Hearing the howls of ghostly wails from inside, Bai Jinghong and Jiang Yueying exchanged a smile.
“Why didn’t you also mention the matter of him kissing that ugly guy just now?”
Jiang Yueying was somewhat puzzled. Wasn’t Bai Jinghong supposed to be humiliating him?
With Ye Chen’s underlings, they certainly wouldn’t bring up that matter on their own.
This was something Bai Jinghong needed to state himself for it to have any real impact.
Bai Jinghong shook his head. “Not the right time. What I need to do now is strip Ye Chen of his authority.”
“The goal has already been achieved. Besides, that matter can’t be hidden for long either. Him discovering it himself will be the most devastating.”
Jiang Yueying simply nodded. “When do you plan to make your move?”
“Make my move?” Bai Jinghong sneered. “Soon!”
“Everyone has a bottom line they can’t tolerate. Once that line is crossed, a person will collapse.”
“Killing Ye Chen at that moment will be the easiest.”
Bai Jinghong seemed unconcerned about the question.
At that moment, the System’s voice also rang out.
[Ding, congratulations to Host for causing Protagonist Ye Chen to collapse. Exchange Points +700.]
[Additional reward: one close-combat weapon, named “Hold On.”]
“What the hell? How can it have a name like that?”
[Ding, responding to Host: To draw the weapon, one must first call its name. Who would ever imagine that the Host saying “Hold On” actually means drawing a blade?]
“Aiyo, you really are a sneaky bastard, so devious!”
Bai Jinghong roared with laughter internally.
Damn, if he was in a duel and suddenly shouted “Hold On,” the opponent would subconsciously pause—then he could stab him right there. Sweet!
Getting into the car, Bai Jinghong took Jiang Yueying directly away from the nursing home area.
He spent almost the entire day accompanying Jiang Yueying.
Some things from the past genuinely needed to be properly made up for.
By the time they returned, it was already quite late.
Bai Jinghong accompanied Jiang Yueying to the Jiang family villa.
They headed toward the main villa building.
Jiang Yueying usually didn’t live here.
But Jiang Qingtian was afraid she would sneak off to find Bai Jinghong, so he very forcefully made her stay in the same villa, precisely to keep an eye on her.
When Jiang Yueying and Bai Jinghong reached the main villa, the lights were still on inside.
Bai Jinghong took several deep, whooshing breaths to calm his heart.
The moment the door opened, both popped their heads in simultaneously.
With just one glance, Bai Jinghong immediately retracted his head.
Jiang Qingtian looked like he’d smeared ash on his face—his expression was dark to the point of being frightening.
If Bai Jinghong went in, he’d probably be unable to avoid a beating.
Jiang Yueying, having naturally seen this too, greeted somewhat awkwardly, “Dad, Mom, why haven’t you rested yet?”
Su Li looked at Jiang Yueying, her eyes overflowing with affection. “You, girl…”
She had barely spoken a sentence when Jiang Qingtian already began. “You brat, hiding—still hiding?!”
Jiang Qingtian was genuinely angry with Bai Jinghong.
Bai Jinghong also knew he had to face this sooner or later. Might as well get it all over with at once.
He boldly pushed the door open, walked in with a smile on his face.
“Uncle Jiang, you’re still mad at me? If you’re angry, just hit me a couple of times!”
Jiang Qingtian snorted coldly. “Hit you? I can’t be bothered now.”
“Didn’t you look down on my Ying’er? No matter, if you don’t want her, others treat her like a treasure. During the days Ying’er came home, marriage proposals have been trampling the doorstep flat.”
Jiang Qingtian spoke with pride.
“Trampling the doorstep flat?” Bai Jinghong feigned shock, then ran to the villa entrance and felt the doorstep. “It’s not broken!”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingtian flared up instantly and shouted at Jiang Yueying, “Ying’er, bring me the feather duster! Today, I absolutely must teach this brat a good lesson.”
How could Jiang Yueying possibly go get it? Instead, she stood protectively in front of Bai Jinghong, blocking.
“Dad, if you want to hit him, hit me first. Besides, Jinghong came to apologize!”
Hearing this, Jiang Qingtian and Su Li both noticeably paused.
This Bai family boy—they’d watched him grow up. How could they not know his personality?
Pretending to apologize with words was possible, but a genuine apology? What a joke?
