Chapter 33: Face-Slapping and Counter Face-Slapping

Chen Siran, the little princess of the Chen family, was celebrating her nineteenth birthday at the Liuli Club. 

Jiang Feng knew the event would draw a crowd and that his past actions would make him unwelcome to some.  

He didn’t care. He was there to show face for Chen Siran, to whom he felt some fondness. His plan was simple: give her a birthday gift and leave. Others’ opinions of him? Irrelevant.  

But while he didn’t care, others fixated on him.  

Bai Pojun, holding a glass of red wine, approached.  

“Jiang Feng, who let you in?” Bai Pojun accused loudly, ensuring everyone heard, aiming to humiliate him.  

Jiang Feng barely glanced at him. “What’s it to you?”  

Bai Pojun sneered. “It’s my business. Tonight is Miss Chen Siran’s birthday banquet. I won’t let some random guy ruin the mood.”  

His words sparked murmurs among the guests. Jiang Feng caught every whisper, already expecting the cold reception but surprised by just how low his popularity was.  

With a faint smile, he said, “It’s Miss Chen Siran’s birthday. I also don’t want some random person ruining the mood. So shut it.”  

Bai Pojun had implied Jiang Feng was the outsider, but Jiang Feng turned it back on him. 

Furious inside, Bai Pojun kept his composure. “If you’re so self-aware, get out before I call security to drag you out.”  

Even with his good temperament, Jiang Feng’s patience wore thin. “Bai Pojun, others might fear you as the Bai family’s young master, but I don’t. Keep pushing, and I won’t hold back.”  

Bai Pojun pointed, about to retort, but it was the same hand Jiang Feng had broken before, still wrapped in gauze. He quickly pulled it back, forcing a laugh. “Hold back? I’d love to see how you don’t hold back. Crashing without an invite and now threatening me? You’ve got some guts. Security! Get him out!”  

No security came, but Jiang Hao did. 

Fresh through the door, he overheard Bai Pojun and spotted Jiang Feng. Knowing they were clashing, Jiang Hao, still stinging from an earlier silent humiliation by Jiang Feng, saw an opportunity to settle the score. His heart gleamed with delight.  

Bai Pojun wasn’t like Li Yuanjue, a spoiled heir coasting on family legacy. Equally arrogant, he had real combat skills from his time in the military, leaving many to suffer at his hands.  

To Jiang Hao, Jiang Feng had crossed Bai Pojun and was in for a rough time—maybe not dead, but close. He could already picture Jiang Feng refusing to leave, getting thrashed by Bai Pojun, and looking pathetic. The thought thrilled him.  

Jiang Feng knew Bai Pojun had lost to him once and wouldn’t dare act directly. Calling security was a clever move.  

Smirking, he said, “Bai Pojun, that’s all the courage you’ve got? Why not throw me out yourself? What, too scared?”  

Bai Pojun wanted to slap Jiang Feng’s face publicly? Jiang Feng would see whose face got slapped.  

As expected, Bai Pojun’s expression shifted, his bravado faltering. “Jiang Feng, who do you think you are? Don’t push me. I’m being nice now, but if I stop, don’t blame me for not giving you face.”  

Jiang Feng chuckled. “Please, don’t give me face. I’m best at ignoring it. If you’ve got the guts, kick me out already.”  

“You—” Bai Pojun choked, furious.  

Normally, he’d have slapped Jiang Feng by now, but he didn’t dare. Sure, he’d trained in the military, but at the Flower Field Club yesterday, Jiang Feng had snapped his finger before he could react. They hadn’t truly fought, but Bai Pojun was already wary.  

Beating Jiang Feng would be great, but if he lost—publicly—he’d end up like Li Yuanjue, hiding in shame.  

“Too scared? Then get lost and stop embarrassing yourself,” Jiang Feng snapped, his voice sharp.  

Bai Pojun’s face darkened. Under Jiang Feng’s shout, he stumbled back two steps, his expression stormy, unable to muster a comeback.  

“Whoa—”  

The room erupted. No one expected this outcome.  

