《Supremely Talented Tyrant》 Chapter 1 Beautiful Lady, Its Not Right to Scold People! "Name?" "Hao Jian!" "Vulgar? I''m asking for your name, notmenting on your character!" "Uh... My family name is Hao, given name Jian!" ... Xiao Qiang, d in a business OL outfit, was tightly wrapped in it, her shapely body outlined in a perfect curve! She was only wearing light makeup. Her exquisite features now took on a strange expression, her captivating phoenix eyes examining the young man before the desk with a scrutinizing demeanor! In front of Xiao Qiang, on the sofa, there was a somewhat dejected young man sitting! Although his name gave off an inexplicable sense of humor, Xiao Qiang still pushed up her ck-framed sses on the bridge of her nose and professionally asked: "Hao Jian, since you are applying for the position of the president''s driver, what other special skills do you possess besides driving?" Upon hearing Xiao Qiang''s words, the slightly dejected young man''s eyes lit up. A slight smile curled at the corner of his mouth as he confidently said: "Known as Venomous Dragon Drill, I can handle delicate jobs! Also..." The young man had a delicate face and was dressed in a pair of washed-out jeans and a T-shirt, with slightly long hair. His bangs lightly veiled one eye, and a mysterious sheen flickered in his dark pupils! A smile that was not quite a smile always hung at the corner of his mouth, and he was now talking nonstop. However, Xiao Qiang and the other female interviewers'' faces grew redder and redder until finally, Xiao Qiang couldn''t bear it anymore and cried out sharply: "Shut up!!!" Uh... Hao Jian was a bit taken aback, staring at Xiao Qiang with an expression ofplete innocence, looking like a wronged little wife, which involuntarily aroused a trace of pity! Xiao Qiang was feeling exactly that at the moment! For some reason, although she was almost exploding with anger when listening to this guy spout nonsense, his innocent expression now made her feel somewhat guilty, as if she shouldn''t have scolded him so loudly! "Cough, cough... I''m asking about your other skills, as in, besides driving, what can you do? Or rather, what capabilities do you have?" Xiao Qiang coughed to clear her throat, trying to keep her voice gentle, then asked. "Ha! You''re asking about my abilities! You should have said so earlier!" At this moment, Hao Jian smacked his forehead, then said with a beaming smile. Pfft! On hearing Hao Jian''s words, the female interviewers couldn''t hold back anymore and burst outughing on the spot! And Xiao Qiang, upon hearing this, felt so frustrated she almost spat out blood! Xiao Qiang suddenly felt that this applicant was quite odd. However, with her colleagues present, she had to maintain theposure of a Human Resources Manager. She adjusted her mood and continued to inquire: "You should know that we at Shu Ya Group are recruiting a president''s driver. The sry is very high, but so are the requirements! Driving skills are just the basic requirement; looks, manner of speech, educational background, etc. ¨C our standards in all these aspects are very high! If you don''t possess any outstanding abilities, then there''s no need for us to waste our time!" "Outstanding abilities? Let me think..." When Hao Jian heard this, his eyebrows furrowed slightly, and then he touched his chin, counting on his fingers as he fell into thought: "Making babies, going queer, piloting space shuttles..." Hao Jian''s attitude was extremely serious. However, listening to his words, Xiao Qiang and the others were left stupefied! However, what Hao Jian said next truly enlightened them on the highest realm of boasting! "Cough, cough... aside from those few things I can''t do, I can do everything else!" What? The female interviewers, including Xiao Qiang, werepletely bbergasted, staring at the unabashed man before them and wondering if his skin was thicker than a city wall''s corner turn; otherwise, how could he be so shameless! Xiao Qiang kept shaking her head; in her heart, she had already given this guy a big negative rating! However, upon ncing at Hao Jian''s resume again, she furrowed her brows even deeper: "Your previouspany was called ''Hell''s Eighteen Levels''? What kind ofpany is that? Why would it have such a bizarre name?" Xiao Qiang found that this resume had only mentioned briefly and casually about Hao Jian''s past experiences but mentioned a peculiar name ''Hell''s Eighteen Levels''! Hao Jian shrugged his shoulders, smiling lightly as he said: "That''s not apany, that''s a prison! It''s located on a barren ind off the east coast of Canada, an ind known as ''God of Death Ind''! And ''Hell''s Eighteen Levels'' is a prison beneath the surface of God of Death Ind!" "Prison? You used to be a prison officer abroad?" Xiao Qiang and the other female interviewers were all taken aback, not expecting this guy to have such a background! But then, Hao Jian slightly shook his head: "I wasn''t a prison officer!" "Then what were you?" Xiao Qiang and the others grew even more curious, feeling that this young man had an unfathomable aura about him! Hao Jian smiled slightly and with a snap of his fingers said: "Prisoner! I was the prisoner who was paid a fortune to go sit in jail at ''Hell''s Eighteen Levels''!" Prisoner! And paid arge sum of money to go to jail? Upon hearing the word, Xiao Qiang and the others'' lips twitched slightly, and their expressions turned unsightly in an instant! "Alright! Mr. Hao Jian, your interview is over! Please go back and wait for our news. We''ll notify you by phone once we have a result!" Xiao Qiang''s gaze towards Hao Jian was filled with intense disdain; she detested criminals the most! In her eyes, inmates were all evil-doers,mitting all manner of crimes and were the scum of society! Especially now, when recruiting a driver for the CEO, how could they consider someone with a criminal record? And without a doubt, at this moment, Hao Jian had made it onto her cklist! Upon hearing this, Hao Jian slowly stood up, nodded with a smile at the few female interviewers, and then turned to leave! And Xiao Qiang, watching Hao Jian''s departing figure, felt her disgust intensify, silently cursing ''you damn convict'' while deciding to not pay him any more attention, ready to call the next interviewee. However, just as Hao Jian reached the door, he paused, suddenly turned around, and with a yful look in his eyes, addressed Xiao Qiang: "Beauty, it''s wrong to curse at someone!" Huh? Hao Jian''s words, though delivered with a serene calm, caused Xiao Qiang''s heart to skip a beat, her beautiful eyes instantly widening: "How¡­ how does he know?" Xiao Qiang was both shocked and terrified, but naturally, she wouldn''t admit it at the moment. She quickly masked the panic on her face and said indifferently to Hao Jian: "Mr. Hao Jian, what are you talking about? I don''t understand!" "Beauty, you understand! Right now, you are thinking, ''How does this stinking convict know what I am thinking?''" "You¡­ you must be mistaken¡­" "Beauty, you''re still lying! Now you''re thinking, ''Is this guy some sort of demon?''" "I¡­" "Now you''re starting to fear me, you dare not think, you dare not curse in your heart, afraid that I will once again say exactly what you are about to think!" ... At this moment, the exchange between Hao Jian and Xiao Qiang was incredibly swift, to the extent that the surrounding female interviewers didn''t understand what was happening. But at this moment, they saw Xiao Qiang turning paler and paler with terror and rm in her expression, and beads of sweat rolling down her forehead, the very image of someone who''d seen a ghost! Xiao Qiang was utterly bewildered, staring at the man before her, her delicate face clouding and clearing unpredictably. After a moment of deep contemtion, she mustered the courage to stand up and, reluctantly, bowed to Hao Jian: "Mr¡­ Mr. Hao Jian, I admit I cursed at you in my heart, I¡­ apologize to you!" Xiao Qiang was truly frightened of this unassuming man before her, almost as if he were a demon, seemingly able to read every single thought in her mind,pelling her to apologize. And upon seeing this scene, the surrounding female interviewers were extremely shocked!N?v(el)B\\jnn Never would they have imagined that everything Hao Jian said was true, and he could actually guess exactly what Sister Qiang was thinking! At this moment, the women in the room looked at Hao Jian as if he were a monster, shocked and frightened! "Cough cough¡­ so you were really cursing at me! I guessed it correctly¡­" Seeing Xiao Qiang bowing and apologizing to him, Hao Jian couldn''t help but show an embarrassed expression on his face, scratched his head, and said with a dryugh. Gah! And upon hearing this, Xiao Qiang and the female interviewers were all stunned! He guessed it? He could guess that? At this point, the female interviewers became interested in this guy, their eyes sparkling with curiosity: "Mr. Hao Jian, could you tell us how you managed to guess it?" Upon hearing this, even Xiao Qiang perked up her ears; Hao Jian''s previous disy had been too spine-chilling, and she too was extremely curious. "It''s quite simple, just psychology!" Hao Jian smiled slightly, not shy anymore, and took his seat once again in front of the female interviewers, speaking animatedly: "Psychology, do you know it? It''s the discipline that studies the psychological phenomena and mental functions of people! When I just mentioned being a convict, I noticed that this beauty''s right corner of the mouth lifted by 5mm, that''s the angle of disdain! The angle of disdaines from feelings of disdain, which are rooted in a mental imbnce! It''s a precursor to hormonal imbnce in women, a sign that Aunt Flo might visit ahead of time!" At this point, Hao Jian paused, then pped his forehead, regretfully saying: "Muddled! I got muddled! I''m exining psychology to you, how did I end up talking about female physiology? It''s just a mistake¡­ a mere mistake!" Hao Jian smiled sheepishly, and at that moment, the few female interviewers were trying hard not tough, their faces turning red as they struggled to contain their amusement. And Xiao Qiang''s face turned bright red with embarrassment and anger. Hormonal imbnce? Aunt Flo visiting? These words struck her like a tail being stepped on, causing her to leap to her feet: "Get out! Get out of here now!!!" Xiao Qiang''s scolding made Hao Jian shrink back, his face turning slightly red, as he nodded apologetically to Xiao Qiang: "Sorry, beauty! I identally misspoke! By the way, when Aunt Floes, drink more brown sugar water; it''s good for replenishing blood and reducing heat!" After saying this, Hao Jian saw Xiao Qiang''s eyes nearly spewing fire, prompting him to awkwardly make his escape from the room! And just after Hao Jian ran out of the room,ughter from the women inside filled the air! Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Same as Ever! Hua City is a third-tier small city in Huaxia, located in the northern part of Jiangnan Province! At this moment, night was slowly falling, and the entire Hua City was brightly lit, appearing tranquil and serene amidst the secluded Night Color. Phoenix Bar is a rather famous bar in Hua City! Right now at the entrance of Phoenix Bar, car after car pulled up, and groups of enthusiastic young men and women kept getting out, eager to revel in the festivities! And unlike many of those who arrived by car, at this moment, a young man with his hands in his trouser pockets, leisurely approached the entrance of Phoenix Bar! He was wearing a white T-shirt on top, and a pair of bleached jeans below. Right now, he lifted his head to nce at the shing neon sign above the bar''s entrance, a faint smile forming on his lips!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om He was none other than Hao Jian! Hao Jian wasn''t concerned about the job interview at Shu Ya Group during the day. He had only returned from abroad not long ago, and presently, he was attending four to five interviews a day. Being turned down had bemonce for him, and he was well ustomed to it! But now, his purpose foring to Phoenix Bar was straightforward: it was to pick up women! Thinking of this, Hao Jian couldn''t help but reveal a sly grin, then, with his hands in his pockets and whistling, he walked into Phoenix Bar! As soon as he entered the bar, sts of heavy metal music thundered in his ears, deafening! The wild rhythm of the music seemed as though it could ignite every nerve in the body, rapidly bringing one into an ecstatic state! Hao Jian surveyed the scene, only to see men and women writhing wildly under the neon lights, and on the dance tform, scantily d nightclub girls were dancing provocatively! Throughout the bar, the aroma of alcohol, the scent of women, and the odor of hormones were drifting and blending, stimting every nerve! Hao Jian''s nce swept over the sultry figures of the various women in the bar, and then, with a nonchnt smile on his lips, he headed straight for the bar! "Sir, what would you like to drink?" As soon as Hao Jian reached the bar, the bartender behind it immediately asked with a professional smile. "Give me a bottle of American Everclear!" Hao Jian snapped his fingers, gave a slight smile, and sat down as he spoke. However, upon hearing his words, the bartender was evidently startled: "Sir, did you just say a ss? Or a bottle?" The bartender could hardly believe his ears, knowing that American Everclear is one of the world''s top ten strongest liquors, with an alcohol content of ny-five percent, nearly the same as pure alcohol! Moreover, American Everclear is mostly bottled in 750 milliliter quantities, which is the equivalent of about one and a half pounds. If converted to erguotou¡ªa strong Chinese liquor¡ªit''s practically the alcohol content of nearly three pounds of erguotou! And this guy... Thinking of a single person consuming the alcohol equivalent of three pounds of erguotou, the bartender couldn''t help but shake his head vigorously: "I must have heard wrong! Definitely, I heard wrong!" The bartender suspected that his recent excessive indulgences were causing auditory hallucinations! Meanwhile, Hao Jian was unaware of the bartender''s thoughts, and with a smile lingering at the corner of his mouth, he said: "You didn''t hear wrong, a bottle! A bottle of American Everclear!" Gah! At Hao Jian''s words, the bartender waspletely dumbfounded! He stared nkly at Hao Jian; if it weren''t for the earnest look on the guy''s face, the bartender would even suspect he was being yed with! "Sir, are you really intending to order this kind of drink? Its alcohol content is ny-five percent, it can literally kill people!" the bartender couldn''t help but ask one more time! Yet, Hao Jian became somewhat impatient and immediately took out his wallet, pulling out a stack of money and cing it on the bar: "Is this enough?" "Enough! Enough!" Seeing that the other party had made up his mind, the bartender could only take the money and then took out a bottle of American Everclear from the very bottom of the liquor cab! Hao Jian looked at this bottle of American Everclear, smiled faintly, and then opened the cap, pouring a fierce gulp directly into his mouth! A burning sensation trickled down his papie, through his throat, and finally into his stomach. The fiery, spicy sensation made Hao Jian feel exhrated: "Great liquor! Still the same taste!" At this moment, the bartender was even more dumbfounded. He saw that with that one gulp, Hao Jian had downed a third of it! A third of the American Everclear is equivalent to the alcohol in a jin of Chinese grain liquor called Er Guo Tou! And this guy did it in a single swallow! Gurgle! The bartender swallowed hard, his eyes nearly popping out; he knew he had encountered a tough customer today! Hao Jian paid no attention to the bartender''s shock; after so many years, he was no longer surprised by such gazes! At this moment, after taking another sip of liquor, Hao Jian patted his pocket, took out a pack of seven-yuan-a-box Red Double Happiness cigarettes, drew one out, ''snap'' lit it, and then took a deep drag! Smoke billowed out; in this moment, Hao Jian, illuminated by the neon lights, exuded a strong aura of mystery! His gaze was somewhat hazy, as if he had returned to the days when he was dominant in the dark underworld, sweeping through the four forbidden zones! "Where''s my drink? Uh¡­ where''s my liquor?" Just as Hao Jian was engulfed in memories of the past, a drunken female voice came from beside him! The woman''s voice was extremely pleasant, like the call of a oriole, although it was a bit slurred at the moment. Nheless, the timbre seemed to resonate with the heartstrings! Hao Jian was startled and turned to look, finding a young woman drunkenly sprawled on the bar next to him! In front of this woman were several empty bottles, clearly having drunk a lot, and her pretty face was flushed, very tempting. Her unfocused eyes were scanning the bar as if searching for her drink! The moment Hao Jian saw the woman''s pretty face, his eyes lit up! The delicate features seemed carved by the gods, perfect and wless. Her snowy skin bore a faint flush of alcohol, like a peeled egg, without a single blemish to be found! While Hao Jian''s gaze was drawn to the young woman, she hazily snatched up Hao Jian''s bottle of Everclear and fiercely guzzled a mouthful! Damn! Hao Jian was somewhat dumbstruck, not expecting this stunning woman, who seemed almost angelic, to actually snatch his drink. Just as Hao Jian was considering whether to warn the young woman, she had barely swallowed the liquor when her cheeks suddenly turned red, and her throat convulsed! ''Pff''! The alcohol in her mouth sprayed out instantaneously, and unfortunately, it went right in Hao Jian''s face! Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Women are like water, women are like flowers! Hao Jian''s face was covered in Everclear from the USA, and he was staring at the young woman, not angry at all, but with a faint smile ying at the corners of his mouth! He stretched out his index finger, dipped it in the liquor on his face, and then put it in his mouth, his eyes lighting up slightly: "Beauty, you used a chocte-vored French VISA toothpaste this morning worth $500 a tube, fluoride-free, and whitens and protects against cavities!" Speaking, Hao Jian again pursed his lips as if savoring the taste of the liquor on his face: "You also had a ss of Baileys Irish Cream, a ss of Hennessy, and a bottle of Irish whiskey! Besides that, there''s a faint scent of jasmine on your tongue, tsk tsk... truly a fragrant tongue! I like..." Hao Jian seemed quite surprised, looking at the young woman with an even more intense gaze. This woman, with her natural scent of tongue, was definitely among the finest of the fine! Especially the beauty of this woman could definitely be ranked in the top three among the countless women Hao Jian had seen! However, the young woman was currently in a daze, unable to hear what Hao Jian was saying, and now she put down the bottle of American Everclear, muttering: "Whiskey... I want whiskey..." The young woman seemed bothered by something and was drowning her sorrows in alcohol, still drunk but insisting on whiskey! Seeing this, Hao Jian shrugged his shoulders and said to the bartender: "A ss of sake for thisdy!" "Yes, sir!" The bartender nodded and then poured a ss of sake in front of the young woman! However, the young woman picked up the sake and drank it all in one gulp, still muttering: "Whiskey, I want to drink whiskey..." The young woman''s mumbling had just finished when a middle-aged man slowly walked over from a nearby booth! This man was dressed in a suit and shiny shoes, with a beer belly and his sparse hair allbed back, looking every bit the sessful businessman! At this moment, his eyes shone with fervent lust as he smiled slightly wickedly and ced a bottle of whiskey in front of the young woman: "Beauty, please have a drink!" "Hmm?" The young woman, seeing someone speaking to her, looked up dazedly at the middle-aged man: "You... who are you? Why should I... drink your whiskey?" Seeing the stunning face of the young woman, the middle-aged man was even more delighted. He had been observing this woman for a long time since entering the bar! He noticed that she was drowning her sorrows in alcohol. The middle-aged man had also been waiting for a long time, noticing the woman waspletely intoxicated and saw an opportunity to make a move! Especially given her beauty, she was definitely the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, making this middle-aged man itch with desire: "Hehe... beauty, let''s make friends! This bottle of whiskey is the Royal Salute 38 year Old, worth $11,888! Absolutely authentic vor!" The middle-aged man seemed intent on showing off his wealth, while casting a teasing nce at Hao Jian, as he had seen that this fellow had shown some interest in his prey! Hao Jian at this moment was sipping his American Everclear, quietly savoring the lingering taste of the youngdy''s lips, oblivious to the middle-aged man''s words! The youngdy had not even nced at the Royal Salute in the middle-aged man''s hand and said in a dazed tone: "Make friends? Pfft... When men and women make friends in a nightclub, don''t they just want to get women into bed?!" The middle-aged man, obviously a seasoned hunter of the nightclub, knew his chance hade the moment the woman''s tone softened! However, what the youngdy said next froze his expression instantly: "Since... you''re willing to be my sun, then... how far should you stay from me again?" As she spoke, the youngdy scratched her head, seemingly trying to recall the exact distance! Hao Jian couldn''t help but chuckle upon hearing this, promptly reminding her: "We are 92955886.7 kilometers from the sun!" "Right! 92955886.7 kilometers!" The youngdy pped her forehead in realization and then told the man: "Alright! However far the sun is, you can roll that far away!" Having said this, the youngdy clearly had no interest in further banter with the middle-aged man and turned around, intending to order another drink! At this moment, the middle-aged man''s face had turned as red as a liver, and he finally realized he had been yed! "Hmph! You damned bitch, how dare you trick me! Do you even know who I am?!" The middle-aged man, now furious with embarrassment, grabbed the woman''s arm with one hand and holding the Royal Salute with the other, he attempted to force the youngdy to drink: "You damn well will drink today! Drink, even if you don''t want to! Any woman I, Huang Shng, fancy, can''t escape!!!" This middle-aged man clearly had some clout, not caring about the odd looks from others. Right now, he only had one thing in mind¡ªgetting this youngdy into bed! Once he had his way, taking some explicit photos and videos would enable him to ckmail her, thus having total control over this stunning beauty! Thinking of possessing such a prize daily, Huang Shng''s face was wild with excitement and his grinning smirk became even more sinister! However, just as Huang Shng was about to pour the Royal Salute into the youngdy''s mouth, a hand suddenly stretched out and firmly grabbed his arm. Huh? Huang Shng was startled, not expecting anyone to interfere with his conquests. He looked and saw it was Hao Jian: "Fuck! Let go! Kid, if you don''t let go now, I''ll make you regret it!!!" In Huang Shng''s eyes, Hao Jian had earlier helped the youngdy ridicule him by reminding her of ''the distance between the sun and the earth.'' At this point, he also loathed Hao Jian!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Just listening to Huang Shng''s words, Hao Jian took a sip of his drink and merely smiled, shaking his head: "Women are like water, women are like flowers! Treat them gently!" Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Is My Kick Cool? "Fuck! Who the hell do you think you are, daring to lecture your Brother Huang! Do you believe I won''t have someone fuck you up today!!!" Hao Jian''s indifferent expression and the smile on the corner of his mouth deeply wounded Huang Shng, sending him into a rage. His small, mung bean-sized eyes red at Hao Jian as he shouted: "Kid! You''ve got guts! Alright! Today I''m going to beat the shit out of you along with him!!!" Having said that, Huang Shng immediately reached with his other hand to grab a bottle from the table to teach Hao Jian a lesson! But just at that moment, a glint of cold light shed in Hao Jian''s eyes as he exerted a slight force in his hand! Crack! "Ah! It hurts... Fuck, it hurts!!!" The middle-aged man instantly felt a powerful force from Hao Jian''s hand, almost breaking his arm, making him cry out in pain: "Let go of me! Let me go, fast! Do you know who I am? I am Huang Shng!!!" The middle-aged man clearly wanted to intimidate Hao Jian with his name, but Hao Jian just shook his head: "Weasel? A weasel is supposed to steal chickens, right? It''s wrong for you to try and steal people!" As he spoke, a hint of cold sarcasm curled upon Hao Jian''s lips, and he increased the pressure in his hand, causing Huang Shng to scream in agony. "Alright! Alright! I... I was wrong! I was blind to not recognize a great man, I shouldn''t have been rude to a woman!" Huang Shng could tell that Hao Jian really hadn''t heard his name before. A wise man knows better than to fight when he''s outmatched, so he immediately started begging for mercy! Hao Jian was just giving the guy a lesson and seeing him so quickly fold, he lost interest and immediately let go: "Get lost!" After saying that, Hao Jian continued drinking his own liquor! Watching this scene, Huang Shng could only re at Hao Jian hatefully and unwillingly before turning to leave! After Huang Shng left, the alluring young woman just gave Hao Jian a dazed look, then asked the bartender for a tequ and slowly started drinking it! And Hao Jian could see that this youngdy hade to the bar just to drown her sorrows, not to seek pleasure. So, he had to shift his target, continuing to scan the bar for his own "prey"! In no time, the youngdy finished her tequ and staggeringly stood up to leave the bar! Just as the woman was leaving, Hao Jian noticed two sneaky-looking young men following her out of the bar! Furthermore, Hao Jian saw that Huang Shng was now sitting in a booth, talking to several thuggish-looking young men! While speaking, Huang Shng gave a sinister smile and handed a bag to the group, pointed towards Hao Jian, and then also got up and headed towards the exit of the bar! This scene made Hao Jian frown slightly, then he shook his head with a sneer: "Sigh! It seems there are fools seeking death everywhere!" Hao Jian seemed helpless and immediately grabbed the liquor bottle, gulping down several mouthfuls, finishing the whole bottle in one go, stunning the bartender even more! After he finished drinking, Hao Jian burped, a flush of red spreading across his face! And just then, several thuggish-looking young men had already approached him, swiftly grabbing his arms: "Brother, could we have a word?" These young men numbered about five or six, with a yellow-haired leader now looking at Hao Jian with a mocking face! Hao Jian smiled slightly, gazing yfully at the men as he said: "My time is expensive! Taking a step aside to talk will cost a lot. Can you afford it?" "Tsk..." Hearing Hao Jian''s words, the group of young men immediately sneered, looking at Hao Jian as if he were a fool! "Your time can be a bit pricey, no problem! No matter the cost, we can afford it!" The yellow-haired leader scoffed and then became impatient, gesturing to his followers: "Cut the crap, and take this little fucker away! Today we''re settling both principal and interest!" Seeing the order from their leader, the gangsters revealed vicious smiles. One grabbed an arm of Hao Jian, and they started dragging him towards the exit of the bar! Hao Jian was quite helpless, and without resisting at the moment, he was dragged out of the bar by these people! Outside the bar, the street lights were dim, few pedestrians around, making the ce look deste! Here and there, a few pairs of lovebirds were having quickies in the corners, and they were scared away by the bullying and swearing of these hooligans! The guys pushed Hao Jian roughly against the wall, and then the leader, Yellow Hair, stepped forward, grabbed Hao Jian by the cor, and asked menacingly, "Kid, was it you who fucking ruined Brother Huang''s good time?" "Brother Huang? Hmph, are you talking about that weasel?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Hao Jian had heard that middle-aged man call himself ''Huang Shng'', and now a mocking curve yed on his lips as he looked at Yellow Hair and the others: "What, you''re the weasel''sckeys? So that makes you little mice, then!" "Fine! You''ve got guts, daring to insult Brother Huang, you''re done for!" Upon hearing Hao Jian''s words, Yellow Hair and the other hooligans were furious, immediately surrounding him in the corner, with Yellow Hair raising his fist to smash it violently into Hao Jian''s face: "Motherfucker! Today we''ll properly teach you a lesson on behalf of Brother Huang!!!" Whoosh! It was clear that Yellow Hair had some Kung Fu training, his fists swinging with a whooshing sound, so powerful that if theynded on Hao Jian''s face, they would definitely knock out a few teeth! The other gangsters around Yellow Hair were quite confident in his abilities, each one with arms crossed and a mocking smirk on their face, as if they could already see Yellow Hair beating this kid to a pulp! Bang! The fist had violentlye crashing down, blood spattered! But at that moment, the smiles froze on Yellow Hair and the other hooligans'' faces! Because Yellow Hair''s punch hadn''t hit Hao Jian''s face, but instead had struck the wall! "Ouch!!!" Yellow Hair immediately cried out in pain, clutching his fist that felt like it had split, and sucked in cold air continuously: "Damn! Damn it!" Yellow Hair had never expected Hao Jian to react so quickly, dodging his punch with ease, and now his eyes were red with rage as he yelled at the other dumbstruck hooligans: "Fuck! What the hell are you staring at?! Get him! Teach this asshole a harsh lesson!!!" On hearing this, the other gangsters finally snapped back to attention, and one by one, faces contorted with menace, they howled and lunged ferociously at Hao Jian! However, they rushed in fast, and were thrown back even faster! Hao Jian''s leg whipped out like ash, and the moment the gangsters pounced on him, heshed out! Thud, thud, thud! His whip-like leg fiercely struck the gangsters rushing towards him, sending their bodies flying two or three meters away and crashing hard onto the ground! "Fuck¡­ fuck!" Yellow Hair was almost scared stiff; he had never seen a leg whip that could send several people flying, let alone toss them several meters through the air. This had to be movie special effects, right? It couldn''t be real! It wasn''t just Yellow Hair ¨C the hooligans who had crashed harshly onto the ground were feeling as if they had fallen apart, writhing in extreme pain and struggling to rise but failing, looking towards Hao Jian with terrified eyes! They couldn''t understand how this seemingly frail person could possess such terrifying strength! However, Hao Jian didn''t care about their shock; the faint smile still on his lips, he walked over to Yellow Hair, straightened his cor for him, and asked with a smile, "Was my whip leg cool or what?" "Cool..." Yellow Hair swallowed hard and stupidly nodded his head! Hearing this, Hao Jian''s smile brightened up even more as he took a stack of money out of Yellow Hair''s pocket and shoved it into his own, then said cheerily, "Since it''s cool, I''m selling it to you!" After he said that, Hao Jian swung his leg again, and like a sh of lightning, his whip leg once again struck Yellow Hair fiercely! Chapter 5: Chapter 5 looks so delicious! "Help... uh... help..." A broken cry for help came from a dim alley, where the beauty who had just left the bar leaned against a wall! In front of her, two gangsters each held a pill, frantically stuffing them into the woman''s mouth! "Hehe... prettydy, stop yelling, just eat the pill, and keep Brother Huangpany!" "Haha... even if you scream your lungs out, it''s useless! You can''t refuse Brother Huang!" ... The two gangsters uttered filthy words and fawned over Huang Shng with ttery! Beside the trio, Huang Shng''s face was anxious, constantly urging: "Hurry up and make her swallow the pills! Dammit, don''t let anyone see this!" Huang Shng''s excited face was flushed; all these pills were female aphrodisiacs, capable of turning a decent woman into a wanton one, and now, by making this beauty ingest them, he would... Hehe! Thinking of possessing such a beautiful woman tonight, Huang Shng''s smile grew even brighter! Soon, the two gangsters had fed all the pills to the woman and, after receiving a stack of money from Huang Shng, they said contentedly: "Brother Huang, the job is done! Hehe... We''ll leave you to your fun now!"N?v(el)B\\jnn The two gangsters looked greedily at the woman before reluctantly starting to leave the alley! Seeing this, the sinister smile on Huang Shng''s face grew thicker, and he stepped toward the woman in the corner, his lustful gaze hardly conceble: "Hehe... prettydy, now it''s just the two of us. Today, I''m gonna be your man! Haha..." Huang Shng''s fat face disyed a nauseating grin as he moved closer to the woman! However, just as his chubby hand was about to reach the drunken beauty, he suddenly noticed the two gangsters who had just left were stepping back! Huh? Huang Shng hated being interrupted during his deeds, and immediately yelled harshly: "Fuck, didn''t I already pay you? Just scram, or do you want me to kick you out? You fuckers..." However, Huang Shng''s words were abruptly cut off mid-sentence because he saw that a young man was blocking the way for the two gangsters! Upon seeing the young man in washed-out jeans and a white casual shirt, Huang Shng suddenly fell into a rage: "Boy, so it was you! Fuck... How could those idiots fail to take you down!!!" Indeed, the one blocking the gangsters'' way was Hao Jian! At this moment, Hao Jian leaned against the wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips and a slight smirk on his face, giving a somewhat sinister and eerie impression! "Cough cough... Those sugar pills the beauty ate just now, do you have any more? They look really tasty!" Seeing Huang Shng staring at him, Hao Jian scratched his head and asked sheepishly. His demeanor resembled a child eyeing candy, almost drooling over it! However, listening to his words, Huang Shng and the two gangsters'' mouths twitched! Sugar pills? Taste good? Fuck... Is there something wrong with this guy''s head? At this moment, Huang Shng even doubted if Hao Jian''s brain had issues; otherwise, how could someone fail to recognize the aphrodisiac pills! But, Huang Shng had no time to ponder whether Hao Jian was truly foolish, as his most pressing concern was to get the woman into bed. He once again pulled out a stack of money from his pocket and threw it to the two gangsters: "Take this money and take this bastard down! CTM, I''ve despised this kid for long, and today I''m gonna take both his arms!!!" Huang Shng spoke with extreme viciousness, and the two gangsters immediately lit up, nodding and bowing eagerly: "Don''t worry, Brother Huang, we''ll handle this little matter! Just watch us!" Having said this, the two gangsters, faces twisted in cruel smiles, approached Hao Jian, rubbing their hands together, eager to start. "You... don''te any closer... I''m telling you, I... I''m really tough!" Hao Jian saw the hostile looks on the faces of the two gangsters, and fear crept over his face as he backed away, his voice trembling as he spoke. However, his demeanor only made the sinister smiles on the gangsters'' faces even richer: "You''re tough? Kid, let''s hear it, what''s so tough about you?" The two gangsters didn''t take Hao Jian seriously at all. At that moment, they advanced step by step, toying with him like a cat with a mouse. In the blink of an eye, Hao Jian had been cornered against the wall. "I... I''m really tough. When I go crazy, I even hit myself. I''m asking you, are you scared?" What? Even hits himself? "Hahaha..." Upon hearing this, the two gangsters and Huang Shng burst intoughter, bending over backward! Still asking us if we''re scared? I''m scared of your sister! This guy definitely has a screw loose! "Idiot! This guy is actually an idiot! Hahaha... You two, give me... Uh!" Huang Shng wasughing so hard his stomach hurt, yet just as he was about to instruct the two gangsters to teach Hao Jian a lesson, his speech abruptly stopped! Because he saw Hao Jian''s whip kick, suddenly and without warning, strike hard on the heads of the two gangsters! Bang bang! As the sound of two heavy bodies hitting the ground echoed, the two gangsters had no chance to react before a whip kick knocked them unconscious! Gah! The scene unfolded too quickly, unbelievably fast! The smile on Huang Shng''s face instantly froze, his mouth gaping so wide he could fit two eggs in it, the expression utterly ridiculous! A master! When Huang Shng finally came to his senses, his whole body shuddered! A single whip kick knocked out two men! This bastard was ying possum! Looking at the two gangsters lying unconscious on the ground, and then at Hao Jian, who was approaching with a sinister smile, Huang Shng''s scalp felt like it was exploding. He turned and fled, not even sparing a moment to consider the groggy beauty in the corner! However, at this moment, Hao Jian seemed like apletely different person, his smile tinged with a trace of bloodlust! He flicked his wrist, and a button suddenly appeared, then he hurled it at Huang Shng! Whoosh! The button, now like a bullet, was too fast to see clearly. In the blink of an eye, it struck Huang Shng''s right leg with incredible uracy! St! Blood sttered, and Huang Shng felt a pain in his right leg. He fell to the ground with a thud! "Ah... my leg! My leg! Damn it... Ah... it hurts!!!" Huang Shng saw a bloody hole in his right leg, created by the button, blood gushing profusely, a ghastly sight! Waves of intense pain washed over him like a tide, causing Huang Shng''s body to tremble, sweat pouring down his forehead, nearly fainting from the pain! "Devil... you''re not human, you''re a demon! You... you''re a ghost!!!" Huang Shng had never seen anyone use a button to shoot through somebody''s thigh. It was like something out of a fantasy, a devilish act! Yet, the smile on Hao Jian''s face remained as clear and pure as ever. At that moment, he walked up to Huang Shng, grabbing his right hand: "Earlier you paid money for my hand, tell me, how much are you willing to spend now? To buy your own hand!" Chapter 6: Chapter 6 My name is Hao Shuaishuai! "How much are you willing to spend to buy your own hand?" Hao Jian''s words were cold and bone-chilling, causing Huang Shng to shiver all over! Hao Jian had firmly grasped his arm, making it impossible for him to break free, especially as he felt Hao Jian''s grip tightening, making his soul tremble: "Brother, be... be calm! Don''t... don''t mess around, I''m the general manager of Huang Group, let''s talk this over! Talk it over!" After experiencing Hao Jian''s methods, Huang Shng was utterly terrified of the seemingly harmless man; at this moment, he spoke tremblingly. Hearing this, Hao Jian''s lips slightly curled up, and with a cold chuckle, he said: "I don''t care if you are the general manager or chairman. Tell me, how much is your hand worth?" Seeing that Hao Jian was unmoved by his opening up about his identity, Huang Shng had no choice but to toughen up and say: "Five... five thousand, I''ll give five thousand!" "Five thousand?" Hao Jian''s cold smirk became more intense, and he shook his head, ready to apply force! This scene gave Huang Shng a great fright, and he quickly said: "Twenty thousand, I... I''ll give twenty thousand, to buy my hand!" Huang Shng was genuinely scared by Hao Jian; in his eyes, this guy was a lunatic. No matter who you were, he wanted to break your hand from the get-go, and even gods would be worn out! Sure enough, upon hearing the number twenty thousand, Hao Jian stopped applying force and smiled as he said: "Alright, twenty thousand yuan, you got it cheap! Hurry up and pay!" "Yes, yes, yes..." Huang Shng finally heaved a long sigh of relief, nodding as he turned his pockets inside out, and finally pulled out twenty thousand yuan and handed it over to Hao Jian!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Clutching the thick stacks of cash, Hao Jian burst into a joyful grin! Seeing this scene, Huang Shng also let out a long sigh of relief, knowing he had narrowly escaped disaster, and now slowly struggled to get up from the ground! At this moment, Huang Shng had memorized Hao Jian''s face; he swore that once he safely returned, he would have someone cripple this bastard! This was the first time he had taken such a massive fall in Hua City, especially feeling the acute pain on his thigh; Huang Shng''s hatred for Hao Jian intensified to the extreme! "Hmph! Just you wait, the next time I find you, I''ll make sure to break your limbs, making you realize how formidable I, Huang Shng, am!" Thinking about how he could severely torture Hao Jian next time, Huang Shng''s lips disyed a sinister sneer! However, at that moment, Hao Jian abruptly grabbed Huang Shng''s arm and brutally twisted it! Crack! With a harsh sound, Huang Shng''s arm snapped! Ah¡­ Huang Shng immediately let out a tragic scream, sping his broken arm, writhing in agony: "Damn! Bastard! I already paid you... I already gave you the money, you damned!!!" Huang Shng could never have anticipated, even after he had paid the money, this bastard would still break his arm! However, watching Huang Shng writhing in pain, Hao Jian scratched his head in confusion: "Cough... um... Didn''t you pay me to cripple your arm? So I took your money, naturally, I had to do the job well!" Fuck!!! Now, Huang Shng felt like dying; he finally realized that when Hao Jian asked him to pay, it wasn''t to spare his arm but to break it! Why the hell would I pay you to break my own arm? You son of a bitch! At this moment, Huang Shng cursed all eighteen generations of Hao Jian''s ancestors, but then he saw Hao Jian grabbing his other arm! "No!!!" Huang Shng shuddered and began to desperately plead: "No more... take the money, just... just don''t break my hand anymore! Please, no!" "No way! I have my own principles; if I take your money, I mustplete the task you gave me! Don''t worry! I''m not the kind who takes money without doing the job!" Hao Jian''s face was always smeared with a deep smile, and then under Huang Shng''s fearful gaze, he exerted force with both hands and fiercely snapped! Crack! Fuck my life... At that moment, Huang Shng thought he might as well die! "Ahh!!!" Huang Shng''s scream had be so piercing, his whole body ceaselessly rolled on the ground, trembling with pain! Seeing Huang Shng in pain, banging his head on the ground, Hao Jian scratched his head, full of confusion, and asked: "Does it hurt that much?" Does it hurt that much? Are you fucking asking if it hurts? Huang Shng was so angered by Hao Jian''s words he almost suffered internal injuries, wishing he could tear the bastard into thousands of pieces! Seeing Huang Shng''s fire-breathing eyes, Hao Jian shrugged helplessly: "Alright, seeing how much pain you''re in, I''ll just pop it back in for you!" With those words, Hao Jian grabbed Huang Shng''s dangling broken arm and then bent and twisted! Crack! The broken arm instantly returned to its ce, and Huang Shng screamed even more: "Ah... No!!!" Huang Shng was furious. He was already in excruciating pain, and now that his freshly broken arm had been put back, the sharp pain at the break was making him dizzy! Hao Jian, seeing Huang Shng''s pale face, nonchntly dug in his ears and said awkwardly: "Oops, sorry, you spoke too slowly! I''ve already popped it back into ce!" "You... fucking..." Huang Shng was tossed about by Hao Jian, gritting his teeth and ring at him like a wild beast filled with hatred! Seeing this scene, Hao Jian sighed: "Alright! My bad, since you don''t want it back in ce, I''ll help you out again!" No sooner had he finished speaking, Hao Jian grabbed Huang Shng''s arm and snapped it again! Crack! Fucking hell... Huang Shng felt an intense hatred! Broken, reset, and broken again! He''s fucking trying to kill me! The intense pain almost drowned Huang Shng, his eyelids flipped, and he was close to passing out! Meanwhile, Hao Jian cheerfully pped his hands: "All done! I take the money and ward off disaster for others. Your issue''s handled now. If you ever dislike your arm again and want it gone, feel free to seek me out! By the way, my name is Hao Shuaishuai!" After speaking, Hao Jian didn''t even bother with the dying Huang Shng, he walked over, picked up the drunken beauty, and strutted away from the ce! ... Fengyang Residential Area was a low-rent buildingplex! When Hao Jian carried the drunken beauty back to his low-rent apartment, it was already deep into the night. Just as he entered, he threw the dazed woman onto the bed! "Emma! This woman is too Rogue, felt up a guy all the way here. If it weren''t for me being a gentleman, I''d have groped her right back!" Muttering to himself, Hao Jian then went to check on the woman''s condition by the bed! However, just as Hao Jian reached the bed, the drunken beauty suddenly grabbed him... Chapter 7: Chapter 7 You Really Are Cheap! The morning sunlight filtered through the leaves outside the window, casting patchy shadows across therge bed in the bedroom! The bedding and clothes on the bed were scattered about, as if reflecting the wild night before! On the bedside counter stood an rm clock, set to ring at six in the morning! Tick, tick, tick! The second hand moved ceaselessly, and just a few seconds remained before the ringing time! However, the very moment the hour hand reached six, arge hand stretched out from the bedding. In the instant before the rm was about to go off, it suddenly pressed down! Click! The rm, as always, did not go off, and Hao Jian emerged from under the bedding and leaned against the headboard! "Phew..." Hao Jian let out a long sigh, then took out a Double Happiness cigarette, lit one, and took a deep drag! As the scent of tobo filled his lungs, Hao Jian turned his head to look at the other side of the big bed! Hao Jian could tell that this beautiful woman was not a prostitute, nor was she looking for a one-night stand. It could be said thatst night was just a misunderstanding, but he had taken her body, and that was a fact! The moment these words fell, the beautiful woman quivered under the bedding, her long eyshes slowly fluttered open, and her watery eyes looked empty and confused, as if the scenes fromst night were slowly surfacing! In fact, she had been awake for quite a while, even earlier than Hao Jian, but she did not know how to face all this! Looking at this delicate yet unfamiliar man in front of her, the beautiful woman''s pretty face showed neither emotion nor anything but indifference and coldness! She slowly sat up, and the thick bedding slid off her skin, exposing a captivating scene that made Hao Jian involuntarily gasp! "Have you had enough of looking?" Sensing Hao Jian''s intense gaze, the beautiful woman''s serene words came through! Her voice was pleasant, giving a fresh and clear feeling, but for some reason, Hao Jian only heard intense disgust! "Enough... eh... no, not enough, I mean! Never enough..." Hao Jian expected that this woman might cry, create a scene, hit him, me him, or demand responsibility, among other possibilities! But he never imagined that she would have no reaction, no emotions at all! This surprised and astonished Hao Jian! The beautiful woman got out of bed, picked up the clothes she had taken off the night before, and slowly put them back on one by one. Her movements were stiff and unnatural as if there was no calmness in her heart as it appeared on the surface! "What''s your name?" After putting on her clothes, the beautiful woman looked at Hao Jian quietly and asked coldly. At this moment, the beautiful woman exuded an imposing, stunning aura like an ice mountain! Seeing this ice-cold and imposing side of the top-tier beautiful woman, Hao Jian coughed dryly, then said: "My name is Hao Jian!" "Hao Jian?" The beautiful woman paused, then nodded: "You really are cheap!" Damn... Hao Jian''s mouth twitched, and then he saw the beautiful woman slowly take out a wallet, then took out a stack of cash and ced it on the counter! This scene made Hao Jian''s forehead break out in cold sweat! Fuck, is this considered prostitute''s pay? "This is prostitute''s pay!" The beautiful ice queen''s words confirmed Hao Jian''s guess, and her frosty gaze fixed on Hao Jian, emotionless: "Remember,st night, I paid you, not the other way around! Take this money, and from now on, we have nothing to do with each other!" Coldly stating this, the ice queen turned and walked towards the door! Seeing this, Hao Jian frowned slightly, and lifting a corner of the bedding, revealed a cluster of red petals on the bed: "Did you pay me with your virginity?" This statement made the ice queen, who had just reached the door, tremble violently, and she spun around, her face flushed with deep embarrassment and anger: "You..." "I''m stating the facts, whether you admit it or not, you gave me your first night!" At this moment, Hao Jian, clearly provoked by the ice queen''s arrogant attitude, pulled open a drawer, took out a somewhat rusty pendant, and threw it at her: "Here! You can pay me for sex, and I can just as well pay you for your defloration! With this, we are even!" Hao Jian''s gaze was filled with dominance, while the ice queen caught the worn pendant and red at him hatefully before turning and leaving the room! Bang! As the door closed, Hao Jian''s dominating expression instantly turned into a bitter smile! Because he saw, she had cried... He heard, she had cried... "Women, always so troublesome..." Hao Jian shook his head, then pulled the bedding over his head, ready to go back to sleep! However, just as hey back and covered his head with the bedding, his ears suddenly started to tremble, and he cracked a sly smile. Then like a monkey, Hao Jian leaped from the bed, d only in boxers, and scampered into the bathroom! Although the bathroom was quite basic, Hao Jian wasn''t there to bathe. He pressed his ear against the wall, listening to the noise from the other side, a mischievous grin spreading across his face! "The best time of the day is about to start! Absolutely thrilling..." Muttering to himself, Hao Jian leaned against the wall in front of a little hole, peering through it! "1, 2, 3, Open!" As Hao Jian called out, a ''squeak'' sound came from across the way as the bathroom door was pulled open, and a young housewife slowly walked in! The Landlord''s wife!N?v(el)B\\jnn Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Mister 23.53cm! Half an hourter, Hao Jian finally came out from the bathroom and crashed onto the bed! "Mama Mia, Sister Lan is getting more feminine by the day... truly unbearable..." All that filled Hao Jian''s mind was that graceful figure, and the smirk at the corner of his mouth was unmistakable. Hao Jian had been back in the country for half a month now, and during this time, he had been renting here, and Sister Lan was his currentndy! Sister Lan was a widow living with her daughter. "Come to think of it, having been back home for well over half a month, and with the War of Gods having been over two months, perhaps it''s time to go back and take a look..." Hao Jiany on the bed, slowly smoking, his eyes starting to look a bit hazy! The War of Gods was the ultimate showdown between the world''s top powerhouses! God of Mercenary, God of Assassins, God of Bandits, Spear God, the four forbidding divine beings teamed up to battle the formidable God of Death and Moon Goddess! No one knew the oue of that battle, but the four territories faded from view, and God of Death Ind vanished without a trace! Against this backdrop, the God of Death, Hao Jian, quietly returned to Hua City, Huaxia! "Moon, I''m trying hard to be the ordinary person you expect me to be! Even though it''s difficult..." At this moment, there was no lewdness, no smirk on Hao Jian''s face, only a sense of having seen through the burdens of the world and a touch of sorrow! For that woman deep in his heart, he aimed to be the ordinary person that was so hard to achieve! Thump thump thump! While Hao Jian was reminiscing about the old times, someone knocked at the door!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The sound was soft and unhurried, just like the character of the person knocking, giving a sense of tranquility and gentleness! Hearing the two long and one short knocks on the door, Hao Jian knew who it was. He rubbed his face with his palm, and all hints of life''s burdens and sorrow faded away, followed by a slightly perceptible smirk! "Just a moment!" After saying that, Hao Jian went straight to the door and opened it! No sooner had he opened the door than he quickly covered his ears! As expected, in that instant, a piercing scream resounded! "Ah... Hao Jian, you''re not wearing any clothes again!!!" "Ah... Sister Lan, you always scream every time!!!" Hao Jian looked at the young woman standing before him in utter speechlessness. Her daily screams were as regr as his daily peeks at her bathing, almost without fail¡ªa pattern not to be desired! In front of the door, Sister Lan''s fair cheeks were flush with a tinge of red, her demeanor reflecting shyness, especially after hearing what Hao Jian said. She wrinkled her cute nose and looked huffily at him: "Hmph, you rascal, you only wear boxers when you open the door every morning. How can I not scream?" Sister Lan was not yet thirty, tall and buxom, curvaceous from every angle, her figure drawing a perfect S-shape curve, especially her skin which was extremely tender, seemingly ready to burst with water at a single pinch! Moreover, Sister Lan''s visage was stunningly beautiful! Her phoenix eyes twinkled, emitting a soul-capturing brilliance, and her egg-shaped face contained a hint of allure. With delicate and perfect features, she exuded the tempting aura of a young widow! Even though Hao Jian saw Sister Lan every day, each time he felt a different sense of amazement! "This woman is definitely a siren..." Hao Jian let out a silent sigh. "Alright, you rascal, breakfast is ready,e out and eat!" Sister Lan, seeing Hao Jian''s muscr upper body and the prominent muscles, her pretty face grew redder, and she quickly said something before turning to leave the ce! Seeing Sister Lan''s shy demeanor, Hao Jian was even more amused. Sister Lan was a mother, yet she still had the shyness of a little girl, which indeed gave Hao Jian a peculiar feeling! When Hao Jian had finished washing up and came to the dining table, he saw Sister Lan and her daughter Tongtong eating breakfast with their heads down. When Tongtong saw Hao Jianing over, she raised her head and with her bright, sparkling eyes, she asked, "Brother Jian, you''re so bad, how could you bully a girl!" Hao Jian was taken aback and immediately picked up a cup of soy milk. While drinking, he smiled and asked, "Tongtong, when did brother ever bully a girl?" "Last night!" Tongtong''s little face puffed up with annoyance, and her pink little mouth turned down in a pout. Pfft! Hearing this, Hao Jian sprayed out the soy milk he had just drunk! Damn it,st night''s incident has been exposed! Hao Jian thought about how the mother and daughter had heard everything fromst night, and his mouth twitched. He turned to look at Sister Lan, but as he did, his eyelids twitched! The soy milk he had sprayed out had hit Sister Lan right in the face, and the sight of it dripping down her pretty face made Hao Jian''s heart skip a beat! "Hao Jian!!!" Sister Lan was so angry her teeth were clenched, and she immediately pinched Hao Jian fiercely at his waist! Hiss! Hao Jian winced in pain but didn''t dare to dodge! After Sister Lan transformed her rage into pain and transferred it to Hao Jian, she finally calmed down a bit. As she wiped the soy milk off her face, she looked at Hao Jian and said, "Don''t worry, Sister Lan, I''ll be careful in the future!" Hao Jian quickly nodded and promised. "Alright, I''m just reminding you, I believe you know your limits!" Sister Lan trusted Hao Jian quite a bit¡ªafter all, ever since the guy moved in, he had been helping her and her daughter and never did anything inappropriate. Now, with a smile on her face, she said, "Hurry up and sit down to eat, or the food will get cold!" "Okay!" Hao Jian immediately sat down to eat, and the three of them enjoyed a harmonious meal. If someone who didn''t know the situation saw them, they would definitely think they were a warm family! After breakfast, Sister Lan went straight to take Tongtong to school, while Hao Jian, as usual, went out to look for work! But just as Hao Jian stepped downstairs, his phone rang. "Hello! Who is this?" "Hello! May I speak with Mr. Hao Jian, please?" A woman''s crisp voice came through the phone, and her words made the corner of Hao Jian''s mouth twitch: "Sir, congrattions, you have passed our Shu Ya Group''s interview! Pleasee to thepany for a secondary interview at 8 o''clock this morning!" Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Silly Little Gangster Girl! Interview passed? After putting away his old Nokia, Hao Jian''s face was full of confusion! Shu Ya Group was naturally thepany he had interviewed with yesterday, hiring for the position of the president''s personal driver! However, Hao Jian had never met Miss Shu Ya. He had only seen a few HR interviewers, all of whom were very attractive women, just the type suitable for him to fantasize about! Hao Jian could tell that yesterday''s interviewer, Xiao Qiang, had a very poor impression of him, and he had even offended her. Originally, he had given up hope for the interview but had not expected... "Hehe... Regardless, I finally got something! Even if I get rejected in the second round, getting to see those beauties is good enough for me!" ncing at the time, it was already past seven in the morning and he immediately left the building and gged down a taxi! The taxi slowly stopped, and a small head popped out:n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Hey! Handsome, where to?" Hearing this crisp, oriole-like voice, Hao Jian realized that the taxi driver was a girl in her twenties, wearing big sunsses! The girl had chin-length bob hair, dark and glossy. The big sunsses almost covered half of her beautiful face, with fine features and snow-white skin. She was chewing gum, looking exactly like a Little Gangster Girl! But this Little Gangster Girl... damn, she was gorgeous! At that moment in Hua City, Hao Jian truly understood the meaning of the city''s name. The women here were as beautiful as flowers, each more beautiful than thest! Even the taxi drivers were stunning! "Little sister, to Shu Ya Group!" Hao Jian smiled excitedly and quickly got into the taxi! Damn, having such a beautiful chick as a driver made this taxi ride totally worth it! "Shu Ya Group? What are you going there for? If you want to seek pleasure, you should go straight to Haitian Bathhouse or Pink Club!" The Little Gangster Girl was taken aback and then, while chewing her gum, asked doubtfully. Hearing this, Hao Jian broke out in a cold sweat! Which damn ear of yours heard me say I wanted to seek pleasure? Huh? Am I, so pure, the type to seek pleasure? Huh? Wait, what did she just say? Haitian Bathhouse? Pink Club? Mommy mia, important intel, better jot this down in my notebook, you never know when it mighte in handy! "Cough cough¡­ Little sister, I don''t think I mentioned seeking pleasure," Hao Jian said, looking at the quirky girl exasperatedly. "Little brother, you didn''t say it, true, but the look on your face is exactly that of a pleasure-seeker! I''ve driven many, and they all smile as lewdly as you do!" the Little Gangster Girl boldly said to Hao Jian. And hearing this, Hao Jian''s mouth twitched, and he was left speechless! "Cough cough, I''m going to Shu Ya Group for an interview! Please hurry!" Hao Jian could only silently filter out the driver''s quirky traits! "Oh, so you''re not going to seek pleasure. You should have said so earlier, really!" The Little Gangster Girl gave Hao Jian a disdainful look and then stepped on the gas, and the taxi zoomed off! Hearing the words of the Little Gangster Girl and seeing her disdainful look, Hao Jian felt really sweaty! Damn, what is this worlding to? Not going to seek pleasure yet still being disdained by a beauty, don''t they let a pure guy like me live! But then Hao Jian had no more time to think about this problem, as he saw that the quirky girl was seriously speeding! Buzz!!! The taxi raced down the road like a lightning bolt, crossing one intersection after another, running through multiple red lights, leaving all the cars trailing behind! 