At that moment, Yao Tang was surrounded by other guests, with Wang Si by her side.
Her eyes looked indifferent, but not as aloof as before. Even in the middle of a crowd, she still stood out from the rest.
Yao Ran paid close attention toYang Nian’s every move. When she saw how focused he was onYao Tang, her heart filled with jealousy.
She glanced at Yao Tangand let out a derisive snort.
“If you don’t want to do it yourself, then get someone else to teach her a lesson. Stop pretending to be a kind and caring person. Aren’t you tired of constantly putting up an act?”
Yan Wei’s words landed on Yao Ran’s ears and made her tremble. She belatedly realized that she had let her true emotions slip just now.
She squirmed where she stood.
Yan Wei was holding a glass of wine, which she swished around before bringing it up to her nose for a whiff. “What?” she asked softly. “You’ve always looked atYang Nianlike that. Do you like him?”
Did she like him?
Yao Ran was taken aback by the blunt question.
It was like a spell that kept echoing inside her head, taunting her.
She lowered her eyes and sighed. “Since you’re asking, then I’ll tell you the truth. Young Master Yangand I are engaged. I am his fiancée.”
Yan Wei didn’t believe her at all.
The Yang family was a big shot over at the capital, while the Yao familywas merely a fledgling nouveau riche fromCity A. They had neither the background nor the power to even dream of an engagement.
The two families were leagues apart.
And she knew for a fact that the Yang family wouldn’t readily accept someone like Yao Ranas their young master’s partner.
Yao Ran was disappointed with the clear disbelief onYan Wei’s face. “I have no reason to lie to you, and I most certainly won’t lie about such a thing.”
Yan Wei raised an eyebrow.
She suddenly remembered that she had only come to know Yao Ranbecause ofYang Nian. He was the one who had introduced them. It did seem that he had knownYao Ranfor a long time.
Moreover, she didn’t think that Yao Ranwas capable of coming up with this a lie this grand. It would be too risky to keep it up.
Perhaps she was really engaged to Yang Nian?
The Yang family had never issued a public statement about his marriage, and rumors had been swirling that he already had a fiancée.
But since no one had shown up to claim that identity, the Yang family didn’t bother clarifying the matter.
Needless to say, the rumors remained just that.
Everyone began to think that the Yang family had spun the story themselves in an attempt to field off Yang Nian’s impending marriage.
Originally, the Yan family had toyed with the idea of forming an alliance with the Yang family through marriage.
But there was no one suitable enough for Yang Nian, andYan Weiwasn’t the least bit interested, so they had no choice but to drop the notion.
She had never expected that the mysterious fiancée from the rumors would turn out to be Yao Ran.
“The Yang family has always stayed in the capital,” Yan Weipointed out. “How did the two of you meet, let alone get engaged?”
Yao Ran didn’t miss a beat. “My grandmother is good friends with an elder from the Yang family. They were the ones who made the arrangement long before Yang Nian and I were born.”
“I see.”
Yan Wei tried to recall the impression she had ofOld Madam Yao, but she only had vague memories and none of the important details at all.
“Then, when are you guys planning to hold your engagement party? This matter is already settled, right?”
“Yes, the two families are currently discussing the affair. The problem is my grandmother. She likes Yao Tangmore, and lately, she’s been saying that she wants her to marryYoung Master Yang.”
“She wants to replace you with Yao Tang?”Yan Weisneered.
“Does the Old Madam really think that that bumpkin is worthy of being Young Lady Yang?”
She detested Yao Ran, but she loathedYao Tangeven more.
If Yao Tangended up beingYang Nian’s wife, thenYan Weiwould have to acknowledge her station and pay the damn bumpkin her respects.
Yan Wei scowled at the thought.
“How could your grandmother do such a thing? You are obviously the only daughter of the Yao familyworthy of the title, while she’s just a nobody from the countryside? Why wouldOld Madam Yaoset up such a lucrative marriage arrangement for her? Even if she marriedYang Nian, I’m sure the elders of the Yang family would never recognize her as their granddaughter-in-law.”
Yao Ran assumed a worried expression. “But the decision isn’t mine to take. I am scared that it would anger the Yang family, but my grandmother is adamant. She wantsSister Tangto marryYoung Master Yang…”
