"He had something urgent come up, so he couldn't make it."
Allen Ju spoke gloomily.
As soon as he finished, Selina Wu quickly chimed in, looking over: "That's right, he was supposed to come with me, but he got a call about something urgent and had to go deal with it."
Ju Chi snorted: "Besides, I know you're close with Allen Ju. And I've heard a few things about you and that kid."
That day, Selina Wu had contacted Evan Lin, planning to bring him along to the Ju family estate.
The incident at the Yannan Club could turn out big or small—ultimately, it all depended on what the Ju patriarch decided.
Selina Wu believed that as long as the Wu patriarch met Evan Lin and they talked things out, there was nothing they couldn't resolve.
Besides, Evan Lin himself is someone who always makes people feel safe and dependable.
It seemed like there was no trouble Evan Lin couldn't handle.
For years, Selina Wu and Martin Wu had been friends with Allen Ju—not just because they'd grown up together, but mainly because their two families helped each other out.
But if Ju Chi's words were taken seriously, not only would Selina Wu and Martin Wu never be able to stay friends with Allen Ju, even the relationship between the Wu and Ju families might end up fractured.
Allen Ju was straightforward; he didn't insist that Evan Lin had to show up, and just shouldered everything himself.
"He says he has something to do, and that's it?"
Ju Chi glanced at Selina Wu standing there and sneered coldly: "I think he just took the chance to bail."
"That kid knows he's messed up big time, can't run even if he wants to, so he just dumped everything onto Allen Ju instead."
"Come on, Selina, are you guys stupid? Do you not know what kind of existence Nightstar is?"
"That kid got into it with Nightstar, and now he's dumped the whole mess onto our Ju family, waiting for us to clean up after him!"
"And I think he's made up his mind to pin this on our Ju family. Maybe he's even teamed up with others to screw us over!"
Ju Chi pressed harder, his words getting more blunt and his voice growing louder.
"He's not that kind of person!"
Selina Wu wanted to explain.
But as soon as she started to speak, Ju Chi cut her off.
"Selina Wu, no offense, but you're not really part of our Ju family. In the end, this is our family's business. My advice? Just stand there quietly and don't say too much."
Ju Chi snorted: "Besides, I know you're close with Ju Xing'an. And I've heard a few things about you and that kid."
"Tell me, Selina Wu, could it be that you've been fooled by that little con artist, so you're going all out to defend him?"
After finishing, Ju Chi looked at Selina Wu's furrowed brows and continued, "Besides, you were there that day."
"Now I'm starting to wonder if you and that kid teamed up to deliberately create conflict between our Ju family and Nightstar."
Ju Chi grinned, his smile tinged with amusement and excitement. This was the plan—to strip Allen Ju of his identity as Third Young Master Ju for good!
After Ju Chi finished, Selina Wu's heart skipped a beat. She keenly sensed that the other Ju family members were now looking at her with more hostility.
For years, Selina Wu and Martin Wu had been friends with Ju Xing'an—not just because they'd grown up together, but mainly because their two families helped each other out.
But if Ju Chi's words were taken seriously, not only would Selina Wu and Martin Wu never be able to stay friends with Ju Xing'an, even the relationship between the Wu and Ju families might end up fractured.
That would be an unimaginably heavy consequence.
"What nonsense are you spewing? You don't know the facts, you're just guessing with that brain of yours! If you're so good at guessing, how come you never won the lottery?"
Martin Wu couldn't hold back anymore and glared at Ju Chi.
Normally, he might've already rushed forward, but this time he had to swallow his anger.
"You're insulting me now?"
Ju Chi glanced at him: "Martin Wu, don't say I didn't warn you—you're barely able to protect yourself right now."
"Whether I guess or not, that's my business, what's it got to do with you? Seeing how anxious you are, maybe I really hit the mark."
"I nailed your real intentions, so now you're getting angry out of embarrassment!"
"Tell me—what's your Wu family really up to, helping others drag our Ju family into trouble?"
Ju Chi shouted harshly.
"You!"
Martin Wu's face turned red with anger. He clenched his fists, about to step forward, but Selina Wu grabbed him and held him back.
The other Ju family members around them were now looking over with very different expressions.
There was more hostility and suspicion in their eyes.
"Enough."
The Ju patriarch spoke slowly.
Just two words, but they landed like a thousand pounds.
A moment ago, Ju Chi had been furious, aggressive, almost spitting in Martin Wu and Selina Wu's faces. Now he instantly reined himself in, became obedient, and stepped back to his original spot.
He bent over, looked at the Ju patriarch, and said softly, "Grandpa, I'm only thinking of our Ju family."
"Our Ju family is big and influential. We can't afford to fall for anyone's schemes, especially since I think Xing'an's friend is really unreliable."
"Oh, and if the timing's about right, the Nightstar people should be arriving soon."
Ju Chi checked the time—it was already two in the afternoon.
As soon as he spoke, Martin Wu, Selina Wu, and the others were all stunned.
"Nightstar people are coming?"
Selina Wu looked at Ju Xing'an kneeling there, suddenly feeling uneasy.
But Ju Xing'an still looked pale, his expression unchanged by the news.
Apparently, he'd already known about this ahead of time.
"Of course."
Ju Chi looked at Selina Wu: "Nightstar people got into trouble, and Ju Xing'an took the blame for it."
"Now that Nightstar's coming to settle things, isn't the first person they'll think of the one who stepped up that day—Ju Xing'an?"
"Oh, wait, it's not just Ju Xing'an—they'll actually be thinking of our entire Ju family!"
"And where's your friend, huh?"
"Hmm?"
"He causes trouble, then leaves our Ju family to clean up the mess. That's just not right."
"But it's fine. Later, we'll just tell the Nightstar people that whatever Ju Xing'an did was his own business and has nothing to do with our Ju family."
"After all, every grudge has its owner, every debt its master."
Ju Chi grinned, his smile tinged with amusement and excitement.
He was planning to strip Ju Xing'an of his identity as Third Young Master of the Ju family for good!