You Are My Favourite Medicine

River City.

Intercontinental Seven-Star Hotel.

Romantic Ballroom.

The largest and most luxurious banquet hall in the hotel was romantically decorated today. It was the date of the engagement between the young lady of the Lewis Family and the young master of the Howard Family. Two of the four minor families in River City allied through marriage. Many guests of exalted rank were present.

Regardless of gender and age, everyone was well-dressed and well-groomed, a sign of their respect and congratulations to the two families.

But exceptions were ubiquitous in this world. At that moment, a girl sitting at the piano was the ultimate exception in the hall.

Around 18 years old, she wore no makeup and had her black, smooth, long hair hang loosely behind her back.

She was pretty, but her outfit looked out of place. The plain linen clothes she was wearing were light, retro, and against the theme of the party.

When she sat at the piano in such clothes, the scene looked weird. If the musical instrument were a zither, it would be more harmonious.

"Who is she? Why is she dressed like that?" The guests discussed with each other.

"I heard that she is the daughter of Ruben's youngest son." An insider answered.

"The son who left home and became a live-in son-in-law?" As soon as Ruben Lewis's youngest son was mentioned, people remembered the scandal of the Lewis Family back in the days.

The youngest son fell out with his family for a woman and claimed to marry his beloved woman even if he had to become a live-in son-in-law. In the end, he was expelled, and the scandal caused a sensation across the city.

Years apart, his daughter grew up. Her appearance was good, but her fate was ill. Since her father was expelled long ago, she was not really a member of the Lewis Family.

No wonder her clothes were so shabby.

Despite the comments and ridicule, Ipomoea Lewis sat there quietly and waited for her performance. For her cousin and woman of the hour, she would play a piece of piano music.

Amid people's discussions, Rosie Lewis showed up in an engagement dress tailored by an internationally renowned designer. Her makeup was exquisite and her necklace was glittering with brilliance.

She was the young lady of the Lewis Family, a renowned family of medicine. Most of its family members were famous doctors and experts in the medical world. Brought up in such a family, the girl was naturally graceful.

In comparison, Ipomoea, the poor youngest lady, belonged to a different world.

In the limelight, Rosie walked onto the engagement platform. Ibrahim Howard, her fiancé-to-be, stood by her side. The two looked like a perfect couple.

Before the ceremony began, Rosie winked at the host. The latter took the hint, held the microphone, and announced a piano performance.

Once again, people's eyes landed on the girl in plain linen clothes.

The Lewis Family boasted great wealth. Couldn't they afford a professional performer?

Why did they have to let the youngest lady deliver the performance? Although she was not acknowledged by the Lewis Family, she was still related to them by blood.

On the stage, Rosie looked at Ipomoea with a complacent smile. The girl didn't know how to play the piano at all. To save her imprisoned uncle, however, she had to play Mariage d'Amour today. A layman like her couldn't possibly learn it within three days. In a moment, she would lose face in front of the nobles of River City.

A peasant longed to rejoin the Lewis Family. Dream on!

Rosie winked at her, warning her to play well or face the consequences.

Ipomoea lowered her head and placed both hands on the black and white keys. Her fingers were long, slender, and as fair as jade. The stage lights cast on her, silhouetting her soft side face. She was indeed a stunner.

When Ibrahim looked over, a flicker of amazement flashed across his eyes.

Rosie hated Ipomoea even more but had to keep her smile.

Clang...

Ipomoea pressed the first key, giving out a pleasant tune. Her movement was deft. No one could imagine that she started learning the piano only three days ago.

The melody came out of the case and reached everyone's ears. It was so slow and sad that people felt depressed.

"This... seems to be the second movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, the Funeral March!" Someone exclaimed, and the guests looked at each other in bewilderment.

Funeral March!

A piece of funeral music was played at an engagement party. What the hell was the Lewis Family doing?

Ipomoea's fingers danced, and she showed no intention of stopping. The baggy sleeves of her linen clothes fluttered with her movement.

