Chapter 8: When You Can't Get the Advantage, You Slander and Splash Dirty Water

Summer Xi had no idea which direction Xu Yanfeng came from; a black shadow flashed before her eyes, and in an instant He Xiaofeng was subdued, his whole body like a piece of meat pressed on a chopping board, at anyone's mercy.

He Xiaofeng's face flushed crimson, his eyes nearly bursting, the pretended composure gone, he spat: 'Who the hell is meddling? Want to die?'

A cold, sharp voice came from above him, like a blade: 'In a public place you lay hands on a woman—what kind of thing are you?'

He Xiaofeng braced both hands on the table trying to rise, straining until his arm muscles bulged, yet he couldn't move; he roared: 'This woman started it! She's here to scam a marriage—divorced with two kids, yet she wants to marry me, a sole heir with a car, a house, and a three‑hundred‑thousand‑yearly salary! I exposed her, and she flew into a rage, splashing water on my face! Don't be fooled by her looks—don't think her pretty face means anything; she's just a …'

Xu Yanfeng grabbed the vase on the table, flowers and water, and doused the man's face with it.

"Ah!"

He Xiaofeng let out a miserable scream; the thorns on the rose stems tore his skin, a sharp pain shooting through.

Now everyone in the restaurant turned to look.

Seeing the situation escalate, the waiter couldn't handle it and hurried off to fetch the manager.

The manager came rushing over, but upon seeing Xu Yanfeng his anxious expression froze, his steps slowed, and he did not step forward to intervene.

The waiter following behind nearly bumped into him, puzzled: 'Manager?'

"That's Young General Manager Xu."

The manager uttered just a few simple words, and the waiter immediately understood. The only Xu who could make the manager so wary was that one—Young General Manager Xu of the Xu Clan Group. The waiter felt a chill and naturally dared not interfere.

He Xiaofeng was at a disadvantage, with no one to help him; besides begging, he had no other recourse: 'I was wrong, please show mercy and let me go.'

Xu Yanfeng released his grip, as if disgusted, took a napkin from the table and wiped his long fingers, his movements slow and refined, utterly elegant—nothing like the brutality he had just shown.

His face showed no expression, his eyes slightly lowered; trying to read his emotions was futile.

He Xiaofeng gritted his teeth, staggering to his feet, one hand pressing his sore shoulders and neck; he had never gotten a clear look at the man who had struck him, and now, filled with hatred, he lifted his gaze— the insults stuck in his throat as he swallowed.

Although he didn't know this person, an aura of chilling authority surrounded him—the bearing of one long accustomed to high position. The watch on his wrist was clearly valuable, his clothes bore no visible brand but the texture suggested custom tailoring. He Xiaofeng, accustomed to dealing with the wealthy, instantly judged him either rich or noble, and not someone to provoke.

He Xiaofeng glanced at Xia Xi, his anger overflowing.

It's all that woman's fault, but the situation is unfavorable to him; persisting would gain nothing, so he could only resign himself to bad luck.

He Xiaofeng was about to leave when the man suddenly said: 'Wait.'

His voice was icy, laced with command; a faint glance swept over, immensely intimidating, and He Xiaofeng instinctively obeyed, halting his steps.

Xu Yanfeng, sparing with words: 'Apologize.'

He Xiaofeng's facial muscles twitched; he stared back in disbelief—what did he mean, make him apologize to Xia Xi? Dream on!

He had ended up like this entirely because of that woman; how could he possibly apologize to her?

"Sir, I understand you want to play the hero saving the beauty, but first you need to get the facts straight." He Xiaofeng felt fear inside, yet feigned calm on the surface; with so many people around, he didn't believe the man before him would really dare to do anything to him, "I just told you—this woman isn't anything good; she's a gold‑digger, hiding her true situation to come on a blind date, even pretending innocence by claiming her family tricked her into coming. Had I known her circumstances, I wouldn't have agreed to meet."

Since Xu Yanfeng showed up, Xia Xi hadn't said a word; now she finally couldn't contain herself: 'Can't you stop reversing right and wrong? Don't you know what kind of face you have? If you insist on making this public so everyone can judge—fine, since you're shameless, go ahead and try.'

She took out her phone, opened a recording, turned the volume to maximum, and everyone nearby could hear.

He Xiaofeng's voice came from the phone.

