Xu Tingyu frowned when she saw the two of them together—surprised, yes, but not caught off guard. When someone feels attacked, the first instinct is to build a defense and strike back.
She smiled, mild and cold. “Not as good as Miss Zhao. Last time you made a scene and that was bad enough. Now you send people to bother me? And you’re a woman—this is the sort of thing you do?”
Her eyes swept over Su Yi again. Birds of a feather, she thought with a flicker of disdain. Her look toward Zhao You carried a barely concealed contempt.
“Low?” Zhao You’s voice dripped sarcasm. “You’re really fast with the insults, aren’t you? Who gave you the right to speak like that? Think you’re somebody because you cling to Young Master Shen?”
She still hadn’t forgiven Shen Yan. As a Zhao heiress, she’d always been the one men courted—never the one to do the courting. When she’d been ignored, it stung. And she blamed Xu Tingyu for it—the one who’d come between her and Shen, the one who, in Zhao You’s eyes, was shameless despite being a mother.
“Who put that hat on you?” Xu Tingyu replied evenly. “Can you prove you didn’t send those people to hassle us? Or is that too hard for you?”
Zhao You’s tone tightened into that same sickly superior drawl. “Prove it? The evidence is right there.”
Qi Ruixi, standing nearby, couldn’t help herself. “If you have them in the act, why call it proof now?”
Zhao You glanced at Qi Ruixi and found her vaguely familiar but unplaceable. She filed her away as one of those girls who lingers at events to fish for men’s attention—someone who looks around but doesn’t belong. “Little sister, mind your tone. Don’t rush to stick up for others—you might be sold out without even knowing it.”
“You call that ‘evidence’ and I’m the slanderer?” Qi Ruixi’s smile was cool. She didn’t know Zhao You personally—few did—but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t stand up when provoked. And she knew Su Yi by reputation; when Xu married, Su Yi had looked into the Qi family. Qi Ruixi had been quiet, low-profile after studying abroad. Even many inside the Qi Corporation didn’t know her true status.
Su Yi, who had been tensed by Zhao You’s taunts, reached to squeeze Xu’s hand and murmured, “You should be careful. There’s clearly a misunderstanding—say less.”
He’d actually gone to that hotel after catching sight of Xu there once. He’d waited several days hoping to run into her again and had almost given up—until now.
Zhao You flashed a mocking grin. “Misunderstanding? Or has Miss Xu bewitched you with her charms? Do you think she’d even look twice at you, Su Yi?”
She’d never held Su Yi in high regard. He was glib and flashy and, to her mind, only worth keeping around for show. Now he looked humiliated in front of Xu; it showed on his face, and Qi Ruixi didn’t like seeing him disrespected. She couldn’t ignore it.
“What kind of rabid dog are you, barking at everyone?” she snapped. “Who taught you to talk like that?”
Zhao You reddened. She shoved Su Yi aside and stood, pointing a shaking finger at Qi Ruixi. “Do you even know who I am? How dare you insult me—you’ll regret it if you stick around Kyoto.”
Qi Ruixi laughed, the sound bright and disdainful. “What—are you the ruler of Kyoto now? Please. This is a country governed by law. Do you have a death wish from reading too many bad dramas?”
Zhao You’s temper flared. She lunged, intending to use the size of her friends to intimidate, but Qi Ruixi was no pushover. Before Zhao You knew what had happened, a clean, stinging slap landed and sent her staggering.
“Rip my mouth apart?” Qi Ruixi retorted. “I’d like to see you try. You call me a gold-digger—are you an expert in rumor or just a gossip who started from that line? It’s disgusting when girls smear other girls like that.”
Zhao You clutched her face, humiliated and shouting into the stunned crowd, “Are you all dead or what?”
Su Yi stepped back; he knew where his loyalties lay. Between the Qi and Zhao families, he chose wisely. Zhao You’s remaining cronies surged forward—until they realized they were outmatched. Qi Ruixi’s escort wasn’t ordinary bodyguards. The man who’d stepped forward had the sort of résumé that silenced people just by being mentioned—Qi Shifeng’s pick, Zou Yu, whose presence alone turned the tide.
Before the gang could coordinate a proper attack, Zou Yu and the others had them flattened to the pavement. In minutes the scuffle was over; the thugs were down, unable to rise. The bodyguards melted back into the crowd like sharks that had already fed.
Xu Tingyu glanced at the man who’d taken charge and her eyebrows rose. Zou Yu. During her pregnancy he’d been one of the security captains who watched over her. She hadn’t expected to see him working for Qi Ruixi.
There wasn’t time for reminiscing. Xu looked at Zhao You, who was still reeling and red-faced. “Miss Zhao, why do you keep humiliating yourself like this?” The words were sarcastic and sharp—an invitation and a rebuke all at once.
Zhao You’s fury hardened into obstinate defiance. “You two bitches—do you know what happens to people who cross us? Do you have any idea?”
Xu didn’t spare her. “What happens? You can’t keep a foothold in Kyoto? Fine. But tell me, Miss Zhao—who’s given you this confidence? I’ve heard the Zhao family’s business has been struggling these years. Weren’t you arranging a marriage alliance? Does the other side know how close you are to Su Yi?”