Chapter 140: My Name is Yang Qing (Subscription Requested)

"Chinese is the future!"

As soon as Yang Qing uttered these words, many gazes in the grand hall turned toward him, curious to see what kind of person would make such a statement. Yang Qing ignored them, turning away to leave with Li Dongning while shielding Wang Ying.

He was filled with rage, feeling deeply disappointed, especially after witnessing the true colors of the young man who had first blocked their way. Was this the character a cultured Chinese youth should possess? To blindly favor a person from the Land of Dwarfs without regard for right or wrong? Heh... it was truly rotten to the core! At that moment, he fully agreed with Li Dongning: this association had absolutely no hope left, for its roots were already decayed.

The three of them walked toward the exit, but they were stopped again after only a few steps. This time, it was an old man—Zhuo Yi, the head of the Traditional Musical Instruments Troupe.

Zhuo Yi shot a cold glare at Li Dongning before turning to Yang Qing, saying coldly, "Young man, you are being a bit arrogant. Apologize to Mr. Kimura, or else..."

"Or else what!" Yang Qing, losing patience, cut him off directly. "If a young man isn't arrogant, is he even a young man? Should I learn from you, decaying and rotting away as you approach the grave?"

"Old man, let me tell you: an apology is out of the question. If anyone is apologizing, it should be him apologizing to Diva Ying! As for you... heh, whatever you have in mind, bring it on. I'll take it!"

"You! Very well!" Fury surged across Zhuo Yi’s face. He turned to Li Dongning with a chilling gaze. "Li Dongning, tell him who I am! Truly, the ignorant are fearless!"

"Ha..." Li Dongning had completely let go of all inhibitions now. He said dismissively, "Who you are? Can't you say it yourself? I’m not your father! Why should I indulge you? And I advise you to move aside immediately, or I’ll expose all the dirty, shameful things you’ve done!"

"Don't try to pressure us with your status. Do you think you're so great? Are you as great as Diva Ying? It would be one thing if you were just relying on your seniority, and out of the traditional Chinese virtue of respecting the elderly, I might show you some courtesy. But you, without knowing right from wrong, demand we apologize to that little Japanese? I tell you, impossible!"

"Pah!" Li Dongning spat in disgust. "Sucking up to the Land of Dwarfs—you’ve completely disgraced the face of the Chinese Traditional Musical Instruments Troupe, you bastard!"

"You!" Zhuo Yi was shaking with rage. He pointed a trembling finger at Li Dongning, but his lips quivered and he couldn't get a sound out.

The surrounding guests watched in silence. No one spoke; no one dared to intervene at such a moment unless they believed they had the stature to resolve the conflict. Otherwise, it was better to keep quiet.

Just then, Wang Ying, who had been shielded in the center by Yang Qing and Li Dongning, spoke up. She took a graceful step forward, looked at Zhuo Yi with an expressionless face, and calmly uttered two words:

"Move aside!"

"Whoosh!"

At the sound of Wang Ying’s voice, Zhuo Yi froze in shock. Without a moment’s hesitation, he stepped aside. He dared to target Yang Qing and Li Dongning, but he did not dare to target Wang Ying—not only because of her status as a Diva, but because of her hidden background. Although he didn’t know the specifics of that background and it had never been verified, it certainly existed. Otherwise, in the great dyeing vat of the entertainment industry, could she have risen to the position of a Diva in her twenties while remaining pristine and untainted?

Personal talent is important, but resources, opportunities, and connections are equally vital, and these all require a corresponding price. There is no such thing as a free lunch; if you are unwilling to pay, you will eventually be eliminated. But if you have a deep and powerful background, that is another story entirely.

Just like Wang Ying!

With Zhuo Yi moving aside, there was no one left to block their path. In the silence, only the Japanese man, Kimura, could be heard barking angrily.

Yang Qing walked a few steps, then suddenly stopped. He turned around and shouted coldly at Kimura:

"Shut up! You’re participating in this exchange, right? Then I will make you lose miserably this time! I will make your Land of Dwarfs lose miserably! No matter the instrument!"

Yang Qing said coldly, "I, Yang Qing, said this! You’d better remember it well!"