"I know, a woman as beautiful and graceful as Miss Xia certainly doesn't lack suitors. Let me first list my advantages: I earn about three hundred thousand a year, I have a house and a car, I'm an only child, my parents both have pensions, and after marriage we wouldn't need to worry about them. I'm not particularly fond of children, but I must have one, preferably a son. If you like kids, you could also have two or three."

He Xiaofeng froze, eyes wide—how could this woman have recorded that?

At the time he said those things he didn't think much of it, but having them recorded and played publicly was embarrassing.

His face flushed with anger, he lunged to snatch Xia Xi's phone, but someone kicked his knee, pain making cold sweat break out, nearly dropping to his knees. He Xiaofeng lifted his head and met a stern face—the man who had struck him.

From the phone came Xia Xi's voice—'Mr. He, didn't the matchmaker tell you about my situation?'

He Xiaofeng asked: 'What situation?'

Xia Xi answered: 'I'm divorced with two kids, and I don't plan to have any more.'

This proves Xia Xi did not deceive.

The other diners' gazes at He Xiaofeng shifted, and they began to point and whisper.

The recording kept playing; He Xiaofeng accused Xia Xi of fraud, while she remained calm, saying she had made her situation clear from the start—it was he who refused to believe, insisting she was joking. He Xiaofeng, flushed with shame and anger, spoke with barbed words, blocking her from leaving, even uttering a highly insulting sentence.

"You're divorced with two kids—I certainly couldn't marry a woman like you. But… you're so beautiful, why not spend a night with me and we'll call today even."

He Xiaofeng froze on the spot, facing the crowd's accusations and contemptuous looks; it felt as if he'd been slapped several times, his face burning.

Xu Yanfeng's gaze at him was icy; he felt the earlier lesson had been too light.

A stranger who heard this was astonished and exclaimed: 'I get it now—the lovely lady explained things politely, wanting to end this blind date she knew nothing about, but you weren't happy, you dragged her along and wouldn't let her go, even speaking rudely. You're disgracing us men!'

The women's voices were also fierce: 'Just because she's pretty you try to take advantage; if you can't get the benefit, you splash dirty water and slander—truly despicable.'

"And still favoring sons over daughters!"

"Laughable—he wouldn't even piss to see his own reflection; what gives him the right to look down on Miss?"

"Exactly! What's wrong with being divorced and having kids? After my divorce I still live a vibrant, colorful life."

"Some people's thinking is more feudal than my grandma's!"

"Coming out for a meal, I've witnessed the diversity of species."

"Just thinking about men like this circulating in the matchmaking market makes me worry that sisters will be taken in—sigh… couldn't the country pass a law to lock up men who don't respect women?"

He Xiaofeng couldn't bear to stay any longer, limping away on one leg, dejected.

The waiter, having enjoyed the show, suddenly remembered something, chased after him shouting: 'Sir, you haven't paid the bill, the dishes are already prepared, sir——'

The scene was too ridiculous, prompting everyone to burst out laughing.

"A-Feng, shall we go?"

A soft voice sounded at her ear, drawing Xia Xi's attention; she lifted her eyelids to see a woman in a white sleeveless dress approaching. Her long hair fell over her shoulders, she wore subtle, unostentatious rich-lady makeup, pearl studs glimmering in her dark hair, making her look like a Korean drama heroine.

It was Ling Yan.

She was just as she had been years ago, from the fine strands of her hair to her heels, befitting a wealthy young lady's status.

As she drew near, a faint fragrance drifted into her nostrils.

She must have come with Xu Yanfeng.

Xia Xi pressed her lips together, her thumbnail pinching the pad of her index finger; the color drained from her fingertip, turning slightly pale.

Ling Yan walked up to Xu Yanfeng's side, feeling uneasy. She saw clearly that when that man reached out and grabbed Xia Xi's wrist, Xu Yanfeng sprang up as if by reflex, ready to go over and help her out.

She thought he had long forgotten Xia Xi, that they were strangers to each other. It turned out not to be that way.

Ling Yan didn't want all her years of effort to go to waste, so she stepped forward, grabbed a corner of Xu Yanfeng's clothes, and softly called again: "A Feng?"

Xu Yanfeng glanced at her, Ling Yan lifted her little face and gave him a charming smile, pretending Xia Xi didn't exist from start to finish, but Xu Yanfeng's next words froze her smile on her face.

"You go first, I have something to discuss with her."

(End of chapter)