The pavilion boat didn't take anyone else after Ding Fan boarded, and it headed straight for the center of the lake. Witnessing this scene, the onlookers on the shore were all faces of envy. It should be known that those who came today were all well-known figures, and to enjoy such treatment, Ding Fan was indeed the first.

About ten minutes later, the boat reached the center of the lake.

"Mr. Ding, we have arrived. Miss Lin is already waiting for you in the banquet hall."

After docking, a man in a suit walked in respectfully and said to Ding Fan.

Ding Fan nodded and got off the boat, onto the shore.

It was only upon arriving that Ding Fan discovered there was actually a small island at the very center of the lake. The owner really had quite the whimsical idea to build a pavilion here. Located at the heart of the lake, it boasted beautiful scenery and fresh air - truly a fine destination.

"Are you that wastrel from the Ding Family? What are you doing here?"

Having barely walked a few steps after disembarking, Ding Fan heard a girl's voice coming from behind him.

Ding Fan was taken aback. Following the voice, he saw a rather beautiful woman dressed in an evening gown approaching from the opposite direction. The woman had an arrogant expression, and her eyes were filled with disdain as she scrutinized Ding Fan from head to toe, making her haughty and domineering demeanor all too evident.

Ding Fan had no recollection of this woman. However, her calling him a wastrel right from the start was extremely disagreeable to him.

"Of course, I'm here because I was invited to the banquet. This isn't your turf, is it? What business is it of yours why I'm here?"

The arrogant woman hadn't expected Ding Fan to retort so sharply, and her face turned ugly with disdain. "Ding Fan, do you still think you're the young master of the Ding Family? Let me tell you, even if the Ding Family were still around, crushing you would only take me a minute."

A glint of murderous intent flashed across Ding Fan's eyes. He had never met this person before, but she was so brazen upon their first encounter. Did she really think he was that easy to bully?

"Well, you could try and see who dies first."

Ding Fan's words were laced with a biting chill, causing the arrogant woman to involuntarily shiver. At this moment, she couldn't sense any submission or weakness from this so-called wastrel; on the contrary, she felt the proud and vibrant energy radiating from Ding Fan.

"Xiaoxiao, what's wrong? Who has gotten you so worked up?" At this moment, a rather burly man approached.

The girl known as Xiaoxiao lit up upon seeing him. "Young Master Tang, it's because of this blind fool here."

Ding Fan glanced at the newcomer. Aside from his sturdy build and standing a full head taller than himself, Ding Fan could sense a sharp and formidable aura emanating from the man.

His gaze was steady, his breathing even, and every movement he made exuded efficiency and decisiveness. If Ding Fan wasn't mistaken, this man must have been trained in martial arts.

While Ding Fan was sizing up the man, the newcomer was also assessing Ding Fan. Seeing Ding Fan's ordinary clothes and frail body, after a quick glance, he turned to the arrogant woman known as Xiaoxiao with a smile and said.

"Xiaoxiao, today is Sister Qingqing's birthday party; it's best not to cause trouble."

Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes at Ding Fan and then said to the burly man, "Since Young Master Tang said so, what else can I say?"

The burly man nodded. Then he turned to Ding Fan. "My name is Tang Bi. Those who know me call me Dagger. Come, let's get acquainted."

After saying that, Tang Bi stretched out his right hand towards Ding Fan.

Seeing Tang Bi not reprimanding Ding Fan, Xiaoxiao, who felt somewhat disappointed, now had a gleam of excitement in her eyes again.

Others might not know Tang Bi, but she did. This Tang Bi was the son of the president of Dancheng Liao Province Bank and had loved boxing since he was a child, even serving on the second team of the Dancheng boxing team. Xiaoxiao had never seen Tang Bi lose a fight.

Now that Tang Bi was taking the initiative to shake hands with Ding Fan, Xiaoxiao knew all too well that Tang Bi was not merely seeking acquaintance. Which noble scion isn't prideful? How could Tang Bi possibly want to get to know a country bumpkin?

Tang Bi's intention in shaking hands with Ding Fan was mainly to use it as a way to teach Ding Fan a lesson.

Didn't Tang Bi just say it? Today is Lin Qingqing's birthday banquet, so it's not good to cause trouble. But by using a handshake, if he crushed Ding Fan's hand, the latter could only swallow his teeth and bear it.

By now, Xiaoxiao was watching with anticipation, expecting to be entertained. In her opinion, Ding Fan definitely didn't have as much strength as Tang Bi and was sure to be squeezed until he cried for his parents.

That will show you for trying to play the hero with this lady. Soon, you'll be making a fool of yourself.

Ding Fan, of course, noticed the malice in the other's intention, but he wasn't afraid. When their hands grasped each other, a sudden brute force tightly clamped onto Ding Fan's hand without any warning.