50 miles per hour! 62 miles per hour! 93 miles per hour! 124 miles per hour! I... woah... Hao Jian, seeing the rapidly climbing figures on the speedometer, waspletely stunned! This... turns out to be a modified taxi! And where the hell is this a taxi? This is clearly a super cool sports car, and in the blink of an eye, the speed already shot up to 220 miles! Vroom vroom! "Wow! This is awesome! Already surpassed 31 sedans! Haha..." In the taxi, Little Gangster Girl, while driving,ughed her head off, continuously pping the steering wheel! This scene made Hao Jian''s head fill with ck lines, he quickly said: "You''ve already run 11 red lights, how many points is that?" "Only 11?" Upon hearing this, Little Gangster Girl curled her pouty lips, her face full of disdain as she said: "I don''t have a driver''s license, deduct as many points as you want! I don''t care!" Vroom! This time, it wasn''t the sound of the engine, but Hao Jian''s head buzzed and he was stupefied! No driver''s license... no driver''s license... This sentence buzzed over and over in Hao Jian''s head, making his face turn from green to purple, from purple to ck: "Damn it! You dare to drive so fast without a driver''s license, are you trying to kill yourself? Or am I looking for death???" Hao Jian was absolutely furious! A rogue taxi, he actually got into a rogue taxi! And the one driving the rogue taxi was a total clown! This gave Hao Jian the illusion of getting into a thief''s car and being sold into a thief''s den, this is damn deadly! Watching Hao Jian''s sweat beads continuously dropping, Little Gangster Girl was slightly stunned, scratched her head, and asked puzzledly: "Little brother, are you scared? Don''t be scared, I y ''Extreme Racing'' every day, always at max level, I won''t die!" Damn it!!! That sentence from Little Gangster Girl inflicted tons of damage on Hao Jian! You ying ''Extreme Racing'' and driving a taxi, are they the same damn thing? Which clown gave birth to this girl, quickly drag her back into the womb for a redo! Just as Hao Jian was pondering whether his life would end at the hands of this clownish girl, his ears suddenly trembled, and his expression subtly changed: "Watch out!!!" Hao Jian shouted loudly, then grabbed the steering wheel and quickly turned it to the left! Screech! The taxi abruptly changed direction, and just in that instant, from behind the taxi, a harsh buzzing sound erupted as an Aston Martin sped past! Vroom! The two cars nearly brushed past each other, and one could even hear the sound of the bodies scraping against each other, dangerously close! "Damn it!" Little Gangster Girl was also scared into a cold sweat; if it weren''t for Hao Jian''s quick reaction just now, her car would definitely have been hit by that Aston Martin and thrown off the road, resulting in certain death! Hao Jian also frowned, a hint of a killing intent shed in his eyes! The owner of that Aston Martin just now was evidently malicious, trying to knock the taxi off the road from behind without any regard for his and Little Gangster Girl''s lives! "Lin Dong! It''s that bastard! I won''t let him get away with this!" At this moment, watching the Aston Martin in front, Little Gangster Girl gritted her teeth in anger, and then stepped hard on the gas pedal, chasing after it! Vroom vroom! The taxi shot off like an arrow released from a bow, incredibly fast! The Aston Martin ahead seemed to slow down a bit, as if waiting for the taxi to catch up! By the time the two sedans were side by side, Hao Jian saw two young men sitting in the opposite car! "Haha... Xiaoxiao, how about that? Scared silly, right? Just a little bit more and you and your boyfriend would have been goners!" "Xiaoxiao, where did you find this scrawny guy? If you''re looking for a man, juste to us brothers, we are thousands of times stronger than this skinny dude!" Chapter 10 My last name is Wang and I live next door! "Lin Dong, Wei Shan, you two bastards!" Seeing the arrogant expressions on the faces of the two youths in the Aston Martin, Che Xiaoxiao was absolutely furious, her pretty face aze with anger! Hao Jian''s expression darkened simrly; he could tell that these two youths were definitely street racers, and the kind who treated human life as a joke no less! "Haha... Our Little Chili is angry! Come chase us! Can you?" "Che Xiaoxiao, if you can''t handle it, have your boyfriend try. Let''s see where the wimp you picked is better than us!" Lin Dong and Wei Shan still thought Hao Jian was the new boyfriend Little Gangster Girl had picked up, and with sneering mockery on their faces, they whistled and then sped past the taxi in their Aston Martin! Che Xiaoxiao followed right behind, driving the taxi, her pretty face grim as water. However, Hao Jian saw that, although Che Xiaoxiao had decent driving skills, she was somewhat inferior to the other two youths. At this rate, even if she raced all day, she wouldn''t catch up! Thinking this, Hao Jian shook his head, a cold smile ying over his lips, then suddenly scooped up Che Xiaoxiao''s delicate body! "Ah... What are you doing! Bastard!" Che Xiaoxiao was almost scared stiff! In this high-speed situation, one careless move could lead to crash and death, yet Hao Jian, recklessly and without care, had just lifted her up! Then, to Che Xiaoxiao''s astonishment, Hao Jian sat down in the driver''s seat, holding her in his arms, and mmed on the gas! "Hold on tight!" Hao Jian said, as he floored the elerator. Whoom!!! The taxi''s speed surged from 200 mph to 250 mph, then to 270 mph, chasing after the Aston Martin like a bolt of lightning! This scene gave Che Xiaoxiao a fright! You should know, this was a road, not a highway, filled densely with other vehicles, requiring constant dodging and weaving! Now, speeding at 270 mph was practically synonymous with seeking death ¡ª in any sudden situation, human reflexes simply couldn''t keep up! "I''m totally screwed! Today I''ve actually encountered a madman!" Che Xiaoxiao always thought she was quite the daredevil herself, but she had not expected the passenger she picked up today to be even crazier,pletely disregarding his own life! It wasn''t just her; even Lin Dong and Wei Shan in the Aston Martin ahead were taken by surprise! Watching the taxi that had quickly caught up, their faces turned ashen! "Damn it, it''s Che Xiaoxiao''s boyfriend driving! That bastard!" Lin Dong, looking through the rearview mirror at the taxi that was lightning-fast weaving through traffic behind them, felt his scalp tingle! It was his first time seeing someone so insanely daring! "Quick! Quick! Quick!" Wei Shan, seeing the two cars getting closer, tenseness crossing his face, kept urging Lin Dong: "This bastard is catching up, go faster!!!" "Shut up! We''re already at 240 mph, pushing the limits of what I can handle. If we go any faster, we''ll definitely crash!" Lin Dong''s expression was steely, and just as he finished speaking, he saw the taxi once again pull up alongside them! "Wow! Lin Dong, Wei Shan, you two bastards, keep running! Haha... My boyfriend is way better than you guys, what can you do about it!!!" Xiaoxiao was watching Lin Dong and Wei Shan''s livid faces, and couldn''t help but smile radiantly, waving her little fists proudly and excitedly, making Lin Dong''s and Wei Shan''s expressions turn even uglier! "Xiaoxiao, don''t get too cocky!" Lin Dong gritted his teeth, but just then, he saw Hao Jian swerve the taxi sharply! "Not good!!!" Only then did Lin Dong realize that there was a turn ahead, and it was toote to steer! Bang!!! In the blink of an eye, the Aston Martin crashed violently into the guardrail at the road''s corner, the front of the car crumpling instantly as plumes of ck smoke billowed out! Two airbags deployed in an instant, and both Lin Dong and Wei Shan mmed hard against them! Long after, as Lin Dong and Wei Shan struggled to crawl out of the car, their faces were covered in blood, a mix of embarrassment and fear! "Damn it! Who is that kid, and how is his driving so good!" Lin Dong wiped the blood from his face, full of rage! This time, not only did they fail to embarrass Xiaoxiao, but they themselves were left in a terrible mess, directing all his hatred towards Hao Jian! In his eyes, if it weren''t for Hao Jian, they wouldn''t have ended up so embarrassed! Wei Shan was equally shocked and scared: "There''s no one like this in the Supercar Club! When we get back, we have to find this bastard! Damn it, my Aston Martin is totally wrecked!" While Lin Dong and Wei Shan were full of resentment, the taxi had already reached the entrance of the Shu Ya Group! Squeak! When the taxi stopped, Xiaoxiao finally let out a long sigh of relief, feeling the thrill of having just escaped from the Ghost Gate! "Uncle, what''s your name? That was so awesome, oh my god, you handled Lin Dong so easily, super cool!" Xiaoxiao took off herrge ck sunsses and spit out her chewing gum, looking at Hao Jian as if he were an alien, her sparkling eyes filled with tiny stars! The excited glow made her pretty face flush with redness, looking extremely alluring! But Hao Jian just twitched the corner of his mouth and lifted his butt slightly: "Could you get off my body first?" Uh... Xiaoxiao only then realized that she had been sitting on Ye Feng the whole way, thinking about how intimately she had been in contact with a man, her pretty face instantly turned beet red! Even though she was extremely embarrassed, Xiaoxiao still pouted and said nonchntly: "Humph! Uncle, what''s wrong with me sitting here? It''s not like I''ll get pregnant, really!" Saying so, Xiaoxiao firmly sat down again before finally getting off Hao Jian''s body! Hao Jian gave a sly smile and then straightaway opened the car door and stepped out!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Hearing Hao Jian''s words, Xiaoxiao''s face flushed even more, but as she saw Hao Jian about to leave, she quickly asked: "Uncle, what''s your name? How can I find you next time?" "North wind blows, the autumn air cools, whose pretty wife keeps an empty bed, I live next door, my surname is Wang, if you''re in trouble, I''ll lend a hand! Little sister, see you!" Hao Jian waved his sleeve and left without a trace! Chapter 11: Auntie is good, open the door to meet! When Hao Jian arrived at the Shu Ya Group training room, it was already around 8:20 AM, a full twenty minuteste! However, this guy had no sense of beingte and was smoking a cigarette in the corridor. In front of a mirror in the corridor, he wet his hair with saliva and styled it into a dashing look. Only then did a satisfied expression appear on Hao Jian''s face: "Damn, I''m so envious of you, with your handsome and dashing style. You''re truly one of a kind, so handsome it''s unreasonable, so handsome that the heavens and earth can''t bear it! Damn¡­ you''re ridiculously good-looking!" Hao Jian admired himself in the mirror for a while before finally turning around and leisurely pushing open the door to the training room and walked in! In the training room, there were at least a dozen people seated, all drivers who had passed the interview, each dressed in crisp suits, looking very sharp! And at the lectern, it was still Xiao Qiang from thest interview, exining something to everyone! As soon as Hao Jian entered, he instantly drew the attention of everyone in the training room! Realizing that every gaze was fixed on him, Hao Jian even thought they were overawed by his handsomeness. Subconsciously, he touched his slicked-back hairstyle and shed what he thought was an irresistibly charming smile, then slowly made his way to the back row! "Stop right there!" However, just as Hao Jian had taken a couple of steps, Xiao Qiang from the lectern spoke up! Xiao Qiang''s brows were furrowed into a ''Chuan'' character. In her gaze toward Hao Jian, there was scrutiny andplexity! She remembered Hao Jian vividly. During the interview, not only had he casually revealed what she was thinking, but he had also nonsensically said her hormones were imbnced and made inappropriatements. She had already crossed Hao Jian''s name off the interview list because of that, yet here he was again! Xiao Qiang flipped through the re-interview list in her hand, her pretty face turning somewhat gloomy: "Your name!" Huh? Hao Jian paused, but still responded, "Hao Jian!" "How good? How cheap?" Xiao Qiang asked provocatively. Hao Jian, noticing that Xiao Qiang was still upset about thest time, slightly curved up the corners of his mouth: "Aunt Flo says hello! Nice to see you!" Pfft! With that remark, Hao Jian instantly had the roomful of drivers in stitches, but as they noticed Xiao Qiang''s increasingly dark expression, they quickly shut their mouths! Aunt Flo says hello? Nice to see you? This jerk was clearly mocking her for her period arriving early! Thinking this, Xiao Qiang gritted her teeth audibly: "Gender!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Uh¡­ Hao Jian paused again, then shrugged: "Female!" "As if you could be a woman!" Xiao Qiang nearly swore out loud, questioning him while her head was full of ck lines! "Since you''ve figured out I''m not a woman, why even ask! Or, should I take off my pants and show you!" Hao Jian replied with a smirk on his face. Seeing his carefree demeanor, Xiao Qiang felt like vomiting blood. Not only was she a one-in-a-hundred beauty and the manager of the HR department, controlling the great power of hiring staff, but every employee respected her except for this guy, who consistently taunted and contradicted her! After taking a deep breath and suppressing the rage in her heart, Xiao Qiang finally asked: "Are you Hao Jian here for the training?" "Bingo! You''re really sharp, figuring that out all by yourself!" Hao Jian replied with a beaming smile. As these words dropped, the training room burst into a fit ofughter! Xiao Qiang felt so agitated that he almost spat out a mouthful of old blood! Damn it! Damn it! Just answer my damn questions. Can you get pregnant, huh? Can you? You, you wench! What a wench! Xiao Qiang knew he was no match for this damn guy when it came to verbal skills, so his plump and rosy lips quivered slightly, but he decided not to keep bothering him. Seeing Xiao Qiang back down, Hao Jian slightly smiled and started looking for his spot in the training room. He noticed that each position was numbered from 1 to 10, but now there was only one number left¡ª23.53! What the hell! Isn''t that my length? A twitch appeared at the corner of Hao Jian''s mouth, beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and he mentally cursed the girl who had assigned the numbers a hundred times! "Teacher, I protest!" Hao Jian dered righteously. All eyes inside the training room were already on Hao Jian, and when they heard his words, they turned to look at him! Even Xiao Qiang frowned slightly and asked, "Hao Jian, what are you protesting?" "Teacher, I know you all worship, envy, and are jealous of my length! Everyone''s number is their length! But your worship of my 23.53CM is also an insult to others!" Hao Jian, full of moral indignation, pointed at a few drivers sitting in the front row and said, "Look at him, his number is 1, meaning he''s only 1CM! That one has 2CM, he 3CM... and him! By bluntly writing down their lengths as numbers, you insult their dignity and integrity! Thus, I refuse your worship and call for an end to the humiliation of their shorings!" Whoa!!! With that one statement, the whole training room fell utterly silent! Number 1 looked at his own number and his mouth twitched! Number 2 looked at his and his eyelid twitched! Number 3 looked at his and gaped! ¡­ Immediately, lines of worry appeared on everyone''s foreheads! Even Xiao Qiang looked at Hao Jian''s number 23.53 and the others'' as well, and twitched at the corner of her mouth! "The numbers don''t mean anything else, they are just numbers for the second round of tests, don''t overthink it!" Although Xiao Qiang knew Hao Jian was doing this on purpose, she still exined to everyone. Hearing this, the other candidates also relieved a breath. If numbers truly represented length, they would not stand for it, even if it meant stripping down to prove they had a few millimeters more! But they were equally curious, was that guy really 23.53? "Cough cough¡­ alright! I''ve already given a brief introduction about Shu Ya Group and Miss Shu Ya, the president! Now, our retest is officially starting!" Because of Hao Jian''s entric presence, Xiao Qiang dared not dy further, fearing she didn''t know what else that damn guy might do: "As a driver for Miss Shu Ya, aside from possessing good qualities and skills, there''s another important requirement¡ªKung Fu capability! You must be able to stand up at critical moments! Hence, our next test will assess everyone''s Kung Fu abilities!" What? So the participants were taken aback, indeed not expecting that being the president''s driver also involved physical capability testing! The participants exchanged looks! However, Xiao Qiang didn''t care about their confusion and pped her hands. Just then, the training room''s door opened, and a towering hulk of a man walked in! Chapter 12 Youre Out! The towering brute had just entered the training room when all inside felt an immediate pressure! This man stood at an impressive one meter ny, with broad shoulders and a thick waist. His security uniform clung tightly to his body, outlining his perfect muscles as if a coiled dragony beneath them, making him look incredibly powerful and virile! Not only that, but his face was covered with tough flesh, and hisrge, bell-like eyes sparkled with a piercing sharpness. One nce at him gave the frightening illusion of being preyed upon by a wild beast! At this moment, all of the drivers participating in the second round of the selection process inhaled sharply in unison, their gaze towards this strongman filled with fear! "His name''s Tie Shan, a military man by training. After retiring, he''s been the head of the security team at the Shu Ya Group!" Xiao Qiang pointed to the strongman and spoke to the retest drivers within the training room: "Our group doesn''t require you to have the same skills as Tie Shan, but you must be agile enough to handle some minor troubles for Miss Shu Ya! For instance, dealing with gangster harassment or inappropriate actions from business partners! For these, you all need agile skills!" Xiao Qiang''s eyes swept through every person in the room, particrly pausing on Hao Jian, with a yful look in his gaze: "Therefore, this final retest will be a livebat with Tie Shan! If any of you can knock down Tie Shan, then he''d surely be Miss Shu Ya''s driver! Of course, even if you all lose, Tie Shan will still pick the one with the best skills to be Miss Shu Ya''s driver! Remember, there''s only one spot, oh!" Xiao Qiang''s words made theplexions of all the drivers present in the training room turn ugly! However, thinking of the generous benefits offered by the Shu Ya Group and Miss Shu Ya''s enchanting figure, the retest drivers'' eyes slowly turned bloodshot as they all stood up from their seats, eager to try! Seeing this scene, Xiao Qiang was extremely pleased; she walked over to Tie Shan, whispered a few words, then gave Hao Jian a deep look before leaving the training room! And when Hao Jian saw this, he smiled wryly, for even when using his bottom it was easy to guess that this woman had certainly told Tie Shan to take special care of him! "This woman''s really cunning..." Sure enough, after Xiao Qiang left the training room, Tie Shan''srge, bell-like eyes stared straight at Hao Jian, his mouth stretching into a terrifying grin! "Everyone together! We can definitely beat him!" "That''s right! Miss Shu Ya is the number one beauty in Hua City, heh heh¡­ For Miss Shu Ya, let''s go all out!" "Damn it! I''m going all in!" "..." As howls rang out one after another, the retest drivers madly charged at Tie Shan! Fists and kicks rained continuously upon him! This scene didn''t cause the slightest panic in Tie Shan; instead, his mouth curled into a smirk as hisrge fist swung out fiercely! Bang! As it connected with a driver''s forehead, the man grunted and wentpletely unconscious! "One, eliminated!" Bang! "Two, eliminated!" Bang! "Three..." All the retest drivers watched in terror as their punches and kicks seemed to have no effect on Tie Shan, as if his entire being was indeed made of iron! With each of Tie Shan''s punches, another driver went unconscious. In the blink of an eye, a swath of them had fallen!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Just as the fight was heating up, Hao Jian was sitting by himself in seat 23.53, legs crossed, watching the mayhem with a smile, not showing the slightest intention of intervening! Outside the training room, Xiao Qiangy on the window, watching Hao Jian''s leisurely demeanor, her teeth itching with hatred! "Why hasn''t this damn hooligan started yet? Is he scared? What a coward!" They say women are petty and hold grudges, and Xiao Qiang was no exception! She had just instructed Tie Shan to give Hao Jian a warm wee, naturally not wanting to miss this perfect opportunity for revenge! Soon, the fight inside the training room hade to an end, and all the participants of the retest were beaten down, each grimacing in pain, their eyes filled with fear when looking at Tie Shan! Only one person was left standing, and that was Hao Jian! "Kid, it''s your turn!" Tie Shan''s mouth twitched, and he gave Hao Jian a ferocious smile. At this moment, outside the training room, Xiao Qiang''s face was full of smug smiles. She seemed to have already seen Hao Jian being beaten miserably, begging pathetically: "Hmph! You dare to mock me, you stinking rogue, this time I''ll make you pay!" Xiao Qiang was delightfully watching from outside while Tie Shan had already approached Hao Jian! The sight of his nearly two-meter-tall figure, like that of ck Bear, standing in front of Hao Jian, was visually stunning! The rest of the beaten drivers looked pityingly at Hao Jian; they also knew that this guy''s fate was going to be even more miserable! "Hehe... Tie Shan big brother, you are truly incredible; I''m utterly in awe of you!" However, contrary to everyone''s expectations, Hao Jian had no intention of starting a fight. Instead, he scurried over to Tie Shan, his face full of ingratiating smiles, buttering him up: "That Arhat Fist you threw a while ago, taking down one with each punch, was even more awesome than Bruce Lee! It truly opened my eyes!" Hao Jian was only one meter eighty, a head shorter than Tie Shan, and with his slender frame, he seemed like someone who could be easily knocked over, so Tie Shan didn''t take him seriously at all. At that moment, hearing the ttery, the corners of Tie Shan''s mouth curved up slightly: "You recognize the Arhat Fist? Not bad, promising!" "Haha... Big brother Tie Shan, I''ve seen a Boxing King perform the Arhat Fist before, butpared to you, he''s nothing but trash! You could knock him out with just one punch!" Hao Jian was full of sycophancy and ttery. And hearing these words, Tie Shan was even more delighted. His greatest dream when he was young was to be a Boxing King, and Hao Jian''s ttering hit just the right spot! However, Xiao Qiang and the other drivers who had been beaten down were twitching at the corners of their mouths, cursing this guy silently for having no shame, actually trying to get by with brown-nosing! "Hehe... Big brother Tie Shan, I''m sorry!" Hao Jian said with a cheerful grin. Hmm? Tie Shan was taken aback, and then asked: "Sorry for what?" "You''ve been eliminated!" As his words fell, before Tie Shan couldprehend what had happened, Hao Jian''s foot shot out like lightning, striking hard at his groin! Pff! A muffled sound rang out, and Tie Shan''s massive body shuddered violently! He hastily covered his groin with his hands, bending over like a cooked shrimp, his face full of bulging muscles turning red, resentfully ring at Hao Jian: "I''ve been screwed over..." Chapter 13: Chapter 13 One-on-one, you know what I mean! Thud! When Tie Shan''s colossal frame toppled to the ground, the entire training room was instantly plunged into dead silence! The reassessment drivers on the ground, who had been wailing non-stop, fell abruptly silent, their eyes bulging, their mouths wide enough to fit a duck egg! They stared at Tie Shan, who was clutching his groin area tightly, their eyelids twitching wildly! Then they looked at Hao Jian, who wore a smile, the corners of their mouths twitching uncontrobly! "Groin Kick..." For crying out loud, this bastard actually took down Tie Shan with a Groin Kick! After a brief silence, the entire training room erupted into chaos! Some cursed Hao Jian for having no shame, resorting to a sneak attack, while others couldn''t praise Hao Jian''s cunning enough,vishing him withpliments! The training room went from blink-of-an-eye silence to a cacophony of noise! Meanwhile, outside the training room, Xiao Qiang kept rubbing her eyes, even suspecting she was hallucinating! "I must have seen it wrong, it''s impossible... How could this... This guy possibly take down Tie Shan!" However, once Xiao Qiang confirmed she hadn''t been mistaken and that Tie Shan had indeed been taken down, her pretty face betrayed a deep fury: "Despicable!" After cursing under her breath, Xiao Qiang stormed into the training room, the doors flying open! As Xiao Qiang entered, the room instantly fell silent! "HAO JIAN!!!" The moment Xiao Qiang stepped in, her fiery eyes shot daggers at Hao Jian! Hao Jian, however, seemed oblivious to Xiao Qiang''s fury, scratching his head and saying with a grin: "Beauty, are you overwhelmed by my bravery? Do you really want to give a thumbs-up for my wit? Actually, there''s no need. My cunning and bravery, just like my handsome charm, are lifelong ws I cannot correct!" Xiao Qiang: "..." Tie Shan: "..." Others: "..." "Shut up!!!" At this moment, Xiao Qiang could only feel the rage in her chest ring up. She had never encountered such a despicable, shameless, and unprincipled person. She waspletely defeated by Hao Jian''s scoundrel nature! "Hao Jian, you are eliminated! You resorted to dirty tricks to take down Tie Shan. You do not deserve to be an employee of Shu Ya Group! Now, please leave!!!" Xiao Qiang''s voice was resolute, and her deration caused the faces of everyone in the training room to shift subtly! By the rules, Hao Jian had already won! After all, this was a fight, not apetition; there was no regard for the method used to take down the opponent! And now... Hao Jian''s smile gradually faded, his dark eyes fixed intently on Xiao Qiang: "Although I know you''re targeting me, I still have to tell you something! On a real battlefield, it''s kill or be killed. No method is honorable, and none are despicable. To take down or kill an enemy is always the ultimate goal! You... just don''t get it." At that moment, Hao Jian was no longer smiling. His words seemed to create an invisible pressure in the training room, enveloping everyone! Everyone had the illusion that Hao Jian was not the easygoing joker he appeared to be but a Murder God who had walked out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood! This overwhelming aura caused everyone, including Xiao Qiang, to have their hearts pounding fiercely! At that moment, Xiao Qiang felt as if her heart had stopped beating; the intense pressure made it hard for her to breathe. Although she was shocked, Hao Jian''s disdainful attitude deeply stung her: "Hao Jian, you..." Xiao Qiang wanted to continue to argue with Hao Jian, but as soon as she began to speak, she was immediately interrupted by him: "I know what you want to say, and I know what you want to do! Don''t worry, I won''t stick around in yourpany! Or should I say, your group isn''t worthy of my sentimentality!" After saying that, Hao Jian slowly headed toward the door! Seeing Hao Jian act so nonchntly, Xiao Qiang and the other drivers up for the second interview were all taken aback! In their eyes, although Hao Jian was a bit of a joker and a little sneaky, he still had guts, even giving up the position of Miss Shu Ya''s personal driver! Everyone''s view of Hao Jian changed somewhat, including Xiao Qiang''s! Just as Hao Jian was about to pass by Xiao Qiang, he paused, looked her up and down, and a sleazy smile appeared on his lips: "Oh yeah, beauty, your hormonal imbnce seems quite severetely, which could lead to other gynecological inmmations. If you need help, you cane to me anytime! One-on-one, professional treatment, you know what I mean!" With that said, Hao Jian winked at Xiao Qiang, emitting a 38V low voltage charm, then sashayed out of the training room! Xiao Qiang''s mind waspletely boggled!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om One-on-one? I know what you mean? I know screw you! That asshole was still the same shameless, despicable rogue as ever! Any slight improvement in Xiao Qiang''s impression of Hao Jian hadpletely vanished, especially seeing the peculiar looks from the other interviewees around her, making her wish she could just crawl into a hole! "Mr. Hao Jian, please wait!" However, just as Hao Jian had stepped out of the training room, a crisp voice rang out, stunning everyone! They saw a professionally dressed female assistant approaching! Seeing this assistant, Xiao Qiang blinked in surprise: "Weiwei, why are you here? Did Miss Shu Ya give any instructions?" Xiao Qiang knew that this female assistant was the president''s assistant to Miss Shu Ya and was usually responsible for conveying some of Miss Shu Ya''smands! However, what surprised Xiao Qiang was why the female assistant knew Hao Jian''s name and what she wanted with him! The other driver candidates in the training room, who did not know the identity of the female assistant, perked up when they heard the name Miss Shu Ya! Under everyone''s gaze, the female assistant walked over, smiled slightly at Xiao Qiang, then turned her intriguing eyes to Hao Jian: "Mr. Hao Jian, congrattions, you have sessfully passed the second interview and are now appointed Miss Shu Ya''s personal driver! Miss Shu Ya would like to meet with you, please follow me." What! The words of the female assistant stunned Xiao Qiang and everyone else present! Hao Jian had passed? This¡­ Xiao Qiang''s face showed a hint of urgency as she quickly said: "Weiwei, what''s going on?" "Sister Qiang, I don''t know! It''s a direct order from Miss Shu Ya!" The female assistant named Weiwei, who was obviously very familiar with Xiao Qiang, gave her a wry smile and then said to Hao Jian: "Mr. Hao Jian, please follow me." Upon saying that, Weiwei turned and headed straight towards the elevators! It was only then that Hao Jian reacted, equally astonished. He nced at the leading Weiwei, then at the somewhat dumbfounded Xiao Qiang, and with a wide grin, Hao Jian coughed: "Ahem... turns out not every beauty is on their period! Aunt Flo, goodbye!" Having said that, Hao Jian mboyantly swayed his hips and eagerly followed her, leaving behind Xiao Qiang, whose face was green with fury and who was grinding her teeth in hatred! Chapter 14 The Ancients Sincerely Did Not Deceive Us! In the presidential office of Shu Ya Group, a city beauty quietly sat in a swivel chair! She was dressed in a spotless white OL outfit, her lustrous ck hair neatly tied up at the back of her head, showcasing her long, snowy neck. The skin that was exposed was as smooth as congealed fat, wless! Her beautiful face was stunning beyond words, half-hidden behind a pair ofrge ck-framed sses, revealing just enough to give a breathtakingly beautiful impression! Cold and proud! Like a fairy fallen from the heavens, giving the impression of being untainted by the mundane world! At that moment, the urban beauty, with her back to the door, gazed through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the bustling crowd below, her beautiful eyes flickering uncertainly, deep in thought. After a long while, a trace of misery crossed her face, apanied by a long sigh: "Sigh... let it be him..." As she spoke, the city beauty released her tightly clenched hand to reveal a rusted pendant she was holding. Thump, thump, thump! Just as Miss Shu Ya was lost in thought looking at the pendant, the office door suddenly knocked, bringing her back to her senses. Her beautiful face flushed slightly, and she quickly slipped the pendant into her pocket. Only then did Miss Shu Ya''s cool voice ring out: "Come in!" Squeak! The door opened, and the president''s assistant, Weiwei, entered with Hao Jian. "President, Hao Jian has arrived!" "I know, you... you can leave now!" Miss Shu Ya did not turn around. Her delicate body trembled slightly, and even her voice quivered, revealing her nervousness. Weiwei obviously noticed Miss Shu Ya''s demeanor; her surprised face didn''t ask more. She nodded and then left the office directly. Only when the door closed did Hao Jiane back to his senses. His eyes wide open, he stammered as he looked at the graceful figure with her back to him: "You... you... weren''t you with my womanst night?" Pfft! Miss Shu Ya had just taken a sip of coffee, which she then spat out, tears streaming down her face! Frantically grabbing a tissue, she wiped the coffee stains clean. Only then did Miss Shu Ya turn around with a mix of embarrassment and anger. "Oh! I see now, it was you who let me pass the interview, and you who let me pass the re-examination!" Hao Jian finally understood why he had passed the interview so confusedly. Now, looking at Miss Shu Ya, a sly smile appeared on his lips: "They say a couple for a day is bonded for a hundred, ancient words do not deceive!" Hearing his words and observing his shameless expression, Miss Shu Ya felt a suffocation of rage but managed to push her sses up on her nose before she spoke coldly: "Hao Jian, don''t tter yourself. The reason I let you pass the assessment is that I need your help with something else!" With that, Miss Shu Ya fell silent for a moment before continuing: "I ask you, what do you want? Money? Power? Or something else?" Hmm? Hao Jian paused, his eyes flickering slightly. Although he didn''t understand what Miss Shu Ya was implying, he still said with a smile: "Women! What I like most are women!" "And besides women?" Miss Shu Ya''s face flushed slightly, inwardly cursing the scoundrel''s shamelessness. "Girls! Besides women, naturally, my next favorite are girls!" Hao Jian shrugged, giving Miss Shu Ya a look as if he were regarding a fool. Miss Shu Ya felt her anger rising, but eventually, she managed to suppress her fury and asked in a chilling tone: "And besides women and girls?" "Aside from women and girls?" Hao Jian was taken aback, deeply nced at Shu Ya, then smirked cheaply: "Then naturally it''s girls!" I''m cutting grass! How furious Shu Ya was in her heart! At that moment, Shu Ya even began to waver in her thoughts, but still clung to ast bit of hope as she asked: "Hao Jian, let''s talk straight. I need your help with something right now. As long as you agree, although I can''t give you women, I can give you money, lots and lots of money!" Hmm? Hao Jian raised his eyebrow, deeply nced at Shu Ya, and said with a smile: "Give me money? You aren''t thinking of soliciting me, are you?" When Shu Ya heard this, shepletely broke down! Her lips twitched, speechless at this scoundrel''s shamelessness! "Okay, I was just joking! Tell me, what is it exactly?" Hao Jian watched Shu Ya''s distressed look, shrugged his shoulders, and said with a chuckle. Shu Ya took a deep breath to calm herself down, but the calmer she tried to be, the more nervous she became, her palms nearly drenched in sweat: "Marry me..." Mother clucker, what did you say? Hao Jian scratched his ear, even suspecting he was hallucinating: "Cough cough... Miss Shu Ya, could you say that again? I didn''t catch it!" "Marry me..." Shu Ya''s pretty face blushed, as she bit her red lips, her voice tiny as a mosquito! "That, I still didn''t catch it! Could you say it louder?" Hao Jian said with a wry smile. Seeing his expression, Shu Ya, for some reason, felt a surge of anger and yelled: "I said marry me! Now! Immediately! Right away!!!" Gah! Hao Jian felt his brain buzz,pletely dumbfounded! He looked at Shu Ya''s solemn face, remembering the passionate night before, his lips fiercely twitching: "Cough cough... Miss Shu Ya, although you gave me your first time, and I gave you my purity, but to propose to me now, don''t you think it''s too soon? Okay, I admit, I am very handsome, charming, and dashing. Men like me arepletely extinct in this world! But you took away my purity, and now you want my lifelong chastity, you..." At that moment, Hao Jian felt like a victim of a strong-arming woman, the grievance, the heartache, the silent reproach, made Shu Ya''s forehead line with ck lines! "Shut up!!!" Shu Ya was about to copse! Meeting a shameless person isn''t scary! But meeting someone who eats shamelessness for breakfast is terrifying! And without a doubt, Hao Jian was the epitome of shamelessness, a marvel among the shameless! Shu Ya took several deep breaths to finally stabilize her emotions:N?v(el)B\\jnn "Mr. Hao Jian, I''m not joking, and I hope you''ll take this seriously! Just agree to marry me and maintain it for 3 years, and I promise to give you 10 million!" Shu Ya''s words made Hao Jian''s eyes light up; he immediately began calcting: "3 years, that''s 1095 days. 10 million divided by 1095 days equals 9132 yuan per day! Ten times a day, that means I can charge over 900 yuan each time! Although the price is a bit low, it''s pretty simr to sitting around in a rich women''s club!" After finishing his calction, Hao Jian smirked shamelessly and said: "Alright, I agree. I''ll supply myself for you to solicit for three years!" Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Too Much Blood Flow, Its Really Not Good! ``` Pffft! Shu Ya''s coffee, which she had only just taken a sip of, sprayed out wildly for the second time! At this moment, she felt like vomiting blood, vomiting blood ah ah ah! After cleaning up the coffee stains, Shu Ya fiercely rubbed her temples with her jade-like fingers. Her temperament was usually calm and elegant, but she couldn''t help wanting to explode every time she faced Hao Jian! Having calmed her emotions, Shu Ya could only continue to speak to Hao Jian, "Hao Jian, I''ve reached the age where I must get married, especially under external pressures, it''s necessary! Last night was an ident! As a conservative woman, I''d rather marry someone I know than a stranger, after all, you were my first!" As she said this, Shu Ya''s beautiful eyes stared straight at Hao Jian, her expression filled withplexity. "Don''t worry, it''s just a sham marriage. You can have your private life, and I won''t interfere! Once the three-year term is up, I''ll divorce you immediately, restore your freedom, and I''ll give you ten million aspensation!" Hao Jian watched Shu Ya intently, observing her expression, and after she finished, he replied with a smile, "Actually, I''m only concerned about one thing!" "What is it?" Shu Ya pushed up her ck-rimmed sses and asked. "During these three years, can we have the realities of married life?" Hao Jian asked with a smirk on his face. Upon hearing this, Shu Ya shook her head, "No!" "That means you expect me to live like a monk for three years!" Hao Jian, with a look of helplessness, shrugged his shoulders, "I''m sorry! I might be without money, might be without power, but I cannot be without women!" "I can give you money, and you can find other women! As long as I don''t see it, you can do whatever you want!" Shu Ya still tried to persuade him. However, Hao Jian was resolute, shaking his head repeatedly, "Sorry, I''m a conservative man, I don''t like adultery within marriage, even if it is a sham marriage!" A conservative man? When she heard this, the corners of Shu Ya''s mouth twitched violently, and she almost burst intoughter at his shamelessness! "Twenty million! Three years!" Shu Ya''s expression was serious as if negotiating a business deal. "Sorry, it''s not about the money!" "Fifty million!" "No..." "One billion!" "Even if you offered me a hundred billion, my answer would still be no!" Hao Jian shrugged his shoulders, as he said, it was a matter of principle, or perhaps, a physiological issue! At this moment, Shu Ya felt as if she was negotiating the most difficult deal in the world. Although Hao Jian might be a bit of a joker, he was clearly not someone who could be swayed by money! Right then, Shu Ya was filled with anger, staring straight at Hao Jian, she asked, "Hao Jian, do you believe that I could sue you for rape and have you thrown in jail for life, never toe out?" Hmm? Hao Jian paused, then followed up with a yful smile, "Okay! I apologize, don''t cry!" Hao Jian was most afraid of women crying in front of him and became frantic. "I''m asking you, do you, or do you not, take me as your wife!!!" Shu Ya, wiping away tears, looked at Hao Jian with a look of deep resentment, causing his heart to tremble fiercely! But Hao Jian still shook his head: ``` "I won''t marry you!" That single sentence pushed Shu Ya to a corner, casting a shadow of despair and misery over her beautiful face. She opened the drawer and, under Hao Jian''s shocked gaze, took out a folding knife, then viciously shed her own pale wrist! Thud! Blood spurted out, instantly covering the floor! This scene startled Hao Jian, and he quickly tried to step forward to stop her, but at that moment, Shu Ya aimed the folding knife fiercely at her own neck: "Don''te any closer!!!" Shu Ya''s sharpmand made Hao Jian immediately stop in his tracks, seeing the knife point almost piercing into her neck, ready to plunge deeply into her flesh at any moment! The scene before him truly shook Hao Jian! He had never imagined that the beautiful, fairy-like Shu Ya would act so violently! "Hao Jian..." Shu Ya, disregarding the blood streaming from her wrist, her lovely face tear-stained and soaked, looked at Hao Jian with eyes filled with profound despair and deathly resignation: "I''m asking you onest time, will you... will you marry me?!!!" The crimson blood, the resolute readiness for death, the tragic countenance! All of these imagesbined to strike at the deepest secrets in Hao Jian''s heart, making him shudder violently! He remembered, that woman had also done the exact same foolish thing before! She held the Sun and Moon Daggers against her fair neck, her beautiful eyes filled with sorrow as she asked, "Will you marry me?" The same scene, the same circumstances! As these two images merged, in that moment, Hao Jian couldn''t even distinguish whether the woman before him was Shu Ya or Moon? Drip-drop! Drip-drop! Each droplet of blood trailed down Shu Ya''s neck, as if beating down on Hao Jian''s heart, causing him excruciating pain! "You win! I''ll... marry you..." When Hao Jian uttered these words, his voice was hoarse, seemingly exhausted of all his strength! Upon hearing this, Shu Ya smiled, a smile so miserable and apologetic! She had won, but there was no joy in her victory. The folding knife left her throat and was ced back on the table, and Shu Ya looked at Hao Jian with an apologetic expression:N?v(el)B\\jnn "Hao Jian, I''m sorry! I''m out of options, I must get married! I don''t want to marry those men with ulterior motives, so I have no choice but to turn to you!" At that moment, Hao Jian showed no hint of a smile, just wearily nodded: "I know, since I''ve agreed, I won''t go back on my word!" Relieved by his response, Shu Ya then took out a stack of papers from the drawer and handed them to Hao Jian: "Here is the prenuptial agreement. Take a look, and if there''s anything unsuitable, we can discuss it further!" Taking the contract, Hao Jian didn''t even look at it before he signed his name with a pen! "Don''t you want to read it first?" Shu Ya asked in surprise! "They''re just some details; what difference does it make whether I read them or not!" Hao Jian shrugged his shoulders and then pointed at Shu Ya''s wrist: "You should take care of your wound. Your period ising, and bleeding too much really isn''t good!" Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Hao Jian, so cheap! Shu Ya was taken aback for a moment; she hadn''t expected this scoundrel to have such a considerate side. Having signed his own name, Hao Jian passed the contract over, his face brimming with a yful smile: "Well, now you''re not just someone who''s slept with me, you also own me." Alright, he was just an asshole! Shu Ya thought to herself. "Just thinking about owning a handsome guy like me probably makes you wake upughing at night, right?" Hao Jian chuckled coldly: "I actually guessed it a long time ago, no wonder Auntie Xiao downstairs was so angered by me but still let mee back. It was all your doing." While saying this, Hao Jian leaned close to Shu Ya, blinked his charming big eyes, and wore a face full of yfulness: "You must have seen me on the day of the interview and were dazzled by my fairy-like good looks, then pretended to encounter me in the bar, arranged for a few hoodlums to harass you, so you could then logically throw yourself into my arms. Little did I know, Hao Jian, with such a brilliant reputation, would be calcted against by you." Hao Jian sighed to the heavens, his expression as shameless as it could be: "I thought keeping a low profile would prevent me from drawing attention, but it''s useless. A super handsome, incredibly dashing, and awe-inspiring man like me is like a firefly in the night, shining brightly and standing out wherever I am!" "Hey, hey, where are you going?" Hao Jian was puzzled to see Shu Ya grabbing her bag and leaving. Shu Ya really couldn''t stand it anymore. She had seen many a jerk, but one as outrageous as Hao Jian was a first for her. Hao Jian, so shameless! His name really hadn''t been wrongly given. ... Once back home, Hao Jian casually tossed his keys onto the table and then walked over to the window, gazing into the distance, where he stood for a full hour. In this moment, there was no sleaziness, no cheapughter, just endless depth and destion, like an old man who had seen through the vicissitudes of life, exuding a heartbreakingly lonely air! Moon, how are you now? "Bang, bang, bang." Frantic knocking interrupted Hao Jian''s thoughts. "Jerky brother, mom is calling you toe eat!" Tongtong''s youthful and slightly mocking voice came from outside the door. Hao Jian, with a face full of ck lines, opened the door to see the little girl looking at him with a mischievous grin. "You little brat, who taught you that?" Hao Jian pretended to be angry. But this seemed to have no deterrent effect on Tongtong, who stuck out her tongue at him and then ran off. Entering the room, Hao Jian was greeted by a delicious aroma, and then he saw Sister Lan, with her apron on, bringing dishes from the kitchen. Sister Lan was dressed in a tight yellow sweater, whichplemented her fair skin. Her curly hair was tied up in a bun, making her look proficient yet seductive.N?v(el)B\\jnn Hao Jian licked his dry lips. Indeed, Sister Lan was extraordinary tobine these two distinct temperaments together. Seeing Hao Jian staring stupidly at her, Sister Lan''s face flushed with a hint of red, and she cast a bewitching nce at him: "Why are you staring at me like that?" Hao Jian, looking at the four dishes and a soup on the table, couldn''t help but exim, "It''s got color, fragrance, and taste allplete. Sister Lan is truly a good wife and mother." "What good wife and mother, don''t make fun of me." By this time, Sister Lan was already serving the rice, feeling even more embarrassed at Hao Jian''s words. "Mom, what does it mean to be a ''virtuous wife and good mother''?" Tongtong asked with a puzzled face. Because she was short, only her little head reached the dining table, which looked very cute. "It''s none of your business, eat your food!" Sister Lan''s face flushed red as she red at Tongtong, then quickly changed the subject, "I saw you weren''t home all day, where did you go?" "I went job hunting," Hao Jian said with a smile! Speaking of what happened today, it really felt like a dream, who knew he would just step into a grave like that? He had promised himself he would never marry in his lifetime! Sigh, indeed he was a supremely good man, too soft-hearted! But in his heart, he knew that was just nonsense, if she looked like Luo Yufeng, his heart would be as hard as it could be. "Oh? I thought you didn''t need to work," Sister Lan said, her opinion of Hao Jian somewhat improved. Ever since this guy moved in, he had been loafing around and leering at her. If it weren''t for the time he stood up for her when a male guest was bullying her, she really would have thought Hao Jian was nothing but a scoundrel. "How could that be possible, I can''t just sit around and deplete my savings, can I? Sister Lan, you don''t know me well, I am actually a young man of noble character and high moral standing!" Hao Jian boasted. "You bullied a sister yesterday, a noble young man?" Tongtong suddenly interjected with a disdainful look at Hao Jian. "Pfft." Sister Lan couldn''t help but burst intoughter, doubling over. Hao Jian, face ckening,ined, "Sister Lan, can''t you discipline your daughter?" "Her mouth is on her face, I really can''t control it," Sister Lan replied with a mischievous smile. Hao Jian was stupefied, having no choice but to concede. "Excuse me, is Hao Jian living here?" Suddenly, a voice from outside asked. All three turned their heads, only to see a beautiful girl dressed in a white striped dress with a round hat on her head, tall and statuesque as though a fairy had descended to earth, standing at the door. Her skin was as white and smooth as fine porcin, her perfect features more like a work of art meticulously crafted by nature, stunningly beautiful! With a proportionate figure, she was slimmer than Sister Lan''s voluptuousness, and paired with her refreshingly clean attire, instantly caught everyone''s attention. The visitor was none other than Shu Ya, who had just engaged to Hao Jian earlier today. "Why are you here?" Seeing Shu Ya appear, Hao Jian was also stunned. How did this woman find her way here? Was she afraid he would run away? Sigh, beauty can sometimes be a burden! "You. Howe you..." Shu Ya stared at Hao Jian, Sister Lan, and Tongtong, dumbfounded! Hao Jian, Sister Lan, and Tongtong together looked just like a happy family of three. "Don''t get the wrong idea, I''m not his wife, I''m hisndlord," Sister Lan hurriedly stood up and said with an embarrassed face, ring fiercely at Hao Jian: "Hao Jian, your girlfriend is here, why don''t you introduce us!" "She''s not my girlfriend!" Hao Jian said defiantly, a person has to breathe even when being hanged, right? Can''t you let me enjoy a fewst days before entering the grave and not press so hard? "This..." Sister Lan was somewhat at a loss, if she''s not the girlfriend, then what could she be? Upon hearing this, a cold smile also appeared on Shu Ya''s face, "I''m not his girlfriend, I''m his fianc¨¦e!" Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Who is shamelessly begging? "ng." Hao Jian''s pair of chopsticks fell directly to the ground, and an uglier-than-crying smile appeared on his face. "Mom, brother is crying." Tongtong turned her head and said to Sister Lan. "Hao Jian, why didn''t I hear about you having a fianc¨¦e?" Out of curiosity, Sister Lan asked that a fianc¨¦e, such a dramatic term, seemed like something only noble families in TV shows would use. "Not just you, even I found out today that I have a fianc¨¦e," Hao Jian said irritably. "Oh?" Sister Lan became even more puzzled. "Dear, I''m sorry, please don''t be mad at her, she realized her mistake." Shu Ya quickly wrapped her arms around Hao Jian''s neck, fearful of giving away too much and arousing Sister Lan''s suspicion. She had to ensure that the n was wless without any slip-ups. Seeing Shu Ya embrace Hao Jian like this, Sister Lan thought to herself that the couple must be having a lovers'' squabble, but she couldn''t understand why she felt a bit ufortable watching them together. "Then, will you still have a 5P behind my back?" Hao Jian nced sideways at Shu Ya and asked. "Hiss." Sister Lan gasped in shock. 5P? Was this girl that wild? She didn''t look the part. In her eyes, Shu Ya seemed so gentle and well-dressed, clearly a well-bred woman. Could such a girl engage in 5P? Shu Ya''s expression also froze. This jerk, he did it on purpose! "Yeah, I''ll never dare again," Shu Ya said with a forced smile while pinching Hao Jian hard on his waist. "Hiss. For this time, hiss hiss, I''ll forgive you," Hao Jian gasped in pain while forcing a smile uglier than crying. The more Sister Lan watched this couple, the more bizarre she found them, and she was at a loss for any response. "Mommy, what does 5P mean?" Curious baby Tongtong started asking questions again. "Children should not ask so many questions!" Sister Lan scolded irritably, her face also flushing red. How was she supposed to answer that? Shu Ya''s face was as red as a monkey''s butt, and she kept pinching Hao Jian vigorously. By this time, Hao Jian''s facial expression hadpletely stiffened, only his facial muscles twitched relentlessly. "Since you''re here, let''s eat dinner together," Sister Lan said warmly. "Thank you, my name is Shu Ya, just call me Ya," Shu Ya sat down without any hesitation. "No one wants to know who you are," Hao Jian started undermining her again. Shu Ya red at him fiercely, then turning to Sister Lan said, "Landy, you look so young and also so beautiful." What woman doesn''t like being praised as beautiful and lovely? Sister Lan was no exception! Upon hearing this from Shu Ya, a shy smile couldn''t help spreading across Sister Lan''s face: "You''re joking, right? At your age, you still talk about beauty? But you, you''re the one who''s both young and pretty. And that grace about you, you muste from a notable family, right?" "Yes, yes, Sister Lan is as beautiful as a princess," Tongtong added, her small eyes shining. In her eyes, Shu Ya was simply Snow White, who had stepped right out of aic book, so beautiful and charming! "You''re not bad either, look at your cute little cheeks, you must have plenty of boys chasing you at school, right?" Shu Ya said, pinching Tongtong''s cheeks with a smile. Tongtong had also inherited her mother''s beauty, like a porcin doll, her whole little face was so yful and cute, clearly a beauty in the making. Hao Jian just watched these three womenplimenting each other and suddenly had a bad feeling, wondering if these three women would form an alliance against him in the future. Finally, after finishing the meal, Hao Jian took Shu Ya back to his room. Shu Ya nced at Hao Jian''s room and was immediately disgusted. Beer bottles and instant noodle cups covered the floor, cockroaches and flies crawled and flew around; to call this ce suitable for humans was an understatement¡ªit was more like a garbage dump. "You...you actually live in this ce?" Shu Ya asked Hao Jian in horror. At that moment, she even doubted how she had managed to sleep there the night before! "What, you have a problem?" Hao Jian raised his eyebrows and nced at Shu Ya''srge suitcase, then said in amazement, "You''re not nning to live with me, are you?" "Why not? This is called going all in for the act. Once you and I get married, my family will definitely investigate our past interactions. If they find out we haven''t been together before getting married, they''ll surely be suspicious," Shu Ya said matter-of-factly. "But you don''t have to live in my house for that. Shouldn''t we take things step by step? Moving in all of a sudden might make people suspect even more," Hao Jian tried to persuade Shu Ya. "I also want to take it step by step, but I''m running out of time. At that point, I''ll just tell them that you saw me during apany interview, fell in love with me at first sight,unched a major offensive, begged me to be with you, and then I reluctantly agreed to date you. After spending some time together, I found you to be a decent person, so I agreed to marry you. Geez, I''m such a genius!" Shu Ya was almost dazzled by her own cleverness. "Why is it me pursuing you? Why not you chasing me?" Hao Jian red, unhappy with the plot arrangement. Shu Ya looked at Hao Jian with disdain, "Do I even need to ask? I''m the rich and beautiful one, and you are the poor guy. Me chasing you? Who would believe that?" "Nonsense, I''m a man with potential! Plus, I''m handsome! Besides, it''s clearly you who desperately wants me to marry you. Why does it turn out to be me chasing you?" Hao Jian was not pleased. "Who was desperately wanting it?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Shu Ya''s cheeks puffed up in anger. This jerk¡ªwas he picking and choosing when such a beautiful woman like her was throwing herself at him? Was he even a man? Hao Jian didn''t reply, just rolled his eyes, then put a finger to his throat and mimicked in a high-pitched voice, "Hao Jian, will you marry me? If you don''t marry me, I''ll die just to show you!" "You jerk! I''m going to fight you!" Furiously embarrassed, Shu Ya lunged at Hao Jian, her fists flying everywhere. "Hey, hey, stop messing around." Caught off guard, Hao Jian was swiftly knocked down by Shu Ya! In that moment, both of them froze. Neither of them dared to move, fearing they would make the situation even more awkward. After a moment of awkwardness, Hao Jian immediately snapped back to his senses, looking at Shu Ya who was close at hand, and smirked mischievously. Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Do You Have No Shame? Hao Jian shamelessly shrugged his shoulders, taking it for granted as he said, "Who asked you to molest me?" "Molest you? Do you have no shame?" Shu Ya was fuming with rage. This bastard actually used her of molesting him? Was she that kind of person? "Shame? What is that?" Hao Jian scratched his head, pretending to be clueless. "You." Shu Ya''s chest heaved with anger, but she didn''t know how to counterargue. "Can''t help it, I''m just this kind of person. If you can''t get used to it, then just move out," Hao Jian said carelessly, his face the picture of nonchnce. When Shu Ya heard this, she actually calmed down. This guy wanted to force her to leave? Hmph! She''s Shu Ya, how could she submit to a scoundrel? "No, I''m not leaving. I n to settle down here." Shu Ya walked straight to the sofa and sat down with legs crossed, looking intriguedly at Hao Jian. "Suit yourself then," Hao Jian nced at her and then stood up. "Beep beep. Beep beep." At this moment, Hao Jian''s rm suddenly went off. "Aiya, happy times are here again!" Hao Jian hurriedly turned off the rm, a sleazy grin appeared on his face, and he scurried into the bathroom. He pressed his face against the small hole in the wall. As for what he was doing, it went without saying. This time, it happened to be Sister Lan''s moment to take a bath. "Here ites. Here ites." Hao Jian chuckled foolishly, and sure enough, he saw Sister Lan enter the neighboring bathroom in her bathrobe, preparing to bathe. Shu Ya was taken aback at the sight, and then asked with a frown, "What are you looking at?" Although she didn''t know what Hao Jian wanted to do, her intuition told her it was definitely not good. "Go away, go away," Hao Jian waved his hand at Shu Ya, his face filled with impatience. Now was Hao Jian''s private "happy time," which no one was allowed to disturb. But the more he acted this way, the more curious Shu Ya became. She rushed forward, and when Hao Jian wasn''t paying attention, she lifted her long leg and kicked him right in the butt, sending him flying. Then Shu Ya herself pressed her face to the hole in the wall, wanting to see what Hao Jian was actually watching. When she saw Sister Lan getting ready to undress, her face immediately turned red, and she pointed shakily at Hao Jian, trembling with anger, "You, you''re shameless!" This bastard even set an rm? "Quiet down, you''re about to shatter my skull," Hao Jianined as he picked his ear. "You''re peeping?" Shu Ya said in rage. Was this guy blind, not seeing that there was a live person standing here? To peep at another woman in front of his fianc¨¦e, wasn''t that a bit too brazen? Shu Ya suddenly felt very ufortable. This guy clearly didn''t take her seriously at all. "So what, you''re not my ''who'', why should you care what I do?" Hao Jian turned and snorted disdainfully. "I''m your fianc¨¦e!" Shu Ya shouted. "Hey hey hey, that''s just in name. Don''t forget, our rtionship is only a cooperation," Hao Jian sneered. "I''m certainly not ****!" Shu Ya retorted angrily, "Anyway, I won''t let you peep at thendy!" "That''s my business, get out of the way!" Hao Jian exploded with rage, was he finding himself a mother? "No way!" Shu Ya spread her arms, blocking the hole. But Hao Jian''s face showed a trace of disdain and with a gentle push, he shoved Shu Ya aside. A weak woman like her, how could she possibly stand against a big man like Hao Jian. "Are you going to get out of the way or not!" Shu Ya was also furious, giving a final warning. Hao Jian nced at her sideways, said nothing, but the corner of his mouth revealed a sneer of disdain. It was silent mockery. "Fine fine fine," Shu Ya said ''fine'' three times and then screamed at the top of her lungs, "Sister Lan, Hao Jian is peeping at you showering!" The scream resonated through the entire building. Hao Jian also shrank back in fright, staring dumbfounded at Shu Ya. Had this woman gone mad? "Ah!" Then a woman''s piercing scream followed. Hao Jian quickly turned his head to look through the hole, only to find Sister Lan had already put on her bathrobe, looking around in horror. "You you you you." Hao Jian pointed at Shu Ya, yet he couldn''t utter a word. "Well?" Shu Ya fluttered her eyebrows, a victorious smile on her face. "Bang bang bang." Right at that moment, there was a knock on Hao Jian''s door. Hao Jian immediately panicked. Having done something guilty, how could he dare face Sister Lan. "Do you need me to open the door?" Shu Ya provocatively looked at Hao Jian. "Don''t open it!" Hao Jian quickly said. If the door was opened, he wouldn''t know how to face Sister Lan.