Chapter 50 – Cracks (2/2)

“I’m sorry, but I have to check on cousin Zhong now, excuse me.” Ye Wei bid his farewell, nodded at Joe Zheng Feng then headed out the door.

If the Runemaster’s legacy apprentice wanted to leave the room nobody could stop him, not even the Joe Patriarch.

A drop of golden sunshine landed on Ye Wei at the hall’s entrance. It lightened up his mood as he stepped away from the drama. He took a deep breath then moved on.

Looking at Ye Wei’s silhouette getting further and further away, Joe Yin felt emptiness and a sense of unease. She would later learn that something irreplaceable just left her life.

There was tension building up inside the great hall as Ye Wei departed.

Joe Zheng Feng felt as if he was sitting on a carpet made of needles. He did not know the relationship between Joe Yin and Ye Wei was this dire. He took a sip from his teacup then said: “Kids always make a huge fuss out of the small things, it should be resolved soon!” He smiled awkwardly as he spoke.

‘Ye Wei was Master Yi’s only legacy apprentice! If this engagement worked out we’d be protected by the Runemaster, even the Big Three would fear us… How stupid is little Yin? Why didn’t she tell me she messed up?!’ Joe Patriarch’s eyes darted around as his mind wandered.

‘Make a fuss out of small things?’ Ye Zheng Qing was not happy with how the Joe’s reacted during the Du family’s campaign, but he was able to be the bigger man because he thought Joe Yin was close to the hero of the hour. But now that did not seem to be the case, there was no reason to be nice to the Joe family.

“Dragons don’t associate with snakes, that’s a good one!” Ye Zheng Qing said in a cold sarcastic tone.

The Ye Patriarch’s words made Joe Zheng Feng feel increasingly embarrassed and uneasy, his face was red as a tomato.

Joe Wan could see how bothered Ye Wei was from his posture. The slow steps he took and how he kept his head down as he walked out. The enthusiasm she had earlier disappeared from her eyes. Although, she is related to the Joe family she is also Ye Wei’s mother. The moment her son revealed the details, she forgot about the engagement and started siding with him.

“Joe Patriarch, excuse me!” Ye Yi too wanted to leave the scene. He was there when his son told him about his red Sentient, he knew exactly how vulnerable Ye Wei was. To Ye Yi and Joe Wan, what Joe Yin did to their son was intolerable.

Their son’s wish was clear therefore they had no business here. They weren’t worried about his future, Master Yi’s legacy apprentice deserves better.

Aunt Jing Jing was known for her bad temper and caring for the youngsters, she stood up and grunted while staring at Joe Yin. It would have been less traumatizing if the insults came from a stranger, but she knew Ye Wei had been looking after and cared for Joe Yin since he could walk. Ye Jing Jing realized she did not pay enough attention to Ye Wei. ‘Only if I had spent more time to talk to him, it could have avoided him getting hurt…’

Following Jing Jing’s lead, the rest of the Ye’s left their seats quietly.

“For goodness sake!” Joe Zheng Feng trembled in anger under the social pressure, he shouted at Joe Yin: “What were you thinking? Apologise to them now!”

“Brother Ye, kids say silly things all the time, don’t take this too personal.” After shouting at Joe Yin, the Joe Patriarch spoke to Ye Zheng Qing in an apologetic tone.

“Don’t be silly, you are thinking too much. Why would I take children’s words seriously?” The Ye Patriarch sounded diplomatic, but his cold facial expression told another story; the recent developments showed him the darker sides of the Joe’s they were too opportunistic and manipulative.

“It’s getting late, and I’m not young and energetic like I used to be! Ye Hai, do you want to show the Joe’s the way out?” The Ye Patriarch stood up and faked a yawn.

“Sure, dad!”

Ye Hai stood up, “Uncle Joe, this way.” He said indifferently.

‘Drop the act…’ Joe Zheng Feng felt extremely bitter, not only did the Joe’s get embarrassed from the proposal. He was pretty sure the Ye family wouldn’t be interested in doing any kind of business with him.

A relationship that spanned through generations came to an end today. When the words from today spread, the Joe’s will become the laughingstock of the city.