings before withdrawing his gaze, Mrs. Xue felt a flash of annoyance. He must be putting on airs. She couldn’t help but ask deliberately, “So, what do you think?”

“It’s passable. Barely,” Lin Fan said with a nod, not elaborating further. Compared to the Ying family’s residence in the Imperial Capital, a true Royal Mansion from the old dynasty, this place naturally falls short. And that’s not to mention the truly supreme sights he had witnessed, which even the Ying family estate couldn’t compare to. It was, however, the private medicinal garden in the Wang family’s backyard that caught his interest.

“Hmph, what do you mean, ’barely’? I can say without hesitation that our Wang family’s old mansion has far more substance than the Yuan family’s estate!” a steward with a sour expression on his face snapped as he walked over. “The old master has decided to see you. Follow me.”

The three of them immediately stood and followed the man toward the inner courtyard deep within the mansion. Mrs. Xue deliberately lagged a few steps behind and grumbled to Lin Fan in a low voice, “Are you a complete fool, or just so arrogant you’ve lost your bearings? We’re here to ask Mr. Wang Sr. for a favor, and you dare to look down on his home!”

Yuan Youwei was also a bit speechless and secretly shot Lin Fan a warning look.

“Who said we’re here to ask for a favor?” Lin Fan murmured, shaking his head with a slight frown. “If anyone’s going to be asking for anything, it will be the Wang family asking me to show mercy.”

THUMP!

The steward leading the way stumbled, his entire body shuddering.

Mrs. Xue and Yuan Youwei were dumbfounded. Good heavens, could this Lin Fan possibly be any more audacious? How dare he act so arrogantly on someone else’s turf?

Coming to her senses, Mrs. Xue rolled her eyes dramatically and turned her head away, fuming in silence.

Yuan Youwei’s eyes, however, lit up brightly before filling with a mix of joy and concern. Clearly, Lin Fan feels I’ve been wronged by the Wang family, and that’s why he’s deliberately acting this way!

“Lin Fan, you… you didn’t have to go this far for me,” Yuan Youwei said, her voice tender and her heart filled with sweetness. She couldn’t stop herself from linking her arm with his, her gaze full of affection.

“Huh…?!” Mrs. Xue was dumbfounded all over again, her chest heaving with indignation. It’s over. It’s all over. The young miss is completely lovestruck! It was clearly Lin Fan being arrogant and domineering, but in her eyes, it transformed into affection and protection!

“…As long as you’re happy,” Lin Fan managed, his body tensing as the corner of his mouth twitched. He couldn’t say much more, so he just pretended to admire the scenery as they walked.

Just then, Mrs. Xue pulled out her phone and her expression changed as she read a message. She stepped forward and whispered, “Miss, there’s been trouble at the Suxin Clinic. Someone broke into the clinic last night and ransacked the place…” As she spoke, she couldn’t help but glance at Lin Fan.

“Have someone investigate it. We must find the culprit!” Yuan Youwei said, her beautiful face instantly darkening. She turned to Lin Fan with an apologetic look and shook her head. “There’s nothing of real value in the clinic. It might have been the families of Ma Laosan’s group venting their anger.”

Lin Fan frowned again. He decided he would find some time to check the clinic’s surveillance footage on his phone.

A short while later, the group arrived at the main hall of the inner courtyard. The hall was filled with people seated on both sides, all of them wearing cold expressions. At the head of the room, Mr. Wang Sr. sat with a sullen face, not saying a word.

Seeing the scene, Yuan Youwei and Mrs. Xue exchanged a look, their faces paling slightly. Only Lin Fan remained composed and unmoved.

“Miss Yuan, we are already aware of the purpose of your visit,” a well-dressed middle-aged man declared, rising to his feet to speak first. “You want us to give up our order shares to help Lin Fan get ahead… Heh, forgive us, but we can’t do that.”

As his words fell, the others began to sneer.