Plain linen clothes and the Funeral March...

The faces of the Lewis family members turned gloomy. The smile on Rosie's face froze instantly and her expression became terrible.

Ibrahim's face also fell, and he reprimanded in a low voice, "Rosie, what the hell is your cousin doing? What do you take the Howard Family for?"

"It's not like that, Ibrahim. It's all that bitch's doing!" Rosie hastened over, looked at the performer with crimson eyes, lifted her hand, and pressed the lid down with a thud.

All prepared, Ipomoea drew back her hands in time.

"Ipomoea, you're so bold. How dare you play Funeral March at my engagement party!" Rosie looked at her face fiercely.

Ipomoea raised her face and gave a sincere smile, "Rosie, didn't you ask me to play?"

The guests gasped. Who would ask others to play Funeral March at her engagement party?

Amid the discussions, the Howards lost face and felt upset. In their mind, the young lady of the Lewis Family was outstanding in all aspects, and the marriage would be perfect. To their surprise, she had no sense of discretion. Was she trying to disgrace the Howard Family?

"Rosie, if you don't want the engagement, bring it to the table. How could you humiliate us like this?" Ibrahim angrily clenched his fists. His face was totally lost.

"Ibrahim, it's not like that. She is lying. How could I possibly ask her to play Funeral March! I asked her to play Mariage d'Amour." Rosie explained anxiously.

As the Howards misunderstood the situation, the other Lewis family members joined in the explanation.

"Shiloh, don't get us wrong. Rosie is a sensible girl who would never do such a terrible thing. This is Ipomoea's doing. That hussy is jealous of Rosie's engagement to Ibrahim and intends to ruin the engagement party." Rosie's mother, Lisa Oliver, quickly put the blame on Ipomoea.

"Yeah, Briggs, the Lewis Family values rules. Ipomoea didn't grow up in our house, and it's our negligence that we failed to discipline her. I promise we'll take her to your door and apologize!"

"I've told you that Ipomoea is a wild child and a liar. Does Rosie have any reason to ruin her own engagement party?"

"Don't interrupt the talk between seniors. Well, Briggs, I think we should proceed with the ceremony. The guests are waiting."

The faces of the Howards softened. They had to consider the reputation of the Lewis Family. Their friendship couldn't be ruined by such a small episode. Moreover, they didn't want to escalate the matter in the presence of so many guests.

"Bawl... Ibrahim, I like you so much. How could I possibly do such a thing?" Rosie took the chance to throw herself into Ibrahim's arms and cried bitterly, "Ipomoea, how could you frame me like this? Does it do you any good once you ruin my engagement party?"

"It's okay, don't cry, your makeup is spoiled." Ibrahim comforted her gently. When he looked at Ipomoea again, the appreciation in his eyes was replaced by disgust.

"Rosie, you asked me to play it. I've told you I don't know how, but you... you forced me to learn it." The meek tone of the young girl resembled that of an unpopular child who was often bullied at home.

"Nonsense, what proof do you have?" Rosie itched to tear her mouth apart.

Ipomoea hesitated in her speech and grasped the hem of her clothes.

Rosie knew her lack of evidence and looked at Ibrahim plaintively, "She is such a let-down. Ibrahim, I don't want to see her face again. Tell the security guard to drag her out."

Ibrahim agreed and beckoned to the security guards who immediately came up.

"Wait a minute." Ipomoea suddenly said as she took out a cell phone from her pocket, "I recorded it in case I learned the wrong music."

A recording!

Rosie was delighted to hear it. The recording would prove that she asked Ipomoea to play Mariage d'Amour.

Without further ado, Ipomoea asked the host for the microphone and played the recording. Rosie didn't stop her but waited for her humiliation.

"Rosie, I really don't know how to play the piano." Ipomoea's voice was aggrieved.

