Ying Chen watched the expression on Zhuang Ruoting's mother's face and showed a half-smile.
It was clear that Zhuang Ruoting's mother was hiding something.
However, Ying Chen couldn't be bothered to delve into such gossip or private matters, just as humans wouldn't care about the gossip between one ant and another.
Ying Chen said leisurely, "Alright, no need to make your parents awkward. I'll leave."
"To me, no matter how luxuriously a toilet is renovated, it's still a toilet; conversely, no matter how simply a thatched hut is decorated, it's still a house that can be lived in."
"I'd rather live in a thatched hut than a toilet."
As soon as Ying Chen said this, Zhuang Ruoting's parents' expressions changed dramatically.
Ying Chen actually described their home as a toilet?
It was too much!
Zhuang Ruoting's father immediately stepped forward, his face red, veins bulging on his neck, pointing at Ying Chen's nose and saying, "Say that again if you dare!"
Ying Chen glanced at Zhuang Ruoting's father and said indifferently, "I said your house is a toilet, so what?"
Zhuang Ruoting's father became enraged, "You're asking for death, you're simply asking for death!"
With that, Zhuang Ruoting's father raised his palm, about to slap Ying Chen across the face!
Ying Chen remained motionless, a look of mockery on his face, quietly watching Zhuang Ruoting's father.
If Zhuang Ruoting's father's slap had landed, Ying Chen wouldn't have minded making Zhuang Ruoting's father fulfill his own words – asking for death!
However, to everyone's surprise, just as Zhuang Ruoting's father's palm was about to fall, a hand reached out and firmly gripped Zhuang Ruoting's father's wrist.
At the same time, it was pulled backward forcefully.
Instantly, Zhuang Ruoting's father's arm made a cracking sound, and his entire arm was dislocated!
Zhuang Ruoting's father stumbled and fell to the ground with a thud!
"Mr. Hu... Mr. Hu?"
After falling to the ground, Zhuang Ruoting's father looked at the person who had pulled him down, his face full of disbelief.
He couldn't understand why Mr. Hu, the guest he had invited, would turn against him at such a crucial moment and help an outsider!
Mr. Hu's face was cold, and he looked at Zhuang Ruoting's father, saying, "Don't look at me like that. I was just saving your life."
"Even I dare not be disrespectful to this gentleman, so why do you dare? Is it because you think your own life is worthless?"
"If that's the case, you can stand up and continue your actions. I guarantee I won't stop you."
After hearing Mr. Hu's words, Zhuang Ruoting's father was stunned.
He knew Mr. Hu's strength.
Who would have thought that even Mr. Hu would say he "dare not be disrespectful to Ying Chen"?
What was Ying Chen's background?
How could he make a magnate like Mr. Hu bow his head?
"Heh." Ying Chen let out a laugh, the emotion of which was hard to discern, upon hearing Mr. Hu's words.
Seeing this, Mr. Hu's heart suddenly tensed.
He quickly bowed to Ying Chen and said, "I apologize, Mr. Hu was rash. I interfered with Mr. Ying's affairs without his permission. Mr. Hu deserves punishment and accepts it!"
Seeing Mr. Hu's subservient posture, Zhuang Ruoting's father was even more shocked.
At the same time, a deep sense of lingering fear flashed through his mind.
So Mr. Hu wasn't just talking; he was truly in awe of Ying Chen!
Otherwise, Mr. Hu wouldn't have shown such a humble demeanor!
"Forget it, you meant well." Ying Chen glanced at Mr. Hu lightly and said.
Mr. Hu breathed a sigh of relief, "Mr. Hu thanks you for your forgiveness!"
Then Mr. Hu looked up at Ying Chen and said, "Since Mr. Ying finds the Zhuang family a place of filth and vulgarity, why don't Mr. Ying honor me by staying at my residence in Hong Kong? Although my place is also not up to par, at least it's not a place of filth, and it will surely guarantee Mr. Ying peace and quiet."
"Would Mr. Ying do me the honor?"
"..." Zhuang Ruoting's father felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if someone had stabbed him.
Even Mr. Hu had called his home a toilet so directly?
Most importantly, he knew where Mr. Hu's house in Hong Kong was. It was in the most famous wealthy district in Hong Kong, and in the most prime location.
And yet?
Mr. Hu actually said that such a top-tier house in a prime location was "not up to par"?
Then what kind of house would be considered presentable and worthy of Ying Chen's stay?
Did he need a palace?
Ying Chen looked at Mr. Hu deeply and did not refuse, "Then I'll give you a chance."
Upon hearing Ying Chen's words, Mr. Hu not only didn't feel insulted but looked respectful, "Thank you, sir."
"Then let's set off immediately. Staying here for another second will only dirty Mr. Ying's eyes."
With that, Mr. Hu took the lead and walked towards the door.
Ying Chen followed behind.
In the blink of an eye, the two disappeared into the night.
"Ying..." Zhuang Ruoting looked at Ying Chen's retreating figure and called out, her voice trailing off.
She had stopped mid-call.
It was clear that she also understood that her home was not suitable for Ying Chen to stay in.
She could only lower her head sadly, her expression dejected.
Zhuang Ruoting's parents remained silent for a long time.
Only after Ying Chen and Mr. Hu had completely disappeared and they were sure their voices could no longer be heard did they angrily curse, "Pah! What are they pretending for! Two punks from the mainland, they'll end up thrown into the sea to become fish food sooner or later!"
"They even said our Zhuang family is a toilet, then why did they come to our Zhuang family? To use the toilet?"
"Shameless things! Using the toilet costs money, did you pay?"
Zhuang Ruoting's parents kept cursing, completely unaware that in their pursuit of momentary satisfaction, they had also cursed themselves.
After cursing, Zhuang Ruoting's parents looked at each other, and both saw a flicker of lingering fear in each other's eyes.
That was close; just a little bit more, and their Zhuang family would have suffered the same fate as the Liao family!
"If Ruoting brings that scoundrel into the house, the outside world will surely mistake us for accomplices of the scoundrel and target us together! No, we must quickly contact Li Fengcheng! Otherwise, our Zhuang family is definitely finished this time!"
Zhuang Ruoting's father made a decisive statement.
"However, if I make this call, it might not be effective. You should make it!"
Zhuang Ruoting's father looked at Zhuang Ruoting's mother.
A complex look flashed in Zhuang Ruoting's mother's eyes, and after a moment, she nodded, "Okay."
She then got up to make the phone call.
Zhuang Ruoting was left standing alone in the living room, always feeling that the home she had grown up in had suddenly become unfamiliar.
She felt like a small boat caught between Hong Kong and the mainland, between her parents and Ying Chen. Although she seemed to be able to align with both sides, in reality, she couldn't reach either.
She could only be battered by the waves and assaulted by the sea breeze, destined to capsize one day and become an anonymous corpse at the bottom of the sea.
Zhuang Ruoting felt cold all over, even wrapping herself tightly in her clothes didn't help.
With a look of bewilderment, she walked towards her room in a daze.
On the way back to her room, she accidentally overheard her mother speaking in a gentle voice she hadn't heard in years, "Hello, it's me..."