Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Staring at the unremarkable man before them, Tang Dahai and Lin Yuzhen were utterly stunned.

Ugly—he wasn’t just ordinary ugly, but almost unimaginably so, as if ugliness had been distilled into its purest form in him.

A third of his face was marred by burn scars, a mottled patchwork that looked as though a rabid dog had taken a bite and left the mark behind. Upon this devastated landscape, as barren as if swept over by a nuclear blast, his features struggled to assert themselves, giving him a wretched and pitiful appearance.

“W-what are you? A ghost?” Lin Yuzhen blurted out in terror.

Ye Fengyun grinned cheerfully. “My name is Ye Fengyun. I am to be your future son-in-law. Here’s my birth date and time—take a look and you’ll understand.”

He handed over a slip of paper with his birth details.

Lin Yuzhen shrank behind Tang Dahai, clutching his sleeve, signaling for him to take it instead—she dared not come any closer to that terrifying face.

Tang Dahai, too, felt uneasy. Stop pulling at me, I’m scared as well. This level of ugliness is truly frightening!

Yet, as the man of the house, Tang Dahai mustered his courage and accepted the paper.

The moment they read it, both were struck with shock.

A birth sign of utmost yang—this was precisely the person they had been searching for!

Lin Yuzhen covered her mouth, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks. She had believed her daughter was doomed, that death was imminent, yet now, at this final hour, their savior had appeared.

“This is wonderful, wonderful! Shihan can be saved—she can be saved!” Lin Yuzhen wept aloud, embracing Tang Dahai in her elation.

Tang Dahai exhaled in relief—there was still hope for the family’s inheritance after all.

But now, another problem arose: would Tang Shihan accept such a hideous man? Even for the two of them, it was difficult to accept; to outsiders, he might pass for a man, but to those who didn’t know better, he seemed something straight out of a mythic bestiary.

Lin Yuzhen pulled Tang Dahai aside to confer. “Dear, with such looks, will Shihan ever agree to this?”

Tang Dahai frowned in deep thought. Suddenly, inspiration struck, and he whispered, “What if we use artificial insemination? We’ll find a way to deal with this ugly fellow, then arrange for artificial insemination for Shihan. That way, when she wakes, not only is her life out of danger, but she’ll be carrying a child to secure the family inheritance. Two birds with one stone.”

Lin Yuzhen breathed a sigh of relief. “You always have a way.”

“Hurry and prepare something to drink. Call Doctor Xiao and have him come over. I’ll go speak with this ugly fellow first.”

“Alright.” Lin Yuzhen hurried off to prepare tea.

Tang Dahai and Ye Fengyun sat facing each other in the living room. Tang Dahai found it hard to look directly at him, so he shifted his gaze aside.

Ye Fengyun joked, “Uncle, it’s our first meeting, but you don’t have to be so reserved. Why are you so embarrassed?”

Tang Dahai’s face clouded. Embarrassed? Who could bear to look at that face?

“It’s like this, Ye Fengyun: as long as you can save our daughter, we’ll accept you as our son-in-law.”

“Hold on, Uncle. I can save your daughter, but I absolutely refuse to be a live-in son-in-law! A man must have his dignity!” Ye Fengyun’s words were righteous and resolute, though somehow not entirely convincing.

Tang Dahai felt even more relieved; that was much better—otherwise, having to see that face every day would be unbearable.

“Alright, then come with me and take a look at Shihan first.” Seeing Lin Yuzhen return with the tea, Tang Dahai signaled her, and the three proceeded to Tang Shihan’s bedroom.

Inside, Tang Shihan lay quietly on the bed, her features wan and haggard from illness, skin pale and damp with cold sweat—so fragile and pitiful.

Yet, even in such a state, her beauty and graceful figure could not be concealed. Her brows were as delicately drawn as ink, her temples elegantly shaped, and her petite face was simply lovely. Her curves hinted at alluring charm, as if she were a plum blossom blooming in the heart of winter, evoking both admiration and pity.

When Ye Fengyun saw her, he was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected his fiancée to be so beautiful, her figure so perfect, her temperament so extraordinary.

Tang Dahai exchanged a glance with Lin Yuzhen, who nervously and carefully handed the tea to Ye Fengyun. “Young man, you must be tired from your journey. Have some tea.”

