Upon hearing this, he moved his lips and said indifferently, “No backbone.” After being insulted so directly, she did not even show the slightest intention of fighting back.
“Who says otherwise?” Ji Jing shrugged. “I was originally thinking of playing around with her , but now I’ll give up. She’s even clinging to that old man in his fifties. If I get entangled with her, how am I supposed to shake her off later?”
Bo Wang glanced at him from the side. Ji Jing was puzzled by the look and subconsciously reached up to touch the back of his neck. “Why is Brother Wang looking at me like that?”
“Nothing. Just looking around.” Bo Wang stared at him intently, his deep voice completely devoid of emotion. “Your head and neck are connected quite well. Not bad-looking.”
“…”
Ji Jing was so frightened that he nearly wet his pants. His legs gave out and he slid straight to the ground, his face instantly turning pale. “Brother Wang, if I’ve done anything wrong, please don’t hold it against me. I’ll definitely bid for the most expensive item tonight as your birthday gift.”
Bo Wang slowly straightened his posture and lightly patted Ji Jing’s neck twice. His thin lips curled faintly. “What are you afraid of? I’m just complimenting your neck.”
“Haha… thank you for the compliment, Brother Wang.” Ji Jing laughed dryly, yet his neck felt icy where he had been patted. Was this even something a normal human would call a compliment?
On the other hand the Angel Fundraising Gala auction officially began. The lights in the venue dimmed, leaving only a few beams focused on the auction stage. Gong Zihua, who had just been leading everyone in mocking her, now held the microphone and spoke solemnly about the hardships faced by children in impoverished mountainous regions overseas. When she reached the most touching part, her voice choked, tears welling up until she could no longer continue.
Warm applause erupted from the audience seeing her performance.
Lu Zhiling, seated in her place, also clapped lightly a few times.
Auction items were brought onto the stage one after another after her introductiory speech, drawing enthusiastic bids from all sides. During the process, so-called old classmates came over one after another to greet her—some with mockery, others with pity. The mixture of voices made the atmosphere unusually lively around her.
In the dim lighting, someone slammed a glass of red wine mixed with chili sauce onto the table in front of her. “Have some red wine, Miss Lu. I’m afraid you haven’t had anything decent to drink in years, have you?”
Lu Zhiling smiled faintly and pushed the glass away. “Yes. Eating coarse food every day, my stomach can’t handle good wine anymore.”
“…”
The man choked on her words, glaring at her angrily several times but unable to refute her.
Lu Zhiling quietly waited for the bracelet to be brought up for auction when a shadow suddenly fell beside her. A middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit sat down next to her, with a heavy wave of cologne drifting toward her. Lu Zhiling covered her nose, nearly triggering her morning sickness.
“Zhiling, do you remember me?” the man said with a smile. “I’m Wang Yaozong’s father. We met during your parent-teacher conference before.”
He paid no attention to the auction, his gaze lingering on her body in a way that resembled appraising merchandise.
Feng Zhen glared at him from behind
.
Lu Zhiling responded calmly with a polite smile. “Hello, Uncle.”
“Hello, hello.” Wang Zhicheng took a sip of wine. “I remember you only completed one year of middle school before entering K University’s gifted youth program. How are things now?”
Lu Zhiling straightened her posture. “Due to family circumstances, I stopped studying.”
At that time, all she wanted was to hide and survive.
“What a pity,” Wang Zhicheng sighed emotionally, setting down his wine glass. He placed one hand on the back of her chair. “A child as talented as you shouldn’t be buried. How about I help you? I’ll treat your eyes and send you back to school.”
Lu Zhiling calmly leaned forward, distancing herself from him, her tone steady. “Thank you, Uncle, but there’s no need. I’m already married.”
As she spoke, she subtly revealed the ring on her ring finger.
Wang Zhicheng glanced disdainfully at Feng Zhen’s half-white hair and laughed contemptuously. “You’re only in your early twenties. How could an old man like this satisfy you? How about this—this banquet is boring. Uncle will take you shopping and buy you a few bags along.”
As he spoke, he reached out to grab her hand, trying to pull her up.
Feng Zhen could no longer tolerate it and forcefully pulled him away. “Don’t go too far sir!”
Wang Zhicheng turned around at his voice and looked down at him arrogantly. “I’ve heard all about you. You’re just a run-down teahouse owner. Know your place. If you’re smart, I’ll guarantee you wealth. If not, I’ll make sure you won’t even have an urn for your ashes when you die!”
Feng Zhen was furious. “Watch your mouth! What do you take my young lady for?”
“A plaything, of course.”
Lu Zhiling remained seated, smiling calmly. “Thank you for your kindness, Uncle, but I don’t have the ambition to steal Aunt’s man.”
All eyes at the table turned toward them.
Wang Zhicheng’s expression instantly darkened. “Lu Zhiling, don’t push your luck. Do you think you’re some rich heiress? You’re nothing but a pair of worn-out shoes!”
“Uncle, why are you so angry?” Lu Zhiling stared straight ahead, her expression unshaken. “A business deal requires both sides to be willing to buy and sell, doesn’t it?”
“Buy and sell?” Wang Zhicheng shouted. “You dare talk to me about buying and selling? Your family has always been a bunch of worn-out shoes!”
