Chapter 192
“Xue Cheng, are you crazy? Can’t you understand people’s words? If you can’t talk, just keep your mouth shut. No one here is forcing you to speak, nor do you need to speak so much. Besides, he’s someone you can’t provoke at will, do you understand? Hurry up and apologize to Mr. Xu.” Although Yang Rongrong disliked Xue Cheng, she couldn’t just watch him being retaliated against by Xu Ke because of her. She could only pull Xue Cheng’s wrist hard and give him a look.
But Yang Rongrong’s painstaking efforts were destined to be in vain. Xue Cheng simply couldn’t understand Yang Rongrong’s respectful attitude towards Xu Ke; her actions in his eyes were blatant favoritism.
“Why should I apologize to him? What makes him worthy of my apology? Who do I, Xue Cheng, think I am, and who does he think he is? What makes him able to withstand my apology?” Xue Cheng shook off Yang Rongrong’s hand forcefully, his expression displeased as he said.
“The identity of the heir to the Xu Group, is that enough to accept your apology?” Xu Ke stood nearby, speaking coldly.
“Ha, Xu Family Master? With that pretty face of yours, you call yourself the Xu Family Master? Don’t make me laugh, okay? Even if you want to impersonate, you should choose an identity that’s easier to believe, right? Who in Shangjing doesn’t know that the Xu Family Master dislikes going out? He doesn’t even go to the company; how could he come to an auction house? This is a ridiculous joke, truly laughable.” Xue Cheng laughed exaggeratedly, clutching his stomach as if he were about to fall over from laughter. The onlookers turned their gaze upon the two, and those who knew the truth all looked at Xue Cheng with utmost sympathy.
The others, seeing the pity in the big shots’ eyes, gradually understood something in their hearts. The looks they gave Xue Cheng were tinged with sympathy, and receiving so many sympathetic glances, Xue Cheng’s smile gradually faded, a hint of panic in his eyes. Yet he still tried hard to maintain his composure, not wanting to lose face in front of so many people.
“This must be a joke. You can’t possibly be the Xu Family Master, right? This is all fake, isn’t it?” Xue Cheng fixed his gaze on Xu Ke, asking one question before focusing all his attention on Yang Rongrong, hoping to get a negative answer from her.
“He is indeed the new heir to the Xu Family. Many people know about this, so just apologize to Mr. Xu,” Yang Rongrong said, her face showing some impatience.
Xue Cheng’s expression changed several times in an instant, with a kind of disbelief and astonishment, “How can this be? How could there be a mistake about this? Everyone says the Xu Family Master doesn’t like going out, so how could he attend an auction? He doesn’t even go to the company. Rongrong, did you make a mistake? He’s not actually the Xu Family Master; you’re just saying this to scare me.”
Xue Cheng, ignoring Yang Rongrong’s objection, directly grabbed both her hands tightly, his eyes carrying a gambler’s madness.
“Quickly tell me this is all your prank; hurry up and tell me! If my father finds out I offended the Xu Family, he’ll skin me alive! Quickly tell me it’s all fake, hurry!” Xue Cheng shouted hoarsely, his grip uncontrolled, completely not caring about Yang Rongrong’s well-being, a far cry from the affection he had shown just moments ago.
“Rongrong, I’m doing all this for you. You know me. You wouldn’t just watch the Xu Family retaliate against me, right? You’d definitely plead for me and keep me safe, right?” Xue Cheng asked anxiously.
“Xue Cheng, let go of my hands. You’re hurting me, let go.” Yang Rongrong didn’t answer Xue Cheng’s question. Instead, she tried hard to pull her hands out of his grip, but he only held on tighter, squeezing so hard that her face turned pale from pain she had never experienced before.
“Please let go; you’re hurting this lady. Your current behavior is not what a gentleman should exhibit.” Xu Ke smiled lightly as he grasped Xue Cheng’s wrist, pressing his fingers down somewhere, instantly numbing Xue Cheng’s entire arm and causing him to involuntarily release his grip, allowing Yang Rongrong to reclaim her hands.
“I didn’t mean to; I was just too anxious.” Xue Cheng’s face first showed anger, but after seeing clearly who had grabbed him, the anger vanished immediately, and he wore a somewhat sheepish smile.
“Being anxious is no excuse for being rude to a lady. I don’t think this place suits you. You should leave,” Xu Ke said, a perfectly timed smile on his face.
“He entered with an invitation to the auction; it’s not quite right to directly kick a guest out without consulting the host,” Chairman Hu said, still holding a thick cigar, as he exhaled smoke and walked up to Xu Ke.
“What do you mean by that?” Chairman Hu’s pupils contracted sharply, his mouth curving down, his voice low but filled with anger, ready to ignite at any moment.
“What? Wasn’t I clear enough? Then let me say it again: I hope Chairman Hu doesn’t act like a woman and meddle in others’ affairs. If you’re really so idle, maybe spend time teaching your daughter, so she doesn’t go around saying things that make people laugh. What do you say, Chairman Hu?” Xu Ke raised an eyebrow, speaking lightly.
The onlookers didn’t know what kind of entanglement had occurred between the two, but witnessing Chairman Hu’s face change drastically and Xu Ke’s nonchalant demeanor, they could see an invisible war igniting between them.
“Hmph, young man, don’t be too arrogant. Watch out, or you’ll find your ship capsized by the wind,” Chairman Hu snorted coldly, giving Xu Ke a hostile look.
“Whether this gust of wind will capsize my ship, I don’t know, but I’m sure you’ll flip before I do.” Xu Ke wiped the smile off his face, speaking seriously and confidently, instilling a sense of unease in Chairman Hu, a feeling that refused to fade even with deep breaths, growing stronger and making him furrow his brow.
“What have you done?”
“What do you think I could have done?” Xu Ke raised an eyebrow, responding with a question of his own.
“Your presence here is an eyesore. Leave, or do you want the host to personally retract your invitation and have you kicked out?” Xu Ke turned his attention from Chairman Hu back to Xue Cheng, speaking politely.
Xue Cheng’s face turned beet red from Xu Ke’s words. Hanging his head low, he dared not meet the eyes of those around him. Covering his face, he turned and ran off without even a word to Yang Rongrong.