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Oh, so now you know fear? I thought you feared nothing," Shu Ya giggled sweetly, and for some reason, she felt exceptionally happy seeing this scoundrel at a loss. "Big sister, Gu Shuishui, are you trying to kill me? Now Sister Lan will surely kick me out, won''t she?" Hao Jianined with a mournful face. "Don''t worry, if it reallyes to that, you can just stay at my ce. After all, you follow whoever you marry, right?" Shu Ya smirked. It would be best if this bastard got kicked out. That way, she could save herself some worry and wouldn''t have to fear him cheating behind her back. But why did she care so much about this scoundrel? It had to be a misconception! She was just concerned he would ruin her ns. "Click click." Suddenly, there was the sound of the door unlocking from outside. Hao Jian''s heart leapt to his throat, he wanted to rush forward to lock the door, but it was toote. The door was already opened, and Sister Lan rushed in, bathrobe and all, huffing with anger. Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Let me count first! At this moment, Sister Lan''s face waspletely flushed, spreading right to her earlobes; it was clear that she heard Shu Ya''s loud scream just now. "Sister Lan, is there anything the matter at thiste hour?" Hao Jian asked, pretending to be unaware. "Did you just peep on me while I was bathing?" Sister Lan asked sternly. "How could that be? Do I look like that kind of person?" Hao Jian put on an aggrieved expression, attempting to bluster his way through. "You don''t seem like that kind of person," Sister Lan shook her head. "Hehe¡­ Sister Lan is so wise!" Hao Jian was secretly delighted, not expecting Sister Lan to be so easily deceived. "You are exactly that kind of person!" But Sister Lan''s next sentence was just like that. "..." Sister Lan said nothing but pushed the door open and walked in, then she saw Shu Ya sitting on the sofa, ying with her fingers,pletely indifferent. "Shu Ya, was it you who screamed just now?" Sister Lan asked. Hao Jian shook his head vigorously behind Sister Lan. "Yeah." Shu Ya responded as if she hadn''t seen. Hao Jian instantly covered his forehead, sighed inwardly, and felt an urge to strangle Shu Ya. "Where did he peep at me from?" Sister Lan asked, her face ugly. Shu Ya remained silent, but pointed at a wall in the bathroom. Sister Lan immediately entered the bathroom and then saw a small hole in the wall, which perfectly allowed a view of the opposing bathroom. Not only was the hole concealed, but the angle of the view was exceptionally good. Sister Lan''s face reddened even more in the bathroom, turned around furiously, and red at Hao Jian, "How many times is this now?" Just thinking that she had been watched by Hao Jian every time she bathed, Sister Lan was indescribably ashamed and angry. If it weren''t for the fact that he had saved her before, she would have considered calling the police. "Just once, really, today was the first time," Hao Jian quickly defended himself, obviously lying. "Nothing but nonsense." Shu Ya yed with her fingers, casually dropping this remark. Hao Jian gritted his teeth, his face turningpletely dark. "Aren''t you going to be honest? Do I need to call the police?" Sister Lan stated angrily. Upon hearing this, Shu Ya too was startled; she just wanted to y a prank on Hao Jian, not get him jailed. If Hao Jian were to end up in jail, then her entire n would be ruined. "No, no, no, let me count." Hao Jian had no choice but to admit defeat and began counting on his fingers. "One, two, three, four." Hao Jian counted seriously, and then stopped at four. Sister Lan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to herself that it was lucky it was only four times and not too bad. But Hao Jian''s next sentence was, "Should be around forty times, I guess." Sister Lan and Shu Ya were petrified, Shu Ya especially at a loss for words, realizing that the guy was a habitual offender. "It seems I had better call the police." Sister Lan was furious inside, considering that Hao Jian had only been living there for just over twenty days, and she bathed twice a day¡ªmorning and evening. This meant that this guy was watching her almost every day, without fail! Curse a thousand curses! "Sister Lan! Dear sister! I realize my mistake now, please spare me! I''ll never dare to do it again after this!" Hao Jian suddenly shouted out, "Sister Lan, look at me, I''m not even thirty yet, still have my best years ahead of me. I have an eighty-year-old mother above, and a crying son below." "Pfft." Sister Lan was amused by Hao Jian''s ridiculousness, having never really intended to call the police. She knew what kind of person Hao Jian was¡ªthough slightly lecherous, he was the type who had the desire but not the guts. The scare was only to teach him a lesson, to stop him from perpetually engaging in nonsensical acts. "Laughing? If there''sughter, there''s hope!" Hao Jian thought to himself and started chuckling along. "What are youughing at?" Sister Lan snapped. Then Hao Jian dared notugh anymore. Shu Ya was dumbfounded and thought to herself, could it really only be Sister Lan who could tame this bastard? "I''m not saying this to scold you, but you already have a girlfriend. How can you still be so fickle? And your girlfriend is so beautiful, doing this kind of thing in front of her, aren''t you taking her too lightly?" Sister Lanpletely adopted the tone of an elder. "She went behind my back with someone for a 5P, I don''t want her anymore; Sister Lan is better, a virtuous wife and good mother," Hao Jian said with a nce at Shu Ya, then he grinned apologetically at Sister Lan. "You bastard, you were the one who had a 5P! I''m going to kill you!" Shu Ya freaked out, lunged forward with ws bared. This guy just wouldn''t stop, even brought that up as a topic. And just like that, Hao Jian was forced to start his cohabitation journey. The next morning, Shu Ya got up to brush her teeth and wash up, but as soon as she opened the door, she heard a singing voice. "Brusha, Brusha, Eh Eh! Brusha, Brusha, Oh Oh." Shu Ya rubbed her sleepy eyes, only to see a guy enjoying a "bubble bath" in the bathtub, ying with a rubber duck in his hands. Seeing Shu Yae in, Hao Jian was also stunned. The next instant, their eyes locked, both petrified.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Ahhh... you''re peeking at me, oh my god... I can''t live like this..." The scream tearing through her eardrums was Shu Ya''s. Shu Ya quickly retreated, mmed the door shut, and only after doing all this did she feel as if she had just woken from a dream. Her mind was a bit messy now. ording to the usual routine, wasn''t it her turn to scream first? "You shameless thing!" From inside came the cursing voice of Hao Jian, seemingly very aggrieved. Shu Ya was also angry: "A grown man, do you really have to be like this?" "Grown man? What''s wrong with being a grown man? Although I am a man, can''t I have the heart of a young girl?" Hao Jian said despondently. For some reason, Shu Ya found herself at a loss for words. After hesitating for a moment, Shu Ya decided to go down and brush her teeth, not wanting to bunch up with this scoundrel. After brushing her teeth and having breakfast, Hao Jian drove Shu Ya to her office. Of course, there was no breakfast for Hao Jian. Sister Lan''s response was, "People who do bad things don''t deserve breakfast." Hao Jian sat in the Mercedes-Benz, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his demeanor somewhat profound as he puffed smoke. Before long, he saw Shu Ya in professional attireing downstairs. At this moment, Shu Ya, wearing a white striped shirt with a blue zer over it, and light grey trousers, looked smart and capable, yet still appealing - a true power woman, which easily ignited one''s desire to conquer. "Sister looks so beautiful!" Tongtong pointed at Shu Ya and said to Sister Lan. Sister Lan smiled faintly, thinking to herself she hadn''t guessed wrong, Shu Ya was no ordinary person, but why such a girl would fall for a scoundrel like Hao Jian? It waspletely baffling. "Tongtong, be good, sis will bring you something tasty when Ie back," Shu Ya said as she pinched Tongtong''s cheek: "By the way, what do you want to eat?" Shu Ya really liked Tongtong, this little girl was charmingly cute and mischievous! Tongtong thought for a moment, then said with a smile: "Sister Shu Ya, I want to drink Xu''s old yogurt!" "Okay! Sister will buy it for you after work!" Shu Ya pinched Tongtong''s little cheek again and said with augh. Just then, Hao Jian coughed dryly, his face full of a cheeky grin: "Sister Shu Ya, I want to drink milk too!" Chapter 20 Funny Quotations! "Sister Shu Ya, I want some milk too!" After Hao Jian said that, Shu Ya and Sister Lan werepletely thunderstruck! Especially Shu Ya, her eyelids twitched wildly, her silver teeth chattered, she desperately wanted to pin this shameless bastard to the ground and XOXO him a thousand times! "Hmph! Jerk!" Shu Ya''s previously good mood was utterly destroyed by Hao Jian, and she immediately turned to Sister Lan and Tongtong to say goodbye before diving into her own sedan! Seeing Shu Ya huffing away, Hao Jian''s big mouth split into a grin: "It''s just a five-yuan carton of yogurt! I''m blown away, she flipped faster than flipping a book!" After muttering to himself, Hao Jian waved to Sister Lan and Tongtong, then got into the sedan himself! Once Hao Jian got into the car, Shu Ya quickly returned to her typical state of an icy CEO, her face stern: "Drive!" Hao Jian also noticed the change in Shu Ya''s aura and didn''t dare to joke anymore, he drove quietly. When the car was about to reach thepany, Shu Ya suddenly spoke up, "Remember, when we get to thepany, you can''t tell anyone you are my fianc¨¦." "Ah, why?" Hao Jian asked, surprised. "Because our current rtionship cannot be known to everyone in thepany." Shu Ya gave her reason, one being that Hao Jian''s abrupt appearance was hard to exin since most people at thepany knew she didn''t have a boyfriend; suddenly popping up with one would surely seem odd to them. The second reason was her worry that Hao Jian, this scoundrel of a hooligan, would take advantage of being her fianc¨¦ to mess around in thepany, after all, his head was filled with nothing but libido ¨C for safety''s sake, it was better to keep it a secret for now. "Alright," Hao Jian agreed reluctantly! This guy was actually quite ready to use his status to y the field, but with Shu Ya''s sudden words, he felt aggrieved and deste in his heart! Why did it feel like nothing good had happened since he slept with this woman? "Disappointed, are you?" Shu Ya let out a cold, amused snort, obviously aware of what he was thinking. "I feel like I''m at a loss. Not only did you take my body, but I can''t even im to be your fianc¨¦. Ah, this is what you call a name without the benefits!" Hao Jian said facetiously. "Benefits my ass!" scolded Shu Ya, but she couldn''t help but be amused by him. The car parked in thepany''s underground garage, and then Shu Ya and Hao Jian got out, one after the other. Shu Ya instructed, "You go to HR and report to Xiao Qiang. Remember, no more flirting with her!" Hao Jian scoffed, "Joking! Do I look like the kind of man who harasses decent women? I just like to municate'' and ''interact'' with beautiful women, that''s all!" "Don''t be such a clown. Although Xiao Qiang is a bit aloof, she is talented, a Harvard University graduate. I paid a lot to hire her, and you''d better not drive her away or I won''t let you off," Shu Ya warned. "Okay, okay, what you say goes. Are you happy now, Madam President?" Hao Jian replied, still with a flippant attitude. Shu Ya exhaled deeply, realizing that it was indeed more difficult to get this guy to act seriously than to ascend to the heavens. She guessed that Hao Jian''s blood must naturally contain a type of cell called "dumbass." Then, without paying him any more attention, Shu Ya took the private elevator upstairs. "One moment she wants me to be her fianc¨¦, the next she doesn''t want anyone to know I am her fianc¨¦, ah, a woman''s mind is indeed difficult to understand." Hao Jian sighed, then grinned wickedly, "Forget it, I''ll go have fun with Aunt Flo instead; she''s more interesting." Inside the HR department, Xiao Qiang was focused on her work when she heard a knock on the door. She looked up and said, "Come in!" Then, she saw Hao Jian entering with a sleazy grin on his face. Seeing Hao Jian, Xiao Qiang''s face darkened immediately! If she was displeased with Hao Jian, it was like seeing a pile of stinking dog shit ¨C and now this pile of stinking dog shit had to appear in front of her eyes. She didn''t know what the president was thinking by hiring such a person, which was simply corrupting the group''s atmosphere and lowering the employees'' morale. "Sister Qiang? Busy?" Hao Jian snickered, looking as sleazy as one could be. "I''m younger than you; don''t age me!" Xiao Qiang said with tant disrespect. "Then, Sister Qian?" Hao Jian wiggled his eyebrows. "Don''t get cozy, we''re not that close," Xiao Qiang added. "Xiao Qiang." Hao Jian stopped jesting and seriously called out her name. "Don''t address me by my name; that seems very rude~!" "Auntie!" Hao Jian got angry, and the word "auntie" slipped out in an instant. "You''re asking for it!" Xiao Qiang immediately threw a file at him, her pretty face turning red and white with anger. Hao Jian quickly dodged and said with a sense of grievance, "You say I can''t call you this or that, what should I do then? Should I call you ''dear''?" "Pah! I could drown you with a single spit! Call me Minister Xiao!" Xiao Qiang was extremely angry; she didn''t know why, but every time she saw this clown, she couldn''t control herself and always lost herposure in public. "Alright, alright, Minister Xiao." "What do you want?" Xiao Qiang looked explosive. "Nothing much, just the president told me toe here to register, you know, for the payroll convenienceter," Hao Jian exined. "Just wait." Xiao Qiang kept her cool and searched through cabs and drawers for a while before she threw a form at Hao Jian, disrespectfully tossing it onto the floor. In fact, the moment Xiao Qiang threw out the form, she regretted it because she could see that although Hao Jian was a bit shady, he probably wasn''t a bad person, and her behavior was clearly a bit too much. But Hao Jian didn''t mind, picked up the form from the ground, then came to Xiao Qiang''s desk and directly started to fill it in with a pen. Is this guy, mad? Xiao Qiang felt even more regret because she could tell that Hao Jian was no longer joking around. Well, that''s normal, I guess; if I were treated like this by someone else, I probably would feel very ufortable too. After he had filled in the form, Hao Jian handed it back to her. Xiao Qiang received the form and looked it over seriously. The first half was normal, but then she got to the second half. "Helping an olddy across the street and getting the ''Triple Good Student'' award, you didn''t really need to write that, did you?" "How can I not? I''m a very serious person, and since there''s an option for ''what proud things you''ve done,'' naturally, I had to write it down," Hao Jian said seriously. Xiao Qiang was at a loss for words and continued reading, only to see something that shocked her: "Hundreds, thousands, ten thousand, your desired sry is half a million?" That sry was even higher than hers. "What''s wrong, is there something incorrect?" Hao Jian asked with a puzzled look. "Of course, it''s wrong, way too wrong! You''re here to apply for a driver''s position; how could you ask for more than me?" Xiao Qiang was speechless; was this guy delusional? "Minister Xiao, you don''t understand, have you never heard a famous saying? A general who doesn''t want to be a soldier isn''t a good driver." Hao Jian patted his chest and said, looking like the epitome of a good young man. Hearing this, Xiao Qiang nearly spit out a mouthful of old blood!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om God damn it! A general who doesn''t want to be a soldier isn''t a good driver? Was this some kind of jokester''s famous quote? Chapter 21: Chapter 21 The Four Untouchables! "But you can''t just ask for such a high amount all at once, right?" "I''m just showing my true intentions. Whether you give it or not is up to you. Besides, what if the CEO really gets dazzled and approves it without seeing clearly?" Hao Jian said, winking at Xiao Qiang. "Impossible, unless the chairman has a brain aneurysm!" Xiao Qiang said decisively. "Your chairman must have really had one, otherwise, she wouldn''t be so desperately begging me to marry her." Hao Jian muttered under his breath. "What did you say?" "Ah, nothing." Hao Jian hurriedly shook his head, then urged, "Minister Xiao, hurry up, will you? I''m busy here." Xiao Qiang red at Hao Jian irritably, then crossed out a string of zeros behind the number and said: "Thepany, well, it''s impossible to give you the high sry you''re asking for. Five thousand is the most, and not a yuan more."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Ah, that little?" Hao Jian said somewhat disappointedly. Five thousand wasn''t even close to one ten-millionth of what he earned for one mission, but for the sake of returning to a peaceful life, it was something he had to ept. "Little? You''re just a driver. Aside from driving the CEO to and from work, you don''t have to do anything else, and yet you still think it''s too little?" Xiao Qiang said, somewhat scornfully: "Do you only care about money?" "Of course not, there are other things." Hao Jian quickly shook his head. "Like what?" "Women. Instead of getting paid, I''d prefer thepany to supply women!" Hao Jian answered seriously, he certainly wasn''t joking. Xiao Qiang covered her face with her hand, sighing deeply. She suddenly felt that she and Hao Jian were from different worlds. Maybe he really was from Mars. Afterpleting all the procedures, Hao Jian began aimlessly wandering around thepany, flirting with female colleagues and fooling around with the male ones. In less than half a day, he had already gotten chummy with a bunch of people. It turned out that this was a family business, reportedly left behind by Shu Ya''s mother''s side, operating for over two hundred years and was currently preparing to go public. At that moment, Hao Jian suddenly spotted an acquaintance and immediately shouted, "Hey, Big Brother Tie Shan!" Tie Shan turned around to see it was Hao Jian. His brow immediately furrowed into a ''´¨'' shape, his face darkened, and he charged at Hao Jian. Hao Jian had made him look foolish that day, and he hadn''t forgotten. Catching the kid today, he needed to teach him a lesson, to alleviate the grudge in his heart. But just as Tie Shan was about to raise his fist, Hao Jian already came up grinning, offering a cigarette: "Hehe... Big Brother Tie Shan, are your balls still hurting? Have a Greater China, calm the essence!" Tie Shan twitched his mouth forcefully at the words ''aching balls'', nced at the cigarette, then at Hao Jian, hesitated for a few seconds, and then vigorously nodded: "Alright!" For him, a security guard, it was really too extravagant to spend money on such good cigarettes. Tie Shan and Hao Jian sneaked to the back door of thepany to puff and blow clouds of smoke, and at that moment, Hao Jian also probed Tie Shan for information, "Tie Shan, how long have you been working here?" "Almost three years now." Tie Shan exhaled smoke rings with immense satisfaction, the taste of good tobo was simply unmatched. "So that means you can be considered an old hand, right? I''m new here, could you give me some pointers¡ªwho should I pay attention to or what should I watch out for in thepany?" Hearing Hao Jian say this, Tie Shan immediately put on an elder''s air and said seriously: "You''re not kidding, I''ve been mixing here for three years and I''ve seen all kinds of ghosts and goblins, every face in thepany, upside down and inside out, is already etched in my brain¡ªI know who likes salty, who likes spicy, who likes to watch flicks, and who likes to jerk off, I know it all." "That awesome?" Hao Jian deliberately made a face of admiration. "Absolutely, I''ll tell you, there are a few people in thepany you cannot afford to offend." Tie Shan lowered his voice and said: "The first one is Boss Liang." "Boss Liang? He''s rich?" Hao Jian asked, puzzled. "Rich my ass!" Tie Shan immediately showed a disdainful expression: "He''s nothing more than the head of our security department. He always has a stern face, as if someone owes him millions, so we privately call him Boss Liang. This guy, relying on his background as Senior Special Forces, looks down on us security guards. After joining thepany, he even talked about militarizing thepany management. He drills us little security guards day in and day out, exhausting us to death, and he''s still not satisfied, always nitpicking." "But he''s from your security department, I''m just a driver; he shouldn''t be able to boss me around, right?" Hao Jian said. "Who says? Didn''t you know the drivers are also under the security department? Let me tell you, the thing Boss Liang despises most is someone like you who idles around, slouching and loafing. If he catches you, he''ll definitely not let you off easy," Tie Shan stated with certainty. "I see, so this Boss Liang is pretty hateful, huh?" Hao Jian nodded. "Isn''t that the truth! Security should just be security, why do we have to put up with all that nonsense? We only get a measly sry of a couple thousand a month, is it worth getting so tired? The old man is having a st while we don''t even have the energy left to get intimate with our wives when we get home." Tie San really lived up to being a burly fellow, daring to say anything. "Then why don''t you guysin to the president?" "Comin my ass, you shouldn''t have brought that up, it just makes me angry. The president says his discipline is very stringent, worth learning from all of us. He''s really in good standing with the president," Tie Shan said with resentment. "So, he''s relying on having connections," Hao Jian let out a coldugh. That''s right, if Boss Liang didn''t have any backers, with Tie Shan''s explosive temper, wouldn''t he have rebelled by now? "So, who''s the second person I should watch out for?" Hao Jian hurriedly asked, continuing his probing. "The second person to watch out for is that shrew Su Qin from the technology department. That woman, relying on her affair with one of thepany''s shareholders, struts around thepany all high and mighty, as mean as can be. But," Tie Shan chuckled, "she naturally has that foxy look, and she''s got a banging body, can''t deny it''s quite a sight!" "And the third?" Hao Jian asked, while also making a mental note of the name Su Qin. "The third is Old Sun from the sales department, that old geezer''s heart is rotten to the core. He''s alwaysining about their department losing this and that and always tries to shift the me onto our security department, using us of being inefficient, which causes things to get stolen. But privately, a lot of people say it''s him who dragged the stuff out to sell. Tell me, isn''t he a scumbag?" "He''s nasty, definitely nasty. But it seems like it doesn''t have much to do with me, does it?" "Eh, you don''t understand, do you? The sales department needs to ship out products, and they''ll definitely need help from you drivers. If clients say something is missingter, he''ll frame you drivers by saying you''re not clean-handed and have stolen from thepany," Tie Shan said earnestly. Chapter 22: Chapter 22 We are friends, not lovers! "Damn, really?" Hao Jian was shocked, "This old guy is so shameless." "Why not? Several drivers have already been fired because of this." "Doesn''t the chairman care?" "Care about what? Every time Old Sun only took one or two items, not enough to raise suspicions! So, the president just turns a blind eye and lets him do it." Hao Jian nodded, quite surprised at how many problems were within thepany. "As for the fourth person, you really need to be careful about this one; you absolutely cannot afford to offend her. Once you do, you''ll have to pack up and leave," Tie Shan said mysteriously. "Who?" Hao Jian''s curiosity piqued. "No kidding, it''s obviously the president! She calls the shots in the entirepany, and she''s very strict; she can''t tolerate the slightest wrongdoing and hateszy people the most. As soon as she walked through the door, she had thepany undergo a major cleanup and fired hundreds of people." Tie Shan spoke with lingering fear, thinking that if not for his burly appearance which seemed useful, he probably would have been fired too. Hao Jian wanted tough upon hearing this, wondering what the expression on Tie Shan''s face might be if he knew that the cool president was actually his wife. "What about Xiao Qiang?" Hao Jian asked, feeling that Xiao Qiang''s temperament should also make the list. "Minister Xiao? Minister Xiao is great," Tie Shan said nkly. "Great? You haven''t seen how sheshes out at me," Hao Jian sneered, clearly dissatisfied with Tie Shan''s remark. "You know nothing, although Minister Xiao seems cold on the outside, she''s actually warm-hearted. When the president wanted toy off employees, we were supposed to be out too, but we stayed because Minister Xiao pleaded for us." Tie Shan was angry and did not like how Hao Jian spoke about Xiao Qiang. Not expecting her to be so kind-hearted, Hao Jian was also surprised and quickly apologized: "Alright, alright, it''s all my fault. I shouldn''t have spoken out of turn. Let''s smoke." "You probably feel this way because you are new here. Once you get to know her better, you''ll find she''s actually very approachable," Tie Shan quickly said. "I hope so," Hao Jian said with a wry smile, knowing the future was uncertain, but for now, he and Xiao Qiang were like oil and water. "Hao Jian, seeing that we get along, how about I introduce you to some of my security department buddies? Of course, only if you don''t mind us being security guards." Tie Shan was that kind of personality¡ªif he got along with someone, they could quickly be brothers. "What are you talking about? I''m just a driver myself, there''s no such thing as looking down on anyone," Hao Jian said with augh. "Good, let''s go." . "Does this guy really never settle down?" In the president''s office, Shu Ya frowned. Xiao Qiang nodded bitterly, "That guy''s only been here half a day, and our HR department has already received no less than twentyints about him harassing female colleagues and pulling male colleagues to smoke and boast, creating a mess in thepany." Shu Ya''s fingers tapped on the desk, seemingly pondering something. Seeing this, Xiao Qiang didn''t dare interrupt. "It seems we really need to find something for him to do. It''s not working with him just loafing around," Shu Ya said, worried he might ruin thepany if left unchecked. Xiao Qiang was startled; she had thought Shu Ya would fire Hao Jian, but Shu Ya was nning to keep him? "President, why don''t you just fire him? I don''t think he''s a decent person, and keeping him in thepany might lead to more troubles," Xiao Qiang persuades, feeling annoyed at the thought of seeing Hao Jian again. "I have my own ns," Shu Ya waved her hand, signaling her to stop talking. She knew what kind of person Hao Jian was, but she couldn''t fire him¡ªhe was a key part of her n. "Oh," Xiao Qiang replied reluctantly. "OK, aren''t we short on logistics staff? Let him work there. That way, he''ll stay in logistics all day and won''t run around," Shu Ya said. "Okay, I''ll arrange that," Xiao Qiang replied, then as if remembering something, she said: "By the way, President, Young Master Zhao has been here for a while and says he wants to see you." Upon hearing the name Young Master Zhao, Shu Ya''s brows knotted, but she still said, "Let him in." Soon, a handsome man in a suit and tie walked in, his hair slicked back and his shoes shiny, much like a British gentleman. His gentle smile at the corner of his mouth could win many hearts. But Shu Ya seemed immune to all his good qualities, merely ncing up briefly, then returning to her work: "What are you doing here?" Zhao Ziliang gave a wry smile, "So many years passed, and you''re still so cold." "I''ve always been like this, you know that," Shu Ya''s cool reply showed she wasn''t particrly fond of Zhao Ziliang. "Then, would you like to have dinner?" Zhao Ziliang stood in front of Shu Ya, looking at her earnestly. Without looking up, Shu Ya said, "It''s not convenient; I have other things tonight." "Shu Ya, I rarelye back to China; do you really need to be so heartless?" Zhao Ziliang said, sounding a bit dejected, as Shu Ya had always kept him at arm''s length. Finally, Shu Ya stopped writing, looked up at Zhao Ziliang, and said, "First, we are friends, not lovers, so there''s no question of being heartless. Second, as I said earlier, it''s not convenient, and I don''t have time, whether or not you believe that is your own issue. And third, Zhao Ziliang, do you really think I don''t know why you''re here?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Instantly, the atmosphere in the office seemed to freeze, filling the air with a cold chill. Chapter 23: Chapter 23 You Should Feel Lucky! "Shu Ya, do you have some misunderstanding about me?" Zhao Ziliang asked with a smile, his handsome features coupled with a refined smile, which was incredibly lethal. However, his charming smile, in Shu Ya''s eyes, was just full of intense disgust! At that moment, Shu Ya looked at Zhao Ziliang expressionlessly, her intelligent eyes seeming to see through everything: "I don''t think it''s a misunderstanding. If I''m not mistaken, it was my dad who sent you, right?" Like him, Shu Ya was a top Harvard graduate, finishing first in her ss. When she took an IQ test, her score was an impressive 185. For such a high-intellect genius, all of Zhao Ziliang''s prides were negligible. "Uncle is just worried about you, so he sent me to check on you," Zhao Ziliang admitted, knowing he couldn''t deceive her. Of course, Shu Ya thought. Her father''s greed for thepany never died. Thinking about that disgusting face, Shu Ya''s pretty face turned cold as ice: "Zhao Ziliang, you go back and tell him that I will absolutely not hand over thepany to him. Tell him to take his woman and scram!" "Shu Ya, don''t be like this. Uncle really cares about you. Before I came here, he even instructed me to remind you not to overwork and to eat on time," Zhao Ziliang said, ying the good guy. But he underestimated Shu Ya''s hatred for her own father. Not having listened would have been better than hearing that, which instantly made Shu Ya coldly point to the door: "Get out!!!" "Shu Ya, you¡ª" Zhao Ziliang was stunned, not expecting that his words would touch Shu Ya''s bottom line. "I said get out, and don''t make me call security to escort you!" Shu Ya was visibly impatient; she was too tired to waste more words on Zhao Ziliang. "Fine, since you''re not in a good mood, we can talk another time," Zhao Ziliang still kept his smile, maintaining his usual gentlemanly demeanor. He buttoned up his suit, nodded slightly at Shu Ya, turned, and left through the door. Shu Ya copsed into her chair, her face showing an indescribable exhaustion. Father? What aughable word. If she had a choice, Shu Ya would wish she didn''t have such a father at all. Meanwhile, just as he walked out of the office, the refined smile on Zhao Ziliang''s face dissipated with the cold wind, turning into a hint of gloom and frostiness. "Shu Ya, you can never escape from the palm of my hand, never!" ... It hadn''t even been an hour, and Hao Jian had already be friendly with a group of security guards, fitting right in with their boisterous banter, thoroughly enjoying theirpany. Especially since it was lunchtime, some bought lots of dishes, and they ate and chatted in the security room, the atmosphere extremely lively! However, just as everyone was engrossed in their lively conversation, the door to the security room was suddenly kicked open! A burly man swaggered in! When he saw Hao Jian and the others indulging in a feast, his face turned instantly ashen, and his brows furrowed deeply. Hao Jian almost didn''t need to guess; just by looking at that stern face, then noticing the uniform, he knew this man must be the so-called Boss Liang. Behind him, another group of security guards followed, each standing straight like soldiers, apparently well-drilled by him. "Does no one need to work!!!" Boss Liang loudly scolded them. He had found this group of security guards displeasing for a while now, and to see them now, feasting and chatting right under his nose, was absolutely intolerable. "Section Chief Liang, it''s our lunch break. We''re just rxing a bit," an old man quickly said with a forced smile. His name was Old Zhang, fifty years old this year, a genuinely nice person who had been with thepany for almost fifteen years, effectively making him a veteran. On any ordinary day, he was kind-hearted. It was for this reason that Shu Ya, despite seeing his old and frail condition, had not fired him. "Lunch break? And the lunch break allows you to eat and drink sovishly? Don''t forget, this is apany! Have you no sense of organizational discipline at all?!" Boss Liang didn''t show the slightest bit of respect for this veteran, pressing him aggressively.N?v(el)B\\jnn In his view, such a freeloader should have been kicked out of thepany long ago. "I''m sorry, Boss Liang, that. We won''t dare do it again," Old Zhang, reproached by Boss Liang, dared not voice his anger and could only meekly apologize. He also knew that Boss Liang was someone he couldn''t afford to offend; he had a family to support and could only cling to his job. "There''s a next time? If there is a next time, you won''t need to apologize. Just roll up your bedding and get lost, a bunch ofzy, good-for-nothings! All of you, useless!!!" Boss Liang continued to scold unapologetically while the security guards behind him disyed smug smiles, seemingly d they were unlike these wastrels. Hearing this, Old Zhang''s expression stiffened, and he did not know what to say. Hao Jian''s eyes shed. This Boss Liang was indeed as Tie Shan had described, very unpopr. The first impression he gave Hao Jian was of arrogance and tyranny, or rather, of putting on airs! Using the bit of power he held to lord over others, his demeanor was loathsome! "Don''t go too far!" Tie Shan, known for his temper, couldn''t stand hearing Boss Liang call them useless from one side to the other and abruptly stood up. "Too far? Did I say something wrong? Aren''t you all just a bunch ofzy, good-for-nothings?" Boss Liang sneered, "All you do is loaf around in the security room every day. If something happens to thepany, can you bear the responsibility? Hmph! I really don''t understand why thepany would hire a bunch of trash like you! Complete waste of space!!!" "Bastard!" Tie Shan waspletely furious. This bastard, did he really think he was easy to bully? Even if it meant losing his job today, he was determined to give Boss Liang a beating. "Tie Shan, calm down! Your baby was just born. You need money for everything at this time. If you get fired now, what will you use to support your wife and child?" Hao Jian grabbed Tie Shan''s arm and earnestly reminded him. Upon hearing this, Tie Shan indeed calmed down, his fists clenched tightly, he red furiously at Boss Liang but dared not make a move. That just proved the old saying, "money is a barrier for heroes." "Who are you?" Boss Liang raised his eyebrow, finally noticing this new face, Hao Jian. Hao Jian stood up, walked over with a smile, and casually offered a cigarette: "Me, I''m the new driver, named Hao Jian. If you like, you can also call me Little Hao or Little Jian." Boss Liang did not ept the cigarette from Hao Jian but looked at him with a mocking gaze: "So cheap? Hah! Seems like your parents aren''t so great either! Naming their son Hao Jian tells you all you need to know about them!" Boss Liang''s face was full of scorn, and these words immediately wiped the smile off Hao Jian''s face, recing it with a chilling coldness! "You should be very grateful that, if it were three days ago, thatment would be enough to get you killed!" Chapter 24: Chapter 24 You Can Get Lost Now! Hao Jian''s voice was icy cold, sending an involuntary shiver down everyone''s spine in the security room! Seeing that the atmosphere was wrong, Old Zhang quickly gestured to Hao Jian, signaling him to stop talking! He was a warm-hearted man and didn''t want to see Hao Jian lose his job, after all, everyone was just trying to make a living, so it was better to endure when possible. "Hao Jian, stop talking!" After grabbing hold of Hao Jian, Old Zhang hastily said to Boss Liang: "Boss Liang, it was our fault this time! Please be magnanimous and give this old man some face! Let''s just let this matter go!" "Give you face? Who do you think you are!" However, Boss Liang was utterly unmerciful, his face filled with a cold sneer as he contemptuously said to Old Zhang: "Face is something one earns for oneself, not something given by others. You think I should give face to an old good-for-nothing like you? If it wasn''t for the president pitying your old age, I''d have you out on your ass right now!!!" Boss Liang felt that giving face to someone like Old Zhang, an old man just waiting to die, was utterlyughable considering he himself came from the Special Forces! Boss Liang''s words made everyone in the security room look extremely ufortable! Even Old Zhang, such a good-natured person, was berated by Boss Liang; this man was truly detestable! And just as everyone was filled with righteous indignation, an indifferent voice rang out! "You''re right, Ipletely agree with you, so now. Can you please leave?" This statement caused a subtle change in everyone''s expressions; they couldn''t believe someone dared to tell Boss Liang to leave, weren''t they tired of living! People turned their gaze and to their shock, the person speaking was... Hao Jian! Boss Liang''s face darkened instantly, his eyes filled with malice as he looked at Hao Jian: "You little punk, what did you just say?" "If you can''t even hear what I''m saying, it seems that you, as a soldier from the Special Forces, aren''t all that much!" Hao Jian coldly stared at Boss Liang, a hint of a mocking smile on his lips: "Just like you said, face is something one earns for oneself. Since you''ve already lost face in front of us, why should we give you any respect! Now, you can leave!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Indeed, face must be earned by oneself, but Boss Liang shouldn''t even dream about earning it from them, as no one was willing to give him that respect. Hao Jian''s words made everyone in the security room feel exhratingly vindicated, but they also began to worry for Hao Jian! After all, Boss Liang was their immediate superior and also in charge of Hao Jian, the driver, and such open defiance surely meant trouble for the future... "You... you dare speak to me like that? The world has turned upside down! This is outright defiance!!!" Boss Liang burst into a furious rage, feeling that his authority had been challenged. "Are you the President of the Country?" Hao Jian, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth and a roguish air, asked. Boss Liang''s breathing hitched, wasn''t that question pure nonsense? If he were the President of the Country, would he still be here? But he couldn''t grasp the meaning behind Hao Jian''s words and didn''t dare to respond. Seeing Boss Liang silent, Hao Jian continued, "Since you''re not the President of the Country, why shouldn''t I dare to talk to you like this?" "You!!!" Boss Liang clenched his teeth,pletely enraged. This kid was outrageously arrogant, even daring to mock him. Although he was ufortable, Old Zhang, Tie Shan, and the others felt great. They were seeing someone talk back to Boss Liang for the first time. They were happy to see Boss Liang''s face turn green with rage, though they were also worried. The worry stemmed from the fear that Boss Liang would act spitefully and have the Family Head fire Hao Jian, something he was fully capable of, as there had been precedents. But Hao Jian wasn''t afraid because he knew that Shu Ya would never fire him under any circumstances. "If there''s nothing else, I''ll ask you to leave now! Don''t disturb us while we''re eating and chatting. Looking at your pig kidney face really f***ing ruins the appetite!" Hao Jian sat back down, pointed towards the door, and actedpletely nonchnt. Tie Shan and the others all showed cold sneers as they resumed their meal. "You''re asking for it!!!" Boss Liang''s patience had reached its limit. Looking at Hao Jian''s refined face, he hated him so much that his teeth itched. In an instant, he whipped his leg out in a sweep toward Hao Jian! Whoosh! The wind from the kick was fierce and powerful! Seeing this, Tie Shan and the others were all shocked! They wanted to step forward to stop it, but it was toote. Boss Liang''s kick was only a few centimeters away from Hao Jian''s face. At that moment, Hao Jian casually lifted his hand to scratch his ear. "Bang!" A dull thud sounded as Boss Liang''s leather shoe struck squarely against Hao Jian''s hand, causing a gust of wind that made Hao Jian''s hair flutter. At this point, everyone was dumbfounded. Had Boss Liang''s full-strength kick been blocked just by a "scratch?" Then their gaze toward Hao Jian began to change. It was filled with shock and disbelief, and many not only rubbed their own eyes but wondered if they were seeing things. And Boss Liang''splexion turned ugly in an instant! He had thought that kick was enough tond Hao Jian in the hospital. But he never expected that it wouldn''t even scratch Hao Jian''s skin! At that moment, a serious expression crossed Boss Liang''s face; his instincts told him, this guy was no simple matter! "Oh, feeling like starting a fight?" Hao Jian pushed Boss Liang''s foot away and said with a strange smile. That look was like a hungry wolf eyeing a littlemb, giving one an eerie feeling! "Hmph! No wonder you talk big. Turns out you have a little bit of skill. But do you think your bunch of shrimps and crabs can defeat my elite guards?" Boss Liang said disdainfully, gesturing toward his own security guards. And those security guards following Hao Jian all straightened their spines, clenched their fists, and grinned menacingly, eager to jump into the fray. In contrast, Hao Jian''s side was full of worn-out veterans. When they saw Boss Liang and his men ncing over, they all lowered their heads in fear. "Elite? Hahaha." Hao Jianughed so hard he teared up. He had seen real elite soldiers before, and these guys were nothing but all bark and no bite, to even consider as elite. "What''s so funny?" Boss Liang red, detecting the mockery in Hao Jian''s words. The security guards also cast hostile looks at Hao Jian, wishing they could tear him to pieces. After a long while, Hao Jian finally stoppedughing and then pointed to one of them, "You, have you ever been to the battlefield?" The security guard was startled by Hao Jian''s question and shook his head dumbly. "What about you? Have you ever killed anyone?" Hao Jian pointed to another. That person also shook his head, humiliated. "And you, have you ever touched a gun?" Hao Jian continued to question, but all the answers were negative. Seeing Hao Jian''s relentless questioning, Boss Liang''s face grew uglier by the second. "Boss Liang, I heard you want to turn the security division into an army unit, but none of your men have even been on a battlefield. What makes them qualified to be called elite?" Hao Jian found itughable. "Security is security, and soldiers are soldiers; there''s a difference. The iron-blooded spirit of soldiers can only be cultivated in the military and on the battlefield. Look at Old Zhang; he''s already in his fifties. Do you think he can endure your training at this age?" Hao Jian mocked, thinking that Boss Liang was just messing around with no real purpose. "You,e out. I want to have a one-on-one fight with you!" At this point, Boss Liang didn''t want to waste any more words; he decided to let fists do the talking. "One-on-one?" Hao Jian raised an eyebrow. "What? Don''t dare to?" Boss Liang mocked, thinking Hao Jian was just a coward. "No, I just think you should call over your brothers because you, on your own, are not enough to die!" Chapter 25 Facing the Number One Formidable Opponent! In the underground garage, everyone from the security department had gathered, forming a circle. And in the center of the circle were Hao Jian and Boss Liang. "Kid, I''ll show you what happens when you don''t obey orders!" Boss Liang''s face darkened as he clenched and rubbed his fists. Hao Jian dug earwax out of his ears and flicked it onto Boss Liang''s clothes. Humiliation, extreme humiliation! "Ha!" Boss Liang, like a keg of gunpowder ignited, suddenly stomped his foot and lunged forward like a ferocious tiger. He then kicked directly at Hao Jian''s abdomen. "Be careful!" Tie Shan shouted loudly, knowing that although Boss Liang was arrogant, he had some skills. In a one-on-one situation, even he might not be his match.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om If that kick had hit directly, even he would end up crippled. "Bang!" Hao Jian reached out with both hands and grabbed Boss Liang''s leg effortlessly neutralizing the fierce attack without even moving his feet, making it look effortlessly casual. "What?" Boss Liang''s face changed drastically! How could this be! That kick was with all his might, enough to burst a sandbag, how could it be so easily neutralized by this guy! Hao Jian grinned and punched at the palm of Boss Liang''s foot! Bang! Boss Liang immediately felt a powerful force surge up from the sole of his foot to his leg, forcing him to retreat several steps back explosively, nearly falling to the ground on his backside. At this moment, Boss Liang''s right leg was trembling. He felt as if his leg hadpletely lost sensation, leaving only a tingling sensation as if from an electric shock. "Told you you''re not tough enough, but you wouldn''t listen." Hao Jian''s face was full of mockery, and this was still him holding back. Otherwise, Boss Liang''s troubles wouldn''t have been just numb limbs; his entire leg could have been shattered. Boss Liang''s face turned a livid blue, but he remained stiff, not because he didn''t want to move, but because he simply couldn''t. "Brothers, let''s go together! Take down this kid!" Suddenly, someone from Boss Liang''s side roared, intending to start a brawl. The leader was at a disadvantage, and they felt disgraced, so naturally, they wanted to regain their honor. Tie Shan cursed their shamelessness, then turned back and said to the others, "We''re going too. We can''t let Hao Jian be bullied!" "Let''s go, even if it costs me my old life, I can''t let Hao Jian be bullied!" Old Zhang also shouted loudly. Hao Jian was in this predicament because of them; how could they just stand by and watch. "You lot, are you trying to stage a mutiny?" However, just as tensions were about to erupt, a clear and crisp voice called out,ing from not far away. Everyone turned to see Shu Ya, apanied by Minister Xiao, rushing over in a flurry! Upon hearing the report that the security department was brawling in the underground garage, Shu Ya and Minister Xiao immediately guessed that Hao Jian was causing trouble. Shu Ya was furious! It was just his first day at work, and Hao Jian had already turned thepany upside down, and that wasn''t all; he had even fought with his direct boss and his men. If she hadn''t arrived in time, both sides would definitely have exploded into a brawl! Thinking this, Shu Ya could hardly wait to pull down Hao Jian''s trousers and pin down this bastard to the ground to punish him a thousand times! "President." Everyone bowed their heads to greet Shu Ya, among them, Boss Liang looked the most serious, almost as if he were meeting a national leader. "Toady." Hao Jian sneered dismissively. "You!" Boss Liang red with a furious frown. "What on earth is going on here, why are you fighting?" Shu Ya looked sharply at everyone, her authority as the president evident. "President, Hao Jian brought some people from the security department to eat and drink excessively during work hours, turning the whole department into a mess," Boss Liang pointed at Hao Jian and said. "Oh, so quick to tattle? Looks like you''re not just a bootlicker but a snitch too," Hao Jian said with a sneer. Boss Liang snorted coldly, ignoring him. "Hao Jian, is it true what Section Chief Liang said?" Shu Ya approached Hao Jian, scrutinizing him seriously. Hao Jian shrugged and said, "I indeed had lunch and chatted with them, but that was during lunch break. Does thepany have a rule that prohibits eating or chatting during lunch?" "Hum! Excuses! Being at work should look like work. You''re setting a bad example for thepany! Can you bear the responsibility for that?" Boss Liang rebuked, this jerk was still making excuses. "Setting a bad example?" Hao Jian asked disdainfully, "Don''t you guys eat? Don''t you chat? Show me thepany rule that forbids employees from eating and chatting!" Boss Liang chuckled coldly, "Humph! As apany security guard, you should protect thepany and its employees'' property. Your careless attitude is uneptable, and someone like you doesn''t deserve to stay in thepany!" This officially worded ttery obviously struck a chord with Shu Ya, who appreciated employees who were meticulous in their work. Subsequently, Shu Ya red at Hao Jian, demanding an exnation from him. "Alright, alright, I lose," Hao Jian raised his hands, his expression one of resignation. "Lose? Where did you lose?" Shu Ya asked, puzzled, wasn''t this the moment to admit his mistake? "I lose because I''m not as good at bootlicking as Boss Liang, unable to make you happy," Hao Jian shrugged and said. "Pfft." Xiao Qiang couldn''t help butugh, amused by Hao Jian''s clownish antics. Then Shu Ya''s face darkened. "President, listen to this, hear what he''s saying. I strongly request you fire him, don''t let such a person bring bad influences into ourpany," Boss Liang said gravely. "Section Chief Liang, I will handle this matter, you may go back first," Shu Ya dismissed Boss Liang with a wave, how could she actually fire Hao Jian. "This. Alright then." Since Shu Ya had spoken, Boss Liang could say no more. But his gut told him, Shu Ya definitely wouldn''t fire Hao Jian because, with her decisive nature, she would have fired him on the spot if she intended to. Boss Liang gave Hao Jian a long, hard look before leaving reluctantly, but his suspicions about the young man''s rtionship with the president grew stronger. "President, don''t me Hao Jian; it''s our fault. I was the one who invited him for drinks. If you''re going to fire someone, fire me," Tie Shan said boldly, taking all the me upon himself. "Don''t be like this, the president is fair and just, and will never let us ''good'' employees suffer unjustly, right, President?" Hao Jian first threw out some ttery, then added with a smile. "Come to my office!" Shu Ya said sternly, then turned and walked away. Everyone had a foreboding feeling, could the president really be nning to fire Hao Jian? Hao Jian shrugged and followed! Others might not know, but didn''t he know? Shu Ya was just pretending! "How did you guys end up fighting with them?" Xiao Qiang also hurriedly asked the security guards! She wasn''t too fond of boss Liang herself, found him too pretentious and overbearing, but as they were in different departments, she couldn''t interfere! Tie Shan immediately told Xiao Qiang the whole story! Upon hearing this, a thoughtful expression appeared on Xiao Qiang''s pretty face, thinking: Who would have thought that guy, looking like a ruffian, was actually quite loyal? For the first time, Xiao Qiang''s opinion of Hao Jian changed. Just then, Xiao Qiang''s phone rang. She nced at the number, hesitated for a moment, but eventually picked it up: "What''s up? Now? But I have ns tonight. Well, alright, where?" After the call, Xiao Qiang seemed a bit off, lost in her thoughts. "Minister Xiao, what''s wrong, you don''t look so good?" Tie Shan asked curiously. "I''m fine," Xiao Qiang forced a smile and waved them off: "I have to go, I''ve got another matter to attend to." Chapter 26 Success is Like Being Pregnant! "Close the door!" Once in the president''s office, Shu Yamanded Hao Jian, still wearing a no-nonsense expression. Hao Jian carefully closed the door before saying, "Wife, do you have to be so serious?" "This is apany, so please address me as President here!" Shu Ya replied coldly and mercilessly, obviously very angry. This bastard had only been here for a day and had already thrown thepany into chaos. If things continued like this, wouldn''t thepany be turned upside down sooner orter? Hao Jian could tell that Shu Ya was really angry and quickly put on a serious face, "Yes, Madam President." "So tell me, what exactly happened?" Shu Ya said, fingers interlocked and propped on the desk, staring intently at Hao Jian. "Men, when they get together, inevitably end up eating and talking big," Hao Jian said, curling his lip, an innocent look on his face. "How was I to know that bootlicker would take it so seriously?" "It''s Section Chief Liang!" Shu Ya corrected him. "Liang Bootlicker." Shu Ya sighed, realizing she just couldn''t change this scoundrel! "Section Chief Liang is like that, his personality is more stringent. After all, hees from a military background, unlike you, a scoundrel. He''s someone with discipline and organization." "Is he not losing things all the same?" Hao Jian said with disdain, curling his lip: "I see, he doesn''t dare to provoke Old Sun, so he only acts high and mighty in front of us." If he was really that capable, why didn''t he dare to stand up to Old Sun? "Anyway, you better stop provoking him in the future. He''s from the Special Forces, and I have personally seen him punch through a steel te. If you get beaten up, I''m not taking care of you," Shu Ya warned. "What''s so great about punching through a steel te? I can do the iron crotch, hanging bricks from my lower body!" Hao Jian grumbled dissatisfied. "Pfft." Shu Ya was so frustrated she almost spit out blood, her face turning red as she red at Hao Jian, "Just behave yourself from now on." "Yes, yes, whatever you say, my dear wife," Hao Jian sneaked up behind Shu Ya and began massaging her. Shu Ya frowned slightly but didn''t reject the massage, closing her eyes to enjoy it. "By the way, today I saw a really handsome man enter your office. Who was he?" Hao Jian couldn''t help asking. He had just happened to share an elevator with Zhao Ziliang, so he naturally saw Zhao Ziliang going to the top floor. Apart from the president''s office, there was nowhere else to go on the top floor, so he must have been there to see Shu Ya. "An annoying person," Shu Ya said, opening her eyes and speaking irritably.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Sent by your father?" Hao Jian ventured a question. Shu Ya turned around in surprise: "How did you know?" She hadn''t mentioned Zhao Ziliang to Hao Jian. How did he figure it out? "Do I even need to ask? Who else could make my beautiful wife so vexed, if not your mysterious father?" Actually, Hao Jian was just guessing because Shu Ya had never mentioned Zhao Ziliang to him, which meant that Zhao Ziliang, in Shu Ya''s heart, was an expendable character! And given her personality, it was impossible for her to be troubled by an expendable character, so there was only one exnation left. When it came to her father, Shu Ya''s expression turned somewhat dim, a look she had never shown in front of others, resembling a wounded child. "Hao Jian, would you like to hear my story?" Shu Ya looked at Hao Jian, and although she was asking, her eyes were filled with hope. "Yeah, as long as you''re willing to talk, I''m willing to listen!" Of course, Hao Jian wasn''t going to be rude and refuse. Then, Shu Ya told Hao Jian everything about herself, naturally including her father. It turned out that Shu Ya''s mother was a youngdy from a wealthy family, and thepany she now controlled was left by her mother''s family. But because she married the wrong man, she lived the second half of her life in misery. Shu Ya''s father was an idle social youth who, at a gathering, met Shu Ya''s mother and took her by despicable means, forcing his way into the family as a live-in son-inw. From that point on began the tragic days for Shu Ya and her mother! Her father never worked; he was proficient in eating, drinking, gambling, whoring, and smoking. During Shu Ya''s childhood, what she saw most was her mother''s tears and her father''s yelling and beating. In her eighteenth year, her father took a mistress, which her mother discovered, and afterwards, her mothermitted suicide in resentment. And that wasn''t the most ridiculous part. The money her father used to support the mistress was actually taken from her mother. Her mother had provided him with avish material life, bore his children, but none of this could awaken a single drop of emotion in him as a husband or father. Instead, he repaid her kindness with cruelty, driving her to suicide! This had always been a thorn in Shu Ya''s heart and determined that she would never forgive her father, who was worse than a beast. Afterwards, her father disappeared with a sum of money and the mistress. He vanished as if he had evaporated from the world, never to be seen again, and never came to see Shu Ya again, as if he never had this daughter. And Shu Ya didn''t feel sad. To be able to leave her father''s side was the most fortunate thing in her life. But what she didn''t expect was that her father showed up again not long ago, not merely for money, because he and the mistress had squandered it all. This time, he wasn''t just after money; he wanted the entirepany! Her father was indeed despicable. He knew that money would always run out, but if he had a money-making tool, it would be different, and thepany naturally became his prime target. That was the reason why Shu Ya was drowning her sorrows in a bar that day! Because her grandfather had left a will stating that Shu Ya could only gain her inheritance after marriage. Until then, her shameless father also had inheritance rights, which was why she was so anxious to marry, even to the point of threatening with death. Because, even if it meant dying, she did not want to hand over her mother''s hard work to that man. Looking at the tear-stained cheeks of Shu Ya, Hao Jian''s heart filled with sympathy, and he spoke with emotion on his face: "Being a woman is hard, being a sessful woman is even harder! Sess is like being pregnant; everyone congrattes you, but they don''t know how many times you''ve been screwed over!" Gah! Shu Ya had thought this jerk wasforting her, but hearing the end, her pretty face suddenly stiffened, then her brows slowly furrowed, a trace of anger quickly gathering, culminating in the words from her pursed lips: "Get lost!!!" Chapter 27 From Now On, I Will Protect You! Outside the window, a cold breeze came through, stirring Shu Ya''s hair, her face still had faint traces of tears, but her lips were smiling. "Atst, I''ve said it." This was the eternal pain in her heart, a tenderness she had always been unwilling to touch. Yet today, she had spoken about it, making her feel relieved now. She had suppressed it for too long, and now she realized she had let it go. Unlike Shu Ya,ing out of the office, Hao Jian felt a heavy weight on his heart. Because he realized, this was a fragile woman, she was not as strong as he imagined, she too needed someone to protect her. Hao Jian leaned against the office door, took a deep drag of his cigarette, then exhaled it, and startedughing while looking at the ceiling. From now on, I will protect you! Inside and outside the door, two figures, but at this moment a silent bond formed between them. ... "What, the president actually didn''t fire you?" Tie Shan and the others were shocked. "What, you guys want me to be fired that badly?" Hao Jian said annoyed. "Of course not, we''re just a bit surprised. Tell us, what exactly did the president say to let you off the hook?" Tie Shan and the others crowded around Hao Jian, all very curious! This wasn''t right. Given the president''s character, Hao Jian should have been shown the door by now. "Oh, the president said I was a rare talent, thepany development can''t do without people like me, so he persuaded me kindly to stay." "Bullshit!" Nobody believed that, thepany development can''t do without you as a talent? If thepany''s survival depends on a driver, then bankruptcy isn''t far off. "Alright, to tell you the truth, actually it''s because the president is my fianc¨¦e. He wouldn''t dare fire me," Hao Jian said cheekily. "Dream on, unless the president is blind, he wouldn''t ever fall for you." "Exactly. Hao Jian, you might as well stop daydreaming, if you really want a woman, tonight I''ll take you to the beauty salon, where I''ll introduce you to Little Cui, the top girl there. Though she''s not the president, having someone is better than none." A security guard known as Heigui said, and he is called Heigui because he is very dark. Hao Jian gave a bitter smile, sometimes people are like this, they believe the lies as truth, but refuse to believe the truth when it''s told. "If he''s not willing to tell, let it be, we won''t force him. Since he hasn''t been fired, let''s go to a restaurant and celebrate tonight!" Tie Shan suggested. The group of them left and headed directly to the restaurant Tie Shan mentioned. It was a ce called Taste Mansion, a rather innovative name, and its decor was also quite upscale. "This ce isn''t too expensive, right?" Old Zhang asked, as he wouldn''t be able to afford it if it were too costly. Beforeing here, they had already nned to pool money together for the treat, celebrating that Hao Jian hadn''t been fired and also celebrating making a new good friend. And Hao Jian felt rxed around these security guards, although they lived at the lower strata of society and it might remain that way for their lifetimes. But Hao Jian wouldn''t look down on them because of this, because it was this simplicity and honesty that shone through. "No, I''ve been here with my wife, this ce is famously good value for money, there''s no mistake," Tie Shan called them to sit. But before their seats got warm, Hao Jian and his friends heard a couple arguing at the next table. "What? Song Zhibang, you actually want me to sleep with your boss? I''m your girlfriend!" the woman said agitatedly. "Hmm?" Hao Jian frowned, this woman''s voice, why did it sound so familiar? It was as if he had heard it somewhere before. Followed by a man''s deep voice: "Keep your voice down, there are so many people here. I didn''t have a choice, thepany is considering promoting a vice president, but I''m not the only contender. If we don''t use some tactics now, the opportunity could slip away. This is all for our future, think about it, if I be the vice president, you could also have a good life afterward." "What a scumbag." Tie Shan snorted coldly, even allowing his own girlfriend to sleep with another man, this kind of boyfriend is really something else. Hao Jianughed, but didn''t intend to interfere; although such scumbags weremon on TV, he was encountering one in real life for the first time. "Shameless! Just for a position, you want your girlfriend to sleep with someone else? Are you even a man?" The woman said emotionally, her voice tinged with crying, clearly hurt by her boyfriend''s actions. "Just for one night, just one night," the man pleaded: "If you agree, I promise I won''t despise you, and the moment I get promoted, I''ll marry you right away!" "Go to hell!" the woman roared. Then Hao Jian and his friends heard someone standing up, followed by the sound of water being sshed.