Chapter 148: Your Dad Took the Elixirs
Father Zhuang chatted with a few people, but his eyes kept drifting toward Chu Feng and Zhuang Cheng. When he noticed the two looking back, he quickly averted his gaze.
Illya walked over to Chu Feng carrying a tray. “That Zhuang boss keeps sneaking glances at you.”
Zhuang Cheng, standing nearby, twitched at the corner of his mouth when he heard that. Illya calling his father ‘Zhuang boss’? That’s way too formal. But calling him ‘Dad’ also feels weird—after all, Second Brother still refuses to return to the Chu family.
“My dad,” Zhuang Cheng muttered.
Illya nodded and corrected himself smoothly, “Your dad is being sneaky.”
Zhuang Cheng: “…”
That’s your father-in-law! he wanted to say, but swallowed it back.
Watching Illya scarfing down one piece of cake after another, he thought to himself: He really can eat. How many cakes has he eaten already?
Lately, Father Zhuang had been looking into Chu Feng and discovered some strange things. He had some vague suspicions.
After Zhuang Cheng came back last time, he was evasive about who rescued him. Now, seeing how close he and Chu Feng were, Father Zhuang suspected that Chu Feng might’ve been involved in his son’s escape.
Illya turned to Chu Feng and asked, “Were a lot of people talking to you just now?”
Chu Feng nodded. “My sister is the one selling the elixirs, but a lot of people know I’m the source, so they came to butter me up or ask about them. The health elixirs seem really popular. I mentioned to Zhuang Feixue earlier that the supply would be delayed, which might’ve made some bigshots anxious—they want to pre-order.”
Illya tilted her head and said blandly, “The health elixirs are indeed popular. Lots of people here have taken them.”
Zhuang Cheng froze. Wait—lots of people here? These people usually act all dignified, but deep down, they’re this feeble?
“How do you know that?”
Illya raised his chin proudly. “I just have to sense their aura to tell.”
Zhuang Cheng thought: Seriously? Sounds like a load of crap.
“Your dad took them too. Don’t believe me? Go ask him.” Illya spoke confidently.
Zhuang Cheng blushed and lowered his voice. “Can you not say stuff like that out loud?”
Illya slightly raised his chin. “I’m not lying. He probably took them recently. I could sense the aura right away. And I’m pretty sure he took more than one.”
Zhuang Cheng: “Even if you could sense it, did you really have to say it out loud?”
How embarrassing!
Was Illya telling the truth? Mom did get some beauty and health elixirs from Sister Feixue, and the health elixirs were supposedly for some relatives…
Illya suddenly said, “People around here really love visiting relatives. Maybe next time when you visit someone, you can bring elixirs as a gift.”
Chu Feng shook his head. “Visiting relatives doesn’t need something that expensive. A couple boxes of milk will do.”
Illya nodded and said, “You’re right.”
Zhuang Cheng thought: Second Brother is so stingy, he’s even corrupted Illya.
Chu Feng looked at Zhuang Cheng with a serious expression and said, “Why are you looking at me like that? You’re still a kid—you can’t eat this.”
Zhuang Cheng angrily thought: …He doesn’t need it anyway.
Illya looked at Zhuang Cheng and said, “You’re still a minor. Don’t fall in love too early.”
Zhuang Cheng: What are these two trying to do? A couple’s tag-team attack!?
At the banquet, a few wealthy businessmen gathered together for small talk.
“Isn’t that the boyfriend of the Zhuang family’s swapped second young master? That’s the one! I heard Chu Feng refused to return to the Zhuang family because of him—chose beauty over the company! Bold move!”
“Do you think Chu Feng being swapped back then was really an accident?”
“There are hardly any true accidents in this world. Human-made accidents are far more common. That boyfriend of Chu Feng’s is a rare beauty!”
“Too bad he’s a man.”
“And such an appetite! I heard that the beauty elixirs and health elixirs are actually this young master’s. Miss Feixue is just helping sell them.”
“Really? Then we’d better get in his good graces.”
“The Zhuang family must be blind! Someone this impressive and they don’t hurry to acknowledge him?”
While Illya ate cake, his cheeks suddenly puffed up.
Chu Feng looked at him in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
Illya shrugged. “It seems like a lot of people are talking about me.”
Chu Feng originally just wanted to quietly attend the banquet, but they still got the attention. He didn’t know exactly what was being said, but it was probably nothing good. Chu Feng thought to himself: These upper-class people sure look dignified on the outside, but they’re just as gossipy as anyone else. Gossip really is human nature.
