Everyone’s eyes turned toward him in unison.
“Jing… Jing-ge!?” Luo Cheng’an’s eyes widened in disbelief as he spoke. “Why did you push me?”
Zhang Jia was completely petrified. He had originally been standing beside Luo Shujing, but his father yanked him back and even scolded him. “Get back here. Do you want to get covered in bad luck!?”
People nearby were whispering among themselves.
“I thought Luo Cheng’an was trying to shirk responsibility. Who would’ve thought…”
“Isn’t Luo Shujing supposed to be the gentlest and most amiable one?”
“Really, you can know a person’s face but not their heart.”
“My daughter likes him so much. I’m going home and telling her to keep her eyes open.”
Everyone present was an expert at reading people. There wasn’t a wealthy family without its share of dirty dealings. The way they looked at Luo Shujing now carried a hint of contempt.
“No… It’s not like that…” Luo Shujing waved his hands, his face filled with panic. The whispers and contempt surrounding him scraped against him like knives.
How could this have happened!?
It shouldn’t have happened like this!
Luo Cheng’an pointed at the surveillance footage. “Then what was it? Are you saying the surveillance is fake? Jing-ge, what did I do to offend you that you had to frame me like this?”
“No… Listen to me, I’m not—”
Before Luo Shujing could finish, Luo Shan cut him off with a slap.
Luo Shujing was already frail, and Luo Shan’s slap sent him straight to the floor.
“I told you not to leave the hospital, but you wouldn’t listen. Your body is weak and you can’t even stand steadily, and now you dragged Cheng’an into destroying Old Master Jiang’s calligraphy!”
A flicker passed through Luo Shujing’s eyes. Suddenly, he began coughing violently. Only after blood stained his lips did he stagger back to his feet. With tears in his eyes, he said to Luo Cheng’an, “It’s all my fault. There were too many people crowding around just now, and my vision suddenly went black. I couldn’t stand, so I instinctively reached out to steady myself, but I ended up pushing you. I’m sorry.”
As soon as Luo Shujing finished speaking, the surveillance footage suddenly rewound and paused.
On the enormous screen, Luo Shujing’s triumphant smile after pushing Luo Cheng’an was frozen in place.
Anyone could tell at a glance whether it had been intentional or an accident.
Those who had just been wavering because Luo Shujing looked so sickly immediately shook their heads again.
Seeing that there was no room left to turn the situation around, Luo Shujing really coughed up a mouthful of blood this time. He glared fiercely at Xi Yu.
“Oops, my hand slipped,” Xi Yu said apologetically. “I was trying to speed it up because I wanted to find my thumb ring.”
After saying that, Xi Yu really did speed up the surveillance footage.
On the recording, after Luo Cheng’an had been condemned by everyone and, feeling aggrieved, made a phone call, Xi Yu’s figure soon appeared on the screen. He hurried in from outside and accidentally bumped into a server.
The footage froze completely.
Xi Yu tossed the controller to the hotel manager. “Could I trouble Manager to check whether my thumb ring is where I was bumped just now?”
Lu Zhixing, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke. He opened his palm and said somewhat apologetically, “I picked up a thumb ring at the entrance when I came in earlier. I hadn’t had a chance to mention it.”
Xi Yu raised an eyebrow and reached out to take it.
Lu Zhixing instead turned over Xi Yu’s outstretched hand and slipped the thumb ring onto his finger himself.
“Since it’s something so important, you should keep it safe.”
How could anyone present fail to see what was happening?
This clearly wasn’t a case of him simply “not having had a chance to mention it.” Lu Zhixing was blatantly setting the stage for Xi Yu.
The expressions of those who had been watching the spectacle all changed.
What kind of status did Lu Zhixing have?
He was the current head of the Lu family, while the current head of the Lu family was also a national movie star, and his maternal grandfather was a high-ranking official in the capital.
With Lu Zhixing openly taking Xi Yu’s side, everyone’s gaze toward Xi Yu changed.
They were all wondering when this biological son whom the Luo family had supposedly picked up from beneath a flyover had caught Lu Zhixing’s eye.
