Meanwhile,
The Zhao family has lost its support.
Multiple companies were targeting their companies.
The market was going down.
Since they were in jade business, they also had taken a large loan from bank.
Now their business went bankrupt and has a huge debt.
"it's over... It's all over," Zhao Dong, Zhao Ningxue's father said with horrified expression.
Just what kind of existence was targeting them?
Not to mention, Young Master Li had taken fancy to his daughter, with support of powerful Li family, they were supposed to rise above anyone else.
But now, they were bankrupt.
And has a huge debt that he might not be able to pay back.
Debt of 10 billions.
Not to mention, his jewellery stores were robbed.
And the insurance was left due.
There is no chance for comeback.
His only hope is his daughter who could talk with Young Master Li and save their business.
It was a bad day.
He hurriedly dialed his daughter's number.
+---+
"Young Master Li, is young and talented, my eyes are opened..." Master Du said politely.
He could have never expected Young Master Li Bai to be monster at stones.
"Master Du, you praise me too much, I am not good as you," Li Bai replied.
Not good as you?!
Those who heard this were left speechless.
Such arrogance at this age, this is basically humiliating Master Du and his Harvard knowledge.
The jade value of Li Bai was 5 times that of Master Du.
But knowing his identity, they could only shove their feeling up their ass.
Lin Cheng, on wide was also feeling helpless.
This was his major plot point.
But now it was over taken and his Protagonist halo was greatly weakened.
It felt as if, the guardian angel looking after him, have went to buy some milk.
And we know very well, those who went to buy milk never returns.
At the same time,
Zhao Ningxue sitting, in back, had her face dark and stormy.
She had just finished a call with her father, and the words "You must fix this!" echoed in her mind.
Fix what?
Fix the fact that their family was broke, or that she had to grovel before that bastard Li Bai?
She just learnt that her father's company went bankrupt and huge debt has been placed under his head.
She clenched her fists tightly.
How could this happen?
Weren't they supposed to rise to the top by relying on the Li family?
Yet, everything was crumbling as if an invisible hand was pulling all the strings.
She looked at Li Bai and gritted her teeth.
She was sure, Li Bai was behind her family downfall.
Her phone buzzed again, and her father's name appeared on the screen.
"Ningxue!" her father's frantic voice yelled as she picked up.
"What are you doing? You need to go to him right now! Young Master Li has the power to save us. Beg if you have to, cry if you have to... just make him help!"
Girlfriend crying and begging for help isn't something new.
But his can she tell that they have broken up?
"Father, do you even hear yourself?!" she snapped.
"He's the one who ruined us! You think he's going to help? We broke up and he might have used his family power to supress us,"
There was silence on the other end.
Zhao Dong hadn't considered this possibility.
Or maybe he didn't want to.
"You don't understand men like him, Ningxue," he said finally.
"He might just be testing our loyalty. If we prove ourselves useful, he might still help us. Go to him now!"
Before she could argue, the line went dead.
Ningxue: "..."
Her father... Ughhh! He didn't even listen to what she has to say.
She felt betrayed.
It all because of Li Bai. That's right, it's him, who is the source of all the problems.
[ Affection: -60 ]
She hated him even more.
---
Li Bai, who got the system notification, smiled lightly.
He didn't care weither she hated him or not.
He quickly scanned the people and found Zhao Ningxue.
Seeing her, her let out a creepy smile.
"Master Du, you see that woman over there?" Li Bai asked.
Master Du looked at Zhao Ningxue, beautiful and elegant with angry expression.
"Oh, her... I know about her, isn't she your girlfriend, Zhao Ningxue, their Zhao family was able to rise due to your grace.
I have to say, she is beautiful and graceful, a perfect match for you. You have a sharp eyes, I am envious of you... I wish I could find a good wife too, my wife, keeps nagging me, I don't even feel like going home," Master Du spoke.
Lucky for him, his wife isn't here.
( Hope you won't snitch )
..