Ye Fengyun took the cup and drained it in one gulp.

In no time, his eyes rolled back and he collapsed.

Tang Dahai hurried to lay him on the bed. As Doctor Xiao entered, Tang Dahai announced, “Doctor Xiao, it’s done. He’s all yours now.”

Lin Yuzhen had already explained everything over the phone, so Doctor Xiao said nothing more and began to prepare for artificial insemination for Tang Shihan.

Yet, even the experienced Doctor Xiao was taken aback at the sight of Ye Fengyun’s face.

This was truly too hideous.

Steeling himself, Doctor Xiao said to Tang Dahai, “Go ahead and take off his trousers.”

“Alright.” Tang Dahai walked to Ye Fengyun’s side and had barely touched his waistband when Ye Fengyun’s eyes shot open.

“What are you doing?” Ye Fengyun stared wide-eyed.

“Ah!” Tang Dahai leapt back in fright. “Weren’t you unconscious?”

“Please! I’ve studied medicine since childhood. My skills aren’t the best in the world, but I’m immune to all poisons. How could you possibly drug me? I was simply playing along, curious to see what you were up to.”

He shook his head in exasperation. “But who would have thought you’d try to take off my trousers! I didn’t expect you to have such tastes, and right in front of Shihan, too. You really are something.”

A chill swept through the room.

Tang Dahai snapped, “Who has such tastes?!”

He was speechless. If not for Shihan’s sake, who would ever want to undress you? Frankly, even if you stripped yourself, I’d have nightmares for days.

Seeing the plan fail, Tang Dahai decided to be blunt. “Enough. I’ll give you a hundred thousand. Cooperate with us for artificial insemination.”

Ye Fengyun shook his head. “Impossible.”

“Two hundred thousand!”

“Not even for two million. You can insult my looks, but you can’t insult my character.”

“You little—” Tang Dahai was furious. How could this wretch be so infuriating?

“Character? An ugly freak like you thinks you have character? If not for your birth sign, do you think we’d let you in the door? You should take a good look at yourself!”

Tang Dahai exploded with curses and waved his hand. Immediately, a group of servants burst in wielding sticks.

“You’re going to cooperate, whether you want to or not! If you refuse, I’ll break your legs!”

Seeing they intended to use force, Ye Fengyun sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, helpless. “Why are people at the foot of the mountain so violent? As if you could actually beat me.”

“You brat, you’re asking for it! Beat him until he agrees!”

“Yes, sir!”

The servants surged forward, sticks raised.

Ye Fengyun, legs crossed, flicked his finger. Beams of white light shot into each servant’s abdomen.

They all froze, immobilized on the spot.

Tang Dahai shouted, “What are you doing? Get him!”

Ye Fengyun yawned, cleaned his ear, and lazily remarked, “How dull.”

With a unified thud, the group collapsed to the floor.

Tang Dahai and his family were dumbfounded.

What just happened?

Ye Fengyun stood, shaking his head. “I’ve practiced martial arts since childhood. At five, I’d read all the classic military texts; by eight, I could spar with adults; by twelve, I’d mastered every form of combat. I can’t claim to be unbeatable, but there are few above me. How could you hope to best me?”

Tang Dahai slumped to the floor, staring in disbelief at the scene before him.

He’d thought Ye Fengyun was nothing but an ugly, useless youth, valuable only for saving Tang Shihan’s life—never expecting him to be so formidable.

“My friends, it seems fate does not favor us. Farewell.”

With that, Ye Fengyun turned to leave.

“No!” Lin Yuzhen immediately dropped to her knees and clung to his leg, weeping bitterly. “Ye, you can’t go! If you leave, Shihan won’t survive the night. We had no choice but to do this!”

Ye Fengyun’s expression did not change.

Lin Yuzhen wiped her tears, choking back sobs. “We wronged you. Take revenge on us if you must, but Shihan is innocent. I beg you, save her! I’ll do anything—kneel, apologize, whatever you ask!”

Seeing Lin Yuzhen’s desperate love for her daughter, Ye Fengyun was slightly moved.

Parents’ hearts are ever the same; if not for their daughter’s sake, they would never act like this.

Moreover, Tang Shihan had once saved Ye Fengyun’s life. Even if not for gratitude, he could not simply watch her die.

After a long silence, Ye Fengyun finally spoke. “I agree.”