Ch 39 (Part 2): Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel

Indeed, a recently acknowledged illegitimate child could not uphold proper conduct. He caused a commotion as soon as he was brought into the family.

Everyone chuckled dryly.

Fang Ziyang remained calm. Regardless of the looks he received, he showed no reaction, behaving as if these matters had nothing to do with him. His demeanor was particularly composed today.

Fang Yandong, however, was far from calm. Yan Tong’s foolish behavior was causing him to lose face. His smile stiffened as he dismissed the people mocking him, then he dragged Yan Tong into a corner, barely containing his anger.

“Didn’t I hire a stylist for you? Who told you to dress like this today?!”

If Yan Tong didn’t have to meet someone later, Fang Yandong would have slapped him right then and there.

What an idiot!

Fang Yandong was a man who valued his reputation above all.

When his youngest son embarrassed him previously, he was angry but refrained from lashing out directly. But Yan Tong did not enjoy the same consideration. Until he officially married into the Xie family, Yan Tong was nothing more than an easily manipulated pawn to Fang Yandong.

Yet, despite all his warnings, this pawn still managed to disgrace him.

Fang Yandong was furious,

“Yan Tong, let me tell you, just because I brought you back to the Fang family and seemed to value you, doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want! I told you that today’s occasion was very important, especially since the Xie family values proper etiquette. I warned you not to make any mistakes, and now you’ve embarrassed me completely!”

“I thought you were smarter than your mother, but you’re even more foolish than that crazy woman Zheng Yating! Since she wanted you to return to the Fang family, didn’t she teach you any of the social rules of the upper class over the years? Look at your outfit today! Wearing a luxury watch along with antique accessories, it’s completely mismatched and absurd!”

Fang Yandong was truly furious.

When his younger son embarrassed him previously, it was at least outside where he didn’t witness it firsthand. But Yan Tong’s current blunder was right under his nose, with all those mocking glances around them. He had never felt so humiliated in his life.

Though Zheng Yating was despicable, she had spent time in high society while pursuing him and understood some rules. Didn’t she teach her son anything?

In reality, this criticism was misplaced.

Since Zheng Yating intended to use her adopted son as a tool to marry into the Fang family, she had indeed taught him meticulously. But that was the original Yan Tong. The current Yan Tong had transmigrated and, despite inheriting the original’s memories, couldn’t apply them adeptly. Moreover, his innate vanity and lack of exposure to finer things made mistakes inevitable.

Especially since Fang Ziyang had “kindly” given him a push.

Thus, Yan Tong couldn’t quite grasp why Fang Yandong had suddenly pulled him aside and was so furious.

Facing Fang Yandong’s barrage of reprimands, he felt wronged and resentful.

Initially, he had been somewhat pleased, thinking his newfound father was a handsome man. Now, he saw Fang Yandong as just as evil and detestable as the novel’s antagonist, truly revealing an ugly nature.

All because of a small mistake with his accessories, was it necessary to be so angry?

But he didn’t dare to defy Fang Yandong and could only mutter pitifully, “Dad, I’m sorry. I really didn’t know…”

Yan Tong harbored some resentment, apologizing verbally but not truly feeling remorseful.

Fang Yandong had the audacity to scold him, knowing full well he was inexperienced yet providing a bunch of options, wasn’t that deliberately setting him up for failure? Besides, everyone knew he had just returned to the Fang family; this small mistake should be understandable. Was such an outburst really warranted?

Usually, such a pitiful display might evoke some sympathy from Fang Yandong, given the inherent appeal of vulnerability. But now, in the midst of his anger, Fang Yandong had no patience for it. Yan Tong’s pitiful look only made him seem more petty and unsuitable for high society, reminding Fang Yandong of Zheng Yating’s past entanglements with him.

The more Yan Tong appeared pitiful and wronged, the angrier Fang Yandong became.

“You didn’t know? Why didn’t you know! Didn’t I get you a stylist? Don’t tell me this is the work of a top domestic stylist!”

He couldn’t believe that a top domestic stylist could produce such a result!

Yan Tong’s face paled, feeling flustered under the questioning. How could he admit the truth that he ignored advice? That would surely lead to Fang Yandong’s outright rejection of him.

Having just entered the Fang family and not yet having had the opportunity to obtain his golden finger, Yan Tong absolutely couldn’t afford to be disliked by Fang Yandong at this moment.

Thinking of this, Yan Tong decided to smear Fang Ziyang’s name to shift the blame. Biting his lip, he said, “Dad, I… I really didn’t do it on purpose. I listened to the stylist. It was… it was Second Brother who intentionally made me wear these things to embarrass me. Dad, he must have known that you were going to cancel his engagement today and that Wenxu was going to propose to me. He did it on purpose…”

“He has always hated me. Even back in school, he would always go against me and bully me just because everyone liked me. But I really didn’t do it on purpose. Wenxu liking me isn’t something I can control. He hates me, I know that, but I didn’t know he would be so childish as to make me look bad at such an important event. Boohoo…”

“And that stylist, I… I asked him if it was okay to wear these, and he said it was fine. He must have been bribed by Second Brother to conspire against me. After all, I’m just a newly returned illegitimate child, and everyone looks down on me…”

As he spoke, Yan Tong began to cry, tears streaming down his face.

