Chapter 31: Sorry to Disappoint You

"Lin Feng is here, hurry and take a seat." Madam Su was in high spirits tonight. Seeing Lin Feng’s face, she rose with delight and invited him over.

Lin Feng walked forward, and Su Shifeng took the initiative to pull out a chair for him.

He glanced at the faces of the elderly lady and the others; they were markedly different from how they had been during the day. Especially Liu Farong—she couldn’t stand him earlier, would have killed him if she could, yet tonight she wore a smile, joining Madam Su in welcoming him.

There was definitely something suspicious about this.

"Madam, weren’t you all unwilling to have me here? How is it that your attitude has changed so much in just a few hours?" Lin Feng sat down and asked with a smile.

"Oh, it was just Farong and Shifeng being ignorant of proper manners earlier. If they offended you, please forgive them." Madam Su feigned politeness, waving her hand and continuing with a smile, "Lin Feng, you’re a great benefactor to our Su family. If not for your timely intervention earlier today, the Su family would have been wiped out by the Bai family."

"This meal tonight is specially arranged by Shifeng on my orders, to thank you for your help. Rest assured, we will never again drive you away from the Su family."

"Yes, Brother Lin," Su Shifeng chimed in, nodding earnestly. "I was blind before and disrespected you. I apologize—let me drink this glass first." He stood, downed a glass of wine, then filled it again, smiling as he said, "Brother Lin, this second glass is for you. Your courage today truly impressed me."

"I hope you’ll accept me as your junior. I’d be honored if you did."

"Oh? Are you speaking sincerely?"

Lin Feng noticed him eagerly filling the glass, then glanced around. The Su family members were behaving most unusually. He feigned confusion and asked.

"Of course," Su Shifeng said, offering the glass respectfully. "I admire you from the bottom of my heart, Brother Lin."

Lin Feng looked down at the wine glass, and as he inhaled lightly, he immediately sensed something amiss.

So this was a trap—a banquet with hidden daggers. The wine had been poisoned!

If he drank it, he would lose his life on the spot.

Lin Feng’s fingers gently touched the glass. As he was about to lift it, Madam Su and Liu Farong grew visibly tense.

They were all waiting for Lin Feng to fall into their snare.

Su Shifeng’s eyes gleamed. Seeing Lin Feng raise the glass, he hurried to clink his own with it, saying, "Brother Lin, please."

But Lin Feng suddenly set his glass down, smiling as he said, "Su Shifeng, you’re so eager tonight, it’s honestly a bit unsettling."

"You aren’t just being kind by offering me wine, are you? Or do you have more sinister intentions?"

At these words, Madam Su, Su Shifeng, and the others’ expressions changed dramatically, their eyes darting nervously.

Could Lin Feng have noticed something wrong with the wine?

After a moment, Lin Feng continued, "It’s a fine wine, but my tolerance isn’t great. If I get drunk here and you ambush me, I wouldn’t even have a chance to escape."

"And then, I’d be at your mercy."

"Ah? Haha, Brother Lin, what are you saying? There are only a handful of us in this villa—how could there be an ambush?"

"And we’ve all seen your skills; even if you were drunk, our Su family’s bunch of weaklings wouldn’t be your match."

Su Shifeng relaxed at his words, wiping the sweat from his brow and hastily explaining.

Lin Feng’s previous icy demeanor had nearly frightened him out of his wits.

Madam Su and Liu Farong breathed easier as well. Madam Su quickly added, "Lin Feng, you needn’t worry. The Su family always honors its word."

"If I say you’ll stay, I won’t go back on it. Give Shifeng a chance—let him toast you."

"Very well, since that’s the case, I’ll give him a chance tonight. But the villa feels a bit stuffy. Could you open a window for me, Young Master Su?" Lin Feng turned and smiled at Su Shifeng.

"Haha, of course! Wait right here, Brother Lin." Su Shifeng agreed readily, setting down his glass to open a window.

As soon as he opened it, a sinister wind swept in, forcing everyone in the villa to close their eyes against it.

After a moment, the wind died down.

When Su Shifeng returned, Lin Feng took up his wine glass and said, "Young Master Su, please. Let this glass mark a new beginning. If you drink it, all past grudges are wiped clean."

"Alright, Brother Lin, please." Without hesitation, Su Shifeng lifted his glass and drank it down.

Lin Feng’s lips curled slightly, and he too raised his glass, draining it in one gulp.

As he drank, everyone’s faces changed.

Su Shifeng’s eyes grew cold, a murderous gleam flashing within them. He seemed to become a different person, bursting into triumphant laughter.

He fixed his gaze on Lin Feng, his face full of smug satisfaction. "Lin Feng, you finally fell into our trap."

"The wine you just drank was heavily poisoned by me. The toxins are already coursing through your body. In less than five minutes, you’ll be dead."

"We went to great lengths to deal with you. Thank heaven, you still couldn’t escape our grasp."

"What did you say? You poisoned my wine?" Lin Feng frowned, feigning panic.

"Haha, what did you expect? Did you really think the Su family would tolerate someone like you?"

Su Shifeng laughed maniacally, straightening his back and continuing his taunts. "You should have known better than to challenge me."

"Tonight, I invited you here with no intention of letting you leave alive."

"Once you’re dead, Su Qingxue will be completely under our control, and we’ll send her to the Bai family for punishment."

"So this was your plan, Madam?" Lin Feng turned to Madam Su, his expression grave.

"Yes," Madam Su’s smile vanished, her gaze fierce as she spoke resolutely, "This was all my idea. Lin Feng, your mistake was helping Su Qingxue defy the Su family."

"Marrying into the Bai family is her only option. Even as a corpse, she must remain in the Bai family. Only then can Su family join the ranks of Jiangcheng’s elite."

"But your arrival ruined our plans and turned the Bai family against us. You deserve to die a thousand deaths."

"Heh, so that’s it. I never imagined you’d be so ruthless, sacrificing your own granddaughter for the glory of the Su family."

Lin Feng suddenly laughed coldly, setting his glass down with composure. "Tonight, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed again. The poisoned glass was switched. The wine Su Shifeng drank was the one laced with poison."