Return to the City: The Strongest King
Chapter 171: Comparing Knowledge Again

Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Comparing Knowledge Again

"Don’t go too far!" Seeing Zhou Fei already in pain, gritting his teeth and sweating profusely, Song Xiaodong had not yet released his hand. Miao Qingqing spoke softly, noting that this was a social gathering, and if things went too far, it would be difficult to smooth things over.

Song Xiaodong smiled at Zhou Fei and said, "This brother is overly enthusiastic. Since he’s so keen on shaking hands with me, how could I not hold on for a while longer?"

Zhou Fei cursed Song Xiaodong’s ancestors in his mind, but apart from an initial moan, he remained stoic. He didn’t want too many people to see him humiliating himself, as that would be too embarrassing.

He wanted to speak, but because of the pain, his teeth were clenched so tightly that he couldn’t utter a single word.

Miao Qingqing tugged at Song Xiaodong, and her gaze already carried a hint of reproach. Song Xiaodong then finally released Zhou Fei’s hand.

Zhou Fei immediately began shaking his hand vigorously. He felt as if all the bones in his hand were about to break. He glared fiercely at Song Xiaodong and gritted his teeth, "Kid, you just wait, this isn’t over."

"At your service any time," Song Xiaodong responded with a faint smile. Competing with someone in such a setting was enough to show Zhou Fei was foolish.

Miao Qingqing scolded him, "Why did you provoke him?"

Song Xiaodong replied indifferently, "What do you mean why? Wasn’t he the one who provoked me? Should I just stand there and let him embarrass me? Sorry, but I’m not that kind of person. If someone troubles me, I’ll make sure they’re troubled even more."

Miao Qingqing gave Song Xiaodong a disapproving look, "Can’t you be a bit more tolerant?"

"Is that what tolerance is? Being bullied and still enduring? I’m your boyfriend now; if I lose face, that means you lose face. I’m actually fighting for your honor here."

Miao Qingqing knew that Song Xiaodong acted out of self-defense, but still felt he had gone a bit too far, especially by putting the blame on her. She half-smiled, half-cried, "Alright, but this is a social gathering. It’s not good to make someone too embarrassed."

"Understood. If no one troubles me, I won’t go looking for trouble either," he replied.

Meanwhile, Zhou Fei had returned to Xiao Zhiming and his group. Xiao Zhiming immediately asked, "What happened?"

Zhou Fei, with a dark expression, said, "That guy has a strong grip; I couldn’t match him."

"He has such skill?" Xiao Zhiming frowned. Zhou Fei was renowned for his strength, yet Song Xiaodong had outmatched him.

A guy named Chu Jianyang, who prided himself on being somewhat clever, chuckled and said, "In such a situation, troubling him like that wasn’t right. If you want to deal with him, you should make him feel utterly out of place in our circle, make him feel utterly ashamed."

Xiao Zhiming immediately asked, "Jianyang, do you have any good ideas?"

Chu Jianyang gave a slight smile, lifted his chin, and said proudly, "Zhiming, you mentioned that guy lives in a shanty area? So, does that mean he doesn’t have much money? Does it mean he isn’t very worldly?"

Xiao Zhiming had secretly investigated Song Xiaodong and replied at this moment, "I am certain that he lives in a shanty town, he has only one sister at home, his father died early, and he never attended college. He had been in the military until recently returned; as for whether he has any worldly experience, I wouldn’t know."

Chu Jianyang immediately curled his lip and said, "Just a soldier, no wonder he has strong hands, but he falls short in other areas. Just watch my approach, he will be left embarrassed."

Speaking of which, Chu Jianyang took a glass of red wine from a passing waiter and headed straight towards Song Xiaodong and Miao Qingqing.

After brief introductions, Chu Jianyang said to Miao Qingqing, "Mr. Song, may I ask what high positions you hold?"

Miao Qingqing had already noticed that Chu Jianyang was with Xiao Zhiming’s group and knew this guy was definitely looking for trouble, but at that moment, she couldn’t stop him; she could only prepare to interject at any moment to prevent Song Xiaodong from running into problems.

Song Xiaodong gave a slight smile and said, "What high positions could I hold? Looking at people here, if they’re not managers, they are presidents, each one worth millions; my presence hardly counts."

Miao Qingqing was taken aback. Song Xiaodong’s comment was very astute, striking a balance between humility and retaining dignity, making it hard for Chu Jianyang to persist on this issue. Perhaps, only a slick veteran of social situations could speak that way?

Chu Jianyang evidently didn’t expect Song Xiaodong to respond this way. The remarks he had prepared to undermine Song Xiaodong’s career achievements were now unnecessary.

Letting out a laugh, Chu Jianyang said, "Mr. Song, you are too modest. Just the fact that you captured President Miao’s heart proves your exceptional qualities."

"I can hardly take credit for that. Matters of fate and love cannot be measured by status or wealth. Qingqing’s fortune doesn’t need to be traded for any financial benefits, nor does she need to engage in any business matchmaking. Qingqing certainly can choose a man she loves to spend her life with."

As he spoke, Song Xiaodong wrapped his arm around Miao Qingqing’s waist, gazing deeply into her eyes.

His words truly touched Miao Qingqing’s heart, especially the tender look in Song Xiaodong’s eyes, which made her momentarily lose herself, subconsciously snuggling closer to Song Xiaodong and unwittingly flaunting a bit of their affection in front of Chu Jianyang.

Chu Jianyang always believed he was eloquent, but in presence of Song Xiaodong, he felt completely out of his element, genuinely frustrated, and said, "Mr. Song, truly sharp-witted, I toast to you."

Song Xiaodong clinked glasses with Chu Jianyang, both taking a sip. Seeing Song Xiaodong down his glass in one go, Chu Jianyang’s eyes lit up and said, "Mr. Song, that’s not quite right to drink red wine like that."

"Oh? What’s wrong?" Song Xiaodong asked, squinting.

Chu Jianyang responded, "Drinking red wine is all about finesse; you just drank it as if it were beer, which is somewhat lacking in elegance. Here, waiter, fetch me a bottle of ’82 Lafite. Let me show Mr. Song what real red wine is and how it should be savored."

Miao Qingqing frowned slightly. Chu Jianyang was clearly challenging Song Xiaodong’s sophistication. She acknowledged that Song Xiaodong was capable, but sophistication is something that requires years to accumulate, and many aspects also depend on certain conditions for their realization. Given Song Xiaodong’s experiences, he might not handle this well. She would have to think of something soon; otherwise, if Song Xiaodong made a fool of himself, it would be awkward for her too.