"Uh, I'm really sorry! Simon, my friend, I don't think our families can become in-laws after all!" Gordon Zeng paused in silence, then looked helplessly at Simon Soo.
"What? Why? Is it... is it really that brat Shawn Young who ruined Damian and Sylvia's engagement!?" Simon Soo was shocked, his face full of panic. In his heart, he always believed the Zeng Family was his last lifeline, and he was desperate to hold onto it.
"There's nothing I can do. I, Gordon Zeng, just don't have the guts or the ability to go against Mr. Shawn! Simon, I'm really sorry." Gordon Zeng said awkwardly.
"What am I supposed to do now! If I can't gather enough funds in the next couple of days, the Soo Family is finished!" Simon Soo cried out in desperation, nearly bursting into tears.
"Simon, calm down! Even if we can't become in-laws, with someone like Mr. Shawn around, do you really think you'll go bankrupt?" Gordon Zeng reminded him.
Simon Soo was stunned for a moment, then realized Gordon Zeng had a point. He calmed down, sat back in his seat, and started thinking about how to approach Shawn Young.
"Gordon, are we still going to continue the banquet tonight?" At this moment, Lee Jiakai from Hengrong Industries asked Gordon Zeng.
"Uh, the engagement ceremony is canceled! But the banquet goes on—just treat it as a regular dinner party!" Gordon Zeng sighed after thinking it over.
At that moment, his face was burning with embarrassment. He knew tonight the Zeng Family was destined to lose face, since all the guests knew this was supposed to be an engagement banquet, but he simply couldn't change reality.
"Dad, let's just keep the engagement banquet as is!" Damian Zeng suddenly chimed in from the side.
"Damian, have you lost your mind? You know perfectly well what's going on—Sylvia won't marry you, so how are you going to continue?" Gordon Zeng said, frustrated.
"I'm not marrying Sylvia—I've got another woman!" Damian Zeng finally mustered up the courage to say.
"What? Another woman? Who is she? Where is she?" Gordon Zeng asked in surprise.
Damian Zeng pointed outside the door and said, "There—she's right there!"
Gordon Zeng and the others quickly looked outside. Standing at the door, dressed for the evening, was Dawn Yuan, her face streaked with tears as she glared fiercely at Damian Zeng inside.
As soon as Damian Zeng looked her way, Dawn Yuan hurried in, lifting her dress, sniffing him to catch his scent, then stared at him with sharp, beautiful eyes. After a long moment, she blurted out, "I recognize your smell, you fat pig! Tell me the truth—was it you in the garden?"
Damian Zeng froze, his chubby face turning bright red. He nodded and said, "Yes! Yes, it was me!"
"You—you shameless pervert!" Dawn Yuan hadn't expected him to admit it so easily, and was instantly too angry for words.
"Enough already! If you still want to marry me, then shut up!" Damian Zeng suddenly yelled at her.
Dawn Yuan was stunned. Her pretty face turned pale and her expression shifted, but after a while, she relaxed, bit her lip, and said in a coy voice, "Oh, you’re so annoying! It’s not like I’m refusing you! Did you really have to do all that?"
"That's just how I like it! What, you don't want to? If you're not willing, I'll find someone else!" Damian Zeng, seeing her soften, became even more arrogant.
"I do! I'm your woman, why wouldn't I be willing?" Dawn Yuan gave in obediently. She knew if she wanted to climb the social ladder, her best bet was to latch onto Damian Zeng—the ultimate 'sucker'! (Cantonese: 'sucker' means a fool, a pushover, or someone easy to take advantage of!)
"If you're willing, then stop talking so much and come help me fix my clothes—the engagement banquet's about to start!" Damian Zeng shouted, feeling triumphant.
"Okay!" Dawn Yuan replied sweetly, then moved over and skillfully straightened Damian Zeng's clothes and tie, looking every bit the dutiful wife.
"Uh, Damian, who is this young lady?" Gordon Zeng couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer.
"Hello, Uncle! I'm Dawn Yuan, from the northeast. I just graduated from Beijing Film Academy—and I'm Damian's girlfriend!" Dawn Yuan answered politely.
"Huh? Damian never mentioned you before!" Gordon Zeng was a bit stunned.
"He wanted to surprise you! Hehe!" Dawn Yuan giggled.
"Exactly! A surprise! Dad, what do you think—surprised?" Damian Zeng quickly added.
"Well, I'm more shocked than surprised!" Gordon Zeng still felt something was off.
"Come on, Dad—whether it's shock or surprise, what do you think of Dawn? If you're satisfied, we can start the engagement banquet right now!" Damian Zeng interrupted, noticing Darren Yang and Sylvia Kim cuddling at the entrance.
"She’s... she’s not bad! But I—" Gordon Zeng thought Dawn Yuan’s looks and figure absolutely fit the criteria for marrying into a wealthy family, but since he knew nothing about her background, he was still hesitant.
"She’s good enough, and it’s my wedding, not yours! As long as Dawn and I are happy, that’s all that matters. Enough talk—let’s start the banquet!" Damian Zeng hurried, worried Darren Yang might stir up trouble.
"Alright then! Let's all head out together!" Gordon Zeng gave in, planning to investigate Dawn Yuan’s background after tonight’s banquet.
Everyone headed out to the reception hall, leaving Simon Soo sitting alone, lost in thought.
...