Guo Tianyu shot up from his seat, his face twisted in rage as he glared at Yasushi. "A sloppy monkey like you dares to speak to me that way!?" he bellowed, his voice filled with indignation. "I come from a family so powerful it could crush yours in an instant!"
He took a step forward, shoving the small table that separated them, his hand trembling with barely contained fury. But Yasushi didn't flinch. He had anticipated this, knowing full well that Guo Tianyu was trying to provoke him. Still, Xinyi felt a surge of uncertainty. She wasn't sure if Yasushi was sticking to their plan or if Guo Tianyu's words had genuinely gotten under his skin.
Yasushi remained seated, a smirk playing on his lips as he met Guo Tianyu's fiery gaze. "Destroy my family? Do you really think they'll support your little tantrum once they see what a spoiled brat you are?" Yasushi's tone was cool, cutting through the tension like a blade. "What if Xinyi had set up cameras in this room? Or maybe just a microphone to catch every word you've said? How would you explain that to your oh-so-prestigious family, Mr. Tough Guy?" Yasushi mocked, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he leaned back in his seat, watching the color drain from Guo Tianyu's face.
Guo Tianyu seethed in silence, his face a mask of barely contained anger as he slumped back into his chair. His maid leaned in to murmur something in his ear, which only seemed to fuel his fury further, yet he managed to compose himself. Xinyi, observing this with a mix of relief and resolve, took a deep breath and continued.
"As I was saying," Xinyi began, her voice firm and steady, "Yasushi is my boyfriend, and I wish to end this… engagement of ours, or if we are not truly engaged, then to stop it entirely. I know next to nothing about you. I've attempted to reach out through texts and emails, but your responses have either been non-existent or merely one or two words. It's clear you haven't made any effort to connect with me," she declared, her tone resolute.
Xinyi then pulled out a stack of printed messages, each one a snapshot of their communication history. The documents displayed Guo Tianyu's apparent disinterest — one-word replies, terse responses, or complete silence. The evidence laid bare his lack of engagement and effort, providing Xinyi with a crucial advantage in their discussion.
Guo Tianyu's face betrayed a flicker of surprise, his eyes widening slightly as he processed Xinyi's meticulous approach. The level of detail she presented was unexpected, and though it only impressed him a little, it was evident that he hadn't anticipated this level of thoroughness. Raised in an environment where he was accustomed to having things handed to him with little resistance, he now viewed everyone around him with a sense of superiority, dismissing their efforts as insignificant.
He threw the documents aside, his frustration clear. "Simply because you've been rude to me, gone behind my back, and betrayed me, I refuse to accept your proposal," he declared, his tone dripping with contempt. "I'll drag this out and insist on the marriage, just to spite this…," he spat, turning his glare towards Yasushi, "this monkey."
The maid, her patience wearing thin, stepped in to address Guo Tianyu's stubbornness. "For an engagement to be valid, consent is required from both parties, Lord Guo Tianyu. If Lady Xinyi does not wish to proceed, the engagement will be automatically annulled since she is not willing to continue with it," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of frustration and resignation at having to explain such a basic legal principle.
"Are you challenging me!?" Guo Tianyu exclaimed, his voice rising with disbelief at his maid's explanation.
"I'm only outlining how the legal system functions, Lord Guo Tianyu," she replied with measured calmness. "I'm not opposing you but trying to prevent you from making a bigger fool of yourself."
Guo Tianyu turned, his expression becoming cold and calculating. "I'll simply buy off the legal system," he declared with a smirk. "Everything has a price, and given how things work in this country, there's a strong possibility of success, isn't there?" His grin widened as he anticipated their reaction.
Yasushi shook his head in exasperation. "Have you forgotten what I said earlier? You're only making things worse for yourself. Even if you manage to throw money at the situation, we could broadcast the proceedings. That would destroy your reputation — and probably your family's business as well. Do you really think they'd tolerate that?"
Guo Tianyu's jaw tightened, the tension in his face growing with every passing moment. His frustration was becoming more evident, as if the idea that he couldn't control the situation was gnawing at him. He was the kind of person who expected everything to go his way, and when it didn't, his reaction was nothing short of childish. To an outsider, it would appear immature, but to Yasushi, it was almost laughable.
"You know what you remind me of?" Yasushi started, his voice heavy with contempt. "A spoiled brat who never grew up. Maybe even worse — like someone who never learned how to handle rejection or failure, someone who lashes out when things don't go their way." He moved closer to Xinyi, placing his arm around her shoulder with a nonchalance that contrasted sharply with the charged atmosphere in the room. The gesture made her flinch slightly, but it was Guo Tianyu who visibly bristled with anger.
"You don't get your way? You throw a fit. A girl tells you no? Another tantrum. Something happens that's out of your control, and it isn't handed to you on a silver platter? You lose it. What are you going to do when your parents are gone? Will you be able to keep the business they built, or will you run it into the ground because you've never had to earn anything in your life?" Yasushi's words cut through the silence like a knife, each sentence carefully aimed to hit where it hurt the most.
The room became eerily quiet, the impact of Yasushi's words settling heavily over everyone present. Guo Tianyu, who was usually so sure of himself, appeared caught off guard, almost like a child who'd just been reprimanded for the first time. The shock of it left him momentarily speechless.
Guo Tianyu stared, his mouth slightly agape, as he struggled to process the harsh words Yasushi had just delivered. His face flushed with anger, and without warning, he stood abruptly, his fists crashing onto the table with a resounding thud. "How dare you, a mere monkey, speak to me like that!? Do you know who I am? I am the esteemed—"
His attempt to finish was cut short as Yasushi continued, his tone dripping with scorn. "I'm not even going to pretend you're some kind of saint here. Your racism is appalling. Calling people monkeys? Did you pick that up from a cartoon or an anime? Show some basic respect when speaking to others."
