The tense, sword-drawn standoff instantly fell into silence at the family head’s three words—”Bai Xiongqi.”

Not even Jiang Chen, let alone the still-smug Bai Feiyao who had been preparing to kick someone while they were down, dared say another word.

After all, her affair with Jiang Chen was something her father knew nothing about—otherwise, given the strictness of the Bai family’s upbringing, how could he possibly have allowed his unmarried daughter to commit such a shameful act!

The atmosphere grew tense at once, the very air turning heavy.

Everyone’s attention fixed on the open gate of the Bai residence, where, deep within the shadowed darkness, a tall figure could clearly be seen slowly approaching.

Meanwhile, the mastermind who had exposed this entire conspiracy was already seated high atop the rooftop, his lovely wife in his arms.

Jun Beiyue sat there with careless ease, one hand resting casually on his knee, the other wrapped around Ziqing. Clad in black tactical attire, his lean, powerful frame radiated a sensuality both mysterious and sharply commanding, fierce and imposing.

Even seated so idly, this man exuded an unmistakable masculine presence that no one could ignore.

At this moment, his devastatingly handsome face wore a rare, brilliant smile, and in those deep, sea-dark eyes lurked a wicked, chilling glint as he watched everything he himself had orchestrated unfold.

Ziqing leaned her head against his shoulder, no longer wearing her dark scowl but thoroughly relaxed, the corner of her mouth curved in a cool smile as she watched the scene below at leisure. If she wanted to keep watching, she’d watch a little longer; if she grew tired of it, she could simply drift off to sleep without a worry.

Wasn’t this, in a way, having absolutely nothing to fear?

She had to admit—Jun Beiyue truly was the villain, the very worst kind of villain there was.

But so what if he was?

The villain doted on her, the villain spoiled her—wasn’t that enough?

All those men of virtue, righteousness, respect for elders, benevolence, patience, restraint, and magnanimity toward others—they had nothing but a good reputation to show for it. The moment trouble arose, they’d sacrifice themselves, and in doing so, drag down everyone around them too, all in the name of forbearance, tolerance, and moral duty. What good was any of that?

If a man couldn’t even protect the person beside him, what right did he have to claim he could protect the world?

Better to be doted on by a villain than loved by a gentleman!

Thinking this, Ziqing’s hand, which had been resting behind her all this while, slowly, slowly wrapped around Jun Beiyue’s strong, powerful waist.

Jun Beiyue’s attention had been fixed entirely on the Bai residence’s gate, but sensing the movement at his waist, the corner of his upturned lips stiffened slightly before he pressed his lips together, saying nothing further—yet his smile grew even brighter than the moon overhead. He himself hadn’t even realized he was capable of smiling like this.

In the silence, Bai Xiongqi finally reached the gate of the Bai residence.

At once, everyone blocking the path parted to either side, even Bai Feiyao and Jiang Chen’s family stepping back. Gu Jun and Bai Xiongqi, two family heads who had been rivals for the better part of their lives, finally stood face to face, eyes meeting, both filled with fury.

The moment Bai Xiongqi stopped, he bellowed furiously, “Gu Jun, have you no shame left at all? Airing the Gu family’s dirty laundry for others to mock is one thing, but bringing it all the way to the Bai family’s front gate? Isn’t this taking things a bit too far?”

“This isn’t merely the Gu family’s private matter. The Bai family’s eldest daughter seduced my family’s son-in-law, and the two of them carried on shamelessly together—do you truly believe this has nothing to do with the Bai family?” the family head retorted, unwilling to back down, his voice even louder than Bai Xiongqi’s.

Things had already escalated to this point—reputation, family honor, none of it mattered anymore.

“Nonsense! Gu Jun, if you keep slandering my daughter with baseless accusations, don’t blame me for showing no mercy!” Bai Xiongqi roared furiously. The instant he spoke, countless vines suddenly, silently shot up all around the Bai residence’s gate, rising skyward like grasping claws, even ensnaring the surrounding crowd of onlookers.

Bai Xiongqi had only just learned of this matter himself. He’d already smashed an entire room’s worth of belongings in his fury back home—by now, he had forced himself into a state of icy calm.

Bai Feiyao retreated to the side, too frightened to even lift her head to look at her father. She hadn’t just had Jiang Chen, after all—she had a whole stable of kept men. If this all came to light, there was no telling what would happen!

Gu Jun immediately laughed. “Everyone, all you good people of Liuxian Island, listen closely—do you all understand what the Bai family means by ‘slander’? This old man certainly doesn’t! If it were just this old man coming to your door, fine, but even the Jiang couple has come to your gate as well—could that possibly be false too?”

At this, murmurs of discussion rippled fearfully through the crowd. There’s no smoke without fire, especially with Jiang Chen’s own parents having come to curse the Bai family themselves—how could that be fabricated?

“Heh, who’s to say the two of you in-laws haven’t conspired together? Perhaps the younger sister-in-law tried to kill her own brother-in-law, and who knows what’s really going on between the two of them,” Bai Xiongqi snorted coldly.

“You!” Gu Jun choked with fury.

“Family head Gu, raising your voice like this accomplishes nothing—if you want to make accusations, you need evidence. If you can’t produce any, then it’s nothing but empty slander, and my Bai family will absolutely not let this go so easily.”

As the head of the Bai family spoke, without any visible movement on his part, two massive man-eating flowers suddenly burst up from the ground on either side of the family head, their huge, gaping maws snapping menacingly at him.

The family head’s heart lurched with alarm, but knowing Beiyue was somewhere nearby, he forced himself to remain calm, shouting, “Jiang family, tell them!”

The Jiang couple, who had just been weeping and wailing moments ago, suddenly went quiet, cowering, not daring to even look at the two powerful figures before them, let alone speak.

With things having escalated to this point, they truly had no idea whom they dared offend and whom they ought to try to please.

But just then, Jiang Chen suddenly stepped forward, saying earnestly, “Head of the Bai family, let me tell you—I truly never committed adultery with your eldest daughter!”

Hearing this, the head of the Bai family’s face immediately showed a flash of triumph, while the panicked Bai Feiyao shot Jiang Chen a cold glare. She had at least some confidence in this dog of a man—whatever else he lacked, his skills in bed had never once let her down.

But to everyone’s surprise, Jiang Chen continued, “A woman as formidable as your eldest daughter—how could someone like me possibly be worthy of committing adultery with her? I was merely one of the many kept boy-toys she supported!”

At this, the entire scene fell into instant, dead silence—so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

Then, unexpectedly, the head of the Bai family suddenly lunged forward, striking Jiang Chen hard in the chest with a furious roar, “Nonsense!”

Jiang Chen immediately coughed up a mouthful of blood, staggering backward. The family head, recovering himself, shouted furiously, “Bai Xiongqi, are you so consumed by shame and anger that you’d silence him in front of everyone here?”

Indeed, there were far too many witnesses present—even if Bai Xiongqi killed everyone here, it would still cause an uproar across all of Liuxian Island!

This was no place for a contest of strength—this was a battle of words and reputation.

Bai Xiongqi shot a vicious glare at Bai Feiyao, taking several deep breaths before forcing himself back to a semblance of calm, saying, “Jiang Chen, where’s your evidence?”

Evidence?

What kind of evidence could something like this even require?

Ziqing, watching from the rooftop, couldn’t help but frown. “Does he need to catch them in the act right here to count as evidence?”

To her surprise, Jun Beiyue’s mouth curled into a malicious smirk as he said coldly, “Yingzi, bring out the evidence.”