(Many thanks for the gift!! I had to refresh my page many times because I couldn't believe it for a few minutes! Haha! It makes me really happy you think my story was worthy of gifts at all! Thank you thank you! Your support means a lot to me! It may be silly but if you the person who sent me a gift is still reading this story I'd like to dedicate this chapter to you! (coolcrush21)
-Sincerely, Ecstatic Author<3)
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The sound of a glass shattering in the background was audible but ignored as this shocking scene took place. The Xing boy had just kissed the hand of the Zhou girl. The Xing boy. Had just kissed. The hand of the Zhou girl!! No one dared to make a sound as the once loud and busy atmosphere was filled with a tense and terrifying silence. In the dark where no one could see a young teen's face tensed and his eyes dug into the back of Xing Qiu Shen's head. Beside him, a man cursed under his breath as his legs began shaking with a hint of fear and disbelief. Zhou Feng Ming felt faint, Not only had his father brought his daughter to the event but he even allowed her to introduce herself to his close associates! This was, it was unforgivable!! His heart then raced with panic, Was his father really planning on skipping him and putting his daughter first?
No! It can't happen! He refused to believe it!! He had been wanting to go and introduce Huang Gou Heng to the same people his daughter was being introduced to but to think that old fox and his grandson had arrived before he did. Not only that but the old fox's grandson was close to his daughter! What face did he have to try and outshine that petty old man?! Although he believed Gou Heng to be more reliable and talented than that Qiu Shen he could only grit his teeth and retreat with shame. If he brought Huang Gou Heng over now it would only shadow him instead of boost his image. If it was only his daughter he could have done so, but now... "Xing Wai-Ning-!" He spoke through gritted teeth glaring at Wai-Ning as if he was his greatest adversary.
Xing Qiu Shen's eyes twinkled with a devilish fire, it was as if Hua Fan was his prey he wanted to devour whole in front of everyone before them much to everyone's distress. Zhou Hua Fan was not afraid of his gaze anymore, she had faced something more terrifying than a spoiled young master. Compared to the gods who held her life in their deathly cold hands, he now appeared a bit less intimidating than before. For now, Xing Qiu Shen didn't dare harm her and was of no threat. Zhou Hua Fan was in no rush to remove her hand and took her time leisurely placing her drink down. Only when the glass was safely on the table to prevent her from doing anything more violent to the perpetrator, did she pull her hand from his grasp. Taking a napkin from the table she dips one end into her glass to meticulously wipe her whole hand, she spent an extra second on the spot his lips met her fingers. Only when she was satisfied with her work did she pay attention to the grinning teen. Her tone was steady and chilling, her gaze even more so as she readily met his look of amusement without showing many reactions besides when she was cleaning her hand as if he were filthy.
Like a war was waging between the two everyone could feel the heated and exciting aura of a beast was slowly being cooled by the icy and proud stance of a thorny winter rose. "Xing Qiu Shen. I do not believe we are so close that we can greet each other so familiarly. You should know your place and take better care of embarrassing yourself again in the future." Wanting to cause a stir in a public place, I'm honestly not surprised he would do something like this. But to even make a move when my ye ye was sitting right next to me? Xing Qiu Shen is truly fearless. Or, suicidal. One smiles frivolously and the other looks on coldly, like fire and ice they did not mix at all. Qiu Shen was the first to take a step back but his grin never left his face. She's scolding me on the inside I know it. Qiu Shen chuckles. Most of the girls he had made connections with at his grandfather's persistence would all flutter their lashes and act coy. But she, she did not. The way she could coldly brush off his advances without a change in expression.
The way she treated him like someone below her even though he was older and had as much background as herself. This Zhou flower was a prickly rare rose that not anyone was capable of picking. He could not bear seeing so many eyes look upon her with such greedy intent if anyone was to have her. The only one worthy was him, they could never cherish this girl and polish this gem to show off its brightest potential. He originally did not want to provoke her, but she had yet to give him a response to his offer from before, and although he liked to think of himself as a patient person. When it came to this rose who had the attitude of a little princess and the image of a fading mirage, he was somewhat impatient and wanted to tie her to his side to prevent her from disappearing. Qiu Shen softens his approach as he knew he came off as too impatient and careless in her eyes.
"Ah, I apologize. Miss Zhou was just so beautiful and charming I could not help myself." Hua Fan did not give him another glance and went back to admiring the glass in her hands as if he was nothing but another person beneath her notice. Her actions were natural and graceful despite their malicious intent. "Although you're older than me you still don't know proper manners. You truly are of the Xing family, the apple doesn't fall very far does it." She jabs at him with her poisonous tongue but Qiu Shen was not upset by her mocking words and instead smiles even wider. He acknowledges her not-so-subtle insult towards his aunt to shamelessly flirt back. "Then in the future, I will learn more from Miss Zhou and correct my way of doing things to fit Miss Zhou's standards." Hua Fan held in a sneer and instead she scoffs under her breath while turning away from him signifying the end of their conversation. Qiu Shen could sense her malice and knew he had pushed almost all her buttons tonight so he did the thing he was known best for.
