"Ten marriage letters—to think there are so many." Qiu Shanya said in surprise.
Qi Zhenguo let out a helpless sigh and nodded, looking somewhat depressed.
He had been hoping Qiu Shanya could come up with a way to help advance the relationship between Chen Xiao and Qi Chuyao.
That way, Chen Xiao could become his true son-in-law as soon as possible.
"This Chen Xiao, is he really as good as you say?"
Hearing Qi Zhenguo do nothing but heap praise on Chen Xiao, Qiu Shanya found it a bit hard to believe.
"This son-in-law is truly exceptional. We absolutely cannot let him slip away," Qi Zhenguo said with a firm tone.
Curious, Qiu Shanya said, "Then I really must meet this cousin-in-law of mine."
"Once you meet Chen Xiao, you might just end up liking him yourself," Qi Zhenguo remarked casually.
Hearing this, Qiu Shanya's pretty face instantly flushed, and she turned her head away.
"Uncle, stop teasing me."
"How could I ever snatch a man from my own cousin?"
Seeing Qiu Shanya's reaction, Qi Zhenguo couldn't help bursting into hearty laughter.
With a slightly flushed face, Qiu Shanya felt her curiosity about Chen Xiao grow even stronger.
...
Eight o'clock in the evening.
Qi Chuyao was driving Chen Xiao to a bar.
"Why does your cousin want to see me?" Chen Xiao asked, puzzled.
Qi Chuyao softly replied, "My cousin has always been very good to me since we were kids. You're my fiancé, so of course she wants to meet you."
Chen Xiao blinked. "Is your cousin pretty?"
Without giving it much thought, Qi Chuyao immediately nodded and said, "Very pretty, she looks like a fairy, much better-looking than me."
Chen Xiao's eyes lit up, and he suddenly grew a bit interested in meeting Qiu Shanya.
"Chuyao, you're driving too slowly. Speed up."
"Driving too fast is dangerous. What are you up to?" Qi Chuyao asked, confused.
Chen Xiao grinned. "Suddenly, I'm quite eager to meet your cousin."
Qi Chuyao: "……"
She cast a resentful glare at the thick-skinned Chen Xiao and obediently slowed the car down.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiao looked straight ahead, full of anticipation.
He wanted to see this cousin and check whether she was really as gorgeous as Qi Chuyao claimed.
Half an hour later, the two arrived at Yunshang Bar.
After graduating from college, Qiu Shanya had used financial backing from Qi Zhenguo to open several bars, and business was booming.
Her current business trip was to discuss partnership matters with a company from another city.
It was now the peak of summer.
In the evenings, customers coming to the bar to drink dressed in light and cool outfits. Especially the young women, whose stylish attire was breathtakingly alluring, filled with subtle touches designed to catch the eye.
"What's going on?"
As the two drew closer, they noticed a large crowd gathered around the entrance.
Filled with curiosity, Qi Chuyao squeezed through the crowd ahead of Chen Xiao.
"Fuck your mother, get the hell out of my way!"
An arrogant, heavily intoxicated young man was cursing wildly at a security guard, even looking ready to throw punches.
The security guard stood his ground in front of the young man and said with a solemn expression, "I'm sorry, sir, but we're at full capacity inside. Please wait in line."
"You're just a security guard, some bottom-of-the-society trash, and you actually expect me to wait in line?!"
Flying into a rage, the young man suddenly raised his hand and viciously slapped the guard across the face three times in a row.
The guard staggered backward, nearly falling to the ground. One side of his face began to swell, turning beet red.
The onlookers let out a gasp of shock, looking at the guard with pity, yet no one stepped forward to intervene.
Everyone was just out to have a good time, and nobody wanted to invite trouble.
Right at that moment, an indignant Qi Chuyao rushed up to the young man and blocked his path.
"Zhao Kai, what do you think you're doing?"
Zhao Kai was slightly taken aback, then said matter-of-factly, "I'm beating someone up, obviously."
"This stinking guard won't let me in, so he deserves a beating."
