Official Career Storm
Chapter 665

Chapter 665: Chapter 665

Zhang Meilin was unexpectedly slapped in the face.

This charity gala had very high standards.

The attendees were all from high society, with exemplary manners.

Something like hitting someone was almost impossible in such a setting.

The incident happened abruptly.

And since it was a slap, an act of immense humiliation, for a moment, a vacuum-like silence surrounded Zhang Meilin.

Dozens of gazes focused on him.

Then, upon seeing the men opposite Zhang Meilin, these gazes showed some understanding.

Afterward, some gazes were mocking, some sympathetic, and others carried a hint of anticipation for this man who was slapped.

Perhaps they were hoping he might retaliate and reclaim the dignity lost with that slap.

Zhang Meilin felt his face burning hot.

Not from the pain of the slap.

But from the intense humiliation stemming from the staring eyes surrounding him.

A county-level city’s top leader, at a charity gala, in front of numerous esteemed guests, was slapped by a man about his age.

Such humiliation is more than most men can bear.

But, he didn’t dare to act rashly.

Because this was Yanjing, a high-standard charity gala!

Anyone invited was either wealthy or noble!

If you threw a plate, out of ten it hit, nine were billionaires, and one was a Beijing official.

The one bold enough to make such a move was either a wealthy second generation, an official second generation, or a red second generation.

None of which a mere county-level secretary could afford to provoke.

You don’t realize how small an official is until you’re in Yanjing.

This saying is not unfounded.

If he truly provokes someone he shouldn’t, it’s questionable whether he could peacefully return to Dujiang City.

Even if Minister Zhou steps in, things might not end well.

Song Guanchao put his phone in his pocket, stood up, and walked over.

Xu Zi had already recognized that the person slapped was Zhang Meilin.

And seeing who the assailant was, her pupils slightly contracted.

Watching Song Guanchao walk over, she instinctively wanted to stop him, to tell him about the person’s identity.

But after a moment’s thought, she didn’t reach out to remind him.

She lightly curled her lips, a curious thought flashed through her mind.

She took out her phone and sent a message to Lin Wanqiu.

Then she stood up, smoothed out the creases on her dress at her waist, and with seductive steps, leisurely followed.

There was going to be a good show.

The assailant wore a tailored Italian suit, adjusting his collar, eyes indifferent and disdainful, his tone mockingly asking, "Awake now?"

Zhang Meilin slowly adjusted his head that had shifted due to the slap, looking at the man, trying hard to squeeze out a smile, trying to appear nonchalant, yet unable to.

"Cat got your tongue? Little master here asked if you’re awake?"

The man placed a hand on his shoulder, tilted his head, and asked, "Awake now? Hmm?"

Zhang Meilin took a deep breath, finally squeezing out a smile.

"Smile?"

"Hahaha!"

The man pointed at him, turning to his companions and said, "See that? I slapped him, yet he’s smiling."

Several companions, with cigars in hand, looked mockingly, as if teasing a dog.

The nearby guests watched with interest; no one stepped forward to intervene.

They knew the assailant but had never seen Zhang Meilin before.

"Are you okay?"

Fu Ying came over to support him, avoiding addressing his title to prevent causing him trouble.

"I’m fine." Zhang Meilin shook his head.

Hearing Fu Ying’s accent, the crowd identified him as an outsider, their eyes filled with sympathy.

Outsiders, regardless of being officials or businessmen, had to be cautious here.

Fu Ying, furious, glared at the man but didn’t dare speak recklessly.

She held Zhang Meilin, ready to leave.

"Hey, leaving so soon?"

The man grabbed Fu Ying’s wrist.

"Please let go." Fu Ying tried hard to maintain control.

"Oh? So polite, please?"

The man teased, gesturing to a waiter who brought over a glass of red wine.

The man glanced at it, "Switch to white."

The waiter immediately replaced it with a glass of white wine, filling an entire red wine glass, at least three or four taels.

The man grabbed the glass, saying, "I’m reasonable."

"Your friend likes to interrupt me, disturbing my talk, so I slapped him to teach him a lesson."

"But it seems this slap didn’t teach him much."

"Well then."

He handed over the glass, "Drink this wine, and I won’t hold it against you."

Fu Ying’s chest heaved with anger, lips tightly pressed, yet didn’t dare utter a refusal.

She still didn’t know the other’s identity.

"Sorry, she can’t drink. I’ll drink it for her."

Zhang Meilin, lowly and humbly, reached for the wine.

The man avoided his hand, squinting, "See, what did I just say?"

"Your friend likes interrupting when I speak."

"Apparently, one glass isn’t enough."

"Let’s do this, the wine can be skipped."

The man waved, and a waiter immediately took the white wine.

The man looked at Fu Ying, "Let’s change location, you accompany us for a chat, and it’ll be water under the bridge."

Chat?

The crowd understood his intent.

Looking at Fu Ying, their eyes were full of sympathy and pity.

Her, a girl, accompanying a group of men for a chat, feared she’d be drank until she’s drunk like a cream puff.

Zhang Shian, who greeted the two earlier, was smoking five meters away.

His smile sneering; he wondered how these two outsiders provoked these heirs.

It depended on whether they were sensible.

If not, they’d be left skinless if not dead by day’s end.

Zhang Meilin’s eyes were full of anxiety and rage, yet he didn’t dare speak again, fearing the man might escalate the demands if he did.

Fu Ying bit her lip tightly, long since lost her composure.

She usually dealt with people within the system, always outwardly friendly; even if plots were afoot, they were dealt with discretely.

She had never encountered someone like this.

Naturally, she had no experience.

Her eyes frantically searched around, and finally, she saw that presence.

For some reason, though knowing even Song Guanchao’s intervention might not minimize the situation’s impact, at the moment she saw Song Guanchao walking towards her, all her inner turmoil vanished.

While everyone else remained stationary, Song Guanchao’s walking figure stood out significantly.

His appearance drew everyone’s attention.

Including these men.

Seeing Song Guanchao, Zhang Meilin immediately stepped forward, blocking him with a forced smile, "I’m okay, don’t be reckless."

He knew Song Guanchao’s temperament.

No matter how he appeared calm and considerate most of the time.

When impulsive, he was indeed a Madman.

Regardless of whether they were rich second generation, official second generation, or red third generation, if you touched a nerve, he could end you on the spot.

He had witnessed Song Guanchao’s methods!

Song Guanchao smiled, "Brother Zhang, do I look impulsive?"

He patted Zhang Meilin’s shoulder, glanced at his face where the slap mark was still clear.

Bypassing Zhang Meilin, Song Guanchao went up to the group.

He wore a constant smile, appearing harmless.

Song Guanchao patted her on the head, "Don’t worry, I’m here."

"Mm." Fu Ying felt completely at ease.

"Tsk, where did he pop out from?" the man looked at Fu Ying, "Your friend?"

As soon as he finished speaking.

"Slap!"

A palm as wide as a fan landed without warning on the man’s face.

Instantly, the expressions of the surrounding guests froze, their eyes filled with shock.

The cigarette in Zhang Shian’s hand trembled and fell to the ground.

Xu Zi, who had followed along, showed disbelief on her enchanting face.

The man, nearly knocked over by the slap, swayed.

Song Guanchao’s gaze was sidelong, his voice cold as an ice peak: "Didn’t your elders teach you not to interrupt when others are speaking?"

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on (f)re𝒆web(n)ovel.com

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.