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "You wretched woman, how dare you ssh me?" the man also angrily stood up, grabbed the woman''s hand, and roared: "Don''t you forget how much money I''ve spent on you, all those designer bags and jewelry, didn''t I buy them for you? Now you make excuses when asked to do something, you''re really ungrateful!" "I''ll pay back every cent!" the woman tried to pull away from him; her dignity wouldn''t allow anyone to trample it. "Sure, bring me one million now," the man scoffed. "Impossible, how could it be that expensive?" The woman disbelieved, he had only bought her five or six items in total, though pricey, they surely couldn''t cost a million. "You didn''t buy them, how would you know the prices? Either give me the money, or just sleep with him like a good girl," the man said savagely, disregarding the strange looks from the crowd. And the others just watched, not stepping forward to stop it. This was perhaps amon vice among Huaxia people, that is, to hide their heads in the sand when it doesn''t concern them directly, seeming wise and self-preserving on the surface, but in actuality just selfish and indifferent. Nothing is colder than the human heart, and that''s what this implies. "Over my dead body!" The woman cried out, how could she possibly sleep with apletely unknown man? Even if it meant death, she couldn''tply! "No? I think you''re courting death!" the man roared, and lifted his hand to p the woman across the face. "Ah!" the woman screamed in fear, shut her eyes tight. But just as the hand was about to hit the woman''s face, a thick and strong palm grabbed his hand. Chapter 28 Its not too good to hit women, is it? Zhuang Yibin was startled when someone suddenly grabbed his hand; he turned around to see a man grinning and smiling at him. Zhuang Yibin immediately frowned, "Who are you?" "Beating a woman, that''s not very good, is it?" Hao Jian asked with a smile on his face. No wonder the voice sounded so familiar to him, he only recognized it was Xiao Qiang when he turned his head. Xiao Qiang hadn''t expected to encounter Hao Jian here, either. Ashamed, she lowered her head, her face streaked with tears; after all, this was not an honorable matter. Especially in front of someone she knew, she felt even more humiliated. "Kid, I advise you not to meddle in other people''s business." Zhuang Yibin spoke with a dangerous look on his face, detesting this Cheng Yaojin who hade out of nowhere. But Hao Jian seemed as if he hadn''t heard his threat, and calmly asked Xiao Qiang, "Are you okay?" "I''m fine," Xiao Qiang said through her tears, shaking her head, not wanting to borate. Her boyfriend, whom she loved, was actually asking her to sleep with another man. Could she possibly be alright when he even wanted to hit her in public? Xiao Qiang never knew Zhuang Yibin was such a person. He had always presented himself as cultured and genteel, but only today did she realize he was nothing but a polished scoundrel. With regards to her once-beloved, Xiao Qiang felt nothing but disappointment and sadness. "You dare to mess with my affairs? I''ll fucking bury you alive!" Embarrassed and enraged, Zhuang Yibin turned around and threw a punch directly at Hao Jian''s face! However, just as his fist was about to connect, Hao Jian''s palm shot out and firmly grasped Zhuang Yibin''s fist. "Are you sure you want to make a move?" Hao Jian raised an eyebrow, his thumb gesturing behind him. Then, Zhuang Yibin saw several men at a nearby table standing up, each holding a beer bottle and tapping it against their palm, a strange smile ying on their lips. Seeing this, Zhuang Yibin''s head shrank back, his aggressive demeanor instantly weakened; he had no confidence in taking on ten men by himself. "Kid, don''t think you''re something special just because you have numbers on your side. If it''s about numbers, with a single phone call, the people I can bring could fill the entire restaurant. I advise you to mind your own business if you don''t want to suffer the consequences," Zhuang Yibin threatened fiercely. "Kid, don''t think you''re something special just because you''re scum. If it''s about being scum, I''ve seen enough scumbags to fill an entire restaurant. I advise you to beat it before I make you unrecognizable to your own mother." Hao Jian, imitating his tone and adding a sarcastic voice, made Tie Shan and the othersugh till they were nearly in tears. "All right, all right, all right! You''ve got guts!" Zhuang Yibin''s face turned green with rage, gritting his teeth and forcefully repeating the word ''all right'' three times, then, after giving Xiao Qiang and Hao Jian a fierce look, he left. "Why let that guy go? A scumbag like that should have been beaten up," Tie Shan said indignantly. The thought of Zhuang Yibin daring to hit Xiao Qiang incensed him all the more. "No matter what, he''s Minister Xiao''s ex-boyfriend. If you beat him up in front of Minister Xiao, what do you think she would feel?" Hao Jian said with annoyance, then nced at Xiao Qiang, only to see her trembling slightly. Tie Shan smacked his forehead, thinking, yes, women are soft-hearted; if he beat up that jerk, he might just end up embarrassing Minister Xiao. "No, if you encounter him again, you must deal with that scumbag for me," Xiao Qiang suddenly said, raising her face. Although still crying, a radiant smile had begun to form on her lips. At this moment, she chose resignation. Just a scumbag, did she need to be so heartbroken for him? She was so beautiful, she would definitely find someone better in the future. "Minister Xiao is so magnanimous, I drink to you," Tie Shanughed heartily, really liking Xiao Qiang''s unpretentious nature. "Sure, let''s do it!" Xiao Qiang also picked up a cup, poured herself a beer, and downed it in one go. Seeing this, Hao Jian frowned slightly. Feelings, how could one simply let go just like that? Either Xiao Qiang was really that optimistic, or she was just pretending. Hao Jian felt it was more probably thetter. He knew Xiao Qiang''s character was quite stubborn; she just didn''t want to cry in front of all these people. Then, Xiao Qiang sat at the same table as Hao Jian and the others, relentlessly drinking with Tie Shan and the rest, toasting each person in turn. At the dinner table, Xiao Qiang didn''t seem to show too much distress, joking andughing with Tie Shan and others, but Hao Jian noticed that her drink was ever-present, clearly intending to get herself drunk. Seeing this, Hao Jian quickly gave Tie Shan and Old Zhang a meaningful look. Old Zhang and Tie Shan had been shouting boisterously, but as soon as they caught Hao Jian''s nce, they seemed to grasp the situation and quieted down. "Minister Xiao, let''s have a drink," Heigui said with a smile, offering a toast to Xiao Qiang, when Old Zhang hastily tugged at his trouser leg. Heigui also sensed something. He first looked at Old Zhang, who was expressionless, and then, understanding the situation, he sat back down with a wry smile. "Huh? What''s up? Weren''t you going to drink with me?" Xiao Qiang asked in confusion, then looked around to discover that everyone had stopped drinking and was avoiding her gaze, intentionally or not. "Ah, we''ve had enough to drink for now. Everyone''s starting to feel hungry and wants to eat something." Hao Jian spoke up quickly, afraid that Xiao Qiang might notice what was really happening. At the same time, he silently cursed Tie Shan for his stupidity; why withdraw so abruptly? They should have done it gradually. "Yeah, yeah, I haven''t eaten much yet; I''m starving," Tie Shan added quickly, then began to serve himself food vigorously. "Minister Xiao, you should eat something too. We can drink moreter, but the food won''t taste as good once it''s cold." Old Zhang also urged, knowing that Xiao Qiang was just putting on a brave face and was definitely not feeling well inside. "Alright, let''s eat then." Xiao Qiang''s smile was forced. Looking at Hao Jian and the others, she suddenly felt very aggrieved and on the verge of tears, as her eyes began to well up.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om They all saw through her, but they said this to spare her the embarrassment. Even these strangers were so considerate towards her, so why could her lover hurt her so ruthlessly? After the meal, as everyone prepared to leave, Hao Jian excused himself to go to the restroom and secretly paid the bill. Because he knew it wasn''t easy for his brothers; with just that little sry each month, supporting themselves was hard enough, let alone scraping together a bit to treat him to a meal. So, he felt it wasn''t right for him to let them pay. The cost of the meal meant little to him, but for them, it might be enough to buy several days'' worth of groceries or cover several days'' expenses on cigarettes. However, when Xiao Qiang saw Hao Jian heading to the restroom after the meal, she immediately assumed this guy was skirting the bill, and she couldn''t help but feel contempt for him! Sneaking off when it''s time to pay is no quality of a friend worth having. If it weren''t for Hao Jian having helped her earlier, she would have called him out in front of everyone then and there. Chapter 29: Chapter 29 The Confidence of a Jerk! Seeing Hao Jian head to the bathroom, Tie Shan and the others didn''t think much of it. They had already agreed to treat Hao Jian to a meal, and they trusted that Hao Jian was absolutely not that sort of person. Hao Jian didn''t know what was on Xiao Qiang''s mind, and when he returned, he casually took his seat again. Xiao Qiang chuckled to himself, thinking Hao Jian''s ns had fallen through. He had returned so quickly, and they hadn''t even started to pay the bill yet. "Waiter, the bill, please!" At this moment, Old Zhang shouted generously, pretending to be a big spender! He knew they were going out to eat today, so he had purposely worn an old-fashioned suit, but because of its style and fabric, it looked like something from a street stall, which not only failed to give him a wealthy look but actually made him seem rather unsophisticated. The waiter walked over, looking a bit confused, and asked, "You want to pay the bill?" "Yes, how much is it?" Old Zhang asked. "But your bill has already been paid." The waiter was even more puzzled, looking up at Hao Jian. He had just paid the bill; why are they paying again? Did these people have money to burn? "Ah? It''s paid? When was it paid?" Old Zhang and the others were stunned. "It was this gentleman who just paid," the waiter said, pointing at Hao Jian. Old Zhang and the others looked over and saw Hao Jian waving his hand, signaling them not to make too big a fuss. "Hao Jian, that''s not very honest of you. We clearly agreed that we would pay, and you went ahead and sneaked off to pay the bill," Tie Shan said, somewhat displeased. Hao Jian''s actions made it seem like he wasn''t treating them like brothers. "Exactly, I was wondering why you came back from the bathroom so quickly. Turns out you didn''t really go to the bathroom," Old Zhang alsoined a bit. "Next time, next time, I''ll definitely let you guys treat," Hao Jian said with augh, brushing it off. "That''s settled then, next time it''s definitely our turn to treat, or we''ll be upset with you!" Heigui said, gesturing with his fist. "Alright, alright," Hao Jian said, caught betweenughter and tears. "Since that''s the case, let''s keep the money with Old Zhang for now, and we can take it out when we need it," Tie Shan suggested. "Sure, let''s do that." Everyone agreed, as Old Zhang was the most senior and it made the most sense for him to hold onto it. They all trusted Old Zhang to be honest and not to pocket the money for himself.N?v(el)B\\jnn Xiao Qiang was also secretly surprised, realizing that Hao Jian had not used the bathroom as an excuse to slip away but had actually gone to pay the bill. She had misunderstood him. Afterward, Xiao Qiang felt guilty for her previous thoughts, realizing she had suspected an honorable person with a viin''s mind. Everyone got up to leave when Xiao Qiang suddenly staggered, almost falling to the ground. Having drunk too much, she too was a bit dazed. "Minister Xiao is drunk; who will take her home?" Old Zhang was the first to notice Xiao Qiang''s condition was poor, guessing that she wouldn''t be able to get home by herself. "Me, me, me!" Heigui and several other bachelors all eagerly volunteered. Xiao Qiang had just broken up with her unfaithful boyfriend, creating the perfect opportunity for them to make a move. For a beautiful woman like Minister Xiao, it would be a lie to say they weren''t tempted. Since they all knew she had a boyfriend before, they hadn''t dared to make any moves, but now that Xiao Qiang was single again, they realized their chance hade. "No need, I can get back on my own," Xiao Qiang said, somewhat embarrassed. "No, you''re too drunk to stand straight. If something happened on the way back, that would be trouble," Old Zhang insisted. It''s already not safe for a girl to go home alone, let alone when she''s drunk. If she runs into some pervert or hooligan, that would be a real problem. "Stop making a fuss, let Hao Jian take her home," Tie Shan spoke up and even winked at Hao Jian, obviously trying to give Hao Jian an opportunity on purpose. "Me?" Hao Jian, who was smoking on the side, pointed at his own nose, obviously not very willing. It was freezing cold, and he had had a few drinks; he was feeling sleepy and just wanted to go home to sleep. "Of course you, the rest of us still have things to doter, you''re the only idle one here," Tie Shan said with an entitled expression, then made a covert sign to Heigui and the others. "Ah, that''s right, I just remembered, I have something to do tonight, I need to watch a TV drama with my mom." "I need to go home to doundry." "I''ve got a date with some friends to y Mahjong." Xiao Qiang''s cheeks were a bit rosy, it was hard to tell if it was from the cold or from embarrassment. "Fine, I''ll take Minister Xiao home," Hao Jian said helplessly. He knew these guys meant well, even though he was not interested, but thinking about letting Xiao Qiang, a girl, go back ale at night, it didn''t seem right. However, just then, a mockingugh came from behind them! "I''m sorry, but you''re not going anywhere," the voice said. The words made everyone pause, and as they turned to look, they saw Zhuang Yibin standing not far away with a menacing sneer on his face. "Fuck your grandma, you dare toe back?" Tie Shan, who had a violent temper, couldn''t hold back anymore. If Zhuang Yibin hadn''t run away so fast before, he would have already taken action. Now that this piece of trash had the audacity toe back, did he really think Tie Shan wouldn''t dare to beat him up? But Hao Jian frowned, feeling a bad premonition, because he knew that Zhuang Yibin was definitely not as courageous as he appeared to be, otherwise he wouldn''t have been scared off by them earlier. Himing back now, there was only one possibility: he had some backup. "Why wouldn''t I dare toe back? My girlfriend is still here, of course, I had toe back!" Zhuang Yibin burst intoughter, his eyes constantly on Xiao Qiang. For some reason, hearing Zhuang Yibin say "girlfriend," Xiao Qiang suddenly felt disgusted and couldn''t help but retort: "I am not your girlfriend. We broke up just a few hours ago, so please stop pestering me." "You hear that? Come again and I''ll break your damn legs!" Heigui directly threatened with a cold voice. "Yo, in just a few hours, you''ve hooked up with so many wild men? What, nning to have a gang bang tonight?" Zhuang Yibin sneered: "You refuse to apany my boss, but behind the scenes, you hook up with a bunch of gangsters so quickly; you really are cheap." "You." Xiao Qiang''s face turned crimson with anger. How could Zhuang Yibin insult her like that? No matter what, they had a history. "Damn it, beat him to death!" Heigui and Tie Shan were instantly enraged and roared as they charged forward. But seeing them rush up, Zhuang Yibin''s face did not show the slightest fear. Instead, he looked even more contemptuous and disdainful. "Vroom." Suddenly, the roar of vehicles grew from a distance. Chapter 30 Give You a Choice! The roar of the motorcycles was deafening, as if someone were deliberately turning the throttle. "Who''s still riding motorcycles at this hour?" Tie Shan said, puzzled, but then his expression froze. Because he saw a dozen or more vehicles approaching from afar, each motorcycle carrying two to three people, making it a total of about forty individuals. And all of them clutched steel rods and baseball bats, with faces full of horizontal scars, and an unyielding demeanor that clearly indicated they were up to no good. A look of resignation shed across Hao Jian''s face ¨C indeed, Zhuang Yibin had called for backup. "Come on, you want to hit me, don''t you? If you have the guts, do it!" Zhuang Yibinughed triumphantly, and deliberately crooked his finger at Tie Shan and the others, his face full of provocation. The expressions on Tie Shan and the others were ugly; they didn''t respond, as the opposing side outnumbered them by too much. With only nine of them, they stood no chance against the forty enemies. "Kid, I already told you before to mind your own business. Now you have two choices: either kneel down and knock your head on the ground three times, begging me to spare you, or go to the hospital. Pick one," Zhuang Yibin said to Hao Jian, his disdain for him deep to the bone. If it weren''t for Hao Jian, Xiao Qiang might have already been taken away by him, and they wouldn''t have all these troubles. As he spoke, his attitude was arrogantly superior, as if he were the God of Death that controlled life and death, outdoing even the real God of Death, Hao Jian, in his swagger, which left Hao Jian bbergasted. Hao Jian couldn''t help but want tough. Being the God of Death and yet threatened by a petty hooligan; he wondered how many people would lose their teeth fromughing if this story got out. Hao Jian shook his head and smiled with a yful tone, "I''ll give you only one choice: disability." Zhuang Yibin''s face turned cold, "Fine, then I hope you can be just as toughter!" "Attack!" Zhuang Yibin roared, and the gangsters dismounted from their motorcycles and started moving towards Hao Jian and his group.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Zhuang Yibin, what the hell do you want?" Seeing this, Xiao Qiang instantly panicked; she couldn''t just watch Hao Jian and the others get beaten up. If it weren''t to save her, Hao Jian and his group wouldn''t have needed to get involved in this mess at all. "Xiao Qiang, you really don''t know what I want?" Zhuang Yibin said with a skewed smile, "As long as you leave with me, I won''ty a finger on your friends here. If not, I will cripple them first, and then abduct you! The choice is yours." "Minister Xiao, don''t listen to him; it''s just a fight at worst. The guys here are armed; we aren''t afraid of him," Tie Shan said bravely. Zhuang Yibin''s threat toward a woman disgusted him! "Yeah, Minister Xiao, you just got away from that beast; you can''t go back now," Heigui added in agreement. Xiao Qiang hesitated, torn. If she didn''t go with Zhuang Yibin, Tie Shan and the others would get beaten up, but it was her fault ¨C why should others bear the consequences? Xiao Qiang''s delicate frame trembled slightly, and after a long while, as if mustering all the strength in her body, she let out a long breath and said, "I''ll go with you." "Minister Xiao!" Tie Shan and the others looked over in shock; they knew that once Xiao Qiang left with Zhuang Yibin, the next moment she would end up in someone else''s bed to keep thempany. "I know what I''m doing." Xiao Qiang said, trying to appear calm; indeed she knew, but was powerless to resist. She was ultimately too kind-hearted and couldn''t bear to watch others get hurt for her sake. Seeing Xiao Qiang give in, not a trace of remorse appeared on Zhuang Yibin''s face; instead, he became even more smug. Xiao Qiang took a step forward, preparing to walk towards Zhuang Yibin, but at that moment, she felt a warm,rge hand grab hers. Hao Jian looked at her calmly and said authoritatively, "Woman, I didn''t say you could leave yet." "Hao Jian." Xiao Qiang stared at Hao Jian, dazed. "Since I said I would take you home, I will definitely take you home. Before I do, you can''t go anywhere else," Hao Jian dered firmly. "But." Tears welled up in Xiao Qiang''s eyes. She wanted to scold Hao Jian for being nosy, but she just couldn''t bring herself to say it. This bastard, why couldn''t he understand? She didn''t want them to get hurt because of her. "There''s nothing to ''but'' about; now you just listen to me," Hao Jian said, not allowing any room for Xiao Qiang to argue, appearing very chauvinistic yet also exuding the air of a true man. This type of man, who gives women a sense of security, believes in keeping promises and would protect his woman from any harm, even at the risk of his own life. "Kid, you''ve been screwing up my ns over and over; do you really think I wouldn''t dare touch you?" Zhuang Yibin''s face twisted malevolently as he bellowed with bloodshot eyes: "Get him! Break both of that punk''s legs!!!" "Stay here, and don''te out without my permission," Hao Jian turned and said to Xiao Qiang, his voice carrying an undeniable seriousness. Xiao Qiang had barely started to object when her eyes met Hao Jian''s cold re. Intimidated, she lowered her head and obediently nodded. When he turned back, a murderous aura covered Hao Jian''s face, and his thoughts seemed to travel back to the moment he first stepped into the dark world. Hao Jian directly approached Tie Shan and the others, smiling as he asked, "Are you scared?" "Scared my ass!" Tie Shan cursed with a smile on his face as well. "Good, if you''re not scared, then prepare to make a scene," Hao Jian said with a coldugh, his gaze swiftly turning towards the gangsters in front of him. At that moment, a gangster swung a stick straight at his head. He was convinced that his strike would hit Hao Jian, and in the next moment, he anticipated seeing him with a bloodied head. But just as the stick was about to hit Hao Jian, he drifted away without warning. Yes, drifted! Beyond that, those people didn''t know how else to describe Hao Jian''s movements. He was like a ghost. Expressionless, Hao Jian slowly lifted his leg and swept it effortlessly. The gangster was sent flying like a deted ball, tumbling over a dozen others in his path. Tie Shan and the others were stunned. They had no idea Hao Jian was so formidable. A kick that could send a strong man flying must have had at least several hundred pounds of force, right? Seeing Hao Jian take down more than a dozen of them in an instant, Zhuang Yibin''s eyes bulged in shock, his eyelids twitching wildly as if he had seen a ghost! "Brother Hu, how... howe your guys are so weak?" Zhuang Yibin asked the burly man beside him with a look of frantic urgency. Hearing Zhuang Yibin''s taunt, Brother Hu''s face instantly darkened as he bellowed: "Open your damn eyes, you idiots! If you can''t take down that kid, wait and see how I''ll deal with you afterward!" Chapter 31: Chapter 31 You Are Too Bewitching! Xiao Qiang stood transfixed, stunned by the scene unfolding before her, her gaze fixed on Hao Jian, her pretty face filled with curiosity! It seemed, in that moment, Hao Jian in her eyes had be more mysterious, inscrutable and elusive! Gazing at his not-so-imposing but very reassuring silhouette, a mist of confusion swirled in Xiao Qiang''s beautiful eyes. "Let''s go up too!" Tie Shan roared, Hao Jian had gone up, and there was no reason for them to just stand by and watch. Eight people rushed toward the twenty-some opponents; Hao Jian took the lead, charging into the crowd, and then it was like a wolf entering a sheep pen¡ªwherever his fists and feet went, injury followed, and bodies thudded down to the ground one by one. Tie Shan and the others, shouting vehemently as they charged, were about to start fighting when they realized that all their opponents had already fallen, without even a shadow standing! Everything had happened so quickly that Tie Shan and his men simply couldn''t react in time. "Did one person take them all down?" Gulp! Tie Shan and the others swallowed hard, incredulously staring at Hao Jian, asking themselves, was this guy even human? How long did it take him? Three minutes? Or just one? "What, is something the matter?" Hao Jian said with a smile. He didn''t mean to stand out so much, but the problem was if he hadn''t done that, Old Zhang and the others might have been beaten. Old Zhang was over fifty this year, definitely an older man, and at this age, a knock or a bump was no joke. "Dude, you''re ridiculously formidable." Having recovered, Tie Shan and the others were ecstatic to the extreme! Looking at Hao Jian, their eyes sparkled with excitement, as if at that moment, Hao Jian had be an idol to them all. To defeat thirty or forty armed thugs in just a few minutes was not something an ordinary person could achieve. Xiao Qiang, too, was utterly taken aback; her thoughts affirmed that this guy was truly extraordinary. Just then, Hao Jian turned his gaze toward Zhuang Yibin and Brother Hu. Not far off, Zhuang Yibin and Brother Hu, seeing Hao Jian looking their way, shuddered violently. "You, nning to stand up for him?" Hao Jian said to Brother Hu, his smile more sneer than grin. "No, no, no, I''m just passing by. Just passing through." Brother Hu, swallowing his saliva, shook his head like a rattle-drum, not wanting to court death against such a monster. "Brother Hu, you¡ª" Zhuang Yibin looked at Brother Hu in astonishment, the bastard was about to abandon him? "Sorry brother, it''s not that I don''t want to help you, but we really can''t afford to mess with the person you''ve offended," Brother Hu said with a wry smile, then quickly waved to his men: "Let''s get out of here!" He had met Zhuang Yibin in a bar, and because Zhuang Yibin was generous with his money, Brother Hu had bonded with him. Between them, at most, they were fair-weather friends, and certainly nowhere near the point of risking their lives for Zhuang Yibin. The defeated ones supported each other getting into their cars and leaving, leaving a litter of steel pipes and iron weapons behind. And at that moment, only Zhuang Yibin remained, standing there alone, looking rather ridiculous. Hao Jian crossed his arms, taking strides toward him. Zhuang Yibin''s expression froze, and he instinctively stepped back several steps: "Don''t mess around, I warn you, or I''ll call the police." "Call the police? Do you think that will help? Who saw me touch you?" Hao Jian sneered, as around them, there was no one else; even if he beat Zhuang Yibin or killed him, probably no one would know. Hao Jian walked up to Zhuang Yibin, smiled faintly, then abruptly reached out his hand like lightning and grabbed Zhuang Yibin''s throat: "Remember what I told you before? You only have one choice, and that is to be disabled!" Zhuang Yibin''s face paled instantly, and then he almost cried out to Xiao Qiang: "Xiao Qiang, for the sake of our acquaintance, save me." He was scared, truly scared. Because he could tell, Hao Jian was not joking, and with his skills, disabling him would be as easy as ying with an egg. He didn''t want to end up disabled; otherwise, his life would be ruined. Upon hearing this, Xiao Qiang''s expression also hesitated, seemingly reluctant. "How can you still want to protect someone who was going to sell you to someone else?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Hao Jian looked at Xiao Qiang with a bizarre smile, waiting for her decision! If Xiao Qiang asked him to spare Zhuang Yibin, he would agree, but he would never pity her again afterward. For the pitiable must have something detestable, and if Xiao Qiang is willing to be harmed, how does she deserve anyone else''s pity? Xiao Qiang shivered slightly, her expression flickering briefly before she finally seemed to make up her mind, "No, I don''t intend to protect him." Remembering all that Zhuang Yibin had done before, Xiao Qiang found it hard to feel any sympathy for him, her heart had grown cold. If it were not for Hao Jian and the others being here today, she might have already been forced into submission. "You bitch, I won''t let you get away with this!!!" Seeing Xiao Qiang noting to his rescue, Zhuang Yibin instantly became infuriated and began cursing with a resentful expression. "p." Hao Jian directly pped him across the face, the force of the p was so well measured that it knocked out Zhuang Yibin''s teeth. Zhuang Yibin was dazed, seeing stars, his head swaying, and he asionally made groaning noises. "Go wait for me in the car." Hao Jian threw the car keys to Xiao Qiang; the things he nned to do next might make Xiao Qiang ufortable. Xiao Qiang took the keys and hesitated for a moment before ultimately choosing to leave. Hao Jian left Zhuang Yibin on the ground, then picked up a baseball bat from the ground, towering over Zhuang Yibin with an indifferent expression. "Don''t hurt me. I can give you money, a lot of money!" Zhuang Yibiny on the ground, looking pitifully at Hao Jian without his earlier arrogance, like a dog that had lost its home, he even started crying without any sense of pride. "Alright, two million." Hao Jian demanded arge sum. "Two million? But I don''t have that much money," Zhuang Yibin lowered his head. "No money? Then you''ll just have to ept your fate," Hao Jian scoffed. "Can you ask for less? You''re asking for too much," Zhuang Yibin pleaded. He really felt like crying now, it had turned out to be a case of ''the biter bit.'' No possibility of promotion, no girlfriend, and now his money was gone too. Whether he would still have his legs in a few moments was yet another issue. "Too much? I''m only doing what you did." Hao Jian burst intoughter; just earlier Zhuang Yibin had demanded one million from Xiao Qiang, and he was merely following the example set. "." And Zhuang Yibin fell silent. "It seems you really don''t have that much money. Since that''s the case, I can''t be med," Hao Jian raised the baseball bat, ready to strike. "No, no, I''ll give it!" Zhuang Yibin hurriedly shouted, though he was just pretending. Regardless, as a high-sried white-cor worker with an annual ie of millions, there''s no way he didn''t have two million in savings. Zhuang Yibin was crying without tears. Now, he could only think of it as paying to avoid disaster. Then Hao Jian provided his bank ount details, for Zhuang Yibin to transfer the money. "The money has been transferred to you," Zhuang Yibin put down his phone, looking fearfully at Hao Jian. "Ding." Just then, Hao Jian''s phone received a message, indicating that the money had arrived! Hao Jian nced at his phone, then startedughing: "Indeed, the money has been received." Yet he still raised the baseball bat, his face mocking: "But I still don''t n to let you go." Chapter 32 A Man, More Than One Side! "You can''t do this, you just said you''d spare me." Zhuang Yibin screamed hoarsely, his voice filled with anguish. "Sorry, I lied to you." While Hao Jian said sorry, there wasn''t a trace of remorse on his face. He wanted Zhuang Yibin to experience what Xiao Qiang had felt before, to understand what it was like to be toyed with and deceived. The baseball bat came crashing down, and everyone heard a crisp crack of breaking bone. Right after, they saw Zhuang Yibin clutching his knee, convulsing and screaming on the ground. Having taught Zhuang Yibin a lesson, Hao Jian then got into the sedan! But the fierce look had notpletely left his face. Xiao Qiang nced at him and immediately lowered her head in fear! At that moment, Hao Jian was truly frightening,pletely unlike the somewhat goofy, somewhat lecherous thug. Hao Jian didn''t bother exining, he simply started the car. The atmosphere inside the car grew more and more eerie as time passed. Neither spoke; the silence was so uncanny, they could even hear each other''s breathing. "Where do you live?" Hao Jian suddenly asked. "Ah, over at Huaiyuan Street." Xiao Qiang replied, and then the conversation dropped off, making the atmosphere awkward once again. "Um, how is he?" Xiao Qiang couldn''t resist and asked out of curiosity. "You''re better off not knowing." Hao Jian said expressionlessly. "Oh." Xiao Qiang pouted, feeling somewhat aggrieved, and cursed inwardly: Stinky thug, why act so cool, making me too scared to talk to you. "I have a question." Hao Jian spoke, his face expressionless, his voice as cold as if he was deliberately keeping someone a thousand miles away. "Ask away." Xiao Qiang nodded, bothered by Hao Jian''s tone, now even somewhat missing the sleazy Hao Jian. "Do you think I look especially cool with a stern face?" Hao Jian suddenly turned around, grinning mischievously at her. "Ah?" Xiao Qiang was slow to react. Was this guy having a split personality? This quick switch in demeanor was too sudden, wasn''t it? "No? Wrong, huh? I think I look incredibly cool with a stern face." Hao Jian fiddled with the rear-view mirror, admiring himself, even deliberately throwing a flirty wink at his reflection: "A man has more than one side, I see great potential in you." Xiao Qiang had turned into stone, indeed, this guy was still the goofy one she knew, his ''silly'' blood hadn''t changed one bit! "Why are you not talking, were you amazed by my handsomeness? But don''t think about offering yourself to me just because I saved you. I''m quite sentimental, you know. My first time is reserved for my future wife," Hao Jian said, his expression as sleazy as it could be! The first time, hm, today''s first time indeed hadn''t been used yet. "Go to hell!" Xiao Qiangughed out of exasperation, who wanted to offer herself to him? Did she look that foolish? "Yo, youughed?" Hao Jian alsoughed heartily, as long as Xiao Qiangughed, it meant she could make a new start. Xiao Qiang''s smile faded, her face turned gentle, and she sincerely said, "Hao Jian, thank you." She was moved; Hao Jian had done so much for her, even though she had once treated him in that manner. "No need to thank me, just give me a raise," Hao Jian grinned. "That might be up for discussion," Xiao Qiang responded. Hao Jian scoffed, "Cheapskate." Xiao Qiang didn''t mind, a faint smile ying on the corners of her lips. For some reason, she felt especially at ease with Hao Jian, able to drop all pretenses and be her true self. And most importantly, this funny guy would go out of his way to make her happy. Xiao Qiang''s home was in a very ordinary apartmentplex, which she had bought herself, and she was currently paying the mortgage. Hao Jian escorted Xiao Qiang to her front door, but at that moment, Xiao Qiang seemed a bit nervous, as if she were worried about something. "You should head back first," Xiao Qiang said with flushed cheeks, but she didn''t invite Hao Jian inside. Seeing this, Hao Jian''s interest was piqued, and he leaned his arm against the door behind Xiao Qiang, his voice low, "So, you''re not going to invite me in?" Xiao Qiang shuddered all over, her expression frantic as she shook her head: "No, absolutely not! It''s toote, let''s talk about it some other time." Hao Jian couldn''t help butugh inwardly; this woman was scared he had ulterior motives. Seeing Xiao Qiang looking like a startled little white rabbit was exceedingly amusing to him. "What are you afraid of? I''m not a good person anyway," Hao Jian teased. "Huh?" Xiao Qiang stared at him nkly, feeling that something about that statement didn''t quite sound right. "Alright, alright, I''m just teasing you. I''m heading back now, see you tomorrow," Hao Jian waved at Xiao Qiang, then turned and left. Xiao Qiang breathed a sigh of relief, then red fiercely at Hao Jian''s retreating figure: "This damn guy." As he left Xiao Qiang''s ce, Hao Jian was about to head home, but he couldn''t shake the feeling that he had forgotten something; however, he couldn''t remember what it was right away. As he was about to open his car door, the moment he reached for his keys, his expression froze, and he thought to himself:n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Damn! When Hao Jian got back to his ce, he opened the door only to see Shu Ya sitting on the couch with her arms crossed, her slender feet d in pink bunny slippers, swaying yfully. But Hao Jian wasn''t in the mood to appreciate the scene, as Shu Ya''s face looked so gloomy it was almost dripping water. He had forgotten to pick Shu Ya up from work. He didn''t know how she got home, but it was evident that she was extremely upset. "Shu Ya, you''re still up?" Hao Jian said, trying to curry favor with a smile on his face. "Where have you been?" Shu Ya asked coldly. "I was out drinking with a few friends," Hao Jian replied honestly, scratching his head awkwardly. "Oh, I see," Shu Ya nodded, her expression one of sudden realization. Hao Jian, seeing this, was momentarily stunned, "Shu Ya, you forgive me?" "Of course not," Shu Ya''s face darkened again, saying: "Do you know how long I waited for you at the office? Two hours, thirty-seven minutes, and twenty-five seconds. You didn''t answer your phone, you didn''t reply to messages. What are you, the boss or am I the boss?" Such a trivial issue could have been overlooked, but he''d gone out to mess around with a bunch of irresponsible friends¡ªhow could Shu Ya tolerate that? Hao Jian was utterly exasperated, how could she even track it down to the exact second? "My phone died." "Is that an excuse? Just because your phone died, you think it''s okay not to pick up your boss after work? If I didn''t want to go to work, does that mean I shouldn''t go either?" Shu Ya spoke with amanding tone. "Of course, if you don''t want to work, I''ll take care of you¡ªyou take care of the money!" Hao Jian joked. "Go to hell!" Shu Ya burst out. Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Youre Really Rude! "Am I discussing my problems with you now? Don''t get things backwards," Shu Ya almost roared. Hao Jian stiffened upon hearing this, then made a very aggrieved expression, "Actually, I just went to help Shuishui cross the road." "Fuck off!" Unable to restrain herself, Shu Ya burst out swearing, like herst nerve had snapped, this bastard was challenging her limits of patience. Just now you were going to have drinks, now you say you were helping old Shuishui cross the road, could you be any more fake? And the smell of alcohol was all over Hao Jian, it definitely looked like he''d gone drinking, okay? "Shu Ya, why are you swearing?" Hao Jian said in shock, as it was the first time he''d ever heard Shu Ya swear. "I didn''t." Shu Ya turned away, also in immense surprise within herself, how did she end up swearing? She never used to do this. Shu Ya now felt as if she wanted to crawl into a hole; ady like herself swearing was aplete loss of decorum. Shu Ya grew up in a wealthy family and received aristocratic education all her life; she had never sworn a word throughout her life. Today, she didn''t know what went wrong, but she lost herposure. The phrase was something she had learned from television, found it very interesting, but dared not use. Today, provoked by Hao Jian, she couldn''t help but blurt it out. It had to be that guy''s fault, it had to be. Shu Ya thought to herself in her heart, and consoled herself that she didn''t want to swear at all, it was all provoked by Hao Jian. "You clearly did, you just said ''fuck off,'' I heard it clearly," Hao Jian looked astonished, unexpectedly seeing such a fierce side to this woman. "I did not!" Shu Ya raised her voice and looked at Hao Jian coldly.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Alright, alright, you didn''t," Hao Jian could only submit. Only then did Shu Ya sit back on the sofa, still looking like she was seething with anger, "You were negligent today, I''m docking a week''s pay." "What?" Hao Jian was immediately displeased, but didn''t dare to show it, so he just wiped his hands and offered a cating smile: "Shu Ya, isn''t that too much? How about docking a day''s pay? Or even two days?" "Wishful thinking. You need to understand, you used the official car for personal affairs, making me have to take a cab myself. Do you know how many people get in and out of a taxi daily and how dirty it can be?" Not mentioning it would have been better, hearing this almost drove Shu Ya nuts, she''d even been harassed by the taxi driver today, all because of Hao Jian. "Why don''t you just say you''re being too delicate?" Hao Jian mumbled under his breath, everyone else can take it, only you can''t. "What did you say?" Shu Ya''s pretty face expressed her Killing Intent, and she red over menacingly. "Nothing, I''m saying I''m sorry, it''s all my fault," Hao Jian forced a smile, thinking let it go, he had earned a couple million today anyway, a little money doesn''t concern him. He felt no pressure about those two million, because he knew Zhuang Yibin didn''t have the guts to seek revenge, and calling the police wasn''t an option either. If he called the police, wouldn''t that mean exposing himself as well, after all, he was the one inciting someone to intentionally harm others, attempting to disrupt public order, and his dirty deed of forcing his girlfriend to sleep with his boss would alsoe to light. If Zhuang Yibin had any brains, he wouldn''t do that. "Alright, I''m going to take a shower now, and I don''t want this to happen again, otherwise you''re going to have a tough time." Shu Ya coldly snapped, and if there were a next time, she would definitely deal with Hao Jian properly. With Shu Ya''s temperament, what she couldn''t stand the most was this kind of sloppyziness; she was a perfectionist and pursued excellence in everything. If Hao Jian had really been her employee, she would have fired him long ago, not tolerate him prancing around thepany. "It won''t, it definitely won''t happen again." Hao Jian deliberately put on a sincere expression, his eyes flickering non-stop, scanning over Shu Ya''s delicate body, shining with sincerity. "You''re really sleazy." However, Shu Ya bluntly threw out this remark. Hao Jian''s face darkened, "You''re really rude." It was only after Shu Ya returned to her room that Hao Jian finally sat down and lit a cigarette for himself. But when he looked around, he couldn''t help but shake his head and smile. The house now was drastically different from when he lived there. The walls of the room were covered with pink wallpaper, creating a warm atmosphere; the beer bottles piled up on the balcony had beenpletely cleared; the floor of the house was spotless; tablecloths were reced on the coffee table and dining table, and vases were put up, making the whole house smell strongly of home. Smoke swirled around Hao Jian''s face, obscuring his expression, but it was clear he was smiling. At that moment, he thought: This is a peaceful life, and it seems pretty good. At that moment, he finally experienced the warmth of home. "Alright, I should make something to eat too." After finishing a cigarette, Hao Jian stood up and headed to the kitchen. Since everyone was drinking at the table, he hadn''t really eaten much, and now he nned to make something to fill his stomach. After organizing her underwear in the room, Shu Ya headed towards the bathroom, deliberately keeping her underwear hidden within her pajamas, fearful that Hao Jian might see them. Her exterior was very cool, but her heart was quite girlish. "Whoosh." The shower was turned on, and Shu Ya let the water rush over her tender, fair body, a look of enjoyment on her face. "Deadbeat, talking about going for a drink, yet he reeks of a woman''s perfume, such a big liar!" Shu Ya muttered, they say a woman''s intuition is very keen, but for Shu Ya, it was her sense of smell that was very sharp. When Hao Jian had stood in front of her earlier, his strong scent of alcohol still carried a trace of perfume scent, faint yet still caught by her. It was precisely because of this that Shu Ya was particrly angry. No wonder he didn''t pick her up from work, he must have been sneaking off with another woman and deliberately turned off his phone, probably afraid she would ruin his fun? Thinking that Hao Jian, now her fianc¨¦, could act so indecently made Shu Ya extremely angry. Moreover, she herself, a great beauty, was right in front of him; if he didn''t stick around everyday that was one thing, but to keep flirting around outside, was she really that bad? Shu Ya carefully examined her shapely body in front of the mirror, and then she concluded: "He must be blind." But just then, Shu Ya noticed a ck dot on the mirror, about the size of a thumb, and it was oddly shaped. Shu Ya turned around, but there was no ck dot on the wall behind her. Then, as if she realized something, her expression suddenly became very weird, her eyebrows twitching, her mouth twitching, and a thing called fear slowly gathering on her face. Chapter 34: Chapter 34 I Cant Do It! "Ah!!!" The next instant, Hao Jian heard an extremely piercing screaming from the bathroom, which made him shiver, and then he walked toward the bathroom. "Hey, are you okay?" Hao Jian knocked and asked. "There''s a cockroach! Hao Jian, there''s a cockroach!" came Shu Ya''s terrified voice from inside the bathroom, faintlyced with a sobbing tone. Hao Jian was stunned, then couldn''t help but burst intoughter. He had not expected Shu Ya, who usually seemed like a leader, to be afraid of something like a cockroach. "Oh, then just kill it," Hao Jian said, holding back hisughter and pretending to be serious. "I... I can''t do it." Shu Ya''s voice trembled, the sight of the cockroach''s many legs and antennae making her scalp tingle, and she couldn''t bring herself to strike. "What''s so difficult about it? One slipper down, and it''s definitely dead." Hao Jian was rolling on the floor withughter by now, finding Shu Ya incredibly adorable. "I can''t do it," what an interesting statement. Hao Jian wanted to tease her a bit more, so he kept giving her some bad ideas. Shu Ya took them seriously, then picked up a slipper with a nervous face, looking at the roach, trying several times to gather her courage to approach it, but every nce at the roach made her scream and retreat in fear, wanting to act but also afraid. "Hao Jian, I really can''t do it." Shu Ya was about to cry; she couldn''t even get close, let alone kill the roach. "Then open the door, I''lle in and help you," Hao Jian said with a mischievous smile. "No way!" Shu Ya tly refused since she waspletely naked. If she let Hao Jian in, wouldn''t she end up exposing everything to him? "Then I can''t help you, you''ll have to deal with it yourself," Hao Jian shrugged, then turned to walk away. "Don''t go!" Shu Ya said with a crying tone, almost begging Hao Jian. "Big sister, you won''t open the door, and you won''t deal with it yourself, so what do you expect?" "Then, then just wait a moment," Shu Ya said, apparently nning to open the door. Hao Jian suddenly brightened up, rubbing his hands together in anticipation, perhaps she had made up her mind and decided to be honest with him. Soon, the door was opened, and Shu Ya quickly stepped out. Hao Jian then saw Shu Ya wrapping her body with a scarf, her snowy shoulders and delicate feet exposed, her face flushed, looking somewhat charming, and her eyes reflecting a pitiful fear. Hao Jian was somewhat disappointed; he had hoped to see more of Shu Ya''s charming body. "Don''t just stand there, go kill the cockroach." Shu Ya hurriedly pushed Hao Jian into the bathroom. If the cockroach wasn''t dealt with, she couldn''t think about taking a bath. "Alright, alright," Hao Jian chuckled wryly, grabbing his slipper and walking into the bathroom.N?v(el)B\\jnn "Smack!" The slipper hit the mirror cleanly, then the cockroach stuck onto the slipper. Seeing the cockroach killed by Hao Jian, Shu Ya finally breathed a sigh of relief. "See, it''s dead," Hao Jian turned around, but shook his slipper with the cockroach in front of Shu Ya. "Get that away!" Shu Ya screamed and pushed Hao Jian, but he didn''t move, and his own feet slipped, sending him tumbling down. Shu Ya''s face turned pale, and she frantically wed the air in front of her. "Be careful!" Hao Jian was also startled, then quickly dropped his slipper and reached out to catch Shu Ya, but he only caught the corner of the towel. "Whoosh." Then, the towel was in Hao Jian''s hand, and what came into view was a patch of tender skin. "Ah, it hurts." Shu Ya ultimately fell on the ground, wanting to scold Hao Jian, but then she saw his gaze fixed on her, seemingly sparkling with mes, and she became confused. Then, she noticed the towel in Hao Jian''s hand, and after that, her face turned green! "Ah ah ah ah." This scream was louder than the one she made upon seeing the cockroach earlier, echoing throughout the entire building. That night was too dark for Hao Jian to have paid much attention to Shu Ya''s physique, but today he finally got his wish. "It wasn''t intentional? If it wasn''t intentional, then why don''t you give me back the towel?" Shu Ya felt a strong urge to devour this scoundrel; her words said it wasn''t intentional, but his eyes seemed anything but sincere. "Oh oh, okay, here you go," Hao Jian reluctantly returned the towel. "You. Turn your face away," "Or, should I just close my eyes?" Hao Jian said, apparently not willing to turn his head. "No, you must turn away!" Shu Ya said determinedly; closing his eyes? Who knows if this scoundrel would peek? "Alright, alright," Hao Jian said helplessly, knowing he couldn''t look anymore, and grudgingly turned away. "Don''t peek, or I won''t spare you!" Shu Ya threatened, then stood up and began to wrap herself with the towel. But after wrapping the towel, Shu Ya grew more and more ufortable, this scoundrel had seen her naked, was it not too lenient to just let him off like this? Then she remembered how Hao Jian had ditched her to meet another woman today, and she grew even more furious, a sh of anger crossing her cheeks before it turned into slyness. She stared at Hao Jian like a cunning fox, a mischievous curve appearing at the corner of her mouth. "Are you done?" Hao Jian, hearing no noise from behind, couldn''t help but ask. "Not yet, wait a little longer," Shu Ya hurriedly responded, stealthily approaching Hao Jian, then as he was distracted, she suddenly kicked upward, aiming for Hao Jian''s crotch. Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Sister Lans Misunderstanding! Whoosh! Although her leg was slender, it moved fiercely, aiming straight for Hao Jian''s groin! Just when Shu Ya thought her sneak attack was sessful, Hao Jian''s legs suddenly mped together without any warning, firmly trapping her foot. Shu Ya was stunned on the spot, and then realizing her plot was exposed, she roared in anger, "Let me go!" "You little vixen, dare to ambush me? I am going to teach you a lesson!" Hao Jian said with a strange chuckle, his expression wicked. "It''s all your fault! Who asked you to look at me!" Shu Ya dered righteously, infuriated that the scoundrel had no manners, not even letting her pick on him. "I don''t care, you ambushed me with that sinister Groin Kick; I''m definitely going to teach you a lesson!" Hao Jian grabbed Shu Ya''s foot with one hand, looking at the delicate little foot, a crooked smile appeared on his face as he then swiped her sole. "Mommy, it''s so noisy." Meanwhile, next door at Sister Lan''s ce, little Tongtong woke up from sleep and said to her mom beside her. Sister Lan also revealed a bitter smile, "It''s nothing, go back to sleep." Tongtong closed her eyes and went back to sleep, but Sister Lan looked up at the wall next to them, thinking that she definitely needed to talk to Hao Jian and others tomorrow. It wasn''t that they couldn''t do it; they should at least keep it down.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Turns out, she had heard the noise upstairs but mistakenly thought Hao Jian and Shu Ya were doing something embarrassing. The next day at breakfast, while Shu Ya and Tongtong were not around, Sister Lan pulled Hao Jian aside to lecture him. "You youngd, I''m not concerned about your fiery passion, but can you keep it down at night? That noisest night must have been heard by the whole building, it even woke up Tongtong, who has kindergarten the next morning; you need to be mindful of the impact," Sister Lan advised earnestly. "Ah?" Hao Jian was taken aback and then burst intoughter, realizing Sister Lan had misunderstood. "I''m serious here, what are youughing at!" Sister Lan said angrily. Her pretty face blushed and she red at Hao Jian; she was serious in talking to Hao Jian, but he wasn''t taking it seriously. "Sister Lan, you got it wrong,st night Shu Ya and I weren''t doing that; she saw a cockroach, and that''s why she screamed," Hao Jian exined. "Stop it, your Sister Lan knows better, can''t I tell the difference between a scream and a moan? I''m not ming you guys, because young people sometimes can''t control themselves, just keep it down next time if you are, please." Then Hao Jian was rendered speechless and could only nod with a wry smile, "Okay, I got it, I will be careful next time." "Also, be gentler next time. Last night, Shu Ya''s screams were awful; women need to be cherished," Sister Lan advised again. Hao Jian almost cried, looking intively at Sister Lan, "Sister Lan." "Alright, alright, let''s drop it, just be careful yourself. By the way, remember toe help me fix the light after work today; the light''s broken in my ce, hey, I wasn''t finished talking." Before Sister Lan could finish talking, Hao Jian ran off like a shot. He was afraid to stay any longer in case Sister Lan woulde up with more shockingments. She, a woman, doesn''t feel embarrassed talking about it, but he, a grown man, felt shy just listening. This was because Sister Lan didn''t regard Hao Jian as a man but treated him like a younger brother, so she spoke from an older sister''s perspective, naturally without embarrassment. "What did Sister Lan want just now?" Shu Ya asked curiously as she saw Hao Jian return to the car. Hao Jian replied with a wry smile, "She wants us to keep it down at night; we woke Tongtong upst night." "What? But we weren''t doing anythingst night, did you exin that to her?" Shu Ya panicked; Hao Jian might be shameless, but she could not be. "I did exin, but she didn''t believe it," Hao Jian replied. Shu Ya''s expression stiffened, then she pinched Hao Jian''s waist hard: "It''s all your fault; if you hadn''t teased mest night, none of this would have happened, and Sister Lan wouldn''t have misunderstood. How am I supposed to face her now?" "Don''t worry, she wants me to go fix her light tonight; I''ll exin it again then." "What, you are going to fix her light tonight?" Shu Ya said, taken aback, feeling uneasy. Because she always felt that Sister Lan''s gaze towards Hao Jian was not entirely pure; at first nce, it seemed like a sister looking at her brother, but on closer observation, it seemed there was something more in her gaze. Shu Ya didn''t know if it was just her imagination, but she just felt very ufortable. "Yes, what about it?" Hao Jian started the car, looking puzzled at Shu Ya. Fixing a light was a simple task; why did Shu Ya seem so unhappy about it? "It''s nothing, just that fixing a light sounds like a simple task; couldn''t she do it herself?" Shu Yained somewhat. Chapter 36 This pretense, I give it a hundred points! ``` "Don''t say that, they''re a pair of orphans and widows, quite pitiable, with no man in the house. A lot of things are inconvenient for them. Besides, as neighbors, it''s just a small favor, nothing to make a big fuss about, right?" Hao Jian said. If it weren''t for Sister Lan taking him in, he probably would have had to sleep on the streets. At that time, he was pretty foolish too, getting pickpocketed right after getting off the ne, losing his wallet with all his bank cards and cash. The idea that the mighty God of Death had his wallet stolen by a pickpocket would be enough to make countless peopleugh their heads off. Back then, Sister Lan saw Hao Jian squatting downstairs at her building, smoking and catching the breeze. She called him into her home, prepared food for him, and arranged a ce for him to stay; she even let him live there rent-free for the first month. Hao Jian has always remembered this kindness. Hao Jian didn''t overthink it like Shu Ya, although he had spied on Sister Lan, he never thought about starting anything with her. How could he have the heart to bully them when they were already in such a vulnerable position? "In that case, why don''t I introduce a boyfriend to her?" Shu Ya suggested. Sister Lan didn''t have a man, so introducing a boyfriend to her would give her someone to rely on, and perhaps she wouldn''t cling to Hao Jian anymore? "This, isn''t that a bit inappropriate?" Hao Jian felt something was off about this. Sister Lan had been single for so many years without a man, there must be a reason. Introducing a boyfriend to her seemed quite presumptuous, didn''t it? "What''s wrong with that? Didn''t you say it yourself, that it''s inconvenient for her without a man in the house? She can''t stay single forever, can she?" Shu Ya crossed her arms and stared at Hao Jian with a sneer: "Or is it that you have some improper thoughts about her?" "How could that be!" Hao Jian hurriedly defended himself. What a joke, Sister Lan treated him like a younger brother, and he just saw her as an older sister, nothing more. Of course, asionally peeping at Sister Lan taking a bath was one of Hao Jian''s greatest joys! "Then why are you so fiercely opposed? She herself hasn''t even objected yet." Shu Ya huffed, convinced that this guy definitely had some ulterior motive.