"I'm innocent," Xiang Feng said, looking guileless. He glanced sideways at the soldiers beside him. He didn't have much of a concept of military ranks, but his sensitivity to aura was exceptionally keen.
The soldier in front of him had blood on his hands; his aura was deep and restrained, and his thick brows and wide eyes held a cold, arrogant sharpness that was clearly not that of an ordinary person.
"Since you are husband and wife, you were certainly both invited. Please." The soldier, Dong Weiguo, gestured for them to follow.
"Alright then. For the sake of my wife, I'll take this trip with you," Xiang Feng said with a slight curl of his lip, boarding the vehicle alongside Liu Ruyun.
The military vehicle was formidable and imposing on the outside, but the interior was crude and sparse. It wasn't comfortable in the slightest, and the ride was unusually bumpy. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was even stranger. Unlike a typical private car, the seats were arranged in two rows facing each other.
Xiang Feng held his wife's small hand, gazing lovingly at her peerless beauty. Meanwhile, the soldiers led by Dong Weiguo were forced to witness the couple being intimate, leaving the group of bachelors feeling sick with envy.
"Ahem."
Dong Weiguo finally couldn't take it anymore. He cleared his throat and laughed dryly, "Little brother, I still don't know what to call you. My name is Dong Weiguo. The elderly man you and your wife saved at the mall yesterday is my father."
"Mm, I guessed as much."
Xiang Feng didn't bother to spare Dong Weiguo another glance. He frowned in irritation, saying, "You came to invite me, yet you don't even know my name? Isn't that a bit impolite?"
"..."
Dong Weiguo felt immensely awkward.
"Xiao Feng."
Liu Ruyun shot Xiang Feng a glare, then offered an apologetic smile to Dong Weiguo. "Brother Dong, my husband's name is Xiang Feng. He has a rather eccentric temperament. He means no harm; he’s just very blunt. Please don't take offense."
Xiang Feng might not have known who Dong Weiguo was, but Liu Ruyun certainly had heard of him. The Xianhai Dong family was known for their absolute loyalty. Dong Weiguo’s father, Dong Guowen, was a famous professor of dynamics in the military whose students were spread across the country. He had dedicated his entire life to the nation and its people, earning great merit.
The Xianhai Dong family weren't just "the rich and powerful"; they were held in higher esteem than any elite family. While they might not have the wealth of the Li Family, their prestige was incomparable—they were simply low-key.
Take Dong Weiguo, for example: despite having a bright future, he chose to lead troops on the most grueling front lines. Though nearly forty, he was only a Five-Star General. Given the influence of the Dong family, wearing the epaulets of a Six-Star or Seven-Star General wouldn't have been a stretch.
"It’s no matter. Being blunt is fine; I like straightforward people." Dong Weiguo forced a laugh, though he felt quite stifled inside. Usually, he was surrounded by sycophants, with scions of prestigious families clamoring to curry favor with him. Today, he had personally come to invite them, and this guy Xiang Feng not only gave him no face, he hadn't even looked him in the eye.
He really couldn't swallow this insult. But he had to endure it. Otherwise, his old man would skin him alive once he got home.
"Is the old gentleman feeling better? We were quite startled ourselves at the mall yesterday." Liu Ruyun wisely changed the subject and began chatting enthusiastically with Dong Weiguo.
"It’s fortunate you were there." Mentioning the events of yesterday, Dong Weiguo still felt a lingering fear. "That night, we took the old man to the nearest military hospital. The doctors said that while the method of rescue was unconventional, the results were excellent."
As he spoke, Dong Weiguo looked again at Xiang Feng, who still didn't want to engage with him. Swallowing his pride, he continued, "I came to invite the two of you today for two reasons. First, to thank you, little brother, for saving his life. That is a debt of gratitude I, Dong Weiguo, will remember forever. Second, I wanted to ask if you could help treat and nurse my father back to health. As children working abroad, it would give us some peace of mind."
Dong Weiguo’s words were sincere and heartfelt, quite moving. Yet, Xiang Feng acted as if he hadn't heard a word, offering no response.
Dong Weiguo was embarrassed yet again. The soldiers beside him looked as if they wanted to smash their rifle butts into Xiang Feng’s head. *The nerve of this guy!*
Who was Dong Weiguo? In the underworld, they called him "Dong the Cannon"—his name was like fire, his temper fierce and unyielding. In the military, he would slam his fist on the table even at his superiors; almost no one dared to provoke him.
"Ahem." Seeing that things were taking a turn for the worse, Liu Ruyun quietly pinched Xiang Feng and apologized with a smile, "Don't worry, Brother Dong. Xiang Feng will definitely do his best to treat the old gentleman. I can guarantee that."