As Chu Feng was silently musing, several executives came over enthusiastically to chat about elixirs. Chu Feng forced a smile and made small talk with them.
Zhuang Feixue looked at Chu Feng and said with a touch of relief, “Chu Feng is quite popular.”
Zhuang Cheng rolled his eyes and thought: Popular? More like they’re all high on his elixirs. These people were acting way too enthusiastically—it had to be the drugs. Illya was right—many people here had bought the elixirs.
Zhuang Zhiyuan was chatting with a few business partners. When he turned around, he saw several execs circling around Chu Feng, while Illya was surrounded by a few high-society ladies. Zhuang Zhiyuan gritted his teeth in anger.
Those crowding around Chu Feng were mostly elder-level figures to him. He had to lower himself and work hard to build connections with them. And yet, those very same sly old foxes who barely gave him the time of day were now eagerly fawning over a delivery boy. Zhuang Zhiming could roughly guess the reason—although his brother disliked Chu Feng, he had secretly bought the elixirs and had been acting quite wild lately.
Zhuang Zhiyuan clenched his teeth and inwardly cursed those shameless opportunists.
“Sis, Illya’s getting swarmed!” Zhuang Cheng said.
Zhuang Feixue glanced over and said, “He really is.”
Zhuang Cheng looked at Illya, surrounded and blushing, like a little white rabbit trapped in a wolf’s den. Remembering how this “rabbit” had previously slaughtered everyone in his path, he felt a bit conflicted.
“Illya, what skincare products do you use? Your skin is amazing!”
“I don’t use any.”
“You don’t?! Oh my god, that’s incredible!”
“Illya, do you have any more of the Beauty Elixir? The effect is amazing!”
Zhuang Cheng looked at Illya and exclaimed, “Ah, these women are trying to take advantage of him!”
Zhuang Feixue: “…”
Zhuang Cheng walked over and pulled Illya out of the crowd.
Finally free, Illya let out a big breath and said gratefully, “Thank you.”
Zhuang Cheng waved it off. “No big deal, don’t mention it.” He thought to himself: Everyone has a weakness. Illya’s tough, but apparently helpless against women.
Illya frowned and muttered, “The females here are too enthusiastic.”
Zhuang Cheng: “…Males and females? What kind of phrasing is that?” In truth, these society ladies were fairly well-mannered—it’s just that Illya was too attractive, and people couldn’t help but want a piece of him. Beauty makes people lose their minds.
After the banquet, Zhuang Feixue escorted Chu Feng and Illya out.
She looked at Illya and reminded him, “Don’t forget the rare stone exhibition in two days.”
Illya nodded. “Don’t worry. I won’t forget.”
“Good.” Zhuang Feixue sighed in relief.
As her birthday banquet ended, guests began to leave one after another. Only the Zhuang family members remained.
“Dad, go get some sleep. Don’t you have a meeting tomorrow?” Zhuang Xue said to the man on the sofa.
Father Zhuang smiled. “No rush, no rush. By the way, you mentioned earlier that the elixirs were sold out. Did he bring any this time?”
Zhuang Feixue shook her head. “Chu Feng said there’s a shortage. No stock for now.”
Father Zhuang sighed in disappointment. “I see. A few of my business partners were hoping to buy some.”
Zhuang Feixue bit her lip, her expression a little strange.
Zhuang Cheng rolled his eyes and snorted. “Dad, it’s not your friends who want the elixirs. It’s you, right?”
Father Zhuang, a bit flustered, said angrily, “You brat, what nonsense are you saying?”
Zhuang Cheng puffed his cheeks. “I’m not the one saying it. It was that boyfriend of my brother. Illya has sharp eyes—he can even tell when someone took an elixir days ago.”
Father Zhuang looked surprised. “Really?”
Feixue, watching her father’s reaction, knew Illya wasn’t lying.
Illya said that since the health elixirs were so popular, they could be used as gifts when visiting relatives in the future,” Zhuang Cheng said glumly.
Father Zhuang’s face turned red in embarrassment.
Originally, when he heard that his eldest daughter was helping Chu Feng sell elixirs, he thought it was absurd. He even considered just giving Chu Feng some money to end the venture. But he hadn’t expected the elixirs to have such an outstanding reputation—so much so that even his business partners had come asking. When so many people inquired, Father Zhuang finally began taking the “health elixirs” seriously.