He was the type who, even if he’d done something wrong, wouldn’t admit it if he thought it wasn’t wrong. Whatever you said didn’t count.
Even if he got a harsh beating, he’d still stand up, rub his butt, and say, “That all you got? I’d dare next time too!”
Seeing her parents both stunned, Jiang Yueying quickly added, “Today, he came in the capacity of my boyfriend.”
“You… you’re speaking the truth?”
Jiang Qingtian couldn’t believe it.
Dammit, just one day of not watching her, and the two had already gotten back together? This was killing him!
Jiang Yueying nodded. “Of course. I am his fiancée, after all.”
As she spoke, Jiang Yueying tugged Bai Jinghong’s hand, giving a hint.
Bai Jinghong also set aside his joking manner.
When it was time to be serious, his attitude absolutely had to be properly upright.
Bai Jinghong stepped forward and said slowly, “What Ying’er said is true. I came today precisely to apologize.”
“I was too immature before. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”
Su Li had never seen this side of Bai Jinghong before and said with a smile, “Jinghong, we’ve all watched you grow up. You’re just like our own child.”
“There’s no need to apologize. Don’t take it to heart.”
Bai Jinghong understood perfectly well that Su Li was giving him a way out.
But Jiang Qingtian wasn’t having it.
He let out a cold snort. “Apologize? Apologize for what? I’m not that petty.”
“But some things aren’t up to you to decide. Did you think you could just say no when you wanted and say yes when you wanted?”
“Ying’er is the pearl in my palm. What do you take her for? A radish or cabbage? I don’t agree to you two dating!”
Su Li tugged at his clothes upon hearing this.
Jiang Qingtian remained unwilling to relent.
“I said no means no. All those proposing—they’re all outstanding young talents. But this brat? Idle loafing, a playboy heartbreaker.”
“If Ying’er marries him, who knows how much suffering she’d endure. I’m fighting for this principle. If he doesn’t value her, fine, I don’t even think much of him!”
Bai Jinghong could tell the other’s anger was flaring up again.
He headed directly over and said with a smile, “Uncle Jiang, please don’t be angry anymore. I’ll go all out—I’ll get my hands on the Collector’s Edition, Volume Five, for you!”
A smile momentarily flickered across Jiang Qingtian’s face. “There’s another volume? How come I could never collect the whole set?”
The words were barely out before he switched faces again. “Screw that, who cares about it!”
“What are you two talking about? What Volume Five?” Su Li looked utterly confused.
Jiang Qingtian’s brow furrowed as he feigned seriousness. “Just discussing Liu Bei, nothing to make a fuss about.”
Coincidentally, Bai Jinghong responded at the exact same moment, “Yeah, discussing Imperial Uncle Liu. Not—I mean, Uncle Liu Huang! [“Liu Huang Shu” (Imperial Uncle Liu) sounds like “Yellow Book” (erotica/porn)]”
The two exchanged a glance.
Jiang Qingtian nearly erupted. This bastard dared to sell him out.
“I don’t agree to you and Ying’er. Even if you talk until the sky breaks today, it’s useless.”
Jiang Yueying pouted. “I don’t care. I want to be with him. Dad, do you have to tear us apart?”
“You… you won’t even listen to your father’s words anymore?”
Jiang Yueying huffed angrily, “If you won’t accept him, then I won’t listen. At worst, I’ll just take Jinghong and leave.”
So saying, she grabbed Bai Jinghong’s hand, about to walk out.
Su Li quickly stepped in to mediate. “At your age, you still can’t keep your cool? Our daughter has only ever cared about Jinghong for all these years. Now that they’re finally together, you instead want to tear them apart?”
“In that case, I’m leaving too!”
“Ying’er, Mom’s coming with you!”
Su Li threw up her hands.
In truth, she saw very clearly: Jiang Yueying couldn’t turn back, nor would she choose to.
And Jiang Qingtian was just being stubborn verbally. How could he not know Jiang Yueying’s feelings for Bai Jinghong?
He was just a bit unable to swallow his indignation.
Jiang Qingtian only felt isolated and unsupported. Damn, he and that old brother Bai Zhennan truly shared the same plight.
Both families treated Bai Jinghong like a treasure. Only the two of them had the family status of bottom-tier!
In their youth, they’d swept through storms, hadn’t suffered the slightest loss. If anyone on the street so much as looked at them twice, they’d get beaten up.
Now that they’re older, they were instead taking all this crap!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.
