Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 632: Chapter 635: Identity

Seeing this scene, other members of the Tang family were puzzled. Tang Xin had always been by Tang Zhezhen's side, so when did she become so familiar with Li Dun, the young genius of the Li family? This could greatly enhance Tang Xin's status within the family. Building a good relationship with the Li family was crucial. If Tang Xin could indeed establish a connection with the Li family, it would ensure that after Tang Lao passed away, the Tang family could continue to maintain a good relationship with the Li family.

Among the four major families, the Ning family was currently the most powerful. Their leadership transition was smooth and early, with Ning Guangyao now seated as the Prime Minister of Yanxia and head of the Ning family. Yang Gongming of the Yang family was also much healthier and more robust than Tang Lao, despite his age, with no signs of minor illnesses. Li Moshen of the Li family was relatively younger and not ready to step down yet. The only one in their twilight years was Tang Zhezhen, whose age and health indicated that his time was running out.

Therefore, the Tang family's core members were always concerned about maintaining their position among the four major families after Tang Lao's passing. This was Li Dun's first visit to the Tang family, and he was unfamiliar with everyone present, yet he showed no signs of being a stranger. As soon as he sat down, he raised a glass of special Moutai to toast the Tang family members nearby.

"Everyone, it's a rare honor to dine with you all. Please don't mind my modest gift. I'll drink three cups as a penalty!" Li Dun declared, downing a small cup of high-proof liquor in one go, about two taels worth.

Everyone was puzzled; they hadn't said he needed to drink as a penalty!

"Li Xianzhi, you jest. As the young master of the Li family and one of the 'Double Kings' of the younger generation, we wouldn't dare to slight you. It's we who should be toasting you," Tang Huang stood up, displaying the posture of a future heir of the Tang family, and clinked his glass with Li Dun, smiling.

Li Dun took another big gulp of wine, then grinned and said, "What Double Kings? It's nothing special, just like a double-yolk salted duck egg."

Suddenly, Li Dun turned to Tang Xin, who had been silent and lowering her head, and said, "Miss Tang Xin, could you pour me a drink?"

Tang Xin, already annoyed, snapped, "Don't you have hands to pour it yourself?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Tang Xin's face stiffened, realizing her mistake.

Sure enough, all the Tang family members glared at Tang Xin with stern eyes. Was she eating gunpowder? Didn't she know that this was a rare opportunity to curry favor with the Li family?

Usually, Li Dun, the young master of the Li family, was busy fighting wars worldwide. It was rare to meet him. Even when in Yandu, his reclusive nature meant he seldom attended social events. Now he had come on his own accord, and Tang Xin was about to mess it up, making her the Tang family's sinner!

Unexpectedly, Li Dun didn't get angry. Instead, he smiled and said, "Yes, yes, it was presumptuous of me. I have hands, I have hands..."

Everyone watched as Li Dun took the bottle himself and poured his own drink.

"Miss Tang Xin, I toast to you. I will drink, and you may do as you wish," Li Dun raised his glass to Tang Xin.

The Tang family members sensed something unusual. Li Dun seemed to have a special interest in Tang Xin. Normally, he should have toasted Tang Zhezhen first, but he focused solely on Tang Xin, making it seem like he came specifically for her.

Although reluctant, Tang Xin stood up, holding her glass with both hands and clinked it with Li Dun's, taking a small sip.

However, due to her absent-mindedness, Tang Xin choked on the high-proof Moutai.

"Cough, cough—"

Tang Xin coughed softly, her round eyes reddening with tears.

Li Dun, startled, quickly put down his glass and gently patted Tang Xin's back, awkwardly saying, "Oh dear, Miss Tang Xin, I didn't know you weren't good at drinking. If I had known, I wouldn't have toasted you. I didn't mean to make you choke."

"Let go of me!"

Tang Xin suddenly realized that Li Dun was holding her back. Her face turned bright red with embarrassment, and she hastily broke free from his grasp.

Li Dun awkwardly laughed a few times, then thick-skinnedly said to the stunned Tang family members, "Sorry, I'm actually a serious person. I didn't mean to flirt with Miss Tang Xin. I was just showing concern."

Yang Chen, who had been quietly eating, glanced at Li Dun and shook his head with a smile. Anyone could see that Li Dun was interested in Tang Xin.

