Lin Hai crossed his arms over his chest and spoke to Meng Xu.
“Holy crap, Brother Hai!” Meng Xu’s heart skipped a beat. Lin Hai was not someone he could afford to mess with. He quickly put on a smiling face and was about to go over and pay his respects.
But before he could get there, Li Xue spoke first.
“Hmph, of course I’m going to tear off the skin of these two stinking soldiers. You don’t need to stick your nose in this—get lost.” Seeing Meng Xu arrive, Li Xue immediately felt emboldened.
Li Xue’s words nearly made Meng Xu fall flat on the ground in fright.
Are you kidding me? Before you open your mouth, couldn’t you at least check who the other person is? Is that someone you can afford to offend?
Never mind you—even I, a young master, have to trot over respectfully and call him “Brother” when I see him.
Smack!
Meng Xu delivered a direct slap that sent her staggering to the side.
“Are you out of your damn mind? How dare you talk to Brother Hai like that? Apologize to Brother Hai right now!” Meng Xu said with a fierce expression.
“B-Brother Hai?” Li Xue covered her face, completely stunned.
“Are you freaking stupid? Go!” Meng Xu raised his hand, about to slap her again.
“Ah, I’ll go, I’ll go!” Li Xue was so scared she quickly ran over to Lin Hai.
“B-Brother Hai, I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize you. I shouldn’t have offended you.” Li Xue apologized to Lin Hai repeatedly.
Lin Hai let out a cold laugh. He felt an indescribable disgust toward this Li Xue.
“So, you’ve already gotten two slaps in such a short time. How does it feel?” Lin Hai said mockingly.
“Feel… feel…” Li Xue was about to cry. She really didn’t know how to answer Lin Hai’s question.
“Are you freaking deaf? Brother Hai is asking you something! He asked how it feels!” Meng Xu shouted loudly from behind.
Li Xue cursed inwardly. How does it feel? Does that even need to be asked?
But Meng Xu had spoken, and she didn’t dare not answer.
“It feels… very painful.” Li Xue said in a small voice with a miserable expression.
“Louder!” Lin Hai suddenly shouted, giving Li Xue a fright.
“It feels very painful!” Li Xue said loudly.
“So you know what pain feels like? Then when you slapped this young brother earlier, why didn’t you think about whether it hurt him?” Lin Hai said coldly.
“Don’t think you’re something special just because you’re some damn celebrity. Frankly speaking, you’re nothing but a performer who sells smiles for a living. What’s so great about you?”
“We soldiers leave our parents at seventeen or eighteen. The same blooming youth—while you’re enjoying romantic moonlit nights and indulging in luxury, they’re holding steel guns, dedicating their youth to protecting the peace of the people. What right do you have to insult them?”
“Without their protection, this country and its people would have been finished long ago. And you?” Lin Hai snorted coldly. “You’d probably be lying on some wooden bed in an island nation.”
Lin Hai’s words made Li Xue feel deeply humiliated. But even Young Master Meng seemed unable to afford offending this man. She was furious inside, yet didn’t dare say a single word.
Having spoken his mind, Lin Hai’s anger finally subsided a little.
“Go on. Apologize to our respectable young soldier here!” Lin Hai pointed at Xiao Jiang.
“Apologize to him?” Li Xue looked extremely reluctant. He’s just a poor soldier—and I’m a genuine celebrity. Does he even deserve it?
Seeing Li Xue not moving, Lin Hai’s face suddenly turned cold.
“So you really don’t know what’s good for you. Not going, huh? Fine!” Lin Hai nodded and turned his head toward Guo Fei.
“Director Guo, you continue.”
Guo Fei’s eyes turned cold. He had already torn off his military rank insignia and had prepared for the worst. How could he let Li Xue off so easily?
“Li Xue, is it? I know you’re an actress with a lot of fans, and going head-to-head with you would definitely cost me. But military dignity cannot be insulted. I’ve torn off my rank insignia, which means I’m prepared to give up being an officer. I’m going to take on you, the big star, no matter what!”
As he spoke, Guo Fei grabbed Li Xue by the neck and delivered a slap across her face.
“In a soldier’s eyes, there is no man or woman—only enemies. So don’t think that just because you’re a woman, I won’t hit you! Today, if you don’t apologize to my soldier, I’ll keep hitting you until you do!”
“Commander, there’s no need for her to apologize. I’m fine. Let her go, quick.” Seeing this, Xiao Jiang hurried over and grabbed Guo Fei, speaking anxiously.
He knew that if this continued, things would get serious.
The military has discipline. The commander was standing up for him, but his career would be ruined.
Compared to the commander’s future, what did his own small grievance amount to?
Guo Fei smiled slightly and shook his head.
“Xiao Jiang, I understand what you mean. But a real man knows what to do and what not to do. You are my brother. If my brother is humiliated right in front of me, and I choose to protect myself because of my own career, do you think I’d still have the face to be your commander?”
As he spoke, Guo Fei delivered another slap across Li Xue’s face.
“Are you going to apologize or not!”
Li Xue let out a shrill scream.
“Young Master Meng, save me, quick!”
Meng Xu was alarmed. Li Xue was, after all, his people. Having her beaten like this by a soldier was a slap in his own face too.
But this soldier seemed to know Brother Hai. How would he dare offend him?
The only way now was to get Li Xue to hurry up and apologize.
With that thought, Meng Xu stepped forward and pulled Guo Fei back.
“Soldier brother, let her go first. I guarantee she’ll apologize to you both.”
“You?” Guo Fei looked at Meng Xu with doubt.
Seeing that Guo Fei didn’t trust him, Meng Xu quickly shouted at Li Xue.
“Li Xue, hurry up and apologize to these two soldier brothers!”
“Young Master Meng, I—”
“Damn it, can’t you understand what I’m saying?” Meng Xu cursed loudly.
Seeing this, Guo Fei let out a cold snort and raised his hand as if to slap again.
“Ah, I’ll apologize! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Li Xue quickly cried out in fear.
“Hmph.” Guo Fei finally released her and pointed at Xiao Jiang.
“Go on. Apologize properly, and be sincere.”
Li Xue was resentful inside but didn’t dare disobey. She walked over to Xiao Jiang.
“Young comrade, I’m sorry. I was wrong earlier. I apologize to you.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m not angry anymore.” Xiao Jiang waved his hands repeatedly, a trace of pity on his face.
Seeing this, Lin Hai sighed inwardly. What a kindhearted kid. Just moments ago, she was hitting and insulting him, and now he actually felt sorry for her.
“Hmph. Alright, Xiao Jiang, continue with your duties.” After Guo Fei finished speaking, he and Lin Hai prepared to leave.
“When you get back, find a reporter to write an article. I’m definitely going to tear off the skin of these two stinking soldiers.”
“Hm?” Li Xue’s voice was quiet, but it didn’t escape Lin Hai’s ears.
Lin Hai stopped mid-step and suddenly turned around, staring at Li Xue with icy eyes.
Li Xue was startled badly and smiled at Lin Hai awkwardly.
“Brother Hai, is there something else?”
Lin Hai ignored her and looked toward Meng Xu.
“Brother Hai.” Meng Xu didn’t know what Lin Hai meant. Being looked at with those cold eyes sent a wave of panic through him.
“What’s your relationship with this Li Xue?” Lin Hai said coldly.
“Uh… she’s a contracted actress with Huaxia Star Entertainment. That company is my family’s business.” Meng Xu answered honestly.
“Terminate her contract. It’ll be good for you.” Lin Hai said coldly.