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "I just think it''s a bit presumptuous for us outsiders to do this, and Sister Lan would probably find it very strange," Hao Jian shared his doubts with Shu Ya. "And, you know, she hasn''t remarried for all these years, I guess it has to do with Tongtong. I think she''s worried that finding another man might not be good for Tongtong." "That''s easy, then we just find someone good to Tongtong," Shu Ya said nonchntly. "It''s not that easy." How many men can truly not care when ites to marrying someone with a kid? "Hey, I feel like you''re always opposing me!" Shu Ya got a bit angry. "No, you might be overthinking it," Hao Jian said with a wry smile. "Alright, I''ll leave this task to you, but you must ask Sister Lan for her opinion. You can''t just do whatever you want, got it?" "Don''t worry, I have a sense of it." Shu Ya replied cheerily and then nodded, starting to think about how to set Sister Lan up with someone while snickering to herself now and then. Watching this, Hao Jian just shook his head and said no more. Upon arriving at thepany, no sooner had Shu Ya stepped out of the car than a man approached her. The man wore a purple suit, his hair slicked back, a confident smile on his face, exuding a grand and graceful presence. Seeing this person, Shu Ya''s expression showed slight impatience: "Zhao Ziliang, what are you doing here?" ``` Hao Jian had also gotten out of the car and immediately recognized the man in front of him as the one he had shared an elevator with before. "Shu Ya, do you have time for lunch today? I''d like to take you out to eat." Zhao Ziliang pretended not to see the expression on Shu Ya''s face and asked cheerfully. His expression appeared sincere and genuine, as well as naive¡ªsomething most women would likely find difficult to refuse. But Shu Ya wasn''t most women, she coldly replied, "I don''t have time, not now, not ever. Don''te back again." Then, she pushed past Zhao Ziliang and headed straight for the elevator. How strange, she thought. She could maintain herposure and rity with Zhao Ziliang, so why couldn''t she keep her cool when faced with Hao Jian? What in the world was this! "I won''t give up. I''lle to yourpany to find you from now on. If not today, then tomorrow; if not tomorrow, then the day after. I believe that one day you''ll be moved by my true feelings," Zhao Ziliang shouted at Shu Ya''s retreating figure. Hao Jian curled his lips in a mockingly astonished expression, not expecting Zhao Ziliang to be so persistent. He thought: Rich, handsome, and so devoted¡ªwhat woman wouldn''t want such a man? They''ve all but gone extinct in this world. So, this fool is definitely not that kind of man! Upon hearing this, Shu Ya stopped in her tracks, and seeing her reaction, Zhao Ziliang''s face lit up with surprise, thinking maybe his words had touched her. The next moment, Shu Ya turned around and walked back, staring straight at Zhao Ziliang. "Shu Ya," Zhao Ziliang said with a gentle smile, calling her name. "Do you realize that you''re being a bit too zealous with your affection?" Shu Ya mocked. Zhao Ziliang''s smile stiffened, but he feigned confusion as he looked at Shu Ya. "With your looks and wealth, women must be throwing themselves at you, which probably also fosters a strong sense of confidence, maybe even arrogance. Yet, here you are, deigning to chase after me, unfazed and devoted no matter how much I push you away¡ªit''s beyond reason," Shu Ya taunted. Zhao Ziliang''s acting wasn''t bad, but he had overdone it. Which fool would pursue a woman he might not even win, risking insult, when countless others freely offered themselves? Shu Ya certainly wasn''t narcissistic enough to believe she could make a man fall so madly in love with her. If Zhao Ziliang was going to such lengths, he must have an ulterior motive! "Shu Ya, you can doubt my sincerity, but I absolutely won''t allow you to trample on it!" Zhao Ziliang feigned anger in his response. "You im you''re sincere; alright then, prove it. Transfer all thepanies under your father''s name to me, and I''ll believe you''re sincere. Plus, I''ll agree to marry you. How''s that?" Shu Ya asked, smiling. "This..." Zhao Ziliang hesitated, naturally, he was thinking of an excuse to counter. Then, with a spark of indignation, he said, "No need, if I can''t have your heart, I don''t want such a marriage!" Hao Jian blinked, at a loss for words to describe his feelings; he felt as if ten thousand Caonima were galloping through his heart. This act, he''d give it a hundred points! Chapter 37: Chapter 37 First Meeting, My Name is Caonima! Shu Ya''s expression froze, deeply moved by Zhao Ziliang''s cunning and shamelessness. The excuse he made up left her speechless. "So, you disagree?" Shu Ya asked with a coldugh. "I will touch your heart with my genuine feelings until you believe that I truly care for you. By then, I will naturally offer everything I have!" Zhao Ziliang dered solemnly. Hao Jian was petrified, doubting that even Zhao Ziliang himself believed what he said. Yet, he managed to say it without a hint of embarrassment; Hao Jian genuinely thought he had thicker skin than himself. "No need, I already have a boyfriend. Save everything for your future wife," Shu Ya said with a cold sneer. "You have a boyfriend? I don''t believe it! That''s impossible!" Zhao Ziliang was shocked but didn''t believe it; he had never heard about Shu Ya having any boyfriend. One might say he waspletely aware of Shu Ya''s every move in the country; she had always been single, so how could she have a boyfriend? In Zhao Ziliang''s view, Shu Ya was just saying this to drive him away. "Don''t believe it? Hao Jian,e over!" Shu Ya called out to Hao Jian. Hao Jian shrugged his shoulders, knowing it was his cue to step up, and briskly walked to Shu Ya''s side. He was a whole head taller than Shu Ya. The two of them standing together looked quite matched in height. "He is my boyfriend, and we n to get married soon," Shu Ya pointed at Hao Jian and said. She intentionally told Zhao Ziliang, also hoping to use him to spread the news to her father to show her determination that she would never hand over thepany to him. "Impossible, you would fall for such a loser?" Zhao Ziliang pointed at Hao Jian, ring furiously. This loser, decked in street vendor clothes, might not even wear outfits totaling more than two hundred yuan. How could Shu Ya possibly fancy someone like him? Hao Jian''s eyebrows frowned at this moment, and a cold smile slowly appeared at the corners of his mouth. Zhao Ziliang looked disdainfully at Hao Jian and said to Shu Ya: "Shu Ya, even if you wanted a shield, you should''ve chosen someone decent, huh? iming a guy who looks like he just arrived from the countryside as your boyfriend, isn''t that a bit too unconvincing?" "You." Shu Ya felt a surge of anger upon hearing Zhao Ziliang insult Hao Jian and was about to explode. At that moment, Hao Jian pulled Shu Ya''s hand, signaling it was his turn to step in; it wasn''t the time to hide behind a woman. Hao Jian stepped forward two paces, wearing a humble smile, then extended his hand to Zhao Ziliang. Zhao Ziliang''s face showed scorn; indeed, a useless nobody. Insulted like that and still making a warm approach, such a person really has no shame. Thus, he looked down on Hao Jian even more. Seeing this, Shu Ya also couldn''t help feeling infuriated; how could this guy fail her at a crucial moment? If only he could punch Zhao Ziliang and curse at him, at least that would be somewhat manly. But this reaching out, isn''t that just showing weakness and asking to be pped in the face? Didn''t he hear how Zhao Ziliang insulted him? So, you''re saying this guy was just pretending before, and he''s actually a coward? Just when both Shu Ya and Zhao Ziliang were feeling disappointed in Hao Jian, he spoke calmly and with a smile, "Nice to meet you, my name is Caonima." Silence. "Pfft." After a brief silence, Shu Ya couldn''t hold back and burst intoughter. Then she fiercely red at Hao Jian, this bastard, couldn''t he go a day without messing around? Zhao Ziliang''s face turned livid, "You actually swear, have you no decency?" "Decency depends on who it''s aimed at. I am more decent than those who talk about decency, but I will be even less decent than those who don''t," said Hao Jian, smiling without joy. "You''re saying I have no decency?" Zhao Ziliang frowned.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Anyone who starts and ends their sentences by calling others losers, what decency can they have? Do you even know what a ''loser'' is? A loser is just scum, and you hang such vulgar things from your lips all day and still talk about decency?" Hao Jian mocked mercilessly. "You¡­" Zhao Ziliang was so angry his face turned green, unable to speak. Meanwhile, Shu Ya fiercely pinched Hao Jian from behind, disgusted that this bastard would say something so vile. "And another thing, stop looking down on country folks. If you go back three generations in your family, you''ll find they were rural folks too. Don''t pretend to be upper ss when you haven''t even wiped your ass clean," Hao Jian ridiculed. Those who forget their roots are the most pitiful and the most despicable. Zhao Ziliang snorted coldly, "I''m really surprised Shu Ya would fall for a rogue like you." He had realized Hao Jian was nothing but a street thug. "That''s right, I am indeed a rogue, but I''m handsome," said Hao Jian, proudly. Shu Ya held her forehead and sighed. She really wanted to find a hole to crawl into. Embarrassing, this damn narcissist. Zhao Ziliang too was rendered speechless by Hao Jian''s remark, struggling to find a rebuttal. "Also, I''m truly genuine, straightforward! Unlike you, overly sentimental?" Hao Jian said with a mockingugh. Zhao Ziliang''s face turned green, the same words Shu Ya had mocked him with earlier, and now used by Hao Jian on him, felt particrly unpleasant. "No matter how much superiority you feel in front of me, there''s one thing you can''t change! That''s Shu Ya chose me, not you. So stop your yapping and go home to sleep," Hao Jian startlingly said. Hearing this, Shu Ya just wanted to strangle this damn fool, what nonsense he was spouting. All that talk about her, about jerking off, it was all a mess. Zhao Ziliang pointed at Hao Jian, his face red, and his neck thick with rage, yet unable to utter a word! He needs to jerk off? As if he needs to do that. All he has to do is wish, and countless women would throw themselves at him. "Sweetheart, let''s go." But Hao Jian, as if blind to the threat in Zhao Ziliang''s eyes, grabbed Shu Ya and started to walk away. Shu Ya, coborating with Hao Jian, didn''t resist and said to Zhao Ziliang before leaving, "Don''te looking for me anymore, you stand no chance." "Did you hear that? If you dare harass my darling again, I''ll break your legs!" Hao Jian also threatened viciously. Watching the two of them walk away, Zhao Ziliang felt a coldness throughout his body, his eyes aze with rage. Chapter 38 The Trust Between People! "Honey, I was good just now, wasn''t I?" In the elevator, Hao Jian asked Shu Ya with a sly grin stered on his face. "Not bad," Shu Ya replied, still with a stern face, unwilling to inte this scoundrel''s ego. But her heart was actually filled with joy at that moment. The reason was simple, because Hao Jian had made her proud.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Thinking of how Hao Jian had made Zhao Ziliang swallow his words on the spot, she felt incredibly satisfied. Actually, Shu Ya had long wanted to give Zhao Ziliang a piece of her mind, but she didn''t have the thick skin like Hao Jian, who could say anything and curse with the vilest words, she still cared about her image. Err... or rather, she wasn''t as shameless as Hao Jian! But Shu Ya couldn''t deny, Hao Jian cursing out loud had looked really cool. "What do you mean ''not bad''? It was pretty perfect! Look at you, you say you don''t want it, but your body is very honest, smiling even more happily than me!" Hao Jian said with a lecherousugh. Hao Jian''s words made Shu Ya exasperated! This jerk, give him an inch and he''ll take a mile! "Get lost, you scoundrel!" Shu Ya kicked at Hao Jian fiercely. Just as her foot was flying out, it was caught by Hao Jian, his face full of a smug smile: "Wife, don''t get physical. Be careful or your husband won''t be polite!" While saying this, Hao Jian''s face was teasing, and he pinched her delicate ankle. "Ah... you¡­ you big pervert, you scoundrel!" Shu Ya was so furious, she immediately grabbed Hao Jian''s waist and pinched him hard! Yikes! Just then, as the two were in shock, the elevator doors suddenly opened! Following that, Hao Jian and Shu Ya saw someone standing at the elevator entrance. Xiao Qiang! Because she had an urgent document that needed Shu Ya''s signature, Xiao Qiang had been waiting at Shu Ya''s private elevator early in the morning. Seeing Shu Ya and Hao Jian together in the elevator, Xiao Qiang was initially stunned! And when she saw the ambiguous posture between Shu Ya and Hao Jian, her mind went nk! "You¡­ you guys..." Xiao Qiang''s eyes were wide open, her face full of astonishment! She couldn''t imagine how Shu Ya would let her share an elevator, a privilege not even she had. And their posture... Seeing Xiao Qiang at the elevator entrance, the two quickly let go of each other, Shu Ya''s pretty face suddenly turned red, and her expression became somewhat unnatural. Because it was her personal private elevator, nobody was supposed to ride with her, but this time she had brought Hao Jian, surely Xiao Qiang would be suspicious. Especially since there had been... But luckily, Shu Ya was quick-witted, and in her panic, she immediately turned her head, looked sternly at Hao Jian, and scolded loudly: "If I ever catch you sneaking into my elevator again, don''t me me for not being polite! This is the first and thest time!" Hao Jian froze, he hadn''t quite caught on yet. "What are you staring at, did you hear what I said?" Shu Ya rebuked, her face deliberately showing disgust. "I''m sorry, President, I won''t dare to get on your... elevator again!" Hao Jian thought this girl was so clever, she reacted right away. "Hmph!" Shu Ya snorted coldly, then looked at the still stunned Xiao Qiang: "Xiao Qiang, is there something you need?" Xiao Qiang finally came back to her senses, so it was just that Hao Jian had taken the elevator on his own and got caught by the president. She had thought Hao Jian and Shu Ya had some special rtionship. Although still a bit suspicious, she didn''t ask further! "Oh, president, here is an important document that needs your immediate signature." Xiao Qiang quickly passed a folder over. "Okay, I''ll take a look at it first." Then Shu Ya took the folder and walked away without even ncing at Hao Jian, acting as if she didn''t know him at all. As Shu Ya walked away, Xiao Qiang nudged Hao Jian''s shoulder with her elbow and asked: "You''re crazy, daring to take the CEO''s private elevator and even trying to flirt with the CEO, you really have a death wish!" "I was just afraid of beingte." Hao Jian exined, but thought to himself, who came up with this thing? A CEO''s private elevator? Isn''t that just artificially dividing people by rank? But what Hao Jian didn''t know was that such a hierarchical system is necessary in the workce, otherwise things would fall into chaos. "Even if you''rete, you can''t take that elevator. Let me tell you, don''t think that just because the CEO is about our age, she''s easy to get along with. She''s very serious! And this time you''ve offended her, I can''t help you, you''re on your own." Xiao Qiang looked at Hao Jian with a gaze full of pity, as if she could see Hao Jian''s bleak fate! "Alright, I''ll remember next time." Hao Jian scratched his head, yet he was utterly baffled! What is going on here, why is everyone in thepany so terrified of Shu Ya, as if she were a man-eater. Anyway, he didn''t think that a woman who couldn''t even dare to kill a cockroach could be that frightening. But what he hadn''t realized was that not everyone was like him, maintaining such an awkward rtionship with Shu Ya! And not everyone was like him, so shameless. Upon seeing that Hao Jian took it in, Xiao Qiang finally breathed a sigh of relief and said to him: "By the way, the CEO already told me earlier, when you''re not busy, you should go to the logistics department and stay on standby." "Send me to the logistics department? Are there a lot of women there?" Hao Jian asked, somewhat confused. Xiao Qiang was almost choked with anger! Dammit, what does it matter how many women there are in the logistics department? You jerk! "Sending you to the logistics department is nothing special; it just involves picking up packages for thepany and buying things for different departments." Xiao Qiang''s face went green with frustration, wondering if there was anything other than lust in this guy''s head. "Isn''t that just running errands for people? That''s so tiring, I''m not going... I''d rather die than go..." Hao Jian shook his head like a tambourine, running errands was like being ackey, and he certainly didn''t want to be ackey. Xiao Qiang blinked her eyes, a sly gleam in her gaze, and said: "You don''t have a choice in this, it is the CEO''s order." Hao Jian''s eyes instantly squirted out a glint of jealousy! Mama mia, is this a bloody seduction scheme! Am I that kind ofscivious guy? Really, why didn''t she say so earlier! "She should at least give me a reason, why on earth would she throw me into the logistics department?" Hao Jian was bemused. Last night, Shu Ya hadn''t mentioned this to him at all. This was just too sudden. "Isn''t that your own fault?" Xiao Qiang gave Hao Jian a disdainful nce, this guy really had no self-awareness. "How is it my fault? What''s it got to do with me?" Hao Jian argued crudely. "Yesterday, you were in the office boasting and farting around with that colleague, even flirting with female colleagues. Several department heads called toin about you. That''s why the CEO had to reassign you to logistics, to keep you from wandering around the office and distracting other employees." Xiao Qiang spoke indignantly, though Hao Jian was a good person, sometimes he was just too cheeky and too much of a troublemaker. "Bullshit, what flirting with female colleagues? Those female colleagues were crying and begging me to tell them dirty jokes. As a warm-hearted man, how could I refuse?" Hao Jian was annoyed by Xiao Qiang''s portrayal of him as some kind of nuisance, muttering to himself: "Damn it, it seems honest people really get the short end of the stick..." Goddamn, where''s his shame. Xiao Qiang covered her face, not even knowing what to say anymore. "Anyway, you better head to logistics quickly, otherwise the CEO will get mad." Xiao Qiang said to Hao Jian, then checked her watch: "I have other things to handle, so I''m going ahead." Seeing this, Hao Jian could only helplessly make his way to the logistics department! Upon arriving at the logistics department, he found it was just a small room, where mops, brooms, buckets,dders, and the like were all crammed together, making the already small room feel even smaller. At one end of the room, there was a desk with a telephone on it, clearly for taking calls from other departments. Hao Jian plunked himself down on a wooden stool, legs crossed and smoking, a picture of misery! Damn it, where''s the trust between people, can''t we just have fun anymore! Chapter 39 A Quarrelsome Old Woman! Ding-a-ling-ling! Half an hourter, the first call came through, and Hao Jian acted as if he hadn''t heard it at all,pletely ignoring it. An hour passed, and he didn''t answer three consecutive calls. Then Hao Jian''s phone rang. He nced at the number, quickly sat up in fright, and said in an ingratiating voice: "Hello... Wife, did you miss me?" "Hao Jian, listen carefully, if you don''t answer the next call, I''ll make sure you work for nothing this month!" came Shu Ya''s annoyed voice from the other end of the phone. It turned out that when some departments couldn''t get through to the logistics, they had called Shu Ya to report, and Shu Ya quickly learned that Hao Jian, the bastard, was cking off. "Wife, I just went to take a dump, I''m heading back now," Hao Jian hurriedly exined. Hearing this exnation, Shu Ya''s face turned green with anger, and she hung up immediately, not bothering to speak with this vulgar guy. Hao Jian gave a wry smile, realizing that cking off was no longer an option. "Ring-ring-ring." The phone rang again, and Hao Jian reluctantly answered it. "What''s wrong with you? You didn''t answer the phone repeatedly, where the heck did you go!" This time, an sharp and cynical female voice came through. Hao Jian was instantly annoyed. It was one thing for Shu Ya to speak to him like that, but who was this woman to talk to him this way? "I just went to take a dump, don''t humans have emergencies? Don''t you know that?" Hao Jian retorted, neither servile nor overbearing. "You spent over an hour in the toilet?" The woman on the other end obviously didn''t believe him and sneered coldly. "I have constipation, plus hemorrhoids, and they were oozing pus mixed with blood, so it took especially long, alright?" Hao Jian also scoffed coldly in response. Think you''re the only one who canugh? ".." The other end fell silent, clearly the woman hadn''t expected Hao Jian to respond like that. She was really disgusted by Hao Jian, and his description immediately conjured up an image for her. "Hello, why not speaking? If you''re not going to talk, I''m hanging up," Hao Jian said impatiently. "A cup of cold green tea, a cup of hot kumquat lemon tea, a cup of extra-sugar less-milk caramel coffee, and a cup of less-sugar extra-milk cappino, you have ten minutes to bring them to the R&D department or else you''ll see!" the woman threatened. "Hold on, let me write it down," Hao Jian replied grudgingly, really feeling like a grandson now. "Can''t you even remember that much, is your brain stuffed with straw?" the woman mocked bitterly.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Stunned by the woman''s harsh words, Hao Jian faltered for a moment, then a sneer curved his lips as he said: "Five trees on the hill, five pots of vinegar on the rack, five deer in the forest, five pants in the box. Cut down the trees on the hill, remove the vinegar from the rack, shoot the deer in the forest, take out the pants from the box. If you can, repeat it back to me. If you can''t, it''s not straw in your brain, but silicone!" Ha! The woman at the other end of the phone first went quiet for a moment, then suddenly burst out furiously: "Kid, are you purposely messing with me? Do you freaking know who I am?" "I know!" Hao Jian said nonchntly! "Hmph! Good that you know!" The woman at the other end seemed somewhat pleased, asking teasingly: "Say, who am I?" "A hysteric olddy!" Hao Jian said with a scoff. "..." "Jerk! Jerk! Go buy my stuff, right now! Immediately! Now!!!!" The woman''s voice thundered in anger, then she hung up the phone immediately. "Hey, quite the temper there." Hao Jian curled his lip but showed an indifferent expression. Then, something seemed to ur to Hao Jian, and he muttered, "The R&D department? That woman just now couldn''t be the shrew Su Qin that Tie Shan mentioned before, could she?" After buying the items that woman had mentioned, Hao Jian headed toward the R&D department. He stood at the entrance of the R&D department and shouted loudly, "Who was the olddy who called for a drink just now?" "..." A group of people looked up at him, their expressions somewhat bizarre, wondering what was the deal with shouting and yelling in the department. They had strict discipline in their department, and clearly, Hao Jian did not care about these so-called rules. Especially since he used honorifics... ''olddy''! "Was it you who spoke with me on the phone just now?" At that moment, a woman quickly walked towards Hao Jian. She was dressed in a white shirt and a red skirt, both of which were tight-fitting. The shirt was quite thin, the color of her bra faintly visible underneath, making one''s gaze involuntarily stop at her chest upon first nce. The woman had a beautiful face, though not as much as Sister Lan, Shu Ya, or Xiao Qiang, but she had a very seductive kind, with heavy makeup, simr to thosemercial models. Hao Jian stared nkly at the woman, who was shorter than him, "You are..." "Su Qin, R&D department head. I''m asking you, was it you who spoke with me on the phone just now?" Su Qin said coldly, feeling her anger rise at the thought of how Hao Jian had mocked her earlier. Especially since this jerk had called her ''olddy'' again and again... In all her years at thepany, no one had dared to speak to her like that. Hao Jian felt helpless, his luck was truly miserable, offending the two people in thepany whom he should least afford to offend right upon arrival. Hao Jian gave Su Qin a serious look, to be precise, he was checking out Su Qin''s "peaks". So this was the "foxy spirit" Tie Shan talked about, definitely very charming, those eyes looked so inviting, this woman was definitely no good. "Do you like what you see?" Su Qin said, noticing Hao Jian still fixating on her, a cold smile emerging on her lips. All men, none without lust. That principle Su Qin had understood long ago, but to see someone so brazenly lustful, it was truly her first time. "Not bad." Hao Jian scratched his head, saying somewhat sheepishly. "You." Su Qin was momentarily at a loss for words, so angered she was speechless. "Well, my name is Hao Jian." Hao Jian introduced himself. Su Qin, impatient, waved her hand dismissively, "I''m not interested in who you are, did you buy the things I asked for?" Hao Jian smiled slightly, not getting angry, and handed over the items. "Didn''t I tell you no milk in the caramel coffee? Are you deaf?" Su Qin nced at the item Hao Jian bought, a mischievous smile appearing, but she suddenly became furious. "Impossible, you said before ''extra sugar, less milk.''" Hao Jian defended, he heard it clearly that Su Qin wanted extra sugar, not no milk. "What I said was ''extra sugar, no milk!''" Su Qin''s voice grew sharp, suddenly drawing the attention of many colleagues in the office. "Minister Su, I think you should now carefully think about what you have said before, perhaps then you would know whether you had said that or not," Hao Jian said with a smile, though his smile was quite sinister. "Are you saying that you think I''m falsely using you?" Su Qin said with a coldugh, her expression very harsh. Hao Jian''s smile froze, and now he was almost certain that this Su Qin was just looking for trouble on purpose. Probably she wanted to retaliate for him talking back to her over the phone, no wonder she was so disliked in thepany. Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Youre Playing with Fire! "Is it or is it not, only you, Minister Su, would know, right?" Hao Jian countered Su Qin, and at this time, the entire office staff was watching him and Su Qin. "I''m framing you? Have I got nothing better to do than to frame a loser? Look at yourself, you loser. What good does it do for me to frame you?" Su Qin, acting like a shrew, pointed at Hao Jian and cursed up a storm. In her heart, Su Qin sneered. A stinking loser dares to rebel? Dare to provoke me, Mother Tiger, and I''ll curse you till you''re bleeding! Su Qin wanted everyone to see Hao Jian''s embarrassment, to let everyone know what happens when you offend her. But Hao Jian was not the type to be bullied. As soon as he heard Su Qin spouting off at him, he immediately let out a coldugh: "Who knows? Maybe it''s because I figured out that your breasts are fake, and that''s why you''re so angry?" Su Qin was stunned on the spot, looking at Hao Jian with terror. How did he know? The office staff, hearing this, also stared at Su Qin in disbelief! Honestly, they also felt that Su Qin seemed different after returning from her business trip to South Korea, but they hadn''t paid much attention to it. Having heard what Hao Jian said, they seemed to realize that Su Qin''s chest did indeed look muchrger. "You... you''re talking nonsense!" Her face turned red with anger, full of shame and indignation! She took advantage of the business trip to South Korea to secretly get breast imnts, keeping it her personal secret, which she had told no one. She couldn''t fathom how Hao Jian found out.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Nonsense? Having a 36E chest, a figure that''s usually prone to some drooping, but yours isn''t drooping at all; it''s clearly shaped by silicone." Hao Jian disdainfully looked at Su Qin''s chest as he spoke. Su Qin immediately hugged her chest, utterly panicked because what Hao Jian said was the truth. Her breasts indeed had been reshaped, the fillers inside were silicone and couldn''t possibly feel as soft as real flesh. How could this guy''s eyes be so sharp, to notice right away that she just had breast surgery? Hao Jian, as if seeing through Su Qin''s thoughts, chuckled and said, "You must be wondering right now how I knew your secret, right?" Su Qin didn''t speak, but stared at Hao Jian, obviously curious to know as well. But she didn''t realize that the more she did this, the more she fell into Hao Jian''s trap! Because she forgot to argue, not disputing, which was as good as admitting, wasn''t it? Then Su Qin''s colleagues began to show mocking smiles, no wonder Su Qin had recently been intentionally wearing tight clothes; so that was the reason. "That''s because you came back to work too soon after the surgery; your body isn''t quite ustomed to the extra weight yet, so you lean slightly forward when you walk. That''s caused by the weight on your chest, and it takes time to adjust," Hao Jian exined, his observations keen. Su Qin''s expression subtly changed, and for a moment, she couldn''t find the words to retort Hao Jian. Quickly regaining herposure, Su Qin sneered: "You''re just spouting nonsense. My breasts aren''t wide-set because I exercise regrly, not because I''ve had surgery. In your view, firm breasts must mean imnts, right?" "Of course not, but ording to physiological structure, to maintain your figure, you''d have to work out three days a week, and given your busy job, it''s hard to find even one day, right?" Hao Jian''s face was full of mockery. He spoke with such confidence that everyone present started to believe him. Su Qin waspletely irritated: "That''s just your spection. You say my breasts are fake, do you have proof?" "I indeed have no evidence, but that doesn''t matter because they all believed me anyway," Hao Jian smirked sardonically, as his gaze shifted to the employees watching him. Su Qin turned her head and immediately saw everyone staring at her intently, their looks somewhat teasing. Seeing this, Su Qin flew into a rage: "What are you looking at? Don''t you all have work to do?" Those employees, all quite fearful of Su Qin, the Mother Tiger, scattered at her words, each busying themselves with their own tasks. But Su Qin still heard their sniggering, and her heart felt even more stifled and annoyed. "You asshole!!!" She turned around, furiously tossing a cup of milk tea in Hao Jian''s face. The employees, who had intended to leave, were shocked by this scene and stopped in their tracks to watch. A whole cup of milk tea sshed across Hao Jian''s face, the coffee-colored liquid soaking his entire upper body. Hao Jian shook his head, revealing a helpless smile without wiping the milk tea from his face, letting it drip off drop by drop. "Aren''t you quite the talker? Go on, say something now!" Su Qin sneered, thinking she was to be trifled with? She would like to see who would dare to cross her, Su Qin! She admitted that Hao Jian was formidable, able to tell at a nce that she had had a breast augmentation, but what of it? Was he not just an employee in logistics? She could crush him whenever she wanted, and nobody could say a word against her! If Hao Jian made her lose face in public, then she would make sure Hao Jian''s life was miserable! "You''re ying with fire." Hao Jian stared at Su Qin, the smile on his face a bit malicious. "So what? What can you do about it?" Su Qin said disdainfully, she didn''t believe Hao Jian would dare to do anything to her, unless he wanted to be fired. Hao Jian said nothing more, preferring to let his actions speak for himself. And then, to the amazement of everyone, they saw Hao Jian seize Su Qin''s wrists and stare at her fiercely. "You. What do you think you''re doing? Let me tell you, if you dare to hurt me, I will have you fired! And I''ll take you to court!" Su Qin yelled loudly, beginning to feel a bit scared as she could see Hao Jian was at his wit''s end. Just when everyone thought Hao Jian was going to hit Su Qin, he did something utterly astonishing. Su Qin was petrified on the spot, startled by Hao Jian''s extraordinary action she forgot to dodge, being caught off guard. The crowd was stunned, mouths agape, tant sexual harassment! Having seen Hao Jian''s ferocious appearance just moments before, they had already spected about what he might do next. More than eighty percent thought Hao Jian would give Su Qin a lesson and then resign from thepany. The remaining twenty percent thought Hao Jian would back down! But no one had anticipated this turn of events. Was this guy really teaching Su Qin a lesson? It looked more like he was taking advantage of the situation! Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Were Even Now! And on Su Qin''s shirt, arge stain had spread, exceptionally ring, the stain on her shirt sadly narrating the crime of Hao Jian. Hao Jian released Su Qin''s hand, stepped back a few steps, and chuckled maliciously, "You sshed me with milk tea, I wiped it off with your clothes, I''d say we''re even now. Don''t worry, although what you did was a bit shameless, I''m a big person with a big heart, I won''t mind!" Even? Everyone was speechless, how was this even at all? Yes, you used her clothes to wipe your face, but you chose the wrong ce to wipe. "Ah ah." All of a sudden, Su Qin screamed! The piercing voice instantly cut through the entire office, and many people covered their ears, trying to block out the unpleasant noise. Su Qin was going mad, humiliated publicly like this, was this not asking for her life? How could she face her subordinates after this? "You. You!" Su Qin pointed at Hao Jian, wishing she could eat his flesh, drink his blood, but her brain was a nk, and she even forgot how to curse at him. "Stop with the ''you you you'', I''m not that prissy. Compared to a whole lot of silicone, I prefer the all-natural, at least that''s real." Hao Jian gave Su Qin a sidelong nce, his words dripping with humiliation. "Swoosh swoosh swoosh." Su Qin felt as if several swords were plunged into her chest, Hao Jian''s words struck her heart with every sentence. "Pfft." A female colleague was the first to burst outughing, unable to hold it in. Then Su Qin red at her fiercely, and the girl quickly lowered her head, scared. She did not have the guts like Hao Jian to confront this vixen. At this moment, everyone could see Su Qin gritting her teeth, and the nerves at the corners of her eyes twitching continuously, clearly driven to madness by anger. "Call security toe up here," Su Qin said with a sullen face. She had calmed down quite a bit by now. Since she couldn''t handle Hao Jian herself, she would leave it to security. She hoped that they would leave him with missing arms or legs, or else it wouldn''t be enough to quell the hatred in her heart. She, Su Qin, had never been bullied like this in all her life. The employees had no choice but to call security. "You''re going to pay for what you''ve done, I will make sure you are ruined." Su Qin''s eyes, filled with spite, stared at Hao Jian as she spoke, nning to let the security beat him severely first, then send him to the police station. Public indecency, that should be good for three to five years in prison. "Sigh." Hao Jian sighed helplessly, yet he made another shocking move. He pressed his face against Su Qin''s body again, rubbing it back and forth violently. One could only imagine how rich Su Qin''s expression was at that moment! Everyone clearly saw her face changing from red to white, from white to green, and finally from green to purple; they were witnessing a unique face-changing act today! "What are you doing?" Su Qin asked through gritted teeth, ring at Hao Jian. "Since we''re already at each other''s throats, I might as well get my face properly clean, don''t you think?" Hao Jian offered his own exnation, astonishing everybody. Anyway, getting hit for rubbing once is the same as getting hit for rubbing twice, so he might as well get his money''s worth. Hao Jian simply didn''t let go, continuing to rub his face against her. Su Qin was so angry that she kicked directly at Hao Jian''s groin, but Hao Jian used the same technique he had used on Shu Ya against Su Qin, firmly mping her thigh between his. Su Qin was truly going crazy now; this guy had taken advantage of her in public repeatedly,pletely disrespecting her. But while Hao Jian didn''t take her seriously, she had no choice but to treat the matter seriously. After all, so many people were watching, and as the head of R&D, she was being insulted continuously by a loser. If this got out, she would be theughingstock of thepany. Just at that moment, a group of security guards came over. It was none other than Tie Shan and Heigui. The two of them saw Hao Jian rubbing against Su Qin''s body and firmly mping her legs with his, and they were stunned on the spot. What on earth was this guy doing? Hadn''t they warned him not to offend Su Qin? Moreover, this wasn''t just offending her; it was outright sexual harassment! "It''s him, catch this pervert right now!" Su Qin, seeing Tie Shan and Heigui, immediately cried for help as if she had seen a savior. At that moment, she was so excited she nearly cried, feeling for the first time that these security guards were so lovable. "Pervert, stop right there!" Tie Shan bellowed with feigned authority. Putting aside anything else for the moment, his presence was intimidating. "Yeah, stop! Or I''ll make you regret it!" Heigui followed with a shout, cursing Hao Jian''s ancestors in his mind! He was green with envy. How dare this guy touch Su Qin? And to do so in such a provocative manner! Every brother in their security department had inappropriate thoughts about her, because Su Qin had a big chest and a big butt, and that foxy look they all liked. But while they had lustful thoughts, theycked the courage to act on them and only dared to think about it. But today, unexpectedly, Hao Jian had fulfilled their long-held desire. "Big brothers, I didn''t do it on purpose, please let me off," Hao Jian began to show his acting talent, admitting fault and acting pusinimous, quickly releasing Su Qin. The three of them put on quite the show on the spot, with acting skills that were masterful. Seeing Hao Jian capitte, Su Qin thought he was genuinely afraid and couldn''t help but reveal a chilling smile. "Cut the crap, daring to molest a female colleague inside thepany,e with us to the security department," Tie Shan said, his face stern with an air of impartial justice, grabbing Hao Jian by the neck and leading him away. At that time, Su Qin pulled Heigui aside and stealthily handed him a stack of cash. "Minister Su, what are you doing?" Heigui was shocked and asked, confused. "Once we''re at the security department, you give that kid a good beating for me, and after it''s done, send him to the police station. I want him to go to jail!" Su Qin said, her face filled with hate. If she didn''t teach him a lesson, would she still be Su Qin? Heigui was secretly shocked; it is said, "A viper''s mouth carries venom, and a wasp''s tail has a sting; neither are as poisonous as a spiteful heart." "As long as you can get this done for me, I won''t let you be at a loss; this is just a down payment," Su Qin, seeing Heigui hesitating, thought he was concerned about the amount and immediately offered.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Alright, leave it to me," Heigui quickly agreed, epting the money from Su Qin, convinced that not taking advantage is for fools, and he certainly didn''t want to be one. That stack of cash was at least ten to eighteen thousand; it was enough for him and his brothers to splurge for a while, all thanks to Hao Jian. He never expected that by taking advantage of Su Qin, he had inadvertently made a fortune for them as well. Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Stop Talking, Split the Loot First! ``` Because Su Qin didn''t know that Hao Jian and Tie Shan were acquainted, she thought Tie Shan''s group had reallye to apprehend Hao Jian. The nearly ten thousand yuan deposit could only end up as a wasted effort, gone never to return. Seeing Heigui counting the money while leaving, Su Qin''s mouth curled into a vicious smile: "Hao Jian, I told you, I''d make you pay the price, and I will! Just wait to spend the rest of your life behind bars!" "Holy shit, dude, I gotta say you''re freakin'' awesome, even daring to mess with that vixen. Aren''t you afraid she''ll swallow you whole?" Inside the elevator, Tie Shan released Hao Jian, and at the same time, threw him a cigarette. Hao Jian caught the cigarette and lit it before speaking slowly, "Scared? Her eat me? Man, I could have her begging to get out of bed for days!" "How did you guys start this fight?" Tie Shan asked curiously. Then, Hao Jian repeated the events of the morning, leaving Tie Shanpletely bbergasted. "Damn, to talk to Su Qin like that, you''re the first one," said Tie Shan, giving Hao Jian a thumbs up. "Damn it, how was I supposed to know she was that Su Qin you were talking about? The moment she called, she was so arrogant¡ªanyone would be annoyed." It was Su Qin who had the bad attitude first; it had nothing to do with him. "So you publicly exposed her ws and took advantage of her, and that made her happy?" Tie Shan snickered maliciously, this bastard clearly had the upper hand yet still yed innocent. "That''s none of my concern, but I sure felt great," said Hao Jian. Then, seeing that Heigui was still facing away from them, silent, he gave him a push: "Gone mute, eh? Why so quiet?" "Stop it, I''m counting money," Heigui replied irritably, focussing on the counting. "Damn, where did you get all that money?" Tie Shan also noticed the thick stack of cash in Heigui''s hands and asked in surprise. "No shit, it was Su Qin who gave it to me. She asked me to beat Hao Jian into a cripple and deliver him to the police station. I thought, ''Why not make an easy buck?'' So I took it." Heiguiughed; he had counted it all¡ªit was exactly nine thousand yuan. "That woman is really vicious," Hao Jian cursed and then said: "Cut the crap, let''s split the spoils. Everyone here gets a share." Then, the three of them divided it equally¡ªthree thousand yuan each, pocketing it. Tie Shanughed heartily, "What do you think Su Qin''s face would look like if she knew we were in this together?" "Don''t know, but I bet it would be quite a sight." Hao Jian could almost picture Su Qin''s expression if she saw him showing up at thepany unharmed the next day¡ªshe''d probably go mad. "But what if sheins to the president and gets you fired?" Tie Shan started to worry. If that happened, Hao Jian might indeed have to hit the road. "Don''t worry, the president won''t fire me," Hao Jian said confidently. He chuckled to himself. Would that girl dare? "What makes you so sure?" both Tie Shan and Heigui were stunned. Hao Jian sighed and said: "Didn''t I tell you guys before? The president is my wife. If I say go left, she wouldn''t dare go right! If I say move forward, she wouldn''t dare step back! Would she dare fire me?" ``` Heigui and Tie Shan nced at Hao Jian, their disdain clearly visible in their eyes. "Fuck, what''s with those looks?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Why don''t we keep these nine thousand yuan and get him a psychiatrist? I suspect he''s delusional, and this can''t go on." "Fuck off, you motherfucker," Hao Jian cursed without any curiosity. "Makes sense." Heigui and Tie Shan nodded at the same time. Because the act had to beplete, they naturally had to bring Hao Jian back to the security department. But they hadn''t expected Boss Liang to also be in the security department. When he saw Hao Jian walk in, he immediately huffed in displeasure. Hao Jian acted as if he hadn''t seen him and sat down on the sofa in the security department, picked up the ancient Nokia, and started the only game avable, Snake! Seeing that Boss Liang was there, Heigui and the others didn''t dare to chat with Hao Jian and pretended to be busy with their own things, heads bowed. "Loafing around all day at thepany, do you really have that much free time? Thepany''s money isn''t for supporting useless people like you!" Boss Liang waited for a while and, realizing that Hao Jian wasn''t leaving, immediately couldn''t restrain himself and scolded. Hao Jian put down his phone, nced at Boss Liang, and spat out, "What''s it to you?" Then he carefully lowered his head to y with his phone, thinking to himself: Damn busybody, this Liang really is a pain in the ass, must he be riled up daily to feelfortable? Heigui and the others were also amused by Hao Jian''s sharp remark. "It''s your business if you loaf around, but don''t disturb my employees while they work!" Boss Liang said, his gaze intense and his face full of fury. This bastard had disrespected him time and again, and his patience had already reached its limit. "Tch," Hao Jian clicked his tongue, his face already showing impatience. He was just sitting there doing nothing, yet he was used of disturbing the work. Was this deliberately looking for trouble? "What, did I say something wrong? Aren''t you always loafing around? I heard the president assigned you to the logistics department. If you aren''t staying there like you''re supposed to, why are you wandering into my territory? Is this a ce where you should be?" Boss Liang said rudely, his eyes narrowed into slits, filled with mockery. Hao Jian didn''t speak but put the cigarette in his mouth out in the ashtray, then suddenly grabbed the ashtray and hurled it toward Boss Liang. "Bang!" The ashtray shattered against the wall, instantly breaking into pieces. Boss Liang watched Hao Jian in shock, not expecting him to suddenlysh out like that. If he hadn''t dodged quickly a moment ago, his head would probably be split open by now. Even so, a shard of ss still managed to leave a bloodstain near the corner of his eye. Tie Shan and the others were already stunned. But Hao Jian appeared nonchnt as he said: "That ''tch'' just now was a warning to you, telling you not to create problems out of nothing, but it seems youpletely misunderstood my intention. Therefore, I have to make a louder statement so you get it." Hao Jian''s expression gradually turned darker: "I know you''re at your limit with me, and simrly, my patience with you has reached its limit as well. So, right now, it''s best if neither of us speak to avoid any uncontroble oues. What do you think?" Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Im Responsible for Being as Beautiful as a Flower! At this moment, Boss Liang truly wanted toy his hands on Hao Jian and teach this arrogant guy a lesson, yet he dared not do it. The reason was simple: he had no idea about Hao Jian''s background. Having shed with Hao Jian before, although he hated to admit it, he indeed ended up on the losing side. If a conflict arose again now, Boss Liang wasn''t fully confident that he could take Hao Jian down. If he were to lose again this time, it would severely affect his prestige. Boss Liang knew this well, which was why he felt stuck between a rock and a hard ce and hadnded himself in this awkward situation. Old Zhang seemed to have sensed something at this moment and came over with a broad smile on his face: "Boss Liang, we''re all from the same department, there''s no need to be at each other''s throats. I think it''s best if we each take a step back." Taking advantage of the situation, Boss Liang snorted coldly and turned his head away. Then, Old Zhang gave Hao Jian a stern re: "Hao Jian, don''t be so hot-tempered. After all, Boss Liang is our department''s head honcho. You have to show him some respect. What are you doing acting like this?" "Yes, yes, Boss Liang, I''m sorry, it''s all my fault, everyst bit of it! The great don''t dwell on the offences of the petty, so just treat it like a fart and let it go, okay?" Though Hao Jian spoke apologetically, his face was smug. "That''s more like it..." Boss Liang nodded upon hearing Hao Jian''s apology, but then he felt that something was amiss! Dammit! What does ''treat it like a fart and let it go'' mean? This bastard is still ying me! Once Boss Liang realized this, he grinded his teeth in hatred: "You''ve got guts, kid! I''ll report this to the president, and you won''t be jumping around much longer." "Of course, I''ve got guts. Otherwise, how would you have grown so big!" With a beaming smile on his face, Hao Jian''s words nearly made Boss Liang cough up blood! Banana split! This bastard was more than just a thorn; he was a hedgehog, every sentence bristling with spikes, itching the teeth with hatred! With that, Boss Liang red coldly at Hao Jian and stormed out, mming the door behind him. Seeing Boss Liang leave with a face full of rage, Tie Shan couldn''t help but worry: "Hao Jian, he might actually go and snitch to the president. The president always listens to him. You won''t get in trouble, will you?" "What trouble could I possibly be in, don''t worry about it. The president won''t care about that fool anymore. Now that the fool''s gone, pour me a ss of Erguotou," urged Hao Jian. Boss Liang did go to find Shu Ya indeed, and he did snitch on Hao Jian, but Shu Ya just asked him to leave and said she would handle Hao Jian herself. This infuriated Boss Liang, and he imed he couldn''t understand Shu Ya''s actions. If it had been in the past, Boss Liang would never have dared to confront Shu Ya like this, but today he was indeed angered, now he and Hao Jian were in a state of absolute rivalry. At this point, Shu Ya had to employ some tactics, iming that Hao Jian was her distant cousin and that she had reluctantly taken him into thepany due to this connection. With that, Boss Liang stopped talking, but deep down, he grew even more disdainful and contemptuous of Hao Jian, who had sneaked in through the back door. Then Shu Ya angrily summoned Hao Jian to her office, but only said one phrase: "Report to the HR department this afternoon." Hao Jian was someone whopletelycked any discipline and definitely needed someone to supervise him. And Shu Ya didn''t have the leisure to do this, so naturally, the responsibility fell on her confidant, Xiao Qiang. Caught off guard, Hao Jian asked with a smile, "What, does the HR department also have a beauty who needs myfort?" Pfft! Your mom''s mii! Shu Ya was so infuriated by this shameless jerk, she very nearly spat blood!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om You fucking fought against Boss Liang in Security, went to Logistics, and shed with Su Qin! Now, who the fuck do you want to console? You''ve been in thepany for just two days, and you''ve already pissed off two department heads, switched three departments, fuck your uncle! "Don''t y pitiful there. I''ve long seen through your little tricks," Shu Ya took a few deep breaths before she managed to suppress the urge to explode: "You must report to HR today, or else, I''ll make sure you regret it!" Hao Jian knew he couldn''t refuse. Anyway, he was getting along fine with Xiao Qiang,, and that chick had big tits and a round ass, just Hao Jian''s type. "Also, this is myst warning to you. If you screw up one more time, you''ll be packing your bags and going home," Shu Ya said with a CEO''s authority, quite rudely. Hao Jian''s eyes "glinted and glimmered" wildly as he excitedly said, "What you mean is you''ll take care of me? Great, I''ll go home now, wash up, and lie on the bed waiting for you!" "Swish!" Shu Ya was writing, and when she heard that, her pen ripped right through the paper documents. She really felt like crying¡ªhow could someone be so shameless? He actually wanted to be a kept man, expecting her to support him? Is he still a man, where is a man''s dignity? "Beautiful thinking, I''m telling you to fuck off, as in you''re going to fend for yourself from now on!" Shu Ya said, annoyed. , She felt that she should see a psychologist soon because if she kept dealing with Hao Jian like this, she would definitely fall into moron depression. Hao Jian snorted, disappointed, "And here I thought you really had a good heart. Turns out I was overthinking it." "Hao Jian, are you still a man, letting a woman like me earn money to support you?" Shu Ya stared straight at Hao Jian, her gaze fierce as if she were going to devour him. "What''s wrong with that? Before bing a great director, didn''t Ang Lee live off his wife for years? And what happened to him? He became an Oscar-winning director and gloriously seeded for our country!" Hao Jian cited an example. "And do you know that while Ang Lee was living off his wife, he always did household chores so that she coulde home to hot meals, and he also studied filmmaking skills in his spare time. He seeded because of his continuous efforts. How can youpare yourself to him?" "Indeed, I''m iparable, how could he everpare to me?" Hao Jian seriously said this, then, as if amused by his own wit, burst outughing. Shu Ya just rolled her eyes at him, "True, his skin is certainly not as thick as yours." Hao Jian immediately felt displeased, "Insults don''t have to include swear words, ok?" "If there''s nothing else, get lost quickly, don''t disturb my work," Shu Ya said irritably, toozy to talk to this idiot any longer. "Wife, let''s negotiate. How about you be responsible for earning money outside, and I''ll be in charge of being beautiful at home?" Hao Jian shamelessly suggested. "Fuck off!" Shu Ya roared. . "Sister Qiang, I''m here to report for duty," Hao Jian said, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, as he appeared in Xiao Qiang''s office. "Come in." Xiao Qiang waved her hand at Hao Jian without raising her head, clearly already aware of all the situations. "Put that damn cigarette out. Smoking is not allowed in my department!" Xiao Qiang said irritably. Hao Jian smiled bitterly as he stubbed out the cigarette, "Sister Qiang, don''t you think men who smoke are profound, attractive, and flirty?" Xiao Qiang: "..." "You know, can''t you just keep it down a bit? Do you really have to go head-to-head with the CEO?" Only then did Xiao Qiang lift her head, speechless, this guy had been transferred to three different departments and lectured by the CEO numerous times in just two days. This definitely was the biggest asshole of an employee in history! Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Is Everyone Developing So Well? "It''s not that I want to go against her, it''s just that she intentionally seeks trouble with me." Experience new tales on empire Hao Jian shrugged his shoulders and then, with a cheeky grin, said to Xiao Qiang: "Sister Qiang, let me tell you a secret, I guess the president must have a crush on me. Otherwise, why would she always pick on me? s... it''s no surprise, a sexy guy like me is naturally a huge physiological threat to women!" You jerk... Xiao Qiang watched this scoundrel being self-absorbed and narcissistic in front of her, and ck lines of annoyance appeared on her forehead! After holding back for a long time, Xiao Qiang finally said with a dark face: "You really are... flirty¡­" Hao Jian: "..." "By the way, did I hear that you groped Su Qin?" Xiao Qiang was also shocked. "Don''t be so surprised, I didn''t really intend to do anything to her. It was purely because I couldn''t find anything else to wipe my face." Hao Jian exined the incident with a smile at that moment. Xiao Qiangughed, "To be able to handle Boss Liang and Su Qin like this, you really are unprecedented and unrivaled." Xiao Qiang knew all too well that it had always been Boss Liang and Su Qin who bullied others, and no one dared to bully them. But they were unlucky to have encountered Hao Jian, a guy who ys by his own rules. Xiao Qiang couldn''t helpughing at the thought of Su Qin being groped, really wanting to see what Su Qin''s expression was like at that time. "When you put it like that, I can''t really me you, why does the president target you so much?" "Isn''t that simple? On one hand, it''s because I''m too handsome, she can''t control herself! On the other hand, it''s because I have no power, no position, and I''m useless. If I were her, I''d also pick the soft persimmons to squeeze." Xiao Qiang sighed, but she knew this was the workce, so such situations were inevitable. Being in a low position meant having no rights; the president wouldn''t offend two department heads for a driver. "Don''t worry, as long as you work hard, you will definitely make something of yourself." Xiao Qiang said encouragingly, truly believing Hao Jian was being mistreated. Hao Jian then put on a pitiful act, pretending to be disheartened: "It''s not that simple. I have no background, only a silhouette! No education, only manualbor! Ah... being handsome makes me sad..." Having said that, Hao Jian let out a long sigh towards the ceiling: "It seems in thispany, I''m destined to be just a sad cup!" Seeing Hao Jian''s injured appearance, Xiao Qiang''s sympathy overflowed. She grabbed Hao Jian''s hand softly and said: "Don''t worry, I''ll protect you here in thepany." "Really?" Hao Jian was thrilled and also grabbed Xiao Qiang''s hands. With such a great opportunity, how could he, such a ''pure'' man, let it pass? "Yes, it''s true." Xiao Qiang''s face turned slightly red, trying to pull back her hand, but Hao Jian held on too tightly. "Um, Sister Qiang, can I make a small request?" Hao Jian suddenly asked, his eyes hopeful. "Yes, say it." Xiao Qiang, not realizing that this ''big bad wolf'' was plotting something sinister, naively agreed. "Can you kiss me?" Hao Jian asked. "What?" Xiao Qiang was shocked; she hadn''t expected Hao Jian to make such a shameless request. "No way!" Xiao Qiang hurriedly shook her head, her face as red as a monkey''s butt. How could she do such a thing? She had only known Hao Jian for a short while. Even though Hao Jian had really helped her out the night before, and her impression of him was changing, Xiao Qiang was essentially a very traditional person, she simply couldn''t bring herself to do such a thing. "If you don''t want to, let''s forget about it. Sigh¡­ Anyway, I''m just a loser. No girl has ever liked me from childhood to now; no one has ever kissed me. It seems my first kiss is not meant to be given away..." This jerk, ying his tricks again. "Sister Qiang, I won''t disturb you any longer, I should get busy." Hao Jian pretended to get up, preparing to leave despondently. Meanwhile, Xiao Qiang was still engaged in an intense internal struggle. Seeing Hao Jian''s despondent silhouette, she finally couldn''t help but call out: "Hold on!" Hao Jian chuckled to himself non-stop, thinking, indeed, how could a littlemb outwit a big bad wolf? Turning his head around, his expression remained sorrowful, "Why, is there something else?" "Is it possible that if I just kiss you once, you could regain your confidence?" Xiao Qiang said nervously. In her heart, she told herself that this was all just to thank Hao Jian for saving herst night, and it meant nothing more. "I think that shouldn''t be a problem." Hao Jian nodded earnestly, internally berating himself 120 times for deceiving such a kind woman. If he were to deceive, he thought he should do it a couple more times! Then, shamelessly, he leaned his face closer. Xiao Qiang clenched her fists, as if gathering all her strength, and finally mustered the courage to say: "Could you, could you close your eyes first?" With Hao Jian staring at her so intently, she really felt very shy. "Okay." Hao Jian immediately closed his eyes, not expecting this woman to be so shy. Relieved, Xiao Qiang slowly leaned her face closer. At that moment, Hao Jian also felt a fragrance wafting towards him, and Xiao Qiang''s hurried breathing reached his ears. "Hello!" Just as Hao Jian awaited his dream toe true, a voice clear as a oriole shattered it all. "Ah!" Xiao Qiang was startled, never imagining that someone would barge in at such a moment and witness such an embarrassing scene. Instantly, Xiao Qiang''s pretty face blushed scarlet, and she ran out of the office in a panic! "Did I... did I do something wrong?" a girl asked in a flustered tone, standing at the office door with an innocent expression. She was dressed youthfully and attractively in a tight pink dress that hugged her curves, at once dignified and highlighting her sexiness. Light makeup adorned her face, enhancing her already perfect features. "Sigh. You did nothing wrong; it''s this world that''s wrong!" Hao Jian, feeling like spitting blood from frustration, turned around and nced lightly at the woman: "Who are you?" This woman was definitely not from thepany, because people in thepany knew to knock before entering. "My name is Yuan Shanshan. Thepany notified me to report to HR today," Yuan Shanshan said. She had passed thepany''s interview yesterday, so she was instructed to report to HR today. But it seemed she came at an awkward time. Yuan Shanshan looked at Hao Jian with a strange expression. Had he been having an affair with that woman and she walked in on them? "You''re the head of HR?" Yuan Shanshan asked, subconsciously assuming Hao Jian was the manager because only someone with some power would have the means to exploit it. Poor Xiao Qiang naturally became the pitiful employee she thought was being exploited. "Me?" Hao Jian was initially stunned, then, recalling how this girl had spoiled his n, he suddenly felt a bit malicious:n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Yes, that''s right, I''m the head of HR. Here, have a seat and let me find your file." Hao Jian sat down naturally at the ce Xiao Qiang had been before and began searching for Yuan Shanshan''s file. Yuan Shanshan cursed her luck internally; her first day on the job and she had already encountered a lecherous manager. Thepany''s culture didn''t seem verymendable. But she chose to sit down regardless, because this job was too important for Yuan Shanshan; she needed it to support her family. Latter, Hao Jian found Yuan Shanshan''s file, which stated she was an honors student from Tsinghua University and was applying for a position in the design department. "Students from Tsinghua University, they all develop so well?" Hao Jian muttered to himself. