"Hey, no, no, no!" Cao Chunhui was so frightened she nearly fell off her chair, her old face turning as pale as paper.
She still wanted to put on airs, but faced with a hand grenade, she was instantly reduced to her original form.
Cao Chunhui swallowed, wiping away cold sweat, and forced a smile. "We can talk about anything, just don't detonate the grenade. Pan Yu, didn't you just say you wouldn't kill innocent people?"
Pan Yu said, "I don't want to kill innocents, but what can I do if your Jiang family doesn't cooperate?"
"Cooperate, we'll cooperate with everything!" At this point, Cao Chunhui had no other choice.
She didn't want to die herself.
So, she could only let others die.
Cao Chunhui turned her head, scanning the members of the Jiang family, looking for someone suitable to die.
Jiang Anzhi, no, he was her most doted-upon eldest son.
Jiang Yang, no, she cherished her good grandson too much to let him die.
Jiang Xueyi, no, no, her second son was also flesh and blood, a mother couldn't bear it.
Jiang Mengxin, even less so. Although Cao Chunhui disliked Jiang Mengxin, she was the female CEO of the Jiang family, the pillar of strength! If she died, the Jiang family would completely collapse.
After looking around, she found she couldn't bear for any of them to die.
Finally.
Cao Chunhui's gaze fell on Jiang Lan.
She smiled.
This granddaughter was acceptable!
Jiang Lan was already out of place in the Jiang family, her identity was somewhat special, and she was not favored by Cao Chunhui at all. With all these factors combined, if she didn't die, who would?
Cao Chunhui straightened her clothes and said, "Jiang Lan, weren't you just defending Lu Ming? You said I was inhumane and shouldn't let Lu Ming die. Fine, now's your chance. Sacrifice yourself heroically in Lu Ming's stead."
Boom!!!
Jiang Lan felt as if she'd been struck by lightning, collapsing onto the floor.
Although she had expected it might be her, hearing the answer still shocked her.
Thinking about it was one thing; hearing it was another.
As for the rest of the Jiang family, they were unmoved.
The relationship between Jiang Mengxin and her sister was already strained. Jiang Xueyi and Xu Qin seemed to not care much about their youngest daughter, and Jiang Lan had always had a poor relationship with the rest of the Jiang family.
Jiang Lan's death was almost 'universally desired'.
Cao Chunhui continued, "Pan Yu, you can take my granddaughter Jiang Lan's life. She bears the Jiang surname, she is undeniably a member of the Jiang family, so you have nothing to complain about now, right?"
Pan Yu glanced at Jiang Lan and nodded. "Alright, using the life of such a young and beautiful Jiang family granddaughter to compensate for my brother's life is worthwhile. Moreover, my brother died without a wife, so after killing Jiang Lan, she can be buried with my brother and be his wife in the afterlife. It's a good deal."
Jiang Lan, upon hearing this, was even more devastated.
Being killed wasn't enough, she had to be buried with Pan Yue. What kind of torment was this?
"No, I don't want to!!!" Jiang Lan cried bitterly.
However, not a single person from the entire Jiang family stood up to speak for her; the guests also remained silent, content to see Jiang Lan die for their own survival.
Pan Yu held the grenade in one hand and drew a dagger from his waist with the other, walking towards Jiang Lan.
In the profound silence.
A majestic figure stepped forward, silently blocking Jiang Lan.
Besides that man, who else could it be?
Jiang Lan slightly raised her head, looking through her tear-filled eyes. Standing before her was Lu Ming!
At this moment, only Lu Ming could and dared to step forward.
Instantly, Jiang Lan's heart felt incredibly warm.
At least someone in this world cared about her, at least what she had said for Lu Ming was worth it.
Pan Yu paused.
He said coldly, "Lu Ming, why are you stepping out?"
Lu Ming replied calmly, "No one can take Jiang Lan's life."
Pan Yu chuckled, "Are you trying to defy the decision of Old Madam Cao?"
Lu Ming answered, "No matter who made the decision, if it's wrong, it must not be obeyed! Forget my grandmother, even if it were a king from heaven, I wouldn't listen!"
Whoosh—
A bit ruthless.
The guests shook their heads.
Pan Yu frowned, "What do you mean? Are you going to die with her? Or do you want everyone here to die with her?"
As he spoke, he once again moved the safety catch, poised to pull it.
Everyone in the room was terrified.
Cao Chunhui shouted, "Lu Ming, if you want to die, go die yourself, don't drag us down!"
The other guests also became uneasy.
Whether Lu Ming or Jiang Lan died, it made no difference to them, but they absolutely could not be blown up together.
The crowd began to curse.
"Lu Ming, you bastard, you want to be a hero, right? Then go die with Jiang Lan and fulfill your wish! But don't drag us down, don't risk our lives."
"Do you think you're so great by standing up? Bah! Originally, only Jiang Lan needed to die. By stepping forward, you won't save Jiang Lan, but will get us all killed! Lu Ming, you're acting like a reckless fool, incorrigibly stupid."
"You scoundrel, get back here!"
Everyone, afraid that Pan Yu would actually pull the pin and they would all die, cursed Lu Ming.
Yet, they uttered not a single word of reproach to the culprit, Pan Yu.
The ugliness of human nature was displayed in its entirety at this moment.
Lu Ming surveyed the scene and chuckled.
Is this what they call the 'upper class'?
In Lu Ming's eyes, they were a pack of wolves in sheep's clothing, a bunch of selfish clowns!
Pan Yu said loudly, "Did you hear that, Lu Ming? Are you going to get out of the way or not?"
Lu Ming took a deep breath.
He glanced at Pan Yu, then at the grenade in his hand, and let out a cold laugh.
Then, to everyone's surprise.
Lu Ming unhurriedly took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one.
He then proceeded to light and smoke the cigarette in front of everyone.
Calm and composed.
He completely disregarded Pan Yu!
Pan Yu's anger surged, and he intensified his actions. "Lu Ming, if you don't get out of the way, I'll pull the pin, and we'll all die!"
"Oh really? Alright then, pull it." Lu Ming continued to smoke, showing no fear.
Everyone in the room was petrified.
"What is this idiot saying? He's actually provoking Pan Yu to pull the pin? Is he crazy?"
"He doesn't want to live himself and wants to drag us down with him, he's a beast! No, he's worse than a beast."
"You dog, I'll beat you to death!"
Harsh words rained down from behind, and someone even threw plates and chairs at Lu Ming, but he ignored them.
He calmly looked at Pan Yu and said, "Go on, pull it. Quickly."
Strangely.
Pan Yu, who had been arrogant and overbearing, suddenly seemed flustered.
Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
Pan Yu didn't dare to pull it.