"Xiao Ke, what a coincidence!"
Suddenly, a voice came from behind. Liao Ke and Li Yunfei turned around and saw Dan Wen and Huang Yongfei walking in from behind.
Li Yunfei and Liao Ke's faces changed slightly. They hadn't expected to run into Dan Wen here.
The marriage between Liao Ke and Dan Wen had been arranged by Liao Zhiping a few years ago. Liao Ke had always been indifferent to Dan Wen, treating him coolly, hoping he would take the hint and back off. However, the colder she was towards him, the more fervently Dan Wen pursued her, much to Liao Ke's annoyance.
"Young Master Shan," Li Yunfei called out awkwardly. "What are you doing here?" Liao Ke asked with furrowed brows and a cold expression.
"I'm out having fun, didn't expect to run into you here. Is this your friend?" Dan Wen asked with a smirk, his gaze resting on Lin Mo, with a hint of hostility.
As she spoke, Liao Ke suddenly took Lin Mo's arm, "Yes, he's my friend."
Seeing this, Huang Yongfei, Tian Zi, and the others standing behind Dan Wen were all taken aback, their expressions turning ugly.
Dan Wen's face turned even uglier than if he had swallowed a fly.
Lin Mo frowned, realizing that Liao Ke was intentionally using him as a shield.
"Sorry, we're just ordinary friends," Lin Mo suddenly said, removing Liao Ke's hand with an indifferent expression.
Perhaps some men would be pleased to be used as a shield by a beautiful girl—some of these girls might even think it's their blessing to use them in this way. But Lin Mo didn't see it that way. He didn't like being used!
A look of embarrassment crossed Liao Ke's pretty face. She bit her thin lips and glared at Lin Mo. But remembering how her grandfather had treated Lin Mo with the utmost respect, she didn't dare to get angry.
However, Liao Ke felt somewhat uncomfortable. All the men that pursued her were eager to be her fake boyfriend, the only exception being Lin Mo, who was so aloof. She really wondered if there was something off about his sexual orientation.
Dan Wen glanced at Lin Mo and then at Liao Ke.
He was sure that Lin Mo and Liao Ke were not in a romantic relationship, but the fact that Liao Ke would rather use Lin Mo as a shield than be with him made Dan Wen hate Lin Mo even more.
"Since he's a friend of Xiao Ke, he's my friend too. Why don't we all have a meal together?" Dan Wen offered with a forced smile.
Once everyone sat down, Dan Wen's gaze stayed on Lin Mo. Noticing that Lin Mo was not wearing any famous brand nor did he carry the arrogant air of a scion, it was clear that he wasn't from a wealthy background, and Dan Wen's eyes were filled with contempt.
Tian Zi and the two girls who came with Dan Wen also glanced at Lin Mo, feeling that despite his good looks, there was nothing particularly special about him.
Besides, in this society, good looks can't put food on the table.
"Brother Lin isn't from Yun Province?" Dan Wen asked, eyeing Lin Mo.
"Uh, I'm from Shu Province, just visiting," Lin Mo replied indifferently.
Dan Wen said with a smile, "I do know some people from Shu Province. Young Master Wang of the Wang Family and Young Master Ou of the Ou Family are acquaintances of mine. Do you know them, Brother Lin?"
"I don't," Lin Mo shook his head.
Lin Mo had heard of the Ou Family, a smaller clan. When he became the top youth of Shu Province, the Ou Family Master had personally come to congratulate him, but Lin Mo hadn't even shown his face.
"Sure, Young Master Wang and Mr. Ou are both big shots from Shu Province, and with your status, you definitely wouldn't know them," Dan Wen said with a cold sneer, his face full of disdain.
Smiling, Tian Zi said, "Young Master Shan, do you think everyone is like you, the grand heir of the Shan Family, only mingling with princes and prestigious stomachs? I heard you even know the Eldest Lady Bai."
Liao Ke and Li Yunfei were both momentarily stunned.
The Bai Family was the foremost family in Yun Province, and whether it was the Liao Family or Shan Family, they were like elephants to ants compared to the Bai Family.
Clearing his throat slightly, Dan Wen said, "It's nothing much, just had the good fortune to exchange a few words with Miss Bai at a gathering."
What he didn't mention was that he had only barely nodded to Miss Bai from a distance last time, without even the status to approach and speak to her. But in front of so many friends, Dan Wen didn't mind boasting a bit.
"I heard that Miss Bai, not even twenty, is already managing the entire Bai Family's business empire. It's incredible, I wonder what the higher-ups in the Bai Family are thinking," Huang Yongfei exclaimed in amazement.
Laughing, Dan Wen said, "Miss Bai is not only extremely intelligent, but also unparalleled in competence and shrewdness. Moreover, she is exceptionally beautiful. I wonder what kind of man would be a match for her."
As they were speaking, a group of men in suits approached, with thick waists and burly figures. The middle-aged man leading them had a terrifying scar on his face that made him look quite fearsome.
"Oh, isn't this Eldest Lady Liao and young master Dan of the Shan Family?" the middle-aged man said, rubbing his chin with a look of mockery on his face.
"Black Panther?" Seeing this middle-aged man, Dan Wen's expression changed slightly.
The rest of the young men and women also showed signs of fear; the man before them was indeed the brother of Hei Xiong, the underground overlord of Tengchong, known by the nickname Black Panther. With his brother's influence, he acted recklessly, and all the local jade dealers dare not speak out against him. "Miss Liao is really looking lovely, such tender skin, and that little face. Let Brother Leopard give it a feel," Black Panther said, his eyes filled with lascivious intent as he reached toward Liao Ke's pretty face.
"Black Panther."
At this scene, Dan Wen slapped the table and stood up sharply.
"What's up? Young Master Shan, Miss Liao is your fiancée, aren't I allowed to touch her a little?" Black Panther stopped his hand mid-air, taunting Dan Wen.
The expressions on the faces of Dan Wen, Huang Yongfei, Liao Ke, Li Yunfei, and others turned unsightly.
Clearly, Black Panther was here to provoke trouble.
"Black Panther, you're being too presumptuous. Don't you have any respect for me?" Dan Wen said, his face flushing with anger.
In reality, Dan Wen was also feeling nervous. Hei Xiong's influence in Tengchong had grown greatly in recent years, and facing him alone would be a challenge for both the Liao and Shan families.
Had it not been for the Shan Family's support, Hei Xiong would have likely resorted to force by now in the bet against Elder Liao. However, Dan Wen was just a junior; if a heavyweight from the Shan Family had been here, perhaps Black Panther would have shown more restraint.
Though Dan Wen was the heir of the Shan Family, he was not yet in a position of power, which made his words carry less weight.
"The grand heir of the Shan Family, how could I not respect you? I was just making a little joke," Black Panther said with a chuckle, still holding his chin and sneering.
Black Panther had to consider the strengths of both the Shan and Liao families, hence he purposely came to provoke but didn't dare to actually start a fight.
"Miss Liao, I hear your grandfather's illness has passed. I almost thought he wouldn't make it this time," Black Panther suddenly said, smiling to Liao Ke.
Flushed with anger, Liao Ke retorted in a sharp voice, "Black Panther, don't think we're unaware that it's you making trouble. My grandfather's better now, so you better be ready to concede."