Chapter 135: How Could a Man Allow Himself to Be Insulted by a Woman

In the inner hall, Xia Shihan, Dong Jing, and several other beautiful women smiled when they saw who had arrived.

The woman who entered showed a flicker of surprise when she saw Zhang Xiaofan. Her expression then returned to normal, as though she did not know him at all.

Instead, she turned to Dong Jing and asked, “Jing’er, is this your boyfriend?”

“Shanshan, you’ve got it wrong. This handsome young man isn’t my boyfriend. He’s Shihan’s friend.” Dong Jing explained.

“Heh, you two look pretty close,” Xiang Shanshan said with a smile.

“Shanshan, what took you so long?” Xia Shihan walked over.

“There was a traffic jam, so I’m a little late. Su Xue hasn’t arrived yet either, has she?” Xiang Shanshan replied.

As she spoke, Xiang Shanshan glanced at Zhang Xiaofan, seemingly intentionally or otherwise. Three years had passed, yet he was still exactly the same—careless and dissolute.

Her decision back then had truly been the right one. How could a good-for-nothing like him ever become her man? Now, she did not even want to mention Zhang Xiaofan’s past, because she felt that bringing it up would only embarrass her.

And judging by the cheap, commonplace clothes he wore, he clearly had accomplished nothing.

She was the eldest daughter of the Xiang family. How could a nobody like him possibly be worthy of her? Three years ago, she had simply been too young, allowing herself to be swayed by his minor medical skills and good looks.

Fortunately, she had come to her senses in time. Only an outstanding young man like Qin Tianyu, who possessed both ability and family backing, was worthy of her.

Xiang Shanshan pretended not to recognize him, and Zhang Xiaofan naturally saw through it. He had no interest in speaking with her either. Now that he had seen this woman again, his heart stirred only slightly. After all, she had once been the woman he loved.

But that was all in the past. He had completely let go.

She was only a woman. How could a dignified man ruin himself over one?

“Come on, sit down and chat.” Xia Shihan immediately invited Xiang Shanshan and the woman who had come with her to take their seats.

Zhang Xiaofan naturally walked toward a nearby sofa. After Xiang Shanshan’s arrival, he had lost all interest in flirting with anyone.

“Get lost, country bumpkin.”

Just as Zhang Xiaofan was about to sit down, a harsh voice rang out. He turned coldly toward the speaker. It was the woman who had arrived with Xiang Shanshan.

She wore expensive clothes and jewelry, and at a glance seemed to be the daughter of a wealthy family. Her looks were passable too—after all, a woman’s appearance was said to depend thirty percent on her features and seventy percent on how she dressed.

But her manners were truly appalling. Did she look down on everyone poorer than herself?

Zhang Xiaofan was furious, but because the other person was a woman, he forcibly suppressed his anger.

Even so, he sat down without giving her another glance.

“Can’t you hear me? Honestly, any stray cat or dog can attend this gathering nowadays.” The woman immediately grew angry. This was the seat she had wanted, and seeing Zhang Xiaofan in loose shorts and flip-flops, she naturally assumed he was just an ordinary nobody.

Xia Shihan was the eldest daughter of the powerful Xia family. Xiang Shanshan was likewise the eldest daughter of the powerful Xiang family. As for Dong Jing, she was the eldest daughter of the Dong family in the southern district.

Although the woman’s status could not compare with theirs, she still held a certain position in the capital.

Xiang Shanshan watched everything unfold without saying a word. Instead, she secretly sneered. The more humiliated Zhang Xiaofan became, the happier she seemed to feel.

Those words instantly ignited Zhang Xiaofan’s anger. Xia Shihan and Tang Fei’s expressions also changed.

Tang Fei was just about to speak when Xia Shihan beat him to it.

“Wu Li, Zhang Xiaofan is my guest. Watch your tongue.”

“Miss Xia, I’m only saying this because I care. With your noble status, how could you invite a country bumpkin like him? He’s practically defiling this gathering.” Wu Li spoke in a mocking, sarcastic tone.

“Damn you! Who do you think you are, speaking about my master like that? Get out right now!” Tang Fei could no longer hold himself back. This woman was simply too vile.

Hearing the words of the Tang family’s young master, Wu Li’s expression immediately changed. Tang Fei was the eldest son of the Tang family, someone she absolutely could not afford to offend.

But wait—what had he just said? This country bumpkin was actually his master?

