10 – Ji Hanyuan Domineeringly Protects Tangtang
Zhou Ruixue’s eyes widened in shock, clearly taken aback by Tangtang.
She frowned, her displeasure evident.
“In the capital, few dare to speak to me like this!”
“It seems you’re some ignorant, arrogant little upstart from who-knows-where, completely clueless about the situation!”
“Then let me enlighten you today! I’ll make you realize just how foolish and ignorant you are!”
“Do you know who the important person undergoing the examination is? It’s my fourth brother! My fourth brother is none other than Ji Hanyuan, the Fourth Master of the Ji Family!”
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Zhou Ruixue looked Tangtang up and down, sneered, and stared at her with utter contempt.
“So, you must have found out in advance that my fourth brother would be here for his examination and rushed over eagerly, right?”
“That’s why you had the audacity to try and make me leave? Afraid I’d ruin your little scheme?”
“Hahaha!”
“My fourth brother despises women like you who throw themselves at him!”
“I advise you to get as far away from here as possible, right this instant!”
“Otherwise, if my fourth brother comes out and sees you, with his temper, you’ll be dead and buried today!”
Zhou Ruixue’s words were delivered with an imperious tone.
As if she were a queen on high, benevolently pointing out a path of survival to a beggar.
Anyone else might have been intimidated by her imposing manner.
However, she was facing Tangtang.
Confronted with Zhou Ruixue’s arrogance, Tangtang showed no fear. Instead, her entire demeanor suddenly turned icy.
Her tone, when she spoke, was as biting as a cold winter wind, chilling to the bone.
“Who gave you permission to call him ‘fourth brother’? Hmm?”
The flippant upward inflection carried a heavy threat.
Zhou Ruixue’s eyes widened in disbelief. “He’s my fourth brother, why shouldn’t I call him…”
But before she could finish her sentence.
Suddenly, Tangtang raised her hand sharply.
Slap! She struck Zhou Ruixue directly across the face.
Caught off guard, Zhou Ruixue stumbled back several steps before barely regaining her balance. Clutching her stinging cheek, she looked up at Tangtang in disbelief.
Instantly, her eyes blazed with fury.
“You wretch! How dare you hit me!”
Tangtang stared at her coldly, a terrifying aura of killing intent suddenly erupting from her entire being. Her voice was icy and menacing as she said,
“Call him ‘fourth brother’ one more time, and I’ll slap you again!”
“Say he’s yours one more time, and I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
Only she could call him brother!
Brother was hers alone!
Hers alone!
Any woman who dared to approach her brother would face her wrath!
Instantly, Zhou Ruixue was frightened, a chill running down her spine.
This woman before her, who seemed so delicate and fragile, was now utterly terrifying!
Her eyes were filled with a horrifying killing intent!
Zhou Ruixue had no doubt that if she called him ‘fourth brother’ again… Tangtang really would kill her!
But… why should she!
She, the beloved younger sister of the Third Madam of the Ji Family, was adored and fawned over wherever she went. When had she ever suffered such humiliation!
Suddenly.
Click. The door beside them opened.
Ji Hanyuan, dressed in black, stepped out.
Seeing Ji Hanyuan, Zhou Ruixue’s eyes lit up.
She immediately rushed toward him, adopting a shy, girlish demeanor, completely unlike her earlier haughty self. Her tone instantly became sweet and gentle.
“Fourth Brother, you finally came out! Look at this woman, not only did she come here uninvited to cause trouble, but she also hit me!”
Zhou Ruixue revealed her swollen cheek, instantly looking utterly aggrieved.
“Wah… Xue’er hurts so much…”
Zhou Ruixue thought for sure that Ji Hanyuan would take her side and teach this ignorant, arrogant wild girl a lesson!
After all, she was the biological younger sister of his sister-in-law!
However, Ji Hanyuan didn’t even glance at her, walking straight past her.
Then… he walked toward Tangtang…
There were clearly three women present, yet from beginning to end, his eyes held only Tangtang.