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 is not for the average person to see! "What did you say?" Yuan Shanshan asked with furrowed brows. "Ah, nothing, I said students at Tsinghua University have such a good life...." Hao Jian replied, then began asking questions, "Name?" "Didn''t you already know it just now?" Yuan Shanshan said, her face expressing disbelief, thinking how odd this manager was. Hao Jian''s face suddenly darkened, "Listen, I''m your immediate superior now, so whatever I ask, you answer. No need for any nonsense, OK?" "Oh." Seeing Hao Jian''s serious expression, she could only nod and said earnestly: "My name is Yuan Shanshan." "Age?" "Twenty-one." "Position you''re applying for?" "Designer." "Hmm, give me your ID for registration," Hao Jian said. Yuan Shanshan obediently handed over her ID. Hao Jian nced at the ID and was shocked. On it was clearly written "Yuan Facai." Hao Jian gave Yuan Shanshan a strange look, her name is Yuan Facai? Then why would she use a fake name to deceive me? She could have been honest, what exactly is she trying to aplish by doing this? Could she be a corporate spy from anotherpany? Otherwise, why all this secrecy? "Is there something wrong?" Yuan Shanshan asked, sensing something off as well. "Nothing, let''s continue." Hao Jian quicklyposed himself, thinking he mustn''t let Yuan Shanshan see he was suspicious of her, "Do you have any special skills or something you''re particrly proud of? "Oh yes, that would be my eyes," Yuan Shanshan blinked herrge eyes: "People always say the eyes are the windows to the soul. My eyes are big and bright, my mom and friends say they sparkle like diamonds." "Really? I also have something particrly big, want to take a look?" Hao Jian chuckled mischievously. Something particrly big? Yuan Shanshan''s pretty face immediately darkened, and recalling the previous incident with Xiao Qiang, she stood up warily, grabbed her handbag, and prepared to leave. At the same time, Yuan Shanshan looked at Hao Jian with disdain: "Shameless scoundrel!" Then Yuan Shanshan mmed the door on her way out. "Scoundrel? Who''s the scoundrel? Have you ever seen a scoundrel as handsome as this?" Hao Jian shouted toward the door, then angrily flexed his arm, squeezing out a bicep: "Really, I just wanted to show you my particrly big biceps, and you''re not even grateful. I don''t usually show it to just anyone." Before long, Xiao Qiang came back! Seeing Hao Jian posing various fitness postures in her office, Xiao Qiang''s face instantly turned green: "What are you doing?" "Ah, nothing. By the way, there was someone named Yuan Shanshan who came for an interview, I feel like something''s off about her." Hao Jian said seriously, the mere fact that she hid her real name gave him sufficient reason to suspect that Yuan Shanshan had impure motives. "What''s off about her?" Xiao Qiang copsed weakly onto the sofa, her head in a whirl. As the HR manager, having been caught kissing someone by a neer, how was she supposed to face that neer again? "I suspect she''s a corporate spy!" Hao Jian lowered his voice, saying earnestly. "Ah? Why would you say that?" Xiao Qiang immediately sat up, if that was true, it would be serious, since theirpany couldn''t afford to bring in a business spy. "She told me her name was Yuan Shanshan, but actually her ID says Yuan Facai. She''s definitely up to something since she intentionally concealed her real name!" Hao Jian stated decisively. Xiao Qiang sped his forehead, his face full of speechlessness. "Why the sigh? Aren''t you nning to deal with such an important matter? Or report it to the president?" Stay connected with empire Seeing Xiao Qiang''s indifferent attitude, Hao Jian immediately became anxious, as this was rted to thepany''s interests. "Hao Jian, if my ID said Xiao Facai, I wouldn''t tell others my real name either, and I would change it," Xiao Qiang said with a tone of exasperation. ... "Shanshan, how did the interview go today?" "Don''t ask, I met a perverted manager who harassed me right from the start, really bad luck." Yuan Shanshan pulled out a chair in the restaurant and sat in front of a girl, but still looked utterly dejected. "Ah, really? That unlucky?" the girl eximed in shock. If Hao Jian were here, he would recognize instantly that this girl was the previously mentioned Little Gangster Girl¡ªChe Xiaoxiao. "Yeah, I actually liked thispany because the president is about my age, but I didn''t expect such a bad environment. It seems I''ll have to submit my resume elsewhere." Yuan Shanshan expressed her disappointment. With such a perverted boss, how could she possibly continue working there? "That severe? What exactly did that manager do to you?" Che Xiaoxiao was also curious about what had happened that made Yuan Shanshan so upset she''d give up such a rare opportunity. "That pervert started by asking me to look at ''that'' of his, can you believe how disgusting that is?" Mentioning Hao Jian only fueled Yuan Shanshan''s anger, as there should be no such person. "Wow, that is really perverted," Che Xiaoxiao eximed in shock: "Do you want me to find some thugs to teach him a lesson? I won''t let him off easily for making my good sister lose her job!" Che Xiaoxiao gestured with her small fist, looking yful and cute. But she was not joking; she was actually nning to seek revenge on Hao Jian. Although this girl was a bit odd, she was very loyal. "Forget it, it''s just a bunch of ****. Just ignore him; why even bother stepping on him?" Yuan Shanshan didn''t have the mood, as it was just a job, and she could continue to look for another one. "Well, then, he''s lucky," Che Xiaoxiao snorted and then said: "Let''s order something; I''m starving to death." "Alright, alright." Yuan Shanshan nced at Che Xiaoxiao with annoyance butughed helplessly. She knew Che Xiaoxiao was quirky and funny, besides being a food lover. In her life, only three things mattered: money, traffic, and food. Also, ying the fool a bit! Soon, the food was served.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Che Xiaoxiao ate heartily, her mouth stuffed full, and mumbled unclearly: "So what are you going to do next, finding a job is not easy nowadays, especially those bigpanies, all require work experience. Companies like this one that don''t require experience are rare!" "After all, you still have a sick mother and a disabled brother at home, you need a lot of medical expenses, if you can''t find a high-paying job, your mom might just have to move out of the hospital," Che Xiaoxiao said. With those words, Yuan Shanshan''s smile instantly vanished, reced by a heavy gloom. Yes, she also had a disabled brother to support, and her mom was currently in the hospital. It was almost time to pay the hospital bills, but they had no savings left! If she didn''t figure something out soon, her mom would be evicted from the hospital. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 National Secrets, No Visitors Allowed! Yuan Shanshan put down her chopsticks, instantly losing her appetite. For a girl of only twenty to bear so much, one could imagine the torment inside her heart. But she had no choice, because she wasn''t cold-hearted enough to abandon the burdens seen by others. Her family. "I''m sorry, Shanshan, I shouldn''t have brought it up at this time." Seeing that Yuan Shanshan wasn''t eating, Che Xiaoxiao also felt sorry, thinking she should have waited until after the meal to speak. Yuan Shanshan smiled bitterly and shook her head, "No, you just snapped me out of it, now is not the time to rx." Then, Yuan Shanshan sighed, "Maybe I should have endured it earlier, so I could have kept my job and had money." "Don''t say that, you were dealing with a perverted boss. What if he had made even more oundish demands if you stayed there? I couldn''t stand for that." What Che Xiaoxiao feared most was that Yuan Shanshan, due to financial distress, might be led astray. Yuan Shanshan thought about it, but suddenly, a figure passed in front of her. When Yuan Shanshan saw the figure, she was first taken aback, then her pretty face instantly soured, her eyebrows furrowed deeply, exuding intense disgust! "What''s wrong?" Che Xiaoxiao, seeing Yuan Shanshan''s strange expression, asked confusedly. "It''s that pervert!" Yuan Shanshan pointed at the figure, and Che Xiaoxiao also looked over in astonishment. Because he had missed thepany''s lunch time for reporting to the HR department, Hao Jian had to find something to eat on his own. And unfortunately, he came to this restaurant and just happened to run into Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao. Che Xiaoxiao looked at Hao Jian''s back and frowned, wondering why this man looked so familiar. "Hey, pretty girl, you look pretty sharp. Wanna join me for a spin to the river in my car?" Hao Jian leaned on the diner''s counter flirting with the waitress there. "Sir, if you''re not ordering then please step aside and don''t obstruct other customers." The waitress said expressionlessly. "Sure you don''t want to? My car is an Aston Martin," Hao Jian wiggled his eyebrows and said with a cheesy grin. "Really?" The waitress''s expression finally changed, her eyes lit up and even gleamed with a greedy shine, full of anticipation. An Aston Martin? This guy''s loaded! Hao Jianughed haughtily, and then his face turned grim, "Fake, give me a dry-fried beef hor fun." "Jerk," the waitress muttered. But Hao Jian ignored her and walked away with a sleazy smile. Sometimes, people just have to find fun in the little things in life. "He really is a creep, hitting on the waitress just like that." Che Xiaoxiao also said angrily. Indeed, Yuan Shanshan was right, this manager truly was a perverted lecher. "Exactly, just my luck to run into such scum while trying to have a meal." Yuan Shanshan cursed internally about her bad luck. Just then, Hao Jian turned around and, seeing Hao Jian''s real face, Che Xiaoxiao suddenly froze. "Uncle¡­?" "What, you know him?" Yuan Shanshan was also surprised, Che Xiaoxiao actually knew this pervert? Che Xiaoxiao nodded, then waved to Hao Jian, "Uncle, over here!" Upon hearing this, Hao Jian looked over and saw Che Xiaoxiao, immediately took a few steps forward, his sleazy smirk growing thicker: "I am big, don''t call me uncle!" However, when Hao Jian saw Che Xiaoxiao next to Yuan Shanshan, his face immediately darkened, and he turned around and walked away. Clearly, he was still holding a grudge against Yuan Shanshan for ruining his good opportunity. "Uncle, why did you leave?" Che Xiaoxiao suddenly cried out. "I think he''s guilty of something."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Yuan Shanshan chuckled coldly, thinking this pervert must feel like he can''t face her after what he did. "Guilty of something?" As soon as Hao Jian heard this, he immediately became displeased. Even if I felt guilty, what does it have to do with you, huh? Do I need your permission to kiss someone else? Clearly, Hao Jian thought Yuan Shanshan was referring to his interaction with Xiao Qiang. Hao Jian turned around and came back, plopping down right in front of Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao: "So tell me, why should I feel guilty?" "You still ask?" Yuan Shanshan''s face turned red with annoyance. "Why can''t I ask? I haven''t even med you for barging in," Hao Jian replied, dissatisfied. "Just because I identally barged in, you had to do that to me? Show me your ''especially big'' thing?" Yuan Shanshan scoffed. "I showed you because I thought we clicked, I don''t show it to just anyone," Hao Jian muttered. It was just showing his biceps, was it that exaggerated? How did it turn into molestation? "Uncle, you have weird tastes," Che Xiaoxiao couldn''t help but mutter under her breath with a twist of her lips. Clicked? He must think she''s pretty! Is this guy really a pervert? The moment he sees a pretty girl, he shows her his ''especially big'' thing. And I thought he was special. "Who wants to see your¡­ disgusting thing!" Yuan Shanshan, furious and embarrassed, couldn''t believe this pervert dared to mention such disgusting things in front of them. "How is it disgusting? Do you know how long I trained to make it as hard as steel? You might choose not to look, but you cannot insult me!" Hao Jian shouted angrily. "Uncle, that thing can be trained?" Che Xiaoxiao asked with a weird expression, hearing such a thing for the first time. "Of course it can. Do you want to learn? I can teach you." "What? Uncle, I''m a girl, I don''t have that thing!" Che Xiaoxiao said, caught betweenughter and tears, wondering how a girl could train that. "It doesn''t matter if you don''t have one, train and you''ll get one!" Hao Jian said with augh. Hearing this, both Che Xiaoxiao and Yuan Shanshan had ck lines on their foreheads! Is that even something you can train to get? What? "Xiaoxiao, let''s not talk to this pervert anymore. Let''s go." Yuan Shanshan now just wanted to leave the ce, unwilling to nce at Hao Jian again as it made her feel nauseous. Yuan Shanshan grabbed Che Xiaoxiao and walked away. "Pfft, it was just a bicep," Hao Jian muttered. Yuan Shanshan''s body stiffened instantly, and she turned her head to look at Hao Jian: "What did you just say?" "Say what?" "What did you just say you wanted to show me?" Yuan Shanshan suddenly realized something. "My biceps." "You meant your ''especially big'' thing was your biceps?" Yuan Shanshan''s expression was as rich as it could be. "What else?" Hao Jian snorted coldly, and said, "You wanted to see the other big things on me? I wouldn''t allow that! That''s national secrets, no visitors allowed!" Chapter 47 Chapter 47 You Really Have No Shame! Yuan Shanshan felt a surge of frustration, marked by a figurative ck line over her head. But this also meant that she had indeed misunderstood Hao Jian¡ªwho would have thought he meant that? He wasn''t clear at all at the beginning. There''s a ce that''s really big¡ªwouldn''t most people think of that first? "I knew it, uncle doesn''t look like that kind of person." Che Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief; she actually had a not-so-bad impression of Hao Jian, mainly because he seemed crazier than her and was rather nonchnt towards her, which made her quite concerned. That''s because Hao Jian had no interest in little lolitas; he was into busty, rounded-hip ''onee-sans'' and mature women. "What kind of person?" Hao Jian wore a face full of confusion; he had no idea about what Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao were discussing before he arrived. "Nothing, can I go back to work now?" Yuan Shanshan quickly waved her hand, how could she dare tell Hao Jian about the previous conversation? The misunderstanding was clear now; this director wasn''t a pervert. However, the director was quite the joker¡ª who shows off their biceps to employees upon first meeting? That''s not how you show off, right? "Your employment procedures have beenpleted, and you will start working in the design department tomorrow. Here is your work badge," Hao Jian said, handing a badge to Yuan Shanshan. "You''re not angry? The way I insulted you before?" Yuan Shanshan said, somewhat embarrassed. Hao Jian had even prepared her work badge, yet she had insulted him like that before¡ªit was totally inappropriate. "Speaking of which, I want to ask why you called me shameless?" Hao Jian was utterly baffled, as he hadn''t said anything offensive. "Um, because you are indeed shameless..." Che Xiaoxiao seriously told Hao Jian. Hao Jian: "..." . "Nurse, could you give me a bit more time? I have found a job now and will get my sry next month. I promise I''ll pay all the outstanding medical fees then," Yuan Shanshan pleaded with a nurse in the hospital. She wanted to share the good news about her new job with her mother, but as soon as she entered, she was stopped by the nurse in charge of her mother. "You''ve been dying for a week already. I really can''t help you any further. If you don''t pay the hospitalization fee now, I will have no choice but to ask your mother to leave the hospital," the nurse said helplessly. "Is there really no way to make an exception?" Yuan Shanshan begged. The nurse shook her head, "No, there isn''t. I know your family is in a difficult situation, but it''s the hospital''s policy. I''m just a nurse; I can''t make these decisions." "Alright, I''m sorry, I was being too presumptuous." Yuan Shanshan lowered her head in defeat, a slight glimmer of tears in her eyes. Her mother was suffering from a severe heart condition; if she were to leave the hospital, she could pass away at any moment during another attack. Seeing her like this, the nurse also found it hard to bear and sighed, "Here, I''ll dy for another three days for you, but it''s only three days. Hurry up and arrange the money. If you still can''t pay the hospitalization fees by that time, then I won''t be able to help you." "Thank you, thank you so much nurse," Yuan Shanshan said tearfully and gratefully. The nurse waved it off: "Go see the olddy. She''s been missing you a lottely, always talking about you." "Okay." Yuan Shanshan cried with joy, but quickly wiped away her tears and walked toward her mother''s hospital room. At the entrance to the room, she took a deep breath and a radiant smile squeezed its way onto her exhausted face as she pushed the door open and walked in. "Mom, I''m here to see you." In the roomy an olddy with white hair, but herplexion was as pale as paper, clearly looking unwell. Next to the hospital bed sat a skinny young man holding a crutch, one leg of his pants empty and dangling, revealing his disability. These were Yuan Shanshan''s mother and younger brother. Seeing Yuan Shanshan, the olddy was obviously happy, but frowning upon seeing Yuan Shanshan''splexion, she muttered two words: "Thinner." Hearing this, Yuan Shanshan felt a bitter urge to cry but held it back and approached: "Mom, are you feeling any better?" "Yes, the doctor said my condition is stable, there''s no need to worry. Didn''t I tell you not toe if you''re busy?" The olddy chided gently, missing her daughter yet not wanting her to visit. "Mom, I''ve found a job, it''s with a bigpany, I earn four thousand during the trial period, we won''t have to suffer anymore," Yuan Shanshan said, holding the olddy''s hand. "Really? I knew our Shanshan would make something of herself," the olddy said, beaming with joy. "So Mom, don''t worry about money, just focus on getting better," Yuan Shanshan said encouragingly, choosing to tell a white lie at that moment. Then, looking at her brother beside her, Yuan Shanshan asked curiously, "Today''s Monday, shouldn''t you be in school?" At her words, Yuan Zhibang''s gaze flickered and he said, "The school''s closed today for renovations, so there weren''t any sses." Yuan Shanshan''s brows knitted slightly in suspicion, but she pushed the thought aside. After chatting with the olddy for a few hours, Yuan Shanshan got up to leave. But Yuan Zhibang stood up at once, leaning on his crutch, he limped out after her, taking care to close the hospital room door behind him!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Outside the hospital room, Yuan Zhibang then said to Yuan Shanshan, "Sis, I don''t want to study anymore, I want to find a job and contribute to the family expenses." Yuan Shanshan''s face darkened at once, "What nonsense are you talking? You''re in your final year of high school now, once you''re in university there will be plenty of time to work part-time. Why the rush? Your future is at stake, absolutely not!" Yuan Shanshan also knew, with her brother''s condition, who would offer him a job? "But aren''t we almost unable to afford the medical bills?" Yuan Zhibang said, hanging his head with tears shimmering in his determined eyes, avoiding Yuan Shanshan''s gaze. Yuan Shanshan''s expression froze, at a loss for words. "Don''t try to hide it from me, the nurse has already spoken to me." Obviously, Yuan Zhibang knew everything. Yuan Shanshan offered a smile and then gave her brother a big hug: "Little brother, trust me! Money isn''t a problem, I''ll figure something out. All you need to do is focus on your studies, don''t forget, you are the future pir of our family." "Sis... you''ve sacrificed too much for this family... I just don''t want you to work so hard," Yuan Zhibang cried, overwhelmed by all his sister had done for their family. Although she never mentioned it, Yuan Zhibang knew that after their father died, his sister would scavenge and sell scrap whenever she got the chance, all to earn a little money. She never had a new piece of clothing all year round; to pay for his schooling, she worked multiple jobs while in university, slept only four hours a day, and still attended sses. Yuan Zhibang was moved yet consumed with guilt. Chapter 48 Im Here to Borrow Some... "Fool, if that''s the case, you should be studying hard, right? Only then can you make something of yourself and lighten your sister''s family burdens. Otherwise, if you achieve nothing in life, I''ll have to take care of you instead," Yuan Shanshan said with a gentleugh. Just the fact that her younger brother cared about her moved her deeply; that alone made her feel that all her sacrifices were worthwhile. "But..." Yuan Zhibang wanted to say something, but Yuan Shanshan suddenly covered his mouth: "Alright now, don''t overthink it. Just focus on going to school, and leave the money worries to your sister to solve. No need to worry." "Okay," Yuan Zhibang could only agree. It seemed there was no other way, and he couldn''t waste his sister''s hard work. "Here''s two hundred bucks. I haven''t received my sry yet, so I can''t give you much. Take it for now and remember to spend it carefully," Yuan Shanshan took out two hundred yuan and said to Yuan Zhibang. In fact, after giving Yuan Zhibang two hundred yuan, her own wallet was left with only a hundred yuan. But Yuan Shanshan felt she could endure it, as she didn''t spend much normally. Thepany provided meal money, and she only had to pay for bus fare at most. "I don''t want it," Yuan Zhibang said quickly, shaking his head. Yuan Shanshan had already given them so much; how could he dare to take her money? "Take it if I tell you to take it," Yuan Shanshan stuffed the money into Yuan Zhibang''s arms. "I still have some money on me, so don''t worry." Yuan Shanshan knew Yuan Zhibang was worried she would be left with no money after giving money to him. "Well, okay then," Yuan Zhibang epted the money reluctantly. "I need to go now; you should hurry back to school," Yuan Shanshan instructed before hobbling away. After leaving the hospital, Yuan Shanshan stood at the bus stop. The smile vanished from her face, reced quickly with a look of distress. The hospital bills for the past month totaled over five thousand yuan, yet she had only a hundred yuan on her. There was no solution other than borrowing money. After some thought, Yuan Shanshan decided to call Che Xiaoxiao, only to hear loud noise on the other end and asked curiously: "Xiaoxiao, where are you? Why is it so noisy?" "Me? I''m at the auto repair shop," Che Xiaoxiao giggled mischievously: "Let me tell you, I''m getting a new heart for my love drive. It cost me tens of thousands, now I''m broke, but it''s worth it. My love drive can elerate to three hundred kilometers per hour now, cool, huh?" Che Xiaoxiao''s obsessions were clear, with cars at the top, followed by money and food. "Cool, pretty cool," Yuan Shanshan replied with a forcedugh, having intended to ask Che Xiaoxiao for a loan. But it seemed impossible now. After all, Che Xiaoxiao herself had said she had spent all her money. "By the way, Shanshan, what do you want, calling me like this? Do you want to treat me to a meal?" Che Xiaoxiao, unaware of what had happened, joked. "It''s nothing, the thing is, Xiaoxiao, I''m busy now, gotta hang up." Yuan Shanshan quickly hung up the phone, but her expression became even more despondent. If even Che Xiaoxiao didn''t have any money, she really didn''t know who else to turn to. On the other end, Che Xiaoxiao was bewildered, muttering, "What was that about." Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire Yuan Shanshan had suddenly called, asked where she was, and then abruptly hung up. What did that mean? The next day, Yuan Shanshan showed up at work as expected. She busied herself with work all morning but was clearly distracted. It wasn''t until noon that she finally made up her mind to go to the HR department. But as soon as she got to HR, she saw Hao Jian flirting with a female colleague. "Little sister, let me read your palm. My nickname is Race Half-Immortal. Beforeing to thispany, I made a living by fortune-telling," he boasted. "Really? Are you that good?" The female colleague was quite naive and believed him immediately. "Of course, let me have a look for you, and you''ll know about your past and future," Hao Jian said with a wink and a nudge. "Then help me have a look." The girl handed over her hand. "What do you want to ask about?" Hao Jian inquired. "Let''s talk about love. I don''t have a boyfriend right now, and my family keeps pushing me," the girl exined. "Alright, let me have a look for you, huh." Hao Jian pretended to read her palm, but he kept touching it here and there¡ªhey! You wouldn''t believe it, but this chick''s hand was really smooth. "Are you done touching, or what? Did you see anything?" The girl felt something was amiss. "Oh, I''m done. Your palm is good, it says you''ll encounter some peach blossom luck in the near future, and the guy will be very handsome," Hao Jian bluffed. "Ah, you can tell all that?" The girl expressed her astonishment.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Of course, I''m Race Half-Immortal," Hao Jian said, patting his shoulder with pride. "Then tell me more about him, what''s he like?" Hao Jian was naturally willing to continue. While touching the girl''s hand, he said: "Hmm. I''ve figured it out, it''s clear. Besides being handsome, he''s also humorous, and he''s right here in thispany. He has thick eyebrows, big eyes, a buzz cut, is about six feet tall, and he''s wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans today. If you use this description as your standard, you''ll find him no problem." "The person you''re describing... isn''t that just you?" The girl nced at Hao Jian and felt a surge of frustration. Hao Jian was clearly talking about himself¡ªhe was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans that day, and he also had a buzz cut. "Eh, me? It turns out to be me?" Hao Jian immediately feigned a surprised expression and deliberately checked his own outfit. Afterward, Hao Jian sighed resignedly: "Ah, who would have thought that your destined one would be me? This is unexpected yet totally makes sense! Perhaps, only a suave and debonair man like me is worthy of your unparalleled beauty! How about we go to a hotel after work, and I give you the most precious thing in my body!" "Get lost," the girl cursed irritably, and then stopped paying attention to Hao Jian, turning to leave. She was furious, having realized that Hao Jian had been teasing her. "Hey, you don''t believe me? But I am Race Half-Immortal!" Hao Jian shouted after the girl. The girl didn''t turn around but responded by flipping a middle finger. "Tch, whatever," Hao Jian felt disappointed. However, as he turned around, he saw Yuan Shanshan standing not far from him. "What are you doing here?" Hao Jian asked, puzzled. "I, I came to find you," Yuan Shanshan said, looking down with embarrassment. After all, she had only known Hao Jian for a day, but here she was looking to borrow money from him. "Looking for me? What for?" Hao Jian was particrly baffled, and suddenly gasped in surprise: "You, you couldn''t have fallen for me, could you? Let me tell you, there''s no chance, I''m spoken for." You''re spoken for? My ass... Yuan Shanshan rolled her eyes, holding back theughter on her face, then finally said: "No, that''s not it... Actually, I came to borrow some..." Chapter 49 Because I am an Orphan! "Borrow what?" Hao Jian was startled and couldn''t help thinking slyly: Could this girl, seeing how handsome and charming I am, want to borrow the most precious thing within my body? But Yuan Shanshan had no idea about Hao Jian''s indecent thoughts; her pretty face blushing, she said: "I... I want to borrow some money from you." After she spoke these words, Yuan Shanshan''s hands tightly grasped the hem of her clothes because she had never borrowed money from anyone before, and she felt very ashamed. Yuan Shanshan was a very proud person, and she never asked for help from anyone, and this was the first time in history. Hearing this, Hao Jian frowned slightly, surprised by her request since he had known Yuan Shanshan for only one day. It was indeed a bit abrupt for her to ask him for money. Seeing Hao Jian frown, Yuan Shanshan felt so ashamed she was almost about to cry, thinking that his frowning meant he disagreed. Indeed, after all, she had known him for less than a day, why should he lend her money? Yuan Shanshan also didn''t know how Hao Jian would view her afterward. "I''m sorry, it was presumptuous of me, I disturbed you, goodbye!" Yuan Shanshan gave Hao Jian a deep bow and then turned and ran away, wanting nothing but to find a hole to crawl into. "Wait!" Hao Jian suddenly called out loudly, stopping Yuan Shanshan from leaving. Yuan Shanshan''s body stiffened, and she awkwardly turned back, "Is there something else?" "Can I ask what it''s for?" Hao Jian asked. He was not unwilling to lend Yuan Shanshan money, but before lending, he wanted to know what she needed it for. If it was for buying luxury handbags or something, Hao Jian certainly wouldn''t lend it to her. Yuan Shanshan lowered her head and said softly, "My mom is in the hospital and now I need to pay the hospital fees, but I don''t have the money." "What about your father?" Hao Jian asked. If she didn''t have the money, surely her father did. Explore stories on empire "He has already died," Yuan Shanshan said with a disconste expression. "¡­" Hao Jian hesitated for a moment, then asked, "How much do you need?" "You''re willing to lend me the money?" Yuan Shanshan was taken aback; she really hadn''t expected Hao Jian to actually consider lending her the money. "It''s hard for me to refuse a request from a beauty!" Hao Jian said with a smile. He saw that Yuan Shanshan was not the type of girl who would casually ask people for money; she must be truly in trouble to have taken this step. And Hao Jian chose to believe what Yuan Shanshan said. Since she was indeed in trouble, helping her wouldn''t be a problem, especially since he currently had two million in his ount. "But we''ve only known each other for one day," Yuan Shanshan said in shock, having already prepared herself for a likely failure and considering failure highly probable. If it were her, she would not lend money to a stranger she had only met for one day either. "Then you can wait for me to have known you for one hundred and fifty days before asking me, assuming by then your mom is still alive," Hao Jian said with a quirky smile. However, Yuan Shanshan could only give a bitter smile, thinking that by then, it would all be toote... "Everyone faces difficult times, but who knows when they wille? I''m willing to help you, so tell me how much you need," he said. "I need five thousand, five thousand will do," Yuan Shanshan said, not daring to ask for more, just the five thousand for the hospital fees; she was already very grateful that Hao Jian was willing to lend her the money. "I don''t have that much money on me right now, I''ll withdraw itter, and I''ll bring the money to you this afternoon," Hao Jian said with a smile. "Thank you, thank you so much." Yuan Shanshan''s expression was somewhat excited, Hao Jian''s kind act was like lighting a brightmp on her dim path! Providing help during hardships always beats adding decorations to something already perfect. Yuan Shanshan had nowhere to turn, and in this situation, Hao Jian chose to help her, filling her with gratitude. Hao Jian waved his hand, indicating there was no need for thanks: "Just go to work properly, I''lle to see youter." "Mm," Yuan Shanshan agreed, bowing repeatedly to Hao Jian. Watching Yuan Shanshan''s retreating figure, Hao Jian also fell into deep thought. Soon after, Hao Jian realized he had to do something and went to the president''s office to find Shu Ya. "Haven''t I told you not to keep running here if there''s nothing important?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Shu Ya said somewhat angrily, hinting that frequent visits by Hao Jian might arouse suspicion. "Wife, I want to discuss something with you," Hao Jian said as he plopped down in front of Shu Ya. "What is it?" Shu Ya asked, holding back her irritation. "Do you know about a new employee named Yuan Shanshan?" "I do, a quite exceptional staff member, what about her?" Shu Ya frowned; she had reviewed Yuan Shanshan''s information and was very satisfied with her. However, she did not know why Hao Jian suddenly brought her up, worrying he might have taken an interest in her. "It seems her family is facing some difficulties. She said her mother was hospitalized with heart disease and she came to borrow money from me today. Do you know if thepany has any sort of relief fund?" "You think this is a school? A relief fund? How could thepany have such a thing?" Shu Ya rolled her eyes and added: "Could she be deceiving you?" "She shouldn''t be, she was almost crying when she asked me for money," Hao Jian shook his head, assured that Yuan Shanshan would not deceive her. "Since that''s the case, I''ll just start a fundraiser for her in thepany," Shu Ya said. That was the only solution, as there was no relief fund in thepany and it wasn''t possible to set such a precedent just for Yuan Shanshan. "Maybe not, that way, she might be looked down upon by colleagues in the future." Hao Jian was thinking thoroughly; Yuan Shanshan was such a proud person, and going ahead with this might mean she wouldn''t be able to continue working at thepany in the future. "Then what do you suggest?" Shu Ya was getting impatient, noticing that Hao Jian was more concerned about another woman than her. "What about a pay raise or something?" "Impossible, I can''t break thepany''s rules just because I pity her. Otherwise, if everyone could get a raise whenever something happens at home, how could thepany function?" Shu Ya immediately shook her head in refusal. "That''s true," Hao Jian sighed in resignation, realizing he had indeed thought too much. "I can switch her probation period from three months to one month, that''s all I can do," Shu Ya said, knowing that once the probation was over, Yuan Shanshan''s sry would increase as well. "That should work," Hao Jian acknowledged, aware that this was the furthest Shu Ya was willing topromise. He stood up to leave, but Shu Ya called him back: "Tell me, why are you so concerned about a woman you''ve known for just one day? Are you really that benevolent?" Hao Jian did not turn back but took a deep drag on his cigarette: "Because I''m an orphan, I know the pain of being an orphan, so I don''t want to see anyone else be one like me." After saying this, Hao Jian pushed the door and walked out, leaving Shu Ya staring nkly in a daze. Chapter 50 Inspiration Comes from Life! Hao Jian withdrew a stack of money from the ATM, then walked back smoking a cigarette, but the look on his face was covered with gloom. Because he was an orphan, he didn''t want to see Yuan Shanshan be one as well! "Parents, huh." Hao Jian muttered to himself, then burst into heartyughter. Passersby on the road thought they had seen a madman and kept their distance. Hao Jian went to find Yuan Shanshan after she got off work because he was worried that if he barged into her department and gave her money, it might lead to misunderstandings among her colleagues. So he deliberately waited until everyone had left before entering the department. From afar, Hao Jian could see Yuan Shanshan busying herself, her expression focused and serious! As the saying goes, a man who strives is the most charming, but this also applies equally to women. Hao Jian ced the milk tea he bought in front of Yuan Shanshan, which finally snapped her out of her concentration. "You''re here?" Yuan Shanshan said somewhat shyly; she naturally knew why Hao Jian was there. "Tired from working? Have something to drink first." Hao Jian ced the milk tea in front of Yuan Shanshan. Yuan Shanshan nced at the milk tea and couldn''t help but swallow salivatingly. Because of her family''s poverty, Yuan Shanshan had seldom drunk such things since she was little, mainly because she couldn''t bear the expense. There was a time when every cent had to be carefully ounted for. Seeing Yuan Shanshan like this, Hao Jian also gave a bitter smile, realizing that she must have suffered quite a bit in her childhood. When Yuan Shanshan saw Hao Jian looking at her, her face grew a bit flushed. "Drink it while it''s still cold." Hao Jian changed the subject. "Okay." Yuan Shanshan obediently responded, then picked up the milk tea and began drinking. At that moment, Hao Jian also ced the already prepared banknotes in front of Yuan Shanshan. "Eight thousand? Why is there so much more?" Yuan Shanshan looked at Hao Jian in astonishment. When she checked the thickness of the money, she realized it was not right and counted it, discovering an extra three thousand. "If I''m not mistaken, you don''t have much money left on you, right?" Hao Jian could tell at a nce. He guessed that perhaps Yuan Shanshan had only taken enough for medical expenses and had not kept much for herself, so he had thoughtfully prepared an extra three thousand yuan. "I, I still have some." Yuan Shanshan quickly counted the three thousand yuan and tried to give it back. "All right then, show me your wallet." Hao Jian said with a smile. "What?" Yuan Shanshan hadn''t expected Hao Jian to make such a request. If she really took her wallet out, wouldn''t it give her away? "Take it; you can pay me back when you get your sry. How can a girl have no money on her?" Hao Jian said with a smile; surely enough, Yuan Shanshan was out of cash. "This¡­" Yuan Shanshan was filled with both gratitude and anxiety about Hao Jian''s caring gesture, and so she hesitated. "Stop dithering, will you? I''m not giving it to you; it''s a loan, you have to pay it back." Hao Jian said impatiently. "Alright, I will definitely pay you back." Yuan Shanshan nodded earnestly. "What are you working on?" Hao Jian asked curiously; he had seen Yuan Shanshan frowning before he came in. "Thepany asked me to design a ring and demanded an answer within a week, but right now, I don''t have any ideas at all." Yuan Shanshan said, troubled. Since she was a new designer, thepany needed to test her skills. Shu Ya''spany was a national chain with centuries of historical heritage, specializing in crafting luxurious diamond jewelry¡ªone of the top brands in China with significant influence. "What do you think?" Hao Jian wanted to offer Yuan Shanshan advice, but he first wanted to hear her thoughts. "I was thinking of designing a pair of couple rings, but there are just too many of them out there. If I design couple rings, too, I might just be following a clich¨¦. Besides, I''ve never been in a rtionship, Ick experience, and naturally, inspiration. So now, I can only start with designing men''s and women''s rings separately," Shanshan replied, sharing her idea to design a single ring. "That''s a good idea, but you need to be clear about your concept and elements," Hao Jian said. "Concept and elements?" Upon hearing this, Shanshan bowed her head somewhat dejectedly: "Right now, I don''t even know what concept and elements I want." "Inspirationes from life, don''t you know?" Hao Jian said with a yful smile: "Seeing how you take care of your mother, it''s clear you''re very filial. Have you considered designing a ring for your own mother?" That one sentence suddenly made Yuan Shanshan freeze. She indeed hadn''t thought about designing a ring for her mother. Shanshan thought to herself: Right, why haven''t I considered designing a ring for Mom? It could be said that Hao Jian''s words gave Yuan Shanshan tremendous inspiration. "Hao Jian, who would have thought that although you''re a driver, you have quite a talent. Maybe you should switch careers and be a designer," said Yuan Shanshan, who hadpletely revised her opinion of him. This guy was definitely not ordinary. After all, Hao Jian had experience abroad and was well-travelled, so his perspective was naturally different. He spotted the key point at a nce. "Don''t tease me. I''m just a rough person. Giving suggestions is one thing, but I really couldn''t do the hands-on work," he said, waving his hand to signal his limitations, and then continued to offer advice to Yuan Shanshan: "Since it''s a ring for a mother, it must break the mold; you can''t use diamonds or anything shy and impractical. The older generation doesn''t fancy that." "Then what should I use?" Yuan Shanshan was stumped. "Gold, of course. Do you even have to ask?" Hao Jian said with a look of feigned disappointment. Yuan Shanshan pped her forehead in realization. Right, the elderly loved to wear gold. They tended to be indifferent to diamonds. "But if I use gold, wouldn''t that be too tacky? I''m worried thepany won''t approve it," Yuan Shanshan said, her concerns surfacing again. Herpany crafted top-tier jewelry, and "gold" was something that just didn''t make the cut there. She was worried it wouldn''t pass. "To thepany, it certainly might seem tacky. But to the customers, that''s not necessarily the case, especially when your target market is mothers. To them, receiving anything from their children is satisfying¡ªthey care more about the sentiment than the appearance." "Besides, because everyone else is afraid to do it and you do it, that''s innovation. Or are you saying you''re afraid to challenge yourself?" "Okay, let''s do it!" Yuan Shanshan said excitedly, immediately grabbing her pen and prepared to start. Just at that moment, a small head peeked into the office door! "Is anyone there?" "Xiaoxiao, what are you doing here?" Yuan Shanshan was surprised to see her close friend Che Xiaoxiao enter.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Ah! Uncle, so you''re here too!" Che Xiaoxiao hopped in and, with a look of yful reproach on her face, said to Yuan Shanshan: Read new chapters at empire "That''s all your fault, you know. You just called me out of the blue, then hung up in such a hurry. I wondered if something had happened to you, so I came to check on you at yourpany." Che Xiaoxiaoined, but upon seeing Yuan Shanshan''s happy expression, she felt relieved. Chapter 51 Your Business is My Business! "I''m sorry, Xiaoxiao, there isn''t actually a big problem. It''s just that my mom needs money for medical expenses, so I wanted to borrow five thousand yuan from you. But it''s not needed anymore; I''ve already borrowed the money," Yuan Shanshan exined, also feeling guilty for having worried Che Xiaoxiao. "You got it? Who did you borrow it from?" Che Xiaoxiao asked curiously, as Yuan Shanshan only had her as a friend. "It was Hao Jian; thankfully, he lent me the money," she said. "Uncle? Why did you lend money to Shanshan? You''re not up to something sneaky, are you?" Che Xiaoxiao looked at Yuan Shanshan somewhat suspiciously as she spoke: "Shanshan, you better be careful, he''s quite the sleazy uncle, with nothing but lust on his mind!" "Bullshit," Hao Jian scolded irritably, this girl really couldn''t say anything nice. "Xiaoxiao, don''t talk nonsense. Hao Jian only pitied me," Yuan Shanshan hurriedly exined for Hao Jian. She could tell Hao Jian wasn''t a bad person, because when he looked at her, there was no lechery in his eyes. Not only had Hao Jian lent her money, but he had also inspired her at work. Yuan Shanshan couldn''t express how grateful she was to him now. "Alright then, thank you, Uncle," Che Xiaoxiao said, ncing at Hao Jian. "By the way, Shanshan,e with me to watch the races at the top of Qiuyun Mountain tonight. I''ve just upgraded my Little Bumblebee with a powerful new engine. I''ll take you for a spin tonight, how about that?" Che Xiaoxiao couldn''t wait to show off her car. "Sure, I''m free tonight anyway." Yuan Shanshan nodded. Now that her problem was resolved, her smile was brighter. "Uncle, why don''t youe with us?" Che Xiaoxiao suggested. She had a reason for inviting Hao Jian; she was worried she might run into people she disliked at the mountain, and although she loved cars, she knew her driving skills were mediocre. But with Hao Jian there, it would be different, as she had seen his capabilities firsthand. With him present, Che Xiaoxiao would feel much more confident. Yuan Shanshan also looked at Hao Jian full of anticipation and hoped he would join them. But who knew Hao Jian would just turn his head and bluntly say, "No interest." After speaking, he directly walked away. He''d done what he needed to and still had to pick up Shu Yater; he did not have time to indulge Che Xiaoxiao''s whims. He''d once failed to pick up Shu Ya, and she almost went crazy; if it happened again, Hao Jian had no doubts she would tear him apart. Hearing this, Che Xiaoxiao was immediately anxious and grabbed Hao Jian, shaking his arm while pressing her small chest against him, cooing: "Uncle, juste with us. Watching the races is so much fun, and you can also see beautiful girls there." "Not going! Your tricks won''t work! Besides, I have to take the CEO home!" Hao Jian tly refused. "Why do you have to take the CEO home, doesn''t she have her own personal driver?" Yuan Shanshan asked, puzzled. "I am her driver." "What? But you told us you were a manager," Che Xiaoxiao was stunned. "I was just teasing you; I am actually just a driver," Hao Jian admitted openly, reasoning that since he was friends with Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao, he shouldn''t keep lying to them. "I don''t care, you''re definitelying with me tonight," Che Xiaoxiao firmly stated, leaving no room for Hao Jian to refuse. "On what basis?" Hao Jian was also angry, was Che Xiaoxiao truly trying to force him to go? "If you don''t go, I''m doomed," Che Xiaoxiao''s expression changed as she looked at Hao Jian with tear-filled eyes: "Actually, tonight I''ve already bet someone to race once, and if I lose, I''ll have to be his girlfriend." "What, Xiaoxiao, how could you bet on something like this?" Yuan Shanshan was somewhat angry, as one''s lifetime matters shouldn''t be taken lightly.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "It''s just that I couldn''t stand Lin Dong''s arrogant attitude, and he was the one who provoked me first." Che Xiaoxiao pouted, having agreed to the terms on impulse. Then, Che Xiaoxiao cast a loving nce at Hao Jian, "Uncle, you wouldn''t want to see me fall into that jerk''s clutches, would you?" Thinking Hao Jian would say no, he just pursed his lips and said, "You''re a little witch yourself, what demon''s clutches are you afraid of?" With that, Che Xiaoxiao''s face darkened, and she mumbled, "The winning prize is three hundred thousand." "Alright, I''ll definitely go tonight. We''ve met after all, and your problem is my problem now. Leave it to me," Hao Jian said, patting his chest and assuring solemnly. Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao were both exasperated. That night, after Hao Jian dropped Shu Ya off at her home, he met up with Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao and headed to Akina Mountain together. By then, Akina Mountain was already swarming with people, filled with the roar of cars and the cheers of spectators. Nearly a hundred cars participated, half of which were supercars, and nearly half of those were worth over ten million. "Lin Dong, I heard you''re racing against that little vixen Che Xiaoxiao tonight?" After parking his Maserati, Wei Shan came over and said to Lin Dong, who was nked by women on both sides. Lin Dong''s cheeks revealed a wicked smile, "That girl is just too young. A little provocation from me and she couldn''t resist agreeing. Win me with that crappy car of hers? What a joke!" "So, you''re expecting to win the beauty tonight?" Wei Shan chuckled lewdly. "Exactly. That little vixen has been disregarding us for long. This time I must show her what Young Master is capable of, making her unable to leave her bed for days," Lin Dongughed heartily, confident that he wouldn''t lose to Che Xiaoxiao. Although his car had been destroyed before, someone of his status undoubtedly owned several luxury cars, so he brought another Lamborghini tonight. "But what if that girl Xiaoxiao calls that guy fromst time?" Wei Shan was worried about this. Thinking of Hao Jian''s incredible driving skills made him feel scared. "What''s there to fear? I''ve called Young Master Liang over. With him supporting us, even if that guy shows up, it won''t make a difference," Lin Dong said dismissively, clearly having great confidence in Young Master Liang. "Young Master Liang? Are you talking about Liang Jiankun?" Wei Shan was secretly surprised but recognized the name. Your next journey awaits at empire Liang Jiankun could be called the founder of the Supercar Club and was the club''s number one driver, known as the Car God of Qiuyun Mountain. Moreover, not only were Liang Jiankun''s driving skills excellent, but his family background was also significant. In Hua City, his influence was unmatched, even greater than Shu Ya''s family enterprise, making him the undisputed Overlord of Hua City! Liang Jiankun was indeed the epitome of the prodigal elite, an existence Lin Dong should not know by normal means. How did he know him then? "Who else but him? He''s my brother-inw. As soon as he heard I was in trouble, he immediately agreed toe and help me," Lin Dong boasted. "Wow, Liang Jiankun is your brother-inw, Lin Dong, you make me so jealous. With him, you can pretty much do whatever you want in Hua City," Wei Shan ttered, while secretly sneering inside: Brother-inw? You really dare to add glory to your own face, as if Liang Jiankun would care for your little family? He just sees your sister as a ything, something to be tossed aside once he''s bored. Chapter 52 Bet! Liang Jiankun nevercks women by his side! Moreover, Wei Shan had heard that Liang Jiankun was quite picky. He didn''t like those so-called ''green tea bitches'' but preferred the spotless, well-breddies. But it was always just for fun, never seen him really fall for anyone. In Wei Shan''s view, this time was no different for Liang Jiankun. But although he knew it, Wei Shan dared not voice it out; after all, Lin Dong''s sister hadn''t tired of Liang Jiankun yet, and he couldn''t afford to offend him so easily. Meanwhile, Lin Dong, hearing Wei Shan butter him up like that, also couldn''t help butugh proudly, "Well said, well said. If your bro ever makes it big, I definitely won''t forget about you." These words sounded loyal, but they covertly distinguished his status from Wei Shan''s. "Then I''m much obliged, bro," and although Wei Shan''s face was excited upon hearing this, inside he sneered incessantly. Rise to sess? Find more to read on empiren/o/vel/b//in dot c//om A fool who only knows how to pick up girls and race cars, how could he ever make it big? "That, Young Master Lin, I mean, just in case, what if boyfriend even loses to Liang Jiankun, then what?" Wei Shan thought of this concern, and his way of addressing Lin Dong had already changed. "Then he''d better pray he doesn''t win because otherwise, heh heh..." Lin Dong sneered twice, then looked towards the crowd nearby. Following his gaze, Wei Shan instantly saw a burly bald man with a scorpion tattoo standing among the people, toasting Lin Dong. "Brother Spice Ginger?" Wei Shan''s expression froze; the man in front of him was none other than an old-timer in Hua City''s underworld, the kind of figure who could start a storm in the Mafia with a single sneeze. He hadn''t expected Lin Dong to know him too. It seemed he was fully prepared¡ªif Che Xiaoxiao''s boyfriend dared to show up today, then it would certainly be a one-way trip. Brother Spice Ginger''s ruthlessness was famous, and it was precisely because of his ferocity that he got his nickname, Spice Ginger. "Young Master Lin, they''re here." Suddenly, Wei Shan saw Che Xiaoxiao and her party slowly walking towards them. Lin Dong looked over, and when he saw Hao Jian by Che Xiaoxiao''s side, his face instantly darkened: "Didn''t expect that kid to be so ignorant, daring to show up in front of us after messing with our car." "Let''s go over!" Lin Dong signaled, then led his people over. "Xiaoxiao, you brought your boyfriend again. What, do you n on having him race against me tonight?" Although Lin Dong was smiling, his words made people feel ufortable. "That''s right, unless you beat him, you don''t qualify to race against me. But as a defeated underling who couldn''t win against my Little Bumblebee with a supercarst time, what will you rely on to win this time?" Che Xiaoxiao retorted unceremoniously. Upon hearing this, Lin Dong''s friends were all shocked. Although Lin Dong''s driving skills weren''t top three in the club, he was certainly within the top ten. How could he have lost! Lin Dong''s expression stiffened, and raging anger red up in his heart, but he still managed to control himself: "Since you''ve called for reinforcements, then I guess I can call for reinforcements, too, right? I wonder if Xiaoxiao, you recognize Liang Jiankun?" Lin Dong had anticipated that Che Xiaoxiao might bring Hao Jian, so how could he be unprepared? Upon hearing the name Liang Jiankun, Che Xiaoxiao''s petite body immediately shuddered. This reaction didn''t go unnoticed by Hao Jian, who whispered in Che Xiaoxiao''s ear, "What, this Liang Jiankun is amazing?" Che Xiaoxiao nodded hastily, lowering her voice to say: "Liang Jiankun is known as the Qiuyun Mountain Car God; he once ran the Qiuyun Mountain track in sixteen minutes and fifty-three seconds, and no one has broken that record to this day." "Qiuyun Mountain Car God?" Hao Jian rolled his eyes. So Che Xiaoxiao''s definition of amazing was just a local hoodlum, huh? Qiuyun Mountain Car God? Outside of Qiuyun Mountain, doesn''t that mean he turns to a dog? What really caught Hao Jian''s attention were world-ss racers, and clearly, Liang Jiankun wasn''t one of them. "So, are you scared? But now, it''s a bitte to back out, huh." Seeing Hao Jian and Che Xiaoxiao whispering to each other, Lin Dong subconsciously thought they were scared and couldn''t help but burst intoughter. "Scared? Do you think it''s possible? We will defeat Liang Jiankun, just like we''ll defeat you!" Che Xiaoxiao scoffed, then gently pushed Hao Jian, softly saying, "Don''t you agree, dearest uncle?" Hao Jian looked at Lin Dong, "A local Car God, indeed, there''s nothing to be afraid of." His words seemed like boasting to Lin Dong and his crew, but only he himself knew he was telling the truth. He indeed did not care about Liang Jiankun because he too was known as the Car God, but without the title Qiuyun Mountain. "Heh, quite the boast. Then if you lose, how about you give me that woman beside you?" Lin Dong snickered, then pointed at Yuan Shanshan. From the moment Yuan Shanshan appeared, he had noticed her, instantly awestruck by her beauty, making the women around him seem dull. If he could get Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao and then have a threesome tonight, how exhrating that would be! Upon hearing this, Yuan Shanshan''s expression stiffened; she hadn''t expected Lin Dong to suddenly drag her into this. "Lin Dong, have you no shame? She''s just my friend; why are you dragging her into this?" Che Xiaoxiao angrily said, all too aware of the filthy thoughts running through Lin Dong''s head. "Don''t dare? If not, then let''s forget about it," Lin Dong shrugged, not expecting them to agree. "Fine, it''s on!" But at that moment, Hao Jian unexpectedly agreed outright. Chapter 53 Are You Hao Jian? "What, Hao Jian, are you crazy! Why would you use Shanshan as a bet?" Che Xiaoxiao''s pretty face was filled with shock and anger; this was too much. What if they lost? Then wouldn''t Yuan Shanshan suffer too? Yuan Shanshan looked at Hao Jian with astonishment, her eyes filled with disappointment and anger. "Trust me," Hao Jian turned around, looking at Yuan Shanshan with utter seriousness. In that moment, Yuan Shanshan felt as if she saw zing fires of fury in Hao Jian''s eyes, which frightened her into quickly bowing her head, her heart pounding fiercely. Unable to withstand such an intense gaze, she could only look away. "I... trust you," Yuan Shanshan hesitated for a moment but ultimately chose to trust Hao Jian. Not for any other reason, but for that firm and confident look in his eyes! Seeing Hao Jian getting cozy with Yuan Shanshan and Liang Jiankun, Lin Dong was burning with envy, wondering what was so great about this guy that he could charm such beautiful women. "Alright, since you''ve agreed, then this bet is officially in effect." "Hold on, you haven''t said what your conditions will be if you lose," Hao Jian scoffed. Lin Dong inwardly swore, thinking how he could possibly lose, but still said, "If I lose, then this Lamborghini is yours!" That Lamborghini of Lin Dong''s was worth at least ten million; the stakes he was offering were incredibly tempting. Of course, the reason Lin Dong dared to make such an offer was not because he was really that generous, but because he believed Hao Jian couldn''t possibly beat Liang Jiankun. "Then please, everyone, be my witness and don''t let anyone back outter," Hao Jian told the crowd. "You think you''ve won?" Lin Dong, seeing Hao Jian so full of confidence, was particrly annoyed. "No, I just know I won''t lose," Hao Jian said very arrogantly, but his arrogance stemmed from confidence. "We''ll see about that. When your girl is in my armster, you better not cry," Lin Dong huffed. "Lin Dong, you''re not that great, but you sure have a sharp tongue, don''t you?" Che Xiaoxiao immediately retaliated. Lin Dong snorted coldly and then left without further ado, taking his people with him. It was then that Che Xiaoxiao seriously said to Hao Jian: "Uncle, tell me you''repletely confident you can win this race, otherwise, I might just have to ughter you." Yuan Shanshan was her only friend, and Che Xiaoxiao absolutely did not want to see Yuan Shanshan be Lin Dong''s ything. Yuan Shanshan''s expression was also somewhat unnatural. To be honest, she too hoped Hao Jian could provide a clear answer. Hao Jian asked her to trust him, but trust always had to be built on some foundation. "Don''t worry, even if we can''t win, can''t we still run away?" Hao Jian chuckled, it''s an era where credit held little value anymore. And for someone like Lin Dong, was there really a need to keep one''s word? "You mean... cheat?" Yuan Shanshan was absorbed in thought, stunned. After all this, Hao Jian was nning on this? And he still wanted her to trust him? Yuan Shanshan really wanted to swear now, was she just too kindhearted? Che Xiaoxiao nodded, not opposed to the idea at all since she often did the same¡ªfight if you can win, run if you can''t. She wasn''t concerned about losing face. It was just like this time when she and Lin Dong made a bet, and if she lost, she would be his girlfriend. In fact, Che Xiaoxiao had already nned it out, if she lost, she would just turn around and run away, disappearing forever, as if she would marry Lin Dong¡ªno way! "Rx, I can''t say I''m 100% sure, but I definitely have a 99% chance," Hao Jian exined with a smile, signaling Yuan Shanshan not to worry. "Don''t take it lightly. Liang Jiankun is our local Car God, he haspeted against top professional yers and even won." Che Xiaoxiao reminded him, knowing full well that Liang Jiankun was no ordinarypetitor. "Don''t worry, I''ll crush him!" Hao Jianughed foolishly. Just as Hao Jian said this, a red Ferrari slowly drove into the arena and then came to a steady stop in front of Lin Dong and others. Then, a man dressed in casual wear and a morously dressed woman got out. The man was wearing a cartoon T-shirt and jeans, but even so, it was designer wear, a subtle kind of luxury. He held a cell phone in his hand, his face expressionless, appearing arrogant, and because he was handsome, he immediately caught everyone''s attention, making many women go crazy for him. "Is that Liang Jiankun? He''s so handsome," a woman said dreamily, feeling her legs trembling. "Forget it, Liang Jiankun wouldn''t go for women like us," herpanion bluntly discouraged her. "Why not? I''m so beautiful." said the woman, puffing out her chest. "Haha, for Liang Jiankun, it takes more than just beauty," thetter sneered: "See that woman by his side? The Lin Family''s heiress. She''s just his toy, do you think you can win her over?" The people they were discussing were naturally Liang Jiankun and Lin Dong''s sister, Lin Xiao. Lin Xiao was also pretty, not top-tier, but definitely exquisite. Her dressing and demeanor were very tasteful, not exaggerated, but rather elegant and dignified, making her instantly recognizable as a dame from a distinguished family. But Liang Jiankun did not go to hold her hand or open the car door for her after getting out, showing a bit of coldness, clearly not truly treating her as his girlfriend. "Brother-inw." Lin Dong quickly walked over and then called out to Liang Jiankun. Stay tuned to empire But at that moment, Liang Jiankun furrowed his brows, showing displeasure. Because he did not truly regard Lin Xiao as his girlfriend, and with Lin Dong now calling him brother-inw, it made him feel ufortable, as if Lin Dong was deliberately trying to cling to him. Lin Xiao also noticed Liang Jiankun''s look and immediately red at Lin Dong. Lin Dong immediately realized he had said something wrong and quickly lowered his head, breaking out in a cold sweat. Luckily, Liang Jiankun did not dwell on it and spoke indifferently, "Where''s the kid?" "Right there." Lin Dong quickly pointed to where Hao Jian and his twopanions were, his face immediately clouding over. Liang Jiankun nced at Hao Jian and the others, but his eyes did not linger on Che Xiaoxiao and Yuan Shanshan even once, which was enough to show that Liang Jiankun was different from ordinary men. Then Liang Jiankun walked toward Hao Jian, but in that short distance of fifty meters, more than twenty people came up to greet Liang Jiankun, all quite obsequiously ttering him. Seeing this, the Lin siblings both felt very proud, only such a uniquely positioned man could be the center of attention. Meanwhile, Hao Jian was interacting with Che Xiaoxiao and the others. Seeing Liang Jiankun approaching, he also stopped. "Are you Hao Jian?" Liang Jiankun asked, raising an eyebrow. He was about the same height as Hao Jian, and like Hao Jian, had very fair skin, but unlike Hao Jian''s sickly paleplexion, Liang Jiankun''s was a delicate white, as if he were a living corpse.