Ding Fan's brow furrowed slightly as he instantly understood the other man's message. Since today was Lin Qingqing's birthday party, they weren't openly resorting to violence, but rather they were using the handshake as a means to force him to cry out in embarrassment.

Given the sudden force exerted by Tang Bi, had it been an ordinary person instead of Ding Fan, their hand bones might have been crushed.

Ding Fan's eyes flashed with a trace of coldness.

Although the trick was petty, it was mean-spirited.

At that moment, there was no need for Ding Fan to indulge the other party, and he suddenly exerted his strength.

Ding Fan was now a cultivator at the second level of Qi training. No matter that Tang Bi was a boxer from the Dancheng second team, even if he were from the first team, he was no match for Ding Fan.

Tang Bi had originally thought that after squeezing with all his might, the other party would surely cry out in pain, wailing loudly. However, to his surprise, he didn't feel the other's bones breaking under his grip. Instead, it felt as though he had grabbed a slab of iron.

At that moment, Tang Bi felt somewhat unreal. Knowing his passion for boxing, he persisted in his training daily, spending even more time in the gym than in bed. He couldn't believe such an apparently frail person could withstand his full-strength grip.

However, while Tang Bi was still trying to figure it out, an incomparable force suddenly gripped his hand tightly, then began to press down bit by bit…

The other's grip strength was simply monstrous, and Tang Bi could even feel the sound of his bones being crushed. What was terrifying was that the other's grip was still increasing gradually; Ding Fan's expression was calm and natural, obviously not exerting his full strength yet.

Pain, heart-piercing pain…

By now, Tang Bi's forehead was already sweating. He even wanted to scream out, asking Ding Fan to let go. If it continued, he knew his right hand would definitely be crushed by Ding Fan.

But at that moment, quite a few people were standing around. Clearly, they were all waiting to see him handle Ding Fan. Tang Bi knew that if he called out now, by tomorrow the embarrassing incident would become the talk of the town.

The two had been in a handshake for quite a while. Xiaoxiao was puzzled on the side. According to reason, Ding Fan should have been making a fool of himself by now. Why was he still acting as if nothing was wrong?

On the contrary, looking at Tang Bi now, beads of sweat were visible on his forehead, and his lips were trembling slightly, as if enduring something unbearable. What was going on?

"Young Master Tang, you better get to know this person well, best make sure he remembers you," Xiaoxiao said to Tang Bi from the side.

"Sure, I'd like to get to know you too. My name is Ding Fan."

Ding Fan certainly picked up on the undertone in Xiaoxiao's words, as if she was suggesting that he should not be let off lightly. Since that was the case, he no longer planned to go easy on Tang Bi.

Tang Bi glanced at Xiaoxiao angrily, wondering how he ended up in such a predicament for showing off for Xiaoxiao. Now this **** was oblivious to the situation, adding fuel to the fire. He feared his right hand was ruined.

Squeak…

Ding Fan suddenly applied more pressure, an overwhelming force. Tang Bi's last line of defense was gone, his hand now numb to the point of losing sensation. He could only let Ding Fan do as he pleased.

Even if this meant his right hand was crippled, he, Tang Bi, would not beg for mercy; doing so would mean he could no longer mix in noble circles. However, though he thought as much, Tang Bi was finding it nearly impossible to keep silent, as the pain from his hand had reached an unbearable level...

"What are you two doing?"

Just as the standoff between the two could not persist, a voice came from the side.

The crowd turned to look, and a woman in a striking red leather outfit, extravagant to the extreme, and blatantly flamboyant, walked over.

The crowd recognized the newcomer; it was Xu Rui, the daughter of Xu Guanjie, the deputy mayor of Dancheng.

After arriving, Xu Rui quickly grasped the situation. She said to Tang Bi with a stern face, "Dagger, don't you know that today is Qingqing's birthday party, and Ding Fan is a guest invited by Sister Qingqing? If he's bullied here, I definitely won't let you off."

In Xu Rui's view, since Tang Bi had practiced boxing, his handshake with Ding Fan was clearly an act of bullying.

Of course, Tang Bi understood the implication of her words. "I...I...where have I..."

Right now, Tang Bi really felt like crying. It was quite clear that he was the one being bullied, yet Xu Rui came over to question him.

"What? Young Master Tang doesn't let go? Do you not believe I'll kick you to death!"

Seeing Tang Bi still holding hands with Ding Fan, Xu Rui's face instantly darkened.

The person who wanted to let go the most was Tang Bi himself. By now, he even suspected his hand was deformed. Seeing Xu Rui getting angry, he hurriedly said to Ding Fan.

"Mr. Ding... from now on you can call me Little Bi. It's a pleasure to meet you."

How could Ding Fan fail to hear that the other was conceding? Since he had achieved his aim of teaching a lesson, he let go of Tang Bi's hand.

Xiaoxiao, witnessing this scene, was utterly dumbfounded. She could hardly believe her ears; Tang Bi was actually letting Ding Fan call him Little Bi!