Upon learning about what had happened, Qi Zhenguo burst into hearty laughter.
"How do you feel about this son-in-law of mine now?"
Standing at the entrance of the bar, Qiu Shanya looked up at the star-studded night sky and said with a bitter ache in her heart, "Uncle, right now I just want to be left alone."
"Who is Jingjing? Is that a boyfriend you just found?" Qi Zhenguo asked, puzzled.
Qiu Shanya remained silent.
"All right, I'm just joking."
Wiping the smile from his face, Qi Zhenguo turned serious. "Zhou Ping sent people to cause trouble tonight. Although Chen Xiao took care of it, he's likely to come after you again in the future."
"That's what I was thinking, too," Qiu Shanya agreed.
Qi Zhenguo continued, "If you need any help on your end, just tell your uncle. Don't be shy."
"Okay, Uncle."
"Take good care of yourself," Qi Zhenguo reminded her.
"I know, I will."
...
Inside a KTV private room, a large group of people had gathered, among them Zhou Ping.
He had shifty, rat-like eyes and a thin, sickly frame that made him look as though a gust of wind could knock him over, yet he was notoriously ruthless.
When Zhou Ping saw the Tattooed Man lying on a stretcher, wrapped entirely in gauze, he flew into a rage.
He had run roughshod over Fuhai City for years, and he had never suffered a loss as heavy as today's.
"Qiu Shanya, it seems I was too polite to you before," Zhou Ping said coldly.
The Tattooed Man lay on the stretcher with a tearful expression, pleading, "Young Master Zhou, you simply must avenge me!"
The men who had gone with him to cause trouble had already all been sent to the hospital.
Gritting his teeth, Zhou Ping snapped, "More than twenty men couldn't even beat a single person. You lot are completely useless!"
With a miserable expression, the Tattooed Man cried, "Young Master Zhou, that guy was just too strong. We really weren't a match for him."
With a wave of disgust, Zhou Ping urged, "Get this trash out of here immediately. Throw him into the moat to feed the fish—I don't want to see him again."
Hearing this, the Tattooed Man's face stiffened, and he immediately began to beg bitterly.
The others looked at the Tattooed Man with pity, sympathizing with his fate, but not a single person spoke a good word for him.
They knew very well that none of Zhou Ping's decisions could be questioned.
In the end, the Tattooed Man was mercilessly carried out.
With a terrible expression, Zhou Ping said in a chilling voice, "Little bastard, how dare you cross me. Your only end will be death."
...
The next morning.
After waking up and walking down to the first floor, Chen Xiao saw Qiu Shanya and Qi Chuyao sitting in the living room.
"Why are you here?" Chen Xiao asked immediately.
Hearing his voice, Qiu Shanya and Qi Chuyao both looked over at him.
After last night's events, Qiu Shanya knew that Chen Xiao possessed incredible fighting skills and even medical knowledge.
Her impression of him had improved considerably.
Today, Qiu Shanya had taken the initiative to come over to treat Chen Xiao to a meal, wanting to thank him for bailing her out the night before.
Yet, constrained by female pride and reticence, she hadn't managed to bring it up right away.
At the same time, she knew her previous attitude toward Chen Xiao hadn't been very friendly.
Seeing her cousin's reaction, Qi Chuyao instantly guessed what she was thinking.
"Chen Xiao, my cousin came to invite both of us out to eat," Qi Chuyao said with a smile.
"Oh? Why?"
Chen Xiao looked at Qiu Shanya suspiciously. Surely she wasn't harboring malicious intentions again this time?
Qi Chuyao smiled slightly. "To thank you for helping her out last night."
"Oh, then let's go."
Chen Xiao understood immediately and felt a sudden surge of interest.
As far as he was concerned, with Qi Chuyao coming along, the meal wouldn't be dull.
But the next moment, Qi Chuyao frowned, an expression of frustration crossing her face.
"But I don't have time right now. I have to go to class in a little while, so only the two of you can go."
Chen Xiao hesitated slightly. "Well..."
His impression of Qiu Shanya had never been good, mostly because she had never given him a pleasant look.
Seeing Chen Xiao's reluctance, Qi Chuyao persuaded him, "It's just a meal, nothing else."
"All right, then I'll go." Chen Xiao agreed helplessly.
If it was just a meal with no other annoying complications, he supposed he could manage it.
Shortly after, Qiu Shanya drove Chen Xiao out, the two of them remaining mostly silent the entire way.
Not knowing what to say, Qiu Shanya simply asked whatever came to mind, while Chen Xiao gave perfunctory replies, having no desire to talk at all.
Inside the car, the atmosphere grew awkward.
Arriving at the restaurant, the two of them took their seats.
Chen Xiao picked up the menu and, without standing on ceremony at all, began ordering according to his own appetite.
In the end, he actually ordered fifteen dishes.
Putting down the menu, Chen Xiao said softly, "I'm done ordering."
Qiu Shanya's mouth twitched in speechlessness. Chen Xiao really had ordered quite a lot.
Was he trying to fleece a wealthy woman here?
Suspecting that Chen Xiao was doing it on purpose, she asked tentatively, "Do you usually eat this much?"
Chen Xiao nodded. "Pretty much."
Seeing that Chen Xiao didn't seem to be joking, Qiu Shanya felt a wave of surprise. His appetite was truly extraordinary.
Once all the dishes were served, basically only Chen Xiao was eating, as Qiu Shanya didn't have much of an appetite.
"I'm full."
Chen Xiao rubbed his belly and said with satisfaction.
Qiu Shanya pressed her lips together and said with some embarrassment, "Thank you for what happened last night."
Chen Xiao waved a hand. "Don't mention it."
"Zhou Ping is not someone to mess with. You should be careful lately—he might come after you," Qiu Shanya kindly reminded him.
Unbothered, Chen Xiao said, "It's fine, I'm not afraid."
Seeing how confident Chen Xiao was, Qiu Shanya asked curiously, "Just how good are your fighting skills?"
Chen Xiao shook his head. "I don't know."
"Huh? How could you not know your own strength?" Qiu Shanya asked, baffled.
Chen Xiao blinked. "Because I've never lost, no matter what it is."
Choked up by his remark, Qiu Shanya was left speechless.
She waved a hand. "Just pretend I didn't ask."
Leaving the restaurant, Qiu Shanya drove Chen Xiao to the school to find Qi Chuyao.
The moment she parked the car, the two of them were blocked.
A middle-aged man, accompanied by ten others, cut off Chen Xiao's path.
Every single one of them looked fierce and malicious, clearly not men of good intent.
Qiu Shanya, who had been about to drive away, hurried out of the car upon seeing this scene.
"What do you want?" Qiu Shanya demanded.
The middle-aged man said coldly, "It has nothing to do with you. Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong; we're only looking for him."
With that, he raised a hand and pointed at Chen Xiao.
"Were you sent by Zhou Ping?" Qiu Shanya asked again.
The middle-aged man was stunned. What was this woman talking about?
He shook his head and denied it, "No."
"Then who sent you?"
The middle-aged man continued, "I can't say. That would break the rules."
With a dark expression, Qiu Shanya said coldly, "Name your price. I'll pay you double, so just drop it."
Chen Xiao had helped her last night, and she wanted to help him in return.
"Sorry, I won't accept that."
Hearing Qiu Shanya's words, the middle-aged man chuckled.
People like them might not walk the straight path, but if they lost their reputation, they wouldn't even survive in the underworld.
Unwilling to waste any more breath on the woman, the middle-aged man suddenly shouted, "Lads, make your move!"
Stepping in front of Qiu Shanya, Chen Xiao's eyes narrowed.
He was ready to strike!