“Exactly. Even if you, Yuan Youwei, were to compensate us for our losses out of your own pocket, we would never agree.”

“Miss Yuan, you used to be a guest we could hardly get an invitation to. How have you fallen so low?”

“Hmph! To prop up a good-for-nothing who knows nothing about Haicheng’s pharmaceutical industry… It’s the biggest joke I’ve ever heard!”

One after another, they all chimed in, their words dripping with merciless ridicule that echoed through the hall. Mrs. Xue’s face flushed red, and she couldn’t help but glare angrily at Lin Fan. Yuan Youwei bit her lip hard, humiliation and embarrassment flashing in her eyes.

She was just about to speak when Mr. Wang Sr. raised a hand, silencing her.

“Miss Yuan, if you are still here to plead for that prodigal son, Lin Fan, then save your breath,” Mr. Wang Sr. said, shaking his head, his aged voice devoid of warmth. “This young man is insolent and unbearably arrogant for his age.”

“Hmph, and he dared to boast about securing orders worth four billion at the procurement conference?” The old man’s face grew darker, his voice rising in pitch. “I, Wang Tianchuan, as the president of the Medical Association, wouldn’t dare make such an outrageous claim! What gives him the right to say such a thing! Or is it that in your eyes, Lin Fan, this old president isn’t even worth a fart?!”

BOOM!

The furious voice thundered through the hall.

Yuan Youwei and Mrs. Xue’s faces fell, and a knot of tension tightened in their stomachs. It was clear now. The moment Lin Fan made that four-billion bet with Yuan Ruoshan, he had thoroughly offended Mr. Wang Sr.

“Lin Fan, are you mute? You were so arrogant a moment ago.”

“Speak up! Go on, say something! I’d love to see what kind of nonsense you can spew now!”

“This is hilarious. He drags Miss Yuan here to suffer this humiliation, and now he doesn’t even dare make a peep?”

“Hmph! No wonder the Su Family calls you a good-for-nothing who lives off a woman. I see it’s true!”

The crowd erupted again, their voices rising in harsh condemnation. The atmosphere in the hall became incredibly awkward and tense.

“Hahaha, to think Lin Fan would have a day like this. He came here just to be humiliated!” In an adjacent room, separated only by a wall, Su Gang was peeking through a latticed window, grinning from ear to ear.

“Serves them right! He deserves it! And so does Yuan Youwei!” Zhang Meili whispered viciously, a wide smile plastered on her face.

“Director Su, Mr. Wang Sr. didn’t lie to us. He really has made Lin Fan the laughingstock of the pharmaceutical industry!” Yang Tingting said, turning to Su Mengqing with a smile.

“That’s what Lin Fan gets for his hubris. And it’s Yuan Youwei’s fault for being blind enough to shamelessly help him climb the ladder!” Su Mengqing said, taking a deep breath. Her eyes were filled with resentment, and the triumphant smile on her face was impossible to suppress. I was worried he’d discover we stole the White Dragon Grass, but it seems I was nervous for nothing. Good, this is very good. Today is truly a day of double joy. Not only has Su Pharmaceutical been given a lifeline, but I also get to see Lin Fan and Yuan Youwei, that shameless pair, get publicly humiliated. This is truly satisfying!

“That’s right,” a voice finally cut through the clamor. It was Lin Fan, meeting the old man’s furious gaze. “In my eyes, you, Wang Tianchuan, really aren’t even worth a fart.”

Before the initial shock could even register, he coolly pointed to the tea table beside Mr. Wang Sr.

“To steal my White Dragon Grass and then have the audacity to display it right under my nose… I’m truly impressed.”

For an instant, both the main hall and the side room fell deathly silent.

The smiles froze on the faces of Su Mengqing and her companions, and they all shuddered violently. Then, in the main hall, a wave of outrage erupted as, one by one, the crowd shot to their feet in a massive uproar

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep