Chapter 47 – Showing Off

In that critical moment, just as Thorn Ball was about to pounce on the woman’s face, a slender, long-fingered hand intercepted it in mid-air, grabbing it by the scruff of its neck and pulling it back.

Thorn Ball was still in an agitated state, frantically trying to escape the hand gripping its scruff. After a few struggles, it received a light slap, followed by a gentle caress. A familiar, comforting scent enveloped it, and Thorn Ball miraculously calmed down.

At this moment, everyone stared in disbelief at the hero of this damsel-in-distress rescue—Lin Ganzhi.

No one had expected the ordinary-looking pretty boy standing next to Yan Shengping to be so agile. His speed was so fast their eyes could barely track it. Crucially, his expression remained utterly calm from beginning to end. The kitten that had been so ferocious just moments ago was now as docile as a baby in his arms.

The crowd: Excuse me, are we watching a live acrobatics performance?

Yu Renzhen took a while to recover from the shock. Her pale face had not yet fully regained its color when she quickly walked up to Lin Ganzhi, her expression full of gratitude. “Thank you! If it weren’t for you, my face would have been scratched. This is my business card. I owe you a favor. When you have time someday, I’ll treat you to a meal.” Although Yu Renzhen’s words were polite formalities, her sincere attitude moved Lin Ganzhi. There was no nonsense, and she handed over her card very decisively.

When Lin Ganzhi was a low-tier actor, he often heard third- and fourth-tier seniors at the company openly discussing which entrepreneur or famous director had given them their business card at some banquet, after which good things would come their way.

Lin Ganzhi was somewhat flattered as he accepted it, smiling shyly. “It was nothing.” His easygoing and friendly attitude was seen by Yu Renzhen and noted in her heart.

But then, something else unexpected happened to the onlookers. Yu Renzhen, wearing ten-centimeter stilettos, turned and walked back, heading straight for Min Yunlu.

Min Yunlu’s hands clenched nervously. She thought to herself, She wouldn’t blame me, would she? It was so chaotic, who could see clearly!

But reality gave her a resounding slap in the face.

Smack!

The spacious garage fell silent.

The force of Yu Renzhen’s slap was so great that even the hairpin on her head came loose, and her long, waterfall-like black hair fell to her waist. Her aura was fully unleashed. Her fair palm was red, showing just how much force she had used.

Lin Ganzhi, whose jaw dropped from the drama, instinctively leaned back and found himself against a warm, broad chest. Yan Shengping reached out a hand and squeezed Lin Ganzhi’s lower back, signaling him to stand properly.

A tingling sensation spread from Lin Ganzhi’s lower back, but at the same time, he obediently stood still to watch the show.

Min Yunlu was stunned for several seconds before large tears began to fall. This slap not only hurt her physically but also humiliated her in front of so many socialites.

“What are you doing!” Min Yunlu cried out, raising her left hand to strike back. Yu Renzhen forcefully grabbed her wrist, then slapped Min Yunlu’s other cheek just as hard with her other hand.

Holy crap!

At this moment, the inner thoughts of the crowd were surprisingly unanimous.

Min Yunlu was now crying in complete rage, trying to hit Yu Renzhen. Yu Renzhen held her down with one hand and shouted, “Min Yunlu, what right do you have to fight back! I was standing behind you perfectly fine. You secretly opened the car door, you reached out to grab the cat, and when you couldn’t handle it, you used me as a shield, didn’t you? Do you think Yu Renzhen is someone you can just push around? What are you crying about! You’re the one who got slapped, and you’re acting aggrieved?”

The truth was laid bare, word by word, by Yu Renzhen in a crisp and decisive manner. Min Yunlu wanted to cover it up, but she was so intimidated by Yu Renzhen’s aura that she didn’t know where to begin.

Then, Yu Renzhen pointed to a nearby camera. “The camera is right there. Don’t even think about playing the victim to clear your name. If you’re injured, our Yu family can afford the medical bills. But for using me as a shield, we’ll see you in court! Consider these two slaps a little appetizer!”

Lin Ganzhi was one step away from giving a standing ovation. What a badass!

Unlike Lin Ganzhi and the others, Min Yunlu had at least a few superficial friends here. But after Yu Renzhen’s actions, those superficial friends had long since hidden themselves and fallen silent, even though those same people had been egging Min Yunlu on to open the car door just moments ago.

In this awkward situation, only the host could act as a peacemaker, even though for the Qin family, offending ten Yu and Min families would be of no consequence.

Qin Taotao stepped forward. “Today’s events have caused trouble for everyone. The banquet is about to begin, so let’s not all stay in the garage.”

Then, she looked at Yu Renzhen. “Miss Yu, I’m very sorry about the incident with Thorn Ball. I’ll have Uncle Liu arrange a guest room for you to rest in.”

Yu Renzhen waved her hand, knowing when to quit while she was ahead. She smiled and said, “It’s nothing. It wasn’t Miss Qin’s fault to begin with. I’m actually thirsty right now. I heard the wine you’re using this time is a fine vintage from a private cellar. I must have a good taste.”

Qin Taotao smiled and said okay. Then Yu Renzhen took the lead, tossing her head back domineeringly and leaving the garage on her high heels.

