Jiang Mengxin was rarely so 'tough', mainly because she couldn't stand to see Fan Xiang bullying others and her own love for opera compelled her to protect Xiao Koulan.
Ordinarily, if someone dared to talk back like that, Fan Xiang would be furious.
But today was different.
The more Fan Xiang looked at Jiang Mengxin, the more he liked her, even finding her angry demeanor to be charming. There wasn't a single aspect of her that he didn't find appealing.
'If I married a woman like this, wouldn't I be exhausted every night?' Fan Xiang thought to himself.
"Ahem." Fan Xiang coughed deliberately to conceal his indecent thoughts, then smiled and said, "Since Patriarch Jiang has intervened, I'll give you face. I won't pursue this matter today."
Then, he looked at Jiang Mengxin with reluctance for a long time before turning and walking off the stage, preparing to leave.
On the stage, Xiao Koulan breathed a long sigh of relief.
The stage and costumes were finally saved.
Everyone thought the matter was settled for today. Fan Xiang wouldn't cause trouble anymore, Jiang Mengxin had achieved her goal of saving the day, and Xiao Koulan hadn't suffered significant losses. Basically, everyone got a satisfactory outcome.
Unfortunately, one person was not satisfied.
Lu Ming!
Just as Fan Xiang stepped off the stage, Lu Ming silently walked in front of him, blocking his path.
"What do you mean?"
Fan Xiang asked with a cold face, "What are you doing?"
Lu Ming said indifferently, "Fan Xiang, you just said you'd give Patriarch Jiang face today and wouldn't pursue the matter with Xiao Koulan."
Fan Xiang nodded, "Yes, what's the problem?"
Lu Ming continued, "Well. Then we don't need your face now. Please, do continue to pursue it."
"What?"
Everyone was stunned.
Fan Xiang was even more bewildered, not understanding what Lu Ming meant. He asked, "Are you insane?"
Lu Ming scanned the crowd and said, "Your thugs are all lying on the ground. I'm very curious how you intend to pursue it."
Uh...
Fan Xiang's expression turned a bit grim.
Indeed, he had said he wouldn't pursue it partly because he fancied Jiang Mengxin's beauty, but the main reason was that all his thugs had been knocked down. How could he pursue anything?
But as the son of the Fan family patriarch, Fan Xiang gritted his teeth and said, "You little brat, you're quite arrogant! Do you know who I am? The son of the Fan family patriarch! So what if my thugs are lying down? With just a word from me, I can find more thugs! If I want to pursue this, even if you're from the Jinling Jiang family, you won't have a good outcome!"
"Oh," Lu Ming said, "So you're unable to pursue it now? Alright, after I break all your limbs, you can find someone to retaliate against me."
With that, Lu Ming picked up a steel pipe.
Fan Xiang's face turned green with fear. He had never met someone as reckless as Lu Ming!
If Fan Xiang's limbs were broken now, what good would it do to find someone for revenge later? Broken limbs couldn't be healed!
He looked back at Jiang Mengxin and shouted, "Patriarch Jiang, aren't you going to do something?"
Jiang Mengxin chuckled. She knew what Lu Ming meant. He wanted to curb Fan Xiang's arrogance. Despite being in a passive position, Fan Xiang was acting as if he were all-powerful, clearly asking for trouble.
So Jiang Mengxin shrugged and said, "Sorry, my security captain is quite stubborn, and my words don't hold much sway. But don't worry, Young Master Fan, you have influence. After he breaks your limbs, you can find someone to break his limbs in return. You won't be at a loss."
'Not at a loss my ass!'
Fan Xiang was so anxious he wanted to curse, seeing Lu Ming approach step by step. He shouted, "You, you don't come any closer. I'll give you whatever you want, just don't break my limbs."
Lu Ming placed the pipe on the ground and thought for a moment, "You'll give me anything?"
Fan Xiang nodded repeatedly.
"Alright then," Lu Ming said, "I want to be the patriarch of the Fan family. Can you help me arrange that?"
'Arrange it for your ancestors!'
A million thoughts of the 'grass-mud horse' stampeded through Fan Xiang's mind, but he couldn't say it out loud. He could only say aggrievedly, "Big brother, can we stop messing around? Say something practical."
Lu Ming smiled and stopped teasing him. He then said, "It's simple. You smashed their tables and chairs, and messed up the stage. You have to pay for it, right?"
So it was about money.
Fan Xiang breathed a sigh of relief. "No problem, I'll pay, I'll pay double!"
"Mm," Lu Ming continued, "Is just paying enough? Don't you need to clean up?"
Fan Xiang nodded repeatedly, "I need to clean up, I need to clean up. I'll call someone to help me clean right now."
Lu Ming smiled, "If you find someone else to clean, how can it show your sincerity?"
Fan Xiang was stunned. "No, brother, what do you mean?"
Lu Ming picked up the steel pipe again. "The meaning is very simple. Today, either you clean this place up by yourself, or I'll break your hands and feet. The choice is yours."
Was there even a choice?
Of course, he had to clean it himself!
And so, Fan Xiang, who had been pampered since childhood and even needed servants to help him peel eggs, cleaned up for the first time.
He moved the broken tables and chairs out one by one.
He scrubbed the dirty floor and the stage repeatedly with a mop until it was spotless.
By the time everything was cleaned up, it was late in the evening.
Fan Xiang lay on the ground, exhausted like a dog, panting heavily.
Lu Ming came over to inspect and nodded, saying, "Mm, it's very clean. Young Master Fan, it seems you're also capable of household chores. Alright, now go pay the compensation and you can leave."
Fan Xiang was too tired to even stand steadily.
He first paid the money, then stumbled out of the garden, hailed a taxi, and left dejectedly.
Everyone applauded.
Although they didn't get to see Xiao Koulan's full operatic performance today, seeing a spoiled brat like Fan Xiang get put in his place was extremely satisfying.
One word: Great!
They went backstage.
Xiao Koulan, after removing her makeup, bowed to Jiang Mengxin and Lu Ming. "If it weren't for your help today, I would have been ruined. My benefactors, please accept my bow."
Jiang Mengxin smiled and waved her hand, "You're welcome. It's our duty to help those in need. It's what we should do."
Xiao Koulan shook her head, "However, by offending Fan Xiang today, I fear it will bring you a lot of unnecessary trouble in the future. After all, the Fan family has considerable influence in Mist City. If you're afraid of trouble, you should return to Jinling to lie low as soon as possible."
Jiang Mengxin smiled, "If I were afraid of trouble, I wouldn't have intervened. Xiao Koulan, you don't need to worry about me. Instead, there's something I'd like your help with."
Xiao Koulan patted her chest and said, "Just say the word, Benefactor. If there's anything I can do, I'll go through fire and water, no hesitation!"
Jiang Mengxin smiled, "It's not that dangerous. I just want you to help me perform a private concert."