Chapter 125: Damn It, Squad Leader

Qian Yan wasn’t an idiot. It wasn’t that she didn’t know Su Muzhi’s family background before she spoke.

On the contrary, it was precisely because she knew Su Muzhi’s background that she asked that way.

She believed that for someone like herself, and for Su Muzhi, who was also born with a silver spoon, men were nothing more than toys.

There was no way they could ever truly develop feelings. As long as enough money was on the table, what man wouldn’t come running with a big, eager grin on his face?

She did the same thing herself. When hosting a banquet, she’d bring her favorite toys out to show off.

If one of her close friends had something better, swapping and playing with it wasn’t out of the question either.

She thought the reason Su Muzhi was upset was because her question had been too direct, making her lose face.

So, she spoke again:

“Let’s exchange contact info and chat later.”

Gu Lian hurriedly tried to salvage the situation.

This Qian Yan really was an outsider through and through! Her family was nothing but a bunch of stinking coal merchants, and she was far too used to throwing her weight around in her own little corner of the world!

She dared to say anything and offend anyone! And now she was dragging me into it too!

“No need for an apology. You can leave now.”

Su Muzhi smiled charmingly and waved her hand. A server walked over:

“Miss Su, what can I do for you?”

“Throw this person out, please.”

She said with a smile.

The server smiled slightly and nodded before walking over to Qian Yan:

“Ma’am, please cooperate.”

Qian Yan froze for a moment. From childhood to adulthood, she had only ever been the one to kick others out, never the one to be kicked out herself.

“What if I don’t want to leave?”

She laughed in anger and asked.

She wasn’t afraid of the Su Family at all. She wasn’t part of the Shanghai circle anyway.

The server didn’t mind. He nodded slightly, and several people dressed like bodyguards nearby moved in, ready to physically escort Qian Yan and Gu Lian out.

Gu Lian shivered with terror. If she was thrown out of here alongside this stupid outsider by Miss Su, she’d never be able to make it in Shanghai again!

Outsiders really shouldn’t be brought here.

She genuinely thought that because her family had coal and good connections with some higher-ups, she could do whatever she wanted.

Someone with no vision at all. Just wait until her family suffers a downfall.

Gu Lian quickly tried to salvage the situation to avoid being caught in the blast herself:

“Muzhi, she’s having some sort of episode today. I’m afraid she’ll ruin your mood, so I’ll take her to see a doctor.”

After saying that, she forcefully dragged Qian Yan out, apologizing with a flattering smile all the way.

“How tyrannical…”

A calm female voice sounded beside Su Muzhi. She chuckled:

“Is that so? I think it’s perfectly normal. But to someone who came to the banquet all alone, I suppose it might seem a bit domineering.”

She turned her head to look. Standing quietly beside her was Shen Wanyu, dressed in a ladies’ blazer.

“How cute. Like a child who just got a new toy and can’t wait to show it off.”

Shen Wanyu said flatly.

“Hehe. Some people don’t even have toys at all. How pitiful.”

Su Muzhi covered her mouth and laughed.

Shen Wanyu glanced at her:

“You couldn’t keep an eye on the cat last time. That doesn’t mean you’ll be able to hold onto him this time.”

“Hehe, that’s because I trusted someone too much in the beginning and left the cat there. But now? I don’t believe in that anymore.”

A smile spread across Su Muzhi’s face:

“And that’s not all. Now I’ll make sure the cat scratches your face bloody.”

“A wild cat won’t obey.”

“A cat that’s too obedient isn’t one I’d like anyway.”

“Be careful he scratches your face first.”

“Hehe. If he does, then I’ll just have to lock him up and train him properly.”

…

On the other side.

“Are you insane?! Qian Yan?! I brought you to the Su Family banquet, and you deliberately provoked her?!”

As soon as they walked out of the venue, Gu Lian let go of the hand she was dragging Qian Yan by and demanded loudly with dissatisfaction.

“Provoked her? I thought my question was perfectly normal? Gu Lian, he’s just a man, isn’t he? If that Miss Su wants a better one, I can trade with her using mine.”

Qian Yan said with frustration.

“Do you think everyone’s private life is as messy as yours? This is the first time Su Muzhi has ever brought a male escort to a banquet in all these years! Do you even understand what that means?!”

Gu Lian was at a loss for words. This coal merchant’s daughter—had her brain been completely blackened by smoke? Did she only think with her lower body?

Had her IQ taken a free fall straight into the gutter or what?!

“Oh…”

Qian Yan was stunned for a moment before slowly replying.

She wasn’t from Shanghai, so she didn’t really know Su Muzhi’s personality.

But being pampered since childhood, she wasn’t about to bow her head and admit she was wrong:

“So what? She didn’t explicitly say he was her boyfriend. And even if he is, what’s the big deal if he spends a night with me? Nobody’s losing anything. We’re all just playing around. Why do you have to make such a huge fuss?”

“You Shanghai bitch! Goddamn your mother!”

Gu Lian was so furious she slipped into the local dialect.

She had seen plenty of girls like Qian Yan who were especially fond of playing with men, but they at least stayed within their own circles. Their little act of forcibly snatching men only bullied girls who had no money or power.

But this was Su Muzhi! The Princess of Shanghai! The undisputed Queen of the City!

And you dared to get any ideas about her man?! You don’t even have a Shanghai license plate on your car, you outsider who can’t even drive on the inner ring road!

