Xia Chuyi could pretend she hadn't heard the woman's earlier words.
But now, the woman had cursed her directly to her face in English.
Naturally, she wouldn't put up with it any longer.
With a cold laugh, Xia Chuyi moved swiftly, grabbed the woman with a chilling grip, and said, "Apologize."
She too spoke in English.
"What?" The woman, caught off guard, was just about to lose her temper when she heard what Xia Chuyi had said, and she clearly hesitated.
The woman looked at her incredulously.
Xia Chuyi's eyes grew even colder as she said, "I said, apologize to me."
The woman's eyes widened in shock and she stammered, "You, you, you speak English?"
Her tone was full of disbelief.
Xia Chuyi didn't answer her but continued in fluent English, "Madam, apologize for your words and actions. Apologize to me."
With that, it was clear without saying.
Xia Chuyi not only spoke English but spoke it very well.
The woman, full of surprise, stood frozen, momentarily at a loss for how to react.
However, the man next to her reacted very quickly.
Seeing the situation, he hurried over and addressed Xia Chuyi directly, "Comrade, I'm sorry. I apologize for my sister's inappropriate words!"
The man spoke in Chinese?
Though not very fluent, it sounded a bit awkward.
"Annie, apologize!" The man frowned and rebuked the woman.
While speaking, he signaled her with his eyes: This is Country Z, be mindful of your words and actions!
The woman named Annie probably didn't expect that her casual complaint would be understood by someone who knew English!
"Yes, I'm sorry, it wasn't intentional. I didn't know you understood English," Annie said reluctantly, biting her lip.
Upon hearing this, Xia Chuyi frowned.
From the woman's words, was her apology solely because Xia Chuyi understood English?
The man also noticed his sister's insincerity in apologizing and quickly added, "I'm sorry, my sister didn't mean that."
"She's just not used to the environment here in Country Z because she has just arrived, so..."
The man then turned and harshly scolded the woman, "Annie!"
Annie bit her lip again, glared at the man, and then unwillingly said, "I'm sorry!"
Xia Chuyi smiled coldly, released the woman, and said in English, "Although your apology is hardly sincere, I accept it."
Then, she addressed the man in Chinese, "You don't need to apologize for your sister's mistake. This is Country Z, a civilized ancient country with a 5000-year culture."
"We have our own perspective, know how to distinguish right from wrong, and recognize who is at fault."
"Moreover, we have our own profundity and magnanimity, naturally not stooping to argue with those of limited knowledge and narrow vision."
Her words made the man extremely embarrassed.
"I'm sorry!" the man still chose to apologize.
Meanwhile, Annie suddenly started yelling in not very fluent Chinese, "Hey, are you insulting me, right?"
"I understand Chinese too, you backstabber!"
Annie glared indignantly at Xia Chuyi, her chest heaving with anger.