The scene briefly sank into an awkward, deathly silence, though the silence was not quite complete.
Standing beside the courtroom, Jiang Yingcheng covered her mouth with both hands, seemingly trying to stifle her laughter. She failed, little bursts of "Pfft, pfft-" leaking constantly between her overlapping hands.
It was even more mocking than laughing outright.
Wang Qizhi's face went from red to green, then green to purple, cycling through several shades before finally settling into pitch-black fury.
He turned his head and glared at the little girl, whose laughter was growing increasingly "outrageous," angrily correcting himself. "He's my father!!"
Wang Qizhi: "..."
This time, he reacted much faster than before, realizing what he had said almost the instant the words left his mouth. But-
"Pfft, hahahahaha-"
The violent little dumpling reacted even faster. Before he could correct himself again, a fresh round of ridicule had already begun.
Several people nearby had been struggling to hold their laughter in, only to lose control the moment they heard the little girl laugh. For a while, "Pfft, pfft, pfft-" rang out from every corner of the courtroom.
Even that heartless little brat turned his head at that moment and curled his lips in a mocking smile.
Wang Qizhi: "..."
Panting with rage, he turned to face the Prefect, looking for all the world like a bull enraged by a red flag. "Your Honor!"
Chu Zian hurriedly sat up straight, wiped the smile from his face, and gave a light cough. "What is it?"
Wang Qizhi met Chu Zian's gaze with a wooden expression, the accusation in his eyes furious yet helpless. He even looked a little shattered, rather incongruously so.
Chu Zian could not help leaning a little farther back in his seat.
Wang Qizhi took a deep breath. "Your Honor, you don't