The business smile on Lin Jie's face gradually disappeared, and he withdrew his outstretched hand.
To be honest, he wasn't angry at the other person's disrespectful attitude or expression. He had met too many people like this, whether it was before or after his transmigration. There were simply too many to count.
If he got angry every time he met someone like this, he would probably be as angry as a blowfish by now.
But not being angry didn't mean he had to indulge the other person and suck it up like Buddha.
Replying to a handshake should be the most basic form of courtesy. If he didn't even try to put on a show, it could be seen that this Mr. John didn't want to leave any face for either party.
Since that was the case, no matter how good-tempered Lin Jie was, he didn't intend to continue maintaining the friendliness of a businessman.
Lin Jie sighed and spread his hands. He said calmly, "I'm just the owner of an unknown bookstore. My name isn't worth mentioning. In terms of status, there is indeed a great disparity between me and everyone here."
Ji Zhixu's hesitation when introducing him was probably due to this factor. Before the matter of him collaborating with Luo Er Resources was made public, directly mentioning such an ordinary status would probably invite even more obvious malice and mockery... It was really hard on her.
But Miss Ji seemed to have underestimated this guy's determination to provoke her... If it had been someone more tactful, or to put it another way, someone more cowardly, they would have wisely chosen not to pursue the matter if Ji Zhixu intentionally didn't mention it, because there was a very high chance of offending Ji Zhixu.
So, to say such unrestrained and rude words in this kind of setting, this person was either a real idiot, or he was fearless and felt that nothing would happen even if he said such things.
Although Lin Jie subjectively felt that it was the first possibility, objectively speaking, the second possibility was more likely. Remember this in a second: http://m.9biquge.com
Especially... this guy's unconcealable condescension in his eyes.
It wasn't just directed at Lin Jie, but also at Ji Zhixu.
In other words … this fellow had the confidence to think that he had a higher status than Luo Er's Eldest Miss of the Ji family?
Based on common sense, this was simply impossible. Luo Er Resources was already a giant monopoly that stood at the top of Nuo Jin. Everyone at this banquet could clearly see the weight of this colossus. There was simply no other power that could stand shoulder to shoulder with it. Even the central region, excluding political factors, had to consider their attitude towards Luo Er Resources.
But … what if one were to use unconventional reasoning to speculate?
Lin Jie narrowed his eyes and said slowly, "It is true that both parties should be given equal treatment when introducing themselves. However, having me introduce myself personally may be more respectful to the other party. This isn't a big deal, but I'm afraid … you, who are making a big fuss out of nothing, didn't come here with the intention of having an equal exchange from the start?"
Hardedef shifted his gaze from Ji Zhixu to Lin Jie. He raised his chin slightly and said with a fake smile, "This is no small matter … commoner."
Does that mean that as a 'commoner', you can't understand the importance of the difference in status between the two sides?
That's really arrogant.
However, Hardedef clearly felt that this arrogance was not enough … His heart was burning with rational jealousy — yes, jealousy. Hardedef had never concealed his possessiveness towards Ji Zhixu. In his opinion, he was definitely one of the strongest competitors for the marriage alliance with Luo Er Resources.
That was until Ji Zhixu invited this unknown person to dance for her first dance at her 20th birthday banquet.
As a noble, as an extraordinary, as a young wizard with outstanding talent, Hardedef felt that he had been humiliated!
And now, this jealousy was telling him that he must make this commoner, who thought that he had climbed up the social ladder, deeply understand his own status.
"Of course, this unknown gentleman, I'm not talking about you."
Hardedef pretended to spread out his hands helplessly and looked distressed. "I still understand how commoners think. To them, they may feel that there is no need to distinguish between noble and lowly status. After all, they are always pursuing so-called equality and freedom. They think that nobles are idiots who only know how to enjoy life. But …"
He gestured to the surroundings. "Look, this is the place closest to the central district of Nuo Jin, the center of District A. Look at these priceless decorations, and what about them? They live in a numbered street where they can't even get letters to start with, and they are even in a smelly ditch that is not included in the city planning. There is no such thing as equality in this world. "
"Forgive me for being blunt, but each of the decorations here is enough to buy hundreds of low-level slaves. Haha, why don't you guess where these slaves come from?"
"… You don't have to look at me like that. Oh, you probably don't know that for people with noble status, buying and selling slaves is still legal. This is something that the central district recognizes. Of course, as gentlemanly nobles, we will never do anything beyond what is reasonable for these slaves."
"I just want to say, do you understand the significance of these numbers? It separates two types of people — not commoners or nobles. "
"Just like distinguishing between different types of tableware on the dining table, they don't need to understand these etiquette. After all, they will never see tableware other than chopsticks, spoons, and forks in their lives. They will even use their hands to grab food to eat. Oh, my God, what a disgusting, dirty, and lowly behavior!"
Hardedef's eyes were full of sarcasm, but on the surface, he looked gentle, as if he was really just talking about some aristocratic etiquette. "But you have to know that these etiquette are the symbols of civilization."
"And this so-called civilization is the difference between humans and animals … or rather, between humans and livestock."
Ji Zhixu's expression changed so much that it could not be described with simple words.
Her face had already darkened and was very ugly. When Hardedef opened his mouth, she was ready to teach this guy who did not even know who he was talking to an unforgettable lesson. However, when she opened her mouth to speak, Lin Jie raised his hand slightly and stopped her.
She turned her head and saw Lin Jie's calm eyes looking straight at Hardedef.
"…"
Although his eyes were so calm that they could be called peaceful, Ji Zhixu could not help but shiver.
Because she suddenly realized … that ever since leaving the bookstore's dim yellow light, those eyes, which were as dark as always, did not have any light shining into them. Only a bottomless darkness remained.
The hall was brightly lit, and the people were toasting each other, but those lively and bright scenes could not be reflected by those eyes.
"Actually, I think what you said is quite reasonable."
Lin Jie put on a bright smile again. "But since we are in this banquet, we are all just Miss Ji's guests. But if you really want to see who is better …"
The bookstore owner looked at Hardedef and whispered with a smile, "I think, between you and me, there is another way to categorize."
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