With a thud, all the security guards knelt and started kowtowing.
"We deserve to die! We were blind fools who misjudged you! Please forgive our disrespect. We're so sorry."
Offending someone of this caliber could cost them more than just their jobs—it could cost them their lives.
The surrounding crowd was also stunned. The young miss of the Capital City's Wang Family had actually appeared and casually given away Wendin International, one of the top three companies in East Sea City?
Just who is this Jiang Ce?
To one side, Chen Hai and Yang Simei were completely dazed.
When did such a powerful woman appear by Jiang Ce's side? Chen Hai wondered. Suddenly, a thought seemed to strike him.
"Haha, Jiang Ce, you dumbass! Are you still trying to put on an act?"
The crowd looked over, puzzled.
Chen Hai explained, "Don't be fooled by this loser. He's always loved to show off. Once, when he was almost beaten to death by my brother-in-law, he hired an actress to save him. But my brother-in-law investigated and found there was no such person in all of East Sea City."
"Wendin International? The Wang Family of the Capital? Pfft. In my opinion, she's just a prostitute he hired for two hundred bucks to put on a show!"
Chen Hai laughed wildly.
Just then, a gust of wind swept through. In an instant, a middle-aged figure appeared before Chen Hai.
SLAP!
A crisp slap sent Chen Hai flying. He lost two teeth before hitting the ground, unconscious.
"You're courting death, daring to insult our young miss!"
This man was Wang Xinyao's butler, Jiang He.
Initially, the crowd had been somewhat swayed by Chen Hai's words. After all, how could the distinguished young miss of the Wang Family ever fall for a loser? But Jiang He's appearance completely dispelled their doubts. A single slap that could knock a man out cold—such unfathomable strength wasn't something you could get by hiring an actor.
Wang Xinyao scanned her surroundings coldly. "Does anyone else have something to say?"
The crowd fell deathly silent. Those who had mocked Jiang Ce earlier were now trembling and sweating profusely, terrified of being singled out. Chen Hai was a clear example, and his girlfriend had already been scared off, vanishing without a trace.
"Miss Wang, you honor us with your presence. Please forgive our negligence in not welcoming you sooner."
The voice belonged to the hotel manager. He had known about the disturbance outside but couldn't be bothered to intervene. The moment he saw Wang Xinyao, however, he could no longer sit still. This scene completely erased any lingering doubts among the onlookers. This woman was a genuine, bona fide heiress of a prominent Capital City family!
"Miss Wang, I apologize for the unpleasantness that occurred. Rest assured, I will act on Mr. Shen's behalf and immediately revoke the invitations of those who offended you," the manager said with an obsequious smile. "Would you please honor us by taking a seat in our hotel?"
Wang Xinyao paid him no attention. She turned and gave Jiang Ce a sidelong smile. "Honey, this party seems rather boring. Why don't we go home?"
Just as Jiang Ce was about to speak, another voice suddenly rang out.
"He is my dance partner and boyfriend. What am I supposed to do if you take him away?"
The crowd turned their heads, gasping in unison.
Behind them stood a woman in a black evening gown. Her hair was swept up, and a sparkling sapphire on her chest accentuated her swan-like neck, making her look both sexy and elegant.
It was Shen Xuanran, daughter of the Underground Emperor, Shen Fuli!
What shocked the crowd the most wasn't her appearance, but her words…
Dance partner… and boyfriend?!
Almost simultaneously, everyone's gaze snapped back to Wang Xinyao. One was his fiancée from the Capital City's Wang Family, the other his girlfriend, the daughter of a gangster kingpin.
What kind of good deeds did this guy do in his past life? No, that's not right. He must have literally achieved Buddhahood to deserve this!
Seeing Shen Xuanran and hearing her claim, Wang Xinyao was thrown into disarray. How did Jiang Ce get involved with Shen Xuanran? No, this can't be happening! Even though our relationship isn't official yet, I can't let this little tramp lead him astray!
She tightened her grip on Jiang Ce's arm.
Shen Xuanran, however, approached with a smile, gracefully lifting the hem of her dress as she naturally took Jiang Ce's other arm.