Wu Li wondered if she had misheard.

“Master Tang, are you sick? Did you misspeak?” she asked instinctively.

Those words sent Tang Fei’s anger blazing. He strode forward and slapped her hard across the face, shouting, “My master doesn’t bother with you because he doesn’t want to waste his breath on an ugly woman like you. But I’m not him. No woman in the capital has ever dared speak to me like that. Get out now, or I’ll make sure the Wu family goes bankrupt tomorrow!”

Without a doubt, Tang Fei had the power to do exactly that.

The capital was divided into eastern, southern, western, northern, and central districts, each controlled by corresponding great families. Above them stood the capital’s top-tier families. As for the Wu family, it could only be considered a dependent family under those greater clans.

Of course, the Wu family was somewhat unusual in that it depended on the top-tier Xiang family.

But if Tang Fei truly wished it, he could still force the Wu family into bankruptcy.

Wu Li’s face instantly turned ugly.

Women like her were often ruined by their own sharp tongues. If her father learned that a single sentence from her had plunged the Wu family into an irreparable crisis, would he beat her to death?

“Mr. Tang, Wu Li did say something inappropriate, but there’s no need to go this far, is there?” Xiang Shanshan finally spoke. As a member of another top-tier family, she was not afraid of Tang Fei.

Wu Li had come with her. Seeing her slapped, scolded, and humiliated by Tang Fei also made Xiang Shanshan feel that her own dignity had been slighted.

“So what if I do?” Tang Fei’s temper flared as well. “What does it have to do with you if I teach this wretched woman a lesson? If you want to start something, say so directly. I, Tang Fei, will take you on. But I wonder whether the Xiang family will support you.”

“You…” Xiang Shanshan’s face flushed with anger.

It was true. As a woman, she did not have as much support from her family as Tang Fei did.

After all, Tang Fei was the sole heir to the Tang family. She, on the other hand, was ultimately a woman who would marry into another family sooner or later. In families of their stature, women like them could only end up as sacrifices for the clan.

“All right, disciple. There’s no need to lose your temper with a woman.” Zhang Xiaofan spoke calmly, then rose to his feet. With a cold smile, he added, “But a man can never allow himself to be insulted by a woman…”

Smack!

Zhang Xiaofan suddenly slapped Wu Li across the face. The blow rang through the inner hall, leaving everyone stunned.

Tang Fei immediately burst out laughing. Damn, his master really knew how to make an entrance. That performance deserved full marks.

Xia Shihan was stunned for a moment, but she was not surprised. Zhang Xiaofan had even dared to strike the eldest son of the Feng family, so why would he hesitate over a woman from a third-rate family?

Wu Li had brought this upon herself. Even Xia Shihan felt she deserved the slap.

“You… How dare you hit me!” Wu Li was afraid of Tang Fei, but that did not mean she feared Zhang Xiaofan. This country bumpkin had actually dared to strike her.

Smack!

Before she could react, Zhang Xiaofan slapped her again.

He had not wanted to quarrel with a woman, but this woman’s mouth was simply too filthy. Did she really think he was someone she could insult at will?

“You…” Wu Li clutched her face and glared at Zhang Xiaofan, but she no longer dared to speak disrespectfully.

“Why aren’t you cursing anymore?” Zhang Xiaofan asked coldly. “To be honest, you’re nothing more than a clown in front of me. I truly have no desire to waste words on you. Even hitting you makes my hand feel dirty.”

Impressive!

Tang Fei gave him a thumbs-up. His master was his master. Even his insults sounded elegant and powerful.

Dong Jing did not think any less of Zhang Xiaofan for hitting Wu Li. If anything, she felt that he was even more manly, brimming with masculine spirit.

If a man could not even stand up to a woman, how could he be considered a man? At least, that was what Dong Jing believed.

“Xiaofan, let it go. She has already paid the price for what she said.” Xia Shihan stepped forward to mediate.

“As long as she keeps her mouth clean, I have no interest in bothering with her,” Zhang Xiaofan said indifferently.

“Are you deliberately trying to show off in front of me? Is this what you’ve become after three years?” Xiang Shanshan said.

Perhaps she could accept Tang Fei hitting Wu Li, but seeing Zhang Xiaofan strike her made her feel that he had done it deliberately, simply to embarrass her.

By now, Xiang Shanshan was no longer capable of thinking calmly. How could this pitiful man she had once despised possibly have the right to swagger in front of her?