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Chapter 54 Do You Like Men? Hao Jian raised his head and looked at Liang Jiankun, also feeling that the man before him was extraordinary. First and foremost, his aura overshadowed everyone else''s, and even when speaking with this stranger, he did it with a proud, calmposure. "That''s right, I am." Hao Jian crossed his arms and did not reach out to shake hands with Liang Jiankun. Because he knew that for a man like Liang Jiankun, offering a handshake was ridiculous. Until you''ve gained his full attention, he is not going to shake hands with you. "I''ve heard that your driving skills are very impressive?" Liang Jiankun asked with curiosity. He too was eager for a match with a master. His appearance here today wasn''t entirely to help Lin Dong; what was Lin Dong, that Liang Jiankun would step in for him? Even if Liang Jiankun had slept with his sister, so what? It was she who had approached him of her own ord. The reason he was here today was purely for his own amusement. "Not too bad, I''m a bit better than the ''Car God'' of Qiuyun Mountain!" Hao Jian said directly. "You''re asking for it!" At that moment, one of the young masters standing beside Liang Jiankun saw this and immediately got upset, looking ready to step in and vent Liang Jiankun''s anger. Liang Jiankun waved his hand, signaling him to back off, and said without any trace of anger, "I heard you beat Lin Dong?" If Hao Jian could beat Lin Dong, then he was worth Liang Jiankun''s attention. "That''s right, and I can beat you too." Hao Jian still wore a calm expression, but to those familiar with Liang Jiankun''s strength, this statement seemed like a joke. Explore hidden tales at empire They hadn''t witnessed Hao Jian''s capabilities, but they had seen Liang Jiankun''s. "Then let''s see the real deal with our cars," Liang Jiankun said expressionlessly. "I''ll use a Ferrari, what will you use?" "This one right here," Hao Jian gestured with his mouth toward the car parked behind Liang Jiankun. When Liang Jiankun turned around and saw Che Xiaoxiao''s yellow car covered in graffiti, his face instantly darkened. Then, turning back to Hao Jian, Liang Jiankun said, "Let me prepare a new car for you." Liang Jiankun did not want to be used of bullying Hao Jian; he had his pride. "No need, the car is just a tool. The key lies in the skill of the user." Hao Jian waved his hand dismissively. Against an amateur racer like Liang Jiankun, such a car was already more than enough. "Trying to act cool, huh." Lin Dong sneered from behind the crowd, finding it ridiculous. Look at the user''s skill? If you raced a van against a Ferrari, could you possibly win? The crowd nodded in agreement, not believing it. "Suit yourself then." Seeing Hao Jian repeatedly showing off, Liang Jiankun''s expression was also turning unsightly. Half an hourter, a track had been cleared on Akina Mountain, and Hao Jian and Liang Jiankun were each seated in their cars. "Vroom, vroom." The cars continued to roar, sounding likes beasts ready to spring from their cages at any moment. In front of the two cars, a girl wearing only a bikini walked by, her figure explosive. Just then, amid the cheers of the spectators, she slowly took off her bra and said: "Ready!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Yuan Shanshan shyly lowered her head, not daring to watch the scene. "Go!" The underwear was thrown into the air, and just as it hit the ground, two steel beasts surged forward simultaneously, leaving trails of billowing dust behind. At the same time, a helicopter also took off to follow, capturing the race from above¡ªafter all, the members of the Supercar Club were wealthy individuals, so it was not at all surprising that they could obtain a helicopter. A minute after the race started, Liang Jiankun gradually increased the distance between himself and Hao Jian. There was indeed a significant gap between supercars and ordinary sedans. Sneering within his car, Liang Jiankun thought about just how stupid Hao Jian''s words would seem now. Winning him over with such a ridiculous car? Possible? The crew on the ne also ryed the race situation to the spectator''s area, and at that moment, Lin Dong burst intoughter, saying to Che Xiaoxiao: "Che Xiaoxiao, just wait to strip naked and have fun with me tonight." "It''s only the firstp¡ªwhat are you so smug about?" Che Xiaoxiao''s face was a sight of displeasure, but even though she said this, she actually had no confidence inside. To start off already so far behind, it would be too difficult to catch upter on. "Keep being stubborn now, but don''t cry when you lose. You think you can run away? I''ve already arranged for people to be here. The moment you lose, I''ll take you away immediately," Lin Dong cackled ominously. How could he not know how crafty Che Xiaoxiao was? He didn''t believe for a second that this girl would go with him willingly. With that, Che Xiaoxiao was truly left with no way out. She lowered her voice and shouted into the radio at Hao Jian: "Hao Jian, what the hell are you doing?" Hearing Che Xiaoxiao''s anxious voice, Hao Jian knew that the girl was in a panic. He could not help but chuckle inside, finding it amusing to y tricks on her. "Xiaoxiao, I''m sorry, this guy''s driving skills are too good, I... I think I''m going to lose," Hao Jian said apologetically. "What? Then why were you so full of it earlier, saying you could definitely beat him?" Che Xiaoxiao felt a chill in her heart and cursed Hao Jian for being unreliable. This was bad. "I didn''t expect this guy to be so tough. I''m totally outssed by him, noparison at all," Hao Jian pretended to be distraught, but internally he was ecstatic. "What am I supposed to do then?" Che Xiaoxiao felt like crying. Hao Jian''s words were as good as selling her and Yuan Shanshan out. "How about I negotiate with Lin Dong to go with him instead of you and Yuan Shanshan?" Hao Jian struggled to suppress hisughter as he asked. "That''s nonsense¡ª he''s not into men!" Che Xiaoxiao couldn''t help raising her voice a few notches. From a distance, Lin Dong was somewhat taken aback. Were they talking about him? "Then I''m out of options," Hao Jian said with apparent regret, his tone indicating he nned to wash his hands of the matter. "You bastard, you..." Che Xiaoxiao wanted to curse out loud, but Hao Jian had already turned off the radio. "What did Hao Jian say?" Yuan Shanshan, seeing Che Xiaoxiao''s expression change, couldn''t help but ask anxiously. "He said he can''t win against Liang Jiankun, that we should fend for ourselves." Che Xiaoxiao was seething with anger. She hadn''t expected him to be that kind of person, unreliable at the crucial moment; she had really misjudged him. "What? That doesn''t sound like him at all," Yuan Shanshan was equally shocked. Hao Jian didn''t seem like the type to abandon them, otherwise, he wouldn''t have helped her like he had before. Che Xiaoxiao snorted: "Appearances can be deceiving. I never thought he was that kind of person either." Seemingly noticing the upset expressions of Che Xiaoxiao and Yuan Shanshan, Lin Dongughed even more contemptuously: "What''s the matter, did that fool call? Has he realized that he''s no match for Young Master Liang and started chickening out?" "Lin Dong, let me ask you a question," Che Xiaoxiao fixed her gaze on Lin Dong. "What question? If you want to ask if the bet from earlier can be canceled, don''t even bother¡ªthe answer is no!" "No, I was wondering if you like men?" "..." Chapter 55 He and I Are Not on the Same Level! At this time, Hao Jian sat leisurely in Che Xiaoxiao''s Little Bumblebee, puffing on a cigarette. He watched as Liang Jiankun''s car slowly disappeared from his line of sight but didn''t seem the least bit tense. He admitted that Liang Jiankun''s driving skills were indeed good, his drifting and cornering were well executed. But that was just it, merely good. "Looks like it''s time to get serious. I''ve let you lead for so long, can''t be considered bullying you now, right?" Hao Jian chuckled, flicked the cigarette butt out of the car, and his face suddenly took on a determined look. "Ka!" With the throttle floored, the gear stick mmed into ce, and the steering wheel turning wildly, the car began to stir restlessly, transforming into a yellow lightning bolt that burst out and dove into the curve. Then, the drifting started, but it wasn''t just any kind of drifting¡ªit was the triple drift! His car''s tail swung around like a dragon''s tail sweep; with each swing, he swiftly navigated a bend, clearing the kilometers-long series of bends in merely three seconds, which meant one second per bend! "This is the triple drift! There are no more than a hundred people in the whole world who can perform this technique!" Aboard the ne, the professional driver who was recording eximed in surprise and ryed the scene to the spectators. "Triple drift? Does such a thing really exist?" "That kid can do a triple drift, really?" "So what if he can do a triple drift; Liang Jiankun already has a two-kilometer lead. Can he catch up?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The spectators all began to discuss, all surprised that Hao Jian could perform a triple drift. But even so, they still weren''t optimistic about Hao Jian''s chances because Liang Jiankun was too far ahead, and it seemed nearly impossible for him to catch up before the checkpoint. The expression on Lin Dong''s face also didn''t look very good at this point, undoubtedly because Hao Jian had stolen Liang Jiankun''s thunder. However, he didn''t think Hao Jian had a chance to win; at most, this was just ast-ditch struggle. At this time, Yuan Shanshan let out a sigh of relief and said, "Could it be that Hao Jian was just toying with you?" "That, I''m not so sure," Che Xiaoxiao said with a bitter smile. But looking at it now, there seemed an eighty percent chance of that. Liang Jiankun had thought he was sure to win, so he rxed as he drove, maintaining a steady speed without hurry. At the same time, he couldn''t help but smirk contemptuously to himself, thinking how big a talk from a loser, truly ridiculous. But at that moment, he suddenly saw a sh of light in the rearview mirror. Liang Jiankun nced at the mirror and immediately saw theical Little Bumblebee appear behind him! Explore more at empire "How is this possible!" Liang Jiankun was shocked, unable to believe it was true. He had left Hao Jian far behind; how did he catch up? After that, Liang Jiankun''s eyes were clouded with abative spirit as he floored the gas pedal, determined to leave Hao Jian behind once again. But he soon realized that it was futile. No matter how he changed his actions and speed, the other stayed on his tail like a ghost, maintaining a consistent distance. Liang Jiankun began to feel increasingly uneasy, but he knew he absolutely could not lose, otherwise he would lose all his face! So Liang Jiankun no longer thought about shaking off Hao Jian; instead, he used his car to block Hao Jian''s, not giving him a chance to overtake. As long as he could keep blocking him, preventing him from overtaking, Hao Jian would have to remain behind him until the race ended. At this point, Liang Jiankun finally began to take Hao Jian seriously because this was the first man who made him feel flustered. Hao Jian too noticed Liang Jiankun''s intentions, and a slight sneer appeared on his face: "You think you can win against me like this? How naive!" Then, Little Bumblebee began to emit a series of provocative roars, as if to tell Liang Jiankun that it nned to overtake on the next bend. "Dream on if you think you can overtake me!" Liang Jiankun sneered, confident in his drifting skills; he was convinced that Hao Jian couldn''t possibly overtake him in the process. But once the two cars entered the bend, Liang Jiankun''s pride was shattered. Hao Jian''s Little Bumblebee appeared out of nowhere, skimming past the cliff''s edge, a sight that was rmingly dangerous. One of its wheels was already spinning in midair, yet with such a perilous drift, Hao Jian whisked past Liang Jiankun''s car, sessfully overtaking him. In the moment of overtaking, Liang Jiankun saw Hao Jian in the car smiling at him, his mouth moving slightly! Though he couldn''t hear his voice, Liang Jiankun could make out from his lip movements that he was saying, "You''re not in my league!" "Bastard!" Liang Jiankun immediately flew into a rage, mming on the gas pedal, aiming for Hao Jian''s Little Bumblebee. The Little Bumblebee hadn''tpletely overtaken him yet, its rear end tantalizingly in front of him. He intended to ram Hao Jian right off the cliff; after all, with his status, killing someone wasn''t a big deal. But Hao Jian was no pushover. As soon as he saw Liang Jiankun''s eyes filled with malice, he guessed Liang Jiankun''s intentions. Pressing on the elerator to speed up, Little Bumblebee whisked right past the front of Liang Jiankun''s car! Now Liang Jiankun was in trouble. The sudden surge forward nearly sent his car over the cliff, leaving him sweating profusely. When Liang Jiankun looked at Hao Jian again, he saw Hao Jian gesturing a middle finger at him, then the car sped away. "You asshole, I''ll ughter you!" Liang Jiankun angrily mmed the steering wheel, and the car let out a piercing screech. When Hao Jian appeared before everyone in the car, everyone was stunned. They all knew that Hao Jian had overtaken Liang Jiankun''s car in the final stretch and left him far behind, making for quite a dramatic scene. They had all thought that Hao Jian was sure to lose to Liang Jiankun, but who could have anticipated this dramatic turn of events. "We won, whoo!" At this moment, Che Xiaoxiao and Yuan Shanshan cheered together, embracing each other. But at this time, only the two of them were cheering; the rest hadn''t recovered from their shock, hence their gaze at Hao Jian was somewhat nk. Who would have thought that their undefeated war god would one day be beaten by an unknown youngster? Right now, they were all specting about Hao Jian''s identity: who exactly was he? A world-ss racer? Regardless of who he was, one thing was certain today: the title of Akina Mountain''s Car God was about to change hands! "Uncle, you jerk, how could you deceive me!" Che Xiaoxiao walked up briskly, then punched Hao Jian in the chest, though it was more yful than painful. "How did I deceive you?" "You just said that you weren''t in the same league as Liang Jiankun, that there''s noparison, that you''d lose." "Indeed, he''s not in my league; how can hepare to me?" Hao Jian nodded very seriously. "Shameless!" Che Xiaoxiao muttered the words. Chapter 56 is mine! Seeing Hao Jian win, Lin Dong''s entire face turned green! He hadn''t expected Liang Jiankun to lose, and now that the bet had been ced and Hao Jian won, didn''t that mean he had to deliver his car with his own hands? Lin Dong couldn''t bear it, as it was his favorite car and a limited global edition; if he gave it away, he could never buy another one. Meanwhile, Wei Shan also sneered, secretly giving Hao Jian a thumbs up in his mind. Arrogant? Thought that clinging to Liang Jiankun was impressive? In the end, didn''t you still lose?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Lin Dong, a bet is a bet, you should fulfill your promise," At this moment, Che Xiaoxiao and the others had alreadye over, demanding their spoils of war from Lin Dong. Che Xiaoxiao looked coldly at Lin Dong, saying, "If you wanted my body, it looks like you''ll have to wait for another lifetime." Lin Dong red fiercely at Che Xiaoxiao, "Liang Jiankun hasn''te back yet, how do I know if you really won?" "That''s just nonsense. Whether Liang Jiankunes back or not, I was the first one here, so that means I won. What, can''t you ept your loss? nning to renege?" Hao Jian immediately retorted coldly, seeing that Lin Dong was intentionally trying to renege. "Oh oh oh." A chorus of boos immediately erupted from the crowd; they all knew about the bet between Hao Jian and Lin Dong, and seeing Lin Dong renege disgusted them. In the Supercar Club, there were many instances of using sports cars as stakes, but everyone honored their bets because they all had their pride and wanted to continue mixing in this circle, even if it cost them money. And Lin Dong, on the other hand, simply abandoned all shame. "Renege? So what if I renege? I''ve put up with you for a long time, you little pretty boy! Constantly screwing up my good deeds, today you''re not walking out of here alive!" Lin Dong snapped, his expression vicious. "Brother Spice Ginger, help me take him down!" Lin Dong pointed at Hao Jian. Then, Brother Spice Ginger walked over with a dozen followers, who encircled Hao Jian with cleavers in hand. "Lin Dong, you are shameless!" Seeing this scene, Che Xiaoxiao was furious. She couldn''t believe that Lin Dong could be so shameless as to resort to killing upon losing. "That''s right, I am shameless, so what?" Seeing Che Xiaoxiao angry, Lin Dong was even more smug: "Che Xiaoxiao, I''m telling you, you have to obey today whether you like it or not!" "You..." Che Xiaoxiao was extremely frustrated, but there was nothing she could do. She hung her head, her teeth gritted, and after hesitating for a moment suddenly lifted her head: "I''ll spend a night with you, just let my two friends go." "Xiaoxiao, you can''t do this!" Yuan Shanshan grabbed Che Xiaoxiao anxiously; Che Xiaoxiao was nning to sacrifice herself. Che Xiaoxiao had no choice; it was she who had asked Hao Jian to race, and if not for her, Hao Jian would not have offended Lin Dong, nor would he have attracted this deadly danger. Che Xiaoxiao believed she should not let Hao Jian suffer because of her own mistake. "Che Xiaoxiao, do you think you still have the right to negotiate with me?" Lin Dong sneered, knowing that even if he didn''t ept Che Xiaoxiao''s offer, Hao Jian and Yuan Shanshan couldn''t escape anyway. With that being the case, why should he bother negotiating with Che Xiaoxiao? "Lin Dong, don''t go too far!" Che Xiaoxiao hated him deeply; she had never realized before that Lin Dong could be such a shameless person. "Che Xiaoxiao, it''s not that I never gave you a chance. I pursued you so many times, but you never agreed. Now, it''s toote!" Lin Dong said mockingly, deliberately adopting a triumphant look. Che Xiaoxiao clenched her teeth in anger, yet she could do nothing at all. At that moment, Hao Jian pulled Che Xiaoxiao back, smiling, "When men are here, there''s no need for women to act tough, understand?" "But I was worried about you," Che Xiaoxiao said softly. "Leave it to me," Hao Jian patted Che Xiaoxiao on the shoulder, then stepped forward. "Kid, thinking of begging for mercy now? Toote, isn''t it?" Lin Dong scornfully jeered. He nced indifferently at Lin Dong, not bothering to engage him, this scum wasn''t even worth talking to. This act thoroughly enraged Lin Dong, whose eyes burned with hatred, vowing to make Hao Jian wish he were dead! Hao Jian looked at Brother Spice Ginger, calmly stating, "You take your men and leave now, I''ll act as if nothing happened, how about that?" "What?" Brother Spice Ginger thought he had misheard, what was this guy saying? Everyone else also looked perplexed; did this kid have a screw loose? Che Xiaoxiao covered her face and sighed, unsure whether to call him brave or suicidal. "Kid, are you out of your mind? Didn''t you see we have more men than you?" Lin Dong was speechless, where did Hao Jian get the courage to say that? It was as if he was sure he''d win. "Having more people doesn''t mean you can be fierce, you are not my match," Hao Jian shook his head, speaking the truth. He didn''t want to fight; all he wanted was a peaceful life, so he was sincerely advising Brother Spice Ginger and his men. But to them, it sounded like a provocation. "sh him!" Brother Spice Ginger waved his hand impatiently. The underlings quickly surrounded him, no words wasted; clubs and knives came crashing down. Hao Jian pushed Che Xiaoxiao and Yuan Shanshan behind him, then charged forward. "Hao Jian!" Yuan Shanshan cried out in panic. "Call the police!" Che Xiaoxiao cried anxiously, so many were attacking Hao Jian, he was surely doomed. Thinking how her troubles had caused Hao Jian to be in this situation, Che Xiaoxiao felt very guilty. Frightened, Yuan Shanshan quickly grabbed her cellphone to make a call, her body trembling visibly. "Call the police?" Lin Dong raised an eyebrow and kicked Yuan Shanshan''s cellphone away. "You..." Che Xiaoxiao looked at Lin Dong, her eyes filled with resentment. If it weren''t for Lin Dong, they wouldn''t have ended up like this. "Nice look, but I wonder if you can still re at me like that once you get to bed," Lin Dongughed heartily. "What''s so funny? Share the joke with me," suddenly, a voice sounded behind Lin Dong. "Do you even need to ask? It''s because that kid is going to die," Lin Dong replied subconsciously. Soon Lin Dong realized something was wrong, rapidly turned around, and saw Hao Jian standing behind him, a smile on his face: "The kid you''re talking about, that would be me, right?" "You..." Lin Dong''s eyes frozen, then he sharply inhaled, seeing Brother Spice Ginger and about a dozen others all beaten and lying on the ground, groaning in pain. Not just him, even Che Xiaoxiao and Yuan Shanshan were stunned! It hadn''t been long, less than two minutes, and Hao Jian had taken down everyone? Was this guy a monster? At that moment, the scene was deathly silent, everyone unable to recover from the shock. They saw Hao Jian charge into the crowd like a whirlwind, then saw those lying on the ground groaning, they didn''t even see what had happened. Chapter 57 Curing in Vain! "You want to kill me, so what kind of payback do you expect from me?" Hao Jian scratched his head, appearing somewhat troubled. "Kid, I warn you not to mess around. My boyfriend is Liang Jiankun. Do you know who Liang Jiankun is?" Lin Xiao immediately threatened, her attitude brazen, as she wouldn''t possibly let Hao Jian harm her brother. "Liang Jiankun? Are you talking about that trash who was defeated by me?" Hao Jian thought for a moment before responding like this. Everyone had a dark line on their forehead, probably only this ignorant fool would dare to speak of Liang Jiankun in such a manner, right? "You." Lin Xiao''s face turned green with anger, having never encountered such an arrogant kid before. Suddenly, everyone heard the roar of a car; it turned out Liang Jiankun had returned. Once he got out of the car, his face was so gloomy that it was frightening. "Jiankun, he''s going to hit my brother,e quickly." Lin Xiao immediately shouted at Liang Jiankun, now only he could save her brother. Seeing Liang Jiankun appear, Lin Dong also breathed a sigh of relief, but immediately, like a petty person celebrating too soon, he looked provocatively at Hao Jian. Liang Jiankun walked straight over, looking down at Hao Jian from above: "Don''t touch him." That sentence directly rified Liang Jiankun''s stance. No matter what, Lin Xiao was his woman, and it wouldn''t look good on his face if his younger brother was beaten up in front of him. He admitted that Hao Jian''s driving skills were indeed good, but so what? In real life, he didn''t necessarily have to be his match. Liang Jiankun had previously lost to Hao Jian and was not in a good mood, and naturally, he would not give Hao Jian face this time. But Hao Jian didn''t give a damn about him, and mocked, "You tell me not to move my hand, and I should just obey? What exactly do you count for?" "You dare speak to me like this?" Liang Jiankun red, as it was the first time someone dared to defy him in his life. "I''m fucking amazed, how can this world be full of so many self-righteous people? Why shouldn''t I dare speak to you like this? Are you my son, or my grandson?" Hao Jian brazenly retorted. "Pfft." Che Xiaoxiao was amused by Hao Jian''s shameless behavior¡ªit was an indirect way of taking advantage of someone, wasn''t it? "If you dare touch him, I''ll make sure you die in Hua City!" Liang Jiankun threatened directly, no longer bothering to talk nonsense. "Bang!" However, Hao Jian didn''t hesitate, and swiftly kicked out, aiming at Lin Dong''s groin. Lin Dong instantly bent over like a cooked shrimp, his face instantly turning pale, morphing into a strange shade of green. Then, everyone saw blood seeping from his lower body, obviously, Hao Jian''s kick had robbed him of his manhood forever. Lin Dong couldn''t utter a word and could only emit strange groans, crawling on the ground like a dog. "I moved, nowe and make me die," Hao Jian said calmly, looking at Liang Jiankun. Liang Jiankun looked at Hao Jian, his face now clearly disying rage¡ªHao Jian had managed to anger a man who rarely did. "You dare to hit my brother? I''m going to kill you!" Lin Xiao lunged at him, ws bared, ready to strike. "p!" Hao Jian responded with a p, sending her reeling back. Lin Xiao, clutching her swollen right cheek, was dazed and stumbled, then suddenly fell to her knees in front of Liang Jiankun, looking rather ridiculous.N?v(el)B\\jnn "You should spend more time teaching your brother how to behave instead of ming me for hitting him," Hao Jian snorted coldly. Liang Jiankun''s face turned extremely sour. It was bad enough that Hao Jian had hit his woman''s brother, but hitting his woman as well was no different from pping him in the face. "You''re ying with fire," Liang Jiankun said hoarsely. "Don''t overestimate yourself. Maybe you think you''re a tough dish, but to me, you''re nothing," Hao Jian mocked. He really didn''t take Liang Jiankun seriously at all¡ªhe had killed countless people, and had dealt with all kinds of them. Liang Jiankun was naturally not an exception. "Very well," Liang Jiankun said thrice, not lingering at the scene any longer. Instead, he turned, got into his car, and drove away, not even bothering with Lin Xiao. For someone of Liang Jiankun''s status, it was unthinkable to brawl on the streets. Plus, he knew he couldn''t necessarily beat Hao Jian, so now he was going home, and then would send people to kill Hao Jian. As for Lin Xiao, she was just a ything to him, and now, having caused him such humiliation, how could he possibly want her anymore? "This kid has managed to drive Liang Jiankun away, now he''s in real trouble, Liang Jiankun won''t rest until he''s dead," the onlookers thought. "What an ignorant fool, thinking that one can provoke just anyone? Hua City is the Liang Family''s territory." The crowd was abuzz, certain Hao Jian was as good as dead. Now Liang Jiankun would surely mobilize all the family''s resources against Hao Jian. For these people of wealth and prestige, nothing was more important than saving face, and today Liang Jiankun had been utterly disgraced. "Someone, please call an ambnce for me, save my brother. I''m begging you!" Lin Xiao was crying and shouting miserably, looking pitiful, but no one felt sorry for her because Lin Dong had brought this on himself. Hao Jian looked at the listless Lin Dong: "You wanted to kill me, so now that I''ve crippled you, you''ve got nothing toin about, right?" Lin Dong did not respond, his expression nk, as he was obviously in so much pain that he couldn''t feel anything, looking like a soulless husk. "Even if healed, it''s a waste of effort." Hao Jian clicked his tongue twice and walked away. Chapter 58 What is that? "Damn bad luck, I didn''t expect Lin Dong to be such a loser. He lost and then acted shamelessly. Now the car and the money are both gone." Xiaoxiao muttered, without having transferred ownership, that car wasn''t hers. "But at least he''s ruined, right? If he could choose again, I bet he''d opt to give up the car and the money," Hao Jian teased, but there are no ifs. "Yeah, he likes women so much, it must be killing him. He''ll probably only be able to fantasize about women and sex for the rest of his life." Xiaoxiao burst intoughter, then looked at Hao Jian with adoring eyes: "Uncle, you are so amazing, managing to defeat Liang Jiankun. Why not teach me how to race?" "No teaching," Hao Jian shook his head like a rattle drum. "Why?" Xiaoxiao''s face fell, and she asked unhappily. "Because it''s not safe. The thrill of speed might feel great, but it''s also deadly," Hao Jian earnestly exined. Although his driving skills were excellent, he didn''t like racing. It''s like having great kung fu but still fearing kitchen knives; even with great driving skills, idents could happen.N?v(el)B\\jnn Those world-ss racers never dare im they''ll never have an ident. Xiaoxiao is still young, she likes the thrill, and Hao Jian could understand that, but he didn''t n on contributing to her recklessness. Kids like to show off. Once he taught her, she would definitely mess around. Eventually, showing off could lead to her showing off to death. "I''ll just learn, not use, okay?" Xiaoxiao pleaded as she grabbed Hao Jian''s hand, pressing it against her chest, cooing continuously. "Dream on, you don''t have much there. No matter how much you squeeze, you can''t create a cleavage," Hao Jian said bluntly, as he was not fond of little girls; he preferred them curvy. "You bastard!" Xiaoxiao was furious, shocked that he would speak to her like that. "Let me tell you, what you''re saying is like saying a dog won''t shit. If you learn and never use, then why learn at all?" Hao Jian, a mature man, wouldn''t be deceived by this girl. "You dare call me a dog, I''ll fight you!" Xiaoxiao exploded in rage, charging at Hao Jian with her fists, but Hao Jian simply held her head with one hand, stopping her from making any further move. "Don''te any closer, or I''ll have to hit you," Hao Jian threatened. You think I''m HELLO KITTY when I''m not acting tough? "Xiaoxiao, I also think Hao Jian has a point. Why would a girl spend all her time learning this?" Yuan Shanshan agreed with Hao Jian''s approach. "It''s a hobby. Doesn''t everyone have their own hobbies? Uncle, please teach me," Xiaoxiao pleaded. "Okay, but you''ll have to pay tuition. I won''t ask for much, just thirty thousand a month," Hao Jian demanded grandly. "Thirty thousand? Why don''t you go rob someone?" Xiaoxiao immediately became angry. She couldn''t possibly have that much money, and even with her miserly traits, she wouldn''t necessarily give it to Hao Jian. "If you won''t pay, forget it," Hao Jian shrugged his shoulders, not insisting since he wouldn''t be the one losing out. "Let''s talk about the moneyter. What about having offended Liang Jiankun? What will you do about it?" Yuan Shanshan asked worriedly. "Yeah, Liang Jiankun is no ordinary person," Xiaoxiao also sobered up and voiced her concerns. In this circle, Xiaoxiao naturally knew who Liang Jiankun was. After being humiliated by Hao Jian today, he would surely seek revenge. "Don''t worry, I have it all figured out," Hao Jian waved his hand, indicating he had no problems. Just as he had said before, Liang Jiankun might seem a big deal to others, but to him, he was nothing. "Come on, I''ll drive you guys home," Hao Jian started the car, preparing to take Yuan Shanshan and Xiaoxiao home. By the time he returned home, it was already the middle of the night, and Shu Ya was still awake because she was waiting for Hao Jian toe back. She really had no right to question Hao Jian''s nightlife, but for some reason, it made her ufortable. How could he think about going out when he had such a beauty like her by his side? Sitting on the sofa in her pink pajamas, Shu Ya saw Hao Jian return and immediately snapped, "Where have you been?" "The salon!" Hao Jian replied irritably, obviously holding a grudge about Shu Ya defending someone else earlier. "To the salon? Did you go see a prostitute?" Shu Ya asked with a weird expression, looking down on Hao Jian. "What, is that not allowed? I have to take care of my needs, don''t I?" Hao Jian responded angrily. You won''t let me sleep with you, but you won''t let me sleep with someone else? "You can''t use masturbation?" Shu Ya became increasingly furious, but her voice got quieter toward the end. Discussing this matter in front of Hao Jian embarrassed her. "What''s that, huh?" Hao Jian pretended not to understand, finding it quite amusing that this woman was discussing self-relief with him. "You... You jerk!" Seeing the mocking look in Hao Jian''s eyes, Shu Ya immediately realized he was teasing her. "I didn''t say anything, oh." Hao Jian said with a naughty smile, raising his hands in surrender. "Just don''t go again!" Continue your journey on empire Shu Ya said angrily, although she didn''t know why she was angry. She just felt ufortable seeing this guy flirting around outside. "Alright, alright, I won''t go," Hao Jian said nonchntly, but then noticed a cigarette butt in the ashtray and frowned deeply: "Has someone been here?" At these words, Shu Ya''s expression turned rather gloomy. Seeing her like that, Hao Jian was startled: "Damn, you wouldn''t be stopping me from seeing other women while you''re cheating on me, would you?" "You''re going to die!" Shu Ya pinched Hao Jian''s arm furiously. How dare he say that about her. "Ow, ow, ow, ow." Hao Jian cried out in pain. Only then did Shu Ya let go of his arm, saying fiercely, "It was my dad who came." "Your dad? What did hee for?" Hao Jian was secretly shocked; Shu Ya and her father hardly ever saw each other. His sudden visit was definitely not a good sign. "I''m tired, I''m going to rest now." Shu Ya clearly did not want to talk about it anymore, looking exhausted as she walked toward her room. Hao Jian shrugged his shoulders and did not press further. . After his shower, Hao Jian went to help Sister Lan change a lightbulb, having been dyed by some matters earlier, only finding time today. Hao Jian knocked on the door, and then Sister Lan came to open it. At that moment, Hao Jian saw that the room was pitch-dark, and Sister Lan was actually using a candle. Seeing this, Hao Jian felt somewhat guilty; if he hade earlier, they wouldn''t have had to endure this. Indeed, it was really inconvenient not having a man in the house. Chapter 59! "Why don''t you buy a light tube and let the owner install it for you? That way, you wouldn''t have to grope around in the dark," Hao Jian curiously asked Sister Lan. Usually, when you buy a light tube from a small store and pay a little extra, the shop owner will help you install it. "We have good light tubes at home, don''t want to waste them," Sister Lan exined with a slight smile, as she was used to economizing and avoiding wastefulness. Hao Jian just smiled and didn''t say anything more. What could he do when Sister Lan was such a good wife and mother? Hao Jian found the light tubes then climbed up the irondder to install them. During this time, Sister Lan considerately held thedder for him to prevent any falls. However, watching Hao Jian diligently installing the light tube, Sister Lan seemed a bit mesmerized, thinking that a man was indeed needed at home. Read new adventures at empire "Done." Soon, Hao Jian had installed the light tube and climbed down from thedder, wiping the sweat off his brow. "Uncle is so awesome!" Tongtong eximed happily. Now she wouldn''t have to do her homework in the dark anymore. "It''s brother," Hao Jian corrected with a dark expression. "It''s uncle," Tongtong stubbornly insisted. "Little brat, really unpleasant," Hao Jian grumbled, frowning. "Hehe," Tongtong giggled, seeming very happy to see Hao Jian annoyed. "Your clothes got dirty, go take a shower," Sister Lan suggested, noticing the dust all over Hao Jian''s clothes. It was from installing the light tube, but Hao Jian seemed indifferent: "No need, I''ll wash when I get home." "The hot water supply in this building runs until 2 a.m., and it''s already out," Sister Lan reminded him. This meant there was no hot water now, except in her home. Hao Jian nced at his watch and said with a smile, "That might be a bit inconvenient, right?" "What''s inconvenient about it, stop talking nonsense." Sister Lan directly pushed Hao Jian into the bathroom, saying, "I''ll go get my husband''s clothes for you. You won''t mind, right? I bought him several outfits he''s never worn!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Sister Lan was clearly worried Hao Jian might mind, and her tone was slightly cautious. "I don''t mind! Thanks, Sister Lan!" Hao Jian gave a wry smile, then stripped off his clothes and stepped into the bathtub to shower. "Hao Jian, I''ming in now," Sister Lan announced, pushing the door open and cing the clothes on top of the washing machine. She had nned to leave immediately after putting down the clothes, but suddenly, a sight caught her eye. Through the semi-transparent curtain, a vigorous figure appeared before her! Hao Jian was extremely well-built and muscr, the kind whose physique looked sculpted when undressed and slim when dressed. Especially his sharply defined muscles, surely on par with top male models! Sister Lan had never seriously sized him up before, but for some reason today, she began to take notice. She watched as the water streamed over Hao Jian''s robust chest muscles, also eyeing the striking curves of his eight-pack abdominals. "This guy''s physique is really impressive. He used to sneak peeks at me bathing. Now it''s my turn to sneak a peek, it¡­. it should be okay, right?" Sister Lan thought to herself, her face flushing deeply as she involuntarily swallowed and scrutinized him even more intently, her breathing bing more rapid. "Sister Lan, do you need anything else?" At that moment, Hao Jian sensed something was off, as it seemed Sister Lan hadn''t left. "Oh, no, nothing. I''m leaving now. Take your time, no rush," Sister Lan replied. Sister Lan suddenly snapped back to reality, and like she was fleeing, rushed out of the bathroom, then closed the door behind her. She leaned against the door, her palms already covered in cold sweat, her cheeks flushed red. What was happening to her, why did she suddenly behave like this, almost like a hungry subus, just short of drooling. After bathing, Hao Jian pushed the door open and walked out, now wearing the clothes of Sister Lan''s deceased husband. Logically, wearing the clothes of a deceased person is considered unlucky, but since these clothes were never worn after they were bought, Sister Lan thought it shouldn''t matter. Sister Lan''s husband had died in a car ident, leaving her and their daughter alone. At that time, Sister Lan was just a housewife and had to take on the burden of supporting the family, sustaining her daughter. Fortunately, her husband had left them a house, albeit a bit rundown, but it was still a means of survival. By now, Sister Lan had calmed down, holding Tongtong while watching TV. "Sister Lan, I''m done washing," Hao Jian said as he walked over. Tongtong and Sister Lan, hearing this, turned their heads to look! However, at this sight, both mother and daughter trembled violently, their expressions becamepletely nk, looking as if they had seen a ghost. "What''s wrong?" Hao Jian scratched his head, knowing he was quite handsome, and even exceptionally so, but that shouldn''t shock the mother and daughter to this extent! Sister Lan didn''t speak, just kept crying continuously. Tongtong also had tear-filled eyes, pointing at Hao Jian, her voice choked, "Daddy..." "What?" Hao Jian was terrified, his guts nearly failing him, as he hurriedly looked around, thinking that Sister Lan''s husband had appeared, angry to see him wearing his clothes, and hade to trouble him. Then he suddenly realized, Sister Lan and her daughter were crying because they saw him wearing her husband''s (dad''s) clothes, stirring up their feelings of remembrance. It must be said, Sister Lan''s husband had a physique quite simr to Hao Jian''s, both looking so thin, and now Hao Jian wearing the man''s clothes was essentially adopting his style. At first nce, it immediately gave the mother and daughter the illusion that their husband (father) hade back. At that point, Sister Lan and Tongtong both began to weep, staring nkly at Hao Jian, speechless. This emotional turmoil would take time to settle, as Hao Jian had stirred up the pain buried in their hearts. "I... I''m so sorry..." Hao Jian sighed, had he known this would happen, he would never have agreed to take a bath at Sister Lan''s ce; now, he had ended up making both women cry. This merely showed Hao Jian bore a striking resemnce to Sister Lan''s husband, otherwise, no matter how much he wore the man''s clothes, he wouldn''t have looked simr. "No, it''s not your fault, it''s just us being too fragile," Sister Lan shook her head, thinking she could be resilient, till she saw that familiar appearance again and realized she had never moved on. "Mom, I want daddy toe back, I don''t want daddy to be dead, wuwuwu..." Tongtong hugged Sister Lan, crying loudly, the heart-wrenching sobs heartbreaking to hear. Sister Lan remained silent, just holding Tongtong and crying. She also didn''t know what to say, for she too wished her husband coulde back, but that was impossible. Hao Jian gave a wry smile, then stepped forward, patting Tongtong''s little head, "Tongtong, your dad isn''t dead?" "No, you''re lying! They all said my dad is dead!" Tongtong pped Hao Jian''s hand away, crying even harder. "No, he really isn''t dead, he''s just gone to a very, very far ce," Hao Jian said softly: "That ce is called Heaven, and right now he''s in Heaven watching over you." "Heaven? Are you telling the truth?" Tongtong stopped crying, yet asked while sniffling. Chapter 60 Boyfriend! "Of course, when have I ever lied to you?" Hao Jian frowned, pretending to be displeased. "It''s Uncle." Tongtong, the little girl, corrected him. Hearing this, Hao Jian was exasperated, damn, this little brat was so hard to deal with. Sister Lan alsoughed at her innocent look, reaching to wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes. "Alright, alright, it''s Uncle," Hao Jian reluctantly said, "Your dad hasn''t died, he just went to Heaven, you should know that, everyone has to go to Heaven." "Then why did Dad have to go to Heaven? Doesn''t he want Tongtong anymore? Did Tongtong do something wrong to make Dad angry?" By this point, Tongtong''s eyes were moist again. "No, he went to Heaven because God needed him," Hao Jian improvised. Sister Lan''s expression also turned doubtful, what kind of an exnation was that. "Then why does God need him?" Tongtong voiced her mother''s confusion. "That''s because your dad was a very excellent person, so God needed him," Hao Jian said with a gentle smile on his face, "God needed an actor, so Leslie Cheung went; God needed a dancer, so Michael Jackson went; God needed a smartphone, so Steve Jobs went; everyone thinks they died, but actually, they were just taken away by God." Hao Jian pinched Tongtong''s cheek, smiled, and said, "Your dad might be watching us from Heaven right now, and if he sees Tongtong crying for him, he would certainly be very sad." "Tongtong won''t cry! Tongtong is very strong!" Tongtong wiped the tears from the corner of her eye and said loudly. "Very good, I knew Tongtong was strong. Now that Dad is gone, you''ll have to protect Mom for him, okay?" Hao Jian said seriously. "Yes, Tongtong will definitely protect Mom!" Tongtong clenched her fists and earnestly promised. Hao Jian ruffled her head again before he stood up to leave. As he reached the door, Sister Lan looked at Hao Jian with a peculiar gaze, "Hao Jian, thank you..." "Thank me for what? I should be saying sorry for making the two of you cry," standing at Sister Lan''s doorstep, Hao Jian said with a bitter smile. Blushing, Sister Lan lowered her head, unable to meet Hao Jian''s gaze, and said softly, "That, could you keep wearing that shirt?" "Uh?" Hao Jian paused for a moment, then understanding what Sister Lan meant, smiled helplessly, "Alright then." "But Sister Lan, have you thought about remarrying? Given your current home situation, you really need a man." Hao Jian suddenly asked this question, seeing the state of Sister Lan''s home, he always felt itcked something indistinct yet vital. Sister Lan''s expression stiffened, but she shook her head directly, "I don''t want to think about that question for now, it''s veryte, you should go back first." "Alright then, I''m heading back!" Hao Jian smiled ruefully, thinking that perhaps he shouldn''t have asked that question. Sister Lan closed the door, but let out a weary sigh, this guy actually suggesting she find someone else, where was she in the mood for that? Before she could forget thest one, rashly moving on to a new rtionship would be irresponsible to both herself and Tongtong. Just then, Sister Lan saw Tongtong giggling and asked curiously, "What are youughing at?" "I''mughing at Uncle, he''s so silly, he doesn''t know how tofort people at all, speaking of Heaven as if it''s real, does he really think I''m a three-year-old?" Tongtong spoke with an air of maturity, intentionally mimicking an adult. "Then how old are you?" Sister Lan teased. "Five!" Tongtong held up five fingers. ... "Shanshan, where did this moneye from?" In the hospital, Shanshan''s mother asked. The olddy looked displeased. She knew Shanshan had no money and suspected Shanshan had done something she shouldn''t have in order to get the money.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Mom, I borrowed this money from a colleague," Shanshan hurriedly exined. "Borrowed from a colleague? Male or female? You haven''t worked long and aren''t familiar with them. Why would they lend you money?" the olddy pressed on. "It''s a male colleague. I told him about our family situation, and he lent it to me out of pity." Shanshan couldn''t help butugh and cry; her mother was overly worried. "Don''t me your mom for nagging, I''m just worried about you being taken advantage of, after all, there are many bad people out there," the olddy sighed. "Auntie, don''t worry. I know him, too. He even lent money to Shanshan without asking for a promissory note. Doesn''t that prove he''s a good person?" Xiaoxiao chimed in. She knew that if she didn''t speak up, the olddy would go on and on endlessly. Hearing this, the olddy still looked skeptical: "Does that only prove his head was caught in a door?" "Mom, he helped us. How can you say such things about him?" Shanshan got a bit angry. "Auntie, he is actually Shanshan''s boyfriend!" Xiaoxiao suddenly blurted out. "What?" Shanshan and the olddy shouted in unison. "Shanshan, is this true?" the olddy asked seriously. "This." Shanshan red at Xiaoxiao, about to exin, but Xiaoxiao interrupted: "Of course it''s true. How could we lie to you about something like this?" Shanshan waspletely stunned. The olddyughed heartily, "Look at you, why didn''t you tell mom about such a big thing?" The olddy knew about her own condition. Honestly, she was not so concerned about surviving anymore; she cared about Shanshan and her brother Zhibang. Zhibang hadn''t been admitted to college yet, and Shanshan wasn''t married; these were her worries. She also knew that for many years, Shanshan had been sacrificing for the family, which had been unfair to her. Now, because of her own reasons, Shanshan dared not find a boyfriend. The olddy didn''t want to continue being a burden to Shanshan, so hearing that Shanshan now had a boyfriend made her extremely happy. "Come out here!" Shanshan beckoned Xiaoxiao with a hooked finger in an unfriendly tone, then walked out. Xiaoxiao stuck out her tongue, saying, "Auntie, don''t worry, she''s just upset with me for talking about it without her permission. I''ll go talk to her, and I''ll be right back." Outside the hospital room, Shanshan pulled Xiaoxiao over and asked somewhat angrily: "Why are you talking nonsense? How did Hao Jian be my boyfriend?" "I was considering the olddy''s feelings. Didn''t you hear what the doctor said? What the olddy needs most right now is to maintain a cheerful mood, as it helps with the surgery treatment." Xiaoxiao exined, "Your mom''s biggest hope right now is that you find a good ce to settle down. Mine was a white lie. What''s important isn''t what I said but that it made the olddy very happy, right?" Chapter 61 Movie Star Ah! Hearing Che Xiaoxiao''s exnation, Yuan Shanshan said with a somewhat ashamed expression: "I''m sorry, I misunderstood you." "Don''t be silly, who are we kidding, do we need to say sorry?" Che Xiaoxiao suddenly hugged Yuan Shanshan''s neck and said with a mischievous smile, "If you really feel sorry, then let me grab your chest." As she spoke, her wicked hand made its move. "Ah, no." Yuan Shanshan struggled quickly, her face flushed like the tide. "No fighting or frolicking in the hospital!" a nurse reprimanded sternly. Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao both stuck out their tongues and went back to the ward. "What were you two chatting about?" The olddy asked, puzzled. Was there anything that she couldn''t hear? "Nothing much, just that Shanshan felt shy. She originally told me not to mention that she had a boyfriend, but my big mouth identally let it slip," Che Xiaoxiao exined with a chuckle. "What''s there to be shy about, it''s only natural for men to marry and women to wed," the olddy teased, then said: "Right, find some time to bring your boyfriend over." "Ah?" Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao were both dumbfounded; they just wanted to make the olddy happy, they didn''t n on really bringing a boyfriend to meet her. "What, is that not possible?" The olddy was clearly unhappy, her expression filled with suspicion. "Of course not, how could it be?" Che Xiaoxiao forced augh, her expression a bit unnatural, thinking to herself that now she was in trouble. "Good, then you bring him tomorrow. Okay, I''m tired, you can go out now." The olddyy down, leaving them no chance to refuse. Once they left the hospital, Yuan Shanshan looked utterly dejected: "Great, now my mom wants to meet a boyfriend, where am I supposed to find one for her?" "What are you afraid of, there''s Hao Jian for problems like this!" Che Xiaoxiao said with a yful grin; wasn''t finding a boyfriend simple? Just find someone to pretend. "Guess there''s no other choice now." Yuan Shanshan sighed. It seemed she would have to trouble Hao Jian. ... "What? You want me to be your boyfriend?" Hao Jian waspletely surprised, looking at Yuan Shanshan with a face full of astonishment! Are the girls of today so direct? Giving a guy no time to prepare... that''s just too wicked! And his loud voice made many colleagues look over. "Keep your voice down, it''s not about really wanting you to be my boyfriend, but to fool my mom for a bit. She has always wanted me to find a boyfriend, so I just thought I''d fulfill that wish for her," Yuan Shanshan exined. "You got me scared for a moment, sure, when should we go see the olddy? How about tomorrow? I have the day off," Hao Jian said. "You agreed?" Yuan Shanshan stared nkly, surprised that Hao Jian agreed so easily. "It''s a simple gesture of help." Hao Jian shrugged his shoulders, fulfilling the wish of an ailing olddy was a good thing, and he had no reason to refuse. "Why are you so nice to me?" Yuan Shanshan couldn''t help asking. Clearly, the olddy''s words also had some effect on her. She wanted to know if Hao Jian was genuinely pitying her, or if he had other ulterior motives. "Nice to you? Am I?" Hao Jian scratched his head, embarrassed, and started to smile. "Of course, there is!" Yuan Shanshan asserted confidently, "Normal people wouldn''t lend money to a stranger, but you not only lent it, you didn''t even require me to write an IOU; it''s as if you''re not even afraid I won''t pay you back." "Because I''m an orphan, I didn''t want to see you be one too," Hao Jian said with a smile, choosing to be honest with Yuan Shanshan to prevent her from worrying.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "You''re an orphan?" Yuan Shanshan was greatly surprised, and Che Xiaoxiao beside her also gasped sharply. Because Hao Jian had always been joking andughing, they had never imagined that he had such a past. "I''m sorry, I didn''t do it on purpose," Yuan Shanshan said, her head lowered. Had she known, she wouldn''t have asked. "Come on, do I look like a man with a ss heart?" Hao Jian said impatiently, disliking this sort of fussiness the most. The very next morning, Hao Jian went to the hospital with Yuan Shanshan, Che Xiaoxiao, and the others. At that time in the hospital room, aside from the olddy, Yuan Shanshan''s brother, Yuan Zhibang, was also there. Having heard that his sister had a boyfriend, he wanted to see for himself, but when Yuan Zhibang looked at Hao Jian, his eyes showed a trace of hostility. Hao Jian just smiled and didn''t mind, knowing this was a child''s psychology, feeling as if his sister was taken away from him, which caused him to resist Hao Jian instinctively. Today, Hao Jian was wearing a well-fitted suit, of course, rented for a hundred yuan a day, which made him look rather presentable, like a sessful man. "Auntie, hello, my name is Hao Jian, I''vee to visit you," Hao Jian greeted the olddy enthusiastically. "Are you Yuan Shanshan''s boyfriend?" The olddy''s eyes shone. She hadn''t entirely believed Che Xiaoxiao and Yuan Shanshan earlier, but now that she saw the man in person, she believed it. "You''re my sister''s boyfriend, why haven''t I heard her mention you?" Yuan Zhibang asked with a stern face. At Yuan Zhibang''s question, Hao Jian and the others were taken aback, as the hostility on Yuan Zhibang''s face was not the least bit concealed. But Hao Jian responded with ease, smiling, "That''s because Shanshan is quite shy, so we had to keep our rtionship on the down low. I''ve always wanted to meet her family, but she was worried about burdening me and so she refused." As he spoke, Hao Jian looked tenderly at Yuan Shanshan, his demeanor as if Yuan Shanshan really was his girlfriend. And in that moment, Yuan Shanshan felt as though she truly was Hao Jian''s girlfriend, almost melted by the tender look in his eyes. "Best Actor, for sure!" Che Xiaoxiao sighed inwardly; if she hadn''t been in on the secret, she might have truly believed that Hao Jian and Yuan Shanshan were an item. Upon hearing this, the olddy sighed, "This girl Shanshan has sacrificed too much for our family ever since she was little, especially with my illness burdening her. Fortunately, I won''t live much longer and won''t have to be a burden to her." The olddy spoke somewhat willfully, but she was conveying a message to Hao Jian: I''m going to die soon, so you don''t have to worry about me being a burden after you marry Yuan Shanshan. She hoped Hao Jian would treat Yuan Shanshan well. "Mom, why would you say that?" Yuan Shanshan, upset by the olddy''s words, almost cried. This talk of dying... At this moment, Yuan Zhibang also spoke up, but with a cold expression, "That''s right, our family is a burden. If you can''t ept that, I suggest you break up with my sister sooner rather thanter!" "Zhibang, what nonsense are you spouting? Have you lost your mind?" The olddy hit Yuan Zhibang on the head. Yuan Shanshan had finally found a boyfriend, and now Yuan Zhibang was thinking of scaring him away? Chapter 62 Let Your Brother-in-Law Hear Your Voice! Yuan Zhibang snorted and turned his head away without speaking. "Auntie, since I have chosen Yuan Shanshan, I will ept everything about her, including her family and her rtives. You just focus on recuperating with peace of mind. Fortunately, I earned some money in business in my earlier years, so you don''t have to worry about the medical expenses."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Easier said than done. Do you know how much a heart transnt surgery costs? Two million! Do you have that much money?" Yuan Zhibang said with sarcasm, thinking that Hao Jian dared to speak like this only because he was unaware of the pressure their family was facing. Once he knew, he would choose to leave them without hesitation. "Two million, I can stille up with it," Hao Jian said with a smile, as it just so happened he had two million on hand. "No, how can I ept your money? You should save that money to get married, buy a house, and give Yuan Shanshan a home." The olddy''s head shook like a rattle drum, feeling that it made more sense to use the money to take care of Yuan Shanshan than to save her, someone who was about to die. "Auntie, what makes a ''home'' home isn''t just having a house. It''s the people inside it. If there are no people left, even the biggest house cannot be called a home," Hao Jian said with a smile. He hadn''t done many good things in his life, but now he wanted to do some. "And to Yuan Shanshan, you are the ''person'' who is essential to this ''home,'' so you definitely cannot die. Even if we live in a rented apartment or even a garbage dump forever, as long as we have each other, what does it matter?" Hearing this, everyone felt touched, and the olddy''s eyes moistened as she smiled and said: "I didn''t expect someone as young as you to be so mature. Your parents must be extraordinary people to bring up a son like you." Clearly, the olddy was very satisfied with Hao Jian. And the reason Hao Jian had matured so much was that he had been through a great deal, which taught him the value of cherishing what''s truly important. Wealth and power were fleeting; only simplicity was real. "All talk, looking as pretty as a flower. Show me when you actually do it," Yuan Zhibang said teasingly. Stay tuned to empire He recalled his college professor telling him, if you want to understand what someone is like, do not listen to what they say, but look at what they do. "What''s with you today? From the moment your brother-inw came here, you''ve been nitpicking on him non-stop. Did he offend you?" the olddy said angrily. "He''s not my brother-inw!" Yuan Zhibang said angrily. At that moment, Yuan Shanshan noticed that Yuan Zhibang had some bruises on his face and asked: "What happened to your face? Did you get into a fight?" "No, I identally scraped myself," Yuan Zhibang exined hastily and then walked out of the room with his crutches. "I''m sorry, Hao Jian, I don''t know what''s gotten into him today." The olddy looked embarrassed; she hadn''t expected Yuan Zhibang to be so disrespectful. "It''s okay, I''ll go talk to him," said Hao Jian with a smile. Then he followed Yuan Zhibang out, seeing through the lie¡ªthere was no way the scar on Yuan Zhibang''s face was from a mere scrape. The scar was on the side of his nose. If it was a scrape, the cheek or nose itself would be scraped first, but neither had any marks. If Hao Jian was not mistaken, those marks were likely caused by a fist. Leaving the ward, Hao Jian wandered around the hospital until he finally found Yuan Zhibang in a corner. Yuan Zhibang was there, a cigarette between his fingers, taking deep drags, with a gloomy expression on his face. "If your mom and your sister knew you smoked, they''d be heartbroken, wouldn''t they?" Hao Jian said mockingly. Startled by the sudden voice, Yuan Zhibang nearly reflexively threw the cigarette behind him. Seeing this, Hao Jian''s smile grew. He was still a kid, after all. When he saw it was Hao Jian, Yuan Zhibang''s expression soured: "Do you really need to meddle? Do you actually think you''re my sister''s husband?" "You might not see me as your brother-inw, that''s your business, I can''t stop you. And I could tell your sister about your smoking, and you can''t stop me," Hao Jian replied with a chuckle. "You." Anger red across Yuan Zhibang''s face; this guy was just a rascal. "Cut the crap, and call me brother-inw to see how it sounds!" "Keep dreaming!" There was no way Yuan Zhibang could bring himself to call Hao Jian, this rascal, his brother-inw. In Yuan Zhibang''s eyes, only a truly exceptional person could be worthy of his sister, Yuan Shanshan. Certainly not a rogue. "Then I''m going to find your sister," Hao Jian turned to leave. "You''re not allowed!" Yuan Zhibang immediately blocked Hao Jian''s way, hands spread wide, like a hen protecting her chicks. "What''s the matter, you n on hitting me?" Hao Jian saw the fierce expression on Yuan Zhibang''s face and teased him. "You''re not allowed to tell my sister." Yuan Shanshan didn''t know about his smoking; if she found out, she would certainly be furious. "Fine, then call me brother-inw," Hao Jian said yfully. "Why do you insist on me calling you brother-inw?" Yuan Zhibang was at a loss. Was this guy sick or something? "No reason, I just think you''re stubborn, so I don''t like you," Hao Jian said bluntly. Then Yuan Zhibang''s face darkened; he never expected Hao Jian to be so direct. Hao Jian was not the kind to return hatred with kindness. Yuan Zhibang had just shown him great disrespect, and Hao Jian was quite vindictive. "Are you going to call me or not? If not, I''m leaving," Hao Jian started to take a step away, ready to leave. "Brother-inw!" Yuan Zhibang shouted with a dark expression, feeling extremely humiliated. "Aye, that''s my good boy." Hao Jianughed heartily, then came over and patted Yuan Zhibang on the shoulder: "Alright, I promise I won''t tell Yuan Shanshan." Yuan Zhibang pulled away, his face expressionless, "Can I go now?" "Hold on, first tell me how you got the wound on your face," Hao Jian pointed at Yuan Zhibang''s face. Yuan Zhibang''s expression became unnatural, subconsciously covering the wound with his hand, annoyed: "What''s it to you?" Chapter 63 The Bully Comes Knocking! Yuan Zhibang was bing impatient as Hao Jian kept asking questions, making him ufortable. "If I''m not mistaken, you must have been beaten up! Not just your face, but your body too, right? And the injuries are not minor!" Hao Jian looked at Yuan Zhibang with a suggestive expression, having already deduced everything. "How¡­ how did you know?" Yuan Zhibang was slightly stunned, the words slipping out before he regretted them¡ªhe had just admitted to being beaten up. "Because you lean slightly forward when you walk, probably due to a painful wound on your chest, right? Also, your leg has been trembling, clearly from pain! Besides, there''s a malicious look on your face, and your mood seems rather irritable. This must mean you are suffering from severe pain, causing your emotions to be unstable and easily angered!" As Hao Jian spoke, Yuan Zhibang''s face changed from surprise to shock, and finally to deep fear! Beforeing to the hospital, he had carefully concealed his injuries; even his mother and sister hadn''t noticed them, but Hao Jian had seen right through him! His insight was almost devilish! "Tell me, who did this to you?" Hao Jian offered Yuan Zhibang a cigarette, then lit one for himself and leaned against the wall, slowly smoking. "I don''t want to talk about it," Yuan Zhibang refused to say, feeling it was embarrassing as it bruised his pride. "Then I''ll tell Yuan Shanshan." Hao Jian stepped forward as if to leave. "No, I''ll talk. It was because they made fun of me for not having a leg, so I retorted and they beat me up!" Yuan Zhibang could only say it with a grim look. Upon hearing this, Hao Jian''s eyes narrowed into slits. Bullying a disabled person, those brats were truly excessive. "I told you everything, can I go now?" Yuan Zhibang asked impatiently. Speaking of such an embarrassing event, he too felt ufortable. Only then did Hao Jian shrug his shoulders, allowing Yuan Zhibang to leave, but at the moment, he was thoughtfully stroking his chin, his eyes gleaming with wonder. ... "Where''s your brother-inw?" Back in the ward, the olddy asked irritably, confused by Yuan Zhibang''s behavior that day. "I don''t know." Yuan Zhibang replied impatiently, what brother-inw, he was simply a rascal! "Ah¡­ you this child¡­" The olddy sighed and shook her head, utterly perplexed by the usually well-behaved Yuan Zhibang''s sudden explosive behavior as if he had explosive in his system. "Why do you smell of smoke?" Suddenly, Yuan Shanshan caught a whiff of the smell and gazed sharply at Yuan Zhibang: "Have you been smoking?" Yuan Zhibang''s heart skipped a beat, doomed¡ªhe had forgotten to dissipate the smoke smell before returning because he''d been rattled by the jerk. "It''s the smell of cigarettes on me."