Jing Li’s words instantly silenced the room.
Wang Junwen was also left dumbfounded by his random question and frowned impatiently, “What…who am I?”
“What, you don’t understand?” Jing Li raised an eyebrow at him, looking at him as if he were an idiot, and slowly said, “Who are you? What is your relationship with me?”
“What kind of relationship could I have with a dumbass like you?” Wang Junwen was provoked by his gaze and subconsciously mocked.
“Since we have no relationship, when do I need to report my affairs to you?” Jing Li returned him an even more mocking smile, then looked at him, dragging out his words and enunciating, “Or rather—when did it become your turn to dictate matters about my affairs?”
At this point, Wang Junwen didn’t even care about being shocked by the other’s sudden change in attitude. Seeing everyone around holding their breath, watching his reaction, he only felt his head buzzing, shame and anger instantly burning through his body, almost instantly incinerating his reason.
“Ha, you son of a…!!” Wang Junwen almost laughed out loud in anger. He pointed at Jing Li’s nose and said through gritted teeth, “I’m telling you what to do? You really have the nerve to say it! Who is it that comes to me again and again and asks me to come up with ideas for you?”
“If I wasn’t taking pity on you, would you think that I would be willing to go through this muddy water with you? I would really give you face, right?” Wang Junwen got increasingly angrier, and the pent-up anger and resentment in his heart for many years followed and unprecedentedly rose.
He was really f*cking tired of this!
With Jing Li this idiot, if he hadn’t been able to get closer to Liangchen by being with him, would he have tolerated him for so long? However, thinking that he had now driven Liangchen to that state…
Wang Junwen’s face was instantly covered in gloom again. He leaned forward, trying to grab Jing Li by the collar, intending to teach him a profound lesson.
However, just as his fingers barely touched the other’s clothes, he suddenly heard a cold scolding from behind: “What are you doing?!”
The voice was full of anger, carrying a kind of indescribable sense of pressure. The familiar tone instantly startled Wang Junwen and made his movements stiffen. He reflexively turned his head back, and when he met those stern and gloomy eyes, his whole body froze on the spot.
After a long time, he softly called out, “…Dad.”
“You still know I’m your father?!” The middle-aged man glared at him furiously, his chest heaving up and down, obviously very angry. But at this moment, he didn’t care to discipline this rebellious son. After scolding his son, he hurriedly turned around again and looked behind him. He forced a smile and apologetically said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Jing, my prodigal son was rude and provoked your younger brother. I will teach him a good lesson when we get back.”
The crowd followed his gaze, only to see that Jing Yu and Gu Tingshen were standing there at some point.
However, in the face of the middle-aged man’s careful apology, neither of them even glanced at him. Jing Yu went straight to Jing Li, gently ruffled his hair, and gently said, “Did you get hurt?”
The boy who was covered in thorns just a moment ago softened his expression. He obediently let him ruffle his hair and even actively rubbed his head into his palm. Finally, he looked up at him with a sweet smile, “I’m fine, don’t worry, ge.”
The huge contrast almost shocked everyone’s jaws off. Even Gu Tingshen, who had come over with Jing Yu, couldn’t help glancing over at him.
There were rumors in the outside world that the two brothers of the Jing family almost broke up because of a man. Although he scoffed at it, he had also heard Jing Yu complain about his rebellious younger brother in front of him many times. But from the current situation, this person didn’t seem as bad as he had imagined?
However, his curiosity had always been light. Since these were all his good friend’s family affairs, he only glanced at him before withdrawing his gaze again.
Also, because his gaze was withdrawn too quickly, he just missed Jing Li’s glance at him from the corner of his eye.
In the short few days since Jing Li came here, he had heard people mention many times about Jing Yu’s close friendship with the head of the Gu family. It was said that apart from work, the two would often get together to drink tea and chat.
Although he hadn’t seen him in person, based on his sensitive intuition and the reaction of the people around him, the young man behind should be him.
Jing Li looked up and down at the man in front of him through his brother’s embrace. This man was born with a dignified appearance and handsome features, and his well-tailored designer black suit showed an almost perfect body proportion. His whole temperament was extraordinary, with inherent dignity and prestige between his brows and eyes.
