Chapter 54: No Entry Without an Invitation Letter

"Zhao Qiang, you didn't have an invitation just a moment ago. Where did you get that from?"

Zhang Feiyang had argued with him for quite a while without Zhao Qiang being able to produce one, so how was he able to pull it out out of nowhere? He hurriedly tried to divert Zhao Qiang's attention, attempting to figure out the trick behind it.

"Is it illegal that I couldn't find it earlier?" Zhao Qiang replied indifferently, his face radiating absolute nonchalance.

"I bet you stole it from someone else! Do you honestly think you're worthy of entering the Chu Estate? Who do you think you are?" Zhang Feiyang declared with absolute certainty that Zhao Qiang had stolen it, his tone dripping with contempt and disdain.

"Stole it? Where's the proof?" Zhao Qiang smiled faintly, staring directly at Zhang Feiyang. "Don't tell me your Zhang family relies on baseless accusations!"

With a look of utter disdain, Zhao Qiang added, "It seems this invitation is pretty useless anyway. I might as well throw it away as scrap paper, at least I could sell it for some cash."

With that, right in front of everyone, he ruthlessly hurled the invitation to the ground and gave it a hard stomp.

Arrogant. Simply too arrogant.

Everyone was dumbfounded. Acting this audacious right in front of the Chu family—did he have a death wish?

"President Zhang, I just came in to share a drink and offer my congratulations, yet you treat me like a troublemaker." Zhao Qiang crossed his arms and sneered, "If you're really going to be like this, should I just leave?"

He turned around and made a deliberate move to leave. The members of the Zhang family were more than happy to see him go of his own accord—with one exception.

"Wait!"

Panicking, Chu Mengyao couldn't help stepping forward. "Guests are guests. Since when has the Chu family ever turned people away?"

The corners of Zhao Qiang's mouth curled upward; he had Chu Mengyao wrapped tightly around his finger.

"Eldest Miss Chu, I almost thought this was the Zhang family's territory. Does your word even count here?"

"Of course my word counts. As you said, this is my Chu family estate, and today, anyone who comes to my house is welcome." Chu Mengyao spoke with unwavering firmness, her gaze radiating unquestionable authority.

"Sister-in-law, this guy tricked Siqi earlier! For all we know, she might have secretly slipped him that invitation."

"You mustn't let Siqi get deceived by him. Besides, the guy is already married—men like this are absolute scum."

Zhang Feiyang continued to point fingers at Zhao Qiang. At this point, he had thrown all caution to the wind and no longer feared Chu Mengyao. With his eldest brother present, along with the rest of the Chu family, he simply couldn't find a reason to be afraid. Surely Chu Mengyao wouldn't discipline him right in front of everyone, would she? Besides, he was practically saving Chu Siqi; even if she wasn't going to show any gratitude, how could she possibly make things difficult for him?

"Have you finished talking?" Chu Mengyao asked coldly, her expression growing increasingly dark.

"Sister-in-law, I really do like Siqi. Please put in a good word for me. I promise I'll treat her well from now on." Seeing that Chu Mengyao hadn't flown into a rage, Zhang Feiyang thought he still had a chance and pushed his luck even further. *As expected, now that she's practically part of the Zhang family, even Chu Mengyao wouldn't dare do anything to me!*

"Have you finished talking?" Chu Mengyao repeated, her voice turning even colder, as if it could freeze the surrounding air solid.

"I'm done!" Zhang Feiyang nodded frantically, secretly feeling quite pleased with himself.

The moment those words left his mouth, right in front of everyone, Chu Mengyao delivered a fierce, resounding slap across Zhang Feiyang's face.

With a crisp *crack*, Zhang Feiyang was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground and kicking up a small cloud of dust.

"Ah!"

This sudden turn of events terrified the Zhang family members, while everyone else stared in absolute shock, completely at a loss as to what was happening.

Slapping her own brother-in-law in public, and right at her own engagement banquet at that—Chu Mengyao really had the guts to do it.

Zhang Zihao had just opened his mouth to say something, but was checked by a fierce glare from Chu Mengyao. The anger in her eyes made him quietly retract the foot he had stepped forward.

"Sister-in-law, why did you hit me?" Zhang Feiyang felt deeply aggrieved; he had grossly underestimated Chu Mengyao's fiery temper.

"Why did I hit you? Do you really have to ask?"

"This is my Chu family estate, not your Zhang family's house! Just what do you think you're doing?"

"I'm asking you, what the hell is your game?"

"Who is the master of this place anyway? Since when is it your place to point fingers and order people around in the Chu family?"

Chu Mengyao roared furiously at Zhang Feiyang, her tone aggressive and the fire of her anger seeming ready to burn everything to ashes. Anyone with eyes could see she was targeting the entire Zhang family, not just Zhang Feiyang alone.

With that, Chu Mengyao delivered yet another slap, completely dazing Zhang Feiyang.

The onlookers were utterly shocked. Chu Mengyao hadn't given the Zhang family an ounce of face.

Although the expressions of Zhang Zihao and Zhang Hongye were exceptionally ugly, neither of them stepped forward to speak. In their view, this was merely a sister-in-law disciplining her brother-in-law, which was still somewhat tolerable. If they completely fell out with her now, today's banquet would be utterly ruined. They certainly weren't stupid enough to do that—who could possibly turn down the immense wealth of the Chu family?

"Dad, you just..."

"Shut your mouth, you unfilial wretch! I brought you here to observe, not to run amok. You've completely disgraced the Zhang family name!"

Zhang Hongye was the first to throw his son under the bus. Besides, given Zhang Feiyang's arrogant and overbearing nature, letting him take the fall was entirely fitting.

"My dear daughter-in-law, our Feiyang was in the wrong today. Please feel free to discipline him however you see fit; I have not a single objection."

"Brother Chu, Sister-in-law, it's my fault for failing to properly educate my son, which led to this mess." Zhang Hongye plastered on a forced smile while silently cursing his good-for-nothing son in his heart.

Chu Tiankuo remained silent, but Yang Xuemi offered a few polite remarks to ease the tension between the two sides.

Chu Mengyao crossed her arms, coldly glaring at the Zhang family members, her eyes still burning with anger. Meanwhile, the corners of Zhao Qiang's mouth twitched upward slightly, as if he felt the farce hadn't been entertaining enough yet.

Chu Mengyao slowly walked forward, glanced at the supposed injuries on Chu Siqi, and pulled her to her feet.

"Eldest sister, it hurts! My arm is broken! Quick, call an ambulance!"

"It hurts so much, it hurts... Waaah..."

Chu Siqi wailed incessantly, her expression making the injury look as real as life itself. How could Chu Mengyao not see through it? She had undoubtedly learned that act straight from Zhao Qiang.

"Zhang Feiyang, let me make this clear: stay away from my sister from now on."

"She doesn't like you. Are you deaf?"

"Even though your eldest brother and I are engaged, it doesn't give your Zhang family the right to act lawlessly here."

"I am warning you right here in front of everyone: if you ever harass my sister again, I will make your life a living hell!"

Every single word Chu Mengyao uttered landed with heavy impact, sending a shiver through everyone present.

"Did you hear that?" Chu Mengyao asked in a low voice.

Zhang Zihao hurriedly chimed in, "Your sister-in-law is asking you a question. Show some attitude and stop acting up—you are forbidden from harassing Sister Siqi ever again."

"I heard it! I heard it!" Zhang Feiyang was thoroughly startled, feeling utterly miserable inside. Not only had he lost all his dignity, but he had also let that punk Zhao Qiang sneak right in.

"Let's all go inside. Don't just stand around out here. Mengyao, our engagement banquet is about to start."