Just as everyone thought Ma Tengyun was doomed, Lu Ming rushed out from the side and grabbed the hilt of the knife!
The blade cut through Lu Ming's palm, causing blood to drip.
The tip of the dagger was less than half a finger's distance from Ma Tengyun's neck. If Lu Ming had been a moment slower, Ma Tengyun would have been killed on the spot!
It was too dangerous.
Lu Ming kicked the bandaged man in the chest, sending him flying. The bodyguards then swarmed in and apprehended the bandaged man and several others.
Only then was Ma Tengyun's life finally saved.
Everyone also wiped away cold sweat.
If it hadn't been for Lu Ming's swift reaction, who knew what the outcome would have been.
At this moment.
Ma Xiaoling excitedly rushed forward, throwing her arms around Lu Ming's neck. Then, in front of everyone, with tears in her eyes, she stood on tiptoe and kissed Lu Ming fiercely on the forehead.
A kiss, sealing their affection.
Ma Xiaoling's lip print was deeply imprinted on Lu Ming's forehead.
Everyone was stunned.
This was the ice-cold, unattainable Ma Xiaoling, the eldest daughter of the Ma family, the daughter of the richest man! For her to kiss a man in full view of everyone was something they couldn't even imagine.
But it was also understandable.
In just over ten minutes, Lu Ming had first cleared Ma Xiaoling's name and then saved Ma Tengyun's life.
Lu Ming owed the Ma family an immense debt of gratitude.
What was a gentle kiss in comparison?
After the kiss.
Ma Xiaoling looked deeply into Lu Ming's eyes, her voice choked with emotion, "Lu Ming, thank you. Thank you for everything you've done for the Ma family today. Without you, the Ma family would have truly been ruined."
Lu Ming stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to say.
Only the onlookers, being sensible, began to applaud, cheering for Lu Ming's intelligence and courage.
In the crowd.
Jiang Mengxin was extremely displeased. Forget applauding, it was already polite of her not to curse!
"Bastard, bastard, bastard!" Jiang Mengxin was furious.
Lu Ming was her fiancé, yet he was being hugged and kissed by another woman. What was this? Was this not a public display of being cuckolded?
She had lost count of how many times this had happened.
Jiang Mengxin genuinely couldn't understand. Lu Ming was so ordinary, even trashy, so how could he repeatedly capture women's hearts?
Xiao Zhan chuckled, "What's wrong, President Jiang, you look a bit jealous?"
Jiang Mengxin shot him a glare, "Shut your stinking mouth! Me, jealous of him? What is he? He's just a live-in son-in-law of my Jiang family. I can kick him out whenever I want!"
Despite saying this, Jiang Mengxin's heart did feel a pang of bitterness.
Her man was in another woman's arms.
Even if Jiang Mengxin didn't love Lu Ming, she couldn't stand to see such a scene. It was truly uncomfortable.
Xu Qin, standing by, couldn't stand it any longer. She slammed the table and stood up, shouting, "Lu Ming, what do you mean by this? You're a son-in-law to my Jiang family, how can you be involved with other women? What kind of behavior is this?"
Xu Qin was 'contending for ownership' for her daughter. No matter how useless Lu Ming was, having him snatched away by another woman was still something shameful.
Huh?
Ma Xiaoling blinked in surprise, then quickly let go.
She really hadn't expected Lu Ming to be married. She had initially thought Lu Ming was Jiang Mengxin's bodyguard.
That made sense. A man this outstanding would surely have many women vying for him, how could he still be single?
Ma Xiaoling gave a wry smile and shook her head, mocking her own naivety.
With great embarrassment, she said, "I'm so sorry. I got too emotional and didn't control myself."
Lu Ming smiled without speaking.
At this moment, someone in the crowd, eager to stir up trouble, shouted to Ma Xiaoling, "Miss Ma, don't back down! Lu Ming is only engaged to Jiang Mengxin now, they're not married at all! He's not yet a live-in son-in-law of the Jiang family, you still have plenty of chances!"
Really?
Upon hearing this, Ma Xiaoling's eyes clearly lit up.
She looked at Lu Ming with the gaze of a hungry wolf eyeing a lamb, making the Dragon Warlord himself feel goosebumps all over.
Ma Xiaoling was overjoyed.
If he wasn't married, then anything was possible.
She could indeed try to steal this man away!
Jiang Mengxin watched from afar, feeling extremely uncomfortable. She didn't like Lu Ming and could accept his departure, but she absolutely couldn't accept him leaving in this manner!
She could divorce Lu Ming, expel him.
But she absolutely could not accept Lu Ming being snatched away by a more beautiful, younger, and wealthy young lady!
What Jiang Mengxin didn't like, she would rather discard than let anyone else have!
Finally.
She stood up indignantly and said coldly, "Lu Ming, you've had your moment of glory. What are you still standing there for? Come back here!"
Everyone knew Jiang Mengxin was jealous.
Lu Ming also feared the situation escalating.
He wasn't afraid of fighting villains, but he was afraid of getting caught in a 'war' between women. It gave him a headache.
So, he gave Ma Xiaoling a perfunctory smile and a nod, then returned to Jiang Mengxin's side.
This smile made Ma Xiaoling fall for him even more!
Ma Xiaoling turned around and met Jiang Mengxin's gaze. Their eyes were filled with hostility, and it seemed as though sparks were flying in the air.
While everyone was distracted by Jiang Mengxin and Ma Xiaoling,
Murong Ba quietly stood up and, taking advantage of the chaos, slipped away.
The bandaged man and the others were his arrangement. When the truth came out later, Ma Tengyun would likely not let him off easily. It was better to make a quick escape.
Leaving the hotel and returning to his car.
The more Murong Ba thought about it, the angrier he became.
"Uncomfortable!"
Tonight was supposed to be his spotlight, he was supposed to be the partner collaborating with the Ma family. However, the appearance of Lu Ming and Chen Yingong had disrupted his entire plan.
Even more frustrating was that Lu Ming had ruined his 'Plan B'.
He had neither destroyed Ma Xiaoling nor killed Ma Tengyun.
He had accomplished nothing!
Most infuriatingly, the series of maneuvers tonight had only enhanced Lu Ming's reputation and deepened the connection between Lu Ming and the Ma family.
In the future, Lu Ming and the Ma family would surely be tied together.
It would be even more difficult to deal with Lu Ming.
The only good news was...
Military advisor Qiu Zhen said, "Jiang Mengxin and Ma Xiaoling seem to be at odds. This might become our breakthrough point in the future. By sowing discord between these two women, we can escalate the animosity between Kaixuan Jewelry and the Ma family, making them tear each other apart!"
Murong Ba sighed.
He said helplessly, "We can discuss these matters further when we get back. In conclusion, all the plans for tonight have ended in failure. I underestimated Lu Ming. I was careless despite my elder sister's warning; I lost this battle fairly."