“Chi Han, you’re here.”
Fang Jingluo casually flicked the string of jadeite beads wrapped around his hand, his gaze sharp and aggressive.
Chi Han’s face was cold and expressionless. He said nothing.
He had no idea what kind of madness Fang Jingluo had been on lately, ignoring him before, only to now start clinging again.
Looking for a beating?
Receiving no response, the emotion in Fang Jingluo’s eyes grew even stronger. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes half-lowered, and spoke in an incredibly intimate tone, murmuring, “Why are you hanging around this cripple again? Don’t you find it filthy?”
As he spoke, he didn’t even spare Rong Xu a glance. That arrogant, dismissive air of his couldn’t be more blatant.
Chi Han: “……”
Damn it, this mutt’s really asking for it, huh?!
Chi Han crouched down and turned his head to look at Rong Xu, his eyes filled with confusion. With an utterly serious expression, he asked, “Hey, Rong Xu, I think I just heard a dog barking. How can there still be dogs here in the Fang family’s ancient street?”
A trace of amusement instantly surfaced in Rong Xu’s eyes. Seeing the sly look on Chi Han’s face, most of the gloom in his heart faded away.
Ever since Rong Xu had cut his hair, his striking looks had turned heads wherever he went. Right now, he was attracting even more attention from the crowd.
“Probably some stray dog that wandered in by accident,” Rong Xu said coolly, lifting his chin with noble grace. His fingertips lightly brushed against Chi Han’s earlobe. Even while seated, every move he made effortlessly overshadowed Fang Jingluo standing before him.
Rong Xu smiled with icy elegance. “Be careful not to dirty your ears.”
The very words Fang Jingluo had said to Chi Han just moments ago were now returned to him word for word.
The smile on Fang Jingluo’s face was instantly tainted with a bone-chilling coldness.
As the two locked eyes, an invisible storm of blood and violence seemed to stir between them.
The ordinary onlookers behind them craned their necks but couldn’t see clearly. However, those standing at the entrance of the ancestral residence saw everything.
Now this was big news!
The cripple cast aside by the Rong family actually dared to confront the next heir of the Fang family face-to-face on their turf!
Live long enough, and you really will see everything.
Quite a few people from the Rong family were present this time, too. When they saw Rong Xu’s face, they were stunned for a long while.
Was that Rong Xu?
The one who used to always keep his head down and couldn’t even speak properly?!
For a moment, the Rong family members all looked at each other in bewilderment.
Especially with that commanding presence radiating off Rong Xu— even Rong Haoxuan, the current favorite of Rong Guanyu’s affection, couldn’t compare.
The younger generation quickly shed their old impressions, staring at Rong Xu without blinking.
Those with deeper or darker thoughts simply watched coldly, waiting for Fang Jingluo to throw the man out.
They exchanged mocking glances.
When did this Rong Xu suddenly grow such guts?
Could he be planning to anger the Fang family and then come crawling back to ask them for help?
Though the Rong family didn’t fear the Fang family, they certainly wouldn’t offend them so lightly over a useless cripple.
Especially since it was that cripple who started the trouble in the first place.
The Rong family members each had their own thoughts, but no matter what they were thinking, not a single one of them stood up to say a word on Rong Xu’s behalf.
The only one who had ever stayed by his side was Chi Han.
“You—”
Fang Jingluo had just opened his mouth when Old Master Fang coughed lightly, his gaze full of disdain.
“All right, all right. The guests inside are waiting for you. Why waste time out here?” The old man waved his hand dismissively and motioned for the guards nearby to drag them out. “I refuse to believe that old bastard from the Rong family would come looking for me over such a trivial matter!”
Chi Han’s gaze turned icy. He immediately grabbed the guard’s outstretched hand, locking it in place. Beside him, the assistant had already rolled up his sleeves, revealing firm, muscular arms.
The Fang family really had no shame, trying to get physical in front of everyone!
But what no one expected was that the person who ultimately stopped the guards… was Fang Jingluo himself.
Fang Jingluo patted one of the guards on the shoulder, a look of amusement on his face. “No need. Let him in. He’s still a Rong, after all.”
If Rong Xu didn’t come in, how would the show go on later?
Old Master Fang looked at Fang Jingluo with clear disapproval. He felt that this grandson of his had been acting strange lately. Normally, while mischievous, he at least had some sense of restraint.
But now, it seemed he was getting more and more reckless.
Seeing the old man’s expression starting to darken, Fang Jingluo also realized it wouldn’t be wise to push things further today. For once, he softened a little and said, “The people inside are getting impatient. Let’s go, let’s not stand here.”
Half-dragged into the hall, Old Master Fang was still fuming. “How could you let Rong Xu in?! Wasn’t what he just said already offensive enough for you?!”
Fang Jingluo gave a faint smile. “I have my reasons for letting him in. Besides… the matriarch of the Rong family, Madam Xu Man, personally asked someone to tell me to take good care of this grandson of hers.”