"Haha, I trust Brother Xiang Feng..." Dong Weiguo gave another hollow laugh.
However, Xiang Feng started acting up again. "Wife, why are you touching my waist? Do you have some secret to tell me?"
"..."
This time, even Liu Ruyun felt awkward. Her "accidentally acquired" young husband was certainly capable, but his emotional intelligence was practically non-existent—he almost came across as a total airhead. Well, yes—the trendy term was "bratty little brother."
Fortunately, the military vehicle moved at a high speed, cutting through the bustling city and heading straight to the Villa No. 1 on Yunding Mountain, which eased the awkward atmosphere significantly.
As soon as they stepped out of the car, Dong Weiguo felt the air become much fresher.
"Young friend, thanks to your rescue yesterday, please, come inside." Dong Guowen, along with his granddaughter and daughter-in-law, had been waiting outside. Seeing Xiang Feng alight, they hurried forward to greet him.
"There's no need to go in. You don't need to thank me, because while I can cure your illness, I have no desire to do so." To everyone's shock, Xiang Feng dropped this bombshell.
They had just reached the threshold of the Dong family, and he had essentially snapped the connection. The atmosphere outside the villa instantly froze. Dong Weiguo’s soldiers, in particular, raised their rifles. With a single command, they would turn Xiang Feng into a sieve without hesitation!
"Xiao Feng, you..."
"Wife, don't involve yourself in this. This old man’s illness is difficult to treat, and there’s nothing in it for me. Why should I?" As he spoke, Xiang Feng glanced at Dong Weiguo intentionally.
"As long as you can save my father, name your conditions!" Dong Weiguo took a deep breath, though he couldn't suppress the rage in his chest. He had never seen anyone so ungrateful. Was the Dong family's face really worth so little?
"Hehe, that's your wife, right? Your wife is very pretty. I’ve taken a fancy to her. Are you willing to offer her up too?" Xiang Feng’s gaze landed on Tang Wan'er.
The atmosphere grew instantly volatile!
"You're looking for death!"
A gentleman can be killed but not insulted. The rage that had been brewing in Dong Weiguo’s chest finally erupted.
***
"Weiguo, don't be rude!" Dong Guowen’s face darkened. Any lingering goodwill he had toward Xiang Feng vanished. Being plagued by illness was agonizing, but he would never push his virtuous and sensible daughter-in-law onto someone else just to save his own skin. He could never do such a thing!
"Dad!" Dong Weiguo’s heart was torn, his gaze turning back to Xiang Feng with pure hatred.
"Xiao Feng, are you crazy?" Liu Ruyun’s face turned pale with fright and annoyance. Since they had registered their marriage yesterday, he had been all over her, calling her "wife" every chance he got. Now, he seemed to have taken a fancy to someone else’s wife—and she wasn't even that young! He was shameless! Liu Ruyun regretted it; *all crows are black under the sun*, and he was no different.
"I’m not crazy. His wife is genuinely beautiful. Even if she’s given birth, she’s in great shape," Xiang Feng said, his tone as calm as water.
"Enough!" Dong Guowen barked. "Pardon my poor judgment. Show them out." After saying this, he took his granddaughter’s hand and turned to leave.
"Dad, your health..." Dong Weiguo finally understood what it meant to be caught between loyalty and filial piety. On one side was his father’s life, on the other the woman he loved. He couldn't abandon either. But the condition this guy proposed was too much—he was actually salivating over his wife? The hatred of a father’s killer and the resentment of a wife-snatcher were the greatest pains a man could endure.
"I’m not dead yet. Show them out!" Dong Guowen tossed the words over his shoulder and began walking toward the house.
"Hey, what's the point of raising a son like that? As a man, you’re truly a disgrace," Xiang Feng continued to pour oil on the fire.
"You mother-f***er, you're dead!"
He could bear it no longer! Dong Weiguo’s anger surged, his eyes bloodshot, glaring fiercely at Xiang Feng, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
"Xiang Feng, are you insane? I’m divorcing you..." Liu Ruyun couldn't accept such a husband. She decided that the moment they got back, she would divorce him. How was this man any different from a scumbag like Li Donghao?
"Now is the time!" Xiang Feng whispered to himself.
He moved suddenly. Just like his name, he was fast as lightning, swift as a gale. Under everyone’s gaze, he turned into a blur and charged directly at Dong Weiguo.
*Bang!*
A dull thud rang out, and Dong Weiguo, a man of nearly two hundred pounds, retreated several steps.
"Open your mouth!"
Xiang Feng was even faster. Like a ghost, he darted behind Dong Weiguo, braced his back, and slammed his palm against it!
