Everyone present at the scene was stunned, except for Song Qiao, of course.
They couldn't believe that Gao Meng would pull such a stunt at Zheng Fei's engagement party.
"He dared to make a move here, isn't that too bold?"
"This is outrageously audacious. Is he trying to completely offend the Zheng family?"
"Indeed, this will make things difficult for the Gao family too."
"It seems this Gao Meng is truly not simple!" some shrewd individuals observed, muttering to themselves.
It was true that no ordinary person would have thought Gao Meng would dare to act at such an occasion, especially against the third young master of the Xu family.
The other party was from the Xu family!
Was this still the same weak and timid young girl they thought they knew?
Many had vaguely heard whispers that the Gao family had been severely bullying Gao Hai's family, all because Gao Hai's wife, the mother of this Gao Meng, was considered mentally unstable.
However, they hadn't expected this young girl to be so fiercely protective of her mother.
"This has blown up into a big mess!"
"Yes, the Xu family was already looking for an outlet for their anger. Now, with this girl's actions, the Xu family has found their opportunity."
"Exactly, it's like a pillow arriving just when you're sleepy!"
...
Someone immediately rushed to Xu Chao's side to help him up. "Young Master, are you alright?"
"Get lost! Where the hell were you just now? Now you want to curry favor? Get lost!" Xu Chao roared.
Although the pain was still there, it was finally bearable. He struggled to get up.
He pointed at Gao Meng and began to curse, "You little bastard, how dare you lay a hand on me? Let me tell you, you're finished! I'll make sure you can neither live nor die."
However, despite his curses, he had wisely learned his lesson and deliberately kept a distance of at least three meters from Gao Meng.
He also constantly watched Gao Meng's movements, ready to dodge immediately if she intended to attack him again.
But he hadn't anticipated that Gao Meng was already a master of martial arts. She simply took two steps forward and instantly appeared before him.
Slap!
Another heavy slap sent Xu Chao spinning, crashing into someone nearby.
The person had tried to dodge and had already moved, so Xu Chao didn't hit them squarely and fell back to the ground, letting out a yelp.
Then came a louder wail.
His teeth had been knocked out, his mouth was mangled, and his face was swollen.
Gao Meng looked down at him with disdain. "What do you think you are, to dare to curse my family and threaten me like this!"
The onlookers were all shocked by Gao Meng's ferocity. How could this girl be so formidable?
"This girl is too impulsive. How dare she confront the Xu family like this?"
"She's probably tired of living. The Xu family is not someone the Gao family can afford to offend."
"Alas, yes. Young people nowadays are too impulsive, not considering their families at all!"
"Perhaps not. I think this girl is actually in the right. It was Young Master Xu San who provoked her first!"
"Regardless, the Gao family cannot escape responsibility for this."
"Indeed, I think so too!"
...
Just then, someone from the Gao family arrived. It was Gao Zhonghai.
As soon as he saw Gao Meng, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
Then, seeing Xu Chao opposite them, the way the surrounding people were looking at him, and their smiles that were neither smiles nor schadenfreude, he immediately sensed that something was amiss.
Gao Zhonghai frowned and reprimanded Gao Meng, "What are you doing?"
Upon hearing Gao Zhonghai's voice, Gao Meng's cold sneer transformed into an innocent and confused expression.
She said to Gao Zhonghai, "Ah, Brother, didn't you tell me to hit him?"
After speaking, her expression of surprise deepened, and tears welled up in her eyes. "You... you want to frame me?"
Gao Zhonghai was stunned.
This little girl dared to slander him, to throw dirty water on him. This was her way of causing trouble for him.
Song Qiao, who was watching this scene unfold, found it amusing.
His disciple's acting skills were truly superb, worthy of an Oscar.
Now, hearing Gao Meng's words, everyone turned their gaze to Gao Zhonghai.
Their eyes held a playful look, and some even showed schadenfreude, shared enmity, and various other reactions.
Some saw that Gao Meng was deliberately saying this, clearly a strategy to shift the blame.
Of course, many others didn't understand, they just pretended to.
Gao Zhonghai did not want to conflict with Xu Chao and the Xu family at this moment.
He knew the matter was serious. If not handled properly, it could turn the Xu and Gao families into sworn enemies, which was not what he wanted.
Therefore, the priority was to de-escalate the situation.
With a rapid turn of thought, Gao Zhonghai was about to say something to Xu Chao, at least to offer some explanation.
However, Xu Chao beside him didn't give him the chance.
Seeing Gao Zhonghai, Xu Chao roared, "Gao Zhonghai, what the hell do you mean? Is your Gao family trying to court death?"
Gao Zhonghai was shocked. Although he didn't believe Xu Chao alone could provoke a war between the Xu and Gao families,
he still had to clarify certain things. Otherwise, with so many guests at the wedding, if the matter was distorted, he wouldn't be able to explain himself.
The best way was to clarify it face-to-face to avoid misunderstandings.
Thus, Gao Zhonghai shot an angry glance at Gao Meng and then spoke to Xu Chao.
"Young Master Xu, please don't misunderstand. Gao Meng is saying this deliberately. She wants to sow discord between our Gao family and your Xu family. Rest assured, I will apprehend her and hand her over to you for disposal. Please rest assured, even if you don't say it, we will not let this girl off."
Saying this, Gao Zhonghai cast another fierce glare at Gao Meng.
The meaning was clear: a threat, urging her to back down.
In his mind, if he threatened this Gao Meng again, she would surely find a way to resolve the matter.
"Hmph, such bold words! Not letting me off? Let me tell you, I won't let you off either! You all want my family's property, and that's why you sent assassins, right? Where is any semblance of kinship? You are worse than ordinary people!"
Gao Meng's words left Gao Zhonghai speechless.
His eyes darted around, appearing flustered and angry, or rather, in impotent rage.
He could only say, "Things are not as you say..."
At this moment, everyone in the hall was dumbfounded. They had thought the situation was somewhat outlandish, but they hadn't expected such a thing to actually happen – a wealthy family bullying an orphan and her mother.
While it was uncertain how many people here would sympathize with Gao Meng, many still felt that the Gao family's actions were improper and had lost public favor.
At this point, Gao Meng's aura was fully unleashed.
Facing Gao Zhonghai, she felt no fear. "I'm here to settle accounts with Gao Run. It has nothing to do with you, so get out of the way!"
Gao Zhonghai let out two cold laughs, looking at Gao Meng dismissively. "Just you?"
Just then, Song Qiao pushed his way through the crowd.
Gao Zhonghai immediately recognized Song Qiao.
Instantly, his rage flared.
The grudges, old and new, between him and Song Qiao resurfaced.
He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists so tightly that it seemed he was about to strike Song Qiao at any moment.
But he restrained himself and only said, "So that's what it is. So you're the bastard supporting her..."
Before he could finish speaking, Song Qiao's cold voice cut in, "You're asking for death!"
Then, Gao Zhonghai flew backward.
Song Qiao slowly retracted the hand that had just slapped him and said, "Too much nonsense!"