Assistant Sun chimed in to persuade her, saying, "President Xiao, this good-for-nothing went out of his way to exact revenge on you. He brought all these consequences upon himself, so he doesn't deserve your pity, and you certainly shouldn't let him drag the Xiao Family down with him!"
Xiao Qingcheng bit her lower lip hard, hesitated for a few seconds, and finally nodded.
That's right.
I've already done everything I possibly could for Ye Tiance. If he still refuses to see reason, he has only himself to blame!
Her attitude turned icy. "Things have reached this point, and I won't try to persuade you anymore. Whatever happens to you next has nothing to do with the Xiao Family!"
With these words, she made a complete and final break with Ye Tiance!
Ye Tiance lowered his gaze slightly, as if he had anticipated this outcome all along!
So he calmly replied, "That's for the best!"
Seeing this, a flash of craftiness crossed the depths of Ji Boduan's eyes.
He turned to face the crowd and raised his voice. "Tonight, all the worthies have gathered here to attend the bidding chambers of commerce hosted by Lord Long, yet this scoundrel Ye Tiance deliberately sabotaged it. This is sheer contempt for Lord Long and utter disrespect for that heavyweight figure!
Here, as the eldest legitimate son of the Jiangnan Ji Family, I call upon all of you to join me in judging Ye Tiance's crimes. When Lord Long arrives shortly, everyone will speak with one voice to report his offenses and ensure he is cut off from all paths of survival tonight!
Who is in favor? Who is against?"
It was obvious that Ji Boduan wanted to unify everyone's stance, pin all the blame squarely on Ye Tiance, and drive him to his death!
As soon as these words were spoken, the guests who were in cahoots with him immediately expressed their support for Ji Boduan's proposal!
They were determined to send Ye Tiance to the guillotine!
Although Xiao Qingcheng did not express her support, she did not voice any opposition either!
However, at that very moment, a discordant voice rang out.
"I object!"
Everyone turned toward the source of the sound.
They saw a haughty woman standing one meter and seventy centimeters tall, dressed in a long red dress, slowly walking over.
It was none other than Han Ruoyun.
Ji Boduan frowned, looking utterly shocked!
Xiao Qingcheng bit her lip hard, her expression complicated.
The rest of the guests whispered among themselves, unable to understand what Han Ruoyun meant.
Even Ye Tiance narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling quite surprised.
Ji Boduan asked in a deep voice, "Miss Han, Ji doesn't understand. Why do you object to my proposal? He's just a freeloading kept man who eats out of the bowl while looking at the pot—don't be fooled by him!"
Han Ruoyun said calmly, "I don't care what kind of person Ye Tiance is, but he did nothing wrong tonight. You are the one framing and plotting against him; I can't stand it, which is why I object!"
Deep down, she didn't like Ye Tiance and even felt a bit disgusted by him.
But right was right, and wrong was wrong. The facts were right in front of them!
Besides, regardless of anything else, her life had been saved by Ye Tiance.
She had no reason to stand by idly!
Ji Boduan narrowed his eyes and asked, "Then, according to Miss Han, how should Ye Tiance be dealt with?"
Han Ruoyun replied, "Wait until Lord Long and that heavyweight figure arrive, and report the whole sequence of events truthfully, instead of just listening to your one-sided story!"
Hearing this, the expressions of the guests present turned somewhat unsightly.
If they really followed Han Ruoyun's wishes, Lord Long would surely blame them for incompetence rather than being displeased with Ye Tiance!
That was something they could never accept!
Ji Boduan coldly reminded her, "Miss Han, this fellow surnamed Ye is setting himself against all the dignitaries present tonight. He is wildly arrogant and already a drowning dog that everyone wants to beat. Are you determined to stand with him?"
Han Ruoyun didn't hesitate at all and nodded decisively!
Ji Boduan sneered, "Miss Han, although you are the heir of the Han Family—one of the three major families in Jiangnan—and hold a noble status, don't you think you are taking us too lightly if you expect to turn the tide all by yourself?"
As soon as he said this, the others chimed in:
"If your father Han Tianzheng said these words, we might think twice. But just you, Miss Han? You're still too green!"
