Ning Meng was shocked.

Standing in front of the counter, all she could do was stare at the cas.h.i.+er.

Knowing that the entire internet would be dissing her at this time, Ning Meng had uninstalled the Weibo app from her phone. She knew there was no need to respond to waves after waves of online roasts coming her way.

However, she did not expect to meet such harsh treatment offline as well.

The cas.h.i.+er was a young woman who looked to be about 20 years old. She seemed to have mustered a lot of courage to throw those words at her earlier—it felt as though she was an emissary of justice.

Ning Meng could feel her heart throbbing as she faced this immense hostility from strangers.

Upon hearing the cas.h.i.+er's words, the bystanders started to crowd toward them. Some of them only just seemed to realize who Ning Meng was, and started to glare at her, a few of them even started to spew insults and curses at her…

Being surrounded by these social justice warriors, Ning Meng started to hyperventilate. She had never been in such a shortage of breath ever, not even when she saw her car being splashed with paint this morning.

These people… their glares were like a huge, st.u.r.dy web, slowly covering her and tightening around her neck… tighter, and tighter… and tighter…

Clenching her fists, Ning Meng raised her head and looked at the cas.h.i.+er standing before her. Looking at her, Ning Meng felt as though she was looking at the countless keyboard warriors on the internet who were flinging venomous slurs and insults at her, thinking that they were fighting against injustice…

“Wha… what are you looking at? We will sell our tea to anyone but you!”

Mustering her courage again, the cas.h.i.+er raised her voice once more.

“Yeah! You go, girl!”

The people around her started to cheer out loud.

“This rich evil wh*re doesn't deserve any service from us!”

“Yeah, you filthy capitalist! How dare you look down on the working cla.s.s?!”

“People like you… you should all just go kill yourselves!”

Reproaches started to rain at her from all directions.

Putting a hand on her chest, Ning Meng opened her mouth, wanting to give them an explanation… she wanted to explain to them that she was not the kind of person they accused her to be, and yet, before she was able to say anything, someone shoved her aside furiously. “Scram! Our mall doesn't welcome the likes of you!”

“Yeah! Kick her out!”

“People like you don't deserve to be here! You don't deserve to breathe in here!”

Being shoved around, Ning Meng struggled to take a few steps forward, unable to say anything. All she could see were glares of disgust directed at her, and their furious, hate-filled faces began to spin around her.

Suddenly, a few men in black rushed into view and surrounded Ning Meng, s.h.i.+elding her from the mob as a tall, good-looking man walked toward her.

Putting a hand on her shoulder, Huo Beichen anxiously called out to Ning Meng, “Meng Meng, are you alright?”

Widening her eyes, Ning Meng looked at the man before him.

It felt as though Huo Beichen had morphed into a floating log, saving her from being drowned by the black ocean of hateful mob.

Grabbing onto his collar, Ning Meng sobbed, “What took you so long?”

She was used to being alone… used to not relying on others.

Yet, Ning Meng was still a person. An ordinary person. There was a limit to how much abuse she could take, and she was already at her limit.

Seeing her like this, Huo Beichen's face turned cold and vicious as he raised his head to glare at the people around them. Hugging the girl in his embrace, Huo Beichen whispered to her softly, “Sorry.”

'I should not have left you alone.'

After that, Huo Beichen stood up and swept a cold glare at the mob around them. “So, you don't want to be in the same mall as her? Fine.”

He then shot a look at the security guards that were coming their way. “I want to have a word with your manager.”

Straightening his collar, Huo Beichen continued coldly, “I'm buying your mall.”