With that, Yang Qing took Wang Ying’s hand and walked away. Li Dongning, trailing behind them, cast a look of disdain at Zhuo Yi and the young man surnamed Wu, mocking, "Dog Wu, translate my brother’s words for that little Japanese. Tell him to remember it well! Wash your neck and wait for it!"

The three of them left the banquet hall, leaving the others staring at each other in confusion. But after a moment, they masked their emotions and resumed chatting with smiles on their faces, as if nothing had happened. Living behind a mask is a necessary skill for adults, especially for the elite.

"Yang Qing, heh... very well. So it’s you! I want to see how you back up this tall talk!" Zhuo Yi thought with a bitter, dark expression. He hadn't seen photos of Yang Qing before, otherwise, he wouldn't have shown his face today and humiliated himself. After all, they had clashed before—they were enemies. Would an enemy give you face? Keep dreaming!

"Yang Qing, an interesting young man."

On the high platform, a beautiful woman with dignified features and elegant temperament watched Yang Qing’s retreating back. She smiled lightly and turned to head upstairs. Upstairs was where the true masters of musical instruments and music from various countries gathered to exchange ideas.

...

"Let’s go, I’ll treat you two to dinner."

Outside the banquet hall, Wang Ying smiled at Yang Qing and Li Dongning. She didn't say "thank you," because there was no need between them.

"Maybe not," Yang Qing said with a shake of his head, smiling. "I already ate my fill in there. I have to say, it was pretty good. I was even thinking about bringing some back for Qiu’er."

"Giggle... you really are a sister-slave," Wang Ying teased him with a laugh, then took the initiative to pull Yang Qing along. "Let’s go. You’ve eaten, but I haven't."

She then looked at Li Dongning. "Dongning, you haven't eaten either, right?"

Li Dongning (◎_◎;): "I... have I eaten... I haven't..."

Yang Qing: "..."

*You really are a talent. Where did that might and dominance of yours just go!*

"Alright... where are we eating? I need to call someone," Yang Qing said helplessly.

"Let’s go for skewers. There’s a barbecue place in Jinghua I’ve wanted to try for a long time, but never had the chance," Wang Ying said with bright, smiling eyes. She then looked at Yang Qing curiously. "Who are you calling? Qin Xue?"

"No, Xiao Xue is at home with Qiu’er. It’s Xiao Xue’s younger brother. He drove me here; he should still be waiting for me."

"Qin Xue’s younger brother, Qin Hao?"

"Uh..." Yang Qing blinked. "You know him?"

"Heard of him, but never met him," Wang Ying smiled. "Then go ahead and call him over."

"Alright."

Yang Qing called Qin Hao and waited on the spot.

Li Dongning looked at the two of them, feeling a bit dazed. He felt as if neither of them took what happened in the banquet hall to heart. Wang Ying was one thing—she had the confidence—but Yang Qing... he had just made a bold threat. Shouldn't he be feeling at least a little bit of urgency?

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but ask, "Qingzi, how much confidence do you have in dealing with the Land of Dwarfs?"

"Heh..." Yang Qing chuckled. "The most famous traditional instrument of the Land of Dwarfs is the shamisen, which they call the 'King of Instruments.' But do you know who the ancestor of the shamisen is? It’s our Chinese sanxian!"

After saying this, Yang Qing looked at Li Dongning and smiled. "Now, how much confidence do you think I have?"

"Uh, alright then," Li Dongning immediately waved his hand with a smile. "Then I’ll be waiting to watch your performance."

"Mhm," Yang Qing nodded. "Humility is for those with morals. For arrogant people like those from the Land of Dwarfs, it’s not needed!"

"Exactly! I hate those little Japanese more than anything!" Li Dongning chimed in.

Wang Ying didn't say a word, just listening as the two became increasingly indignant, criticizing the crimes committed by the Land of Dwarfs in China. It was truly a list of atrocities too numerous to record!

Just as they were getting more agitated and wishing they could rush back in to have another go at Kimura, Qin Hao pulled up in his G-Wagon. As he got out, his eyes lit up when he saw Wang Ying, and he called out to Yang Qing:

"Brother-in-law!"