Rong Shen, though imrsed in the dark undercurrents of the underworld, was a man of delicate thoughts. Considering the two girls had never encountered its darker aspects, he hadn’t taken them directly to the banquet hall. Instead, he had found a private room upstairs and hosted them separately. Thus, even by the end, Su Mu and Jiang Bei had not witnessed what a true welcoming banquet looked like.
Of course, they didn’t want to see it either.
The dinner table was very quiet. Although there was little conversation, Su Mu noticed that Rong Shen’s gaze occasionally fell on Jiang Bei, his look so blatantly predatory that she couldn’t help but feel nervous for Jiang Bei. Jiang Bei, however, was oblivious to this and continued to eat with gusto.
After dinner, Jiang Bei rose to take her leave. Considering he had matters to attend to, Rong Shen did not press her to stay but rely looked at Jiang Bei and asked,
"What’s your phone number?"
Jiang Bei regarded him warily:
"Why do you want my number?"
"You’re my savior. I need your number to pay a visit and express my thanks in the future."
"No need," Jiang Bei refused. "This interaction makes us even. There’s no need to et again in the future."
Rong Shen’s expression did not change, but after Jiang Bei spoke those words, he took a step closer to her. Before she could react, he cleanly and deftly took her phone from her pocket, dialed his own number, watched her astonished expression, and with a slight smile, handed back the phone to Jiang Bei:
"Sotis, one must take matters into their own hands to ensure abundance."
Jiang Bei laughed lightly, took Su Mu’s hand, and left. Rong Shen watched their retreating figures, his lips curling into a aningful smile. He had seen many won, and so were as spirited as Jiang Bei, but she was the only one who dared to confront him directly without any fear.
Such courage and decisiveness were much like his own in the past.
As soon as Su Mu and Jiang Bei walked out of the club, Ji Nanfeng and Qiao Yu ca up to et them, relieved to see them unhard:
"How was it? Did Rong Shen give you any trouble?"
Jiang Bei scoffed as she looked at them:
"Trouble or not, even if there had been any, the two of you sipping coffee in the café couldn’t have been of any help."
Jiang Bei’s aning was clear, and Ji Nanfeng understood, as did Qiao Yu, although the latter chose not to respond. The forr, however, could not swallow his pride and scoffed at Jiang Bei:
"What’s that supposed to an? You think we didn’t do anything and just watched from the sidelines?"
"Not at all. You’re not my anyone, why should you charge into battle for ? I’m well aware of that much," Jiang Bei asserted.
Jiang Bei truly didn’t think that way; she knew that no one in this world was obliged or responsible to risk, or even sacrifice, their life for her, not even her own parents. The words she spoke were mostly out of a sense that the person before her was sowhat hypocritical, professing protection and affection, yet doing nothing when she was in actual danger.
After finishing her statent, Jiang Bei grabbed Su Mu’s hand and was about to leave when Ji Nanfeng quickly stepped in front of them:
"It might be better to clear things up."
"What are you trying to say?"
Ji Nanfeng pointed at Qiao Yu:
"You know he is a talented surgeon, but did you know he is also the only son of the director of Shen City Public Security Bureau? To avoid being seen as relying on connections, he even changed his last na to his mother’s. He has never once asked his father for help for his own affairs in his entire life, but for you, he went to his father."
Jiang Bei was slightly stunned, and he looked up at Qiao Yu.
"Do you think you were hiding well before Rong Shen ca out? Do you really think after you let Rong Shen in and beat up their people, they were actually scared of you and feared you? If it weren’t for Qiao Yu asking his father to arrange special police protection, if it weren’t for negotiating relations with them on your behalf, do you think you could’ve lasted until the mont Rong Shen ca out?"
Jiang Bei wanted to say sothing, but Ji Nanfeng didn’t give her the chance and spoke on his own:
"Jiang Bei, I admit there are things about you that attract , whether it’s your appearance or personality, both fit my taste well. I pursued you, wanting you to be my woman based entirely on my admiration for you, but do you really think you are the center of everyone’s universe? The ss was caused by you, and these days, not to ntion how much effort Qiao Yu and I have put into this matter, even Su Mu, ask her if she has had a good night’s sleep? Everyone was worried about you, yet you recklessly charged in front of Rong Shen without considering our feelings."
"I think not, anyone with a bit of sense wouldn’t have done such a foolish thing. You might even think you’re quite impressive, right? Single-handedly resolving the issue? But did you ever think why Qiao Yu and I could sit calmly in the café across the street, letting you handle it yourself? That’s because we understand Rong Shen, we know what kind of person he is. If it was anyone else in there today, do you think you could have co out unscathed? The guys inside would have torn you apart if it hadn’t been for all these years I’ve wasted!"
Even Qiao Yu, who had grown up with Ji Nanfeng, rarely encountered such an attitude from him. Seeing Jiang Bei slightly frown, he ultimately couldn’t bear it, and patted his shoulder:
"Everyone has already co out safely, why bring this up?"
"If I don’t say it, how would she know? Next ti sothing like this happens, she wouldn’t even know where to cry."
Jiang Bei admitted to herself that so of Ji Nanfeng’s words had indeed opened her eyes. She did not realize her actions had involved so many people, thinking everything was as she saw it, unaware of the many people worrying for her in the background.
She was impulsive, brave, calm, but also responsible. Once she realized her mistakes, she wouldn’t stubbornly refuse to admit them. At that mont, she looked at Qiao Yu and Ji Nanfeng and sincerely apologized:
"I’m sorry, though I didn’t an anything by what I said just now, it must have been inappropriate to provoke such a reaction in you. I apologize for my behavior, and thank you for everything you have done for these days. I am not ungrateful. I keep all your efforts in mind, and should you need in the future, I will not hesitate to help."
Ji Nanfeng never expected Jiang Bei’s attitude to change so quickly. He had prepared quite a few argunts, but with Jiang Bei’s words, he was caught off guard, feeling like he had punched into cotton. He looked at Jiang Bei, not sure whether to be surprised or angry.
Su Mu, seeing that all three had cald down, tugged Jiang Bei’s hand:
"Your wounds haven’t healed yet, let’s go back."
Having said all that needed to be said, and even what didn’t, there was no reason she shouldn’t leave. She nodded slightly and left with Su Mu, while Ji Nanfeng watched their departing figures in the taxi, he couldn’t help but curse out loud, while Qiao Yu watched him with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile:
"Can’t take it anymore, huh?"
"Could you?"
"What if I said I could, would you back down?"
Ji Nanfeng was choked up again, and after a mont replied, "In your dreams!"
Qiao Yu chuckled softly and also got into the car, leaving Ji Nanfeng alone on the street.
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