*Hic!*
Dong Weiguo’s mouth flew open, and a glob of thick, dark phlegm the size of an egg was spat out over three meters away. The phlegm was pitch black with streaks of blood, emitting a foul odor.
"What are you doing?"
"Put down our leader!"
In the blink of an eye, the dozen soldiers raised their rifles, glaring at Xiang Feng with fury. He had dared to ambush Dong Weiguo! That was a crime even worse than assaulting an officer!
"Don't you feel much better now?" Xiang Feng patted Dong Weiguo on the shoulder, smiling at him for the very first time.
"You... you knew I was injured?" Dong Weiguo looked at him, stunned and ashamed.
"Otherwise, did you really think I had a crush on your wife? What were you thinking? Does your wife even possess one-tenth of the beauty of my wife?" Having said that, Xiang Feng released Dong Weiguo and strode toward Liu Ruyun.
Liu Ruyun looked at him in complete confusion. She had no idea what had just happened.
"Weiguo, you were hurt?" Hearing that her husband had been injured, Tang Wan'er hurried over, concern written all over her face.
"I..."
"Why didn't you tell the family if you were hurt? Tell me where!" Tang Wan'er glared at her husband, feeling both angry and pained.
"Wife, I’m fine..."
"Still playing the hero?" Xiang Feng laughed bitterly. "If you don't tell the truth today, I’ll tell them for you. Otherwise, the way they're all looking at me, they might just swallow me whole. That’s putting me in a position of injustice, isn't it? Even though sister-in-law is beautiful, I really didn't have any ulterior motives."
"Weiguo, what exactly is going on? Aren't you going to speak the truth?" Dong Guowen’s face was dark; he was also completely baffled.
"Sigh. Last year during training, I was hit by a two-hundred-pound dummy. The hospital checkup said I was fine at the time, but I always felt something was wrong, and I kept getting the hiccups." Helpless, Dong Weiguo had to confess. "You all know my line of work—you can’t have any underlying illnesses, so I never reported it. I didn't dare tell anyone, because I love being in the army. I never expected Brother Xiang Feng to see through it at a glance."
This time, the look Dong Weiguo gave Xiang Feng was filled with gratitude; where was the resentment of a wife-snatcher now?
"Young friend, you put this old man to shame." Dong Guowen’s face flushed. "Quick, please, come inside."
"We won't be halfway through the meal before you show me out, will we?" Xiang Feng joked.
"No, no, absolutely not. We won't show you out for anything." Dong Guowen’s face turned even redder.
And so, Xiang Feng and Liu Ruyun entered the Dong family residence. Though it lacked the ostentatious luxury of the Liu family estate, it possessed an ancient, stable aura that the Liu family could never replicate. Of course, the Yunding Mountain villa wasn't a place one could live in just by having money.
"Xiao Feng, were you curing his illness just now?" Liu Ruyun whispered.
"That's right." Xiang Feng nodded, then suddenly said, "Wife, I thought I heard you say you wanted to divorce me..."
"No, you misheard. I said I wanted to have monkeys with you." Liu Ruyun’s face turned scarlet. Divorce? She couldn't bear to!
"Alright, that wish must be fulfilled. We’ll put it on the agenda as soon as we get back," Xiang Feng said with a straight face.
As the hosts and guests took their seats, the dishes were soon laid out. Everything looked and smelled delicious, enough to make anyone’s mouth water.
"Young friend, this toast is for you. My son and I owe you a debt of gratitude as vast as the heavens..." Before anyone even picked up their chopsticks, Dong Guowen raised his wine glass.
"No rush to drink. Let’s talk about the health of you and your son first." Xiang Feng shook his head, smiling. "If I don't explain things clearly, you all won't be able to rest easy."
"No, no, little brother, your methods are miraculous. I, Dong Weiguo, admire you from the bottom of my heart. How could I have any doubts?" Dong Weiguo said hurriedly.
But Tang Wan'er and Dong Guowen looked expectantly at Xiang Feng, casting a subtle, warning glare at Dong Weiguo.
"Brother Dong’s ailment is actually easy to understand. We call it 'transverse hiccups'—there was stagnant blood and phlegm blocking his chest cavity. It wasn't fatal, but it was uncomfortable. Just now, I deliberately provoked Brother Dong into anger. When a person is in a state of extreme anger, their lungs involuntarily expand, which helped push the phlegm out."
Pausing briefly, Xiang Feng continued, "Just when Brother Dong couldn't suppress his rage any longer and was about to strike, I took action, using a specific technique to force the phlegm out. The illness is actually already cured."
"So that’s it! Traditional Chinese medicine is truly profound and broad; it’s an eye-opener," Dong Guowen realized, his admiration growing deeper.
Xiang Feng shook his head and added, "As for you, old gentleman, your body doesn't need much nursing. Just listen to your doctor, eat less spicy food, drink less alcohol, and smoke less."
