"Xia Tian, you should mind your manners," Huo Wen reminded him when she noticed his piggish expression.
"You're ugly. Don't talk to me." Though Xia Tian said that, he still turned around. What puzzled him most was that, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't see through this beautiful woman's clothes.
"You—" Huo Wen was so furious she wished she could skin him alive.
"Sister Wen, don't just stand there. Come in and have a seat," Ye Qingxue quickly interrupted to change the subject.
"God of Basketball, I'm your fan!" Ling'er ran up to Xia Tian, her tone playful.
"Why did you change your appearance?" Xia Tian asked at once. The moment he saw her, he knew she'd altered her looks through acupuncture.
"Uh!" Ling'er froze for a moment.
"Xia Tian, stop talking nonsense," Ye Qingxue scolded, thinking Xia Tian was calling Ling'er ugly.
"I'm not talking nonsense. She really did change her face," Xia Tian said seriously.
Everyone turned their eyes toward Ling'er.
"Well… yes. Because I'm really ugly, I changed my appearance," Ling'er admitted.
"Liar," Xia Tian said, then turned to Yun Miao. "I know I'm handsome, but there's no need to keep staring at me. Are you about to confess your love? I'll warn you now—I'm firm in my resolve. But if you do propose, I'll definitely agree."
Even Yun Miao was speechless. Was this what they called legendary shamelessness?
"You are utterly shameless!" Tang Yan snapped angrily.
"Don't you know it's a crime to speak to your dear husband like that?" Xia Tian said as he suddenly grabbed Tang Yan, lifted her onto him, and smacked her.
Bang!
It happened so suddenly that Tang Yan didn't even have time to react.
"Do you still dare?"
Bang!
Xia Tian slapped her again.
"Xia Tian, that's too much!" Huo Wen shouted. Her temper had never been mild to begin with, and seeing Xia Tian—Ye Qingxue's supposed boyfriend—doing something so brazen to Tang Yan in front of everyone made her furious. Ye Qingxue was her best friend, after all.
"How is that 'too much'?" Xia Tian looked up at her. "Did I block your Wi-Fi? Eat your food? Or steal your wife?"
"You—"
No one had ever dared talk to her like that before.
"What do you mean, 'you'? Look at yourself—head to toe. You barely look like a woman. Your body's as flat as a man's," Xia Tian said bluntly.
"I'll kill you!" Huo Wen shouted, launching a kick at him.
At that close range, dodging was almost impossible. Ye Qingxue jumped up to stop her, but before she could, she saw Xia Tian easily catch Huo Wen's foot.
"Tell me, who else but you wears jeans in this scorching heat?" he asked.
"Let go of me!" Huo Wen shouted angrily.
"Alright, you said it." Xia Tian released her leg, causing her to lose balance and fall to the floor. The fierce, domineering aura she'd had moments ago was gone.
"You dare throw me?"
"You told me to let go," Xia Tian replied.
"Let me go!" Tang Yan was still sitting on Xia Tian's lap.
"Will you still talk to your dear husband like that again?" he asked.
"Let me go now!"
Bang!!
"I won't, I won't anymore!" Tang Yan cried out hurriedly, genuinely frightened of him now.
Xue Chuan, standing off to the side, was filled with envy and jealousy. They were both men, both surrounded by women—yet Xia Tian looked like he was living in paradise while he could only watch.
"Sister Wen, get up quickly," Ye Qingxue said as she hurried to help Huo Wen.
"Just wait. I'll deal with you later," Huo Wen glared at Xia Tian.
"Sister Wen, don't be angry. I'll apologize on his behalf," Ye Qingxue said gently, afraid Huo Wen might start a fight with Xia Tian.
"Qingxue, what's so special about a man like that? He's a scoundrel! Didn't you see how he treated Tang Yan just now?" Huo Wen said, frowning.
"You've misunderstood—he's my cousin," Ye Qingxue explained.
"Cousin?" Huo Wen was taken aback. "Not your boyfriend? Then what about your birthday party?"
"I invited him myself," Ye Qingxue said. She had only asked Xia Tian to come that day to act as her shield.
"Since he's your cousin, fine. But Tang Yan is also my close friend. If you ever wrong her, I won't let you off." Huo Wen glared coldly at Xia Tian.
"Sister Wen, you've got it wrong. There's nothing between him and me," Tang Yan said quickly. When she heard that Xia Tian was Ye Qingxue's cousin, she felt an odd sense of relief—something she couldn't quite explain.
Did she… like Xia Tian? No way. Impossible. She hated him more than anyone.
Even if every man in the world died, she would never like Xia Tian. Especially after what he'd just done to her.
"Hmph." Huo Wen glared at Xia Tian. "You all know each other already, so I won't bother with introductions."
Everyone present was a well-known figure at Jianghai University. Though they rarely interacted, they were all familiar with each other's names.
"So neither of you are his girlfriend?" Ling'er said, glancing between Ye Qingxue and Tang Yan. Then she turned to Xia Tian, eyes shining. "Then, idol brother, can I be your girlfriend?"
So direct.
Bing Xin couldn't help imagining herself saying something like that—and immediately dismissed the thought.
"Take off your disguise and let me see if you're pretty. If you are, I might consider you as a candidate concubine," Xia Tian said seriously.
"Why just a candidate?" Ling'er pouted.
"Because your figure isn't good enough."
"Who says I don't have a good figure?" Ling'er protested indignantly.
"I don't believe it," Xia Tian said. Since he couldn't see through her clothes, he had no way of knowing what she looked like underneath.
"Then should I show you?" Ling'er teased with a mischievous smile.
"Sure," Xia Tian said eagerly.
"No, not here. There are too many people. I'll only take my clothes off when we're alone," Ling'er said, still smiling playfully.
"Ling'er, stop fooling around," Yun Miao said quietly. She rarely spoke, but her tone carried weight.
Xue Chuan was utterly dejected. What was supposed to be an apology dinner had turned into a complete circus. Xia Tian's outrageous behavior was beyond anything they'd ever seen.
Suddenly, Xia Tian's phone rang.
"You are me, my big apple."
"Who is it?" he answered lazily.
"Master, it's me—your most adorable, beautiful, kind, and gentle disciple!"
"You're sick," Xia Tian said flatly and hung up the phone.