Chapter 121: Fine, I Owe You a Little Lesson Too

"I am a staunch member of the 'Team Sui' camp!"

Di Jiar patted his chest to guarantee his support, swearing he would find a way to help him win over Bai Lu, and even offered plenty of advice. It sounded remarkably similar to what Uncle Yin had said. It essentially boiled down to two things: sincerity and good looks.

"...Sui-ge, you have money, you have looks, and you have a heart that loves Little Deer—what are you afraid of? I think Little Deer is just a fan of Film Emperor Lu. Besides, we don't even know if Film Emperor Lu feels the same way about her."

Huo Yanfang gently tightened his hold on the young girl in his arms, the faint scent of milk once again lingering at the tip of his nose. He lowered his gaze to see her leaning against him, sleeping soundly. Her slender, fair arms reached out from under the quilt, clutching the corner of his shirt with a sense of dependence.

Huo Yanfang said slowly, "Lu Yiting is very special to her."

Whether as the acclaimed Film Emperor or the troublemaker of the Lu family, Lu Yiting had always remained consistent in his refusal to get close to women and his commitment to keeping himself beyond reproach.

"Sui-ge, it’s probably not what you think," Di Jiar said, sounding quite certain. "Film Emperor Lu treats all his juniors who have both acting talent and good character with care and support. Little Deer isn't a special exception."

Huo Yanfang asked, "Does Lu Yiting personally teach his juniors how to box?"

"..." Di Jiar fell silent for a few seconds before pressing a hand heavily onto his shoulder. "Sui-ge, you only have one path left now."

Huo Yanfang: "?"

Di Jiar’s tone was grave. "You have to beat the clock. Before Little Deer realizes that Film Emperor Lu likes her, use that face of yours—whether it's a beauty trap or seduction—to win her over first. In short, you must hurry! If Little Deer finds out that her idol likes her too, you won't stand a chance at all!"

Huo Yanfang: "............"

Di Jiar said earnestly, "Sui-ge, you have no idea how much weight an idol carries. With just a crook of an idol’s finger, Little Deer would trot over in a heartbeat. When you're up against Film Emperor Lu, your wealth and looks are no longer an advantage. Because everything you have, Film Emperor Lu has too."

Huo Yanfang: "...Let Tang Xing drive you home."

Di Jiar: "............"

He had been rejected.

Being driven by the richest man’s personal assistant felt like it might shorten his lifespan, so Di Jiar stammered, "No, no need. I’ll drive myself home. Really, don't trouble yourself."

Tang Xing smiled and reached out. "It's no trouble. I’ll drop you off. As it happens, I’m picking someone up too."

Picking up whom? Di Jiar restrained himself and didn't ask further.

It was strange; he could be quite relaxed when facing Sui-ge, but when facing Assistant Tang, the pressure was immense. Clearly, Sui-ge’s status was higher than Assistant Tang’s!

Tang Xing helped Di Jiar into the car and waved with a beaming smile. "Drive slowly, be careful on the road."

He showed no airs, was easygoing and approachable—almost excessively so. Di Jiar realized it in an instant: smiling tigers are the most terrifying!

A supercar came hurtling toward them at high speed, showing no signs of slowing down. Di Jiar quickly turned the steering wheel to clear the path.

"Damn it, if you want to die, don't take others with you!" Di Jiar cursed, glancing through the rearview mirror. That one look terrified him.

After the screech of tires, the person who stepped out of the car was Huo Peicun, the one who had pushed Bai Lu off the deck!

Standing before Assistant Tang, Huo Peicun, who had been hanging his head, lacked even a shred of the arrogance he’d shown on the cruise ship. His knees went weak, and he looked ready to kneel before the assistant!

Tang Xing steadied him with one hand and tilted his head, seemingly looking at Di Jiar through the rearview mirror. Di Jiar shuddered and slammed on the gas to get away.

Tang Xing withdrew his gaze and smiled slightly, causing Huo Peicun to actually drop to his knees. "Assistant Tang, I’m begging you, for God’s sake, can you stop smiling?"

In the past, when Tang Xing beat him, he would have a dark expression. It was scary, but it didn't make his heart and liver tremble. Now that Tang Xing had been working with that smiling tiger Xu Yi for so long, he was clearly turning into a black-hearted, treacherous smiling tiger himself! It was absolutely maddening!

Tang Xing’s smile deepened. "Sixth Young Master, if I didn't use some methods to bring you back, were you planning on never going home again?"

Huo Peicun put on a brazen front. "Don't say that, Assistant Tang. I’ve already run away once; you could just tell my uncle you couldn't find me. You’d fulfill your duty, and I’d avoid a beating, right? If I can just hold out until my mom’s birthday next month, my uncle will surely spare me for her sake."

Tang Xing sneered. "Run? If I really wanted to break your limbs, do you think you’d have a chance to run?"

Huo Peicun hugged Tang Xing’s leg with a cheeky grin. "Assistant Tang, I knew you cared about me the most. Since you’ve already let me run away once, why not let me go today too? I can't show up to my mom’s birthday with a limp, right?"

Tang Xing replied, "I suspect... Sixth Young Master, you might not be able to attend your mother’s birthday this year."

Huo Peicun was stunned. "It’s not that serious! This isn't the first time I’ve stolen my mom’s jewelry to sell for cash—"

"Think back carefully on everything you've done. Once you’ve recalled it clearly, go and offer a proper apology to Mr. Huo, lest I dismantle you myself."

Tang Xing lifted the man up with one hand; the shape of the muscles beneath his suit was faintly visible. Huo Peicun, being hauled away like a stray cat, was truly panicking now.

Unlike Assistant Xu, a bookish weakling who handled the business side of things, Assistant Tang—who managed the daily affairs—was actually his uncle's bodyguard! And at the same time, his uncle’s enforcer.

His uncle never beat him personally. When his uncle wasn't in a wheelchair, Tang Xing beat him. After his uncle started using a wheelchair, Tang Xing still beat him. One could say that Assistant Tang had provided him with a "complete" childhood.

Assistant Tang never held back. But after beating him so many times, a bond had formed; as long as Huo Peicun didn't go too far, Tang Xing would even cover for him in front of his uncle.

Cold sweat streamed down Huo Peicun’s face. "Assistant Tang, I’ve been as well-behaved as can be lately. After you let me go, I’ve been hiding in an e-sports hotel playing games, never stepping outside! It was only today, because I was bored, that a friend said there was some fun to be had, so I came out to get some air."

Tang Xing: "Right, just today. Keep thinking."

Huo Peicun: "...That 'National Daughter'? Bai Lu? Oh, damn it—"

Tang Xing: "Hmm?"

Forcing himself to swallow the profanity, Huo Peicun roared, "I just gave that little actress a small lesson, who the hell has such a loose mouth?! Coming to report me to you?! Is it that little idol? What’s his name? Damn it, if I don't kill him—"

"A small lesson?" Tang Xing grabbed Huo Peicun by the collar and threw him toward the house. "In sub-zero temperatures, you pushed a young girl off the deck into the ocean, and you call that a small lesson?"

Tang Xing took off his suit jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves. "Fine, it seems I need to give you a small lesson as well. Go, fetch the family disciplinary rod."

Huo Peicun gritted his teeth. "Fine, I’ll fetch it!"

His uncle had always forbidden him from acting arrogantly or violently under the Huo family name. Since the matter had reached Assistant Tang, there was no way to hide it from his uncle. Being beaten by Assistant Tang with the family rod was better than being crippled by his uncle.