Tan Lixiao’s commotion caused quite a stir, attracting the attention of many bystanders.
Jing Li narrowed his eyes, his expression darkened.
“I advise you to think before you speak,” Jing Li said coldly, glancing at the person before him and the pastries now smashed on the ground. He lost his appetite and set down his plate, intending to leave.
However, Tan Lixiao harbored hostility towards Jing Li. Seeing him openly embrace and chat with his fiancé further enraged him, preventing him from heeding the warning. He stepped forward, blocking Jing Li’s path, and continued, “What’s wrong? Afraid of getting caught red-handed and want to run?”
Tan Lixiao glared at him, his resentment nearly taking physical form.
He never expected to encounter this person again before having a chance to confront him. Yet, he had seduced another of his boyfriends, his future fiancé no less.
Recalling Guan Chi’s gentle smile directed at Jing Li fueled his jealousy, driving him nearly insane. Even when they were together, he had never seen Guan Chi display such tenderness.
This made him couldn’t help but recall his first love when he was seduced by Jing Li in high school. The resentment buried in his heart for many years also rose, completely overwhelming his reason.
“I thought you’d have made some progress over the years, but it seems not. You seduced Yu Xiao before, but it didn’t work out, did it? Then you found a phoenix man and begged him desperately, only to be cuckolded in the end.”
Tan Lixiao sneered at the increasingly radiant face before him, his tone venomous, “Some people seem to love picking up others’ leftovers. Can’t live without wearing green hats? I…”
“Yu Xiao?” Jing Li ignored his aggression, his mind recalling vague fragments upon hearing that name. After scrutinizing Tan Lixiao, he recognized him. “Oh, it’s you.”
Seeing Jing Li’s expression of realization, Tan Lixiao nearly choked on his rage, his face turning ashen.
He never expected the target of his curses to have genuinely forgotten him until this very moment.
Tan Lixiao sneered at Jing Li and mocked, “How could you live with yourself all these years after stealing someone’s boyfriend, even forgetting the victim completely?”
“The victim?” Jing Li glanced at him inexplicably. “If I remember correctly, wasn’t I the victim? Your boyfriend was dating you, then suddenly confessed to me in public. Instead of holding him accountable, you’re blaming me for being too attractive and seducing him?”
Jing Li found the situation increasingly absurd as he recalled the past grievances between them.
In high school, this Tan Lixiao secretly dated a boyfriend, who inexplicably confessed to Jing Li’s past self in front of the whole school, vowing to break up with Tan Lixiao if he accepted.
As a pampered young master, the original owner naturally declined. Yet Tan Lixiao harbored a grudge, constantly picking fights and ultimately slandering his reputation until his friends intervened with a harsh lesson.
Not long after, he heard Tan Lixiao had gone abroad.
With little interaction, the original owner gradually forgot the incident.
He never expected Tan Lixiao to hold such a longstanding grudge, making a scene over nothing.
It was simply absurd.
“Hmph! You make it sound so nice. If you hadn’t…”
“Enough!” Guan Chi rebuked Tan Lixiao sternly, cutting off his endless nagging.
While initially captivated by Jing Li’s looks and intrigued by Gu Tingshen’s contrasting attitude towards him, Guan Chi didn’t want to become a public spectacle.
Guan Chi glanced at Tan Lixiao with a hint of impatience before turning apologetically to Jing Li. “I’m sorry for this misunderstanding. Let me apologize on Ah Xiao’s behalf.”
He paused, somewhat reluctant. “If you don’t mind, could you leave me your contact details? I’ll find time to properly…”
“No need.” Jing Li coldly interrupted him, then turned to Tan Lixiao impassively. “I don’t know where you got the confidence to think I’d be interested in someone taken, but it seems you lack even more confidence in your own relationship.”
“If I were you, I would carefully reflect on what I had overlooked instead of acting like a lunatic attacking others.” Jing Li was never courteous to those hostile towards him. “As for whether I’ve been cuckolded or not, at least I’m luckier than you in being able to cut my losses and discard those who hurt me.”
He noticed Guan Chi’s deliberate advances, especially the fleeting ambition of possessing him. Previously, he thought he was overthinking, but now…
Jing Li appraised Tan Lixiao with amusement, glancing at the increasingly gloomy yet ambitious Guan Chi beside him. Maintaining his final courtesy, he nodded farewell. “Excuse me.”
Without sparing their ashen faces another look, he turned to leave but collided with a broad embrace, meeting Gu Tingshen’s cold, handsome visage.
“What’s going on?” Gu Tingshen smiled at him, naturally draping an arm over his shoulders. Though wordless, their intimacy spoke volumes.
