Chapter 677: 673. Would I make the same mistake a second time? (Seeking subscriptions and monthly votes)

Aidan felt terrible; his chest was heaving violently, and a nameless fire burned incessantly in his heart.

The gazes of the crowd were like sharp thorns, constantly piercing into his heart.

He and Qiaosilin had met after Zhang Ran disappeared; although theirs was a marriage of alliance, and if one were to truly calculate it according to Huaxia customs, he was a man marrying into his wife's family, he was very fond of Qiaosilin.

He knew that Qiaosilin had always hidden someone in her heart, and he had asked about it, but he had only ever received cold looks in return.

Now he did not need to ask, because he knew who that person was.

Huo Zhiyuan, who was currently helping to receive some noblewomen, seemed to sense an inexplicable danger and subconsciously looked over.

Most of the people who came this time had brought their wives, so Huo Zhiyuan also needed to come over to help receive them.

When Huo Zhiyuan saw Qiaosilin's gaze, her heart suddenly skipped a beat, and she subconsciously walked over.

She was all too familiar with that look; wasn't that the same expression she wore when looking at Zhang Ran?

"Brother Zhang, long time no see." Jiasen spoke first, which also served to remind his sister Qiaosilin: could she please not be so blatant?

Zhang Ran also smiled and said, "Jiasen, long time no see."

His face did not reveal a trace of anger or hatred; he appeared very calm.

Yet it was precisely this calmness that shattered the last shred of hope in Jiasen's heart; clearly, Zhang Ran must have known something.

Otherwise, he would not be acting this way.

"Brother Zhang, I missed you so much." Qiaosilin said directly, her fiery eyes staring fixedly at Zhang Ran.

At this, many people subconsciously twitched the corners of their mouths; although they knew some of the situation, they had not expected Qiaosilin to be so direct.

Even though people in Europe and America were relatively open, Qiaosilin had been married for a long time, and her husband was right beside her—was this really appropriate?

Clearly, Qiaosilin did not hold Aidan in her heart at all, or to put it bluntly, Aidan had no status in her heart whatsoever.

He did not occupy even a sliver of her heart.

Before Zhang Ran could even speak, Aidan's face was already so gloomy it could drip water; he felt incomparably humiliated and annoyed, and his gaze toward Zhang Ran became extremely angry.

"Zhang Ran, heh, I've long heard of your great name, but I didn't expect you to be this kind of person; you're nothing special after all." Aidan sneered.

Zhang Ran looked at him and said calmly, "Who are you?"

These words were like a slap to Aidan's face, making him feel a wave of pain across his cheeks.

Some people couldn't help but laugh out loud; few of the people invited by Zhang Ran today feared him, even his family was no exception, let alone the fact that he was merely a marriage partner for the family.

"I am Qiaosilin's husband, who do you think I am?" Aidan said angrily.

Zhang Ran nodded and said, "Is there something you need?"

"Zhang Ran, you go too far!" Aidan was so angry that he pointed at Zhang Ran's nose and cursed.

In his view, Zhang Ran was doing it on purpose—purposely saying that to make him lose face and humiliate him.

Well, Zhang Ran did indeed know him; after all, Zhang Ran had never stopped his investigation into the Rhode Family.

To say he didn't know Aidan would indeed be a bit hard to justify.

Only then did Zhang Ran seem to realize, "Right, your name is Aidan, isn't it? I remember now."

Aidan was so angered by him that he couldn't speak; he took a deep breath and said loudly, "Zhang Ran, as a world-renowned billionaire, is it really appropriate for you to be hitting on a married woman?"

His purpose in coming today was to cause a scene; he had previously had some reservations, but Qiaosilin's behavior and Zhang Ran's attitude had made him completely abandon those concerns.

"This gentleman, you shouldn't speak nonsense. What do you mean by 'Brother Zhang hitting on a married woman'? Is it this Qiaosilin?

Heh, what a joke. It is clearly Qiaosilin who won't give up on my Brother Zhang and is pestering him; when has Brother Zhang ever contacted her?" At this moment, Huo Zhiyuan suddenly said loudly, her tone dripping with disdain.

Huo Zhiyuan was no ordinary person; she was also in the billionaire class, and many people knew her. Seeing her stand out now, some people looked at her with strange expressions.

Qiaosilin also looked at Huo Zhiyuan with a strange expression; she could feel intense hostility coming from Huo Zhiyuan.

Aidan snorted and was about to speak when he heard Huo Zhiyuan continue, "Also, as Qiaosilin's husband, even your wife doesn't care about your dignity—do you really have the face to say that?

If I were you, I would have long since run headfirst into a wall on the street; I wouldn't have the face to live in this world."

This was the first time Huo Zhiyuan had displayed such a sharp-tongued attitude in front of outsiders; the previous Huo Zhiyuan had been gentle and intellectual, never like this.

Aidan was so angry he couldn't speak; his face flushed red, and his gaze toward Zhang Ran and Huo Zhiyuan was filled with resentment.

From the very beginning today, he had been stung by Qiaosilin's heartfelt indifference, and combined with Zhang Ran's words and these remarks from Huo Zhiyuan, he felt completely exposed; he had truly lost all face.

Just at this moment, Zhang Ran spoke, "I seem to have met an Aidan yesterday too, but that guy has already been sent to prison by me. Isn't that a coincidence?"

Zhang Ran's seemingly meaningless words made a flash of light appear in the eyes of some people.

Jiasen, meanwhile, lowered his eyes slightly, a hint of joy in his gaze, but it vanished in an instant.

"Are you threatening me? Zhang Ran, let me tell you, this is the United States, not your Huaxia." Aidan said bitterly.

Zhang Ran smiled lightly and said, "Indeed, this is the United States, not Huaxia, but no matter where it is, it is a civilized society, a society ruled by law, and there are laws."

He then said, "And if you were to do something in a moment of impulse, such as hiring someone to assassinate me?

At that time, should I settle the account with your family or with the Rhode Family?

By the way, judging from the current situation, if such a thing were to happen, I probably wouldn't go after the Rhode Family, since this would be your own reckless decision.

And if I were to retaliate against you first, would your family avenge you? Would they perhaps do so for the sake of face?

The Rhode Family probably wouldn't; in that case, it seems I would be completely at odds with your family."

Although Zhang Ran appeared to be speaking to Aidan, his eyes were actually fixed on Jiasen and Qiaosilin, and a smile hung on the corners of his mouth.

Qiaosilin's expression remained calm, and Jiasen's expression changed slightly, but he recovered in an instant.

Zhang Ran looked at Qiaosilin and sighed, "I was fooled once back then; do you really think I would make the same mistake a second time?"