Ronald honestly didn't get it.
Similar to the trade show, this pavilion plot was also slowly crumbling down right before his very eyes.
But why?
Unlike the trade show plot, Ronald genuinely made an effort to actually bring the plot on track this time around.
And he felt that he actually succeeded in doing that!
Yet, it still somehow deviated again despite him actually making a request that he knew the original Iris wouldn't have complied with.
Like why the hell is Iris of all people kowtowing down to someone like him?
She's literally one of the most notorious and deadliest assassins from overseas for fuck's sake!
Moreover, where the hell is Ye Fan at right now?
Sure, he hasn't really argued with Iris and started an extremely huge commotion in the pavilion just yet, but surely Ye Fan wouldn't simply let this slide after witnessing this scene, right?
'Where the hell is your dignity and pride as a protagonist you bastard!'
As Ronald was complaining within his heart however, he realized something.
'What if I'm just not bullying Iris enough?'
After all, all he has essentially done so far was call Iris out for not doing her job as a pavilion maid, and although he did so in an extremely rude and arrogant manner, it wasn't like he really was in the wrong.
Right! That makes so much more sense now!
Knowing Ye Fan, he probably just ordered Iris to comply with all of his orders for now so that Ronald would bully and harass Iris even more.
Then when the bullying has reached its peak, he'll finally come swooping in like a hero and maximize his heroic image.
'Wow, ever since what happened last night, he's becoming smarter this time around.'
'I should step up my game as well then.'
With that in mind, Ronald briefly glanced at the observation deck that was currently shut closed at the very top of the pavilion before continuing his performance.
"Hmph, as expected of an inferior being such as yourself, you actually listened to me. Fine, you've managed to appease my anger for now, but I'm still not satisfied yet. Now get up and come polish my shoes." Ronald smiled sinisterly as he slightly lifted up his foot.
Even though it was most likely a better idea for him to stick with the original plot and tell Iris to fetch him a glass of wine instead so that she has an opportunity to spike it again, he figured that a more degrading approach such as this one would be a more effective way to ensure that Ye Fan's heroic image would increase when he comes and saves Iris.
And as he expected, Iris started to comply.
"Understood, sir, I'll get straight to-" Before Iris could finish speaking however...
"Why are you... being so harsh on this... maid, Ronald?" Ye Fan had finally appeared.
Wait, why is Ye Fan currently panting so hard for some reason?
Oh well, that doesn't matter anyways, since it appears he was right all along, and the event of Ye Fan coming in and 'saving the day' is now finally coming into fruition.
'Time to lock in.'
"Huh? Who the hell dares to... wait a second, aren't you that bastard who tried talking to MY Luna at the trade show yesterday and ended up pissing your pants because of it? How the hell did a country bumpkin like you get invited into this pavilion?" Originally, Ronald should've said something about Ye Fan face slapping him yesterday, but since that obviously didn't happen, he had to revise his line a bit.
"It doesn't matter how I got in, the only thing that matters right now is that you're harassing this maid for no apparent reason, and I won't have any of it!" Although Ye Fan was still extremely embarrassed about what had happened yesterday, he managed to hide it behind his face and looked at Iris as he was concerned for her.
Some of the nearby elites and martial artists that have also witnessed Ronald's actions up until now gave Ye Fan an affirmed look as well when they saw him standing up for the maid.
Now this is exactly how a young man should behave!
Kind and rightous!
If it had been anyone else this gentleman had decided to stand up against, they would've undoubtedly back him up publicly as well.
Unfortunately, this was the Young Master of the Kuangge family that he was trying to stand up against, and so they could only support the gentleman silently in their hearts.
"What? Harassing? I'm only disciplining this pavilion maid for not doing her job properly, that's all." Ronald scoffed.
"By forcing her to kowtow down to you and polish your shoes afterwards? Even if she was somehow in the wrong, that's still way too excessive, don't you think?" Ye Fan retorted.
"Hah, of course not. If anything, I'm actually being generous here and allowing the maid to clean up my shoes with her filthy hands. But fine, since you want to 'help' her out so much, then I'll leave her alone and have you polish my shoes instead. You should be grateful that I'm even giving someone like you the honor to touch my shoes!" Ronald then took a couple of steps forward and lifted up his shoe infront of Ye Fan.
But as expected, Ye Fan didn't even move an inch, nor did he even move his head down a little to look at Ronald's shoes whatsoever.
Instead, Ye Fan kept looking directly into Ronald's eyes for a few more seconds until he finally stated...
"Go fuck yourself, you brainless bastard."
The moment Ye Fan finished speaking, everyone who had been listening in the entire time couldn't help but drop their jaws in disbelief.
After all, he insulted the Ronald Kuangge directly to his face, an audacious move that nobody that isn't apart of a major family has ever dared to do before.
If he had even an ounce of hope of making it out alive and unscathed after bravely standing up to Ronald beforehand, then he has definitely lost any chance of that happening now.
Some even speculated that the owner of the Pavilion was going to personally come out herself and kill Ye Fan before they could even see a response from Ronald, and they began praying in their hearts for him.
Of course, Ronald knew that wasn't going to happen though, and he couldn't help but smile and chuckle inwardly knowing that the overall plot is now back on track and he'll be finished with it sooner or later.
But first, he still needed to get face slapped by Ye Fan to continue the plot forward.
So while part of the Pavilion was still frozen in disbelief, Ronald pretended to seem offended and began to shout.
"That's it, I've-"
"Apologize to Master Kuangge right now, you worm."
'...?'
'Oh come on now.'