Chapter 162 Joint Congratulations

"Happy birthday to Madam Hong!"

Suddenly, the tycoons in the Chen family's main hall bowed respectfully to congratulate Lin Shuyu.

Startled, Lin Shuyu immediately stood up from her chair.

In truth, upon seeing so many tycoons from Hannan gathered here, how could a young woman like her dare to remain seated?

However, seeing Lin Shuyu attempt to stand, Hong Yu pulled her back down by the arm, gesturing for her to sit comfortably.

Initially, Lin Shuyu wanted Hong Yu to stand up with her. After all, both in terms of status and social standing, they were in completely different leagues compared to these Hannan tycoons.

Yet, noticing the deep reverence displayed by these powerful figures, Lin Shuyu realized that Hong Yu must have anticipated this outcome all along; he was entirely in control of the situation.

Nervously, Lin Shuyu said, "Everyone, please there is no need for this. Today really isn't my birthday."

"Even if it truly were my birthday, I could never deserve such lavish gifts from esteemed elders like yourselves!"

Zhanpeng Liang was the first to step forward with a smile. "Madam Hong, you are far too modest."

"No one else in Hannan is worthy of receiving this gift—only you, Madam Hong, possess the qualification."

Chong Shen laughed and said, "Madam Hong, we traveled across mountains and rivers to reach this remote village. Considering how hard we've worked to get here, you should graciously accept these gifts."

The other tycoons chimed in eagerly to curry favor. "A birthday is a joyous occasion, and one can never have too many gifts. We understand Madam Hong's modesty, but please also understand our earnest desire to offer these presents!"

"Alas, if Madam Hong refuses to accept gifts from us old folks, then living any longer would be meaningless."

"Please accept them, Madam Hong, otherwise we old men will truly have no face left to show our faces in Hannan."

"Please accept our gifts, Madam Hong!"

The Hannan tycoons shouted in unison. To an outsider, they might have looked like a pack of sycophants.

"Holy shit! What an incredible display!"

"Lin Shuyu is a big deal now. We haven't seen a spectacle like this in Hannan for years!"

"I just looked it up, and all the top-tier tycoons of Hannan are right in there! Who would have imagined that so many heavyweights would all appear at once in this godforsaken village of the Chen family?"

"These tycoons control at least eighty percent of all wealth in Hannan. Even they are treating Lin Shuyu with such deference—what on earth is her background?"

"No! Although we aren't very familiar with Lin Shuyu, we know the Chen family is just a modestly well-off household, so this certainly isn't because of her. I bet it's entirely because of Hong Yu."

"I pretty much guessed it's because of Hong Yu too. After all, these tycoons came here for him in the first place. It's just that when Hong Yu gave them the cold shoulder, they pivoted to sucking up to Lin Shuyu instead."

"Isn't Hong Yu just a good-for-nothing live-in son-in-law? What background or capability does he have?"

"If Hong Yu really had ability and background, would he stoop to becoming a live-in son-in-law? That makes no sense!"

"Who knows? Let's just sit back and watch the show."

"Hahaha, I just posted this on Moments, and it already has over two hundred likes! I've never gotten this many likes before!"

Listening to the guests' chatter and sensing their delight in watching the drama unfold, the members of the Chen family felt an overwhelming wave of discomfort and disgust.

This was clearly supposed to be their Chen family's birthday banquet for their grandfather! How did it inexplicably turn into Lin Shuyu's birthday party?

Furthermore, Elder Chen had just been slapped across the face, yet Hong Yu and Lin Shuyu were still sitting proudly in the seats of honor. No matter where one went, this defied all reason.

Still, the Chen family members dared not voice their anger.

Every single top tycoon in Hannan was currently trying to flatter Lin Shuyu. If they stepped forward to protest now, wouldn't that be tantamount to seeking death?

Any single tycoon present could crush a minor clan like the Chen family with a single word. Some Chen family members had initially thought about leveraging their connection to Hong Yu and Lin Shuyu to get close to these powerful figures.

Yet, remembering how poorly they had treated Hong Yu and Lin Shuyu just moments ago, they completely lost the courage to utter such words.

Though they were thick-skinned, they weren't foolish enough to attempt the impossible.

Meanwhile, cornered by the crowd of tycoons pressing gifts upon her, Lin Shuyu began to panic.

With no other option, she looked toward Hong Yu. "Hong Yu, stand up and say something!"

"What am I supposed to do now? These gifts are obviously extremely valuable. Unearned rewards bring misfortune—how could I possibly dare to accept them?"

Hong Yu smiled. "Accept them. Since they offer them with sincerity, don't be afraid to take them."

"Besides, who says they are unearned?"

Hong Yu suddenly stood up and swept his gaze across the room.

Wherever his eyes landed, those he looked at instinctively lowered their heads.

In a resounding voice, Hong Yu declared, "Over the past few years, you have never once looked down on me—that is your achievement!"

"You chose to become my wife—that is your reward!"

"You have both achievements and rewards; you deserve these gifts without a shred of guilt!"

Hong Yu's words were so overwhelmingly domineering that several unmarried women in the audience immediately had hearts in their eyes.

Even Chen Yingying's perception of Hong Yu shifted because of this statement.

Earlier, instigated by Wang Qi whispering poison into her ear, she had genuinely believed Hong Yu was merely a scapegoat for Jie Liang.

After being thoroughly lectured by her father, Chen Yingying realized she had misjudged her cousin's husband. Now, seeing the top tycoons of Hannan humbly bowing and currying favor with Hong Yu and Lin Shuyu was proof enough of her error.

"You are my little apple, no matter how much I love you, it's never enough..."

At that moment, Chen Yingying's phone suddenly rang.

She hastily answered it, terrified of disturbing the Hannan tycoons present, and more importantly, afraid of being noticed and heard by Hong Yu.

Among the Chen family members who had attacked Hong Yu earlier, aside from her aunt Chen Shufen, Chen Yingying had been the most vocal.

In this current atmosphere, if Hong Yu so much as pointed a finger at her—without even needing to speak, merely showing a look of annoyance—those Hannan tycoons would likely target her instantly, using her blood to please Hong Yu.

"Wang Qi? Why are you only calling me now? Didn't we agree yesterday? Today is my grandfather's birthday, why haven't you shown up at all?" Glancing at the caller ID and seeing Wang Qi's name, Chen Yingying immediately launched into a reprimand.

"I can't make it. Something happened at home, and I've been running around like a headless chicken. I only managed to sneak away to the restroom to call you."

"What happened?" Chen Yingying asked anxiously. Wang Qi was considered her good friend after all, and upon hearing that trouble had struck, she felt compelled to ask.

"Sigh, I don't even know what's going on. It's like someone is targeting our family business. Our stock prices plummeted wildly today, and my dad and I have already attended several emergency meetings." Wang Qi sighed, then quickly added, "Alright, I can't talk anymore, I have to rush back to the meeting."

"Beep, beep, beep..."

Listening to the dial tone, Chen Yingying stood dazed for a moment before suddenly turning her gaze toward Hong Yu.

She knew with absolute certainty that this was Hong Yu's retaliation.