Chapter 1030

You're the one I'm hitting!

The security guard's angry roar burst forth together with the crisp crack of the second slap, a 'Pa!' that was a bit louder than Lin Dongfan's earlier slap.

Bai Qian Shuang was hit so hard her vision went dark, she staggered and knocked into the display case; the glass counter trembled, and the jewelry on it chimed, as if accompanying her embarrassment.

She was dazed for a full three seconds.

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, her eyes full of incredulous madness: 'You fucking crazy? A lousy security guard dares to hit me? I see you don't want to stay in Wuzhou!'

'Whether you can stay or not, it's not up to you, this shrew, to point fingers!' the security guard snapped, neck stiff, though his heart was pounding.

Although he hadn't yet recognized Lin Dongfan's exact identity, he saw the man's proper attire and steady demeanor, plus Bai Qian Shuang's shameless public violence and destruction, and concluded this man was no ordinary person—those connections Bai Qian Shuang had behind her might not count for much in front of someone truly influential.

If he doesn't seize the moment to firm up his stance now, is he waiting to be blamed afterward?

He simply decided to go all-in.

He pointed at the shattered jade fragments on the floor and shouted: 'You assaulted someone in the store, breaking an imperial-green jade bracelet worth 188,000, then tried to shift blame and demand this lady pay—how shameless! You've disgraced the Pearl Jade Pavilion! Either you compensate and apologize, or I'll call the police and let them judge!'

'Call the police?'

Bai Qian Shuang acted as if she'd heard the funniest joke, clutching her dislocated wrist and swollen cheek.

She laughed ferally: 'Great! Let the police come see who dares to mess with my people in Wuzhou! I tell you, forget a broken bracelet—even if I tore down the Pearl Jade Pavilion, plenty would foot the bill!'

She spoke while pulling out her phone, fingers trembling from the pain, yet she quickly dialed a number.

The moment the call connected.

She immediately switched to her arrogant, overbearing tone, shouting into the receiver: 'Yu He Ming! Where the hell have you been? Get your ass to the Pearl Jade Pavilion flagship store right now! Someone hit me in your store and still dared to demand I pay and apologize—if you're not here in ten minutes, I'll have your shop shut down for good!'

On the other end, Yu He Ming was dining with a big client; hearing this, he was so startled his wine cup nearly slipped from his hand.

He knew Bai Qian Shuang's temper all too well, and was even more aware of the power behind her.

The Bai Shi Group also carried some weight in Wuzhou, and he routinely relied on her favor; he hurriedly replied with obsequiousness: 'Madam Bai, please calm down! Calm down! I'll be there right away—five minutes! No, three! Please don't lower yourself to the level of those clueless fools; wait till I arrive and I'll vent your anger for you!'

He hung up.

Bai Qian Shuang lifted her chin smugly, glaring at Lin Dongfan: 'Heard that? I've already summoned your boss! You'll be crying later! Sensible people, kneel now and apologize, then compensate me for medical and emotional damages, and maybe I'll let you off!'

Lin Dongfan leaned against the display case, hands slipped into his casual trousers' pockets, his expression indifferent as if watching a farce.

Tonight he had deliberately changed into a simple white shirt, no tie, sleeves casually rolled up, shedding his usual solemn aura for a more relaxed, carefree vibe, yet his deep eyes held an undeniable oppressive pressure—though for now no one noticed it.

'Apologize?' he snorted softly, his voice low but it made Bai Qian Shuang inexplicably uneasy: 'You're even worthy of that?'

Chu Lingxi stood beside him, clutching the corner of his shirt with her small hands, her eyes brimming with admiration.

Just now, when the security guard suddenly turned against them, she had hesitated a moment; seeing her husband so calm now, she instantly felt reassured. She tiptoed, leaned close to Lin Dongfan's ear, and whispered softly: 'Husband, this woman really seems to have some backing—should we...'

'Don't worry.'

Lin Dongfan turned his head to look at her, his gaze instantly softening as he rubbed her hair: 'No matter who she summons, today he must apologize to you.'

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried full confidence, instantly putting Chu Lingxi at ease.

She glanced at Bai Qian Shuang with a half-smile, then raised her voice: 'Some people really won't shed a tear until they see the coffin. When your boss arrives, we'll see whether he backs you, the aggressor, or us, the victims.'

Bai Qian Shuang trembled with rage, about to retort, when the doors of the Pearl Jade Pavilion burst open and a middle-aged man with a beer belly, clad in a designer suit, came rushing in, panting—none other than the Pearl Jade Pavilion's boss, Yu He Ming.

