Jiang Xun's entrance was so explosive that even Ji Yuntian, who had kept his head lowered in silence, lifted his eyes to glance at him.
Ji Ming stood up, narrowing his eyes as he suspiciously sized up the person who had suddenly appeared before him. Then his mouth twisted into a sneer, and he mocked him without restraint:
"Aren't you that country bumpkin from the Jiang Family? You're so damn dark. If it weren't for the lights here, I wouldn't even be able to see you."
The Jiang Family wasn't to be crossed lightly, but Jiang Xun was another matter. Ji Ming didn't take him seriously at all, and his attitude was outrageously arrogant.
Jiang Xun had heard remarks like that so often that he wasn't upset.
He glanced at Ji Yuntian, who had fallen to the ground, before turning his gaze to Ji Ming. Folding his arms, he drawled, "Then those two things under your eyebrows must be eggs. All they do is blink-they sure can't see."
His tone was airy, but his words could infuriate someone to death.
He was a master of snide remarks.
Ji Ming's expression immediately darkened. Where did this bumpkin get the nerve to challenge him?
"What, you want to stick your nose in? Who the hell do you think you are? Do you have a fucking death wish?!"
Jiang Xun discreetly assessed Ji Ming's build. With his own scrawny little frame, he definitely couldn't win a fight.
"What? Too scared to talk now? Weren't you acting all tough a second ago?"
"A hick like you will never be a phoenix, no matter how high you climb."
Jiang Xun's tone remained airy as he uttered two words: "At you."
"Are you fucking sick in the head? Go back to the countryside and farm, you bumpkin!"
Jiang Xun said, "At you."
"Fuck, say that one more time and see what happens!"
Jiang Xun said, "At you."
"..." Ji Ming's face was practically turning green. He muttered a curse, undid the buttons of his suit jacket, and prepared to take a swing at Jiang Xun.
Jiang Xun suddenly looked past his shoulder, squinted slightly, and muttered, "Isn't that Chairman Ji?"
His acting was so convincing that Ji Ming paused and instinctively turned to look.
Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Xun darted two steps forward and delivered a swift, precise, vicious kick to Ji Ming's backside.
Off you go!
Caught completely off guard, Ji Ming cried out in alarm, then fell into the fountain pool with a splash, flailing on his back like a turtle.
Jiang Xun hurriedly bent down and took Ji Yuntian by the arm. Although Ji Yuntian was thin, he was tall and hardly light. Jiang Xun struggled to help him into his wheelchair, then pushed it away and vanished in a flash.
If he didn't run fast enough, Ji Ming would catch up, and he couldn't beat him in a fight.
The lighting was dim, so he hadn't noticed someone else standing in an inconspicuous corner opposite them, watching the entire scene.
The tall figure almost blended into the thick darkness of the night. Only the half-smoked cigarette between his fingers glowed with a tiny point of light.
"Fuck!"
Ji Ming climbed out of the pool, soaking wet, and wiped his face. He had barely taken a few steps in pursuit when he saw someone approaching from the side.
He screeched to a halt and forced a flattering smile onto his face. "Mr. Fu, what brings you here?"
Ji Ming knew perfectly well whom he couldn't afford to offend.
Fu Yanli held a cigarette between the long fingers of his hand at his side. He didn't smoke it, simply letting it burn until the wind sent the ash drifting down.
Only after a moment did he answer, "Getting some air."
Ji Ming nodded in understanding, still preoccupied with getting revenge on Jiang Xun. "I see. I'll leave you to it, then. I'll be going."
He was just about to step away when Fu Yanli spoke again, his voice level. "Chairman Ji was looking for you."
Ji Ming froze for a moment, then nodded with an awkward smile and politely thanked Fu Yanli. "All right... I'll go find my dad now."
Damn it, that hick got lucky this time. I'll remember this.
Fu Yanli watched Ji Ming walk away, then calmly withdrew his gaze. The cigarette between his fingers had nearly burned out. He stubbed it out and tossed the butt into the nearby trash can.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xun had pushed Ji Yuntian into an empty stairwell. He peered through the crack in the door for quite a while, and only breathed a sigh of relief when Ji Ming showed no sign of pursuing them.
Six-Six-Six: [Ding-Congratulations, host, on completing the random mission. Five hundred points have been credited.]
With his reward secured, Jiang Xun turned around in high spirits and looked at Ji Yuntian in his wheelchair.
The stairwell was well lit, so he finally got a clear look at him. He was very thin, and his skin had a sickly pallor that stood in stark contrast to Jiang Xun's dark, wheat-toned complexion.
As the original novel's second male top, he was naturally good-looking. His features were delicate and beautiful. Despite his pale face, his lips looked as though they had been stained with rose juice.
Even though he was in a wheelchair and had just been humiliated by his older half brother, he didn't look the least bit disheveled. His entire bearing was elegant and refined.
Like... a Western vampire.
Of course, Jiang Xun wasn't about to be dazzled by the beauty before him. But he couldn't casually offend a deranged criminal-in-the-making like this, either, or he might get killed one day.
He put on a concerned expression and asked solicitously, "Are you all right?"
At that, Ji Yuntian lifted his eyes to Jiang Xun. The corners of his mouth rose slightly as he gave him a friendly smile. "Thank you for saving me just now."
That smile made Jiang Xun's skin crawl. He was terrified Ji Yuntian might whip out a knife and kill him the very next second.
He shifted his gaze to Ji Yuntian's shoulder. "Um, there's something on your shoulder."
Ji Yuntian turned to look. What appeared to be a butterfly was perched on his shoulder. It was pale green all over, roughly half the size of a palm, and quite pretty.
It had probably flown over from the rooftop garden.
Jiang Xun watched Ji Yuntian reach out his hand, and the little creature settled in his palm.
He quietly admired it for a while, then looked up at Jiang Xun, blinked, and asked with a smile, "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Jiang Xun nodded in agreement.
Then he saw Ji Yuntian pinch the little creature's wings between his fingertips. He pulled hard with both hands, and the wings tore apart with ease.
How cruel.
Ji Yuntian tossed away the torn remains and looked up at Jiang Xun again, a touch of innocence in his light brown eyes.
"A butterfly this beautiful should be preserved at its most beautiful moment. Don't you agree?"
Jiang Xun stiffly tugged up the corners of his mouth. "Yes."
Okay, but that wasn't a butterfly. It was a big fluttery moth, Mr. Future Felon.
He smiled at Ji Yuntian again. "Well, since that guy hasn't come after us, I'd like to head back."
"Wait." Ji Yuntian suddenly stopped him. "I have trouble getting around. Could you take me back to my room?"
Jiang Xun didn't think that would be very convenient for him. He brushed up the troublesome bangs covering his eyes and brows, smiling pleasantly. "You should be able to get back on your own, right?"
"I'm scared to be alone. If he comes to bother me again, I won't be able to handle him." Ji Yuntian lowered his eyes, an air of dejection settling over him as he murmured, "After all, I'm just a useless cripple."
"Do you look down on me too?"
Jiang Xun said, "..."
You've really mastered the art of playing innocent. Did you take classes?