All the people waiting here were influential figures from Sui City, and they had all come to participate in the auction.

Originally, when they saw Bai Qian'er showing interest in Xu Ke, they grew wary.

Xu Ke must possess some extraordinary traits to make the heart of a prodigy like Bai Qian'er flutter. Besides, if Xu Ke got together with Bai Qian'er, wouldn't he gain access to the Bai Family's power and wealth? A new major player might soon rise in Sui City.

Therefore, they had been observing Xu Ke nervously, planning to report back to their families.

But now, after hearing Xie Jinhua expose Xu Ke's "true colors," they all looked at him with scorn and disdain. So he was just Wong Qifu's kept man! A person like that could never become a major figure. The man with the buzz cut curled his lip in contempt.

Noticing the shift in the crowd's gazes, Xie Jinhua looked at Xu Ke and mocked, "You piece of trash who relies on women, aren't you going to leave yet? If I were you, I'd be so ashamed I would have already run home!"

He knew that he now had the situation firmly under his control.

Xu Ke was speechless. Seeing Xie Jinhua's smug demeanor, he had a good idea of what kind of person this guy was. At this point, he decided to just leave without offering any explanation. Neither Xie Jinhua nor anyone else needed one from him. Besides, Xu Ke would honestly rather all his enemies think he was a kept man. It would buy him more time to grow stronger!

It wasn't that Xu Ke was a masochist; rather, he was a firm believer in "once bitten, twice shy." The Ye Family, the Huang Family, and the Qin Family—they had all called him a waste and a kept man to his face, yet behind his back, they had hired six Innate Great Perfection masters to assassinate him. These people from the great families were no fools; anyone who lasted long in their world was a treacherous schemer.

That was why the palpable wariness he had just sensed from the crowd made him so uneasy.

I'm going to be targeted again...

Now that everyone believed Xie Jinhua, Xu Ke breathed a sigh of relief. He really didn't want to receive the "first-class treatment" of being ambushed by six Innate Great Perfection masters again. He looked at Tang Yingchang. "Elder Tang, let's go."

"Yes!" Tang Yingchang nodded.

Xie Jinhua grew even more triumphant. The sight of Xu Ke turning to leave after just a few taunts clearly showed he was flustered, further solidifying his reputation as a kept man.

Surely Bai Qian'er will see Xu Ke's true colors now, right?

But at that very moment, Bai Qian'er burst out angrily, "Xie Jinhua, why are you slandering him?"

Xu Ke's footsteps faltered, his expression changing.

The disdain on the buzz-cut man's face froze. The scornful looks from the surrounding crowd vanished. And Xie Jinhua was the most embarrassed and incredulous of them all.

Bai Qian'er is defending Xu Ke?!

He looked at Bai Qian'er and said defiantly, "Qian'er, I'm not! It's all true."

"A waste who relies on women?" Bai Qian'er sneered coldly. "Could a waste instantly kill Qian Jun, the formidable general under the Southern Territory's War God, twice? Could a waste withstand the pressure from Madame Yu's eight elite guards? If he's a waste, then what are you?"

At this, Xie Jinhua's face turned deathly pale, his eyes filling with deep humiliation and despair. Bai Qian'er had just mercilessly humiliated him for Xu Ke.

The man with the buzz cut was even more astonished, watching Bai Qian'er's righteous indignation on Xu Ke's behalf.

Could it be that Bai Qian'er actually has feelings for Xu Ke?

It wasn't just those two who were in disbelief; Xu Ke's eyes were wide open as well. He felt an unprecedented urge to curse his luck.

What in the world is Bai Qian'er's deal? It was one thing for her to excitedly shake my hand the moment she saw me, but now she's revealed that she knows everything about my exploits in Tianhai, and she's blabbed it all to everyone. Does she think I'm not conspicuous enough in Sui City and wants to help me make a name for myself? She's trying to make me a target for every family in Sui City!

Sure enough, just as Xu Ke had anticipated, the moment Bai Qian'er finished speaking, the previously scornful gazes from the crowd shifted strangely. Some even breathed a secret sigh of relief. Thank goodness they hadn't believed Xie Jinhua. Instantly killing Qian Jun twice and withstanding the pressure of Madame Yu's guards... for someone as outrageously young as Xu Ke, these feats were simply terrifying!

Some had already taken out their phones and were secretly reporting back to their families. Others were brazenly taking photos of him, clearly gathering intelligence. It was obvious that Xu Ke was now their top person of interest.

Seeing this, Xu Ke silently wondered, Is this woman really not my enemy?

While Xu Ke was stunned speechless, Bai Qian'er suddenly looked at him, her cheeks blushing slightly as she explained awkwardly, "I'll be frank with you, I don't like you. But I've always had a strong sense of justice and can't stand to see people being bullied. Your skills are impressive, and I couldn't just stand by and watch Xie Jinhua ruin your reputation."

Xu Ke was rendered speechless. At that moment, he felt an urge to burst into tears.

So I've misunderstood her all this time? I was supposed to be grateful for this?

After a long pause, Xu Ke weakly forced out, "Thank... you."

"Don't mention it," Bai Qian'er said with a magnanimous wave of her hand.

Just then, Xie Jinhua, who had been silent, suddenly snapped. "Xu Ke, impossible! There's no way you're that skilled. You must have used some trick to deceive Qian'er! Fight me one-on-one! I'll prove to Qian'er that you're just a good-for-nothing!"

Xie Jinhua couldn't accept being so thoroughly humiliated by the goddess of his dreams in public. The memory of her words—"If he's a waste, then what are you?"—was far too hurtful and insulting. For a spoiled and prideful heir like him, it was utterly unacceptable. As he spoke, he lunged at Xu Ke with incredible speed.

No one had expected Xie Jinhua to resort to a physical attack. But a moment later, the onlookers' expressions turned to schadenfreude. They thought it was a brilliant move. If Xie Jinhua won, he would prove Xu Ke was a poser and regain his dignity. And if he lost? So what? Would Xu Ke dare to actually hit Xie Jinhua? Would he dare to offend the Xie Family, which controlled half of Sui City? None of them would dare, so why would Xu Ke? Impossible! 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

BANG!

"AHHHH!"

With a miserable scream, Xie Jinhua was kicked away, flying back even faster than he'd charged in.

CRASH!

The room's floor-to-ceiling window shattered into a million pieces. Xie Jinhua crashed into the flowerbed outside, landing face-first in the mud and getting a mouthful of watery slush for his trouble.

The gloating looks on the onlookers' faces froze instantly.

Even Bai Qian'er and the buzz-cut man, standing right beside Xu Ke, were aghast. They stared in disbelief at Xu Ke, who slowly lowered his leg, his expression dark.

This... Xu Ke had actually hit him? He had hit the eldest grandson of the Xie Family! Was he trying to get himself killed?

At that moment, the entire venue fell into a deathly silence.