Chapter 214
“You’re actually hitting me for an outsider. Cousin, have you been bewitched by this person? Don’t forget that we are family, sharing the same surname. My grandpa and your grandpa are blood relatives. How is your grandpa going to explain to mine about how you’re treating us siblings today?” Jin Ling covered her gradually swelling cheek, speaking with a hostile tone.
The originally resting Old Master Jin was also alerted by the commotion at the ball and came out of the lounge. As soon as he stepped into the crowd, he saw Jin Long lying on the ground, unable to make a sound, his wrinkled old face turning pale all of a sudden.
“What’s wrong with Xiao Long, why are you all standing here? Hurry and call a doctor,” Old Master Jin said to the servants beside him, leaning on his cane.
The servants took the order and immediately made a call to the hospital.
“Xiaoyan, what exactly happened here?” Old Master Jin asked his granddaughter with his sharp eyes honed by time.
Jin Yuyan opened her mouth, intending to speak, but was preempted by Jin Ling rushing in, “Second grandpa, you have to stand up for me. I’ve never suffered such grievances at home. That couple provoked us with words and even hit Jin Long. My cousin seems to be bewitched and won’t stand up for us siblings, even slapping me instead. Second grandpa, look at my face.” Jin Long released the hand covering her face, revealing her slightly bruised cheek to Old Master Jin for a better look.
Old Master Jin didn’t speak but placed his gaze on Jin Yuyan, obviously wanting to hear his granddaughter’s version. Seeing this, dissatisfaction flashed like a dark gleam in Jin Ling’s small, glistening eyes.
“Grandpa, I just arrived here too, so I’m not very clear on the specifics. I’ve only heard my cousin’s side of the story from beginning to end. I think we shouldn’t let personal biases cloud our judgment and should give Mr. Xu and Mrs. Xu a chance to explain themselves,” Jin Yuyan, standing aside in her evening dress, calmly and steadily said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“Not let biases cloud our judgment? I think your heart has already gone astray. You’ve been talking about fairness and impartiality from the start, but I haven’t seen the fairness you claim. All I see is endless partiality. You slapped me without a word for a man. Jin Yuyan, don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen for a married man?” Jin Ling sneered as she looked at Jin Yuyan.
Jin Ling’s words were like a torpedo dropped on the water, causing an uproar among the attendees. The eyes at the ball fell on Jin Yuyan, Xu Ke, and Lin Mengyao, filled with peculiarity and whispers.
Jin Yuyan’s face turned green instantly. Although she had such thoughts, she hadn’t intended for them to be exposed in public.
Old Master Jin’s face also turned unsightly. Should anyone with ulterior motives make use of this affair, the Jin family would be tainted with an irredeemable stain.
“Jin Ling, is this how you slander your cousin? Is this what your grandpa taught you? So young, and you’re full of lies and fabrications, shamelessly throwing dirt on your own family. The Jin family cannot keep someone like you. Pack your bags tonight, and I’ll send you away first thing in the morning. Whenever you learn to love your kin sincerely and treat others honestly, that’s when you can come to Luo City to visit,” Old Master Jin said sternly with a stern face.
Jin Ling’s face darkened upon hearing Old Master Jin’s words, carrying both anger and defiance.
“What did that man offer you for both grandpa and grandson to protect him, disregarding even blood ties? You tell me to learn such things, but I think these are the things that should be learned by the two of you, grandpa and grandson. Do you think I like coming to this dump of Luo City? If it weren’t for my grandpa wanting us to check on you, I wouldn’t bother coming to this poor and rundown place.”
Looking at the cream on his own lapel, Old Master Jin was overwhelmed with dizziness. Had it not been for the cane in his hand and the support of Jin Yuyan at his side, he might have collapsed, turning the Jin family into a mockery in Luo City’s high society.
Jin Ling, after tipping over the table, cast a vicious glance at Jin Yuyan and was about to turn to leave.
“Stop, did I say you could leave?” Xu Ke, witnessing the farce before him, coldly interjected.
“If you hadn’t spoken up, I would’ve almost forgotten you. Today’s trouble started with you, and my brother has ended up like this because of you. You’d better pray nothing happens to him, or the Bai City Jin family won’t just let it go. Even if you’re in Luo City, we have ways to make you live in agony. Any harm you inflicted on my brother will be retaliated back a hundred or a thousandfold by the Jin family,” Jin Ling threatened Xu Ke and Lin Mengyao with a menacing voice.
“If you have the guts, go on. I’m here waiting for your revenge, but that’s a matter for later. Let’s first settle the immediate score,” Xu Ke replied with a frown of disgust, looking at the twisted features of the opposite party, as he said in a cold voice.
“That’s right, we should settle the immediate score first.” Jin Ling nodded, as she walked toward Xu Ke amidst the stunned gaze of the crowd.
Jin Ling glanced at Xu Ke’s face and then cast a jealous and hateful look at Lin Mengyao.
Then, against all expectations, she kicked at Lin Mengyao.
Everyone thought she would target Xu Ke, but unexpectedly, she aimed at Lin Mengyao, especially given she had just been targeting Xu Ke relentlessly.
Jin Ling was close to Lin Mengyao, wearing sharp high heels; she kicked toward Lin Mengyao’s calf with speed and force.
Lin Mengyao stood dumbfounded, unable to react, while Jin Yuyan, supporting her grandfather with a subtle look of anticipation in her eyes, watched Jin Ling’s foot. Just when everyone thought Lin Mengyao was doomed to be hit, Xu Ke exerted strength with his arm, lifted Lin Mengyao with one hand, and took a step back, dodging Jin Ling’s sinister kick just in time.
Jin Ling hadn’t expected Lin Mengyao to dodge; unable to stop her force, the sharp heel scratched the smooth floor with a piercing screech, followed by a crisp sound of bones, leading Jin Ling to perform the splits on the floor.