Chapter 450: Arrogant Love Rival

"Ms. Shi, do you have anything you’d like to say?" Zhou Qi asked with a smile on stage.

Surveying the crowd below the stage, Shi Su said with a light smile, "The Shi Family has been in the medical profession for generations. As a doctor, healing the sick and saving lives is my duty, and I’m just doing what I should do. Moreover, in resolving this crisis smoothly, I cannot take all the credit alone. First of all, I would like to thank everyone for their great support, especially my apprentice Xiaozhu and Han Yu. As an up-and-coming talent, Han Yu is truly a remarkable individual, not only ranking second on the Newcomer List but also exemplary in the medical arts. I’m pleased as a Master that Xiaozhu has found such a lifelong partner."

Lifelong partner?

Upon hearing this, the crowd gasped in surprise, their gazes filled with a mix of envy and jealousy toward Han Yu.

With the audience’s attention on him, Han Yu held his head high, his face brimming with a proud smile, his eyes roaming through the crowd as if looking for something. Suddenly, his lips curled up in arrogance as he stared disdainfully at a corner of the banquet hall.

Facing Han Yu’s gaze, Ling Chen, who had been sitting on the couch, stood up and walked over without any expression. Seeing his action, Qiu Yong hurriedly held onto his shoulder and whispered, "Ling Chen, don’t be impulsive."

"Big brother, I know what I’m doing."

With that, Ling Chen brushed off Qiu Yong’s hand and made his way through the crowd towards Han Yu.

Seeing Ling Chen approach, Han Yu’s smile grew even brighter. A fool who doesn’t know any better; this was the perfect opportunity to put him in his place in front of everyone.

However, the arrival of Ling Chen made Zhu Xiaozhu feel uneasy, her palms sweating. Yet, deep down, there was a small sense of anticipation. As for what she was anticipating, she couldn’t quite articulate it herself.

As Ling Chen neared, Han Yu coldly smirked, ready to utter a few words of mockery, but then he saw the other man walk straight past him, approaching Zhu Xiaozhu instead.

Feeling Ling Chen’s complex gaze, Zhu Xiaozhu bit her thin lips and couldn’t help but lower her head to stare at her toes, feeling extremely nervous.

At this moment, everyone’s attention was captivated by Ling Chen’s sudden arrival, their faces showing expressions that were keen to watch the drama unfold.

Shi Su had just announced Han Yu and Zhu Xiaozhu’s affair, and Ling Chen’s sudden appearance clearly indicated that it wasn’t as simple as giving blessings by looking at the expressions on their faces.

For a while, everyone was waiting for Ling Chen to speak.

"Why?" After a long pause, Ling Chen finally spoke the three words slowly.

"Ling Chen..." Zhu Xiaozhu opened her mouth but was at a loss for words. After hesitating, she said softly with her head down, "There’s no reason, you’ve heard everything my Master said."

"I understand you, you’re not that kind of person. I just want to know, is this your own decision, or did your Master make it for you?"

"I..."

"Xiaozhu!"

Just as Zhu Xiaozhu spoke out, she heard Shi Su’s voice coming from the stage. Her pretty face suddenly turned pale.

"Xiaozhu..."

"Don’t ask anymore." Zhu Xiaozhu closed her eyes, holding back the tears, and said word by word, "It’s my own decision." After saying these words, Zhu Xiaozhu felt her inner strength collapse in an instant, all her feigned bravery dissolving into nothingness.

Hearing her response, Ling Chen shook his head lightly and said, "I don’t believe it. If it were truly your own decision, then why wouldn’t you dare look me in the eye?"

"Ling Chen, enough!" Before Zhu Xiaozhu could say anything else, Han Yu, who was standing nearby, couldn’t hold back his fury and rebuked, "What is the meaning of these questions? Do you think I am not worthy of Xiaozhu?"

"You are indeed not worthy," said Ling Chen bluntly.

Han Yu scoffed and replied, "Not worthy, you say? And you think you are? Why don’t you take a look in the mirror to see who you really are, and what right do you have to compare with me? In terms of martial prowess, you have no standing to compare with me. In terms of ability, even less so. Not to mention afar, just take the crisis that happened on this ship, what did I do, and what did you do? Compare with me, hmmph! Get lost, save yourself from further embarrassment."

"It’s important to know oneself, too bad some people just don’t understand this."

"I for one think Han Yu and Miss Zhu are a perfect match, a union of talent and beauty, made by heaven and earth."

"That’s true. Han Yu, so young with such high martial arts and excellent medical skills, is a rare gem among the younger generation, and his future is boundless. What could that Ling fellow have to compete with him?"

"He’s probably just trying to get attention and boost his reputation. But I couldn’t do such a shameless thing."

Hearing the crowd’s mockery and ridicule of Ling Chen, the faces of Qiu Yong and others immediately turned exceedingly ugly. Xia Yue, unable to contain her anger, was about to step forward to stand up for Ling Chen, but Qiu Yong pulled her back.

"Shi Su and Han Yu just saved everyone, naturally they would side with them. We owe them a favor, now is not the time to go against them."

Xia Yue said furiously, "So we just let them bully Ling Cheng?"

"Enough, don’t say any more, I’ll go get Ling Cheng back." With that, Yuan Yun quickly walked to Ling Chen’s side, grabbed his arm, and whispered, "Ling Cheng, don’t look for trouble, we can talk about it when we get back."

Seeing Zhu Xiaozhu, who still didn’t dare to lift her head, Ling Chen sighed quietly and nodded slightly. He knew when to exercise restraint. Now was not the time to act rashly. He had to consider Qiu Yong and others and not be willful.

Seeing Ling Chen turn and leave, Han Yu smirked triumphantly, with a disdainful sneer on his face, "What a joke."

"Ling Chen."

Ling Chen stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Shi Su on the stage, "Is there anything else?"

Shi Su spoke with a cold demeanor, "Xiaozhu is now with Han Yu, regardless of what you’re thinking, I hope you’ll behave yourself and not bother them again. Otherwise, don’t blame me for not warning you in advance."

A threat!

An undisguised threat.

Saying something like this in front of so many people, Shi Su clearly had no intention of saving Ling Chen’s face. On the contrary, she intended to trample viciously on Ling Chen’s dignity.

Ling Chen frowned and stared at Shi Su with cold eyes as a flicker of concealed anger passed through his Mo Che-like pupils.

"Ling Cheng," Yuan Yun, worried that Ling Chen wouldn’t be able to keep his temper in check, looked at him apprehensively.

Feeling the concern in Yuan Yun’s gaze, Ling Chen took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, and said indifferently, "Ms. Shi, everyone here is indebted to you, so they can only follow your lead. However, I do not need to show such consideration. Xiaozhu is a good girl; it’s a pity that she has chosen the wrong master. If you expect me not to intervene in Xiaozhu’s affairs, then I’m sorry, but I cannot do that. I will not just stand by and watch Xiaozhu be with someone she doesn’t like, nor will I let her life be ruined by her conceited master."