Shen Qing breathed a sigh of relief when the matter of the thumb ring had been resolved.
If this had not happened, then even if they could prove Luo Cheng’an had been pushed, Xi Yu fabricating the loss of something would still amount to framing the Jiang family.
Jiang Lin would have been a fool not to understand what had happened by now.
It was obvious that Luo Shujing had tried to frame Luo Cheng’an.
He had met Luo Shujing several times before. Compared with the playboy Luo Cheng’an, Luo Shujing had actually earned more of his respect.
He had never expected that he had misjudged him.
“Since the thumb ring has been found, we can put that matter behind us. But my grandfather’s closed-door masterpiece has been destroyed. I believe everyone knows the rules of our Jiang family.”
Jiang Lin spoke loudly.
“Insulting calligraphy is the same as insulting a person. Tomorrow, a lawyer will come to discuss compensation. For now, I ask Mr. Luo Shujing to leave. From this day forward, the Jiang family will never again send invitations to the Luo family… to the Luo Shujing family.”
As soon as those words were spoken, most of the people present sucked in a breath.
The Jiang family was a scholarly family, and Old Master Jiang’s closed-door masterpiece was priceless and virtually impossible to obtain. The compensation would certainly be enormous.
But more importantly, there would be no more invitations.
The Jiang family might not be a merchant family, but its network of connections was broader than that of most people present. Once those words were spoken, from now on, few people would dare cooperate with the Luo Shujing family.
Luo Shan was merely a department director at the Luo Corporation.
If people refused to work with him, wouldn’t that mean…
For a moment, the way everyone looked at Luo Yuan became somewhat strange, especially those who had never gotten along with the Luo family.
………………………..
Jiang Lin watched coldly.
He had originally intended to say the Luo family, since this entire matter had arisen because of the sordid affairs within their family.
But when he saw Lu Zhixing’s attitude toward Xi Yu, he still singled out Luo Shujing’s family instead, considering it a favor to Lu Zhixing.
As for whether other people would refuse to work with the Luo Corporation because of Luo Shan, that was outside his concern.
“Someone,” Jiang Lin called. “Escort Mr. Luo Shujing and his family out.”
“Wait!”
Luo Cheng’an hurriedly shouted.
Jiang Lin turned around, his expression unfriendly. “Young Master Luo, is there something else you want to say?”
Although Luo Cheng’an didn’t understand the company’s affairs, he understood the principle of family solidarity. His second uncle held a position at the Luo Corporation. As long as he carried the Luo surname, the people truly affected would still be his own family.
They couldn’t let things end like this…
That damned bad-luck magnet!
He couldn’t drag his parents into this!!!!
Luo Cheng’an braced himself and said, “Mr. Jiang, although I wasn’t the one who destroyed the calligraphy, it was indeed caused by the conflict between my brother and me. I hope you can give me a chance to apologize to Old Master Jiang in person.”
“There’s no need. My grandfather probably won’t want to see you.”
Luo Cheng’an still wanted to say something, but Luo Yuan grabbed him and shook his head.
Luo Cheng’an bit his lower lip, clearly unwilling to accept it.
Xi Yu tilted his head toward Luo Cheng’an. Knowing what was on his mind, he comforted him, “If Luo Shan is dismissed, the impact on the Luo family won’t be that great.”
“I know. But some ill-intentioned people will use this as an excuse to mock Mom and Dad.” Luo Cheng’an sniffed. “It’s all my fault. I wasn’t careful.”
Xi Yu stared at Luo Cheng’an for several seconds. Seeing him become increasingly upset, almost to the point of tears, he sighed and called out to Jiang Lin.
“Mr. Jiang, could you please tell Old Master Jiang that Xi Yu of the Luo family wishes to see him?”
When Lu Zhixing heard the words “Xi Yu of the Luo family,” his expression became extraordinarily unpleasant.
He stared at Luo Cheng’an’s hand gripping Xi Yu’s, his eyes cold as frost.
“Impudent! Who do you think you are? What outrageous nonsense! You have no manners at all! My grandfather isn’t someone you can see just because you want to.”