"No drinking, no meat, no smoking? Living life like that would be so boring, haha."
***
"Little Brother Xiang Feng has the heart and skill of a saint. With you here today, even if my father wants to drink to his heart’s content, Weiguo and I can rest easy." Tang Wan'er smiled and raised her glass. "Little Brother Xiang Feng, thank you for your righteousness in saving my father-in-law. I’ll drain this cup first."
With that, Tang Wan'er threw her head back and downed the full shot of white liquor.
"This second cup is to thank you for saving my husband. If it weren't for you, none of us would have known he’d been dragging that injury around for over a year."
"And the third cup—I had some reservations about you earlier. I apologize to you. I’m sorry."
Three shots of liquor in a row, and Tang Wan'er didn't even blush or lose her breath. She had the air of a true heroine. Her words were simple, yet sincere; there was no affectation, none of that haughty arrogance found in the women of other elite families. She was upright, bold, and generous.
"Sister-in-law, you're being too kind." Xiang Feng drank three cups with her and smiled lightly. "Even though I’m a commoner, I’m also a doctor. Saving lives and healing the wounded is the most basic moral duty for those of us in the profession. And Brother Dong, wearing the military uniform and holding a steel rifle to protect our country, is a true hero and a real man. I admire him deeply. Seeing him suffering from an internal injury, how could I just stand by?"
"Brother, no more words needed. It’s all in the drink. If you ever have need of me in the future, just say the word." Dong Weiguo was moved. After finishing three cups himself, he roared with laughter, exclaiming how satisfying it felt!
"You all might be satisfied, but I haven't had a single drop yet," Dong Guowen joked, prompting a round of laughter.
The meal was exceptionally relaxed and pleasant, filled with the warmth of a real home. However, as she ate, Liu Ruyun found she couldn't smile. Back when her grandfather was still alive, the Liu family had been just as joyful. But since he had passed, she could no longer feel that temperature in her own home, and her chest felt tight and heavy.
"Sister-in-law, let me toast you." Seeing Liu Ruyun’s expression, Tang Wan'er clinked glasses with her, and they soon became fast friends.
Although Tang Wan'er was the daughter-in-law of the Dong family—beautiful, sweet-voiced, and seemingly gentle—she was no mere trophy wife. She was a powerhouse in her own right. Her company, Union Industrial, had been quietly making a fortune. Household goods, skincare, luxury items, even the entertainment industry felt her influence. She was undeniably formidable. Coupled with the invisible support of the Dong family, Union Industrial was like a towering tree, unshakable.
"President Tang, you're too polite. It should be me toasting you..." Liu Ruyun was a bit flustered. While she was a famous beauty in Xianhai, in front of truly capable people, beauty was the cheapest commodity. In terms of status, she and Tang Wan'er were not even on the same level, to say nothing of the fact that the Liu family was merely a second-tier family in Xianhai, whereas the Dong family belonged to the true elite.
"Sister-in-law, that form of address is no fun." Tang Wan'er set her glass down and pretended to be angry. "You and your husband have done the Dong family a great kindness. I’m not standing on ceremony with you, so why do you keep calling me 'President Tang'? Are you looking down on me, your sister?"
"No..." Liu Ruyun’s heart skipped a beat. How could she dare have such thoughts?
"Then that’s settled." Tang Wan'er’s voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority. "From now on, we shall address each other as sisters. Furthermore, according to the information I’ve received, there are people in Xianhai who aren't very bright and have offended you. You don't need to worry about that; I will handle it..."
"Don't!" Liu Ruyun was excited, but Xiang Feng interrupted.
Acting like a mother hen shielding her chicks, Xiang Feng stood in front of Liu Ruyun, frowning. "Sister-in-law, are you looking down on your little brother?"
"Little Brother Xiang, what do you mean by that?" Dong Weiguo interjected. "Your sister-in-law means well..."
"Brother Dong, you and I are both real men. How could we possibly be unable to protect our own women?" After a brief pause, Xiang Feng continued: "I naturally know sister-in-law is acting out of kindness, but I, Xiang Feng, am a man, and I have my pride. My woman won't need someone else to protect her."
"Don't look at me like I’m penniless, living as a live-in son-in-law who eats off his wife. I have the confidence to ensure my wife leads a good life and is happy every single day."
"Uh..." Tang Wan'er was stunned.
Beside them, Liu Ruyun’s face flushed. She felt both moved and amused. Xiang Feng was clearly penniless—so poor he’d bite his own cheeks for sustenance—yet he spoke so boldly. He was truly shameless, and yet, everyone knew Xiang Feng wasn't bragging.
Her little husband really had genuine skill!