"I don't care. You can learn it and have three days. If you can play that piece of music at my engagement party, I'll ask my father to help your uncle." Rosie's voice was condescending.

"Rosie, this isn't appropriate... Why does it have to be this one? It's too difficult."

"It will be this one, and there is nothing inappropriate. Do it if you want to save your uncle."

Then the sound of the door opening came out.

Ipomoea whimpered, "How can I possibly learn the second movement of Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major in three days?"

The recording ended there. With anger, the faces of the Howards flushed again. The second movement of Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major was the Funeral March.

Rosie's face turned ghastly pale. Widening her eyes, she looked at Ipomoea in disbelief.

"Mr. Howard, Mrs. Howard, I was forced to do this. I didn't mean to play Funeral March. I don't know why Rosie insisted. I advised her, but she wouldn't listen." The rims of Ipomoea's eyes reddened. She looked like an injured rabbit.

The expressions on Briggs Howard's and Shiloh Ramirez's faces looked terrible. Never had they lost their faces so spectacularly!

Before ironclad evidence, Rosie still refused to admit it. She cried and accused Ipomoea, "No, it's not like that. I forced her to play Mariage d'Amour. This recording is incomplete. She didn't record the first part of my speech. Briggs, Shiloh, you gotta believe me. Ipomoea set me up."

The other Lewis family members joined in the explanation.

"Enough!" Briggs snarled, interrupted the chattering, and glared at Rosie's father, "Bob, you raised a good daughter, and our family is not good enough for her. The marriage pledge is off. From now on, Miss Lewis and Ibrahim are strangers. They are free to marry whoever they like."

After canceling the pledge, Briggs walked away in a huff with his wife, son, and others.

"Briggs, Briggs..." Bob Lewis called out anxiously but failed to keep them.

As the engagement party ended in a disaster, the crowd raised in a tumult and dispersed. It could be imagined that this matter would be discussed in the circle for at least half a month.

The Lewis family members were left in the large banquet hall. In the custom dress, Rosie laid herself open to ridicule. The family of her fiancé-to-be canceled the marriage pledge in public because she forced her cousin to play Funeral March at the banquet. Who would dare marry her in the future? Wouldn't he become a laughingstock like the Howards?

"Ipomoea, I'm gonna kill you." Rosie's makeup was smeared by her tears. Her eyes were crimson as she pounced on Ipomoea.

Ipomoea dodged swiftly.

Rosie failed to catch her and thudded on the floor.

"Rosie." In distress, Lisa rushed up to support her daughter and turned to Ruben, "Dad, you should hold justice for Rosie. What Ipomoea ruined is not only Rosie's marriage but also our friendship with the Howards. You should punish her severely."

The alliance through marriage would maximize the interests of the Lewis Family, and the sweet plan was wrecked by Ipomoea's Funeral March. As Lisa said, Rosie's marriage was spoiled. More importantly, the interests of the Lewis Family were damaged.

Ruben always put interests first. At that point, his rage was beyond words. He pounded the floor with his cane and instructed, "Guards, tie Ipomoea up and take her back!"

As soon as his voice died away, two bodyguards came up to catch Ipomoea.

Domestic discipline would definitely be exercised. A flash of a malicious smile crossed Rosie's eyes.

Their domestic discipline was severe. 50 lashes alone were enough to take half of Ipomoea's life and the 100 ways of punishment would soon take the other half.

Ipomoea, you made me lose face and my fiancé today, and I would take your life!

Rosie winked at the two bodyguards.

They grabbed Ipomoea's arms and pulled her backward forcefully. She was about to taste the pain of dislocated arms when the door of the banquet hall burst open.

The bodyguards paused and looked over in reflex.

In a tuxedo, a man, who looked like a butler, came in, followed by two stout bodyguards.

"Who are you? Wrong room?" A junior of the Lewis Family asked aggressively.

"Shut up!" As soon as his voice died away, Bob scolded him, "Wash your eyes, this is Mr. Warner."