Chapter 10: Jealousy and Rivalry

At that moment, Jiang Rou unwillingly glanced around once more, and her gaze suddenly fell upon the jade table where Ji Qingchen was seated. Upon seeing Ji Qingchen's warm smile, she suddenly felt a faint sense of warmth.

The three henchmen beside him, seeing their companion incapacitated, had already taken a step back in fear.

She saw the young nobleman on the opposite jade table, with his hair tied back and draped over his shoulders, dressed in white. He stood tall and handsome, with distinct features and a faint smile at the corners of his mouth, warm as spring. Jiang Rou did not know what was happening; at that moment, she felt as if she were a child who had strayed from home, having found her family, and a wave of warmth surged through her body.

Ji Qingchen remained unmoved in front of the jade table, slowly savoring the fine wine in his cup. However, Guo Lun, seated opposite him, had already leaped from his seat. In just two breaths, as three henchmen rushed to the jade table, he swiftly subdued the three assailants with remarkable efficiency. He then stepped forward and captured the middle-aged man, who had long been ready to flee, forcefully throwing him down in front of Ji Qingchen.

The three henchmen beside the middle-aged young master had already become somewhat timid due to the incapacitation of their companion. However, upon hearing their master's command, they could not refuse and could only shout as they charged towards Ji Qingchen and Guo Lun

"Is this the law of the land?" Ji Qingchen cast a disdainful glance at the middle-aged gentleman and coldly replied, "A scoundrel like you, who bullies the weak and oppresses the vulnerable, dares to speak of the law? You should immediately apologize to this young lady who is singing, and then get lost as far as you can. I can overlook your behavior today if you do so. However, if you still fail to recognize the situation and continue to disturb my enjoyment of wine and music, regardless of which family you come from, do not blame me for being ruthless."

Ji Qingchen nodded slightly, allowing him to sit down and continue drinking

The middle-aged young master did not expect this outcome. Usually, when he bullies others, it is his subordinates who beat the opponent half to death. He never imagined that today he would be subdued in just one move, and even have one of his hands rendered useless. He was frightened by the bloody and ruthless scene, and his voice trembled slightly as he said, "Who are you? How dare you commit violence in Ningzhou City? Do you not fear the law at all?"

"Damn it, have you eaten the heart of a lion? Our young master is speaking to you, are you deaf or mute!" The burly man cursed loudly, taking two steps forward to grab Ji Qingchen's collar. However, just as his hand reached within a foot of Ji Qingchen's chest, Guo Lun, standing nearby, swiftly moved and seized the man's wrist. With a strong pull, a sharp crack was heard as the man's arm was broken. The man let out a terrible scream, staggered, and fell in front of the jade table. After another piercing scream, the man's broken hand was nailed deeply to the jade table with a chopstick.

No! Guo Lun received the order and slowly walked step by step towards the middle-aged gentleman lying not far away, when suddenly a piercing scream echoed throughout the hall

Ah— the middle-aged young master was thrown in front of the jade table by Guo Lun, letting out a cry of agony. After a moment, he managed to suppress the pain and slightly raised his head, just in time to meet Ji Qingchen's gaze fixed upon him. Seeing the murderous intent hidden within Ji Qingchen's faint smile, his heart trembled. Recalling Ji Qingchen's earlier words, his body stiffened slightly, and he stammered, "Y-you, who are you? You can't kill me, I am..." However, before he could finish his sentence, there was a loud "bang—" as Ji Qingchen kicked him hard on the mouth, sending him sprawling to the side. She then said to Guo Lun, "Teach him a lesson, then throw him down the stairs."

Ji Qingchen felt somewhat perplexed about the kind of person who could cause such unease among the diners on the second floor with just a single remark, instilling such fear in the singing girl. As he pondered this, he noticed a middle-aged gentleman, around thirty years of age, with a fair complexion but a face as dark as ink, appearing on the second floor. Upon ascending, the gentleman's gaze was fixed on Jiang Rou, and it was evident without guessing that the earlier lewd comment must have originated from him. Behind this middle-aged gentleman stood four robust subordinates, glaring fiercely at the diners on the second floor.

Ji Qingchen paid no attention to the words of the middle-aged young man, drinking wine to her heart's content, while the person opposite her, Guo Lun, had already crouched down, ready to strike at any moment

The diners on the second floor heard this voice, and their expressions, which had just been immersed in the beautiful music, suddenly became somewhat stiff, as if they were quite afraid of the person who had just spoken. The young girl Jiang Rou on the central stage also turned a bit pale, and her eyes revealed a deep sense of fear.

