So Robert put aside his pride and begged the girls to come over and sit for a while.
But although the girls were young, they could tell what was really going on from the scene over there. Even though Robert was usually quite popular with the female students, none of them were willing to go over at a time like this.
Robert tried to persuade one after another… He was completely out of face, but the girls all refused, and in the end, he couldn’t convince a single one to go.
Robert had already lost face and still hadn’t managed to persuade any of the girls, which made him really frustrated. Looking at Xu Ze, who sat beside him looking completely indifferent, he felt even more annoyed. If it weren’t for this guy being here, I would’ve already gotten a few girls to go over to that table by now.
But he didn’t dare do anything to Xu Ze. He just stood there gloomily, desperately pleading with the girls, hoping to convince one or two…
Over at the other table, Luo Baoqiang saw that his son had been over there for a while but still hadn’t brought back a single female student. And seeing that Director Lin was already getting impatient under the coaxing of their PR manager, he realized this deal was probably going to fall through. That made him angry too.
He fumed to himself, A few little girls, classmates of my son, and they’re putting on airs? Watching his son grovel and beg over there made him even more furious. He pushed his chair aside and walked over. With a bit of liquid courage, he reached out to grab Lin Yumeng, snorting with a laugh, “Hey there, classmate, come on over to Uncle’s table and keep our Robert company.”
Lin Yumeng was startled when Luo Baoqiang, an elder, actually tried to forcibly pull her away, and she let out a frightened yelp.
Xu Ze, watching from the side, saw that Luo Baoqiang, despite being an elder and having had a few drinks, was acting so rudely. His expression turned cold. He stood up gently, reached out, and brushed Luo Baoqiang’s hand aside, then uttered a single icy word: “Scram.”
Xu Ze’s spiritual power had become increasingly profound. Although Luo Baoqiang wasn’t looking directly into Xu Ze’s eyes, the intimidating force carried in his voice was extremely strong.
With that single word “Scram,” Luo Baoqiang’s face showed shock, and he involuntarily stumbled back two steps.
But he quickly regained his composure, his face flushing with even more shame and anger. I actually got scared by a half-grown kid—this is so humiliating. He was about to shout angrily.
Just then, the people at the Luo family’s table noticed the commotion and paid a bit more attention. But since two men and one woman were still accompanying the important guest Director Lin, only one person walked over. The remaining two quickly tried to soothe Director Lin.
But Director Lin’s expression was somewhat strange at that moment. His eyes were fixed on Xu Ze, full of surprise and doubt.
“You little brat, looking for a beating, are you?” Luo Baoqiang’s eyes turned red. Having lost face in front of so many people because of a half-grown kid, he raised his hand, ready to strike.
The nearby waiter saw that things were going south and quickly went to notify the manager, afraid that the young Mr. Xu might get hurt.
The girls nearby also gasped, covering their mouths with their hands, their faces full of shock. They hadn’t expected Robert’s father to be such a person.
Seeing that Luo Baoqiang was actually foolish enough to try to hit him—basically rejecting the face Xu Ze had given him—Xu Ze got genuinely angry. When he saw Luo Baoqiang’s slap coming toward him, he certainly wasn’t going to just take it. For a fat, privileged, sleazy, weird uncle like that, Xu Ze lightly waved his hand and deflected the slap aside.
Then, without hesitation, he slapped back. With a crisp “smack,” Luo Baoqiang’s face was struck, and he stumbled back two steps.
Luo Baoqiang stared at Xu Ze in disbelief, then touched his own stinging cheek. Finally, he confirmed that the boy had actually slapped him back.
At the sound of that “smack,” everyone was stunned. Lin Yumeng covered her mouth and looked at Luo Baoqiang, whose face was red on one side from the slap, then at Xu Ze, whose expression was calm but whose eyes were full of coldness. She was completely dumbfounded.
She had never known that the always gentle and refined Xu Ze could be so tough. The other girls, all freshmen, were also seeing this cool side of Xu Ze for the first time. Their eyes widened in surprise and excitement.
Robert, standing behind, was also frozen. My own father was slapped by Xu Ze…
“Scram.” Xu Ze’s eyes turned cold again as he stared at Luo Baoqiang and repeated the word.
Scram? That was impossible. Luo Baoqiang was, after all, a company president. If he just scrambled away after being slapped, how could he ever show his face in Xingcheng again? And with Director Lin watching from behind, if he just swallowed his pride, who knows how he’d be perceived?