The anger Jiang Lin had been suppressing finally erupted.
He had originally spared the entire Luo family out of consideration for Lu Zhixing.
But now Xi Yu had opened his mouth and demanded to see the old master.
He was practically showing no regard for the Jiang family whatsoever.
Some uncultured hillbilly who had never even received a proper education, yet he didn’t know the height of heaven or the depth of earth.
“I originally intended to leave you some dignity because you were framed. Since you don’t want it, don’t blame me.”
Jiang Lin angrily ordered, “Someone, escort the entire Luo family out!”
Luo Shan’s family had already dejectedly walked to the entrance. Upon hearing this, they turned around.
A gleam suddenly flashed through Luo Shujing’s eyes.
He had thought he would be trampled into the mud this time, but unexpectedly, there was still an idiot!
As long as Xi Yu made enough of a scene, then later he could be the one who had been unable to tolerate the arrogance of Luo Cheng’an and Xi Yu, and had lost his mind and sought revenge.
“Dad, don’t leave yet,” Luo Shujing whispered. “Let’s watch the show.”
The security guards paid him no attention and hurried over to Xi Yu.
“Mr. Xi, please.”
Luo Yuan’s expression was ugly.
Jiang Lin was ultimately a junior. Relying on Old Master Jiang’s prestige, he had adopted an arrogant and aloof attitude.
Xi Yu’s words had indeed been somewhat inappropriate in his eyes, but Jiang Lin was being far too overbearing.
“No need to escort us! My son wanted to apologize, yet somehow ended up being treated with hostility. From now on, whenever there’s a Jiang family banquet, we won’t dare attend either!”
Luo Yuan’s voice was heavy.
“Son, let’s go!”
With those words, Luo Yuan had directly placed himself in opposition to the Jiang family.
On one side was a powerful merchant family.
On the other was a major figure whose influence extended throughout the underground network.
Everyone at the banquet lowered their eyes and kept silent.
Yet most of them were thinking the same thing.
Originally, Luo Yuan’s family had merely been caught up in the trouble. Luo Cheng’an had humbly begged for an audience, which was already perfectly reasonable.
But then there was Xi Yu, who didn’t know the height of heaven or the depth of earth.
He thought that because he had climbed onto a higher branch, he could act arrogantly. His bearing and manners were ultimately inferior to those of Luo Cheng’an, who had grown up in a wealthy family.
Luo Yuan’s expression was grim. Under the strange gazes surrounding them, he grabbed Xi Yu and Luo Cheng’an and prepared to leave.
Shen Qing brushed nonexistent dust from his shoulder and looked coldly at Jiang Lin.
“Young man, you shouldn’t be too arrogant. The reason my Luo family came today was not to show respect to an embroidered pillow who has nothing but appearances.”
Jiang Lin prided himself on being lofty and pure, relying entirely on Old Master Jiang’s influence. He himself had little to boast about.
Shen Qing’s words struck directly at his sore spot.
“Fine!”
Jiang Lin shouted.
“Everyone, you all heard that! Today, it was Luo Shujing’s family who first destroyed my grandfather’s calligraphy, and then insulted me afterward. From this day forward, the Jiang and Luo families are irreconcilable!”
“Bah!”
Luo Cheng’an spat.
Things had already escalated this far, and he could no longer tolerate it.
“I took into consideration that Luo Shujing framed me into damaging Old Master Jiang’s calligraphy, so I lowered myself and apologized! What exactly did my brother say that was wrong? Was it wrong just to ask to see him? You opened your mouth and called him uncultured. What about your own manners when you say something like that?!”
“You—you—you… Your entire family is! Is! Crude!”
Jiang Lin was so furious that his face turned blue, and his hands trembled.
“Xiaoyu, Cheng’an! We’re leaving!”
Luo Yuan put an arm around Shen Qing and called out.
Luo Cheng’an tugged at Xi Yu, but Xi Yu did not move.
He was puzzled.
“Let’s go. There’s no need to apologize anymore. We’ve already been insulted. What kind of people are these?”