"Kid, do you know your place?"
At the main table, the tall and burly young man who welcomed them in pointed at Zhou Yacheng with contempt and said, "You're just an assistant, do you think you're worthy of sitting next to Lili?"
"Get lost, don't make me say I'm not giving Lili face."
"If she wasn't holding me back, do you think I wouldn't slap you across the face?"
The youth's earlier pretentious smile was gone, replaced by a ferocious and sinister expression.
The private room was quite large, with considerable distance between tables. Li Chonglou was discussing antiques with Huang Jian and hadn't noticed what was happening at the main table.
He only remembered Zhou Yacheng mentioning glancing at the main table earlier, and he hadn't stopped him.
After only a few seconds, why did it escalate into a conflict?
At the head of the main table, Tian Lingli's pretty face showed a hint of panic. She quickly stood up to dissuade him, "Zhao Hui, what are you doing?"
"He's not just my assistant, he's my boyfriend!"
She had originally wanted to show off to her classmates, which was why she introduced Li Chonglou and Zhou Yacheng as her assistants.
However, she didn't expect Zhao Hui to think she was single and start trying to impress her in front of so many classmates.
Coincidentally, Zhou Yacheng, who was walking over, saw this. Given his temper, how could he tolerate his woman being harassed? He exploded on the spot.
He went up and started cursing.
This made Zhao Hui furious, and he rose from his seat, ignoring his previous composure, and threatened him.
Helplessly, she had to reveal the truth.
It would have been better if she hadn't said anything, but upon hearing that he was her boyfriend, Zhao Hui's expression contorted even more.
He turned to Tian Lingli and coldly cursed, "Lili, I asked you before if you had a boyfriend, and you said no. So you lied to me!"
"To welcome you, I gathered all these old classmates. Do you think I did it for what?"
"Don't think you're superior just because you've been out for a few years."
"In Shu Yu, no one dares to treat me like a clown!"
"Boyfriend, huh? If you had told me in advance, I wouldn't have minded you being polite to him now. But you're coming up with excuses now, don't blame me for not giving you face."
Several of his close classmates also got up.
"Tian Lingli, you woman are too unperceptive. Young Master Zhao arranged this gathering all for you, but you're acting like a fallen woman trying to maintain virtue."
"If you're going to act, then finish the act. A boyfriend pops up halfway through, you really are heartless like an actor."
"What internet celebrity? Aren't you just a beggar online, begging for food? Young Master Zhao has absolute power in Shu Yu, what are you in front of him!"
...
These people usually followed Zhao Hui. At this moment, of course, they stood by his side. With a few words, they made Tian Lingli, who had been flattering them, turn ashen and her eyes twitch.
Zhou Yacheng also understood.
It turned out Tian Lingli had claimed to be single externally, which he found unsurprising. Most female streamers, to maintain fan engagement and expectations, would not publicly disclose their relationships.
It was like the female celebrities of the past.
This was nothing; they were all out to have fun, and he didn't think they should be so petty and unable to let things go.
However, Zhao Hui's words made him very unhappy.
He immediately retorted, "What the hell are you? Try it in Qinzhou, and I'll make sure you regret it."
Zhao Hui narrowed his eyes at his scolding, a sinister glint flashing, "This is Shu Yu. Even a powerful outsider fears the local tyrant."
"You're acting tough with me? Kneel!"
With that command, Zhou Yacheng and Tian Lingli's expressions both changed.
"That's enough. Even local tyrants should have some demeanor. This is a misunderstanding, there's no need to escalate it further. I'll apologize on their behalf, let's both take a step back." At this moment, Li Chonglou's voice drifted over from the side.
The argument between the two men over jealousy and possessiveness bothered him greatly.
Although Tian Lingli was somewhat in the wrong in this matter, why should she have to tell him whether she had a boyfriend or not? The local tyrant was being too overbearing.
Furthermore, it was Zhou Yacheng and Tian Lingli who were being scolded, and they were both his friends.
However, considering that there were important matters to attend to, he decided to de-escalate the situation.
When he spoke, Zhou Yacheng no longer dared to cause trouble and took the opportunity to retreat, "Alright, I'll give Brother face. We'll settle this later."
Unfortunately, while he respected Li Chonglou, others didn't know who he was.
Tian Lingli was about to smile and smooth things over when Zhao Hui, with a cold sneer, pointed at Li Chonglou. "Who the hell are you to come here and dictate things?"
"A lowly assistant still thinks he's someone."
"I'll give you three seconds to get out of this room, or I'll make you crawl out."
This scene frightened Tian Lingli.
Li Chonglou was not her assistant. In Qinzhou, she still relied on his guidance.
Even Young Master Xiao Zhou called him Grand-Uncle-Master.
For him to be challenged by her classmate in her hometown was a disaster.
She immediately rushed between the two and shook her head at Zhao Hui, saying, "You've gone far enough, why are you acting so crazy?"
"If you continue like this, we'll leave right now. Don't say you know me anymore."
*Slap!*
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Hui slapped her across the face with all his might. The sound was as sharp as a firecracker exploding.
"You little bitch, do you really think you're something? You're just an internet celebrity. If it weren't for the fact that I liked you when we were in school, what right do you have to eat with me?" Zhao Hui's expression was sinister as he adjusted his suit, his voice filled with condescending disdain.
Tian Lingli stumbled back from the blow. After regaining her balance, she covered her face, stunned.
She simply couldn't believe her eyes. Zhao Hui dared to hit her.
And he slapped her in front of so many classmates.
He had been so solicitous and flattering just moments ago, and now he had turned on her. Why?
The other classmates, seeing this, were too terrified to speak.
"I'll fuck your mother!" Zhou Yacheng had never suffered such humiliation. Seeing his woman being hit, he roared and lunged forward to kick Zhao Hui.
However, as soon as he made a move, he was restrained by Zhao Hui's men, unable to move.
"Let him go, and then apologize." Li Chonglou's eyes flashed with a chilling light, piercing and captivating.
Zhao Hui let out a cold laugh, "Apologize? You haven't even looked at where you are."
"Do you know who my father is? I might not be the richest in Shu Yu County, but even the richest man wouldn't dare speak to me like that!"
"You little punk, do you really think you've become superior just by staying in a big city?"
"I told you, once you're here, even dragons have to crawl."
"I'll say it again, kneel!"
Since Tian Lingli had made him look like a sycophant and lose face in front of these classmates, he decided no one would leave unscathed today.
Zhao Hui completely disregarded Li Chonglou, who was merely an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of his rage.
"Young Master Zhao, can you give me some face? Please don't go too far..." At this moment, Huang Jian from the second table weakly spoke, seemingly begging.
In this situation, he had no right to speak.
But he thought they were classmates and had some connection. Moreover, he had finally met Li Chonglou, a fellow enthusiast, and wanted to invite Tian Lingli to his place.
So he mustered the courage to speak.
"A dumpster diver, talking about face in front of me? If you spout any more nonsense, you'll kneel with him!" Zhao Hui was incredibly arrogant and completely ignored Huang Jian.
As he spoke, he advanced towards Li Chonglou step by step.
He raised his foot to kick him in the abdomen, "You little bastard, I told you to kneel, and you're still defiant?"
"If you don't want to kneel, I'll teach you how to kneel!"