Chapter 35: Chapter 35 - 35 Threading the Needle

Chapter 35: Threading the Needle Chapter 35: Threading the Needle “Someone, seize Fu Han for me. I want to personally teach her a lesson,” Xia Ning pointed at Fu Han, fuming with rage.

Bodyguards immediately rolled up their sleeves and moved towards Fu Han, forming a circle around her.

Fu Han’s face turned pale as she rapidly thought about what to do. She had never been in a fight before, and over the past three years, she had been living off photography, never encountering a situation that required physical confrontation.

On the other hand, Xia Ning was exceptionally excited. She had found out earlier that He Xing wouldn’t be coming today, and although she didn’t really intend to do anything substantial to Fu Han, she just wanted to ruin that annoying face of hers.

Clearly acting on Xia Ning’s orders, the bodyguards aimed their sharp hands towards Fu Han’s face, which, if they made contact, would likely leave her flesh torn and bleeding.

“Picking on the weak with numbers!”

“Men hitting women!”

At the same time, the voices of two men rang out, and the next second, two tall figures stood in front of her. It was Luo Qinghe and Ji Liangchuan.

Fu Han looked at them in surprise. These two were not stupid, so why would they step into this mess to help?

The bodyguards hesitated at the sudden arrival of Cheng Yaojin, unsure whether to continue their assault or not.

“Xiaoning, what are you doing?” A majestic voice boomed, resonating like a bell, and the crowd automatically parted to make way.

A portly man, surrounded by bodyguards, made his way into the circle. Fu Han had seen him before at the Xia Family’s charity night; he was Xia Cheng and Xia Ning’s father, as well as the Chairman of the Xia Group, Xia Guoxiong.

After looking around, Xia Guoxiong scoldingly said to Xia Ning, “You, child, stop this nonsense and call off your people immediately.”

Xia Ning showed not a hint of fear as she clung to Xia Guoxiong’s arm coquettishly, “Daddy, it was Fu Han who first called me names, like a cat or a dog. Isn’t she insulting you by insulting me?”

“Is that true?” Xia Guoxiong looked toward Fu Han.

While he looked at her, Fu Han felt as if a venomous snake was watching her. She didn’t have a strong impression of Xia Guoxiong, only knowing that the Xia Group had originally been just a small workshop. After Du Wanting saved He Xing, the Xia Group thrived with the support of the He Group and had now grown into a major enterprise in City A.

Some even said that the Xia Group could stand equal with the four great families of City A.

Collecting herself, Fu Han spoke calmly, “Yes, I said that.”

Anxious looks from the onlooking crowd turned towards Fu Han. The disparity in strength between them and Xia Guoxiong was too great, and everyone knew that Fu Han wouldn’t stand a chance against Xia Guoxiong.

“Do you realize that with just that sentence, I could sue you for defamation?” Xia Guoxiong’s eyes narrowed, his sinister aura intensifying.

Fu Han was about to respond when Ji Liangchuan stepped forward to shield her. “Chairman Xia, today’s incident isn’t entirely Fu Han’s fault. Your daughter was the one who provoked first,” he said.

Before Xia Guoxiong could speak, Luo Qinghe’s icy voice also rang out, “I don’t think Fu Han said anything wrong. This is Jiangshan Gallery, the venue for the upcoming photography contest. It’s true that not just anyone can come here.”

“You!” Xia Guoxiong was so enraged that his chubby face turned crimson, resembling a cooked pig’s liver. He pointed at Luo Qinghe, about to say something.

Suddenly, a shorter man behind him tugged at his clothes and whispered something into his ear.

Xia Guoxiong’s complexion went through several changes. After giving Luo Qinghe a deep look, he turned and walked away, flinging his sleeve in the process.

Xia Ning didn’t expect her backing to leave so abruptly. She glared fiercely at Fu Han, stomped her feet in vexation, and chased after Xia Guoxiong.

Ultimately, she caught up with Xia Guoxiong at the Square in front of Jiangshan Gallery and sulked, lips pursed, “Daddy, didn’t you say you were going to seek revenge for me? Why did you still let Fu Han enter the finals and do nothing when I was bullied?”

Xia Guoxiong suddenly stopped in his tracks, “I’ll handle Fu Han’s matter. From now on, stay out of it.”

“I don’t want to, I want to take my own revenge,” Xia Ning whined in her usual manner, a tactic which had always worked wonders on Xia Guoxiong.

But today, Xia Guoxiong’s face turned cold, and he pulled his hand away sharply, “Someone, take Xiaoning back for me.”

Xia Ning’s cries and shouts were of no use; she was still carted off by two bodyguards.

In the vast Square, now nearly empty, Xia Guoxiong turned back to peer at the short middle-aged man behind him, “Mr. Ji, did you see it?”

“Yes, I saw it,” said the man referred to as Mr. Ji, a sinister smile creeping across his face, “And I guarantee that I’m not mistaken. It’s definitely him.”

“Keep an eye on him, don’t let him ruin our plans.”

…

The Xia family had come quickly and left just as quickly. Fu Han was prepared to call the police but never expected to be so simply dismissed by Ji Liangchuan and Luo Qinghe.

Her feelings were complicated as she looked at the two men. Not long ago, she had had a not-so-minor conflict with them, and yet they were the ones to come to her aid.

Luo Qinghe turned and pushed his glasses up, his words still carrying the chill of a scrape against ice, “Fu Han, I just can’t stand it when some people abuse their power. It has nothing to do with you.”

“That’s good, that’s good,” Fu Han said, visibly relieved as she patted her chest, “Then I won’t be presumptuous. After you, please.”

Luo Qinghe tilted his head, but in the end, he just looked at Fu Han deeply and left without a word.

“Fu Han, don’t be afraid, I am here for you,” said Ji Liangchuan.

Compared to the iceberg-like voice from before, Ji Liangchuan’s voice could indeed be described as a breath of spring.

However, Fu Han felt goosebumps all over, and exaggeratedly rubbed her arms, “Mr. Ji, right? I hardly know you, so let’s not say such things in the future. It might lead to misunderstandings.”

Ji Liangchuan didn’t seem offended at all but smiled even brighter, “Indeed, we are not familiar with each other, but He Xing is a good friend of mine for many years, and as his future wife, it’s only right for me to lend a hand.”

Today had already been chaotic enough, and Fu Han had no temper left upon hearing He Xing’s name. She gave up and said, “If you have to put it that way, there’s nothing I can do. However, He Xing and I are already discussing the dissolution of our engagement.”

As soon as the words fell, Su Cheng came rushing over, calling out Fu Han’s name, “Fu Han, are you alright? Brother Qinghe said you were being bullied, I’ll avenge you.”

“Nobody bullied me,” Fu Han backed away several steps to avoid Su Cheng, hastily changing the subject, “The meeting is about to start; let’s hurry to the auditorium.”

The meeting mainly congratulated the photographers who had made it through the preliminaries and explained some changes to the rules for the semi-finals and finals. Instead of providing three photos for the semi-finals as previously announced, the photographers now had to submit only one photo and were also required to perform live shooting.

While listening, Su Cheng was nervously taking notes, as though he were the one competing.

Fu Han’s notebook hadn’t even come out of her bag. She was only half-heartedly chatting with Su Cheng, mostly about Luo Qinghe.