"Xiao, are you angry? Go ahead, hit me... hit me..."
Chen Zihao spoke with extreme arrogance, casting blatant and lustful looks at Qin Zhaoyue. Even though Xiao Qiang knew the other man was deliberately trying to provoke him, his hot-blooded nature got the better of him, and he decided to beat this bastard up first just to satisfy his urge.
Standing 180 centimeters tall and working out regularly, Xiao Qiang quickly battered the frail Chen Zihao until his face was bruised and swollen.
"You bastard, I'll teach you to run that filthy mouth..."
"Keep acting smug... I'll beat you to death..."
Let me tell you, once you start hitting someone, it gets addictive!
Just as Xiao Qiang was thoroughly enjoying the beating, an urgent voice sounded from behind him: "Xiao Qiang, stop right there..."
Hearing the voice, Xiao Qiang did not immediately drop his raised fist. He turned around to see Qin Zhaoyue looking at him with deep anxiety, her eyes filled not only with anger but also with boundless pity—a sight that infuriated Xiao Qiang to the core!
Meanwhile, Chen Zihao wailed in agony, "Sis, save me! My brother-in-law is going to beat me to death..."
Hearing that scumbag's act, Xiao Qiang's anger flared up anew, and his fist came crashing down on Chen Zihao's face once more!
Qin Zhaoyue rushed forward a couple of steps and shoved Xiao Qiang hard to the ground. "Xiao Qiang, did you hear me? I told you to stop!"
Full of concern, Qin Zhaoyue hurried over to help Chen Zihao up. Chen Zihao immediately collapsed straight into her arms, sobbing, "Sis, my brother-in-law came to our company today and told me to cut off all contact with you! He even said if I didn't agree, he would beat me to death! I tried to explain to him that I'm just your younger brother, that I have no improper thoughts about you, and asked him not to jump to conclusions. But he wouldn't listen to reason and just started beating me..."
Chen Zihao seized the initiative, striking first with a malicious counter-accusation!
Upon hearing this, Qin Zhaoyue's expression turned terrifyingly dark. She whipped her head around to glare at Xiao Qiang. "Xiao Qiang, you've gone too far! I just told you this morning that I would handle this matter slowly, and yet you came over at noon intending to bully Zihao with brute force! How could you be so reckless? You are such a disappointment..."
By this time, staff members from Heima Club had gathered all around them, whispering among themselves.
"This is a society ruled by law. How can anyone be this arrogant and dare to beat people in broad daylight?"
"A guy like this should be locked up and sent to prison..."
Watching everyone take his side, Chen Zihao took advantage of the fact that Qin Zhaoyue wasn't looking and flashed Xiao Qiang a sly, triumphant grin!
This infuriated Xiao Qiang so much that he instantly lunged forward, ready to teach Chen Zihao another lesson!
"Xiao Qiang, what do you think you're doing? Are you really going to commit violence right in front of me?!"
Qin Zhaoyue shrieked hysterically at Xiao Qiang!
Xiao Qiang felt a deep chill run through his heart. The woman he loved had rushed over, only to look at the surface and hurl baseless accusations at him without a second thought!
"Qin Zhaoyue, did you even bother to find out the truth before hurling all these accusations at me? Do you even know why I hit him?!" Xiao Qiang demanded angrily.
Qin Zhaoyue glared at him with resentment. "No matter what the reason is, you have no right to hit people! Besides, he's my younger brother! How is this any different from slapping me across the face? Hurry up and apologize to Zihao!"
Xiao Qiang was so angry he laughed aloud. "Let me tell you, it's his sheer luck I didn't beat him to death! You want me to apologize to him? In your dreams!"
Seeing Xiao Qiang refuse to see reason, Qin Zhaoyue's face twisted in disgust. "Xiao Qiang, you really are a massive disappointment..."
With that, she turned to Chen Zihao, her face a mask of heartache and concern. "Zihao, let's go. I'm taking you to the hospital!"
Then Qin Zhaoyue supported Chen Zihao as they walked toward the exit, while Chen Zihao cast yet another smug, triumphant smile back at Xiao Qiang!
Xiao Qiang stood watching the pair's deeply affectionate sibling act with icy eyes, a tumult of emotions swirling in his chest. He considered telling Qin Zhaoyue about the filthy, provocative things Chen Zihao had said just moments before, but one look at her attitude made him abandon the thought instantly!
Even if he told her, would she believe him or her sworn younger brother? The situation just now had made that abundantly clear!
In her heart, perhaps this sworn brother was the one person who would never lie to her!
Xiao Qiang walked alone down the street. Despite the scorching sun baking the earth, he felt chilled to the bone.
Qin Zhaoyue's actions just now had completely frozen his heart!
"Maybe she's just holding on to our college romance because she can't let it go, which is why she's stayed by my side all this time. But she and that so-called sworn brother are the ones truly in love!" Xiao Qiang couldn't help but bitterly mock himself.
"Should I just gracefully exit this relationship and set her free? That way, she won't be torn, and I'll be completely liberated!"
For the first time since being with Qin Zhaoyue for so long, Xiao Qiang seriously began to contemplate breaking up!
Meanwhile, in the emergency room of Haizhou First People's Hospital:
"Zihao, I'm so sorry! I never expected that the trouble between your brother-in-law and me would drag you into this, get you injured, and even result in a broken arm! Don't worry, when I get back, I'll definitely make your brother-in-law apologize to you! If he doesn't, I won't forgive him!"
"It's alright, Sis. An apology doesn't matter! It doesn't even hurt that much anymore. It's just that I won't be able to give you massages or help you relieve your stress and fatigue for a while," Chen Zihao said, sounding deeply regretful.
"You silly boy, you're still so magnanimous! Even now, you're still thinking of your sister!" Qin Zhaoyue was deeply moved. This younger brother was truly heartwarming; injured as he was, he was still looking out for her! Oh, if only her husband were as warm and considerate as her brother!
"Of course! You're my sister, so of course I have to think of you. You're my closest family after my parents! I will always think of you, and I'll protect you in the future too!"
At that moment, Chen Zihao wore an innocent expression, playing the part of the well-behaved boy next door—a persona that Qin Zhaoyue found immensely endearing.
"Alright! Then you need to recover well so you can protect me!"
"Sis, but I really don't like this hospital smelling of disinfectants. I'd rather go back to the dorm," Chen Zihao said with a troubled look.
Qin Zhaoyue frowned. "How can that be? Your dorm mates work at the club; they just go back to sleep and won't be able to take care of you properly! How about I get you a VIP ward? The environment will definitely be nice, and there won't be any strange smells. What do you think, Zihao?"
"No, no, Sis! I had my fortune told before. The fortuneteller said my destiny leans toward yin, and I shouldn't stay in places with heavy yin energy like hospitals..."
Qin Zhaoyue didn't quite understand such things, but since her brother said he couldn't stay in the hospital, there must be some truth to it. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to leave him alone in the dormitory either.
Suddenly, an "brilliant" idea popped into her head!
"Zihao, how about this? Come home with me! We have plenty of rooms, and your brother-in-law is resting at home anyway. I'll make him wait on you..."