Chapter 25: A Dazzling Transformation, From Octogenarian Matriarch to Alluring Beauty!

Lin Ziyu was quick-witted, moving instantly to support Old Mrs. Qin.

The members of the Jiang family were terrified, nearly losing their composure. If something were to happen to Old Mrs. Qin in their home, the Third Master of the Qin family would undoubtedly make the entire Jiang clan pay with their lives.

Old Master Jiang was consumed by fury. Raising his cane, he swung it toward Lu Fan, shouting, "You little wretch! What have you done to the old lady!"

"Stop!" Third Master Qin commanded coldly, intervening. He did not believe Lu Fan was capable of such a thing. "Mr. Lu, what has happened to my mother?"

Lu Fan explained calmly, "It is likely that the old lady’s age makes it difficult for her to instantly process the potency of such a premium elixir, causing her to faint. Do not worry, Third Master. Just find a quiet room for her to rest for a while, and she will be fine."

He spoke with such nonchalance that while the Jiang family remained gripped by anxiety, Third Master Qin found himself wavering between doubt and hope. Recalling his own experience, he decided to gamble on it. "Very well, find a room."

Father Jiang was frantic. He quickly ordered Jiang Ruxue, "Quick, take the old lady to the guest room to rest. Use the largest and most spacious one!"

"Yes, Father." Jiang Ruxue knew it was not the time to reproach Lu Fan, so she hurriedly ushered Old Mrs. Qin to the nearest guest room.

As soon as the Qin family departed, the Jiang family erupted into chaos, scurrying about like ants on a hot pan. The various relatives were all terrified for their own futures.

"We’ve been ruined by Lu Fan this time! If something truly happens to Old Mrs. Qin, how are we supposed to survive?"

"Lu Fan, you good-for-nothing! Even a hundred deaths wouldn't be enough to pay for Old Mrs. Qin’s life!"

Lu Rushan lunged forward, intending to slap Lu Fan, but Lu Fan caught his hand mid-air. "Have you finished making a scene?"

"You dare lecture me? My sister has already divorced you—do you still think you’re my brother-in-law? If you want to die, don't drag the Jiang family down with you!"

Lu Fan frowned. "Half an hour at most. Just wait. Is your life so fragile that you can’t even wait half an hour before passing judgment?"

Old Master Jiang glared at him viciously. "You are useless in success and a disaster in failure. Bringing you here today was my greatest mistake, you uncouth, dim-witted fool."

Old Mrs. Jiang, being of a gentler nature, tried to persuade him, "Liangcheng, Xiao Fan said we would see the results in half an hour. Don't be so angry. The Qin family hasn't even said anything yet..."

"Shut up! This is no place for a woman to speak." Old Master Jiang glared at Lu Fan again. "Are you in league with that Lin girl? Are you working together to sabotage the Jiang family?"

Lu Fan asked calmly, "If I wanted to destroy the Jiang family, would I have let you trample on me for five years before acting? Besides, what do I stand to gain from destroying the Jiang family? Why would I do such a thing?"

For five years, Lu Fan had always accepted insults without retort; this was the first time he had ever stood his ground to question the Old Master.

The Old Master was immediately incensed. "What kind of talk is that?"

Lu Fan stood straight, his expression proud and aloof. "In the past, I treated you as an elder. Now that I am divorced from Ms. Jiang, I have no further ties to the Jiang family. Rest assured, Old Master Jiang, regardless of whether Old Mrs. Qin is alright today, I, Lu Fan, will take full responsibility. I will not implicate the Jiang family in the slightest."

Jiang Ruxue, having just returned from settling the old lady, heard these words. Seeing Old Master Jiang’s fury, she urged, "Lu Fan, how can you speak to Grandfather like that? Hurry up and apologize."

Lu Fan’s expression remained unchanged. "Ms. Jiang, I believe I have done my best for the Jiang family for five years. Whether you looked down on me or trampled on me, I endured it. Now that I am no longer part of your family, I will no longer endure it. Whatever I owed you, I have long since repaid."

He then pulled up a chair and sat down. Feeling a bit thirsty, he poured himself a cup of tea and sipped it with complete composure.

Hearing this, Jiang Ruxue felt a wave of unease. She walked over to his side. Though Lu Fan was dressed in plain clothes, he possessed an innate, cold, and noble aura that made him seem like a stranger to her.

"Lu Fan, what do you mean? What do you mean by saying you've repaid what you owed the Jiang family?"

Lu Fan set down his teacup, unwilling to offer further explanation. "Exactly what it sounds like."

"You... Lu Fan! You’ve caused such a catastrophic disaster, and not only are you unrepentant, but you’re also putting on airs in my house."

"Grandfather, please don't be angry. Lu Fan didn't mean to defy you." Jiang Ruxue nudged Lu Fan’s arm. "Apologize to Grandfather! Can’t you see he’s furious?"

Lu Fan was unmoved. "Ms. Jiang, that is your grandfather, not mine."

"Xue'er, stop bothering with this man who doesn't know his place. He’s just mud that won't stick to a wall." Shen Qianye chimed in, delighted, standing to the side and offering snide remarks, waiting for the show to unfold.

Lu Fan looked at him indifferently. "Whether I am 'mud' or not, you will find out soon enough. As for you, Young Master Shen, you spent a hundred million on a counterfeit. Is it because you have more money than sense, or did you know it was a fake and do it on purpose?"

Lu Fan’s gaze pierced toward Shen Qianye like a sharp arrow, as if he could see through all his petty schemes.

The crowd began to whisper. "It couldn't be, could it? Shen Qianye is so wealthy—would he intentionally buy a fake to fool the old lady?"

"Didn't you hear the Third Master? The original was lost a hundred years ago. Everything on the market now is a reproduction. Perhaps Shen Qianye bought it deliberately, betting that no one else had ever seen the real one."

Jiang Ruxue frowned. "Were you really doing this on purpose?"

"Xue'er, you have to believe me. It’s only a hundred million—do you think I can't afford it? Why would I buy a fake painting just to humiliate myself? Are you really going to listen to this good-for-nothing and doubt me?"

Lu Fan had originally thought that the man Jiang Ruxue had pined for over five years was a decent person; now, he saw he was nothing more than this. He couldn't be bothered to pay attention, waiting quietly for the old lady to absorb the medicine's power.

His indifference further irritated Shen Qianye, who continued to incite the crowd. "Grandfather, our two families are about to marry into one. I would never do something so thoughtless. I am a victim here too, swindled out of a hundred million. As for this Lu Fan, he has no regard for his life and is bringing shame upon the Jiang family. In my opinion, you should punish him severely!"

Old Master Jiang had also grown tired of Lu Fan. He had intended to use him to climb the social ladder with the Qin family, but now, not only had that failed, but the Jiang family was also implicated. Having nowhere else to vent his frustration, he prepared to make an example of Lu Fan.

"Lu Fan, do you know your crimes?"

A cold, sharp female voice cut through the air: "I’d like to hear exactly what crimes young Mr. Lu has committed."

The voice was unfamiliar. Who was it?

The crowd turned and saw a middle-aged woman approaching. She had a perfect figure and an elegant bearing, but her eyes held a sharpness rarely seen in men—like a cold blade, icy and fierce.

Wait, why was she wearing Old Mrs. Qin’s clothes? Looking closer, the wrinkle-free face seemed to hold traces of the old lady’s features.

An incredible thought flashed through everyone’s minds. Could she be...?

"You... you wouldn't happen to be... Old Mrs. Qin?"