The middle-aged young master comes from a distinguished family and is a dominant figure in Ningzhou City. Wherever he goes, people will respectfully address him as Young Master Liu and offer him the best of everything. Now, seeing Ji Qingchen's disregard for him, he is instantly filled with rage, for he has never been treated in such a manner. His subordinates, sharing his disposition, are all bullies who oppress others. Upon witnessing their master's humiliation, before the middle-aged young master could give an order, one of the tall, rugged-looking men had already stepped forward, ready to teach Ji Qingchen a lesson. His subordinates, sharing his disposition, are all bullies who oppress others. Upon witnessing their master's humiliation, before the middle-aged young master could give an order, one of the tall, rugged-looking men had already stepped forward, ready to teach Ji Qingchen a lesson.

At this moment, the diners in the private room on the second floor finally regained their senses. Upon seeing Young Master Liu being carried out like a dog, howling in despair, they were so frightened that their souls seemed to leave their bodies, and any thought of continuing their meal vanished. The sight of Ji Qingchen made them scatter like birds and beasts, as if they had encountered a plague.

After a moment, seeing that Ji Qingchen did not speak, she bowed slightly and said, "I hope that the young master can grant this request"

"Miss Jiang Rou, please continue. I assure you, I will not disturb your singing. After you finish, we can go to my residence and indulge in a drink at our leisure," the middle-aged gentleman said casually. However, his lascivious gaze and frivolous words made Ji Qingchen, who was standing nearby, feel quite disgusted

On the stage, Jiang Rou had never anticipated such an outcome from the beginning to the end. However, after a moment of hesitation, she stepped down from the stage and approached Ji Qingchen, bowing respectfully and saying, "Thank you very much for your assistance just now, Young Master. Jiang Rou is deeply grateful. However, Jiang Rou is all alone and has no one to rely on. Today, having offended Young Master Liu, I fear I have lost my place to stay. If you do not mind, I would be willing to serve by your side in the future to repay your kindness for saving me today."

After a moment, once the calls had ceased, Guo Lun finally approached Ji Qingchen to report back.

The middle-aged gentleman who had just ascended to the second floor had not taken his eyes off Jiang Rou since they first landed on her. Now, seeing Jiang Rou lost in thought as she gazed at Ji Qingchen by the window, her eyes filled with endless tenderness, his previously proud smile suddenly froze. Ever since Jiang Rou began singing at Tian Zui Ju, he had been coming here to listen for countless days. Each time she finished a song, he would generously shower her with silver coins in support, yet he had never received even a single smile from her. How could this frail-looking, pale-faced, impoverished scholar in front of him win Jiang Rou's heart? As the middle-aged gentleman pondered this, his already ashen face turned even colder, and he strode purposefully towards Ji Qingchen.

Suddenly, the elegant room on the second floor became empty; apart from Jiang Rou on the central stage, only Ji Qingchen, Guo Lun, and a scholar at the jade table not far from them remained

On the central stage, Jiang Rou dared not meet the gaze of the middle-aged gentleman, her eyes revealing a pleading expression. She cautiously scanned the surroundings of the hall, hoping to find someone who could speak a word for her at this moment. However, the diners on the second floor had long been intimidated by the middle-aged gentleman's power, and no one dared to step forward to help her. Everyone kept their heads down, drinking their wine with troubled hearts, fearing that a careless move might bring misfortune upon themselves. Thus, witnessing the indifference of the diners on the second floor, Jiang Rou's gaze turned somewhat mournful, her brows displaying a sense of despair.

Ji Qingchen's tone was very flat when he spoke, but when these words slowly came out of his mouth, it felt as if they carried a weight of a thousand pounds, instantly transforming the atmosphere in the hall into one of great seriousness

The middle-aged young master was already extremely furious, and upon hearing Ji Qingchen's angry reprimand, his face turned a shade of green and then pale. Thinking of Miss Jiang Rou not far away, who was likely observing his disgraceful state, he felt both anger and shame. He roared, "What are you all standing there for? Why don't you go up and take care of them!"

"This young man has taken a liking to your spot and would like to ask you to move elsewhere to drink," said the middle-aged gentleman, standing in front of Ji Qingchen and speaking in a commanding tone.

Suddenly, in the span of a single breath, the fierce and menacing man who had just moments ago been a terror now lay before the jade table, howling like a dog. This left the diners in the hall trembling in shock; they had not anticipated that this refined and elegant young nobleman at the jade table could be such a ruthless character, daring to strike hard against Young Master Liu's guards. Their eyes were filled with fear, and they lowered their heads, not daring to look in Ji Qingchen's direction.