Chapter 222 More Than Happy To Oblige

The rest of the people were growing increasingly impatient. They felt that Janessa was simply holding them back.

Josiah’s temper flared up. “Hey, Janessa, can you actually act or not? If you can’t, why don’t you just be yourself? Can you please not hold us back?”

“Seriously, if you can’t act, why not step aside early?” Tristan couldn’t help but voice his complaints as well.

The expression on Janessa’s face turned terribly unsightly.

Due to Janessa’s subpar performance, the rehearsal was not going smoothly. Yadiel had no choice but to extend the session, causing everyone to rehearse until late into the night.

As they were about to leave, Jillian glanced at the time and suddenly suggested, “It’s already quite late. Why don’t we go for a barbecue? We can treat it as a late-night snack. At the same time, we can discuss the play. If anyone has any thoughts, we can share and discuss them together.”

“All right, I like the idea,” Madelyn said first.

Josiah and Tristan also nodded, feeling that it was a good idea.

“I’ll pass,” Janessa, with a high opinion of herself, said abruptly. “That place is too chaotic, and the food isn’t clean. I don’t want to go. You guys can go by yourselves.”

The others sneered when they heard that.

Josiah bluntly expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, “Fine, we never intended to invite you in the first place. It would be best if you go back and figure out how to perform your part properly, instead of holding us back.”

“Exactly,” Tristan chimed in.

"This is too much!" Janessa stormed off.

Then, Madelyn and Josiah, among others, went to have barbecue together.

Josiah found the atmosphere lacking in excitement, so he decided to invite his group of rowdy friends over. They randomly picked a barbecue joint on the side of the road, where they began to indulge in drinks and devour meat.

Josiah’s friends were all quite the characters, sharing their fascinating tales from the streets in the most flamboyant manner.

At one moment, they were boasting about taking on twenty people single-handedly without a scratch, and the next they were recounting the thrills of speeding in a car. In short, they brought up all sorts of fascinating stories.

This was the first time Madelyn and Jillian had heard of such a thing. They found it fresh and amusing, laughing so hard they couldn’t close their mouths.

Soon, the alcohol was finished.

“I’ll go with you,” Madelyn said, rising to her feet.

The two of them went together to order drinks from the boss.

The rowdy youngsters from next door were already drunk. When they saw Jillian and Madelyn, two pretty girls, strolling around, they couldn’t help but harbor intentions.

One of them even lunged forward, seizing Jillian’s hand.

“Ah!” Jillian jumped in surprise, quickly withdrawing her hand. Only then did she notice a few men, drunk and staggering, heading their way. Fear gripped her as she clutched Madelyn’s hand: “Madelyn."

Upon seeing the thugs, Madelyn instinctively shielded Jillian behind her. She then looked at the men in front of her with caution, asking, “What do you want?”

“Hey, little lady, you’re quite the looker, aren’t you? How about hanging out with us?” A few thugs suddenly suggested with a lewd tone. Their eyes squinted with obvious lust, and some even licked their lips.

Madelyn was slightly startled. She quickly shouted, “Josiah!”

Josiah and his group were initially engrossed in their drinks, oblivious to the happenings around them. However, upon hearing the commotion, they immediately sprang into action, rushing forward and positioning themselves protectively in front of the two girls.

The thugs became even more arrogant. “Out of the way, you little brats. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll clear a path for your betters!”

“Do you even know who you’re talking to?” Josiah shot back immediately, his audacious aura evidently overpowering the other party.

However, those few people had gotten drunk, which emboldened each of them. “What’s the matter with me talking to you, huh? You think you’re tough? Hit me then!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Josiah landed a punch on him. “If you’re so eager to get beaten, I’ll be more than happy to oblige!”

Following that, both parties began to engage in a fight.

Josiah’s friends were not to be trifled with. In no time, they had the few sleazy thugs kneeling on the ground, their faces bruised and swollen, begging for mercy. “We were wrong. We’re sorry for offending you earlier. We won’t dare to do it again. Please spare us.”

Josiah looked at them coldly, swiftly delivering a kick. “Scram!”

That group of people hurriedly took off, fleeing in a rather disheartened manner.

Madelyn stepped forward and complimented, “Not bad, Josiah. You do have quite a masculine charm.”

‘Aren’t you just stating the obvious?” Josiah responded with a hint of playful arrogance before the group carried on with their merry eating and drinking.

The very next day, this incident actually made the morning news.

Pictures had been taken of Madelyn and a group of thugs causing trouble, even getting into fights outside. In the photos, Madelyn was notably shielded behind Josiah, who was protectively standing in front of her.

Chapter 222 – More Than Happy To Oblige

Marsha was in the midst of her breakfast when she suddenly caught sight of the news report. She almost spat out her mouthful of milk.

“This is outrageous!” Marsha couldn’t contain her fury. “Call Madelyn. I want her here now!”

In no time, Madelyn arrived.

As soon as she walked through the door, she was met with a barrage of scolding from Marsha. “Madelyn, did you just turn a deaf ear to my words? You promised me not too long ago. Now look at this. What is all this about?”

After she finished speaking, she casually tossed the newspaper in front of Madelyn.

With a look of confusion, Madelyn picked up the newspaper and was dumbfounded.

Darn it! Isn’t this the photo from the barbecue we all had together last night? How did it end up in the news? And who even took these pictures? Plus, the angle of me with Josiah in the newspaper… is way too suggestive…

Madelyn was in a tough spot. She quickly clarified, “Mom, you’ve got it all wrong. Actually, we just had a barbecue together last night. Then, those thugs tried to mess with me. That’s why my classmate stepped in to help."

“Who are you trying to fool?” Marsha was far from convinced.

“It’s the truth…” Madelyn felt an indescribable bitterness in her heart.

Luckily, at that moment, Agnes stepped in to mediate. “Enough, Marsha. Hasn’t Madelyn explained everything clearly? You should stop blaming her now.”

After speaking, she looked at Madelyn with a face full of affection. “Madelyn, are you hurt? You must have been scared.”

“Grandma, I’m fine. I swear I didn’t lie.” Madelyn was utterly frustrated.

“It’s a relief that you’re all right. I believe you’re a good kid, but you should still pay attention to your safety in the future. Try not to go out so late, all right?” Agnes said kindly.

Madelyn nodded seriously.

“Mom…”

Marsha watched from the side, fuming with anger. She felt that Agnes was blatantly playing favorites.

However, no matter how angry she was, she found herself unable to say anything else.