Volume Two: Shadows of the Past Chapter Forty-One: What Is Happening?

Chen Jing and Liu Manqiang were nearly finished with their meal when Liu Manqiang suddenly nudged Chen Jing’s arm gently. Chen Jing looked at him in confusion, and Liu Manqiang motioned toward the right with his mouth. Chen Jing turned to look and saw Zhang Ke striding over with a bold swagger.

Chen Jing sighed in resignation—this idiot was back again. Since Zhang Ke had been reprimanded by Zhang Qishan a few days ago, he hadn’t really come to pick on Chen Jing. Chen Jing had thought Zhang Ke had mellowed, but evidently not.

Zhang Ke stopped in front of Chen Jing and glanced at his boxed lunch, feigning surprise. “Wow, that’s quite a feast in a box. So you got the meal, huh?”

Chen Jing was too lazy to respond and continued eating, ignoring him.

Liu Manqiang, however, smiled at Zhang Ke and said, “Haha, yes, Young Master Zhang. Have you eaten yet? Why don’t you join us for a meal?”

Zhang Ke sneered, “Tch, do you really think I’d sit down and eat with people like you?”

Liu Manqiang’s smile faltered but he didn’t get angry, just gave an awkward chuckle before lowering his head to take another bite.

Chen Jing found the guy extremely annoying and finally asked, “What do you want?”

Seeing that Chen Jing was finally paying attention, Zhang Ke grinned. “Nothing much, just heard you got a boxed meal and wanted to ask how it feels. After all, my role in the film doesn’t get a boxed meal the entire time, so I can’t relate to how you guys feel.” He then smugly shook his head at Chen Jing.

Chen Jing was speechless—he shouldn’t have bothered engaging with this guy.

Noticing Chen Jing didn’t answer his question, Zhang Ke paused, then suddenly perked up and asked excitedly, “Hey, was that girl who came to see you the other day Ling Ruohan?”

Chen Jing kept eating without looking up, “No.”

Zhang Ke, annoyed, retorted, “You’re lying. Don’t think I don’t know—it was definitely Ling Ruohan.”

Chen Jing rolled his eyes. If you already know, why ask?

“Hmph, it’s definitely her,” Zhang Ke grunted, then leaned in with a sly grin. “Tell me, what’s it like with Ling Ruohan? Is it especially intoxicating?”

Chen Jing suddenly stopped eating and looked up at Zhang Ke, squinting his eyes with a smile. “You want to know?”

Seeing Chen Jing respond, Zhang Ke eagerly leaned over the table. “Of course.”

Chen Jing stood up and beckoned Zhang Ke closer with a hand.

Zhang Ke leaned over a little more. Chen Jing reached out, touched the back of Zhang Ke’s head, and whispered softly in his ear, “For that question, why don’t you go ask your mother?”

Before Zhang Ke could react, Chen Jing grabbed his head and slammed it forcefully under the table.

Zhang Ke’s head first collided with Chen Jing’s boxed lunch, then hit the tabletop. The tremendous impact shattered the table into pieces, and finally, Zhang Ke’s head hit the floor with a thud.

Bang!

The loud crash startled everyone on set. All eyes turned toward the noise. The table in front of Chen Jing was toppled, and a figure lay sprawled on the ground—it was Zhang Ke, the production’s Young Master Zhang?

What had just happened?

Liu Manqiang, who had witnessed everything beside Chen Jing, stared in disbelief at the scene. Then, realizing what had occurred, he anxiously exclaimed, “Hey! Ah Jing, why’d you start it first?”

Chen Jing shrugged. “I’ve disliked him for a long time.”

“You can’t just hit someone because you don’t like them. You don’t know how serious the consequences can be,” Liu Manqiang said helplessly, crouching down to check Zhang Ke’s injuries.

Chen Jing knew full well what consequences his actions might bring, but he wouldn’t hold back. Others’ opinions didn’t matter, but no one could joke about someone he cared about—that was Chen Jing’s principle.

Zhang Ke had provoked him before, but Chen Jing had ignored it. But when Zhang Ke made fun of Ling Ruohan, he had crossed a line.

Chen Jing had initially planned to let it go for Zhang Qishan’s sake, but now that Zhang Ke mocked someone close to him, no one’s face mattered anymore.

Liu Manqiang flipped Zhang Ke over and saw his eyes closed—he had fainted. Thankfully, his face was just smeared with sauce and his nose was bleeding, but there seemed to be no serious injury. Liu Manqiang was about to press his philtrum to wake him when Chen Jing motioned him to stop.