"No! No! She is my ex-girlfriend... We have broken up, she said, I wasn't worthy of her," Li Bai said loudly making sure nearby people hears it.
And just like predicted.
Everyone looked at Zhao Ningxue as if looking at fool.
Iq below room temperature.
...
"Young Master Li isn't worthy of her? Has she ever seen her face in mirror?"
"These Zhao bastards doesn't know what good for them!"
"oh, I just heard the news... Zhao jewel shop went bankrupt and there is huge debt on head on Master Zhao,"
"Truth be told, I rather have debt than such stupid daughter... Hahaha,"
"Fax!"
Everyone began to make fun of her and Zhao Family.
"Young Master Li, I have a beautiful daughter,"
"Don't listen to him, I have two beautiful daughter... You can have both,"
"Young master Li, I may not have a daughter but I have mother, who is widow,"
Few even began to offer daughter while one brave soul even offered his mother.
Salute to such brother.
Master Du, who was silent, shook his head pitying Zhao Ningxue.
Some people aren't meant for greatness.
Of course, no one wanna hear the story form her prospective or learn about her feelings.
In the end, who is she?
Definitely not rich.
~~~
Zhao Ningxue stood frozen in place, her face a mask of icy fury as the venomous words from the crowd stung her like bees.
They rather have debt than daughter like her?
It felt as of while world was against her, siding with Li Bai.
Wasn't she The victim here?
The humiliation was suffocating.
It was feeling like getting scolded from parents, the consciousness feeling heavy, as if whole sky has descended upon your shoulders.
Each jeer, each derisive comment, each offer of daughters or, shockingly, even mothers to Li Bai, was like fuel to the roaring inferno of her anger.
She believed she didn't deserves a of this.
Which is correct.
No one deserves hate for wanting to live good life.
But, womp womp
Her delicate hands trembled as she clenched them into fists.
Li Bai's smug smile cut through the crowd like a blade.
He was enjoying this.
No, he was orchestrating this.
That bastard... He deserves thousand death.
Angry and angry, she felt nothing else.
[ Affection: -70 ]
She hated him to core.
She wanted to ahead and slap his face. Left and right.
...
Li Bai raised his hand slightly, and the crowd hushed almost immediately.
His control over the room was absolute, and the game has just begun.
"Now, now, everyone," he said with mock sympathy,
"let's not be too harsh. After all, Zhao Ningxue once graced me with her presence. For a time, she was the moon to my sun..."
"Wah! Wah! Such poetic..."
"Young Master Li, is rizzler among rizzler,"
The crowd murmured appreciatively at his poetic comparison.
"But alas," Li Bai continued, his tone shifting to one of exaggerated tragedy.
"Even the moon can grow greedy and believe it can shine without the sun's light. And we see where that arrogance has brought her family today..."
..
"Hahahah, Young Master Li is humourous,"
"Such, divien knowledge, I can feel the wisdom of Young Master Li coming inside me, ahhh, I am satisfied,"
"Hehe, imagine being such a fool, that wouldn't be me,"
..
The room erupted in laughter again, but Li Bai's piercing gaze never left Zhao Ningxue's face.
He enjoyed her red cheeks, that weren't blushing but boiling in anger.
Words can hurt and even kill.
It was like an arrow to her heart, brain, and even character.
Meanwhile,
Lin Cheng, who saw this felt anger coursing through his blood.
As a protagonist, how could he see his heroine being humiliated in public?
So, he came forward to support her.
"You... You.... You... Li Bai, stop slandering Zhao Ningxue, it's you who cheated on her, instead of apologizing to her, you dare to publically humiliate her. You are no man,"
Seeing him, everyone thought another monkey has jumped to dance right under the palm of Young Master Li.
"Oh, is this your new boyfriend, miss Zhao," without missing any beat, Li Bai asked.
"Yes, i am, so, what are you going to do!?" before Ningxue could answer, Lin Cheng butted in.
Seeing this, Ningxue was angry.
Not at Li Bai but at Lin Cheng.
[ Current affection towards Lin Cheng: -5]