Even more wonderfully, this man was also wrapped in purple and golden light representing good fortune and virtue. Not to mention how rare it was to find someone like this among the ordinary people here with grey auras. Even looking at the entire cultivator world, few people could have such circumstances.
If they were still in Tianling Sect, a talent like this would have been desperately sought after by all major sects.
As expected of my senior brother, even in a different world, his eye for people remained so good!
In just a few seconds, Jing Li’s mood gradually shifted from doubt to certainty while also sending waves of admiration to his big brother in his heart.
However, while admiring, he also remembered to keep an extra wary eye. Why? This man’s spiritual energy was simply too abundant, completely out of place here.
He had really never seen an ordinary person who could be so “outstanding”. Also, thinking that the other party also had interests in the entertainment industry…
Jing Li narrowed his eyes slightly and decided to ask his little assistant about the script negotiations when he returned later.
On this side, the brothers were having a heartwarming moment, while on the other side, the Wang father and son were extremely embarrassed, especially Wang Jianren. He hadn’t expected at all that Jing Yu would care so much about this younger brother.
Weren’t they said to have turned against each other and were fighting to the death?!
The commotion here was loud, and it happened right in front of Jing Yu and Gu Tingshen, so almost everyone looked over. Many people were even walking over.
Cold sweat continued to break out on Wang Jianren’s forehead. He felt not only embarrassed but also afraid it would affect the cooperation intention that had just been settled. This was a major matter related to the Wang family enterprise. He couldn’t care about his shock anymore, either. He glared fiercely at his son, who didn’t know the gravity of the situation, gritted his teeth, and went up again with a smiling face, “Mr. Jing, I’m really sorry to have an unpleasant scene at your banquet. Let me apologize for this improper behavior. You…”
“You have nothing to apologize to me for.” Jing Yu interrupted him, his tone cold, “Since this is the Jing family’s banquet, it seems the Jing family failed as hosts and offended the young master, which led to the unpleasantness.”
After a pause, he glanced at Wang Junwen standing aside again and said coldly, “To show our apologies, I will have the housekeeper personally escort him out.”
While this sounded polite, anyone could taste his stance of fully defending Jing Li, just short of naming names and kicking them out.
If he really walked out the door, where could the Wang family save face in the future?
Wang Jianren’s smile instantly froze, but he could only glare at his useless son and shout, “What are you still dawdling for? Hurry up and apologize to Xiao1“小” (xiao) lit. small or little, is often used as a term of endearment, especially when addressing someone younger, more junior, or with whom the speaker has a close relationship. Li!”
Wang Junwen was shocked by his roar. But under his father’s pressure, he still had to take two steps forward and reluctantly said in a small voice, “…sorry, Jing Li, I…”
“Louder!” Wang Jianren secretly glanced at the expressionless Jing Yu and shouted again, “Are you not fed or something?!”
“I’m sorry! Jing Li! It was all my fault just now!! Please don’t take it to heart.” Wang Junwen shouted out loud with red eyes. After shouting, he still felt aggrieved and couldn’t help muttering, “I don’t get why you have to make a big deal out of this, Jing Li. It’s just a small disagreement between friends. Do you really have to bring it up in front of the elders?”
Friends?
Jing Li silently raised his eyebrows.
He didn’t dare to have a friend like this.
If he remembered correctly, the original body was able to do so many brainless idiotic acts, thanks to the “friend” behind him who provided tremendous help. Even the media exposure this morning was planned and orchestrated behind the scenes by this person.
But his purpose was not to help him but to make him embarrass himself in front of the whole country, and he deliberately chose to do it at the Jing family’s own banquet.
If he didn’t come, one could imagine what kind of disrepute the original would have suffered according to the original plot. Not only the outside world but even Jing Yu would have been completely disappointed with the original, further causing the brothers’ relationship to plummet to rock bottom.
His malicious intent was simply blatant.
Thinking of all this, Jing Li’s eyes inevitably turned colder.
But in front of Jing Yu, he didn’t show the slightest bit. He just said softly, “It’s nothing,” and then dejectedly lowered his head.
