Song Hao had done it deliberately. His voice was so loud that his words drew almost everyone's attention. Anyone could see how confrontational he was being.
One was the Song Family's young master, a top-tier wastrel in their circle; the other was an honored guest whom Qing Fen respected and who had already stolen the limelight. A clash between these two in public naturally drew even greater attention.
And judging by what Song Hao had just said, he seemed to be suggesting... that this Lin Fei was actually a fraud posing as an enlightened master?
In other words, Qing Fen treated him with such respect not because of his status, but because he had been deceived?
As this thought crossed many people's minds, their gazes toward Lin Fei grew strange.
A smug sneer curled at the corner of Song Hao's mouth. He was ready to expose this charlatan's tricks before everyone's eyes and leave him utterly humiliated. Once Qing Fen learned that Lin Fei was a swindling fraud, he would surely fly into a rage.
Yet faced with his provocation, Lin Fei could not even be bothered to lift his eyelids. "Who the hell are you? A mere mortal, and you dare covet a divine treasure of West Kunlun?"
At those words, the entire room fell silent, as quiet as death.
Holy shit, did I hear that right?
This young man named Lin Fei actually dared ask Song Hao who the hell he was?
After a brief, deathly silence, the room erupted like a boiling pot. Everyone whispered to the people beside them, believing their voices were quiet. But it was just like a middle-school classroom: when everyone was talking, even the quietest voices became noisy when they came together.
Song Hao was stunned, then laughed in fury.
He had expected Lin Fei to stammer helplessly under such questioning. Never had he imagined that the man could be so shameless!
Fuck, he really is a professional charlatan. No wonder he managed to fool Qing Fen. He makes it all sound so grand and convincing, as though something that exists only in myths were real!
Put plainly, he's just afraid of being exposed and humiliated, so he's spinning more nonsense with the same old street-swindler tricks, isn't he?
Song Hao was not the only one thinking this. Almost everyone had the same thought.
"Do you have no manners? Is that any way to speak to someone in public?" Qing Lixue clenched her pearly teeth and shot Lin Fei a fierce glare, making no attempt to hide her disgust.
Ji Yaoguang frowned, her voice growing slightly cold. "Lixue, that's not fair. You heard it yourself. Young Master Song provoked him first."
Song Hao sneered and challenged her. "Yaoguang, I'm trying to expose this charlatan's tricks so you and Uncle Qing won't be deceived. What's wrong with that?"
As he spoke, his face was full of threats and warning.
Ji Yaoguang bit her lip. Remembering that the Ji Family was still at Song Hao's mercy, she forcibly swallowed all her displeasure.
Seeing her suffer such treatment, a cold glint finally flashed through Lin Fei's calm eyes.
He did not regard Song Hao as worth his notice, yet Song Hao insisted on trying to shake a mighty tree with an ant's strength.
"I have a bad temper," Lin Fei said, looking coldly at Song Hao. "You'd better stop provoking me."
Han Enci had been hiding in a corner the whole time. At this sight, he immediately felt a pang of apprehension. Both he and Meng Zhe could attest from personal experience that Lin Fei's words were no lie.
But never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Lin Fei would go up against a top-tier wastrel like this.
After watching this long, Han Enci had begun to have doubts himself. Could this Lin Fei really be a charlatan? Have Jiang Tianling, Qing Fen, and Ji Yaoguang all been taken in by his tricks, and that's why they respect him so much? If that's really the case, his tricks are truly something...
While his thoughts were tangled, Song Hao had already let out an amused "Ha!" "You're nothing but a street swindler. So what if I provoke you? Your swindling tricks aside, you're just one of Ji Yaoguang's bodyguards."
"The Ji Family is about to join my Song Family through marriage. Sooner or later, you'll be my bodyguard too. I hope you'll learn your place ahead of time!"
As Song Hao finished speaking, an uproar swept through the room, and everyone looked at Ji Yaoguang in shock.
Ji Yaoguang had bright eyes, pearly teeth, and gracefully arched brows. Her delicate, oval face was as smooth and fair as a freshly peeled egg, and her cloudlike, cascading black hair was elegantly pinned behind her head. Her white evening gown further accentuated her tall, graceful, and stunning figure, while her bearing was exceptionally distinguished. Simply standing there, she formed a sight that delighted the eye.
Even the legendary immortals in paintings could surely be no more beautiful.
Was such a fairy-like woman ultimately going to marry an overbearing, unruly wastrel like Song Hao?
Even those who were not inclined to cherish beautiful women felt a little wistful-it seemed people were always willing to spare a little more concern for beautiful things.
"So those earlier rumors about a marriage alliance between the Song Family and the Ji Family were actually true?"
"Sigh, what else can they do? Think about it. Without the marriage, the Ji Family is finished."
"How despicable, threatening his own benefactors like that."
"Keep your voice down! Do you want to die? What if Young Master Song hears you?"
The people around them whispered among themselves, seemingly convinced that this was already set in stone.
Ji Yaoguang trembled all over. Secretly clenching her delicate fists, she gritted her teeth and glared at Song Hao. "When did I ever say I would marry you?"
Song Hao narrowed his eyes and gave her a threatening smile. "Yaoguang, you'd better think carefully before you speak. We're a loving couple. What's wrong with announcing the happy news a little early?"
Ji Yaoguang shook with anger, her eyes reddening.
From the day she was born with a golden spoon in her mouth until now, she had never suffered such an indignity!
Song Hao's words were clearly a warning. If she did not say what he wanted, the entire Ji Family would suffer.
Seeing Ji Yaoguang like this put Song Hao in an excellent mood. He laughed and addressed the people around them. "Don't mind her, everyone. My fiancée is a little shy, so she's embarrassed to admit it."
Everyone wore strange expressions. Naturally, they knew what was going on.
Yet, ironically, not one of them dared speak up to contradict him. Someone's eyes even shifted as he took the lead in chiming in. "Young Master Song and Miss Ji are a talented man and a beautiful woman. Truly a match made in heaven!"
Ji Yaoguang looked at the man in disbelief. He was a department manager at the Ji Group and knew the inside story better than anyone, yet now he was helping Song Hao instead?
Manager Liu saw Ji Yaoguang's expression and immediately looked away, his gaze evasive.
The Ji Family is fucking about to fall under the Song Family's control. Is currying favor with the Ji Family worth as much as pleasing Young Master Song? I've got to recognize the situation. After all, Song Hao is the one who'll control the Ji Family in the future. A wise man knows which way the wind blows!
Once someone took the lead, others caught on one after another.
"Haha, Young Master Song, don't forget to invite me to the wedding banquet."
"Congratulations, Young Master Song, on winning the beauty!"
Amid the chorus of congratulations, Song Hao's smile grew brighter and brighter.
Born the Song Family's young master, soon to marry Ji Yaoguang and take control of the Ji Group...
Ah, I'm truly a winner in life.
Yet just as Song Hao's ego swelled to its peak, he suddenly saw a blur flash before his eyes.
With a smack, a vicious slap landed across his face...