The ones calling Jiang Zixing were the two men who had tried to pick a fight with Jiang Xun in the restroom at the reception.
"Zixing, you have no idea how vulgar Jiang Xun was. He actually hit us with a mop!"
Too embarrassed to stay at the reception, they had booked a room at the hotel to shower and change.
"Just thinking about it makes me sick. What else would you expect from a country bumpkin? Brutish and completely unreasonable!"
"Exactly!"
As the two took turns complaining, Jiang Zixing quickly pieced together what had happened.
He reined in his emotions, his delicate brows drawing together slightly, though his voice remained gentle. "Didn't I tell you not to bother him? Don't do it again."
"We just wanted to get back at him for you. He's always targeting you."
"I think he's just insecure and jealous. Your parents love you so much, and you're so talented. He can't measure up to you in any way."
Jiang Zixing lowered his eyes, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the photo album as a shadow of sadness crossed his gaze.
That had certainly been true before, but things were different now.
Jiang Xun had changed, and so had his parents and brother.
"How did someone like him ever catch Fu Yanli's eye?"
"Fu Yanli actually defended him and even kicked me over it. Fuck, my lower back still hurts!"
Jiang Zixing froze at those words. He abruptly raised his head. "What happened?"
The two held nothing back, embellishing their account of everything that had happened after Fu Yanli came in.
"Who knows how he's been licking Fu Yanli's boots behind the scenes?"
"Fucking borrowing someone else's power to throw his weight around. Does he really think the man gives a damn about him?"
Beneath their mocking