The Ji Family's cocktail party was a gathering of elites.
Ji Liuguang's four or five friends had also received invitations and entered the banquet hall directly.
"Fourth Young Master Ji, look—all these people are hoping to collaborate with the Ji Group," said a skinny man, raising a glass of champagne. "For just one project, at least seven or eight companies are vying for partnership. You should try negotiating with them."
Ji Liuguang nodded.
He strode toward the crowd but, moving too hastily, collided head-on with a waiter.
The waiter was carrying a tray with three or four champagne glasses. The impact sent the drinks spilling—most splashing onto the waiter himself, the rest splattering onto Ji Liuguang.
Ji Liuguang's temper flared. "What blind fool— Hah, it's you again, He Jingchuan! Are you fucking haunting me on purpose?!"
He Jingchuan hadn’t expected to run into Fourth Young Master Ji here.
A friend working as a hotel server had told him about the grand banquet tonight—short-staffed, offering 200 yuan for a night’s work. For him, that was a significant sum, so he’d agreed without hesitation.
But barely into the event, this had happened…
His lips pressed thin as he lowered his head. "My apologies, Fourth Young Master Ji. It was my fault."
Even though it wasn’t, he knew better than to argue. Survival meant swallowing pride—a lesson life had taught him long ago.
He crouched to pick up the shattered glass.
Just as his fingers touched the shards, a leather shoe stomped down on his hand without warning. Glass pierced his skin, and he sucked in a sharp breath from the pain.
"You think a simple 'sorry' is enough?" Ji Liuguang looked down at him coldly. "Two choices: either lick every drop of this champagne off me, or pay ten times the price in compensation."
Watching He Jingchuan kneel on the ground, an inexplicable satisfaction surged in Ji Liuguang’s chest.
He’d despised He Jingchuan since childhood.
Always calling away Nanny Zhang.
Sometimes, Nanny Zhang would even bring He Jingchuan to stay at the Ji residence for days. The boy would trail behind her, chirping "Mom" like it was nothing.
Ji Liuguang had no mother of his own—yet He Jingchuan flaunted his in front of him.
Out of respect for Nanny Zhang, he’d never pushed things too far.
But! He Jingchuan was the reason he’d been kicked out of the Ji family. And now, in front of everyone, he’d drenched him in alcohol, humiliating him. If he didn’t reclaim his dignity, he wasn’t the Fourth Young Master of the Ji family.
The skinny man stepped forward. "This is the esteemed Fourth Young Master Ji. That outfit costs over 70,000 yuan. Tenfold compensation would be 700,000—but we’ll round it down to an even 700,000 for you."
He Jingchuan let out a bitter laugh.
He barely earned 70,000 a year, yet the wealthy could casually spend that on a single outfit.
The gap between people was like clouds above and mud below.
The surrounding crowd had initially thought Ji Liuguang was being excessive—just a piece of clothing, why torment a server?
But the moment they heard "Ji family’s Fourth Young Master," their opinions swayed like reeds in the wind.
"How careless of you, bumping into the Ji family’s young master! You deserve to pay!"
"The Ji family is one of the Four Great Families of Haicheng. They don’t need your paltry 700,000—this is just to teach you a lesson."
"Hurry up and pay! Don’t waste the young master’s precious time…"
Ji Liuguang was momentarily stunned.
He hadn’t realized how much weight the title "Fourth Young Master Ji" carried.
Abroad, foreigners knew nothing of the Ji Group or what his status meant—they’d bullied him relentlessly.
Yet here in Haicheng, people bent over backward to flatter the Ji name.
His arrogance swelled. "He Jingchuan, choose quickly. Or I’ll choose for you."
He Jingchuan’s fingers clenched slowly.
Lifting his head under the crowd’s mocking gazes, he said, "I choose neither. I can wash it for you—"
Before he could finish, Ji Liuguang grabbed his collar and hurled him toward the ground.
Shards of glass littered the floor.
He couldn’t dodge in time—but just as he braced for impact, a slender, pale arm reached out, catching and steadying him.
His gaze traveled from delicate high heels to a pink chiffon dress, then upward. Under the dazzling lights, he saw a face of icy beauty.
It was Miss Rong.
At the sight of Rong Yu, Ji Liuguang felt an involuntary chill.
This inexplicable woman had bested him multiple times already.
He loathed her.
But she was the old master’s lifesaver—treasured like his own eyes. Ji Liuguang could do nothing.
Yet right now, the old master wasn’t here.
"What’s the meaning of this, Miss Rong?" Ji Liuguang said coldly. "This doesn’t concern you. Don’t interfere."
Rong Yu glanced at He Jingchuan’s bleeding hand, her eyes frosty. "Even if he did spill wine on you, was this necessary? Trampling someone’s dignity over a piece of clothing?"
"It wasn’t me…" He Jingchuan usually wouldn’t explain—useless, he knew. But facing Miss Rong, his grievances overflowed. "Fourth Young Master Ji crashed into me. The security footage can prove it."
"I say it was you, so it was!" Ji Liuguang smirked. "Everyone here can vouch for me."
The skinny man chimed in, "Exactly! This waiter wasn’t watching where he was going."
The surrounding guests, all here to secure deals with the Ji Group, wouldn’t dare contradict the young master publicly. They echoed in agreement.
Rong Yu’s lips curved. "This Fourth Young Master Ji has just lost his shares in the Ji Group. Are you all still currying favor?"
Ji Liuguang’s face darkened. "Don’t spread lies!"
He’d only temporarily surrendered his shares—they’d return to him eventually.
How dare she fabricate rumors.
Rong Yu scoffed.
Ji descendants received shares at birth, but she believed that privilege needed revision.
Someone like Ji Liuguang didn’t deserve a single cent of the Ji fortune.
The mere thought of such heirs made her blood boil—she couldn’t imagine how furious Yingbao would be.
The crowd dismissed her words.
"Old Master Ji only has a few grandsons. Why would he strip their shares?"
"If not his grandsons, who else? The old master isn’t senile."
"Miss, stop with the baseless claims…"
"Miss Rong isn’t lying." A cold voice cut through. "All shares under Ji Liuguang’s name have been revoked. He is no longer a shareholder and holds no authority over any Ji Group affairs."
