Tong Zheng went to question Jia Dong. Ke Wuwen was slumped in a chair, head down, lost in thought. You Mi and Wan Zuo had gone to the kitchen, claiming they were preparing some food for everyone, while Shen Rong sat nearby, a look of displeasure on her face.
Chi Hao had been by Jing Minghe's side. After Jing Minghe finished speaking with the others, he finally said, "Go get some rest."
Jing Minghe turned to look at Chi Hao, a smile playing on his lips. He joked with Chi Hao, "Brother Hao, I've noticed you're very fond of telling me to sleep. Do I look like someone who lacks sleep? Or... is my mental state not good and I need to catch up on rest?"
Chi Hao really wanted to say, "Only when you're asleep can I get closer to you."
But if he said that, given Jing Minghe's personality, he would surely take it as a playful jab.
Chi Hao chuckled softly and replied, "Your complexion is too poor."
"..." Jing Minghe quickly looked for a mirror, unable to fathom how bad his complexion could be to give Chi Hao the impression that he needed to catch up on sleep.
Unfortunately, in the vast banquet hall, not a single mirror could be found.
"Ah!"
A scream erupted from Jia Dong's direction. Jing Minghe immediately turned his head, only to see Jia Dong collapsed on the floor, his body shaking violently.
"What's going on?"
Jing Minghe wanted to go over and check, but after taking a couple of steps, he suddenly remembered that Jia Dong was afraid of him. If he went over and agitated Jia Dong again, who knew what might happen.
Fortunately, Tong Zheng walked over and said to Jing Minghe, "He said one sentence, 'Why won't you save me?' and then suddenly became like this."
"Why won't you save me?" Jing Minghe repeated the words. He remembered that this was the sentence the little girl kept asking.
So, was Jia Dong's condition indeed related to him hiding under the main stage last time?
"I'll kill you!"
Jia Dong, who had been lying on the ground, suddenly stood up and lunged towards Shen Rong, who was sitting not far away. His speed was astonishing, as if he had been propelled forward.
By the time Jing Minghe and the other two rushed to save Shen Rong, Jia Dong had already grabbed her by the neck.
Jing Minghe kicked Jia Dong. It felt like kicking a hard stone; the man didn't budge at all, but Jing Minghe's foot went numb.
"Damn, what's going on?" Jing Minghe couldn't help but curse.
Chi Hao pulled Jing Minghe aside and asked anxiously, "What's wrong?"
"I'm fine, save her first."
With that, Jing Minghe and Chi Hao, as if by unspoken agreement, each grabbed Jia Dong's arm and pulled him forcefully away.
Seeing Jing Minghe, Jia Dong recoiled in fear, taking two steps back. He then turned to attack Chi Hao from the other side. Jing Minghe immediately stepped forward to intercept.
Jia Dong was a player, not an NPC. Jing Minghe worried that if Chi Hao accidentally killed Jia Dong, it would be a disaster.
He had heard that in dungeons, players were not allowed to kill other players, or they would face death penalties.
"You all get back!"
Jing Minghe shouted, wanting to grab Jia Dong. However, Jia Dong didn't intend to fight him. After failing to attack Chi Hao, he suddenly changed direction and quickly fled the banquet hall.
"Damn it!"
Jing Minghe hurriedly chased after him.
You Mi and Wan Zuo were still in the dining room on the first floor. If they encountered Jia Dong, neither of them could handle him in his current state.
Chi Hao was about to follow Jing Minghe when Shen Rong rushed over and clung to him tightly.
Shen Rong held onto Chi Hao desperately, crying, "Hao, don't leave me. You promised you'd protect me! You promised me!"
Chi Hao gritted his teeth and said coldly, "Let go."
"No! Didn't you see? I was almost killed! That person wanted to kill me!"
"Let go."
Seeing Chi Hao's face turn green with anger, Tong Zheng stepped forward and grabbed Shen Rong. "Miss Shen, I will protect you for now. Please let go so Chi Hao can help Minghe. Jia Dong is not someone Minghe can handle alone in that state."
"Get lost! Don't touch me!" Shen Rong, abandoning any pretense of lady-like demeanor, yelled at Tong Zheng like a shrew. "That Jing Minghe, it would be better if he died! Who does he think he is! Why should he steal my... Ah!"
Chi Hao shoved Shen Rong away, slapped her in return, glared at her coldly, and then left the banquet hall without looking back.
Tong Zheng looked at Shen Rong with disgust.
He remembered when he first met Shen Rong, he had inwardly remarked that she was a rare beauty with a refined temperament. Although she always appeared arrogant, it was still a kind of personality.
He never expected such a stark contrast, enough to make one's jaw drop.
Tong Zheng seriously doubted if Shen Rong truly knew Chi Hao, or understood his personality.
Jing Minghe was an exceptionally special existence to Chi Hao. Having known the two of them for so long, Tong Zheng could clearly see that Chi Hao's protection and possessiveness over Jing Minghe bordered on frightening. This foolish woman dared to say such things in front of Chi Hao.
It was the greatest mercy that Chi Hao didn't slap her to death.
Ke Wuwen cautiously approached Tong Zheng from behind, poked him lightly, and asked in a low voice, "Brother Tong, should we go help Idol and Brother Chi?"
"No need," Tong Zheng glanced at Shen Rong, who was stunned in place by Chi Hao's slap, and said to Ke Wuwen, "Let's go find You Mi and Wan Zuo. Don't cause trouble for Minghe and Chi Hao."
"Then..." Ke Wuwen pointed at Shen Rong. "What about this sister?"
Tong Zheng pulled Ke Wuwen and walked away. "Don't worry about her."
·
Jing Minghe chased Jia Dong from the second floor all the way to the top floor, and then watched in disbelief as Jia Dong leaped directly from the top floor. He was too late to catch him.
Jing Minghe looked resigned. Even if Jia Dong had initially resisted the little girl's suicidal whispers, he ultimately couldn't escape death.
"Minghe?" Chi Hao walked in front of Jing Minghe, blocking his view.
Jing Minghe heard the worry in Chi Hao's voice. He came back to himself, shrugged, and chuckled, "Can't be helped. He ran too fast, I couldn't catch him."
"It's good that you're alright."
Jing Minghe was taken aback for a moment, then gave a wry smile. "Good brother, how could I possibly be alright? If anything were to happen, it would be to the other party."
"Is that so?"
"Of course."
Chi Hao smiled faintly. "Let's go back."
Jing Minghe nodded and walked alongside Chi Hao. He casually asked, "By the way, is Shen Rong alright? The crazed Jia Dong has considerable strength."
"No need to bother with her."
Jing Minghe paused, his peripheral vision sweeping over Chi Hao.
He wasn't unaware of Chi Hao's cold indifference, not for the first time. It was just that as their relationship had grown closer recently, he had almost forgotten how inherently cold Chi Hao was.
Emotions, to this man, were probably superfluous.
Jing Minghe sighed silently. He had fallen for a block of ice, and he didn't know when it would ever melt.