“I’m done with you. We’re unfriending each other from now on. Don’t contact me. And let’s cut the business between our families too.”

After Gu Lian finished speaking, she turned and walked back into the venue without looking back.

She still had to go apologize to Su Muzhi.

Tch, Muzhi wasn’t easy to talk to. She’d better go find that Jiang Linyuan and whisper some sweet words in his ear for her.

“Stupid Shanghai people! Always looking down their noses at others! Who do you think you are?!”

Qian Yan stared at Gu Lian’s retreating figure, a fire burning in her chest.

She had never suffered such humiliation in her entire life.

Su Muzhi, huh?! Like I’m not a princess myself! Since you care so much about that Jiang Linyuan, I’d like to see what happens when he comes crawling into my arms!

…

Jiang Linyuan had no idea what was going on outside. He was about to starve to death.

It was already past eight o’clock, and he hadn’t eaten a single thing. If they didn’t let him eat soon, he was going to start nibbling on Xiao Su’s arm.

Most of the banquet guests were gathered on the dance floor socializing, so the dining table area was actually the least crowded. He was quite comfortable there.

Walking over to the buffet table, he reached out for a lobster claw in front of him. But in the next instant, his hand touched a tiny, soft, pink little hand.

“Jiang Lick Dog! Jiang Lick Dog! Look at me! Look at me!”

Looking down, he saw a little girl in a white dress rushing toward him excitedly, her face full of enthusiasm.

Oh? My future sister-in-law? How did she get here?

Wait, does that mean the Department Head is here too? Damn it, if she’s here, why didn’t she tell me!

“Guoguo? You’re at this banquet too?”

Jiang Linyuan glanced around her but only saw her alone:

“Where are your mom, dad, and sister?”

Shen Guoguo pouted in dissatisfaction at such a boring response:

“Mom and Dad went to talk business with the adults. Sister Wanyu was chatting with a big sister who looks really bad, and I didn’t want to bother her.”

A big sister who looks bad—that must be Xiao Su.

“Oh, forget it. Jiang Lick Dog, look at my dress! Is it pretty?”

Shen Guoguo lifted her skirt and spun around in a flurry, looking at Jiang Linyuan with hopeful eyes.

Her sparkling eyes screamed “Praise me, praise me!”

“The dress is pretty, but you’re even prettier.”

Jiang Linyuan replied with a smile, then gently pushed her aside because she was blocking his view of the lobster.

“It’s pretty, right! Mom and Dad didn’t even compliment me.”

Shen Guoguo said, her tone dropping a little. But she soon perked up again, glanced at Jiang Linyuan’s outfit, and said a little shyly:

“Jiang Lick Dog… Big Brother is also very handsome.”

“Tell me something I don’t already know.”

Jiang Linyuan muttered offhandedly as he cracked open the lobster claw, dipped it in some sauce, and shoved it into his mouth. Finally, food.

Seeing that he was being just as dismissive with her, Shen Guoguo got a little upset. She stretched out her small hand and snorted:

“I want to eat some too.”

“Eat, eat, eat. That’s all you know how to do. What are you going to do when you turn into a little chubby girl?”

Jiang Linyuan said grumpily, but he still cracked open a lobster claw for her too.

“I’ll just lose the weight if I get fat! You’re so dumb, Jiang Lick Dog.”

Shen Guoguo bit into the lobster claw and mumbled indistinctly.

“Alright, I’m going to go eat something else now. Go find your friends to play with.”

“…I… I want to eat too. I’m hungry.”

Shen Guoguo quickly wiped her hands and grabbed Jiang Linyuan’s sleeve, afraid he would leave her behind.

Jiang Linyuan glanced at her. This girl was probably going to be a problem child when she grew up.

“Fine.”

He nodded, took Shen Guoguo’s hand, and walked over to the buffet table to get some food.

Did all little girls her age act like this? No friends?

Jiang Linyuan thought about it. He remembered that back in middle school, Haji Yao seemed to be the same way.

Always liked to be alone.

“Jiang Lick Dog, after the sports meet ended, did you miss me?”

Shen Guoguo looked up and asked.

“Why would I miss you?”

Jiang Linyuan replied grumpily.

“Oh…”

Shen Guoguo’s mood darkened.

I definitely missed you, though.

“Do you have QQ, Jiang Lick Dog?”

She asked again.

“I do.”

“I want it.”

“Fine.”

As they were talking, Shen Guoguo suddenly remembered something:

“I heard today’s banquet has a dancing session. I don’t even know how to dance.”

Jiang Linyuan said:

“It’s not mandatory for everyone to participate, you know. If you don’t want to, just eat on the sidelines.”

“Or you can leave if it gets boring.”

“Yeah, I thought so too. Jiang Lick Dog and I can eat a big meal together then.”

Shen Guoguo breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this.

“No. I’m going to dance.”

A smile appeared on Jiang Linyuan’s face.

“You… you have a dance partner? And you’re going!”

Shen Guoguo said discontentedly, bumping into him with her body.

“I do.”

He said.

“Can’t you just not go?”

Shen Guoguo asked.

“Hehe…”

A smile spread across Jiang Linyuan’s face:

“She’s my first dance partner. I can’t stand her up.”

The boy’s jet-black pupils sparkled brilliantly under the lights, like dazzling amber jewels under a spotlight, glimmering and twinkling, making it impossible for girls to look away.