Cute. In the future will she become even lovelier than she is now? The handsome young man beams as if her snubbing him was no big issue but a common occurrence. This was indeed the case. But in the eyes of outsiders, it looked like he was indulging the young girl because he had a soft spot for her. Although Qiu Shen was labeled as a friendly youth, since he was a child he was not a pushover nor was he one to let grudges go easily. For even the smallest offenses this petty young man was just like his grandfather and took revenge in the most brutal of ways even if it was just a simple bump of the shoulders. A mischievous devil who was not afraid of showing off his horns.
His temperament was also the main reason out of all his cousins and siblings he was chosen to shadow the old fox for so long. His place beside old man Xing was unshakable even after all these years, his abilities and capabilities are not small. These past few years no one had yet been able to tame this devil of a child who was capable of earning the ire of everyone in the room by just speaking one sentence out loud. Yet now seeing him back down from a girl younger than him by a few years, many people gave Hua Fan subtle looks. Only the ones who had spent enough time in this type of company understood the thoughts of the devil of a youth who seemed bored with life.
They side-eye the pretty cold-faced child with appraising gazes. Would this girl be able to stand underneath all the pressure and life to become a powerful lighthouse just like her grandfather in the future? They were also curious to see her potential and growth in the following years. Zhou Hua Fan. Would she also become a name to remember like Zhou Jian Kong? Jian Kong had yet to calm down but seeing Hua Fan's way of handling the matter he felt better and promptly dismissed the other's presence from his mind. He knew of the Xing boy's interest in Hua Fan, he also knew his granddaughter was not easy to ensnare. But just now if she had shown him a friendly attitude it was sure to bring many rumors that they planned to join hands with the Xing family. The mere thought of this brought an unpleasant taste to his mouth. He would rather die than send his precious granddaughter into the home of his worst enemy.
Although she had embarrassed Xing Qiu Shen in public it was better than making headlines with an "engagement" rumor that could splash dirty water onto her name and cause trouble in the future when he looks for her future husband. He could afford to offend the Xing family. But he was not willing to let his granddaughter suffer from rumors as soon as she returns to the public. Not again. Seeing this, Rong Rou Shui took advantage of the silence to try and ease Jian Kong's foul mood and ignore Xing Wai-Ning. "Old Zhou speaking of which wasn't there an auction taking place a few days from now that was selling some good looking pieces of jade you were looking for? Are you and your granddaughter planning to attend?"
Zhou Jian Kong glowered at the Xing pair before giving a rare scoff out loud and dismissing them from his attention as if they weren't worth it. Wai-Ning snorts at him too and gave Qiu Shen a warning glare before grumpily returning to his own table. Knowing he had pissed off his flower Qiu Shen chuckles and left after sending Hua Fan a wink. "I hope to see Miss Zhou at these types of events more often in the future. Who knows? We may even attend together as each other dates instead of arriving separately wearing a matching pair of coral bracelets." Hua Fan's face briefly went red, not out of embarrassment but anger and she hisses back. "Don't hold your breath!" Are you trying to make my ye ye even more upset than before? You should have cleaned up your mess last time properly before coming to say hello, you're doing it on purpose to anger me arent you? She could not help but spit at him with a venomous tone that startles those at their table. Even Jian Kong could not help but give his granddaughter a slight rise of the brows.
Seeing his reaction in the corner of her vision Hua Fan bit her tongue and felt it was best to not bother herself with this type of person any longer. "Hmph." Scoffing in his face she ignores the jolly laughing teen walking away from them. Instead of questioning her unnatural change in temperament, Jian Kong pats her head, Hua Fan was a bit surprised by his actions and felt ashamed of her childish behavior. "I caused Ye Ye to lose face." Jian Kong's heart softens, "Mmm, be more careful in the future with who you associate with. Ye Ye will not blame you for this incident, that old fox is at fault for not raising his children right. Fan'er is not to be blamed." Having his trust Hua Fan felt warm inside and she does not bother hiding her next smile dazzling the eyes of those watching.
Taking his large hand into her tiny ones Hua Fan asks him a bit cautiously. "Does Ye Ye want Fan to break off relations completely with the Xing heir?" Jian Kong seems to mull over her words before shaking his head lightly, his sharp gaze wanders over to the Xing patriarch. The hostility in his eyes was not light, but he was still clear-headed. "If that boy wants to make a fool of himself for fawning over you then let him. We will not bear any losses in this type of transaction." Use his interest to your advantage. That is basically what her grandfather meant, so Hua Fan relaxed under his reassurance. Since he has already said so then she would not be polite anymore. Ye Ye and her really think alike. "Then Fan will continue her plans without restraint since Ye Ye says so."