Chapter 97: An Unexpected Accident
Chapter Eighty-Eight: An Unexpected Accident
Qing Tian saw a photo of Ji Xiangyu’s mother and Ji Junhua looking intimate appear on the screen, each one more intimate than the last. At the end, there were also photos of Xia Yang as a child, with Ji Junhua happily holding a young Xia Yang and smiling with a woman.
Qing Tian’s heart was touched. So Xia Yang once had such a warm family. However, he was at most the child of a mistress, and would inevitably face societal condemnation. But was Xia Yang at fault?
Qing Tian looked at the screen with a sense of loss, truly unable to believe all of this was real!
Xia Yang shook his head at Ji Xiangyu with a resolute tone, saying, “Would I do something so ridiculous?”
Ji Xiangyu’s mind was in chaos. He would rather not believe that Xia Yang had done this, but it had happened today, and it happened because of Xia Yang’s appearance, making it inevitable that everyone would point fingers at Xia Yang.
Qing Tian grabbed Xia Yang’s hand, wanting to ask something, but upon meeting his gaze, she swallowed her words. This was not the time to ask anything.
As Xia Yang pulled Qing Tian, preparing to leave, a cry for help came from the other side.
“Dad, are you alright?”
“Grandfather, what’s wrong? Grandfather…”
Then she saw a family photo of the Ji family appear on the screen. Grandfather Ji’s head was circled in red pen, with the words “Murderer” written in large red letters.
When Grandfather Ji and everyone present saw this photo, they were all shocked.
The scene immediately descended into chaos, with people running in all directions.
Some ran to manage the projector, others went to call for a car; in short, everything was in disarray!
Through the crowd, Qing Tian saw Grandfather Ji clutching his chest, supported by Ji Junhua. At that moment, only one thought remained in Qing Tian’s mind: something had happened, something big had happened, and it involved Xia Yang!
She saw Ji Xiangyu rush to Grandfather Ji’s side, anxiously asking him questions.
Meanwhile, Xia Yang, standing beside Qing Tian, clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and stood in the venue with a cold gaze. His back looked so desolate.
Qing Tian walked to Xia Yang’s side, reached out, and held his hand, looking at him gently without saying a word. At this moment, a look was enough; any more words would be superfluous!
Li Mei, wearing a pair of bright red high heels, walked quickly towards Xia Yang and slapped him directly across the face.
Qing Tian watched in surprise as this elegant noblewoman treated a minor boy so roughly.
Li Mei angrily asked, “Xia Yang, after all these years, you haven’t changed at all. Seeing our pain, are you happy? Do you really think this will satisfy your hatred?”
Xia Yang stood still. Qing Tian wanted to explain, “Auntie, Xia Yang is innocent!”
Li Mei finally noticed Qing Tian’s presence. She raised an eyebrow, looked at Qing Tian unfriendliness, and asked sarcastically, “Auntie? Oh, Miss, may I ask which family’s daughter you are? It’s not your place to interfere in other people’s affairs, is it?”
Looking at Li Mei, Qing Tian felt like she was facing an enraged tigress. If she said anything more, she would surely be shot down by a barrage of arrows!
Xia Yang held Qing Tian’s hand, raised it, and said coldly to Li Mei, “She’s mine. Speak politely. And drop that accusatory tone. This has nothing to do with me. Investigate it however you want. A clear conscience fears no slander!”
Li Mei was furious. “Who else here do you think would do something so ridiculous? Stop making excuses. You and your mother are both despicable!” Li Mei said this while excitedly pointing her index finger at Xia Yang. This was truly excessive!
Qing Tian was very surprised. Why would Ji’s mother speak so hurtfully?
Xia Yang looked at Li Mei dismissively, slowly extended his hand, firmly clasped her index finger in his palm, and said word by word, “You have no right to accuse me, because you are no one. You are just a tool, the Ji family’s tool!”
Li Mei, enraged, tried to slap Xia Yang again with her free hand, but Xia Yang grabbed her hand and said, “I told you, you are no one. Some things will not happen a second time!”
The two stood confronting each other under everyone’s gaze, the atmosphere extremely awkward.
Qing Tian looked at the two glaring at each other and, for the first time, clearly understood why Xia Yang didn’t return to the Ji family. There were too many beasts here, too much scheming. Regardless of who framed Xia Yang today, the hatred between Li Mei and Xia Yang alone was enough to make Xia Yang detest this place.
Qing Tian blamed herself, asking herself if she had made a mistake. Was persuading Xia Yang to come here the wrong decision?
Ji Xiangyu walked over to Xia Yang at some point. He looked at the hands of Qing Tian and Xia Yang clasped together, then at their unified expressions, and his heart was filled with a bottle of aged vinegar, feeling very sour, truly very sour!
“Mom, Grandfather is calling you,” Ji Xiangyu said, looking at Qing Tian.
Qing Tian avoided Ji Xiangyu’s eyes. In this situation, she dared not meet his gaze, fearing she would break down and flee at any moment!
Li Mei flung Xia Yang’s hand away and said fiercely, “Don’t let me see you anywhere in the Ji family. Get as far away as you can, get out…”
Li Mei left after speaking.
Qing Tian sadly tightened her grip on Xia Yang’s hand and asked softly, “Xia Yang, are you okay?”
Xia Yang looked at Qing Tian gently, smiling faintly and saying, “I’m fine. This is just a minor issue. I’ve been through much worse. This is nothing, don’t worry!”