This accusation somewhat calmed Fang Yandong, because it wasn’t entirely implausible and did fit the style of his younger son.

However, Fang Yandong’s expression remained grim. “Alright, stop crying. We still have to meet people later. If you know he hates you, then stay away from him in the future. I’ll arrange for you to have etiquette and dress lessons starting tomorrow. I want you to learn proper etiquette as quickly as possible. I don’t want a repeat of this situation.”

Fang Yandong’s tone was harsh, like an emperor condescending to speak to his subjects.

Even Fang Ziyang, who wasn’t fond of Fang Yandong’s attitude, found it irritating. Yan Tong, who loathed being treated with such condescension, felt the sting acutely.

Though seething inside, Yan Tong kept up the appearance of being wronged, his eyes red as he nodded, “I understand. I’ll do my best…”

Fang Yandong nodded. “Good. I’ll go back down first. You go and change into something appropriate before coming down.”

With that, Fang Yandong left without another word, a far cry from the favorable impression he had in the original storyline when first meeting Yan Tong.

As soon as Fang Yandong was gone, Yan Tong’s expression changed drastically.

The look of grievance and pity vanished, replaced by intense resentment. He kicked the corner of the wall, venting his anger. Any thoughts he had of his original father being handsome and a pity not to pursue vanished into thin air.

Yan Tong, after becoming a superstar, developed a grudge against Qin Feng because of baseless rumors about their relationship spread by the media. Qin Feng straightforwardly denied the rumors, which led to Yan Tong being mocked by other artists. To take revenge, Yan Tong caused several incidents that tarnished Qin Feng’s reputation, labeling him as a “heartless boss” and almost driving his company to bankruptcy.

When Zhong Ning confronted Yan Tong about this, Yan Tong felt no guilt. Instead, she accused Zhong Ning of betraying a friend for a man, calling her a disloyal person trying to exonerate the scum Qin Feng, almost driving Zhong Ning to tears…

In his past life, upon hearing this news, Fang Ziyang couldn’t help but feel some sympathy for Zhong Ning.

Fang Ziyang and Yan Tong were natural enemies, so it was expected that Yan Tong would set him up. But Zhong Ning’s situation was like the real-life story of the farmer and the snake, where kindness was repaid with treachery. Zhong Ning had the worst luck.

So, upon learning that Fang Yandong had once again hired Zhong Ning as the stylist, Fang Ziyang hatched a plan.

Yan Tong didn’t appreciate the help from Zhong Ning and her partner? Thought they were leveraging favors? Believed Zhong Ning was a green tea friend and a disloyal person?

Fine, then. Fang Ziyang would oblige him.

Let’s see if this ego-inflated guy could still navigate the treacherous waters of the entertainment industry without Zhong Ning’s help, all while basking in his supposed glory.

Fang Ziyang had embarrassed Fang Yandong and conveniently dug a pit for Yan Tong.

And there was an even bigger “surprise” waiting for the two of them later…

Fang Ziyang felt that today was an auspicious day for plotting revenge, settling scores, and declaring war. He was exceptionally pleased!

…

Meanwhile, in the resting room, Zhong Ning was enjoying some cake when her phone beeped. Casually opening the newly received email, she watched the video inside.

A few minutes later, Zhong Ning, her face alternating between pale and flushed, angrily shut off the video and grabbed her makeup case, storming out.

Zhong Ning was a straightforward and kind-hearted person.

If she liked someone, she would treat them well without expecting anything in return; but if she disliked someone, that person would never see a friendly face from her again, likely for the rest of their life.

The widely rumored cold-hearted President Qin of Star Sea Entertainment was, in reality, very doting on his hidden little sweetheart. Offending Zhong Ning meant offending Qin Feng.

Yan Tong, always out for personal gain, had no idea about Zhong Ning’s background at this point. Assuming she was just an ordinary stylist, Yan Tong naturally wouldn’t put in the effort to befriend her.

In the storyline, Yan Tong only befriended Zhong Ning because the styling Zhong Ning did for him once wowed everyone, and he was momentarily pleased.

Now that Yan Tong had embarrassed himself, he would likely blame Zhong Ning, even if it wasn’t her fault, as it was typical of Yan Tong to shift blame onto those he disliked.

Fang Ziyang, reflecting on his own flamboyant nature, realized he always had his limits.

However, Yan Tong was hypocritical and without boundaries, selfish and self-serving, just like Fang Yandong and those people—birds of a feather.

He really couldn’t understand what right Yan Tong had to accuse him of heartlessly abandoning a group of deeply affectionate male characters.

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