She could not be bothered to even shoot him an irked look.
Feeling aggrieved, the half-sister sniffed and cried out, "Qiyou, that's enough. She has always been like this, and she's well aware that Uncle Zhan is someone whom we can't afford to offend. It was only out of concern that I reported this matter to Dad. Look at her attitude…"
"Worried about me?" Jiang Mianmian's red lips arched slightly in a sneer as she walked toward her half-sister on her stilettos. "You think I can't tell that you're unsatisfied with what you have? Back then, when Zhan Qiyou was always chasing after me, you resorted to your wily ways to make him become your boyfriend. However, that contentment didn't last long. After all, what's the big deal about the Zhans' eldest grandson? Zhan Muqian is the one with the supreme status in A Nation. Alas, you didn't expect that I would sleep with your long-time crush… I bet you're filled with jealousy right now. Jiang Li, you fervently wish that you were the one who was entangled with Uncle Zhan, don't you?"
Having publicly exposed her crush on Zhan Muqian, Jiang Li went beet red in the face before it changed into a pallor shade. Even her lips were quivering. "N-Nonsense… My relationship with Qiyou is steady, how can I possibly have something for his second uncle… That's a bunch of baloney!"
The president's face turned somber. With knitted brows, he chided, "Cut it out! This is unacceptable behavior! Qiyou is still around, have you all no regards and manners for your guest?"
As soon as he spoke, a pin-drop silence instantly reigned in the massive hall.
The older man gradually stood up and flung that thick stack of photos at his eldest daughter's feet.
"Mianmian, I only requested General Zhan to guide you for a few months, but what have you done? You're still so young, how are you going to conduct yourself from now on? Mianmian… my indulgence of you doesn't mean that you can really do whatever you want!"
She looked up at him and stated firmly, "As I've said, it's mutual love between Uncle Zhan and I. Also… I'll never go to the military, over my dead body!"
Li Shengyuan stormed up to her and poked her head with her sharp nails. "You're just like that dead mother of yours — a shameless vixen! Hubby, why are you still wasting your breath on her? Just kick her out! Keeping such a daughter at home will only bring you shame!
"Enough is enough!" he bellowed, "Isn't the situation chaotic enough?"
That woman's crystal fingernail that was poking her on the head hurt a little, but the stab of pain in her heart was even more so.
She tugged the corner of her lips a moment later. "Chasing me away? Well, my first lady, you've got your wish. After successfully murdering my mother, isn't chasing me out of the presidential palace your biggest wish? I'll leave on my own accord. After all, this is a wretched place to be!"
"Mianmian!"
...
Jiang Mianmian left home with practically nothing. Gong Qiao and her other buddies could not bear to see her roaming about outside, and so, when they learned that she had been chased out from home, they brought her out for dinner and to the pub.
At midnight.
Luo Qiu, with a bunch of armed ruffians, stormed into the pub and threatened to teach her a lesson.
She was acquainted with this newcomer. After all, she was a member of the number one socialite-aka-her sister's clique.
Her outfit tonight — which consisted of black leather jacket, denim shorts, and ankle boots — was, coincidentally, the perfect ensemble for fighting.
With a squint of her big and pretty eyes, she tied her hair into a high ponytail and parted her lips. "Technically speaking, Luo Qiu, we don't have any bad blood between us. I dislike resorting to violence, much less on a woman. So, are you sure you want to provoke me when I'm in a bad mood?"
The other woman rushed to grab her hair while screeching, "You have long been an eyesore to me, you vixen! Is Master Zhan someone you can touch? Jiang Li might be a virtuous lady, but I'm not! Tonight, I shall teach you, this lowlife b*stard, a good lesson on her behalf!"
Gong Qiao and Jiang Mianmian exchanged glances before the latter grabbed hold of a bottle of alcohol and smashed it on the ground—
Her dashing action only lasted for half a second, though.
...
One o'clock in the morning.
An army orderly knocked on the door and informed, "General, there's an urgent call from Chengdong Police Station."
...
When the mysterious and low-profile General Zhan arrived in plain clothes, the station's bureau chiefs all came out to welcome him and inquired about his well-being.
The man pursed his lips and without any emotion on his handsome and sculpted face, asked in a low and hoarse voice, "Is the girl from the gang fight injured?"
"Uh… That girl isn't badly injured. She just refused to reveal her name and there were no identifying documents on her. When we asked her who her guardian was, she only mentioned your name…"