Tang Wan, noticing Yang Chen's smile, whispered in his ear, "I didn't expect Li Dun to like Xin'er. I used to worry that Xin'er, always by grandpa's side, would have a hard time getting married. Now it seems there's no need to worry."

"Li Dun is a bit crazy. Are you really that assured?" Yang Chen replied with a mischievous smile.

Tang Wan rolled her eyes at him, "If a man like you can have women willing to be with him, why worry about someone like Li Dun?"

Yang Chen, feeling awkward, pretended not to hear and continued drinking and eating. He was here for dinner, not interested in socializing.

Tang Zhezhen, who had been watching with a kind smile, finally spoke, "Li family's young master, this dinner was originally to thank Yang Chen for saving my granddaughter, Tang Wan. But you've turned it into a feast for yourself. You owe Yang Chen an apology."

Li Dun waved his hand nonchalantly, "Don't worry, Tang Lao. I know Yang Chen well. He's only here for free food and drink; nothing else matters." He even winked at Yang Chen.

Yang Chen, chewing on a chicken leg, almost threw it at Li Dun's face!

"You're the one drinking half a bottle of Moutai under the pretense of self-penalty," Yang Chen retorted.

Li Dun, unfazed, patted his chest and said, "I'm an honest person. I wouldn't think like a petty person."

"You, inviting people to a ramen shop for dinner and afraid of wasting fuel when giving friends a ride, are not even close to being petty," Yang Chen shot back.

"I..."

"Enough," Tang Wan interjected, "You two are not children. Why are you bickering? Do you think the Tang family is a kindergarten?"

Tang Wan had no choice but to step in, as the onlookers could hardly contain their laughter after hearing about Li Dun inviting people to a ramen shop. Even a few of the servants were giving Li Dun strange looks, as if wondering how the young master of the Li family could be so stingy. Perhaps he didn't get any allowance from his family?

Tang Xin, sitting beside Li Dun, kept her head down, her eyes filled with disdain and a cold smile.

As the boring squabble between the two men came to an end, Tang Huang took the opportunity to steer the conversation in a different direction. With a friendly smile, he said to Yang Chen, "Mr. Yang, we've heard that you have quite a connection with the Yang family of Yandu. However, it's always been through hearsay. Would you mind sharing more with us tonight? Our Tang family is quite curious."

Rumors about Yang Chen's relationship with the Yang family had been circulating in Yandu since before Yang Pojun's failed candidacy. After all, Yang Gongming's trip south and Guo Xuehua's movements couldn't escape the notice of those with a keen eye. Tang Huang's question was essentially probing the extent of Yang Chen's ties with the Yang family, allowing him to gauge the situation before deciding how to interact with Yang Chen. If the Yang family recognized Yang Chen, he would be a legitimate first-in-line heir. If not, Yang Chen would still be a gray figure, unworthy of much attention.

Despite their indifference toward Tang Huang, the people present were curious about Yang Chen's response.

Chewing on a piece of meat, Yang Chen said, "I recently found my long-lost mother. That's about all I can say."

Hearing this, the Tang family members got a clearer picture. It seemed that Yang Chen living with Guo Xuehua was true, meaning there wasn't a clear division between him and the Yang family. If Yang Gongming didn't want to acknowledge Yang Chen, he wouldn't have gone to Zhonghai, nor allowed his daughter-in-law to stay with Yang Chen.

With this realization, the Tang family became excited. Yang Chen had saved Tang Wan multiple times, indicating a close relationship. Perhaps the Tang family could use Yang Chen to establish a connection with the Yang family!

The fact that Yang Chen was already married was irrelevant to these prominent families. Tang Wan had a daughter who was already so grown-up, so it wasn't as if she could openly marry again. Even a covert relationship would be acceptable to the Tang family.

Many people were secretly delighted. This truly seemed like a lucky day, with potential significant connections to both the Yang and Li families.

What they didn't know was that if Tang Wan and Yang Chen truly established a relationship, Yang Chen's own worth would far exceed that of the Yang family.

Li Dun wasn't surprised by Yang Chen's connection to the Yang family. The Li family, being the controllers of the security bureau, had access to important information, and Li Dun always received firsthand details. He just didn't care about Yang Chen's identity as a member of the Yang family.