Suddenly being singled out by his father in front of everyone, Li Si's face filled with disbelief.
He had spoken in a low voice, only muttering behind their backs, not saying anything directly to Tang Ao or Zhou Qiao'er. If Li Yifeng had just turned a blind eye, the matter would have quietly passed.
It could have been a minor issue swept under the rug, but his father had chosen to call him out in public!
Wasn't this just making him look bad?
As a father, didn't he care at all about his son's dignity?
Li Si, filled with resentment, spoke up in defiance: "What did I say wrong? Isn't Tang Ao just a rich upstart? What's he showing off for? I find him disgusting, and he's far beneath me! Dad, are you also losing your mind, forgetting how our Li family has always looked down on these nouveau riche?"
"You... ungrateful wretch, shut your mouth immediately!"
Li Yifeng was so furious that his eyebrows twitched.
He was now seriously questioning whether Li Si was truly his son. How could someone as wise as he had raised such a blockhead?
Was Young Master Tang showing off his wealth?
Didn't he hear Tang Ao say these gifts were picked up from Antique Street for just over a thousand yuan?
No, this wasn't flaunting wealth—Tang Ao was flaunting his skills!
At such a young age, he already had such vision, judgment, and luck. Just this ability alone could outshine most people in the world!
Moreover, Tang Ao's earlier words clearly demonstrated his magnanimity, turning hostility into friendship. Such generosity of spirit was something even Li Yifeng, as the head of the Li family, could hardly match!
How could his foolish son not even see through the surface of this, not comprehend what was right in front of him? How on earth did his brain develop?
Li Mao, Li Si's cousin, looked at him like he was a fool: "Li Si, apologize to Young Master Tang immediately! You're completely wrong, and you're being too impulsive!"
As the one being insulted, Tang Ao almost wanted to shed tears of gratitude.
[Li Si, you're the only one who truly understands me!]
[Among all these people, you're the only one who sees through my role as a second-generation villain, while everyone else is looking at me like I'm the protagonist!]
[As expected, truth is always held by the few. If not for you, I'd be doubting my own acting skills by now. Thank you! I support you!]
Seeing Li Si getting berated by his father and cousin, Tang Ao quickly spoke up to clarify:
"No, no, no, I think this brother is absolutely right! He's completely correct! I, Tang Ao, really am just a rich upstart. Without my family's wealth, I'm nothing. He's only stating the facts, so please don't elevate me beyond what I am. On the contrary, this Ye Chen over here, let me tell you, his identity is not ordinary at all!"
Hearing Tang Ao's words, Li Si immediately seized the opportunity and spoke up to his father and cousin: "See! Even he himself admits it! Why should I have to apologize?"
Watching his son's foolishness, Li Yifeng nearly lost his mind.
What Tang Ao had said, in Li Yifeng's ears, was pure sarcasm—a self-deprecating way to hint at the Li family's missteps!
Smart as Tang Ao was, this was his way of giving the Li family an out, a chance to gracefully handle the situation!
Most of the Li family members shared Li Yifeng's perspective. Seeing Li Si still pushing his luck, they were speechless—Tang Ao had already offered him an out, but the fool didn't know how to take a step forward. It was like being handed a giant cake and still starving because he couldn't figure out how to eat it!
What an utter fool!
Among the Li family, murmurs started: "Sigh, how could the head of the Li family raise such a foolish son? Truly, the tiger has fathered a dog."
"This kid is dragging the Li family through the mud. He's too young, too naïve. This younger generation, raised in a greenhouse, can't compare to us old folks. Truly, they are a wasted generation!"
Seeing that Li Si showed no remorse, and even continued with his reckless words, Li Yifeng's face twisted with fury.
He took a deep breath, gently placed the two tea pets down on the ground a few meters away, then marched over to Li Si.
With a loud smack, Li Yifeng's palm landed on Li Si's face with such force that even Tang Ao, standing ten meters away, could feel the wind from the slap sting his eyes. Li Si, knocked to the ground, rolled seven or eight times before coming to a stop!
Li Si's face swelled up with a fist-sized lump, and after coughing twice, he spat out a bloody front tooth!
This could easily be classified as a serious injury!
If this had been a fight between strangers, losing a tooth like this would have cost the attacker at least a hundred thousand yuan!
[One slap turned his own son into a disabled person—this Li family head... what a ruthless guy!]
Seeing the blood trickling from his son's mouth and the bloody tooth on the ground, Li Yifeng's heart ached.
This was his own son, how could he not feel the pain?
But...
A father must be held responsible for his son's faults. If Tang Ao were to walk away angry because of Li Si today...
The Li family elder might not just punish them—he'd likely have them both neutered!
Seeing Li Si on the ground, eyes brimming with tears, Li Yifeng closed his eyes and steeled himself: "Someone, call for..."
Li Yifeng had originally intended to call for an ambulance to see if they could save the tooth, but Tang Ao, misunderstanding his intention, quickly interrupted:
"Head of the Li family, what are you doing? In this era, is there really no place left for someone who speaks the truth?" Tang Ao couldn't bear to watch any longer. "Let's take a step back—I'm really not angry at all, not even a little! Seriously, you shouldn't have hit him. Hurry and call for an ambulance to see if they can reattach the tooth!"
Tang Ao would never know that his sincere words were completely misinterpreted by Li Yifeng.
Especially seeing the frown on Tang Ao's face, Li Yifeng was convinced that Tang Ao was still very angry!
That slap...
Hadn't appeased Tang Ao at all!
Tang Ao must be hinting that his punishment was too light, signaling that the tooth shouldn't be saved!
Tang Ao was terrifying—he knew when to be merciful, but when it was time to be ruthless, he didn't hold back. Such a terrifying figure!
A son should be like Tang Ao!
Tang Ao, oh Tang Ao, you're around the same age as my son, yet my foolish child is nothing like you. Why are you two so different?
Li Yifeng couldn't help but wonder how the Tang family had raised such an outstanding heir.
With a sigh, Li Yifeng concluded that his son's tooth... couldn't be saved.
Li Yifeng closed his eyes and said loudly:
"Tang Ao, enough of your fake sympathy!"
"There are laws in the country, and our family has its own rules. Li Si, get to the Cliff of Reflection and reflect on your actions for three months. You're not allowed to leave until you've learned your lesson!"
Li Si was in too much pain to speak, but his eyes burned with hatred as he glared at both Tang Ao and his father, Li Yifeng.
No one knows a son better than his father. Sighing deeply, Li Yifeng waved his hand: "Take this disgrace of a son away, and hang his tooth by the Cliff of Reflection so he can see it every day as he reflects on his mistakes!"
As Li Si was dragged away, still full of defiance, Ye Chen's eyes gleamed with interest.
This... could be an opportunity!
Tang Ao, oh Tang Ao, you've been so clever all your life. But you have no idea what kind of golden opportunity you've just handed me, Ye Chen!