Yasushi jabbed a finger in Guo Tianyu's direction, his expression unyielding. "In my time here, I've met many people from China, and they've been mostly kind and respectful. You, along with a few others, are the exceptions. What is wrong with you? Were you neglected or dropped as a child? Is that why you act like this?"
Furuya, who had been observing the exchange with a bemused expression, could not help but stifle a chuckle at Yasushi's sharp remarks. Despite his effort to maintain composure, the corner of his mouth twitched as he struggled to contain his amusement.
"Can you imagine having such a massive stick up your rear that it drives you to behave like this? Let me guess, you're isolated because nobody genuinely wants to be your friend, right? Anyone who associates with you has likely been coerced or paid off by you or your family. Do you even understand what true friendship is? I doubt it," Yasushi continued, his grin widening with each word
As Yasushi's words landed with unrelenting force, Guo Tianyu's face turned an increasingly intense shade of red, his frustration and anger bubbling to the surface. Finally, he could no longer contain himself. "Aaaaaaaaaaaah!! Fuck you, you worthless piece of shit!! I'll kill you!!" he roared, his voice echoing with fury as he charged toward Yasushi.
"Master Guo Tianyu, no!" his maid cried out in alarm, rushing forward in an attempt to intervene, but her efforts were futile. Yasushi allowed himself to be grabbed by the collar. As Guo Tianyu drew back his fist, preparing to strike, the door beside them burst open. Yinhaie intervened, seizing Guo Tianyu's wrist and stopping the incoming blow.
Yasushi looked at Guo Tianyu, his smile barely masking the satisfaction he felt at having successfully provoked his opponent. He understood that he didn't need to take action himself; his role in this encounter was to systematically undermine Guo Tianyu's confidence, targeting his fragile ego until he lashed out physically.
Yasushi recognized that a physical altercation would simplify the process of dissolving this engagement, yet he remained composed as Guo Tianyu's anger reached a boiling point. The situation, while tense, was playing out according to the plan.
"Lord Guo Tianyu, I must intervene on behalf of Lord Yasushi," Yinhaie declared with authority, stepping between them. She grabbed Guo Tianyu by the arm and guided him back into his seat. Her actions were direct, ensuring that the confrontation would not escalate further.
Yasushi resumed his seat, his gaze moving to Xinyi. Her face was marked by a mix of fear and disbelief, her hand pressed against her chest as she struggled to regulate her erratic breathing.
The sight of her distress did not go unnoticed, but after a moment, she managed to regain her composure. A deep breath escaped her lips as she exhaled, her anxiety slowly giving way to calm.
"Guo Tianyu, was that really your approach? Did you actually think that attacking me would be effective?" Yasushi remarked, his tone carrying a note of mockery. "Losing your temper so easily doesn't help your case. Perhaps you might benefit from some anger management classes. It could help you gain better control over your emotions and avoid making such rash decisions in the future." His subtle smile conveyed both amusement and an underlying sense of victory as he continued to press his advantage.
Guo Tianyu scoffed, disbelief clear in his voice as he spoke. "You're bluffing," he declared, his tone dripping with certainty. "There are no cameras in this room. I've checked thoroughly, and I don't see any." He attempted to regain his composure, trying to project a facade of control and confidence.
Yasushi met his challenge with a knowing smile, his gaze shifting momentarily to Xinyi. She caught his unspoken cue and responded with a reassuring nod. "Actually, Guo Tianyu," she began, her voice steady and composed, "I took precautions. The entire room has been equipped with hidden cameras and audio recording devices. Given the unpredictable nature of today's meeting, I made sure to install these to guarantee everyone's safety."
Guo Tianyu's eyes widened, his previously assured demeanor faltering. "That's illegal! You need my consent to record me," he retorted, his voice rising in indignation as he clung to his sense of superiority.
Xinyi remained calm, though a faint hint of satisfaction tugged at the corners of her lips. "You did consent," she replied evenly. "I sent you multiple texts and emails regarding this matter. If you review the documents I showed you earlier, you'll find your agreement clearly indicated. Those documents confirm your consent to the recordings."
Panic flickered across Guo Tianyu's face as he grabbed the documents from the table, rifling through them with growing desperation. His eyes widened as he scanned the pages and saw it clearly — his casual agreement was recorded in their text exchanges, and one of the documents even contained an email thread showing his consent. He had unwittingly signed off on this without much thought.
Realization dawned on him, and he felt a wave of sweat bead on his forehead. He was cornered, and the weight of his oversight began to sink in. His mouth went dry, and he could think of no way to counter this evidence. Desperation drove him to glance at his maid, who shook her head slowly. Her gesture confirmed the harsh truth — they were out of options.
His composure cracked as he ground his teeth together, his shoulders slumping in defeat. The anger in his voice was replaced by a weary resignation as he asked, "So, what is it that you want from me?"
Inside, Xinyi felt a sense of relief, though she kept her expression calm. "As I mentioned earlier," she said, her voice steady and clear, "I wish to annul this engagement. I have no interest in pursuing any relationship with you. That's all I'm requesting."
"Fine," Guo Tianyu conceded, his voice laced with frustration. He was at a loss for how to reverse the situation and, truthfully, he had little interest in the engagement anyway. His primary drive had always been to wield control and assert dominance, but now, for the first time, he found himself powerless.
Xinyi pulled out her phone and began typing a quick message. Moments later, the main door swung open, and a maid entered carrying a stack of documents. These papers were crucial for formally ending the engagement; they needed to be signed and then presented to their families, along with a thorough explanation of the circumstances.
The process, which had initially seemed like a risky gamble, had ultimately worked out in Xinyi's favor. Her engagement would soon be annulled, and she felt a profound sense of relief and satisfaction.