When Bai Pojun had taunted Jiang Feng, everyone anticipated Jiang Feng’s humiliation. Some pitied him but stayed silent, cowed by Bai Pojun’s dominance.  

Yet Jiang Feng outdid Bai Pojun in boldness, ordering him to leave. 

And Bai Pojun, instead of fighting back, retreated in fear.  

It was shocking! 

The crowd stood stunned, partly intimidated by Jiang Feng’s presence, partly baffled by Bai Pojun, the king of arrogance, eating dirt.  

Ye Qingxuan had worried Jiang Feng would lose face. Though she didn’t like him, she hadn’t wanted this. She never imagined this result.  

Jiang Hao’s jaw dropped, big enough to fit an egg. Was this really Jiang Feng speaking?  

He recalled the day at Huatian Racecourse when Jiang Feng fell from his horse. After his discharge, during the family’s interrogation, Jiang Feng had carried himself similarly. Jiang Hao realized Jiang Feng had changed—no longer the pushover he could mold at will. Even Bai Pojun couldn’t touch him.  

How had things turned out like this?  

But Jiang Hao quickly rallied. This couldn’t end here. If Jiang Feng’s momentum grew, where would that leave him in the Jiang family?  

Smiling broadly, he approached. “Jiang Feng, Young Master Bai was just giving you advice. No need to get mad. Apologize to him, and we’ll call it even.”  

Jiang Feng had noticed Jiang Hao earlier, knowing he was still sore from losing face outside. But Jiang Hao’s tone and attitude caught him off guard.  

“Jiang Hao, you talking to me?” Jiang Feng asked, displeased.  

Jiang Hao’s smile didn’t waver. “Of course. Young Master Bai’s generous, he won’t hold it against you. Just apologize, and I’m sure he’ll forgive you.”  

“Oh?” Jiang Feng snorted.  

“Absolutely. Right, Young Master Bai?” Jiang Hao turned to Bai Pojun.  

Bai Pojun, clueless about Jiang Hao’s game, slapped him across the face. “Get lost, don’t annoy me.”  

“What…” Jiang Hao froze, stunned. He’d meant to stoke the fire between Bai Pojun and Jiang Feng. Why had Bai Pojun hit him? Was Jiang Feng that terrifying?  

Soon, rage consumed him. “Young Master Bai, what’s that supposed to mean?”  

“Scram!” Bai Pojun barked, turning away.  

The farce ended. Jiang Hao, far from gaining ground, got slapped. 

As the crowd watched him and Jiang Feng, they smirked at his misfortune.  

Jiang Hao seethed but was powerless. He couldn’t touch Jiang Feng or Bai Pojun. Humiliated, he slunk to a corner and sat down.  

Jiang Feng didn’t dwell on it. He grabbed a drink, found a seat, and waited for Chen Siran.  

Ye Qingxuan’s attention stayed on Jiang Feng. His performance had stunned her. 

Xu Minmin, never one to hide her thoughts, grinned. “Qingxuan, wasn’t that a great show?”  

Ye Qingxuan gave a wry smile. “What, you got a grudge against Jiang Feng?”  

Xu Minmin shook her head. “Nope, not me. If anyone’s got a grudge, it’s you. But it’s weird—he used to chase you like crazy, yet tonight he’s acting like you’re invisible, not even a hello. Think he’s after Siran now?”  

Ye Qingxuan didn’t think so. Jiang Feng was odd, but he wasn’t here to cause trouble. “Don’t overthink it. Things are messy enough.”  

“Let it be messy! It’s free entertainment. And that Jiang Hao—what a creep. Jiang Feng’s family, yet he doesn’t back him up, even tries to make him bow to Bai Pojun. Does he even have a brain?” Xu Minmin said with disdain.  

Ye Qingxuan smiled faintly, saying nothing. Jiang Hao wasn’t brainless—too calculating, more like. His cleverness backfired. Such dramas played out daily in big families, including her own Ye family. She usually ignored them, but Jiang Feng had once again caught her interest.  

As they spoke, footsteps echoed from the upstairs staircase. 

A figure in white slowly appeared in everyone’s view. Chen Siran had finally arrived.