With a “might as well give it a try” mentality, Father Zhuang took one of the elixirs himself—and it was quite something. It was as if he’d instantly returned to his prime from over twenty years ago, full of vigor. The elixir didn’t seem to have any side effects either—on the contrary, the more he took, the more energized he felt. Pleased with the result, he ended up taking three elixirs in total. Not wanting to lose face at the upcoming banquet, he took one more right before attending—only to be found out. This left Father Zhuang feeling rather embarrassed.
Zhuang Feixue glared at Zhuang Cheng and said, “Xiao Cheng, did Illya really say we should start gifting elixirs from now on?”
Zhuang Cheng nodded. “That’s right.”
Zhuang Feixue thought about it and said, “Well, that’s not bad at all.” Beauty Elixirs were already quite famous; giving them as gifts would be a very classy move.
“Not bad?” Zhuang Cheng snorted. “Second Brother says giving elixirs as gifts is too extravagant. For visiting relatives, a couple crates of milk should be enough.”
Zhuang Feixue: “…Really?”
“Big Sis, did Second Brother say when there’d be more elixirs available?” Zhuang Cheng asked.
Hearing that, Father Zhuang perked up his ears. That was something he’d been wondering too, though he hadn’t dared to ask.
Zhuang Feixue shook her head. “Nope. I don’t think he’s focused on making money anymore—maybe he feels he’s earned enough.”
If she’d known the elixirs would be in such high demand, she would’ve set more aside. She’d never imagined both Zhuang Zhiming and their father would need them too. Just from family demand alone, the supply was running out fast.
Now she didn’t even have a single elixir left. Even the film director who had previously bought some from Chu Feng found them insufficient. When he called to ask for more, she had to tell him they were sold out. The director was apparently full of regret—he wished he had just bought the whole lot.
Looks like if Second Brother really is going for a scarcity-marketing strategy, those vitality elixirs are about to double in price.
Father Zhuang turned his face away, thinking: Not “about to”—they already have. Just a few days ago, several of his business associates had asked about buying elixirs, offering high prices. Word in the inner circle was that people were already paying top dollar to buy them back.
Zhuang Feixue shot another glare at Zhuang Cheng. “How do you even know this stuff?”
Zhuang Cheng grinned. “Everyone in the family’s been taking elixirs. Isn’t it natural that prices go up? I heard Second Cousin has gotten cocky again—constantly going to hotels with his girlfriend. Not sure if Uncle has been taking them too.”
Zhuang Feixue: “…”
Father Zhuang cleared his throat and awkwardly changed the subject. “Feixue, what were you and your brother talking about earlier?”
Zhuang Feixue shook her head. “Nothing important.”
Zhuang Cheng frowned. “Sis, did he say he’d bring you something good?”
Zhuang Feixue shook her head. “Not anything too special—just some wine.”
Considering all the elixirs her brother had shared were top-notch, the wine he brought probably wouldn’t be anything ordinary either.
Zhuang Feilei walked in at that moment. Zhuang Feixue looked at her and frowned. “Feilei, you haven’t left yet?”
“I just came to see if you needed help.”
Zhuang Feixue shook her head. “No need, someone’s already helping me.”
Zhuang Feicha looked around at everyone. “Sis, what are you all talking about?”
“Nothing.”
After all, the whole situation with Father secretly buying male enhancement elixirs wasn’t exactly something to brag about. No need to spread that around.
Zhuang Feilei noticed the awkward silence after she entered and felt a bit uncomfortable.
Father Zhuang looked at her with a slight headache and said, “Feilei, Li Chengjia came to speak with me about the marriage today. What do you think?”
Zhuang Feilei froze slightly, and said hesitantly, “He and I are just…”
Father Zhuang frowned. “It’s fine if you don’t choose him.”
After all, Li Chengjia had once been engaged to Zhuang Ming. Though he liked Feilei, the Li family didn’t really approve of the match.
In fact, the Li family had initially been open to the idea of a “partner swap,” but marrying sisters wasn’t exactly a good look. Worried about bad optics, they had hesitated for a long time. Once Zhuang Feilei’s true background was revealed, they no longer supported the match at all.
Since Zhuang Feilei wasn’t actually part of the Zhuang family by blood, her value as a political match had dropped significantly.
So Li Chengjia’s visit today likely only represented his personal intentions. If he were to accept the marriage on his own, the Li family would probably still have objections.
Zhuang Feilei lowered her head, a shadow flickering in her eyes. She did have a soft spot for Li Chengjia, but he hadn’t contacted her in several days.
What she didn’t know was that things had gotten out of hand—Li Chengjia had acted so out of line that the Zhuang family’s main branch and the Li family had publicly fallen out. To keep things quiet, the Li family had even locked Li Chengjia under house arrest.
