C18 You Don't Learn Well You Learn How to be Kept

Huo Mengmeng despised it when someone crossed her line.

Yet Xiao Anan seemed incapable of holding back, repeatedly provoking her, leaving Huo Mengmeng no choice but to appear heartless.

Suddenly, Huo Mengmeng stood up from her seat with a swift motion.

She marched over to Xiao Anan and, without a moment's hesitation, delivered a resounding slap.

With a cold smirk, Huo Mengmeng's lips curled into a sneer, "Who do you think you're insulting? Watch your mouth!"

"You..."

Xiao Anan, completely unprepared for the slap, was so furious she nearly exploded with profanity.

But noticing the curious and skeptical looks from the onlookers, she quickly adopted the guise of a victim, lamenting, "Huo Mengmeng, you're so depraved you willingly let yourself be kept by a wealthy man, and now you won't even let others speak of it?"

The crowd's gaze shifted, growing complex upon hearing that such a beautiful young woman was being kept.

Some even, without any real knowledge of the situation, took it upon themselves to judge Huo Mengmeng from their moral high ground.

"Young lady, you're capable and able-bodied. Why not do something respectable instead of being kept?"

"Indeed, you look so pretty and innocent; it's shocking to find out you're kept. Morals these days have truly declined!"

"No wonder you lash out so fiercely; you must have done this before, haven't you?"

Their harsh judgments echoed as if they knew the whole truth, appointing themselves as arbiters.

Zhao Xi, unable to contain her indignation, retorted, "Xiao Anan, what nonsense are you spouting? And the rest of you, jumping to conclusions based on hearsay, what's the point? Our Mengmeng isn't kept by anyone. She's actually the..."

The one whom both people and spirits respect, the formidable Master Leng's "sister"!

But before she could finish her defense, Huo Mengmeng cut her off.

Pulling Zhao Xi back, Huo Mengmeng spoke with composure, "Xi Xi, let's not bother with this. We're leaving."

With that, she turned to depart.

As Huo Mengmeng took her first step away, Xiao Anan's voice, tinged with provocation yet feigning frailty, rose slightly, "The powerful and influential man keeping her can't be crossed. Don't insult her, lest you provoke her wrath."

The comment sparked a protective instinct in the nearby men.

One by one, they leaped to Xiao Anan's defense, as if to right the wrongs done to her.

"Just because you have money, you think you can do whatever you please? If you break the law, you'll still get arrested!"

"Exactly, having money doesn't mean you can walk all over people. Apologize to this lady, now!"

"Honestly, with such low standards, I wouldn't take her even if she paid me..."

But the rest of their remarks were cut off.

A scream pierced the air as the man who had been speaking was suddenly sent flying.

Chu Jie advanced with a menacing look, bent down, and grabbed the man by the collar, demanding, "What did you just say?"

"I'm telling the truth!"

Emboldened by the support of others, the man defiantly retorted, "You're the rich guy who's keeping her, aren't you? I bet you're no good either!"

"Hmph!"

With a cold snort, Chu Jie released his grip and then pressed his foot down on the man's face, declaring with intensity, "Our young miss is of distinguished status, and she will not tolerate such defamation!"