He walked up to Tangtang, looking at her gently, affectionately ruffling her soft black hair, and said softly,
“Baby, have you been waiting long? Are you hungry? Tired?”
Ji Hanyuan’s gentleness instantly dissipated Tangtang’s anger.
But she was still very jealous.
Brother… did he have many, many women before her?
Could it be that she wasn’t his only one at all?
In her eyes, her brother was so, so wonderful—surely many, many girls must like him, right?
What if Brother’s affections shifted and he fell for someone else…
Just thinking about this possibility made Tangtang feel as if her heart were being sliced by a knife.
She only had Brother left; she absolutely could not lose him!
The next second, Tangtang looked up, her crescent-shaped eyes gazing at Ji Hanyuan with a pitiful, aggrieved expression, her voice trembling with a touch of sorrow.
“Brother A Yuan, Tangtang isn’t hungry, and she’s not tired either, it’s just… she’s not very happy…”
As soon as Tangtang finished speaking, Zhou Ruixue, standing to the side, couldn’t hold back any longer.
Seeing Ji Hanyuan treat this woman with such tenderness, she was shocked beyond belief. At the same time, her mind raced with the thought of immediately snatching Ji Hanyuan back!
She absolutely could not let this woman play the victim first!
Zhou Ruixue immediately raised her voice: “Fourth Brother!! Don’t listen to her nonsense! She’s ill-mannered and hits people—look at this slap mark on my face! When I go back, if my sister and brother-in-law see it, they’ll definitely be heartbroken…”
“And the old madam… she’s been talking about you, hoping I could bring you back to see her!”
Suddenly, Ji Hanyuan sharply lifted his gaze to look at Zhou Ruixue.
All the gentleness he had shown Tangtang vanished, replaced by an endless chill.
Just like his name—severe cold, icy, unfathomable.
“Hah.” He withdrew his gaze with a scornful laugh.
Lowering his eyes, he toyed with the black jade thumb ring on his hand, his gaze filled with disgust and weariness!
His tone was icy and domineering, like a king from ancient times—everyone must bow at his feet!
“What’s wrong with my woman hitting someone?”
“What’s wrong with hitting you?”
“What kind of thing are you, anyway!”
At Ji Hanyuan’s words, Zhou Ruixue froze, then… couldn’t help but tremble… a belated fear creeping in…
Ji Hanyuan had been abroad for several years, and she had missed him so much… that she had almost forgotten… his true nature was that of a cold-blooded, ruthless demon!
When had he ever stood up for her… or even… when had he ever… looked at her properly…
So… how could he possibly care about her…
Lin Jiaran, who had been hiding in the back with no presence at all, was also utterly stunned.
Wasn’t this woman… someone Ji Hanyuan had just picked up?
How could he… dote on her to such an extent…
She had hit Zhou Ruixue, and Ji Hanyuan didn’t protect Zhou Ruixue at all—instead… he allowed her to hit someone…
It truly proved the saying.
The person Ji Hanyuan protects, even if they act tyrannically and stir up trouble, no one dares to stop them!
And now, the person Ji Hanyuan wants to protect has appeared…
Instantly, Lin Jiaran’s gaze toward Tangtang was filled with envy.
Why… why her…
At the same time… Tangtang herself was stunned.
She had indeed intended to play the victim first, to claim she was wronged, so that her brother would punish her less severely.
After all, it was wrong of her to hit someone rashly, but she just couldn’t help it—she wanted to hit this woman!
Even if she would be punished by her brother, she would never regret it!
But she couldn’t help worrying that her brother would be angry with her, or even dislike her…
After all… this woman… kept calling her brother “Fourth Brother”…
Perhaps… there really was some relationship between them…
Who would have thought…
She then heard Ji Hanyuan’s icy tone, filled with overwhelming dominance.
“Who gave you the right to call me ‘Fourth Brother’?”
“If you dare call me that again, I’ll rip out your tongue and feed it to the dogs!”
Instantly, Zhou Ruixue collapsed to the ground in terror.