"Miss Han, speaking as someone who has been through this, let me advise you not to muddy these waters. Once you get dragged into this, not only will the Han Family be unable to protect you, but you will all plunge together into an abyss of eternal damnation!"
"..."
Faced with the pressure from the crowd, Han Ruoyun's haughty face grew grave.
She hadn't expected these people to be so united in their determination to put Ye Tiance to death!
What should she do now?
At this moment, Ye Tiance said calmly, "Miss Han, I appreciate your good intentions. This farce started because of me, and there's no need for you to get dragged into it!"
Han Ruoyun frowned in displeasure. "Since I've witnessed injustice, I must stand up! Do you take me, Miss Han, for some timid, black-and-white-blind fool?"
Hearing this, Xiao Qingcheng's delicate body trembled slightly.
For some reason, her face felt burning hot at that moment!
Ye Tiance was also rather surprised. He had assumed Han Ruoyun was just your typical narcissistic, willful, and arrogant socialite, but it turned out she actually had a strong sense of justice deep down.
He smiled at Han Ruoyun and said, "You misunderstood. I didn't mean that. I just wanted to tell you that this rabble is no match for me at all. I don't need anyone's help!"
As soon as these words fell, an uproar broke out at the scene!
This Ye Tiance was simply arrogant beyond all bounds!
Ji Boduan said darkly, "Miss Han, did you see the arrogant and despotic attitude of this good-for-nothing? He's courting death himself. If you insist on standing by his side, don't blame us for turning hostile!"
"This..."
Just as Han Ruoyun was hesitating, her cell phone suddenly rang.
It was a call from her father, Han Tianzheng.
She answered it.
Han Tianzheng's tone was serious and anxious. "Yunyun, I order you not to get mixed up in Ye Tiance's affairs. Come home immediately!"
Han Ruoyun was taken aback.
Clearly, someone had secretly informed her father of what was happening at the venue.
Han Ruoyun hurriedly explained, "Dad, things aren't..."
Han Tianzheng immediately cut her off. "I'm not listening to any explanations. Get back here right now. If you continue to act willfully, we will sever our father-daughter relationship!"
With that, Han Tianzheng hung up directly!
Panic flashed in the depths of Han Ruoyun's eyes. This was the first time she had ever seen her father fly into such a rage!
It seemed the current situation was far more serious than she had imagined!
What should she do now?
Ye Tiance spoke up, "Miss Han, this matter has nothing to do with you to begin with. There's no need for you to get involved. Listen to your father and go back!"
"Then... then take care of yourself. I'll figure something out..."
Han Ruoyun bit her lip and reluctantly left the venue.
Ji Boduan was ecstatic.
Now that Han Ruoyun this stumbling block had been removed, there would be no more obstacles to judging Ye Tiance!
He first glanced at the watch, then stepped forward and pointed at Ye Tiance.
With an arrogant attitude, he said, "Fellow surnamed Ye, there are only five minutes left until Lord Long arrives. Your time is running out. Why don't you kneel down right now and accept your judgment?"
Ye Tiance crossed his legs.
With a completely nonchalant expression, he said, "You got one thing wrong! To be precise, it's your time that has only five minutes left. You are the ones who should be kneeling down to accept judgment!"
Chapter 23: Zhao Hailong's Judgment!
Hearing Ye Tiance's words, Ji Boduan and the guests behind him burst into boisterous laughter!
They were convinced that Ye Tiance was spouting wild, delusional nonsense!
Ji Boduan stepped forward, put his hands behind his back, and said arrogantly, "I, Ji Boduan, the eldest legitimate son of the Ji Family, would like to see how you make me kneel down and accept judgment!"
Lai Jingye also stepped forward with a sneer at the corner of his mouth. "As the chairman of Ningang Group, I'd like to see it too!"
Xie Bin followed suit, stepping forward with his hands in his pockets to threaten him. "As the chairman of Hongda Group, I'd like to see it as well!"
After these three men stood out, the rest of the guests also began shouting and cheering from behind, their voices deafening within the venue!