His voice grew louder and louder, forcing the auction on stage to pause as everyone turned to look.
Lu Zhiling’s eyes turned cold.
Seeing this, Wang Zhicheng shouted even more aggressively. “Ask any elder here—who doesn’t know your father couldn’t stand your mother’s constant infidelity and set a fire, burning his entire family to death—Ah!”
Lu Zhiling abruptly stood up, grabbed the tableware in front of her, and hurled it at him. The dish struck Wang Zhicheng heavily before crashing to the floor with a loud bang.
“You’re so filthy that you wish the whole world were as dirty as you, Mr. Wang,” she said coldly. “Even a child knows how shameful it is to spread rumors out of narrow-minded malice.”
The room fell silent.
Everyone stared at her in shock. Wasn’t she soft and harmless just moments ago?
Wang Zhicheng was equally stunned. He had never expected that Lu Zhiling—who now had nothing—would dare to strike him. Rage instantly consumed him. He grabbed a chair and charged forward. “Go to hell—”
He barely took a step when someone brushed past him.
“Who the hell are you?!” he roared—then froze.
“Young Master Bo…”
Bo Wang stood in the shadows with his hands in his pockets, clearly not expecting to be bumped into. His slightly lowered eyes still carried a trace of sleepiness. He glanced at his scraped arm, then looked at Wang Zhicheng, his gaze utterly cold.
Lu Zhiling was stunned. She had not expected Bo Wang to be at the banquet or more so to stand up for her . So she remained silent, pretending not to know him.
The Gong family on the other hand panicked at his arrival as they quickly ordered the lights turned on. In an instant, the entire hall was brightly illuminated, leaving the pale-faced Wang Zhicheng with nowhere to hide.
Bo Wang, however, stood out unmistakably.
Gong Zihua looked at him from the stage, her heart beating faster. She had been captivated the first time she saw him at a banquet. But after learning about his methods, she no longer dared approach him, only watching from afar.
“Young Master Bo, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!” Wang Zhicheng hurriedly set the chair down, cold sweat pouring from his back.
Bo Wang stared at him calmly and brushed dust from his sleeve. “Are you insulting my mother?”
Wang Zhicheng’s legs went weak. He hurriedly pointed at Lu Zhiling. “It was her! That blind idiot went crazy and started throwing plates! I blocked them for you—otherwise they would’ve hit you! I was scolding her!”
Bo Wang followed his gaze.
Lu Zhiling stood there, eyes unfocused and spiritless, her posture straight as a blade. The ring on her finger gleamed conspicuously at her side.
So he was insulting his mother-in-law.
Bo Wang withdrew his gaze slowly and smiled faintly. “Trying to bully her? No one in Jiangbei knows her better than me. A chair won’t solve this. How about I teach you how to play?”
Wang Zhicheng froze, unable to tell whether he was being sincere or simply looking for an excuse to destroy him. He could only stammer, “N-No need.”
“What?” Bo Wang raised an eyebrow. “You’re looking down on me?”
“No, no!” Wang Zhicheng turned desperately to the crowd for help.
But no one dared to intervene. Because not just in Jiangbei—across the entire K Country, no one dared offend this man.
Thinking about this despair flooded Wang Zhicheng’s eyes. So trembling, he said, “Young Master Bo, please guide me. I’ll bring this broken shoe over to you—”
Before he could move, Bo Wang kicked the back of his knee.
“Bang!”
Wang Zhicheng crashed to the ground on his knees amid shattered tableware. Bo Wang kicked him again. By the time people reacted, Wang Zhicheng was sprawled on the floor, half his face pressed into broken porcelain, blood seeping beneath him.
Bo Wang stepped on his face, slowly applying pressure until it twisted grotesquely. He beckoned lazily.
Ji Jing immediately handed him the spiked red wine.
Bo Wang sniffed it, then poured it over the man beneath his foot. The crimson liquid streamed down his face, flooding his eyes and nose.
“Aaah—!”
His screams was agonizing make the entire hall seemed to stop breathing.
But Bo Wang as if not bothered by any of that and watched calmly, as if admiring a finished painting.
And so did Lu Zhiling.
At last, Wang Zhicheng lay still, voice trembling. “Thank you… thank you for teaching me, Young Master Bo.”
“I admire Mr. Wang’s eagerness to learn,” Bo Wang said lightly, tossing the empty glass aside. He glanced at Lu Zhiling lazily. “Would you like to put what you’ve learned into practice now on anyone?”
Lu Zhiling’s heart tightened when he speak to her .
Fortunately, Wang Zhicheng fled in humiliation before the situation accelerated more.
Still even after the farce ended Bowang did’nt leave on the other hand he pulled the chair beside her and sat down.
Lu Zhiling was surprised by his actions tonight .
The lights in the venue dimmed again. As the auction resumed.
Bo Wang sat beside her, fingers tapping lightly on the table, his presence suffocating for surronding people. But Lu Zhiling remebering his deeds took a deep breath, than smiled softly, and secretly tugged at his shirt.
“Bo Wang… is that you?”
“What?”
“I’m happy.”
Silence.
“You think I stood up for you?” he said coolly.
She shook her head, smiling. “No. I’m just happy for you to be here.”
She released his shirt and sat straight again, quietly facing the stage.