Qing Tian looked at Xia Yang with heartache. What had Xia Yang experienced in his childhood?
The two stood looking at each other across the crowd, while Ji Xiangyu stood outside their world, watching them!
One person’s lingering affection, three people’s entanglement!
Qing Tian and Xia Yang stood there watching Grandfather Ji being carried out. Such a huge commotion at his birthday party; it was impossible for him not to have a heart attack from anger.
Qing Tian looked around, feeling that this place was truly terrifying. Many reporters were waiting outside the venue. Seeing Grandfather Ji being carried out, flashes went off everywhere, and all sorts of questions were asked. Qing Tian heard Xia Yang’s name among them, but Xia Yang stood there holding her hand, not saying a word.
Qing Tian watched the people coming and going, standing with Xia Yang.
Qing Tian thought everyone had left, but then someone from the Ji family, accompanied by a group of security guards, pointed at her and Xia Yang and said, “They were the ones causing trouble. Take them out!”
After speaking, several security guards rolled up their sleeves, ready to grab Xia Yang and Qing Tian. Xia Yang forcefully slapped their hands away.
Xia Yang warned, “Anyone who dares to touch me again, I’ll make sure they can’t find their way home tomorrow!”
Of course, security guards are not easily intimidated by such words. The guards stepped forward unceremoniously, intending to grab Xia Yang. However, as soon as they got within half a step, Xia Yang grabbed a guard’s hand and instantly performed an over-the-shoulder throw. Xia Yang didn’t even blink during this process.
Seeing their comrade being bullied, the other security guards immediately surrounded Xia Yang, intending to attack.
Qing Tian was worried something might happen, when she heard Xia Yang say, “General Manager, why be so ruthless? I genuinely don’t want to stay in this venue. I have legs and can walk out myself!”
The person called General Manager smiled faintly, looking at Xia Yang with admiration and saying, “I never thought the little crybaby from back then would become so arrogant and cold. Alright, since you know your place, please leave!”
Xia Yang pulled Qing Tian and walked away without even looking at the General Manager.
Qing Tian looked back at that person, finding him strange. His smiling and not-smiling expression was unfathomable.
They walked out of the venue to the main entrance and watched the speeding ambulance. Xia Yang’s grip on Qing Tian’s hand tightened. Qing Tian knew Xia Yang was worried about Grandfather Ji, but he refused to admit it.
That feeling of suppressing his emotions must be difficult to bear!
Qing Tian pretended to suggest, “Should we go see Grandfather Ji?”
Xia Yang answered directly without thinking, “No need. Going there will only invite ridicule from those people. It’s better to avoid trouble!”
Qing Tian looked at Xia Yang, wanting to speak but hesitating. Was this really okay?
The Ji family was so large, and people’s hearts were truly difficult to fathom. To establish oneself in the Ji family was indeed not easy. Qing Tian witnessed the power behind the Ji family for the first time!
Living in such a family, it was no wonder Ji Xiangyu was so outstanding in everything. If he were even slightly less brilliant, he would be ostracized. It must be tiring, very tiring!
In this light, what Ji Weiwei did to Qing Tian seemed like child’s play.
Wait, why hadn’t she seen Ji Weiwei all day? Where had Ji Weiwei gone? Could it be that she was the one behind all this trouble?
Situ Jingyi appeared out of nowhere. She walked up to Qing Tian and said, “Classmate Qing Tian, could I borrow Xia Yang for a moment? I have something to say!”
Qing Tian let go of his hand and smiled awkwardly, “You two talk.”
Xia Yang pulled Qing Tian back, saying unhappily, “If you have something to say, say it here!”
Situ Jingyi looked at Qing Tian with a troubled expression. Qing Tian, being sensible, said, “Xia Yang, you should talk to classmate Situ properly. I’ll go rest over there!”
Qing Tian said this and quietly walked away.
Situ Jingyi watched Qing Tian’s retreating back and said triumphantly, “Xia Yang, let’s make a deal!”
Xia Yang raised an eyebrow and repeated, his voice rising, “A deal?”
Situ Jingyi nodded. “You get Qing Tian, I get Yu. From now on, we’ll have nothing to do with each other!”
Xia Yang pondered for a moment. “How do we make this deal?”
Situ Jingyi said with a smile, “I’ll give you and Qing Tian some money, and I’ll arrange everything. You can go study abroad and never return to China. This way, you can be with Qing Tian forever. This deal only has benefits for you, no drawbacks!”
Xia Yang sneered. “You’re making such a big sacrifice, and it’s all just to get Ji Xiangyu?”
Situ Jingyi smiled gently at Xia Yang. “How I handle things is none of your business. You just need to take Qing Tian and leave here, disappear forever. Don’t you want to go to a place without any Ji family members and start a new life?”
Xia Yang took out a cigarette and lit it impatiently. Situ Jingyi waited silently for Xia Yang to give her an answer.
After finishing a cigarette, Xia Yang crushed the butt and said, “I’ll consider it. This proposal is indeed very beneficial to me!”
Situ Jingyi added, undeterred, “I’ll persuade Qing Tian.”
Hearing this, Xia Yang stopped and leaned close to Situ Jingyi’s ear, saying, “Don’t touch her, or I won’t be polite!”
Situ Jingyi nodded. “That’s a given!”
This time, a sharp glint flashed in Situ Jingyi’s eyes!