He looked as if, for the sake of the big picture, he had decided to silently endure all grievances alone.
Sure enough, seeing his younger brother reveal this look, Jing Yu’s expression cooled down even more. But his actions were gentle as he pulled him into his arms and patted him lightly to comfort him.
However, Wang Junwen’s earlier grumbling was too soft for most people to hear, so many thought the subtle interactions between the brothers were Jing Yu silently comforting his younger brother after hearing Wang Junwen’s apology.
Although everyone inwardly disdained Jing Li’s pretentious act in front of his brother, they had to admit that the outside rumors were completely unreliable. The occasional reveal of feelings between the brothers could not be faked without daily intimate interactions. As a result, everyone’s perception and attitude towards Jing Li also became more respectful.
Of course, this did not include Wang Jianren. Compared to them, he naturally cared more about the Wang family’s interests.
“Mr. Jing, look, it’s just a fight between children, don’t take it to heart.” Seeing more and more people gathering around, Wang Jianren hurriedly smoothed things over with a humble smile. His attitude could even be described as meek. “Besides, these two kids are usually the closest to each other. It’s normal for friends to have some minor friction. If Xiao Li still feels upset, I’ll have Junwen properly apologize and make amends later. How about that?”
As he spoke, he looked over Jing Yu’s expression, thinking that he had already done his utmost; even if the Jing family was still angry, they should have calmed down by now, right? Moreover, he saw clearly just now that his son didn’t actually lay a hand on the other.
Seeing no reaction from Jing Yu, he had a thought and tentatively laughed, “It’s rare we have time together like this. Why don’t we continue discussing the proposal from earlier…”
“Sorry, the banquet is about to start. We should go get ready first.” Jing Yu flatly interrupted him and pulled Jing Li up to leave.
Was this a sign he didn’t want to discuss it further?
Wang Jianren panicked and instinctively took two steps forward, “Mr. Jing, about the earlier proposal…”
But the Jing brothers had already walked far away without even leaving a glance for him.
He stared blankly at their backs and happened to see Jing Yu indulgently ruffling Jing Li’s hair. As he watched, he suddenly widened his eyes in realization, finally aware of what he had done wrong earlier.
That’s right, he should have thought of it earlier. Given Jing Yu’s attentiveness towards Jing Li, if he had paid more attention to Jing Li then, or directly addressed him instead…
Wang Jianren was full of regret and frustration, but in the end, he could only stand despondently in place, only hoping Gu Tingshen would not be persuaded to break off cooperation with the Wang family.
Wang Junwen’s mood was not much better than his father’s. He didn’t expect Jing Li to still receive such protection from his brother after causing such a scene and didn’t expect his impulsive actions to lead to such serious consequences. Seeing his father’s ashen face standing there dejectedly, his heart also felt awful.
This was the first time he had seen such an expression on his usually composed father, especially after humbling himself in front of everyone to apologize to the Jing family earlier…
Wang Junwen forcibly clenched his fists, but in the face of the situation, he still had to lower his head. But after thinking about it, he suddenly turned to his father and said, “Dad, don’t worry. I’ll talk to Jing Li alone after the banquet. Don’t worry, with how obedient he usually is towards me, it will definitely be fine.”
Hearing this, Wang Jianren thought of how his son interacted with Jing Li in the past, and his spirits lifted again. As if struck by an idea, he moved closer to his son and whispered, “That’s good too. Didn’t he really like that model I gave you before? You can use it to appease him first, then. As long as you settle this matter, Dad will buy you another one later, no, ten.”
As he spoke, he patted his son on the shoulder encouragingly.
This was the first time Wang Junwen had received his father’s approval, and his eyes immediately brightened as he firmly nodded.
Speaking of which, Jing Li didn’t actually like that model. It was Zhong Liangchen who liked it. It was a globally limited edition that Jing Li only wanted before just to please Zhong Liangchen.
But there was no need to let his father know these convoluted details. If Jing Li wanted it, he would give it to him and look forward to Jing Li later kneeling and begging Liangchen for mercy.
Thinking of this, Wang Junwen’s smile grew even brighter.
Father and son fantasized happily here, unaware that after this night, Wang Junwen would never call Jing Li again.
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