The management staff hired by my son not only speak crudely but also lack manners, and now they're acting foolishly. Duan Hongqing felt deeply embarrassed in front of his old friend and was naturally very angry.
The voice reached Duan Zhengde who was drinking tea inside the pavilion. He shuddered, hurriedly got up, and rushed out, jogging to his father's side.
"Uncle Zhou, hello!"
He bowed to Zhou Jicang before asking his father, "Dad, what happened?"
"What happened? I asked you to book a private room at a restaurant, and you've stirred up so much trouble. You're asking me what happened?"
Seeing his father's anger and then looking at the foolishly standing Wan Xingping, Duan Zhengde thought it was because of the disruptive person, so he explained, "Dad, please calm down, it's not Xingping's fault.
He didn't expect his old classmate would chase him here to cause trouble. We've already called security to handle it."
As he spoke, he saw three security guards standing behind his father and others. Hurriedly waving his hands, he said, "Quick! The person is over there, drive them out fast."
"No need for trouble. Since Sir Duan and Sir Zhou have arrived, I can leave by myself."
With the voice, Xiao Ming walked over gracefully, followed by the trembling waiter.
"Xiao Ming?" Zhou Jicang looked puzzled, "What's going on here?"
Before Xiao Ming could reply, Duan Zhengde suddenly turned around and shouted, "You're Xiao Ming?"
Duan Hongqing was startled out of the blue and became furiously angry, slapping his son on the head.
"In public, you're not composed at all. How the hell have I been teaching you all these days?"
Duan Zhengde felt like crying but had no tears and didn't know what to say. He looked at Xiao Ming with a deep sense of grievance, thinking, since you're the esteemed guest my father wanted to invite, why didn't you say so earlier? Isn't this just setting me up?
Xiao Ming knew what he was thinking and smiled slightly. "Mr. Duan, who I am really isn't important. If you had been a bit more cautious and low-key before, none of what followed would have happened."
After thinking for a moment, Duan Zhengde realized that this was indeed true. He then remembered Wan Xingping's words and felt extremely annoyed.
Could someone who is jointly hosted by my father and Sir Zhou possibly be a rogue chasing after old classmates for money? Ridiculous!
You damn bastard Wan, you dare to deceive me!
Taking a deep breath to suppress his anger, he bowed deeply to Zhou Jicang and Duan Hongqing, saying, "Sir Zhou, Dad, I now understand what's going on, and the fault lies with me.
You two go ahead with Mr. Xiao to Lin Feng Pavilion and rest. I'll deal with this and then listen to your admonishment."
Then, he lowered his head to Xiao Ming and said earnestly, "Mr. Xiao, I'm sorry! You are right, my approach was indeed too hasty before. After this matter is settled, I will punish myself with three drinks and seek your advice."
Hearing this, Xiao Ming raised his eyebrows slightly.
Duan Zhengde was not a brash and arrogant person; he was just a bit naive and not very astute. This was not far from the conclusions he drew from the news in his previous life.
In his last life, Duan Zhengde's fate couldn't be described as tragic, but because of his mistake, Qingyuan Group suffered losses amounting to hundreds of millions.
Later, he was stripped of all his management rights by Duan Hongqing and sent abroad to live, never returning to the power center of the Duan Family.
At that time, Xiao Ming had found it odd how he could have been so foolish, but now seeing him treating Wan Xingping as a confidant, everything suddenly made sense.
"Mr. Duan is too serious," said Xiao Ming politely. "Actually, my words earlier did contain a sense of provocation, but it wasn't directed at you.
Did you know what connection you have with this manager of yours?"
Duan Zhengde shook his head, Zhou Jicang and Duan Hongqing also showed curiosity, and Zhou Qingyuan at the back's eyes started to glow even more.
"Surely both seniors have already investigated my experience from three years ago. With the discernment of two seniors, you would certainly see that I was thoroughly made a fool of by someone.
And the one who almost ruined me completely was your marketing department manager, Wan Xingping, Mr. Wan."
Upon hearing this, Duan Zhengde was shocked and then flew into a rage.
"Wan Xingping!"
A roar finally awakened Wan Xingping, "Duan... Mr. Duan..."
Duan Zhengde grabbed him by the collar, "So you're a swindler!"𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺
Wan Xingping's heart trembled violently, "I... I did not! Mr. Duan, you mustn't believe Xiao Ming's words! We have a feud, he's slandering me!"
"Slander my ass!"
Duan Zhengde lifted his foot and kicked, Wan Xingping staggered back, his knee hitting the Curved Bridge railing, and with a cry, he toppled over, plunging into the water with a splash.
The restaurant's security guards were terrified and hurried forward to rescue him. Duan Zhengde, however, was still not satisfied and shouted loudly, "Pull him up and don't let him go. Call the police!"
After it was all over, he exhaled and turned to say, "Father, Sir Zhou, Mr. Xiao, let's go ahead and have our meal."
Duan Hongqing seemed somewhat pleased with his son's handling of the situation, merely snorting through his nose before striding towards the Lin Feng Pavilion.
Xiao Ming shook his head in front of the already stupefied waitress and said, "Don't just stand there. Both old men are really important figures. Be quick later, and do not make another mistake, or nobody will be able to save you."
The young girl blinked, suddenly finding this man very handsome.
But before she could indulge in a bit of bashful shyness, she saw an unbelievably beautiful girl latch onto Xiao Ming's arm, startling her into quickly lowering her head.
"Out for a meal and still can't stop flirting with young girls. Xiao, did you forget you have a wife?"
Xiao Ming glanced sideways at Zhou Qingyuan, "Let go."
"What for? It's just an arm hook, doesn't mean anything. You were 'Left Embrace Right Hold' at last night's party!"
"Let go now, or I might hit you."
"You wouldn't dare!"
Her words were challenging, but her eyes sparkled with excitement, clearly anticipating it.
Xiao Ming couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
He had thought that Zhou Qingyuan would be quite crazy after more than a decade. However, compared to now, she could really be considered mature and steady.
Just then, Jiang Yonghan made a call. Xiao Ming quickly took the opportunity to slip his arm away and went to greet him.
Watching his hasty retreat, Zhou Qingyuan's lips curved into a smile and she muttered, "You're not so difficult to deal with after all!"
On the other side of the Curved Bridge, Wan Xingping had been pulled out by the security guards, gasping for air and sitting slumped on the bridge like a drenched chicken.
Hu Xiaotong was arguing with the guards nearby, insisting on calling an ambulance.
Xiao Ming glanced at them as he passed by and said to the guards, "Don't worry, the guests inside Lin Feng Pavilion wanted you to handle this. This couple doesn't have the nerve for extortion.
Just bring the man forward and watch him until the police arrive."
"Xiao Ming!"
Hu Xiaotong's eyes reddened, "Are you really going to take things this far?"
Xiao Ming was the honored guest the Duan Family had been looking to entertain, a fact that shocked her, and she was already contemplating pleading for mercy. However, pride stopped her from bowing her head.
"You should've said these words to yourself three years ago.
Because, back then, you were my best friends."
Having said that, without looking for a reaction from Hu Xiaotong, Xiao Ming strode off the Curved Bridge.
As he passed by a column in the corridor, he turned his head and glanced over.
Standing in the shadows where the light couldn't reach was a person who nodded back in response to his gaze.
That was a private detective he had hired after leaving the car dealership.
His purpose, of course, was to keep a close watch on the Wan Xingping couple.
An enemy had finally returned, and he couldn't let them slip away again.
After all, he had already made a harsh declaration that morning; family ruin and personal disaster were just the beginning.