Jing Li froze, but before he could react, Gu Tingshen turned an icy glare toward the other two, chilling like a frozen lake. “I don’t know what our Xiao Jing did to cause such an absurd misunderstanding, but I doubt he’d lower his standards for someone else’s fiancé. What do you think?”
Gu Tingshen’s imposing aura intensified when angered.
His frosty demeanor washed over the others, freezing them in place.
Jing Li didn’t notice the change in the expressions of the two people opposite him. Hearing Gu Tingshen’s words clearly supporting him, he quickly recovered from the discomfort just now, cooperated and leaned into the man’s arms, and turned his head to rush towards him. He smiled reassuringly and affectionately called “Shen-ge” with an obedient look on his face.
This was the first time he heard him address him so affectionately. Gu Tingshen’s eyes flickered as his heartbeat quickened momentarily, losing interest in further confrontation.
There was no sign of it on his face, but the smile on his lips gradually deepened. He raised his eyes and glanced at the two people opposite him, then fixed his gaze on Guan Chi’s uncertain face, “It seems the previous lesson wasn’t enough for you, Mr. Guan. In that case, I don’t mind helping you revisit it.”
With a final meaningful look, he turned and left with Jing Li.
Jing Yu was standing behind them. He had just heard the movement and walked over, but he was just one step behind Gu Tingshen.
Jing Yu, who had witnessed the incident, also shot the pair a dark look before turning to leave with the others.
Sensing something was wrong, the Tan couple hurriedly pushed through the crowd. Taking in the scene, their expressions changed as the man quickly approached the trio with an ingratiating smile. “Mr. Jing, Mr. Gu, there must be some misunderstanding here. Why don’t we find a quiet place to discuss this properly?”
Though their demeanor appeared apologetic, they maintained an air of superiority, never once looking Jing Li in the eye, as if he were an insignificant commoner unworthy of their attention.
Jing Yu’s face darkened further as Gu Tingshen’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“No need.” Jing Yu coolly glanced at the couple. “I think we have some conflicts with the Tan family, so we’ll avoid further disturbance by leaving.”
After speaking, he exchanged a look with his friend and brother, and the trio promptly departed.
Seeing this, the Tan patriarch finally panicked.
Previously, he relied on the fact that this was his home court, and with the Guan family’s backing, he could stand firm before Jing Yu and Gu Tingshen. However, if these two influential families truly turned against the Tans, even joining forces, he knew they couldn’t withstand it.
Not to mention that although their family was now nominally united with the Guan family, the marriage was still not yet settled. If the Tan family faced difficulties, Guan Chi’s character cast doubt on his reliability as an ally.
“Hey, Mr. Jing, wait! Mr. Gu…” The Tan patriarch hurried after them, but the trio ignored him, leaving the Tan estate without a backward glance.
With many guests still present, the Tan patriarch couldn’t make an unseemly scene. Forcing a smile, he made excuses to gloss over the matter and urged everyone to continue drinking.
However, after such a spectacle, few remained in the mood to celebrate. Since most had come for Gu Tingshen and Jing Yu anyway, once the headliners departed, others soon made their excuses to leave as well.
Not long after, the originally bustling Tan family hall instantly emptied out, leaving only a mess on the floor.
As reality set in, Tan Lixiao gradually emerged from his fury. Surveying the empty hall apprehensively, he called out, “Dad…”
However, his voice was like a trigger, completely igniting the anger in his father’s heart, “You still have the nerve to call me that?! Look what you’ve done! We just announced your engagement, and you chose this time to…” accuse someone of seducing your fiancé?!
The man was still mindful of Guan Chi’s presence, so he swallowed the last words.
But everyone present understood the implication.
Guan Chi let out a cold laugh. “I never expected you to have this side. It doesn’t matter if you don’t look outstanding, but to lack even basic intelligence…”
With that said, he shot Tan Lixiao a contemptuous look before turning to leave the Tan estate without a backward glance.
Finally losing his restraint, the Tan patriarch slapped Tan Lixiao across the face.
Forgetting that just an hour ago, he had proudly introduced this son to the guests.
“If you can’t keep Guan Chi…” The man jabbed a finger at him, the unfinished threat laced with danger, before he, too, stormed upstairs.
The implication instantly drained the color from Tan Lixiao’s face.
He knew his father’s temperament. If he jeopardized the family’s interests, he would be disowned without hesitation, just like being exiled abroad in high school.
He never imagined that after his triumphant return, in just a few short days, he would plunge back into utter despair.
Recalling the one responsible fueled an even stronger resentment within him.
Jing Li!
You wait!
One day, I will make you pay the price!
–
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