Assistant Sun shook her head helplessly and said, "This good-for-nothing really is holding a lantern in a latrine—courting death. President Xiao, it's a good thing you cut ties with him, otherwise there's no telling what kind of trouble you'd be dragged into!"
Xiao Qingcheng bit her lip, fixed her gaze on Ye Tiance, and said, "It's come to this, and you still insist on being willful? You're stubbornly refusing to kneel and apologize, aren't you?"
Ye Tiance shook his head. "What for?"
Xiao Qingcheng said with exasperation, "Just because every single person here tonight is someone you could never hope to reach in this lifetime! As long as you kneel and apologize, you might just scrape together a sliver of a chance of survival. Why on earth don't you know how to bow your head?"
Ye Tiance shook his head. "You're wrong. The ones who need to scrape together a sliver of a chance of survival are them, not me!"
As soon as these words were uttered, the crowd burst into another round of mockery!
They didn't take his words seriously at all!
Xiao Qingcheng grew thoroughly disappointed and shook her head. "Ye Tiance, when all is said and done, isn't everything you've done tonight just out of revenge because I asked for a divorce?
But the truth is, nothing will change the fact that the Xiao Family won the bid tonight and secured the ten-billion-dollar order. I will certainly not regret my decision to divorce you!"
Hearing this, a cold smile tugged at the corner of Ye Tiance's mouth.
"Hah! So dead set on it, are you? How do you know this outcome won't change? Perhaps tonight's bidding chambers of commerce will be suddenly canceled, who knows?"
Ji Boduan sneered. "Fellow surnamed Ye, the Xiao Family winning the bid was decided by that heavyweight figure. How could it possibly change so easily?"
Lai Jingye rebuked with a cold gaze, "This brat is barking at the sun like a mad dog. Lord Long and that heavyweight figure are about to arrive; how could the bidding chambers of commerce possibly be canceled easily?"
Xie Bin scoffed, "I'd love to see how a kid like you can change the winning bid? Cancel the bidding chambers of commerce?"
Ye Tiance stretched lazily and said with a casual expression, "Since you want to see it, I'll satisfy you!"
He took out his cell phone.
He dialed Zhao Hailong's number and directly issued his orders:
"I have three things for you to do. First, tonight's bidding chambers of commerce is canceled; you don't need to come over. Second, the winning result for the ten-billion-dollar order will be re-evaluated and selected. Third, judge the arrogant behavior of Ji Boduan from the Jiangnan Ji Family, along with the chairmen of Ningang Group and Hongda Group, cancel all their business cooperation with Tianlong Group, and permanently blacklist them!"
With that, he hung up the phone!
Ji Boduan almost laughed out loud. "Oh my! Fellow surnamed Ye, if I didn't know you were actually just a good-for-nothing, I almost would've been fooled by your acting!"
Lai Jingye laughed derisively. "Hehe, make Tianlong Group cancel cooperation with us? You're simply daydreaming!"
Xie Bin sneered, "A clown performing on a beam, making a dying struggle!"
The rest of the guests laughed endlessly, the entire venue filled with a joyous atmosphere!
Xiao Qingcheng's expression turned gloomy.
Ye Tiance, you're truly beyond saving!
In the distance, Rong Meiyan knitted her delicate brows.
She seemed to be analyzing something...
Beep!
Right on cue, the time hit eight o'clock in the evening!
Without a word, everyone in the venue stood straight and looked toward the entrance, waiting respectfully for Lord Long and that legendary heavyweight figure to make their entrance!
Creak!
The main doors of the venue slowly swung open!
Clack, clack, clack!
A sexy woman dressed in a red hip-hugging dress paired with black silk stockings was seen stepping into the venue in high heels!
This person was none other than the vice president of Tianlong Group—Qian Qinian!
Seeing that she had come out all by herself, the crowd couldn't help exchanging glances in confusion and bewilderment!
That's not right. Why didn't Lord Long and that heavyweight figure come out?
Ji Boduan took the initiative to step forward, offering a respectful greeting: "Good evening, President Qian. Where is Lord Long? Why didn't he come over?"
Qian Qinian glanced at him coldly without answering, walking straight toward the stage at the front of the venue!
