With her niece Xu Bingqing backing her up, Xu Yun suddenly felt fully confident. After all, her beautiful niece and Li Qiuchan, the prospective daughter-in-law of Han Long, were the best of friends. Given this underlying relationship, she, Xu Yun, could even consider herself a friend of Han Long, one of the richest men in Hangcheng City.
"Hmph, if you get on your knees and apologize right now, I might give you a chance to make amends," Xu Yun said, an arrogant expression blooming on her face.
"However, I definitely won’t be letting Lin Meiqing and Lin Jia off the hook.
"Today, I must strip that woman’s clothes off as a warning to others. Otherwise, any Tom, Dick, or Harry will think they can disrespect me in the future."
Cursing under her breath, Xu Yun was dead set on humiliating Lin Meiqing today. Xu Bingqing had no time to concern herself with the details of the situation. Whatever her aunt wanted to do, she would just cooperate, right?
"Do as my aunt says," Xu Bingqing indicated to her subordinates.
She took off her large sunglasses. The sunlight is too glaring. Maybe we should go sit in the car for a while. We can come out again once the problem is mostly resolved.
However, a peripheral glance caught a familiar figure. Hmm?
Without warning, her eyebrows began to twitch violently. She didn’t dare believe it at first, but upon taking a closer look, the young woman decked in gold and silver noticeably stumbled back several steps.
"It’s... it’s you!"
How could she not recognize him? To put it bluntly, even if Shen Fanyun were reduced to ashes, Xu Bingqing would recognize him instantly—she hated him to the very bone.
"Long time no see," Shen Fanyun greeted with a harmless smile.
Xu Bingqing involuntarily shuddered.
"You two know each other?" Xu Yun asked, puzzled.
Gritting her teeth, Xu Bingqing thought that "know each other" was an understatement. The animosity between her and Shen Fanyun was a deep-seated hatred; they were mortal enemies. She despised Shen Fanyun so much that she wished he would get hit by a car the moment he stepped outside, choke to death while eating, or choke on his water and die!
After a brief emotional surge, Xu Bingqing found herself in a dilemma. She couldn’t touch this person. Moreover, she had heard that just yesterday, Shen Fanyun had beaten Han Feng so badly in front of Han Long that he’d been sent to the hospital. If not for advanced medical technology, Han Feng’s life would have been forfeit. Li Qiuchan had secretly told her this, and the news was currently under a complete lockdown.
HISS.
The more Xu Bingqing thought about it, the more her heart pounded with terror. Her calves began to tremble uncontrollably, and when Shen Fanyun’s gaze swept over her, she felt completely paralyzed.
"What... what do you want?" Xu Bingqing’s brow twitched frantically.
Shen Fanyun laughed. "Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?" He gestured to the oppressive crowd of young men behind Xu Bingqing. "Gathering such a large mob in broad daylight—is Hangcheng City a lawless place? Are you playing at being gangsters?"
The corner of Xu Bingqing’s mouth twitched as she kept trying to put more distance between herself and Shen Fanyun, even though ten meters already separated them. Still, it didn’t feel safe enough.
"I... I haven’t offended you. You... you stay away from me," Xu Bingqing’s voice trembled with visible fear of Shen Fanyun.
This scene left Xu Yun dumbfounded. Her niece wielded considerable influence in Hangcheng City. Plus, she was the best friend of Han Long’s future daughter-in-law. With such a connection, Xu Bingqing could do whatever she pleased in Hangcheng City! Yet, at this moment, upon seeing Shen Fanyun, she was shivering like a mouse that had seen a cat.
"Niece? Niece?" Xu Yun called out.
Xu Bingqing couldn’t be bothered to respond, quickly tossing out, "This has nothing to do with me. I’m very busy, so I’m leaving now."
WHOOSH!
In the blink of an eye, Shen Fanyun suddenly appeared right in front of her.
"Damn, how... how did he get over there?"
"Teleportation? Or a blink? I couldn’t even see it clearly. He just suddenly appeared right in front of her. This..."
A buzz of astonishment swept through the crowd.
Seeing Shen Fanyun just inches away, Xu Bingqing felt her throat burn with rage. This aunt of mine... she’s really gotten me killed today!
"You... you..." Her mouth was dry, and her tongue was tied.
"You arrive on the scene, don’t ask what’s going on, and immediately order your men to attack. Did you really think you could just walk away unscathed?" Shen Fanyun’s voice was cold. "This aunt of yours is so arrogant that none of the neighbors can stand to watch anymore, and you... you show up and immediately start acting as her accomplice. In fact, you’re even more despicable than your aunt. You throw your weight around, completely ignoring right and wrong."
In an instant, Xu Bingqing’s face turned deep red. She wanted to retort, but facing Shen Fanyun so closely, she couldn’t utter a single word.
"Your face. Present it," Shen Fanyun’s tone was ice-cold.
Xu Bingqing was speechless.
"Shen Fanyun, I haven’t offended you or provoked you! Aren’t... aren’t you going too far?" Xu Bingqing was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
She wanted to run, to get as far away from Shen Fanyun as possible, but she knew better than anyone just how terrifying he truly was. There was no escape.
SLAP!
Shen Fanyun struck her hard across the face. Blood and spit flew from the corner of her mouth, and her bloodshot eyes looked as if they were about to shoot fire.
What a colossal humiliation! Absolutely degrading!
Xu Bingqing couldn’t remember how many times Shen Fanyun had so brazenly slapped her in broad daylight.
Pain! A pain that pierces my very soul!
"I told you to take a detour whenever you see me. Why did you refuse to listen?" Shen Fanyun feigned ignorance.
Xu Bingqing felt so wronged she nearly cried out. If it weren’t for her own aunt inexplicably provoking Shen Fanyun, why would she have ever crossed paths with him?
SLAP!
Another slap sent Xu Bingqing staggering sideways. The blood trickling from her mouth gave her a ghastly appearance.
Xu Yun was completely dumbfounded. Her own niece... didn’t even dare to resist? She just let Shen Fanyun slap her? This... Who on earth was this Shen Fanyun? What made Xu Bingqing so wary, so utterly terrified of him?
When Shen Fanyun’s gaze swept over to her, Xu Yun was so scared she barely dared to breathe. Shen Fanyun shook his head and sighed, "This one’s no good. Is anyone with a bigger backing coming? I’m in a hurry."
Xu Yun: "..."
Xu Bingqing: "..."
The crowd: "..."
Even Lin Meiqing and Lin Jia were a bit stunned.
Lin Jia muttered to herself, "The Chief is so violent. How could he hit such a beautiful girl like that? Doesn’t he know how to be gentle with women?"
"Idiot," Lin Meiqing replied irritably. "They were about to strip you in front of everyone, and you’re worried about him being gentle?"
"That’s true," Lin Jia nodded.
Covering her swollen face, Xu Bingqing gritted her teeth, every word dripping with resentment and hatred. "Can I go now?"
"Get lost!" Shen Fanyun waved his hand dismissively.
Without a backward glance, Xu Bingqing stomped away in her high heels, got into her car without so much as a word to Xu Yun, and sped off.
Xu Yun: "..."