Villain Marrying The Heroine Is Perfectly Plausible, Right? - Chapter 70:

Chapter 70: Compared to My Gift, Yours Are Trash:

When Chen Lang and Xiao Mingyue returned to the banquet hall, they arrived just in time for the gift-giving ceremony. This scene was a classic moment in urban novels: gifts presented by various families in a set order, starting with outsiders and then moving to the Xiao family. All the prominent figures of Nanjiang City were present, and, naturally, the gifts were extravagant.

Prominent families and associates of the Xiao family presented their gifts to Old Lady Xiao, each offering their best wishes, with phrases like “May your fortune be as vast as the East Sea, and your life as long as the Southern Mountains.” The Xiao family accepted each gift graciously, and the hall was filled with a warm and festive atmosphere.

During this time, Sun Zhentian, representing the Sun family, also presented his gift. After returning to his seat, he leaned toward Ye Chen and said, “Brother Ye Chen, it’s your turn to give your gift.”

Ye Chen, now dressed in a simple black suit (thanks to Sun Zhentian’s insistence on changing out of his casual clothes), glanced at the crowd and smirked. “Not yet. It’s not time.”

For Ye Chen, the gift wasn’t the point. His real goal was to humiliate Chen Lang in front of everyone. He was waiting for the right moment to make his move—when Chen Lang would bring out the fake “Red Whale Heart.” Only then could Ye Chen reveal the real necklace and claim the spotlight.

As the gift-giving continued, it was finally Xiao Mingyue’s turn. She and Chen Lang, hand in hand, walked up to Old Lady Xiao with an elegant gift box. Everyone knew the couple had recently married, so it was expected they would present their gift together. Their close, picture-perfect appearance drew admiration from the crowd, but Ye Chen, watching from the sidelines, clenched his fists in silent frustration.

“That woman should have been mine.” He thought bitterly.

Old Lady Xiao opened the gift box to reveal a luxurious white dress. She held it up for all to see—a custom design from Xiao Mingyue’s own company, adorned with pearls and diamonds, woven into intricate, elegant patterns. The dress was both luxurious and tasteful, not flashy, and it instantly garnered praise from the guests.

Old Lady Xiao beamed with delight. She loved white, and the dress’s design, style, and size were perfect for her. The smile on her face deepened her wrinkles as she admired the gift.

However, not everyone was impressed.

In the back, Ye Chen’s mind was racing.

“Where’s the diamond?” He thought, confused.

What happened to the “Red Whale Heart”? Did they sew it onto the dress or something? His plan was falling apart, and panic set in. If I don’t act now, this whole trip will be wasted!

Suddenly, Ye Chen’s voice cut through the air. “That’s it? A single dress?”

Everyone turned to look at him, their attention drawn by the harsh tone.

“The mighty Chen family is so stingy? If this is the best they can do, then the Chen family is nothing special!” Ye Chen’s voice dripped with mockery as he strode forward, holding a black plastic bag.

The Xiao family immediately recognized him, and chaos erupted.

“It’s him! How dare he show his face here!”

“Didn’t we throw him out at the wedding? How dare he come back!”

“Security! Who let him in?!”

A servant quickly bowed and explained, “He came in with Master Sun.”

All eyes turned to Sun Zhentian, who was sitting among the guests, visibly flustered. Xiao Mingyue’s second uncle, the head of the Xiao family, glared at him. “Patriarch Sun, are you aware that this man is an enemy of the Xiao family? Why would you bring him here?”

Sun Zhentian, caught off guard by Ye Chen’s outburst, scrambled to explain. “Master Xiao, calm down! Ye Chen came with a gift for Old Lady Xiao’s birthday, so I brought him along. I thought it might be better to resolve tensions than let them fester.”

As Sun Zhentian tried to distance himself from the situation, Chen Lang followed the script of the plot. With a look of contempt, he sneered at Ye Chen.

“And what kind of gift could a broke doorman like you possibly have?” Chen Lang’s mocking voice echoed through the hall. “Looking at your cheap suit, I doubt you could even afford a car tire. Just take your pitiful gift and leave before you embarrass yourself any further!”

The crowd murmured in agreement, some laughing under their breath. This was all part of the planned face-off, where Chen Lang would first ridicule Ye Chen before the protagonist delivered his grand comeback.

Ye Chen’s lips curled into a wicked smile. “I’m not targeting anyone in particular, but I’ll say this: compared to my gift, all of yours are garbage!”

Chen Lang was momentarily stunned. Wow, the protagonist really doesn’t hold back, he thought. That’s some serious bravado.

This line, though not in the original plot, added extra drama and immediately stirred the crowd into a frenzy.

“Did he just call our gifts trash?”

“This guy’s got some nerve!”

“Talk is cheap. Where’s this so-called gift of his?”

Ye Chen smiled smugly, reaching into his suit pocket and pulling out a crumpled black plastic bag. He held it up high for all to see.

The moment the crowd saw the bag, laughter erupted across the hall.

“You’re saying your precious gift is in that plastic bag?”

“That bag looks like something I’d use for trash. Couldn’t even spring for a gift box?”

“Did he pick it up from the dumpster on his way here?”

The mockery was relentless, and even the Xiao family couldn’t hide their disdain. The head of the Xiao family turned to Sun Zhentian, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Patriarch Sun, is this the grand gift you spoke of?”

Sun Zhentian, thoroughly humiliated, could only stammer out, “Uh, maybe Ye Chen is planning to surprise us. There might be something valuable in there, heh…”

Chen Lang chuckled. “I’ll tell you what, if he’s got a treasure in that bag, I’ll start writing my name backward!”

Ye Chen’s eyes gleamed. “Oh? That’s a promise, is it?”

Patriarch Xiao, his patience wearing thin, waved dismissively. “Enough talking. Let’s see what’s inside.”

The Xiao family’s staff moved forward to take the plastic bag, but Ye Chen stepped in front of them, blocking their way. “Wait! This gift is too precious. I want Mrs. Xiao to open it herself.”

Ye Chen’s plan was simple: the dramatic reveal of the “Red Whale Heart” needed to be done by Old Lady Xiao herself to create maximum impact.

Though the head of the Xiao family looked ready to lash out, Old Lady Xiao, seated in the main position, waved her hand, amused by the situation. “It’s fine. Since it’s a gift, I’ll open it.”

The staff carefully handed the black plastic bag to Mrs. Xiao. The entire hall went silent, and everyone watched in anticipation, wondering what could be inside.

As Mrs. Xiao began unwrapping the plastic bag, Ye Chen took the chance to speak up, building the suspense.

“Everyone knows that Chen Lang paid 200 million yuan at an auction for a diamond necklace called the ‘Heart of the Red Whale,’” he began, his voice filled with satisfaction. “But I’ll tell you the truth now: Chen Lang’s necklace is a fake!”

The crowd gasped, their attention now fully focused on Ye Chen’s words. He smirked, relishing the moment.

“The real ‘Heart of the Red Whale’ has always been in my hands,” Ye Chen declared triumphantly. “And that is the gift I’m giving today—the legendary necklace once worn by European royalty, the true ‘Heart of the Red Whale!’”

Chen Lang nodded to himself, “The protagonist’s lines are spot on. The plot is going exactly as planned. This face-off is going to be epic!”