Facing the crowd, she said with a solemn expression, "I am here specifically on behalf of Lord Long to announce three matters. Please listen carefully, everyone!"
The expressions of the guests present varied.
A faint, ominous premonition arose in their hearts.
Qian Qinian raised a single finger and began, "First matter: tonight's bidding chambers of commerce is temporarily canceled. Lord Long has already turned back and gone home!"
An immediate uproar broke out at the scene!
"What? How can a perfectly fine chambers of commerce just be canceled?"
"Is that really what Lord Long said? Why?"
"I was counting on this chambers of commerce to make connections with that heavyweight figure. Doesn't that mean it's all down the drain now?"
"..."
Faced with the various discussions among the crowd, Qian Qinian's expression remained unchanged as she raised a second finger and said, "Second matter: the winning result of the ten-billion-dollar order will be re-evaluated and selected on another day!"
Swish!
Everyone's gaze instantly landed on Xiao Qingcheng!
One had to know that just a second ago, this winning result still belonged to Xiao Qingcheng!
Now, it had suddenly been changed to a re-evaluation on another day!
For Xiao Qingcheng, this was simply falling straight from heaven into hell in an instant!
Her face turned pale, and she asked with disbelief, "P-President Qian, why?"
Qian Qinian said coldly, "Lord Long's orders require no explanation!"
Xiao Qingcheng's delicate body trembled violently, her fists clenched tight as she utterly failed to accept this outcome!
Beside her, Assistant Sun dropped her jaw, falling into a state of complete stupor!
Qian Qinian raised a third finger and said, "As for the third matter..."
Her gaze fell upon Ji Boduan, Lai Jingye, and Xie Bin as she said in an icy tone, "By order of Lord Long, the three of you are to kneel down immediately and await your judgment!"
The three of them froze, exchanging glances.
Ji Boduan asked in bewilderment, "What wrongs have the three of us committed? Why should we kneel and await judgment?"
Qian Qinian narrowed her cold eyes and said indifferently, "What? Do you intend to defy Lord Long's orders?"
The three of them shuddered instantly!
As everyone knew, Lord Long was a terrifying existence known as the King of Jiangnan, with eyes and hands reaching across the heavens!
With just a single word, he could reduce the three of them and their families to dust in an instant!
How could they dare to disobey his orders?
Left with no choice, the three of them knelt down before the crowd in humiliation!
Waiting to hear Qian Qinian's judgment!
Qian Qinian indifferently announced, "Ji Boduan, Lai Jingye, Xie Bin—the three of you played the fool and stirred up trouble tonight. As of today, Tianlong Group will cancel all cooperation with you and permanently blacklist you. Good luck to you all!"
Having dropped these words, Qian Qinian turned and walked straight out of the venue!
And this third matter naturally exploded like a thunderclap in the minds of Ji Boduan and the other two!
One had to keep in mind that Tianlong Group was the largest enterprise in Jiangnan City!
The Jiangnan Ji Family, Ningang Group, and Hongda Group all had close partnerships with it.
If their cooperation was terminated and they were permanently blacklisted, the resulting losses would be immeasurable!
If things went badly, the three families would never see the light of day in Jiangnan City again!
Lai Jingye and Xie Bin were the first to collapse, shaking their heads with dazed expressions as they muttered, "We're done for! Completely finished, how could it come to this..."
Ji Boduan slumped to the floor, trembling as he muttered, "Why did this happen? Tell me why..."
Suddenly, it seemed as though he had thought of something.
He slowly raised his head to look at Ye Tiance, asking with utter disbelief, "Did all of this... really happen because of you?"
Chapter 24: Desperate Xiao Qingcheng!
Not only him, but everyone else present also stared fixedly at Ye Tiance!
They suddenly recalled that the three things President Qian announced on behalf of Lord Long happened to be the exact three things Ye Tiance had mentioned on his phone call just moments ago!
To call this a coincidence would be stretching it far too thin!
That left only one possibility: his true identity was...
For a moment, the expressions of everyone present turned horrified and filled with dread!