Qi Chuyao said angrily, "He already told you, there's no room inside, you have to wait in line."
Zhao Kai dismissed it carelessly. "Wait in line my ass. Come with me, I'll take you inside for a drink."
Qi Chuyao let out a cold snort, glaring furiously at Zhao Kai.
Impatiently, Zhao Kai said, "It's just hitting a security guard, no big deal."
Chen Xiao pushed through the crowd and walked to Qi Chuyao's side.
Noticing the sudden appearance of a man beside Qi Chuyao, Zhao Kai pointed at Chen Xiao and asked curiously, "Chuyao, who is he? Is this a new bodyguard your uncle hired for you?"
"He's not a bodyguard, he's my fiancé," Qi Chuyao said.
She and Zhao Kai had known each other since childhood, and Zhao Kai's father was an old subordinate of Qi Zhenguo.
Since Zhao Kai spent all his time idling about and living a decadent lifestyle, Qi Chuyao had always despised him.
"Your taste is terrible. How does your fiancé look like a skinny monkey?" Zhao Kai sneered, sizing Chen Xiao up.
Chen Xiao's expression abruptly turned ice cold.
Oblivious, Zhao Kai continued, "Why don't you have your uncle get you a new one? In my opinion, your fiancé isn't even as good as that security guard."
Crack!
A crisp slap echoed through the air.
Without wasting words, Chen Xiao directly slapped Zhao Kai, sending him flying through the air.
The onlookers stared in blank astonishment—this guy hit even harder!
"Fuck your mother, you're looking for a death wish!"
"Don't think that just because you're Qi Chuyao's fiancé, I'm going to spare you."
Scrambling up in a pathetic state, Zhao Kai clutched his face. The burning pain sent his anger skyrocketing, making him look like a rabid dog.
With a cold expression, Chen Xiao slowly walked toward Zhao Kai.
Zhao Kai's heart skipped a beat, and he stammered in panic, "You... don't do anything rash. My dad and Qi Chuyao's dad are sworn brothers."
Chen Xiao walked right up to Zhao Kai and, without a single wasted word, delivered a ferocious kick to his body.
Bang!
Zhao Kai was instantly sent flying ten meters away, crashing heavily onto the ground.
He landed flat on his back and passed out cold on the spot.
Seeing this, the crowd collectively drew in a breath, admiration written all over their faces, and began showering Chen Xiao with praise.
"Well done!"
"Great hit, so satisfying!"
"That kind of scumbag deserved a beating. I didn't like the look of him from the start!"
...
Maintaining his calm demeanor, Chen Xiao returned to Qi Chuyao's side.
Qi Chuyao's lips curved upward as she gave Chen Xiao a thumbs-up.
In her eyes, the way Chen Xiao had just made his move was effortlessly cool.
"Let's go. Take me to see your cousin."
Qi Chuyao smiled and nodded. "Okay."
The security guard who had been slapped earlier suddenly walked over and said with genuine sincerity, "Thank you."
Chen Xiao smiled. "He deserved that beating."
"If you run into this kind of thing again in the future, just hit them right back. If anything goes wrong, come find my cousin," Qi Chuyao reminded him kindly.
The security guard scratched the back of his head and gave an honest, awkward smile. "Got it."
Qi Chuyao visited often, and the bar staff all knew about her relationship with Qiu Shanya.
Entering the bar, Qi Chuyao skillfully led Chen Xiao toward Qiu Shanya's office.
Creak!
Qi Chuyao pushed the door open and led Chen Xiao inside.
Qiu Shanya was sitting in the boss's chair, dressed in professional attire that exuded a mature, deeply alluring charm.
Chen Xiao was slightly taken aback. This woman was truly stunning; while perhaps not possessing beauty that could topple a kingdom, her aura alone could effortlessly eclipse countless other women.
Mature and captivating, she possessed a potent lethality for many men.
Qiu Shanya lifted her head, her gaze immediately locking onto Chen Xiao as she appraised him with a critical eye.
"Have a seat."
Chen Xiao and Qi Chuyao sat side by side on the sofa.