TYMRHBDES Chapter 21

“It’s nothing, probably just a malfunctioning valve. I have spare clothes, I’ll change in the car later.”

As Li Hongfang spoke, he glanced at the busy servants outside, feeling a twinge of irritation.

It was such a big party, and in order not to spoil the guests’ fun, there were servants everywhere, so how could such an accident happen?

With such a large party, there should be no surprises. If not an accident, then someone must be doing this on purpose.

The Bai family’s servants are going too far!

At least it was him who got wet. He was used to their taunts anyway.

If Jiang Luoluo had been drenched on his first party, those waiting for a laugh would have made fun of him mercilessly.

As he was walking out, he heard a flurry of footsteps approaching.

“Brother Hongfang, Luoluo, you’re here!”

Bai Tang’s sweet voice called out.

When he saw Jiang Luoluo, who wasn’t even a bit wet, his surprise was obvious. He exchanged glances with the nearby maid, then forced a smile. “A-Zhen said you two were around here. I came to find you!”

Bai Tang’s almond-shaped eyes landed on Li Hongfang’s drenched coat. His face crumpled in shock. “Brother Li, what happened to you?”

“The garden sprinkler broke. It got me all wet. I need to go change first.”

Li Hongfang’s mind was a tangled mess. He had seen Bai Tang’s subtle movements. He just didn’t want to believe it. [footnote] T/N: Unbelievably, he is not blind! [/FOOTNOTE]

How could someone he’d liked for so long do something so low?

He tossed out a few words and turned to leave, but just as he took one step,

Suddenly, Li Hongfang turned around again, his expression serious. “Jiang Luoluo, don’t forget what I said to you.”

Jiang Luoluo nodded.

Bai Tang watched the sudden familiarity between the two and felt a twinge of jealousy. After all these years, Li Hongfang had been running around trying to please him, and now he was suddenly concerned about someone else…

A hint of coldness flashed through Bai Tang’s mind before it was swiftly replaced by that familiar enthusiasm. “Luoluo, let’s go. The wine tasting is about to start. We’ve been waiting for you.”

Waiting for me? To what? To fall into a trap?

Jiang Luoluo brushed aside Bai Tang’s outstretched arm, his heart unmoved by the layers of fake smiles on Bai Tang’s face. He wasn’t good at pretending to be all friendly and chummy, and he had no interest in playing along with someone scheming and waiting for a show.

Jiang Luoluo looked Bai Tang straight in the eye and said, “No thanks. My husband told me to wait for him.”

Bai Tang’s expression darkened. With no one else around, he didn’t bother hiding his feelings. “You think you’re are worthy of calling him husband?” he scoffed, contempt written all over his face. “Couldn’t you look in the mirror and see who you are? You’re a country boy peddling your body to climb up the social ladder. You slept in a few fancy houses for a couple of nights and now you think you’re some little master?”

Jiang Luoluo looked back at him without any false modesty, “Then why don’t you take a good look in the mirror too? You use your body to seduce half a dozen men at a time, leading them on and off, and happily accept favors from each of them. What makes you better than the dancers at a club who sell their smiles to the highest bidder?”

Bai Tang’s face turned red as he fumed, “You—”

“You think you’re better than them because your rich clients treat you well and buy you lots of stuff?”

Bai Tang was furious. “Who do you think you are to talk to me like that? What makes you think you can judge me? What is your identity and what is my identity?  I’m the person Fu Tingchuan has loved for years. I’m the young master of the Bai family. What about you? Who do you think you are?!”

“Let me tell you, I could make him dump you with just one word. Then I’d let those men have their way with you!”

Seeing Bai Tang’s angry look, Jiang Luoluo said slowly, “Oh…”

Bai Tang felt like he’d hit a pillow and clenched his fists in frustration.

Jiang Luoluo pointed his chin towards the sound of footsteps. “He’s coming. Go ahead, give it a try.” His red lips curved into a smile, offering a good-natured suggestion.

To Bai Tang, it was a blatant provocation.

The footsteps were drawing closer. Bai Tang glared at the delicate Jiang Luoluo. His peach-blossom eyes darted as he caught Jiang Luoluo off guard and pushed him aside.

Jiang Luoluo quickly moved out of the way, leaving Bai Tang to crash to the ground with a thud.

The corner of Jiang Luoluo’s mouth twitched. It had been a long time since he’d seen such a cheap, elementary school bullying tactic.

Bai Tang looked up and gave Jiang Luoluo a meaningful stare:

Worried about looking silly? I’ll trip you if I can!

A leg emerged from around the corner of the garden. Bai Tang quickly put on his best pitiful expression, sprawling on the ground, and waited for Fu Tingchuan to come.

In the next moment, a burst of laughter came from behind the corner.

It was an unfamiliar face, laughing openly at Bai Tang on the ground. “Ah ha ha ha ha! Young Master Bai! You’ve finally met your match ah ha ha ha ha!”

Bai Tang’s face darkened. Wasn’t he supposed to be waiting for Fu Tingchuan? How come it was his archenemy Su Chen instead?

What a perfect setup for ridicule! This is just asking for trouble!

Jiang Luoluo’s eyes crinkled in laughter. He stopped cackling and looked down apologetically at Bai Tang. “Young Master Bai, I thought my husband was coming. I apologize for misleading you.”

Bai Tang was so angry his face turned green!

This Jiang Luoluo had taken him for a ride!

Bai Tang patted the mud off his hands and struggled to stand up. A maid rushed over to help, but just then, a voice came from around the corner again:

“Luo-luo!”

Bai Tang froze, refused the maid’s helping hand, and flopped back down onto the ground.

“Luoluo!”

Fu Tingchuan, tall and long-legged, strode over in a few steps. He reached Jiang Luoluo’s side in a flash and grabbed his wrist. “What happened?”

Jiang Luoluo shook his head. Afraid Fu Tingchuan might not have seen, he kindly pointed at Bai Tang on the ground. “Young Master Bai fell.”

Bai Tang’s voice was soft and delicate. “Tingchuan-gege…”

But Fu Tingchuan wouldn’t spare him even a glance. He wrapped an arm around Jiang Luoluo’s waist, looking anxious. “Did you get scared?”

Su Chen, who had been standing there watching this like a spectator, burst out laughing even more at these words.

Well, serves him right!

*

I hate how fake and dramatic Bai Tang is. He thinks he’s so special, that all men should be staring at him, and everyone else should dote on him!

Look who he got himself into now!

Bai Tang kicked some dirt off himself and stood up, his eyes red and puffy. “Tingchuan-gege, don’t you want to know why I fell?”

Jiang Luoluo wasn’t like this before…

At least back then, Fu Tingchuan always took care of me…

It’s all that little seducer’s fault!

He lured Fu Tingchuan away from me! It’s all his fault I’m being humiliated!

It’s all his fault!

Before his venomous glare could divert, Fu Tingchuan finally turned slightly towards him.

His eyes, as dark as abyssal depths, emitted a terrifying chill that threatened to steal Bai Tang’s breath.

A faint smile played on his handsome face, while disdain curled the corners of his lips. His voice resonated like a demonic fiend emerging from hell:

“Young Master Bai, be careful. If you fall again, you might not be so lucky to get back up next time…”

His cruel gaze, almost imperceptibly, shifted to Bai Tang’s legs.

Bai Tang stumbled back fearfully, feeling as if he had plunged into an icy pit.