"Jiang Ce, what are you standing there for? Let's go inside," Shen Xuanran said with a charming smile.
"No… No, you can't! Come back with me," Wang Xinyao retorted, a sense of crisis rising as she subconsciously started to compete.
"But parties are so much fun! There are so many people inside."
"It's too noisy in there. Be a good boy and come home with me. If you want to dance, I can dance with you at home."
"..."
The two women went back and forth, their words sharp and pointed. The manager and everyone else on the scene were practically petrified. Individually, either of these women had countless admirers, so many that most men wouldn't even dare to approach them. But now… they were both fighting over the same man?
Jiang Ce was the one with the biggest headache. He had no idea how things had escalated to this point.
Go home? Hasn't the marriage contract been annulled? And since when was I your boyfriend?
Their competition quickly devolved from gentle words to a physical tug-of-war. He was being pulled back and forth, flanked by what felt like two ticking time bombs. He couldn't take it anymore.
"Stop!"
"Darling, have you made up your mind? Let's go in and dance."
"Honey, I knew you wanted to come home with me and eat the cake I personally baked for you."
The two women leaned in almost simultaneously.
Jiang Ce took a deep breath. "First, let's stop. I want to make something clear. I am not your boyfriend, nor am I your 'darling'. I'd ask you both to have some self-respect."
BOOM!
His words reignited the fire in the crowd, only this time it was a fire of pure rage. All the men present wished they could kill Jiang Ce with their stares alone.
These two gorgeous, untouchable goddesses are fawning all over you—enough to turn a gay man straight—and you have the nerve to tell them to 'have some self-respect'? This is beyond intolerable!
If this wasn't Mr. Shen's territory, they probably wouldn't have restrained themselves from ganging up on him. A wave of killing intent washed over him from all sides, sending a chill down his spine.
"Oh? How can you say that about me? You were the one touching me this afternoon," Shen Xuanran said, looking utterly wronged.
Hmm?
The crowd stared blankly.
Are we even allowed to be hearing this?
Wang Xinyao was stunned. She was naturally an ice queen, willing to melt only for Jiang Ce. Her earlier behavior was born of panic, causing her to act rashly and against her very nature.
She had assumed Jiang Ce and Shen Xuanran were mere acquaintances who had just met. She never imagined they had already progressed to… that stage.
In an instant, tears welled in her eyes, turning them red. "Jiang Ce, what is this all about?"
Startled, Jiang Ce hadn't even processed what was happening as he subconsciously grabbed Shen Xuanran's hand. "What are you talking about? When did I touch you? That was for medical treatment!"
Yet this scene only made Wang Xinyao more heartbroken.
She sniffled. "Fine. I understand."
"Uncle Jiang, let's go."
"Miss Wang…"
Jiang Ce wanted to explain, but Wang Xinyao didn't look back, simply getting into the Rolls-Royce and speeding away.
Shen Xuanran puffed out her cheeks thoughtfully and nodded. "Hmm, you can tell she really likes you!"
Seeing her expression, Jiang Ce felt completely helpless. "Why did you do that?"
Shen Xuanran shrugged nonchalantly. "It's simple. Why shouldn't I fight for something I like?"
"Sigh. You're too mischievous." Jiang Ce knew she was just playing around, but feeling completely powerless, he could only let out a heavy sigh.
"Hee hee. Shall we go in, my dance partner and boyfriend?" Shen Xuanran hooked her arm around Jiang Ce's.
Then, under the crowd's jealous, admiring, and resentful gazes, they walked into the hotel.
But no one noticed that just as they stepped inside, Shen Xuanran glanced back in the direction the Rolls-Royce had gone. A hint of cunning flashed in her eyes.
Sorry, but your man is just so dazzling. A once-in-a-century genius like him… I quite like him too. The great Miss Wang of the Capital City's Wang Family isn't all that impressive, after all.
At that thought, a faint, proud smile graced her lips.
"What are you looking at?" Jiang Ce asked.
"Nothing. Let's go in."