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. No need to pinch his philtrum.” Chen Jing had controlled his strength carefully—Zhang Ke was just an ordinary person, and he only wanted to teach him a lesson, not harm him.

Chen Jing gave Zhang Ke’s body a gentle kick. “Get up. No need to pretend—I know you’re not really out.”

Though Zhang Ke’s face looked like it had smashed through the table, it was mostly the table that bore the brunt of the force. Zhang Ke was basically just taking a nasty fall.

Hearing Chen Jing’s words, the “unconscious” Zhang Ke trembled, realizing he couldn’t keep up the act. He quickly rolled over and screamed fearfully at Chen Jing, “What are you gonna do? I’m telling you, don’t get crazy.”

He had planned to fake unconsciousness until Zhang Qishan and the others arrived—to make it seem he was severely hurt and to avoid further attacks from Chen Jing.

When Chen Jing had pressed his face onto the table, Zhang Ke genuinely thought his head was about to crack open. It was terrifying. Now he was truly afraid of Chen Jing.

Chen Jing looked at Zhang Ke retreating backwards and sneered, “What can I do? Just some people’s parents didn’t teach them well. I’m just teaching their parents a lesson through them. Remember this—next time, speak properly. Don’t talk nonsense.”

“You…!” Zhang Ke wanted to retort fiercely but shrank back when he saw Chen Jing’s imposing figure.

The commotion finally drew Zhang Qishan and the others. Zhang Qishan came over, seeing Zhang Ke sitting on the ground amid the shattered table and blood on his face. His brow furrowed deeply. “What happened?”

“Uncle, you’re here! Call someone to catch him—he hit me!” Zhang Ke clutched Zhang Qishan’s arm, running over to him like a drowning man clutching a straw, panicked and shouting.

Zhang Qishan looked at Zhang Ke, who was crying and holding onto him. Seeing he wasn’t badly hurt, he sighed in relief. Then he turned to Chen Jing with a dark expression. “Ah Jing, what’s going on? No matter what, you shouldn’t have hit someone.” Although he knew Chen Jing wouldn’t strike without cause, he was still furious. After all, Zhang Ke was his nephew, and Chen Jing knew that. Since he knew and still hit him, it was a direct affront.

Chen Jing was about to reply when a cool female voice interrupted, drawing everyone’s attention.

“I want to ask Director Zhang the same question—what’s going on here?”

Chen Jing immediately recognized Lin Xi’s voice and turned to see her approaching with Lin Zitan. After glancing at Chen Jing and seeing he was fine, her gaze shifted to Zhang Qishan.

Zhang Qishan suppressed his anger and impatiently snapped, “Why are you asking me? I want to know too.”

“Know what? Didn’t you see Chen Jing hit someone?” Zhang Ke, emboldened by Zhang Qishan’s presence, no longer feared Chen Jing and pointed aggressively at him.

Lin Xi narrowed her eyes, surveying the crowd. She was about to suggest settling the matter privately with Zhang Qishan but was interrupted by Liu Manqiang.

“I’ll explain. I witnessed the whole thing. I was eating nearby,” Liu Manqiang stepped forward, drawing everyone’s attention.

Zhang Qishan hesitated briefly before saying, “Manqiang, tell us what happened.” He already suspected Zhang Ke had come looking for trouble, having encountered him twice before. Letting Liu Manqiang tell the truth would surely be unfavorable to Zhang Ke, but Zhang Qishan wanted to teach his nephew a lesson—he was tired of him acting so arrogant and entitled.

Liu Manqiang took a deep breath and calmly recounted, “It went like this: I was eating with Chen Jing when Zhang Ke suddenly came over and started talking about the film. He leaned on the table joking around, then teased Chen Jing. Chen Jing, annoyed, lightly tapped Zhang Ke’s arm that was propping him up. Unfortunately, Zhang Ke’s arm slipped, and he fell face-first onto the table. The table wasn’t sturdy enough to hold his weight, so it broke apart, and Zhang Ke fell to the ground. When he got up, he thought Chen Jing had hit him. The rest you already know.”

Everyone was stunned. So that’s what happened?

Chen Jing was speechless—it seemed the story was accurate.

Zhang Ke stammered, “Ah...? Is that really it? Seems... not quite?” He was confused but couldn’t put his finger on what felt off.

(End of chapter)