Chapter 139: The Prepaid Phone Gift

Ye Bufan drove the car into the courtyard. As soon as he parked, he saw Ouyang De, Ouyang Zhi, Ouyang Cheng, and others coming out to greet them, all wearing beaming smiles.

The corner of his mouth curled into a cold sneer. In his memory, this seemed to be the first time he had ever seen these people being so enthusiastic.

However, he was perfectly clear in his heart what these people were scheming—nothing more than trying to wheedle money out of his mother.

"Big sister, you're finally back! We've missed you so much all these years!"

Ouyang De opened the car door and helped Ouyang Lan out. Ouyang Fei stepped forward to give her a warm hug, while the others gathered around, showering her with solicitous inquiries.

Ye Bufan stood to the side, shaking his head slightly. These people really knew how to act. An outsider seeing this would think it was a long-lost family reunion.

Little did they know that Ouyang Lan had been driven out by these very people. The reason they hadn't seen her for so many years was because they hadn't allowed her to return.

Although everyone was warm towards Ouyang Lan, they pointedly ignored Ye Bufan.

This was also part of the strategy Ouyang De had decided on in advance. To get their hands on that 10 million, they had to start with the soft and easily bullied Ouyang Lan, and moreover, drive a wedge between the mother and son.

In their view, getting money from Ye Bufan would be difficult, but taking money from Ouyang Lan would be easy.

After the initial pleasantries, everyone started moving towards the house. Suddenly, a hand grabbed Ye Bufan's arm and pulled him aside.

He turned to look. Standing behind him was a girl of about seventeen or eighteen—Yu Sitong, the daughter of his second aunt, Ouyang Shan.

Among the members of the Ouyang Family, Yu Sitong was one of the few who held favorable feelings towards Ye Bufan. Since childhood, she had always been trailing behind him, wanting to play.

Although Ye Bufan disliked Ouyang Shan, his relationship with this little girl was quite good.

Yu Sitong pulled him aside and whispered, "Little Fan brother, come with me. I have a secret to tell you!"

"You little rascal, you're looking more and more like a grown-up lady!" Ye Bufan reached out and ruffled her hair, saying with affectionate familiarity, "Go on, what's the secret?"

Yu Sitong said, "Little Fan brother, they just had a meeting. They didn't let me join, but I overheard a little bit. It seems they're planning to get money from you. You have to be careful."

"Oh, I see."

This was something he had anticipated, so Ye Bufan didn't say much more. He took Yu Sitong's hand and they entered the house together.

Although this kind of old mansion had a large total area, it had many rooms, so each individual room wasn't very spacious. With so many people gathered together…

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…it felt somewhat crowded.

Finally, the various elders took their seats, while the younger generation like Ye Bufan and Yu Sitong stood leaning against the window.

After a few more polite exchanges, Ouyang De shot a meaningful glance at the others and steered the conversation to the main topic.

Looking at Ouyang Lan's clothes, he said, "Big sister, I heard your family is well-off now, with a big restaurant worth seventy or eighty million. Why haven't you changed into some new clothes? These look so worn and shabby, unbecoming of your status."

Ouyang Zhi shifted his gaze to Ye Bufan and said, "Yes, Little Fan. It wasn't easy for my big sister to raise you, even though you're not her biological son. But now that you have money, you should at least buy your mother a new set of clothes. Surely you're not so stingy as to begrudge such a small sum?

If you're like this, we uncles can't just stand by and watch."

Among the six siblings of the Ouyang Family, the most scheming was this Ouyang Zhi. With one sentence, he first highlighted Ye Bufan's adopted status, drawing himself closer to Ouyang Lan while simultaneously driving a wedge between her and her son.

Ouyang Lan was also very aware that her younger siblings were eyeing her money. That's why, before leaving home, she hadn't worn any of the brand-name clothes Qin Chuchu had bought for her, opting instead for one of her own everyday outfits.

Seeing Ouyang Zhi question Ye Bufan, she hurriedly said, "Little Zhi, it's not Little Fan's fault. He bought me many new clothes. I'm just not used to wearing them. The old clothes are more comfortable."

Ouyang Cheng curled his lip and said, "Big sister, you've always shielded him since he was little. You're still the same."

Ouyang Fei chimed in, "Exactly. Who prefers wearing old clothes when they have new ones? He must just be too stingy to buy them for you."

"No, that's really not it…"

Ouyang Lan felt a pang of regret. If she had known, she would have worn a new outfit and spared her son this embarrassment.

She wanted to explain further when Ouyang Zhi's daughter, Ouyang Shan, spoke up, "Auntie, let's not talk about the clothes. But your phone is too shabby as well. Everyone uses smartphones nowadays. Who still uses this kind of old person's phone?"

"Really, Auntie, your phone is way too outdated. If you threw it on the street, no one would even pick it up."

The speaker was Ouyang Cheng's son, Ouyang Duo. This guy had a head of yellowish hair and wore a garish shirt, the front unbuttoned to reveal a python tattoo. He didn't look like a decent sort at all.

Ouyang Lan said, "You can't blame Little Fan for that. The phone is newly replaced. I'm just used to this kind of phone. I'm not comfortable with those touchscreen ones."

"Big sister, I ask you, how old are you really? Just turned…

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…50, right? There's no need to actually turn yourself into an old lady."

Ouyang Cheng, looking smug, pulled the latest model of a fruit-brand phone from his pocket and said, "Look, this is the phone Little Duo just bought for me. It cost over 10,000 yuan.

Actually, which of us elders really cares how much a phone costs? What matters is the child's thoughtfulness."

Ouyang Duo played along perfectly, "Look at what you're saying. I'm your own flesh and blood son. Even if I were broke, I wouldn't shortchange you."

Ouyang Fei said, "Exactly. A biological son is just different."

After she spoke, everyone in the room turned their eyes to Ye Bufan, their gazes filled with scorn and mockery.

Leaning against the window, Ye Bufan said nothing, merely watching their performance with a detached expression.

Yu Sitong spoke up, "Mom, why are you talking like that? It's just a phone. No need to make such a big deal out of it."

"Children shouldn't interrupt when adults are talking," Ouyang Fei scolded. "Is this about the phone? This is about filial piety, about having a conscience. Do you understand?"

Ouyang De put on a grave, earnest expression and said, "Yes, Little Tong. When you make it big in the future, you definitely mustn't give your mother a phone like this."

Watching these people take veiled and direct jabs at her son, Ouyang Lan was filled with anxiety, yet she didn't know what to say.

The Ouyang Family members clearly had no intention of dropping the subject. Ouyang Shan spoke again, "Everyone's got it wrong. I don't think this phone was bought at all. I bet it was a gift with a prepaid phone plan."

Ouyang Duo snatched the phone from Ouyang Lan's hand, grinning as he said, "It really is! With this kind of old person's phone, you probably get one free with a 500-yuan top-up."

Ouyang Shan said, "You're overestimating it at 500. The other day, I saw a similar model. You get it free with a 300-yuan top-up, and they even throw in a steel basin!"

Ouyang Duo said, "No way. Little Fan is a rich man now. He wouldn't only top up 300 yuan. I bet it was 500."

Ouyang Shan said, "I think this phone is only worth 300. Want to make a bet? I'll bet fifty cents on it."

Ouyang Duo said, "Sure! I may not have much money, but I can afford fifty cents."

The two of them bantered back and forth, thoroughly enjoying themselves, while the others around them roared with laughter, utterly delighted.

These people had been filled with jealousy ever since hearing about Ye Bufan's newfound wealth. It seemed this kind of mockery provided a cathartic release for their envious hearts.