Min Yunlu stood frozen. As the crowd was about to disperse, she saw a familiar figure and was about to call out when…

Zhong Jingyi turned his head, his fingers lightly touching his lips. Standing in a camera’s blind spot, his eyes were cold, but his lips still held a pure and kind smile, full of warning.

Min Yunlu’s face turned deathly pale, and she clamped her mouth shut.

After the irrelevant people had left, only Uncle Yan, Lin Ganzhi, Yan Shengping, Qin Taotao, and the frozen Min Yunlu remained in the garage.

“Miss Min, if there’s nothing else, you should leave. You are no longer welcome at future Qin family banquets,” Qin Taotao said, her tone full of authority.

The Qin family had no welcome for a malicious person who would casually use others as a shield.

Min Yunlu nodded numbly, her face pale. As she was about to turn, her gaze strangely locked onto Yan Shengping and Lin Ganzhi. “What about these two? They’re not even in this circle anymore.” She didn’t remember the Qin family having many dealings with the Yan family.

Qin Taotao frowned. “What, in your understanding, must friends be rich and have their own companies?”

Min Yunlu was so thoroughly rebuked that she couldn’t say a word, her eyes filled with utter shock. Friends? Yan Shengping and the second young lady of the Qin family were friends?

Qin Taotao couldn’t be bothered with such a person. She walked over to Lin Ganzhi and stroked Thorn Ball’s head. “Brother Shengping, Ganzhi, let’s go out first. Let’s take Thorn Ball to my room.”

Lin Ganzhi nodded and placed the now-quiet Thorn Ball into Qin Taotao’s arms. Although he had only known Qin Taotao for two days, Thorn Ball was smart. He knew who his loyal little slave was. After a slight struggle, he settled comfortably into Qin Taotao’s arms.

It was, after all, a bit safer than being with the two devils beside him.

After settling Thorn Ball, Lin Ganzhi still couldn’t recover from the magnificent sight of the two-hundred-square-meter cat paradise. He leaned on Yan Shengping’s shoulder all the way downstairs. The joy of the rich, he really couldn’t imagine it!

By the time they came down, the banquet had officially begun. Amid everyone’s blessings, Qin Taotao cut the cake. Then, she was surrounded by all sorts of upper-class people, a stark contrast to Lin Ganzhi and Yan Shengping’s current cold-shouldered situation.

However, after what had just happened, most people had reined in their contempt and gossip, simply treating them as ordinary people. But due to their perceived poverty in the eyes of outsiders, very few people struck up a conversation with them.

They simply found a table with few people and sat down.

“I’m going to get some food. Miss Qin told me their chef’s cake is to die for! Do you want chocolate or matcha flavor?” At this moment, Lin Ganzhi wished he had a motor to propel him to the food area.

Yan Shengping thought for two seconds. “Matcha is fine.”

He liked sweets, but not overly sweet ones. Lin Ganzhi gave him a “got it” look and then walked away quickly, like a happy little squirrel. Yan Shengping’s gaze gradually softened.

It seemed that waiting for someone wasn’t so boring after all.

Soon after, a commotion broke out not far away. A tall figure emerged from the crowd and walked straight towards Yan Shengping.

Yan Shengping leaned back slightly. Even with his sickly appearance, his aura was not inferior to anyone’s. He calmly watched the person approaching.

“Teacher Yan, long time no see!” Standing in front of Yan Shengping was a man nearly 187 centimeters tall, dressed in an exquisite suit. His hair was combed back and sprayed with a thick layer of hairspray. In contrast to his mature attire was his smile. His wheat-colored face revealed a standard eight-toothed grin, sunny and energetic.

For the first time in a long while, Yan Shengping slowly smiled. “I don’t remember having such an old student. You’ve been in the army for several years and still haven’t graduated?”

Being spoken to like this by Yan Shengping, Qin Feichen wasn’t upset. Instead, he stepped forward and gave Yan Shengping a big hug. “Brother Yan, I missed you so much!!”

The crowd behind them, who had been eagerly waiting to curry favor with this newly returned young master from the military: How is Qin Feichen also connected to these two! Not even a TV drama would be written like this! We’ve never seen you have any connection before!

Mental breakdown.jpg

Qin Feichen sat down next to Yan Shengping. “I just got off the plane today. At every other banquet, weren’t people falling over themselves to suck up to you? What’s going on now?” Qin Feichen was straightforward and asked without thinking.

Yan Shengping smiled calmly. “It’s just rats scattering from a falling tree.” He said such a serious matter so lightly, as if he didn’t care at all.

This time, Qin Feichen was not calm. “What happened? Let’s go! Let’s go upstairs and talk.”

Qin Feichen was about to pull Yan Shengping’s hand, but Yan Shengping held him back. “Wait.”

“What’s there to wait for! I know the people in this circle! Who else would come and talk to you.” Qin Feichen’s face was grim.

Yan Shengping didn’t speak, just placed his left hand on top of his right. Qin Feichen’s gaze fell squarely on the silver ring on Yan Shengping’s left hand. As if that wasn’t enough, Yan Shengping rotated the ring completely, giving off a strange sense of wanting to show off.

Qin Feichen was stunned, dumbfounded.

His noble, aloof, workaholic Brother Yan, who was unapproachable to both men and women, had skipped dating and gotten married directly?