“Xu Man?” Old Master Fang was momentarily stunned. “What did she say?”
Fang Jingluo casually nodded in acknowledgment to the people congratulating him around them, then chuckled softly. “What else could she say? Naturally, the more humiliating, the better.”
Old Master Fang paused in his steps and frowned. “The Rong family’s affairs, what are you getting involved in…?”
Fang Jingluo slowly wound the jadeite beads around his wrist, then, after a moment, gave a proud, arrogant smile. “I have my reasons for getting involved. Anyone who dares provoke me… from this day on, even if I don’t lift a finger, the Rong family will do it for me.”
He raised his wine cup and, amid waves of applause from the crowd, downed it in one go.
Rong Xu.
The real suffering has only just begun.
***
After Chi Han and Rong Xu entered, they happened to see Fang Jingluo putting on a performance, drinking like some kind of circus monkey for all to see.
Chi Han quickly took a few more glances at Rong Xu, just to cleanse his eyes.
“Chi Han!!”
Amid all the voices of flattery and congratulations, a crisp female voice suddenly rang out. Chi Han looked up in slight confusion.
“…Geng Xue?!”
At this moment, Geng Xue had already shed her black-and-white school uniform. She now wore a playfully colored pink dress, her long hair coiled up with just two soft locks left hanging by her ears.
She looked exceptionally gentle and lovely.
As long as she didn’t open her mouth.
“This way, this way!”
Geng Xue raised her arm and waved it above her head with such force that it stirred the air, afraid Chi Han might not see her.
Chi Han: “……”
Chi Han pushed Rong Xu over and sat him down. Fortunately, the corner was secluded, and the table was small. With the three of them plus the assistant, the seats were completely filled.
Chi Han spoke with a heartbroken expression, “Geng Xue, can’t you consider your outfit for once? Look at the other girls at the other tables—aren’t they all quiet and ladylike?”
Geng Xue: “?”
Hello?
May I ask if this gentleman has already forgotten the recent incident where he lifted his hanfu skirt to look for his phone?
Rong Xu cast a cool glance at Geng Xue. Today, Geng Xue was wearing a sleeveless short dress that outlined her slender waist perfectly.
In the end, his gaze returned to Chi Han.
Likes quiet and ladylike?
Rong Xu’s gaze turned a little dangerous.
Receiving Rong Xu’s look, Geng Xue immediately straightened her back.
She put on the coat hanging on the nearby rack, sat up straight with perfect posture, and looked seriously at Fang Jingluo in the center, as if she were studying one of the world’s top ten unsolvable problems.
Chi Han casually poured tea for the others, then turned his head to find that Geng Xue had somehow put her coat back on without him noticing.
Chi Han: “…”
Chi Han rubbed his forehead. “What’s wrong with you now?”
Geng Xue wore a face full of frustration at someone’s lack of effort. How could such a blockhead exist in this world? She was literally the lifelong stumbling block of their shipper community!
In the end, she could only hold back her breath and angrily say, “I’m cold!”
Chi Han glanced at the indoor thermometer reading and sighed softly.
God have mercy. How could this kid be suffering from frozen shoulder at such a young age?
The assistant nearby quietly took a sip of tea, thinking how truly pitiful their young boss was.
The dishes they had ordered began arriving one by one, each plated exquisitely.
Old Master Fang, with Fang Jingluo, followed proper etiquette to propose toasts, but in truth, only one or two tables were qualified to join.
Most of the time, it was others holding their wine glasses who came to toast Fang Jingluo.
What they were actually toasting was the Fang family behind him.
As the banquet neared its end, two servants suddenly entered through the door, carefully pushing a four-wheeled cart. On it was an object about half a person tall, covered by a red cloth.
Following behind the servants was the carver Lu Min.
Rong Xu leisurely put down his chopsticks, picked up a tissue beside him, and wiped his fingertips. A faint gleam flashed in his eyes.
The spot that was once within easy reach had suddenly been taken away—one wonders what Fang Jingluo would think of this?
Old Master Fang, rarely drinking, was now slightly intoxicated. Smiling, he raised his hand and pulled off the red cloth, revealing a piece of colorless, glass-like jadeite. The clear and transparent interior made everyone realize that this uncarved raw material was priceless.
“Jade nourishes the grass and trees on the mountain; when a person keeps jade, all things prosper. I only obtained this piece of jadeite with such fine quality by a stroke of luck.”
Old Master Fang stroked his beard, smiled, and patted Fang Jingluo’s shoulder, pride overflowing in his expression.
“A while ago, my Jingluo found a carver whose technique is incredibly exquisite. Only he can reveal the absolute beauty hidden in this jadeite.”
Fang Jingluo smiled smugly and patted Lu Min’s shoulder.
“Aren’t you going to show everyone your skills?”