Lai Jingye and Xie Bin were trembling all over, their hearts filled with regret and fear!
Had they known Ye Tiance possessed such status and backing, even if you gave them ten guts, they wouldn't have dared to target and suppress him!
As for Xiao Qingcheng, her expression was filled with sheer disbelief!
She bit her lip hard and asked Ye Tiance, "Did you really do all this? Was my winning the bid also decided by you?"
Ye Tiance answered calmly, "Didn't I already give you that answer?"
Xiao Qingcheng's delicate body trembled, words stuck in her throat like a fishbone!
If that was the case, was Ye Tiance actually the heavyweight figure behind Lord Long?
While she was the one who had truly played the role of the clown?
Heh, how ironic!
At this thought, the usually proud and haughty Xiao Qingcheng couldn't help swaying, nearly collapsing to the floor.
Fortunately, Assistant Sun caught her just in time.
Choking back tears, Xiao Qingcheng asked unwillingly, "W-Was I really wrong?"
Assistant Sun hurriedly comforted her, "President Xiao, how could it be your fault? You must have been fooled by that good-for-nothing. How could trash like him possibly be that heavyweight figure? I don't believe it, there has to be something wrong here!"
Xiao Qingcheng smiled bitterly and shook her head.
She was just as reluctant to believe that Ye Tiance had a deep background, but how was she supposed to explain the scene playing out right before her eyes?
However, right at this moment!
Countless burly men in black suddenly flooded through the entrance—nearly a hundred of them in total!
Each one brandishing knives, clubs, and other weapons, sealing off the entire venue airtight!
Following them, a yellow-haired youth with a swollen face walked out with a fierce, sullen expression!
It was none other than Zhang Chunlei, who had been beaten away by Ye Tiance earlier!
The crowd present was struck with terror.
Why was this god of plague back again?
Zhang Chunlei scanned the crowd with narrowed eyes and laughed sinisterly. "Surprised by how shocked you all look? Hehe, weren't you holding a bidding chambers of commerce? Go on, continue!"
The people present exchanged glances in dismay. The chambers of commerce had already been canceled, what on earth was there left to continue!
At this moment, Ji Boduan suddenly thought of something!
He asked cautiously, "Young Master Zhang, could it be that you were the one who had Lord Long cancel this chambers of commerce?"
Huh?
Zhang Chunlei was taken aback, failing to understand what Ji Boduan meant.
Seeing that Zhang Chunlei didn't answer, Ji Boduan subconsciously assumed the other party was admitting to it.
So he enlightened the others with a realization, "I knew only you had the power to pull this off. This matter has nothing to do with that good-for-nothing Ye Tiance at all!"
Lai Jingye asked, "Young Master Ji, what do you mean by that?"
Ji Boduan explained, "Don't you understand yet? Lord Long must have found out that Ye Tiance offended Young Master Zhang, and guessed that Young Master Zhang would inform Lord Hu. Out of weighed fear and hesitation, he sent President Qian over to announce those three things precisely to avoid offending Lord Hu!"
The crowd nodded and discussed among themselves:
"It makes sense. Young Master Zhang went back earlier to seek Lord Hu's help. It must have been Lord Hu who stepped in, and Lord Long had no choice but to give him face!"
"That's right. Given Lord Hu's personality, anything he can't get, he won't allow anyone else to have either. So he simply had Lord Long cancel the bidding chambers of commerce, and the bid that originally belonged to the Xiao Family was changed to a re-evaluation!"
"As for Young Master Ji, President Lai, and President Xie, they must have shown disrespect to Young Master Zhang earlier. Lord Long chose to cut ties with their three families so he wouldn't be implicated!"
"That fellow surnamed Ye probably guessed long ago that it would turn out like this, so he put on an act and made a phone call to put up a front. What a scheming person!"
"I knew it. How could a good-for-nothing son-in-law kicked out by the Xiao Family possibly order Lord Long around?"
"..."
Hearing the crowd's discussions, Xiao Qingcheng's expression shifted.
She couldn't help asking Zhang Chunlei, "D-Did you really do all this?"
Zhang Chunlei rested his chin in his hand and pondered.