He really is sick.

At Xia Xiantao's signal, a group of bodyguards not far away immediately rushed over.

"Mayor Xia, I am truly sorry."

Lin Guodong was utterly speechless at Xiao Nan's behavior.

Couldn't he change this bad habit of speaking without regard for the occasion or the gravity of his words?

However, since Xiao Nan had come today in the capacity of the Lin family's son-in-law, it wouldn't do to actually have him thrown out by force.

After casting an apologetic look at Xia Yunong, Lin Guodong turned back to Xiao Nan and said, "Xiao Nan, what are you spouting nonsense for? Hurry up and apologize to Mayor Xia and Young Master Xia."

Xia Yunong did not say anything for the moment.

He simply gazed quietly at Xiao Nan.

At his own birthday banquet, to be cursed publicly with a severe illness—

it inevitably caused him to lose some face.

However, as long as Xiao Nan was willing to step forward and offer an apology right now,

admitting that his previous words were immature and ignorant, Xia Yunong could let the matter slide for Lin Guodong's sake.

It would also showcase the magnanimity expected of the mayor of a city.

For a moment, all eyes turned to Xiao Nan.

"Why should I apologize? He really does have a very serious illness." Facing the countless gazes fixed upon him from the crowd, Xiao Nan spoke once more.

He was not someone easily inclined to lower his head and apologize,

especially when he was entirely in the right.

"......"

Instantly, everyone looked at him with speechlessness in their eyes.

Had this ignorant and audacious fellow eaten too many pills for brain damage?

Regarding his previous reckless outburst,

the Mayor, in his great magnanimity, had been prepared to let bygones be bygones.

Yet not only did he refuse to back down, he doubled down with another statement like that?

"Throw him out!" Xia Xiantao could no longer contain his fury, commanding in a deep voice to the bodyguards who had already gathered around Xiao Nan.

"There's no need for you to throw me out, I'll leave on my own."

If Xiao Nan did not want to leave, no one here could force him out.

Still, this was someone else's home after all. Since he was unwelcome here, he had no intention of lingering shamelessly.

He turned directly on his heel, leaving behind a final sentence without looking back: "Those who conceal their illnesses out of fear of treatment ultimately meet only one fate, and that is death."

"You bastard, you stop right there!"

Xia Xiantao roared at Xiao Nan's retreating back, looking as though he might rush forward and beat him up.

However, Xia Yunong called out to stop him. For the sake of the Lin family, he decided to let it go.

"I am truly sorry, Mayor Xia."

"Another day, I will surely bring this unfilial son-in-law to your doorstep to offer a formal apology."

Lin Guodong said to Xia Yunong with a face full of remorse.

Looking thoroughly disgraced, he led the members of the Lin family out of the grand hall.

Xiao Nan had come today bearing the identity of the Lin family's son-in-law.

Things had turned out in such a disastrous state.

What face did the Lin family have left to continue lingering here?

Outside the villa:

"Xiao Nan, tell me honestly, what on earth were your intentions in coming to our Lin family?"

"Before we came, we repeatedly implored and instructed you not to run your mouth, and you gave us your word. Is this how you keep from running your mouth?"

"That is the mayor of Lucheng we're talking about! Is he someone you can just offend as you please?"

"You weren't satisfied with almost ruining our Lin family last time, is that it?"

Lin Ziqing and Li Ailing, mother and daughter, fired off questions like a string of firecrackers,

bombarding Xiao Nan relentlessly.

Even Lin Guodong, who had always been quite protective of Xiao Nan, stood silently to the side without uttering a word this time.

Even he felt that Xiao Nan had acted far too recklessly today.

At the same time, deep regret washed over him for bringing Xiao Nan along in the first place.

He had originally meant well, bringing him out to broaden his horizons, never expecting it to end in such a fiasco.

"Dad, do you really think I can find happiness marrying a jinx and a troublemaker like this?"

Lin Ziqing, who had long wished to break off her engagement with Xiao Nan, seized the opportunity to look at Lin Guodong and say, "If this goes on any longer, I'm afraid our entire Lin family will be dragged to our deaths by him before the day of our official wedding even arrives."

Li Ailing also chimed in from the side, "Old Lin, I think Ziqing is right. We should call off this engagement the moment we get back."

"Don't do that, Auntie."

The moment the cancellation of the engagement was brought up, Xiao Nan immediately panicked.

If the engagement with Lin Ziqing was called off, where on earth was he supposed to find another physique of pure Yin?

If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have bothered warning that fellow surnamed Xia. Whether he lived or died was none of his business!

Fortunately, although Lin Guodong was somewhat displeased with Xiao Nan today, he did not waver easily on the matter of the marriage. He said in a deep voice, "Enough of this nonsense! A lifelong matter cannot be flipped back and forth on a whim."

"Say no more, let's go home!"

Inside the banquet hall:

After the Lin family departed, amidst the continuous words of comfort from the surrounding guests,

the gloomy mood that had arisen in Xia Yunong's heart due to Xiao Nan's disruption gradually dissipated.

Seeing that the guests were all seated once more,

he walked up to the host's seat at the center of the venue, picked up a wine glass, and raised it high.

After gesturing in all directions, he spoke in a clear voice, "Thank you all for your esteemed presence today. I, Xia Yunong, propose this toast to everyone."

With that,

he drained the wine in his glass in a single gulp.

"Wishing Mayor Xia a long and healthy life."

All the guests likewise raised their glasses of wine or beverages, finished them in one go, and called out in unison to Xia Yunong.

"Thank you, thank you all."

Xia Yunong's spirits had clearly surged. He picked up his wine glass again, intending to say a few toast words and propose another round to everyone.

Just at that moment, an unexpected change occurred.

Before Xia Yunong, whose mouth had just opened to speak, could utter his words—

he, who the very second before had been full of vitality and high spirits,

unexpectedly and without any warning, collapsed into a dead faint.

Had the people beside him not caught him in time, he would have crashed straight down to the floor.

"Mayor Xia!"

"Teacher Xia!"

"Dad!"

"Darling!"

In an instant, everyone rushed toward the collapsed Xia Yunong.

Because he was the undisputed protagonist of the evening and was right in the middle of the toast,

every single person's gaze had been fixed squarely upon him.

His sudden collapse was witnessed by everyone present.

Every single person in the entire banquet hall, without exception, was dumbfounded.

How could a perfectly healthy person suddenly faint just like that?

Someone in genuine good health would absolutely never pass out without warning.

In that moment,

the words spoken earlier by the banished Lin family son-in-law involuntarily flashed through everyone's minds.

So, he had actually been right?

Judging by the looks of it,

Mayor Xia really did seem to have a severe illness!

"Quick!"

"Quickly go and invite Divine Doctor Xu here."

Seeing that after Xia Yunong fainted, the color rapidly drained from his face with no sign whatsoever of regaining consciousness,

Xia Xiantao grew extremely panicked and hurriedly shouted to his assistant standing nearby.