After Being Betrayed I Married the Glamorous CEO-Chapter 289 - 287: You’re so bad, but I like it so much!
The Li family, after all, had its roots in Hangcheng City. While not a prestigious noble clan or a family of great wealth, they were better off than some and worse off than others.
For families of their third-rate status, who didn't have to watch the Han family's mood to get by? Did they really think Han Long, the local hegemon, was just a title for show?
Shen Fanyun had caused a massive stir with the Han family. With the Li family's connections, they must have already heard something. They're probably sighing about another fool courting death by opposing Han Long.
Even if the Li family had always maintained a principle of non-interference with Han Long's faction, it was only because they were too insignificant for Han Long to bother with. Why would he, unless he was completely bored, pay any mind to such small fry?
However, times had changed. If Han Long were to find out that a descendant of the Li family was involved with Shen Fanyun, he wouldn't even need to say a word. The Li family would know exactly how to handle it themselves.
"Hmph, Li Ruoshui, just you wait. You're in for it now," Liu Bing seethed through gritted teeth, her face a mask of resentment and bitterness. Shen Fanyun is too dangerous to provoke. But taking down Li Ruoshui? That'll be a piece of cake.
"Please, do us all a favor and stop trying to cause trouble," Hong Tao whispered. "Let's be blunt, you come from a working-class family with average parents. This is clearly a battle between titans, so I really don't understand why you're so intent on meddling."
Hong Tao had finally seen the light. If you don't have the status, don't force your way in. Whether it was Han Long or Shen Fanyun, neither was someone he could afford to provoke.
The words of the powerless carry little weight. That wasn't just a saying. A tiny ant shouldn't try to elevate its status and fight with these behemoths. Wouldn't it be better to just watch from the sidelines? Since that was the case, why not just lie low instead of stirring up trouble like a madman?
From the sound of it, Liu Bing was still thoroughly unconvinced. She wanted to make an example of Li Ruoshui first.
This… Li Ruoshui comes from a prominent family. They might not be at the very top, but compared to Liu Bing, she's on another level entirely. How can Liu Bing be so confident she can handle Li Ruoshui so easily?
Recalling how Liu Bing had casually ordered Li Ruoshui around, expecting her to follow every instruction, Hong Tao suddenly felt that the woman before him had a ridiculously inflated sense of self-worth. Some nobody from a working-class family expects a descendant of a great house to be at her beck and call? And now she's even vowing to make Li Ruoshui pay the price.
"Liu Bing, do whatever you want, but leave me out of it. I'm tapping out," Hong Tao said decisively.
"Tch, coward," Liu Bing sneered.
"Me, a coward? I'd call it being smart enough to know when to quit," Hong Tao shot back, not giving her any face. "Unlike you, with your inexplicable confidence. You're a nobody from an ordinary family who acts like everyone should be afraid of you."
"Why should anyone be afraid of you? Who do you think you are? Do you even make five thousand a month? Damn!"
Liu Bing was speechless.
The phrases "nobody from an ordinary family" and "salary of less than five thousand a month" struck a raw nerve. It was a blatant, humiliating insult, but it was also the undeniable truth. Liu Bing refused to accept this reality, and the words made her feel deeply ashamed and incredibly wronged.
"Hong Tao, what are you trying to say?" Liu Bing's face went cold as she glared at him.
Hong Tao crossed his arms. "You're trash, yet you go around ordering this person and commanding that person. If you really had that kind of influence, you wouldn't have been beaten like a dog today. Hasn't Shen Fanyun knocked some sense into you yet? Where do you get the confidence to be so arrogant? From that mouth of yours? Surprised it hasn't been slapped right off your face today?"
Hong Tao's tirade left Liu Bing trembling with rage. Before she could respond, he waved a dismissive hand. "I can't be bothered with a moron like you. You're on your own."
With that, Hong Tao flagged down a taxi at the intersection and vanished, leaving Liu Bing frozen on the spot, unable to process what had just happened for a long, long time.
「Elsewhere.」
Shen Fanyun was reveling in their intimacy. He had to admit, Ruoshui was becoming more sophisticated and understanding. She was even beginning to show signs of becoming the next Lin Meiqing.
Sunlight spilled across her tender, beautiful body, creating a living masterpiece. The view was a breathtaking landscape of rolling hills and valleys.
He let out a contented sigh, propping his hands behind his head as he gazed at the beauty before him, his mood light and carefree. The women of this world truly are captivating, each in their own way.
"Does that feel good?" Li Ruoshui suddenly leaned in close, her voice a coquettish whisper.
Shen Fanyun wrapped an arm around her silky black hair, smiling without a word.
Just then, a phone call came in without warning. The moment Li Ruoshui answered, her body swayed and she tumbled sideways off Shen Fanyun's stomach.
Li Ruoshui shot him a look. "You… be serious!"
"Yeah, Shao Yang… I-I'm at school. What's up? Is something wrong?" she said into the phone, glaring at Shen Fanyun. Her speech was hesitant and broken, interrupted several times. "I'm… I'm not doing anything. Oh, I just walked back to the dorm from outside, so I'm a little hot. That's why… why I'm a bit out of breath."
Li Ruoshui was about to lose her mind. This man just loves to stir up trouble! I'm trying to handle something important, and here he is, messing around. If the person on the other end notices something is off and figures it out, how could I ever face anyone again?!
Shao Yang was the young master of the Shao family, whose status was comparable to the Li family's. He had been studying abroad for years, and though they hadn't seen much of each other, he had been stubbornly infatuated with Li Ruoshui the entire time. Now that he was suddenly back, she was the first person he contacted. Over the years, he had intermittently sent numerous gifts to her school. Li Ruoshui had repeatedly refused them, but Shao Yang persisted, always fantasizing that he would one day win her heart.
Li Ruoshui sighed. If a man can't take a hint and learn to back off, his blind persistence isn't a point in his favor. When it happens so often, it just becomes annoying. If our families weren't such old friends, I would have started ignoring Shao Yang long ago.
"No, don't bother coming. I'm busy today," she said. "What? You're already at the school? You're coming to the dorm entrance right now?"
Startled by the news, Li Ruoshui rushed to end the call. "I-I'm really hot, so I'm hanging up now." She quickly hung up and immediately bit Shen Fanyun. "What are you doing? You almost got me caught!"
"Who was that?" Shen Fanyun asked curiously.
"A childhood friend," Li Ruoshui replied with a sigh, tracing circles on his chest with her finger. "Ah, I forgot he was coming over! Quick, get up and get dressed! Stop dawdling and get up!"
Shen Fanyun felt a pang of frustration. This so-called childhood friend, popping up out of nowhere, is a real mood killer.