With an angry roar, he charged forward, ready to brawl. And Robert, seeing his father get slapped and then charge in—having long harbored jealousy and resentment toward Xu Ze—threw all thoughts of school camaraderie out the window and moved to help.
Seeing the father and son duo red-eyed and about to jump him, Xu Ze just smiled. He really wasn’t afraid of a two-on-one. In fact, these two pests had ruined his mood today, so it’d be nice to blow off some steam.
But it seemed fate wasn’t going to give him a fight today. Just as the father and son were about to charge, a surprised shout came from the Luo family’s table: “Stop!”
Director Lin, with his chubby body, was surprisingly fast. He scurried over in a flash and positioned himself in front of the Luo father and son, who had been startled by his shout.
Director Lin shot the pair a fierce glare—they had nearly ruined something important for him—then turned to Xu Ze with a face full of smiles. “Comrade Xu Ze… so you’re here. I didn’t see clearly earlier and failed to notice. Please forgive me.”
“Director Lin… I thought you were planning to enjoy my embarrassment,” Xu Ze said with a faint smile, looking at the plump man’s slightly fearful and ingratiating expression. He couldn’t help but chuckle lightly.
“No, no, absolutely not. How could I ever enjoy your embarrassment?” Director Lin’s round, white face was full of humble smiles, but anyone could see the trace of nervousness and flattery in his eyes.
Director Lin’s heart was also uneasy. Over the past few days, nothing had happened to his son Lin Junyan, but Yang Li’s son, Yang Xiaoming, had reportedly been taken away by military police—and the charges seemed serious.
And all of this was naturally related to Xu Ze. Back then, after Xu Ze accepted the red envelope he had brought as a get-well gift, he hadn’t said anything harsh to him. But toward Yang Li and his son, he had been sarcastic and cold, and it had even ended in a physical altercation.
At the time, he had advised the young man to value harmony and to discuss things civilly. He had thought he was being helpful. But now it seemed that this young man was not only the godson of Old Master Tang—no wonder Yang Li had called him “comrade”—his true background probably lay within the military. Otherwise, how could he have mobilized the military court?
Thinking about how his own son was still vulnerable because of what Xu Ze knew, and how deep Xu Ze’s connections ran, Director Lin was naturally very nervous and anxious.
Beside him, Luo Baoqiang’s previously flushed face slowly darkened as he watched the director he had been currying favor with now currying favor with this young man. Even his heart gradually turned cold.
Luo Baoqiang knew he had made a big mistake today—a huge one. Seeing how respectfully and obsequiously Director Lin was treating this young man, he realized that if he had only let Director Lin know that this young man was his son’s classmate, then the deal he had been so desperately working for today would have been no problem at all.
But now, given the situation, he had clearly offended this young man and caused such a scene. With Director Lin watching, not only would this deal likely fall through, but the Luo Trading Company would probably face big trouble with other matters in the future as well.
Behind him, Robert’s handsome face also turned cold and grim. He naturally knew how important Director Lin was to their family’s trading company. The Luo family held forty percent of the shares, making them the largest shareholder, and all their assets were tied up in the company. If the company offended such an important figure, the Luo family really might be ruined.
Thinking about this, Robert became even more panicked. He looked at Xu Ze—the very person Director Lin was so cautiously trying to please. Seeing the slight chill but casual smile on Xu Ze’s face, a flicker of fear passed through his heart.
Perhaps before, he had only been jealous of Xu Ze at school. But now, that jealousy had turned into awe. He used to think Xu Ze was just like him—someone from a wealthy family. But now he saw Xu Ze’s true power. The question was, what exactly was Xu Ze’s identity?
Although Robert was only a sophomore, over the past year his father had started bringing him into the company and having him help receive guests. He had learned a lot.
The director of the Xingcheng Administration for Industry and Commerce respectfully addressed Xu Ze as “comrade.” In official circles, that term carried rich implications. But it definitely wouldn’t be used just because someone’s family had power or money. It meant that Xu Ze himself represented something official.
And the director said it with such respect. What did that mean? Robert wasn’t entirely sure, but at the very least, it meant this was not someone the Luo Trading Company could afford to offend.
Luo Baoqiang, naturally, understood the situation even more thoroughly than Robert. His face cycled through shades of pale and red. Then, gritting his teeth, he forced a smile back onto his face. Bowing to Xu Ze, he said with a dry laugh and respectful apology, “Comrade Xu Ze… I drank too much today and ran my mouth. I’ve offended you greatly… greatly offended. Please don’t hold it against me… don’t hold it against me.”