As soon as he entered, he looked around.

Seeing Bai Qian Shuang bruised and swollen, her wrist drooping, his face instantly paled; he hurried over, his tone deferential to the point of groveling: 'Madam Bai! Are you alright? Who dared to lay a hand on you? Rest assured, I'll make him pay.'

As he spoke, he followed Bai Qian Shuang's venomous gaze and spotted Lin Dongfan leaning against the display case.

The man was tall and straight, his bearing cold and stern; though casually dressed, he somehow made people dare not underestimate him.

But Yu He Ming's mind was wholly focused on pleasing Bai Qian Shuang; he didn't think twice, frowned at Lin Dongfan, and rebuked: 'Sir, you've got some nerve! Dare to assault someone in my Pearl Jade Pavilion? Do you know who Madam Bai is? Apologize to her immediately and compensate all losses, or I won't be polite!'

Bai Qian Shuang, seeing this, immediately feigned injury and cried: 'Yu He Ming! It's him! He not only hit me, he twisted and dislocated my wrist, and your security guard also dared to hit me—fire them both!'

'Fire them?'

Yu He Ming snapped his head around, glaring fiercely at the trembling security guard beside him, inwardly cursing him a thousand times—'Damn it, who else could you have provoked, but you had to mess with Madam Bai's head!'

Yet on the surface he barked at the guard: 'You've got some nerve! Dare to lay hands on a customer—hurry up and apologize to Madam Bai!'

The guard wore a look of grievance, glanced sideways at Lin Dongfan, saw he remained calm and unfazed, further convinced he hadn't backed the wrong side, yet could only stiffly tell Bai Qian Shuang: 'Madam Bai, sorry...'

'Just sorry?' Bai Qian Shuang refused to let up: 'I want him gone, and I want him to compensate my losses!'

'Yes yes yes!'

Yu He Ming hurriedly nodded, then turned to Lin Dongfan, his face piled with impatient urging: 'Sir, don't waste time! Madam Bai is magnanimous—kneel and apologize now, then pay 108,000 for medical expenses, and we'll let this go; otherwise I'll call the police.'

Lin Dongfan raised an eyebrow, his tone turning cold: 'My wife was publicly slapped by her, she smashed the store's valuable merchandise, and even forced my wife to pay and kneel—now you want me to apologize?'

Yu He Ming blinked, then noticed the clear red slap mark on Chu Lingxi's face, his heart skipping a beat.

This doesn't seem to be what Bai Qian Shuang said, does it?

But then he thought: the Bai Shi Group behind Bai Qian Shuang is a major client of the Pearl Jade Pavilion—we can't offend them.

He immediately put on a brave face: 'Sir, you can eat messily, but you can't speak nonsense! What status does Madam Bai have that she'd ever strike first? Surely there's some misunderstanding! How about this: I'll cover the loss of the jade bracelet, you apologize to Madam Bai, and we'll call it even—what do you think?'

'A misunderstanding?' Chu Lingxi couldn't help but interject, voice tinged with grievance: 'She clearly hit me first, then said I must pay for the broken bracelet or she wouldn't let us leave—how is that a misunderstanding?'

'Miss, say less!' Yu He Ming hurriedly cut her off, tone somewhat perfunctory: 'Madam Bai was just momentarily impulsive; you're magnanimous, don't quarrel with her.'

Seeing this, Bai Qian Shuang grew even more smug, covering her cheek as she blustered: 'Heard that? Apologize quick, or I'll have Yu He Ming throw you two out and then call the cops to arrest you!'

Yu He Ming chimed in: 'Sir, the wise know the times—Madam Bai's influence isn't something you can provoke; don't end up suffering a huge loss and regretting it too late.'

Lin Dongfan's smile vanished completely, his eyes turning icy cold. He said nothing more, merely slowly pulling out his phone and lightly tapping the screen a few times.

The onlooking customers around began to chatter.

'That guy looks quite refined—how dare he oppose Bai Qian Shuang?'

'Bai Qian Shuang does have some clout in Wuzhou; he's likely to come out on the losing side.'

'The Pearl Jade Pavilion boss clearly favors Bai Qian Shuang—this won't be easy to resolve...'

Chu Lingxi watched Lin Dongfan's movements; though doubtful, she still chose to trust him. Meanwhile Bai Qian Shuang and Yu He Ming wore expressions of watching a show, waiting for Lin Dongfan to back down and apologize.

But they didn't know that a massive overturning of everyone's perceptions was quietly brewing...