Chapter 156: Unapologetically Opulent

Murong Yan followed behind. Xu An’an really did not want to see Jiang Li at this moment, but Murong Yan had already spotted him and stepped forward with a smile to greet him.

"A-Li, it really is you. I saw you just now, but you disappeared in the blink of an eye."

"But surely you didn't study here, did you?"

The smile in Jiang Li’s eyes vanished instantly. He cast an impatient glance at Murong Yan. "How did you get that car out of my garage? Taking something without asking is stealing."

Suddenly branded a thief, Murong Yan froze for a moment before hurriedly explaining, "No, no, it’s not like that. I just happened to be passing by today, and my car broke down. I had an appointment to get to, and remembering your villa was nearby, I went to borrow a car."

"The housekeeper called Elder Jiang, and he told me to pick a car from the garage. I thought this one looked beautiful, so I chose it."

"Did Elder Jiang not mention it to you?"

After giving her explanation, she wasn't content to just clear her name; she had to deflect the blame as well.

Jiang Li sneered, his eyes filled with hostility. He said to Assistant Wang, who was following behind, "Take this car and destroy it. There’s no point in keeping something dirty."

In the end, he could not blame his own father for lending out a car.

Xu An’an frowned, finding Murong Yan’s explanation truly nauseating. If she hadn't been to Jiang Li’s garage, she might have understood, but there were clearly other cars there—why did she have to choose such a high-profile, expensive one?

*Sister, you were just there to borrow a car, weren't you?*

Stepping back, Murong Yan could have had the villa’s housekeeper arrange a car for her, rather than being so shameless as to pick one out herself when told she could.

Soon, a team of professionals arrived and dismantled the hundred-million-dollar supercar right on the spot.

They dumped all the parts into a nearby garbage truck!

The crowd gasped at the sheer, heartless extravagance.

"Which landfill is it going to? I have to go scavenge for parts!"

"Count me in!"

"But I just heard the Second Master say the car was 'dirty.' But didn't Murong Yan drive it here? Doesn't that mean she dirtied his car?"

"Tsk, tsk, even a big star has days where she’s treated like trash."

"That’s the famous Second Master Jiang for you! Even big stars try to throw themselves at him, but who would have thought he’d despise her so much? When she drove up earlier, she was looking down her nose at everyone, acting so superior!"

The onlookers' whispers turned Murong Yan’s face ashen; she wished she could vanish on the spot.

But she couldn't, because two of Jiang Li’s bodyguards stood on either side of her, seemingly determined to ensure she was humiliated before letting her go.

Murong Yan’s eyes reddened, brimming with tears.

"Second Master, can I leave now?"

That pitiful appearance stirred the protective instincts of many men. Jealous that Jiang Li was a wealthy and handsome man, they began to chime in, "Even so, there's no need to humiliate someone like that, right?"

"A grown man with such a petty heart!"

Unfortunately for them, Jiang Li heard every word. He shot a cold, piercing glare their way, terrifying the men who had been making snide remarks.

Xu An’an nearly laughed out loud at the scene.

*Weren't you speaking so happily just a moment ago? Why stop now?*

Jiang Li said coldly, "If you want to leave, then leave. Is anyone stopping you?"

Murong Yan choked.

On the surface, no one was actually stopping her from leaving.

At this, someone muttered, "That’s right, the Second Master didn’t tell her to stay. Is she just acting, shedding a few crocodile tears to win everyone’s sympathy?"

"I never realized this big star’s acting skills were so good!"

Stung by these words, Murong Yan’s face flushed red and then paled. Finally, with tears swirling in her eyes, she forced herself to look strong and held them back.

She bowed deeply. "Second Master, I was wrong. I’m sorry."

Without waiting for anyone to react, Murong Yan turned and ran.

Regrettably, there were no taxis on this road, forcing Murong Yan to keep running and running in her high heels. She refused to stop, knowing a crowd of people was still watching her.

It wasn't until she reached an area with no one around that she dared to stop.

She took off her shoes and found that all ten of her toes were blistered and bleeding. The pain made her gasp, and her eyes were filled with monstrous resentment.

How could she have imagined that Jiang Li would humiliate her to this extent over a car!

The housekeeper had clearly said that Jiang Li thought that car was suitable for a woman, which was why he had kept it in the garage untouched.

Was she not worthy of it!

...

The incident soon passed, largely because no one dared to stick around to watch Jiang Li’s drama anymore. Those who had spoken up for Murong Yan had to apologize to Jiang Li first, or else the matter wouldn't be over.

It cemented the fact that one should not easily offend Second Master Jiang; if you saw him from afar, you had to take a detour.

Seeing Jiang Li leaning there with a dark expression, not saying a word, Xu An’an hesitated before stepping forward. "Second Master, are you alright?"

Although she knew better than to provoke him while he was angry, she couldn't just walk away—it would feel heartless.

Jiang Li lifted his gaze, his eyes tinged with a hint of grievance.

How long had he been waiting here?

People had already run past, yet she hadn't come over?

Hadn't he just publicly executed that sports car for her?

"Oh, so Miss Xu hasn't left yet?"

"..."

Xu An’an offered a dry laugh. "The Second Master is still here; how could I just run off? I naturally had to wait for you."

Jiang Li raised an eyebrow, his mood improving slightly.

"Follow me."

Xu An’an thought they were heading back, but to her surprise, Jiang Li led her deeper into the school. She felt puzzled but refrained from asking.

Since she had no choice in the matter, she just followed along obediently.

However, she finally had a moment to look at the school she had been away from for so many years. It held so many memories, both good and bad.

But they were all moments that could never be reclaimed.

Noticing that Xu An’an had slowed her pace, Jiang Li adjusted his stride to match hers. He asked nonchalantly, "Did you have a first love when you were in school?"

Caught off guard by the question, Xu An’an froze for a few seconds, wondering why Jiang Li would ask that.

She didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Did the Second Master have a first love when you were in school?"

"No."

Xu An’an had thought that if Jiang Li didn't answer, she wouldn't have to either, but he had answered so bluntly that she hadn't even prepared an excuse to brush him off.

Meeting those dark, deep eyes, Xu An’an felt she had nowhere to escape.

She thought about it seriously and shook her head.

Jiang Li’s expression darkened immediately. "So, Jiang Yu is your first love?"

Xu An’an was about to nod, but a clear, handsome figure of a boy suddenly flashed through her mind. It seemed there had once been such a boy in her world.

Like a warm sun, he had illuminated her entire being.

Yet, she couldn't find any trace of his existence, and she didn't know if he had ever been real.

Suddenly, a brilliant firework shot up into the dark night sky, drawing all of Xu An’an’s attention. Her eyes widened in surprise and delight.

"How beautiful!"