A man's reputation casts a long shadow.
Although Xu Hao had no interactions with them, and they hadn't even seen Xu Hao's face,
it didn't stop the look of sheer terror on their faces when they heard his name.
Xu Hao's fame had resounded throughout Huadu these days.
At the Huadu University gymnasium, he publicly defeated the great master from Fusang Country, Jin Shuisheng.
At Liuguang Villa, he beat the Tu family's Third Young Master Tu Yilong, whom the Wu family had brought in full of bluster.
At the summit of Yunlan Mountain, he alone dominated the various families, forcing the Wu family to bow their heads unwillingly.
Xu Hao had become a taboo word in Huadu, whenever mentioned, faces filled with reverence and fear.
However, right now, this seemingly ordinary Guo Lan boldly claimed Xu Hao as her backer!
Everyone looked at Guo Lan with doubt and suspicion.
No one knew whether she was telling the truth or lying, but no one dared to mock her anymore at this point.
Better to believe it and be cautious than to deny it and suffer consequences.
No one wanted to invite disaster. They just wanted to stand by idly, watching him build his empire and then watching it collapse.
They didn't care about anything else.
The man in beggar pants stepped back several times in fear and finally managed to steady himself before saying, "Guo Lan, have you really turned from a sparrow into a phoenix?"
Guo Lan knew very well that she absolutely could not reveal any inconsistencies or panic now. She immediately responded, "There's no need to talk about becoming a phoenix; I've just received some care from Young Master Xu, who is generous and kind-hearted. Seeing us, a widow and an orphan, he just lent us a hand." Chapter provided via *.
Hearing Guo Lan say this only made everyone believe more firmly that she was telling the truth.
If she had claimed a very close relationship with Xu Hao, everyone would have been skeptical because, although Guo Lan was quite beautiful, she had already had a child. How could Young Master Xu be interested in her?
The most likely scenario was that he saw her plight and merely helped her out of compassion.
Fearing they wouldn't believe her, Guo Lan also took out her cellphone and said to the man in beggar pants, "I have Young Master Xu's phone number saved in my cell. He told me I could reach out to him if there's any trouble, but I don't wish to bother him too much, you know?"
The man in beggar pants realized from this statement that Guo Lan was threatening him, but he was helpless. Now that Guo Lan had the support of Young Master Xu, crushing him would be easier for such a big shot than squashing an ant!
He hastily replied with a forced smile, "Guo Lan, don't be upset. We can talk this over. I was wrong just now. I shouldn't have falsely accused you; you really don't owe me money."
Guo Lan saw the man's attitude make a complete one-eighty turnaround and couldn't help but sigh to herself. No matter what she previously said, he hadn't given her room to breathe. But the moment she dropped Young Master Xu's name, he cowered immediately.
However, Guo Lan didn't want to push him too hard. She just wanted to take this opportunity to leave peacefully and go home, away from him.
Guo Lan snorted coldly, "Had you not pressed me, I would not have used Young Master Xu's name to influence you. Do you realize your mistake now?"
"Yes, yes," the man in beggar pants said, his face full of appeasement.
"That's good. My child is hungry; I need to go home and cook for her," Guo Lan said, seizing the opportunity to leave.
Some bystanders scolded the man in beggar pants, "Humph! I knew you were no good, bullying a widow and an orphan in public!"
"Exactly, you and I think alike. Just look at his clothes; he's clearly not a good person," another person chimed in right away.
"Teacher Guo, I'm sorry, I was wrong earlier. I should not have slandered you," that parent of a student quickly apologized.
At that moment, people began apologizing to Guo Lan.
Guo Lan's heart sneered. She had seen all kinds of human warmth and coldness these past days. Director Zhou, who had initially received her so eagerly, did not hesitate at all when he sent her away.
Therefore, she didn't respond to the crowd and instead walked briskly towards her home.
But just then, someone suddenly shouted out, "I've just heard that on the night at Yunlan Mountain, Xu Hao was beaten by the Wu family and others. His arms and legs are now completely useless, almost like a cripple. Just yesterday morning, the Wu family even went to Xu Hao's security company in full force, planning to forcibly take over his company!"
"What? How could this be? Is Xu Hao still a match for them?" someone immediately asked.
The person laughed loudly, "Of course not! The Wu family went there with a powerful member of the Tu family; with so many skilled fighters heading to that security company, and Xu Hao severely injured, unable to fight, he definitely lost!"
"So, Xu Hao isn't as powerful as before now?" someone asked.
"Not just not as powerful! The Wu family suffered a great deal before. They will definitely seek revenge. I see this as them slowly eating away at Xu Hao's assets, letting him watch helplessly and suffer immensely. Eventually, the Wu family will kill him!" the person analyzed methodically.