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Just then, Hao Jian walked in, iming that the smell came from him. Hearing this, Yuan Shanshan and the others nodded and seemed relieved. Yuan Zhibang was astonished as he stared at Hao Jian, not expecting him to cover for him. Hao Jian winked at Yuan Zhibang, signaling that he would keep his secret, while Yuan Zhibang just rolled his eyes and ignored him. Hao Jian sat down and began chatting with the olddy, his ''Friend of Women'' nature fullying into y, making herugh from time to time. Before they knew it, an hour had passed. While everyone was enjoying the lively chat, the door was cracked open and a young man peeked inside! When the young man saw Yuan Zhibang, he suddenly grinned, his expression unnervingly sinister, then he retreated and closed the door! This left Hao Jian and the others quite puzzled, but it made Yuan Zhibang extremely restless. Yuan Zhibang jumped to his feet, his face ashen as he looked toward the door. "What? Do you know him?" Hao Jian, noticing Yuan Zhibang''s abnormal reaction, furrowed his brows. "Call the police! Quick!" Yuan Zhibang yelled out, his demeanor bing tense. "Zhibang, what''s wrong, just tell us!" Seeing Yuan Zhibang like this, the olddy also began to feel uneasy. "Just call the police, I don''t have time to exin," Yuan Zhibang said anxiously, trying to close the door, but at that moment, the door was kicked open from outside. Bang! Immediately after, huffing and puffing, several fierce-looking burly men barged in! These burly men were tall and robust, with strong, powerful builds and rough, fierce faces! Leading them was a dark-skinned young man with his head wrapped in a bandage, about the same age as Yuan Zhibang! Seeing this person, Yuan Zhibang instinctively backed away several steps, his face showing panic. "Yuan Zhibang, you really made it a hell of a job for me to find you," the dark-skinned young man sneered coldly, his expression turning cruel. "Who are you, and what do you want?" Yuan Shanshan also sensed malevolence in their arrival and stood in front of Yuan Zhibang, shouting at the dark-skinned young man. The dark-skinned young man''s eyes lit up immediately, having never seen such a beautiful woman before. Then he chuckled, "Beauty, my name is Du Haitao. What''s your name? What''s your rtionship with this trash?" Upon hearing this, the olddy and Yuan Shanshan both frowned, their faces showing displeasure. "I am Yuan Zhibang''s sister. What do you want?" Yuan Shanshan asked impatiently, sensing that Du Haitao was up to no good. "Yuan Zhibang''s sister?" Du Haitao was secretly astonished. He looked at Yuan Zhibang, then at Yuan Shanshan, indeed noticing some resemnce in their facial features. "Didn''t expect Yuan Zhibang to have such a beautiful sister," Du Haitao sneered strangely, obviously scheming something. "Du Haitao, what... what are you here for?" Seeing Du Haitao leering at his sister, Yuan Zhibang immediately knew what he was plotting, and his expression turned sour as he shouted. "What am I here for? Hehe... Yuan Zhibang, don''t you know?" Du Haitao''s face was full of sarcasm, then he pointed at his own head: "You bashed my head like this, and now you''re asking me what I''m here for? I got hurt, but it''s as though you''re the one with amnesia?" "What? Zhibang, is what he''s saying true?" The olddy looked at Yuan Zhibang angrily; she worked hard for him to study, and yet Yuan Zhibang was causing trouble at school? "They started it first! They called me poor, a cripple! They wanted me to crawl through their legs, so I hit him in anger. The teacher said it wasn''t my fault. He deliberately tried to stir up trouble!" Yuan Zhibang loudly defended himself, as Du Haitao was clearly distorting the facts. "Is that so?" Yuan Shanshan watched Du Haitao coldly, clearly unable to tolerate such treatment of Yuan Zhibang. "So what? I didn''t say anything wrong, isn''t he a cripple?" Du Haitao scoffed disdainfully, then said impatiently, "Alright, Yuan Zhibang, quit your yapping. You''ve cracked my head; what are you going to do about it?" "I''llpensate you for the medical expenses," Yuan Shanshan stated sternly. "Sis, why should you pay their medical bills? They were at fault, and I got hit too." Find adventures at empire Yuan Zhibang was displeased upon hearing this, why should he, when he did nothing wrong. Hao Jian also slightly raised his eyebrows, but he said nothing in the end, knowing that Yuan Shanshan must be worried. Now that Du Haitao had brought these burly men, if they didn''t pay up, today might just turn into an even more unfortunate day. "Shut up," Yuan Shanshan scolded, then asked Du Haitao with a grim expression: "Tell me, how much?" "Money? I''m not short of money." Du Haitao shook his head disdainfully; his father was a Mafia boss involved in shady dealings. Would he be short of money? "Then what do you want?" Yuan Shanshan felt that Du Haitao was bing increasingly troublesome. "You," Du Haitao chuckled lewdly, setting his sights on Yuan Shanshan. "As long as you, the older sister, sleep with me for one night, I''ll let bygones be bygones. I''ll even look out for him at school from now on! Hehe... How about that?" Chapter 64 Im Her Boyfriend! "Money? I sure don''tck money." Du Haitao sneered and shook his head. His father was a Mafia boss, dabbling in all sorts of dirty business, would heck money? "Then what do you want?" Yuan Shanshan felt increasingly that Du Haitao was tough to deal with. "You," Du Haitao leered with a dirtyugh, setting his sights on Yuan Shanshan. "As long as you, the elder sister, sleep with me for one night, I''ll let bygones be bygones, and I''ll look after him at school from now on! Hehe... How about that?" When they heard Du Haitao actually suggesting that Yuan Shanshan sleep with him, the faces of everyone in the room instantly turned ugly! "In your dreams!" Yuan Shanshan was so angry her pretty face turned red. Was this Du Haitao really just a high school student? To think he could say such things. Hao Jian cracked a slight smile; he could tell that this Du Haitao was indeed different, with a streak of ruthlessness in his bones, likely rted to his family background. "If you don''t agree, then I''ll just have to let someone find your little brother for a chat every once in a while." Du Haitao looked at Yuan Shanshan with a smirk, while the burly men behind him all revealed fierce expressions. "I''ll call the police!" Yuan Shanshan warned, her face pallid. "Call the police? I could simply have someone cripple him, and even if the police investigate, they won''t trace it back to me." Du Haitaoughed smugly. His father was a big shot, how could he not have any background? Du Haitao didn''t take the police seriously at all. Hearing this, Yuan Shanshan''s pretty face looked extremely grim! With Du Haitao apanied by several vicious men, and not even fearing the police, it was clear he was a young master from a rich and powerful family! Facing such a person, she felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness! "This is a hospital, you should leave quickly! Otherwise, I''ll call for help!" the elderlydy urgently shouted, her face showing extreme anxiety. She didn''t want anything bad happening to her son and certainly not to her daughter! Moreover, if something happened to her daughter, what would she and Hao Jian do? The elderlydy still naively thought that Yuan Shanshan and Hao Jian were in a boyfriend-girlfriend rtionship, and she was puzzled by Hao Jian''s silence at that moment. Her daughter was being bullied like this; why wasn''t he saying anything? If Yuan Shanshan really were Hao Jian''s girlfriend, then indeed, Hao Jian would do something. But the problem was, Yuan Shanshan was not. Hao Jian now wanted to live a normal life, and having finally found an opportunity to do so, he really didn''t want to give it up. Once he got involved in this matter, he would be forced into the midst of conflicts again. "Call for help?" Du Haitao was provoked toughter, then suddenly he flung a vase from inside the ward, hitting the elderlydy squarely in the face! With a ''crack,'' the elderlydy''s forehead bore a wound, and blood began to seep out. Du Haitao''s eyes glinted threateningly: "Let''s see who dares to call for help." Today, no one could spoil his fun, not even the Heavenly King. "You dare hit my mom?" Yuan Zhibang''s eyes were about to burst with anger, and he lunged at Du Haitao. "Zhibang, no!" Both the elderlydy and Yuan Shanshan shouted simultaneously, but it was toote; Yuan Zhibang had already swung his crutch at Du Haitao''s head. "Screw you!" Du Haitao cursed, and with a swift kick, he knocked Yuan Zhibang to the ground. "Hit him!" Du Haitaomanded fiercely at Yuan Zhibang, and then his father''s men started to punch and kick Yuan Zhibang mercilessly. "Stop hitting him! I''m going to call for help!" The elderlydy was so anxious she almost cried, her voice trembling. "Sure, go ahead, call for help. By the time people arrive, your son''s other leg will be broken too! Haha..." Du Haitaoughed maniacally. "Stop it! I... I agree to your terms!" Suddenly, a delicate shout silenced the entire ward. The Mafiosi stopped their assault and looked at Du Haitao. "What did you say? I didn''t hear you clearly." Du Haitao swallowed hard, feeling a little excited inside. It meant that tonight, he might be able to take the beauty home. "I only agreed to have dinner with you, please... let go of my brother," Yuan Shanshan said with a trembling voice. At this moment, she had no choice; she had to either protect herself or her brother, and she could only choose thetter! Moreover, she had only agreed to have dinner with Du Haitao. If he attempted anything improper, then Yuan Shanshan would rather die thanpromise her chastity! "Sister, you can''t agree to this; he will ruin you!" Find your next read on empiren/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Yuan Zhibang''s eyes were almost splitting with his roars. He was well aware of what kind of person Du Haitao was; if Yuan Shanshan went with him tonight, it would really mean the loss of her chastity. At this moment, Yuan Zhibang regretted that Hao Jian was a coward, standing by doing nothing while someone was about to take advantage of his girlfriend. "Shut your mouth!" Du Haitao stomped hard on Yuan Zhibang''s head. Damn, still daring to ruin my ns at this time, truly courting death. "Shanshan, your brother is right, you can''t go with him," the elderly woman cried out in panic. "Old hag, do you think I wouldn''t dare to touch you just because you''re old? Keep nagging, and I''ll cripple you," Du Haitao threatened with a ferocious expression. "Mom, don''t worry about me; I''m fine," Yuan Shanshan forced a smile, her hands clenched into fists, prepared to end her life at any moment. Hearing this, Du Haitao let out a lecherousugh and said to Yuan Shanshan: "Beautiful sister, shall we go?" Yuan Shanshan''s delicate body trembled slightly, hesitated for a moment, but still decided to go with Du Haitao. "Hold on!" Just then, a voice that had been lurking for a long time finally spoke up. "Hao Jian, you..." Yuan Shanshan turned back in astonishment to look at Hao Jian. "Did I say you could leave?" Hao Jian feigned anger. Yet he sighed inwardly,menting that he was too soft-hearted after all. "But..." Yuan Shanshan wanted to argue. She didn''t want to go either, but could she really not go? "There''s no buts about it. I didn''t let you go, so you''re not going," Hao Jian said with an air of authority. "Damn, who do you think you are? How dare you speak with such a tone?" Du Haitao waspletely furious, one person after another interfering with his good time; did they really think Du Haitao was a pushover? "I''m her boyfriend," Hao Jian dered proudly. "Boyfriend?" Du Haitao was startled for a moment, then dismissed it: "So what? Today, I''m going to have my way with your girlfriend! Aren''t you just cheap, if you had acted the quail quietly, wouldn''t everything have been fine? Yet you had to y the hero? Now look, I''ll not only have fun with your girlfriend but also give you a good beating!" Feeling somewhat triumphant, Du Haitao waved his hand and shouted at his men: "Get him! Beat this guy into a cripple!" "No! Stop it!" Yuan Shanshan screamed, trying to halt them, but was pushed away by Du Haitao''s men. Hao Jian looked at the several burly men surrounding him, yet a trace of a smile appeared on his lips. He said to Du Haitao: "I''ll give you a chance now. Take your people and leave, and I''ll pretend nothing ever happened." "Fuck!" Du Haitaoughed in anger, this was the most ridiculous joke he had heard this century. Then a group of henchmen charged at Hao Jian, whose expression didn''t change as he moved like lightning, grabbing one man''s throat and subduing him instantly. The man looked at Hao Jian in terror but didn''t dare to move a muscle. He felt that Hao Jian had aplete grip on his windpipe, and the slightest movement could cause him excruciating pain. Hao Jian threw him harshly to the ground before darting out like a bolt of lightning. When he returned to his original spot, what happened next astounded everyone present! Chapter 65 Im not short on money At this moment, on the floor of the hospital ward, several burly meny sprawled! Their eyes tightly shut, their bodies limp, they had already fainted away! "How... how is this possible?" Du Haitao was dumbstruck; he had brought some strong fighters this time, each capable of taking on three with ease. But now they couldn''t even make one move against this man before being instantly taken down, and what terrified him the most was that he hadn''t even seen how Hao Jian made his move! It wasn''t just Du Haitao; everyone in the room, including Yuan Shanshan, covered their mouths in shock, their eyes almost popping out! Several fierce and strong men had been knocked unconscious in an instant... such a feat was nothing short of monstrous! "Come here!" Hao Jian bellowed at Du Haitao, while pointing to the spot at his feet. Upon hearing this, Du Haitao''s body jolted, and he felt as if his scalp was exploding; he turned to run away! "Damn it..." Du Haitao had just touched the doorknob, a relieved smile spreading across his face! But that smile didn''tst long before he felt his cor grabbed, his neck tightened, and he let out a "quack" simr to a duck''s call as Hao Jian yanked him back. "Don''t hurt me, please," Du Haitao immediately pleaded with a mournful face to Hao Jian. Everything had happened too fast; before anyone could react, it was all over. Seeing Du Haitao held like a little chicken in Hao Jian''s hand, they realized Hao Jian had saved all of them. Hao Jian looked at Du Haitao mockingly, "You tell me, aren''t you asking for trouble? If you had just listened to me, wouldn''t everything be fine? Why seek death?" "..." Du Haitao was speechless, the same old form, the familiar taste. "What should I do with you now?" Hao Jian said, grasping Du Haitao with one hand and propping his chin with the other, deep in thought. "Not like this, I can give you lots and lots of money," Du Haitao was on the verge of tears; how could he have known things would turn out this way? Experience more content on empire He thought it was a sure win with five against one; little did he know these subordinates were so useless, all talk of being gold-medal hitmen. Where could Du Haitao have known, it wasn''t that his men were too useless, but that Hao Jian was just too powerful. No gold-medal hitman could possibly be a match for the man known as the God of Death, right? "Money? I''m just like you, I don''tck money," Hao Jian said with a peculiar smile, before mming Du Haitao to the ground. Du Haitao was thrown so hard that he saw stars, yet he dared not utter a sound. "Take off your clothes!" Hao Jian looked emotionlessly at Du Haitao, not revealing what he nned to do. "What?" Du Haitao didn''t understand, why on earth was he asking him to take off his clothes. Hao Jian pped him and cursed, "When I tell you to take off your clothes, you take them off. Who asked for your opinion?" "Oh." Du Haitao, holding his face and looking aggrieved,plied with a sigh and took off his shirt, leaving him bare-chested. "Take off your pants as well," Hao Jian continued. At this point, even Yuan Shanshan and the others were puzzled about what Hao Jian was up to. At this moment, Hao Jian turned to the elderlydy and Yuan Zhibang and said, "Maybe you all should step out, because what I''m about to do may be somewhat unsavory." Hearing this, Du Haitao was nearly in tears, "Big brother, I''m not into guys, please let me go. I can give you money; you can find lots of handsome men." Turns out, Du Haitao thought Hao Jian had taken a fancy to him, nning to assault him. But it wasn''t surprising, with Hao Jian making him strip his clothes and pants, and not allowing anyone to watch, it did seem as if he was about to do ''that'' to him, right? At the same time, Yuan Zhibang and his group were stunned. Could Hao Jian really be nning to deal with this kid right here? Hao Jian was also angered and pped Du Haitao across the face, "Don''t tter yourself, who the hell told you I was going to mess with you? Just look at yourself!" "Then why do you want me to take off my pants?" Du Haitao looked at Hao Jian with a "pitiful" gaze. "I wanted to take a nude photo of you!" Hao Jian straightforwardly said. Yuan Shanshan and the others breathed a sigh of relief. So it was just for a nude photo. They really thought Hao Jian was going to do something to Du Haitao. If that were the case, they wouldn''t have been able to watch. "A nude photo?" Du Haitao eximed in shock. That would be even worse than if Hao Jian had vited him. If he took *that* photo of him, wouldn''t Hao Jian be able to threaten him anytime, anywhere? "Of course, I''m teaching you a lesson today, who knows if you''ll seek trouble with Yuan Zhibangter. I need to have something to keep you in line, don''t I?" Hao Jian said, winking at Du Haitao. But Du Haitao didn''t find it humorous at all, his cheeks flushed with urgency: "I won''t, I promise you!" "Pah! I never believe in promises, and besides, do you think your promise is worth any money?" Hao Jian said mockingly. At this moment, Yuan Zhibang was also stunned. He never imagined Hao Jian would go to such lengths for him, thinking everything through so thoroughly, even nning for his future. Thinking of this, Yuan Zhibang felt both uneasy and ashamed. He had treated Hao Jian so poorly just before, yet Hao Jian could have chosen only to save his sister and ignore him. The olddy and Yuan Shanshan were also lost in thought, touched by the reliability Hao Jian seemed to offer. "Aren''t you all leaving?" Hao Jian asked Yuan Shanshan and the others, but he was speechless. Why were they all staring at him like that? While he knew he was handsome, was there something wrong with that? Staring at someone so tantly, don''t you know, it can make one embarrassed,monly known as being shy! "I''m not leaving. My favorite things to watch are R-rated, so I''m staying here." Che Xiaoxiao said with a look that feared the world would not be in chaos. She wanted to see how exactly Hao Jian was going to take that photo of Du Haitao. "I''m not leaving either." Yuan Zhibang got up from the ground, angrily looking at Du Haitao. He wanted to see Du Haitao get humiliated. "I''ve lived such a long life, seen it all, just never a *beep*. I want to see it too," the olddy said yfully, though on the inside, she too harbored a grudge. "If they''re not leaving, then I''m not leaving either," Yuan Shanshan said, her face flushing. Du Haitao genuinely wanted to die. To be photographed like that was one thing, but to be disyed in public? This was like asking for his life, wasn''t it? "Alright then." Hao Jian could only give a wry smile and then said to Du Haitao: "You heard them. Everyone''s waiting for your performance, so hurry up and take your clothes off?" Du Haitao felt like a delicate woman surrounded by a gang of brutes, waiting to be stripped of her chastity. "Smack!" Another p went across Du Haitao''s face as Hao Jian angrily said, "Son of a bitch, are my words not working anymore?" "They are working," Du Haitao replied miserably and continued to take off his pants. "And you guys, take off your clothes too!" Hao Jian, after several ps, woke the unconscious thugs up and then pointed at them, ordering.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "We''d rather die than submit! If you have the guts, kill us!" "A man can be killed but not humiliated. We will never agree to such a shameless request. Give up!" "Exactly! We would never do such shameful things!" "We''re top-notch fighters, not top-notch nude models. You can forget about getting us to take off our clothes!" Chapter 66 Change Position! "Hey, right! Not bad! Very good! Come on, strike a different pose!" At this moment, inside the hospital room, Hao Jian was snapping photos wildly with his phone of Du Haitao and his subordinates. Apart from Du Haitao, all of his subordinates were sporting a bunch of panda eyes, and the previously dered ''death before dishonor'' quickly dissipated under Hao Jian''s vile threats. Right now, each person looked as if their parents had died, wanting to cry but unable to shed a tear. "Good, keep going! Stick your butt out more, Du Haitao, go sit on top of him," Hao Jianmanded Du Haitao. Du Haitao and the big guy were stark naked facing each other, both holding back their disgust as they hugged, feeling a surge of suicidal impulses. "Again, be more seductive! Du Haitao, put more of a smile on your face, a smile of enjoyment, more shameless, that''s right, just like that," Hao Jian continued to snap away fervently. "Hmm, not bad, not bad, let''s switch to something sexier. Du Haitao,e on, thrust your butt out and make a charming face." Explore more stories with empire After torturing them for about two hours, Hao Jian finally decided to call it quits. And during those two hours, the entire hospital room was filled with incessantughter. The onesughing the most exaggeratedly were naturally the olddy and Che Xiaoxiao. As Du Haitao and the others disyed various moves and expressions, these two straightforward women almost went into convulsions fromughing so hard. Yuan Shanshan, however, kept her head down shyly all the time, not daring to look at the unsightly scene. "All right, put your clothes on and get lost," Hao Jian said contentedly as he nced at the hundreds of photos on his phone and waved them off. Du Haitao and the others walked out of the hospital room, looking as though they had been vited over and over again, their heads hanging low in defeat. "Remember, if you dare to mess around, we''ll release these photos and bring both of us down together," Hao Jian shouted after Du Haitao. Du Haitao shuddered and then bolted. "Tch, what wimps," Hao Jian said disdainfully with a curl of his lip. "Hao Jian, we really owe you a big one this time. If it hadn''t been for you, we wouldn''t have known what to do. You''re a lifesaver to our Yuan family!" The olddy expressed her immense gratitude as, without Hao Jian today, Yuan Shanshan''s chastity would have certainly beenpromised. "Auntie, what are you talking about? Yuan Shanshan is my girlfriend; isn''t it only normal that I protect her?" Hao Jian said with a smile. But Yuan Shanshan herself couldn''t help but give a bitter smile since she knew this wasn''t normal at all, because Hao Jian was not her boyfriend. Yet for her sake, Hao Jian had gotten involved in this affair, and those people looked formidable at first nce, but Hao Jian had offended them for her. From the time they got to know each other until now, Hao Jian had truly done so much for her, and Yuan Shanshan genuinely felt grateful to him from the bottom of her heart.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "That''s right, that''s right. Shanshan is so fortunate to have found someone like you in her life. It''s truly the blessings from her past life," the olddy praised, growing even more fond of her prospective son-inw Hao Jian. "Brother-inw, thank you." At this moment, Yuan Zhibang couldn''t help but speak up weakly, but he was too embarrassed to look at Hao Jian, scratching the back of his head and turning his face to the side. This left Yuan Shanshan and the others stunned. Had Yuan Zhibang epted Hao Jian? "Well, all''s well that ends well," Che Xiaoxiaoughed heartily, certain that Hao Jian was truly a heaven-sent hero; seeking his help was undoubtedly the right decision. At this time, everyone was happy, except for Yuan Shanshan who felt somewhat despondent. Because she knew that all of this was a pretense, and after today, she would revert to being just friends with Hao Jian. At that moment, Yuan Shanshan couldn''t help but think, if only Hao Jian were truly her boyfriend, how wonderful that would be. And just at that moment, Hao Jian''s phone suddenly rang. As soon as he answered, a deafening roar came from the other end: "You damned son of a bitch, do you even remember what you''re supposed to do tonight?" Hao Jian''s heart skipped a beat. He was done for¡ªhe was supposed to meet Shu Ya''s father with her today, and now he waspletely dyed. Everyone in the hospital room was stunned into a daze; Shu Ya''s roar was so loud that they could hear everything clearly even without a loudspeaker. "I''m sorry, boss. I''ming back right now," Hao Jian hastily said, with utmost respect and without a hint of flippancy. "Be quick, or you''ll regret it!" Shu Ya threatened him, but she was extremely clever. Hearing how serious Hao Jian was, she immediately guessed that there must be some of her employees with him. "Is it the president?" Yuan Shanshan curiously asked, recognizing Shu Ya''s voice from the phone. "Yes, she wanted me to take her to meet someone tonight, but Ipletely forgot about it." Hao Jian''s face wore a bitter smile. It was all Du Haitao''s fault¡ªif it weren''t for them, how would he have been dyed? If Du Haitao knew what he was thinking at the moment, he would probably go insane with rage. It was clearly your own fault for losing track of time, what does that have to do with me? "Then you should hurry on now." Yuan Shanshan urged, knowing that work was important. Plus, the act they had put on was over; she couldn''t keep troubling Hao Jian forever. "Alright." Hao Jian nodded and then turned to the elderlydy and said, "Auntie, I''m sorry, but I have to go now. I''lle to see you another day." "No problem, no problem. It''s fine as long as I have Shanshan and the others to keep mepany," the elderlydy said, waving her hand with a beaming smile. As Hao Jian was preparing to leave, he stopped by Yuan Zhibang: "When some things go beyond your capability, what you should do is seek help from your family, not just shoulder it all by yourself. Because some burdens are too heavy to bear, and the more you try to hold on, the more severe the injury could be, and you could even end up involving others." "I understand, brother-inw," Yuan Zhibang said, nodding emphatically. He hade to admire Hao Jian greatly. Out of concern for his reputation, he hadn''t dared to tell his mother and sister about Young Master Du, which almost resulted in his sister being humiliated. If he had spoken up earlier, perhaps a solution would have been found by now. "Take down my phone number, and if Du Haitao bullies you again at school, call me. I''ll handle it for you," Hao Jian said, giving his phone number to Yuan Zhibang. Although he held a trump card, no one could guarantee that it would restrain Du Haitao. He didn''t want Yuan Zhibang to suffer because of his own revelry that day; if Du Haitao didn''t find him, he would definitely go after Yuan Zhibang. Afterward, Hao Jian didn''t linger any longer and rushed to the address Shu Ya had given him. ... "Young Master Du, are we just going to let this matter slide?" On the way back, one of the henchmen asked Du Haitao, his face still unwilling to ept what had happened. Being humiliated like that was even worse than being chopped with a knife. The incident today had caused tremendous psychological trauma to all of them, with the extent of their mental scars impossible to measure. Chapter 67 Do You Not Need Lines? "Forget it? When the hell have I, Du Haitao, ever been bullied like this before? I want them dead! That bastard has to die, that stinky bitch and the cripple too! All of them must die!!!" Du Haitao''s face was full of resentment, his words oozing with a fierce and ferocious intent! Every time Du Haitao remembered Hao Jian''s taunting smirk and theughter of Yuan Shanshan and others, he felt like his lungs were about to burst. "Then what do we do, our **** is still in their hands. If we make any rash moves, our **** might get exposed," another person said with a mournful face, hating the fact that they wanted revenge but couldn''t seek it¡ªsuch a feeling was hard to bear. "Just kill all of them, and I''d like to see who can still upload **** to the Inte," Du Haitao red with eyes wide, exuding a deadly re like a jackal. Everyone was shocked. Killing all five of them? That would be a problem for the forces behind them. Things weren''t like before; suddenly losing five people would definitely attract significant societal attention. They were also shocked that Du Haitao, at merely eighteen or neen, was so ruthless. Given time, he would definitely be a formidable and ruthless ck Boss. Hao Jian and Shu Ya met up at the Swan Grand Hotel, and the moment Shu Ya saw Hao Jian, she couldn''t help but reproach, "Didn''t I tell you today that I was going to meet him? How could you forget that?" "It''s not that I forgot; something urgent came up," Hao Jian replied apologetically. "Hmm? Changed into a suit too, huh? Not bad, not bad, at least there''s some brains in there," Shu Ya noticed Hao Jian''s attire and nodded in approval. "Yes. Yes, indeed." Hao Jian could only force augh. The reason he had put on the suit wasn''t for Shu Ya, but to meet Yuan Shanshan''s mother¡ªhowever, he dared not say that; otherwise, Shu Ya would likely tear him apart. "Let''s go, let''s head in," Shu Ya, taking Hao Jian''s hand, started walking towards the hotel. Hao Jian caught a waft of her appealing scent and couldn''t help but get distracted. He asked, "Just like this? Don''t we need to go over any lines or anything?" "No need; the whole point of bringing you to meet him is just for show! His reaction doesn''t matter to me; you don''t need to be overly humble with him after all, he''s nothing but trash," Shu Ya said emotionlessly. Hao Jian grinned bitterly. The rift between this father and daughter was indeed profound. Walking into the hotel''s private room, Hao Jian saw a man in his fifties, dressed in a suit and tie with a slicked-back hairdo, and a stylishly dressed woman with wavy hair. Seeing this, Hao Jian frowned because it was too incongruous. The man, despite being over fifty, wore a leopard print suit, which looked garish and though it made him appear somewhat younger, it also seemed frivolous. As for the woman, there was no need to mention her enormous headlights; if she imed they hadn''t been surgically enhanced, Hao Jian would never believe it. Sharp chin, high nose bridge, big eyes; this was nothing but a production line of South Korean cosmetic surgery. Hao Jian never understood what it was about Shu Ya''s father''s taste that made him prefer such artificial beauties. Hao Jian preferred natural beauty, so this type of woman was definitely not his cup of tea. Stay connected with empire "Shu Ya is here? Please, have a seat, have a seat," the woman briskly pulled out a chair for Shu Ya, looking very obsequious. It was no wonder, considering they always needed Shu Ya to provide money, so naturally, their demeanor had to be somewhat submissive. However, Shu Ya had no fond feelings for this home-wrecker and did not sit, instead casting a look towards Hao Jian. Hao Jian immediately understood and pulled out another chair for Shu Ya to sit. Once Shu Ya sat down, her face reflected that superior and aloof demeanour typical of those in power, speaking in a cold and firm tone, "Speak, why have you called me here?" Here, she didn''t seem like a daughter, but rather like a boss scolding her employees. Seeing this, Shu Yuntu''s expression soured, but he tried hard to maintain a fatherly dignity and asked, "Shu Ya, how is thepany doing recently?" "The preparations for the IPO have passed all the Multivariate Testing, and the Year To Date Financials are also fully prepared; the headquarters have already coordinated with the branches and are ready to go public at any time," Shu Ya said, rattling off a series of technical terms in session. Hao Jian wanted tough inside. Shu Ya was clearly mocking Shu Yuntu. How could an illiterate understand all this? Sure enough, at this moment, Shu Yuntu''s face turned red, and after a long while, he only managed to utter one word: "Oh." Shu Ya had said a lot, but he didn''t understand a word. All that MVT, YTD stuff, couldn''t she just say whether things were good or bad instead of making it soplicated. "Oh what?" Shu Ya didn''t seem ready to let it go. "No ''oh'' nothing." "If you have no ''oh'' nothing, why did you ''oh''?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "How can''t I just ''oh''?" "You know what I''m saying and you still just ''oh''?" Hao Jian was getting dizzy. What in the world was this ''oh'' about? "You don''t even understand the basicmercial jargon, and yet you think you can manage apany? Isn''t that a bit too far-fetched?" Shu Ya said mockingly. Shu Yuntu''s face turned grim, "I can learn." "Stop kidding. You can learn professional jargon, but can you learn how to be a CEO? Right now, thepany is at a critical juncture with the IPO; no one will give you time to learn slowly," Shu Ya snorted coldly. Her father was really too naive. Chapter 68 Shes Clinging to Me! Shu Yuntu thought carefully and found some reason in it. After all, even if he were to take over thepany, he wouldn''t know how to manage it¡ªthere was a good chance he might even cause thepany to lose money. "So how about this, you give me some shares? I don''t ask for too much, just five percent," Shu Yuntu said. Compared to taking over thepany, getting shares was more beneficial. Although he was illiterate, he knew that owning shares would allow him to receive dividends. "Not much? Five percent of Fanzhuo shares could sell for over a billion on the market. Your request isn''t excessive at all," Shu Ya mocked him, which was quite a lion''s demand. It wasn''t Shu Yuntu''s fault as a literacy, he thought five percent was very little, but he had no idea how much that five percent was worth. Owning that five percent meant that he would receive tens of millions in dividends annually, which was enough money for him to squander. Detecting the sarcasm in Shu Ya''s tone, Shu Yuntu looked displeased: "Shu Ya, no matter what, I am your father. Asking for five percent isn''t too much, right? After all, you own fifty-three percent of the shares, don''t you?" "Yes, Shu Ya! No matter what, Yuntu is your father. What father and daughter hold grudges overnight? Besides, it''s been so many years since then," Fu Jinmei also chimed in. She was ying the good cop at this moment, naturally because of the five percent of the shares. If Shu Yuntu could get those shares, she naturally could continue enjoying her life as a wealthy wife. However, Shu Ya felt utter disgust, staring coldly at Fu Jinmei: "I''m curious what stance you are taking to talk to me. Have you forgotten what you once did to my family? How can you be so shameless?" Fu Jinmei''s expression stiffened, her face turned ugly and she lowered her head, but a sh of resentment crossed her eyes. Shu Ya, however, was expressionless. This woman had once shattered her family and even caused her mother''s death by grief-stricken suicide¡ªshe was the one who should rightfully hold resentment. "Shu Ya, how can you speak like that? Jinmei is your aunt, no matter what. Don''t you think you''re being excessive?" Shu Yuntu urgently scolded. "She''s just a child, it''s no big deal," Fu Jinmei postured. "Stop ying the good person here. Was it not excessive when you got my mom killed?" Shu Ya was furious too. At this point, Shu Yuntu was still defending his mistress. It was hopeless; he would be manipted by this woman to his death. "She killed herself, it''s none of my business," Shu Yuntu said angrily. Thinking about it, it was because of those damn women who killed themselves that he had been kicked out of the house. "Mom did so much for you, and yet you say such things? You''re worse than a beast!" Shu Ya was gritting her teeth by now. She felt so unworthy for her mother, who had oncemitted suicide for Shu Yuntu, a beast who didn''t deserve it! "Just give me the shares and cut the crap!" Shu Yuntu eximed, infuriated by Shu Ya''s public humiliation. Shu Ya remained silent, only scoffing coldly at Shu Yuntu. In that moment, she suddenly calmed down. She realized she needn''t be so angry over such a scumbag. Was it worth it? She didn''t want to be a weak woman like her mother. Being stared at like this by Shu Ya, Shu Yuntu suddenly felt uneasy and hesitated: "Then... four percent?" Shu Ya stayed silent, her face increasingly mocking. "Three percent!" Shu Yuntu said through clenched teeth, knowing Shu Ya would not give more, so he chose topromise. Shu Ya shook her head, her face thick with hatred: "Don''t even think about it. I won''t give you a single penny." Thepany was her mother''s legacy, and Shu Yuntu had been using her mother''s money to support his mistress during her mother''s lifetime! Now, after her mother''s death, Shu Yuntu still wanted to continue? Shu Ya would not agree! "Shu Ya, I am your father!" Shu Yuntu eximed, gritting his teeth in anger. He had never felt the slightest remorse for Shu Ya''s mother''s death! In his eyes, it was all the woman''s fault for seeking her own death; he was not to me! And as Shu Ya''s father, he felt entitled to Shu Ya''s inheritance; after all, it was only natural for a child to support their parent! "No, my father died long ago," Shu Ya said with a coldugh. Father? Only remembering that I am your father when you need money, what about when you abandoned your wife? Did you not think of that then? "Shu Ya!!!" Shu Yuntu mmed the table and stood up, looking coldly at Shu Ya: "Don''t forget the agreement with your family; you only qualify to inherit thepany after you are married. So, currently, thepany still partially belongs to me!" Hao Jian couldn''t help butugh and cry; there''s too much drama in rich families, these are not father and daughter, but enemies.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Oh, is that so?" Shu Ya chuckled oddly and then hooked her arm into Hao Jian''s: "I forgot to introduce you, this is my boyfriend, Hao Jian. We are nning to get married next month!" "What?" Shu Yuntu and Fu Jinmei eximed simultaneously. If that was the case, they would get nothing. "What''s wrong, my father, your daughter is getting married. Aren''t you happy?" Shu Ya tilted her head, feigning confusion. "You cannot marry him!" Shu Yuntu dered emphatically. "Why?" Shu Ya asked with interest. "What do you do?" Shu Yuntu stared directly at Hao Jian. Hao Jian, frightened by Shu Yuntu''s abrupt question, gave a bitter smile: "I am a driver." "A driver?" Shu Yuntu let out a scoff, ring at Shu Ya: "You want to marry a driver?" Shu Ya was also speechless; this damn guy, never honest when he should be, but too honest when he shouldn''t be¡ªabsolutely infuriating. "Shu Ya''s taste is indeed unique," Fu Jinmeiughed coquettishly, her face full of mockery. At that moment, Shu Yuntu thought of something, a smile suddenly crossing his lips: "If you can find a femme fatale, why can''t I find a driver?" Your journey continues on empire And then Fu Jinmei wasn''tughing anymore, her eyes filled with rage, wanting to explode but daring not to. "I am your father, I have the right to demand that you not marry him!" "Of course, you have the right to demand that, but I also have the right to refuse," Shu Ya shrugged, unconcerned. Shu Yuntu''s teeth were almost grinding, but he could say nothing to Shu Ya; he knew that his daughter never regarded him as a father. "You should leave my daughter, you''re not good enough for her." Since he could not persuade Shu Ya, Shu Yuntu directly turned to Hao Jian, his attitude overbearing and disdainful. Hao Jian smirked and crossed his legs: "Uncle, I think you are mistaken. It''s not that I''m clinging to her, but rather, she won''t let me go, even if I try to shake her off." Upon hearing this, everyone, including Shu Ya, was stunned. What Shu Yuntu and Fu Jinmei thought was: How could that be possible? But what Shu Ya thought was: Could this guy be about to spill the secret? "What are you joking about? My daughter is a Harvard graduate. You, a poor driver with neither looks, body, nor money, why would she hang onto you?" Shu Yuntu simply couldn''t believe it; it wasplete nonsense. Chapter 69 The Water Doesnt Flow to Outsiders Fields! "What are you joking about? My daughter is a top student at Harvard. You''re a poor driver with neither looks, body, nor wealth. Why would she cling to you?" The sarcasm and contempt on Shu Yuntu''s face were undisguised! Watching Shu Yuntu''s skeptical gaze and disdainful expression, Hao Jian immediately felt displeased: "I''ll agree with thest two, but you''re saying I''m not handsome? Did your conscience get eaten by a dog? How dare you say such insincere words?" Shu Yuntu and two others had dark lines on their foreheads. Just how narcissistic was this guy? "If you don''t believe it, ask Shu Ya. She initially pursued me because she was infatuated with my looks. Then she relentlessly chased after me and refused to let go," Hao Jian confidently dered. "She pursued you?" Shu Yuntu and Fu Jinmei were petrified and turned in astonishment toward Shu Ya. Shu Ya felt her scalp tingle, thinking: Hao Jian, Hao Jian, can''t you just be serious for once and speak properly? Having no choice, Shu Ya could only give a dryugh and said: "In my eyes, you are always the most handsome." "Did you hear that? So, you should talk to Shu Ya about this, talking to me is useless. It''s not like I was the one clinging to her, hiss hiss." Hao Jian was speaking when he suddenly felt a pinch on his thigh from Shu Ya, causing him to hiss in pain. Shu Ya''s face carried a smile, but she was actually furious. This jerk, he really dared to say it, continuously iming I clung to him, it seems he''s quite dissatisfied with me. "And in my heart, I also deeply love Shu Ya. After all, she is so beautiful and intelligent. I want to be with her forever. If anyone dares to stop me, I''ll have a problem with them!" Hao Jian quickly corrected himself. "I don''t believe Shu Ya would choose a man just for his looks!" Shu Yuntu''s face darkened, knowing his daughter well; he was sure of what kind of person Shu Ya was! She wouldn''t marry a mere driver like Hao Jian just because she thought he was handsome, and this man isn''t that handsome after all. "Of course, I have many other qualities, like being funny, humorous, not to mention good-looking." Hao Jian winked at Fu Jinmei: "Mother-inw, maybe we shouldpare notes sometime!" Fu Jinmei was stunned; she did not expect Hao Jian to say such an explicit thing in public. He was actually flirting with her. Fu Jinmei immediately blushed and scolded, "You, you shameless!" "Shu Ya, look at what kind of boyfriend you have chosen, he''s flirting with your aunt in public." Shu Yuntu was furious, how dare Hao Jian try to seduce his wife? "How my boyfriend behaves is my business, not yours," Shu Ya coldly stated, yet inside she screamed: Well done Hao Jian, your despicable shamelessness finallyes in handy!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om If Hao Jian knew what Shu Ya was thinking, he''d definitely give her a thumbs-up and tell her to buzz off! "Okay, okay." Shu Yuntu''s face was a shade of steel blue, he kept panting heavily, visibly upset and at a loss for words. "Shu Ya, look what you have done to your father?" Fu Jinmei soothed Shu Yuntu''s back while scolding. "It''s not me, it''s Hao Jian," Shu Ya turned away. "How is this my fault? It was the aunt who started rubbing my thigh with her foot first!" Hao Jian, looking aggrieved, spread his hands: "After all, it''s best to keep the resources within the family! If your aunt had an affair, it wouldn''t be good for anyone, right? I''m thinking about our family here." His face was annoyingly ingratiating as if zoned with the words: "I am a good person." "You, you, you." Shu Yuntu, trembling, pointed at Hao Jian, his facepletely green with anger. And Fu Jinmei''s pretty face was covered with frost, ring at Hao Jian through gritted teeth. Unbelievable! Seriously unbelievable! Right now, Shu Ya just wants to jump up and cheer for Hao Jian! Hao Jian is the type to hit people right in the face, and when he curses, he doesn''t even use swear words. Following that, Shu Ya chimed in: "That''s right, Dad! You are already fifty this year, but auntie is just in her thirties, in the prime of her life. How could you possibly satisfy her? Hao Jian is doing this for our family''s sake; he doesn''t want you to be aughing stock, right? If you''re worried about me, you don''t have to. Rest assured, I''ve be very open-minded! For the sake of this family, I can turn a blind eye." Pfft!!! With just one sentence, the emotional damage Shu Ya caused Shu Yuntu was beyond measurable! His own daughterpeting to make him wear a cuckold''s hat, what the hell is this! "Help me walk," Shu Yuntu rasped to Fu Jinmei! At this point, he no longer wanted to stay here because he was afraid that if he did, he wouldn''t be able to restrain himself from killing someone. "Mother-inw, are you really not considering it?" Hao Jian asked with a beaming smile: "Way more impressive than your father-inw''s!" Fu Jinmei''s legs went weak, her face growing even more unattractive as she, like a frightened rabbit, scurried away supporting Shu Yuntu. Meanwhile, Shu Ya was alreadyughing so hard she couldn''t close her mouth, pping Hao Jian on the shoulder: "That was brilliant, how did you think of that?" But Hao Jian didn''t smile, and nced back at her: "You think I''m making this up?" Shu Ya''sughter stopped abruptly, staring at Hao Jian in shock: "You mean, she really touched you with her leg?" Hao Jian didn''t directly answer her question, but instead said, "She''s no good, I suspect your dad''s life won''t be easy in a few years." Find your next read on empire To this, Shu Ya felt no pity, but grew even happier: "Hao Jian, do you believe in karma?" "I do," Hao Jian nodded! He truly believed, after all, fate is sometimes hard to exin! As Buddhism teaches, sow good deeds, reap good fruits! Sow evil deeds, reap evil fruits! Everything is predetermined! "Then Fu Jinmei is his karma. He made my mother suffer for Fu Jinmei, and now it''s time for him to suffer," Shu Ya said, her red lips curving into a chillingly seductive smile. Hao Jian gave a bitter smile: "Are you even still father and daughter?" "Yes, father and daughter with a deep-seated grudge." . That evening, Hao Jian drove Shu Ya home, neither of them spoke in the car. Shu Ya was downcast, and Hao Jian was silent because he saw that Shu Ya was not in high spirits. Unbeknownst to her, as Shu Ya drifted into deep sleep, it was uncertain how much time had passed when she felt the car stop in her half-asleep state, slowly opening her eyes. Only to find herself on a scarcely popted highway, with Hao Jian sitting in the driver''s seat, his face ominously dark. "What''s wrong?" Shu Ya asked, puzzled. Hao Jian gestured angrily with his mouth to the front: "Look, a tiger on the road up ahead." Shu Ya looked forward and saw several SUVs blocking their way. Seeing this, Shu Ya''s brows furrowed: "Are they sent by my dad?" Shu Ya thought of this possibility because for Shu Yuntu and Fu Jinmei, killing her might be the only way to take over thepany, there was no other method! Given Shu Ya''s understanding of her father''s crazed nature, it was indeed possible that he would do this. Chapter 70 How come youre addicted to kneeling now? "Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn''t; one must see to know." Hao Jian pushed open the car door and stepped out, meanwhile instructing Shu Ya, "Stay here, do note out without my permission." Shu Ya nodded, her expression also somewhat tense; she could see that the current situation was very serious. Then, Hao Jian walked toward the group of people, himself also unclear who had sent them. Liang Jiankun? Or perhaps that Brother Spice Ginger? Once he got closer, Hao Jian noticed that these people were dressed somewhat oddly, all in Kung Fu robes. "Martial Artists?" Hao Jian was somewhat surprised; clearly, this was a group of Martial Artists, their hands holding swords, sticks, and spears, very much like characters from a martial arts drama. "What important business do you several elder brothers have? Is there something this junior has done to offend you?" Hao Jian rubbed his hands as he approached, a pleasing smile on his face. Seeing this, the Martial Artists all frowned, somewhat displeased. Was such a coward worth their Seven Tiger Brothers taking action together? Liang Jiankun was insulting them! Indeed, these people had been sent by Liang Jiankun, of course¡ªonly Liang Jiankun would have the means to summon a group of Martial Artists. "Are you Hao Jian?" one of the bald Monks asked. "Yes, yes, the very same," Hao Jian hurriedly nodded, a sly smile spreading across his face. The Seven Brothers could onlyugh at his reaction; that name truly hadn''t been mischosen. "We are the Seven Tiger Brothers,manded toe here to take your life. Do you have anyst words?" the bald Monk asked sternly. Now that they were here, there was no reason for them to return empty-handed. Although they held some grudges about Liang Jiankun''s orders, he was their master after all, and they could not defy hismands. Hao Jian''s expression remained unchanged, and he asked, "Who sent you?" "Liang Jiankun," the bald Monk replied in a grave voice, but something felt off in his heart. This kid was still smiling? Was he not afraid of dying? If Hao Jian''s earlier smile was due to weakness, what then did this smile mean? "I thought as much," Hao Jian touched his chin, yet he was not surprised. After all, Liang Jiankun''s family influence was even greater than Shu Ya''s. Though not rich enough to rival a nation, they were certainly immensely wealthy. "So, you have nost words?" Another lean, dark man approached, his hand clutching a longsword, its chilling glint quite terrifying. "I do," Hao Jian quickly raised his hand. "Speak," the lean, dark man said impatiently. "Why do you call yourselves the Seven Tiger Brothers? Don''t you think it sounds a bit archaic? ''Seven Swords Beneath the Mountain'' would be better," Hao Jian said. Silence, deathly silence! "Whew." A breeze then swept by. "Kill him!" The Monk shouted furiously, his features savage¡ªhe had wanted Hao Jian to speak hisst words, but what was this nonsense Hao Jian was spouting?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The lean, dark man struck with his sword, intending to kill this mischievous kid who dared to mock them. "ng!" But at that moment, the sound of metal rang out, and the lean, dark man found his longsword caught between Hao Jian''s fingers, so easily blocked by him. "Hiss." All Seven Brothers gasped; they had seen weapons seized barehanded before, but never with just two fingers¡ªthis was a first for them. The lean, dark man was also stunned; his sword was capable of cleaving metal and stone, yet it was caught between Hao Jian''s fingers. He tried to pull his sword free, but found he simply could not¡ªthe grip of Hao Jian''s fingers was like iron pincers. "No? Don''t like it? How about we go with Gourd Brothers then?" Hao Jian said with a slight smile, then directly snapped the longsword in half. Crack! The longsword shattered in response! The seven brothers were already stunned. Legend had it that only those who had reached the zenith of martial arts could train their bodies to such a terrifying degree that they could kill with a single finger. And clearly, Hao Jian was such a person. This scared them terribly, as killing them would be as simple for him as crushing an ant. Find exclusive stories on empire At that moment, the monk wished he could p himself. Letting the other guy have hisst words? Where did he get that confidence? The seven brothers mentally cursed Liang Jiankun hundreds of times. He had not informed them that they were dealing with a peak martial artist. He had sent them to their deaths! The seven brothers were watching Hao Jian nervously, fearing that he might explode and kill them instantly. "What, don''t you like it? Then how about calling you the ''Seven Big Fools'' instead!" Hao Jian''s eyes turned sharp, a hint of mockery appearing at the corner of his mouth as he kicked the thin, dark man in front of him flying. Whoosh! Hao Jian''s kick was as fast as lightning. The thin, dark man hadn''t seen iting before he was kicked hard in the chest! Bang! The thin, dark man was sent flying, crashing into the front of an SUV and vomiting a mouthful of fresh blood! One kick, severe injury! At that moment, the bald men began to smile bitterly. Weren''t they the seven big fools? They came pompously to kill someone, and before they could even touch a single hair on him, one of them was already disabled. The remaining six brothers simultaneously took a step back, their eyes filled with terror. "Why so scared? I''m not the Scorpion Demoness or a snake demon." Hao Jian made a joke, but didn''t find it funny. "Hero! Please spare our lives!" Suddenly, the monk dropped to his knees with a thump, hugging Hao Jian''s thighs and crying out. "Big brother, you..." This act stunned the other six brothers. Was this the same cold, ruthless big brother? Not to mention them, even Hao Jian was taken aback. He had thought the guy was pretty cool, and then he witnessed an extreme change in demeanor. His behavior waspletely different from before. Hao Jian was shocked, wondering if the guy might have split personality disorder? "What are you dazed for? Kneel down quickly, do you still want to live?" the monk yelled at the remaining six brothers. "Oh yes." The other six seemed to really respect the monk. Hearing hismand, they hurriedly knelt beside him in a line. "You seven must be the clowns hired by ****, right?" Hao Jian''s mouth twitched a little. "Great hero, we''re just taking someone''s money to ward off their disasters. It really isn''t our fault, it was all Liang Jiankun''s idea," The monk quickly begged for mercy, knowing they could not beat Hao Jian. He decided not to make any futile attempts. Now by begging for mercy, they might still have a chance to live. But if they fought, the strength Hao Jian had shown was enough to kill them all instantly. "Alright, scram now, looking at you guys is irritating," Hao Jian said impatiently. He had lost even the interest in bullying these fools. "Thank you, great hero." The seven brothers quickly got up to run away. "Go back and tell Liang Jiankun to remember to bring some better fighters next time." Hearing this, the seven brothers'' faces turned red, because Hao Jian''s words undoubtedly implied they were too weak. Ashamed, they fled in utter disarray. Just then, the monk, who was about to leave, suddenly turned around, and again with a ''thump'', fell to his knees! What? Hao Jian was astonished, and so were the others! What the hell was he ying at, why this addiction to kneeling? Chapter 71 Brother Zhang, what do you mean by that! "Buddy, what are you aiming at? I didn''t birth you or raise you, why are you always kneeling before me like I''m yourst hope?" Hao Jian''s eyes narrowed, his face expressing a ''Are you kidding me?'' look! "No, it''s not that. I... I want to follow you." The Monk suddenly said this with a serious expression, not at all as if he was joking.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Follow me? Why would you want to follow me?" Hao Jian was startled, then couldn''t help butugh. Could it be that my charm has now even affected men? s, being this handsome is a curse¡ªhow can otherspete! "Because what you said is right, we really are too weak, so weak that we don''t even qualify to die at your hands. I should be happy that I narrowly escaped death, but after hearing what you said, I found that I couldn''t feel happy at all. I feel like maybe I don''t want to keep being so weak." The Monk looked down with a bitter smile on his face. Rather than continuing to live in such a miserable way, he would prefer to change his circumstances. The other six brothers were all stunned, then one by one, they bowed their heads in shame. Just now they were still smugly pleased with themselves, yet they didn''t realize how upset their leader was feeling. "So, what you''re saying is, you want me to teach you Martial Arts?" Hao Jian let out a meaningful smile. "Yes." The Monk nodded emphatically and said: "The seven of us brothers are all orphans. Our master adopted us since we were young and taught us Martial Arts. But our master passed away a year ago, and there''s no one left to teach us anything. However, we do not wish for our Martial Arts toe to an end. That''s why..." The Monk could tell Hao Jian was very strong, even stronger than their master. If Hao Jian was willing to teach them, they would be even stronger than they are now. "Give me a reason to willingly be your master. After all, you guys are so weak, you''re no help to me," Hao Jian said, stroking his chin with a yful look on his face. He didn''t need a bunch of useless guys around; they were of no help and would only slow him down. "We can work for you, risking our lives. Although we''re still weak now, as long as you give us a chance to grow stronger, we will definitely follow you without question!" The Monk said with a firm look in his eyes. Hao Jian looked deeply at the Monk then turned and walked away. Enjoy more content from empire The seven brothers all hung their heads in disappointment, and the Monk also started smiling bitterly. He really wasn''t willing after all, was he? "Report to the Shu Ya Group''s HR department tomorrow." At that moment, Hao Jian''s casual words floated back to them. All seven brothers brightened up at once, joy written all over their faces, and they all bowed to Hao Jian in unison: "Thank you, Master!" "What happened?" Back in the car, Shu Ya couldn''t help but ask Hao Jian. "Nothing much, just some admirers, that''s all. After all, brother here is a legend in the Jianghu. It''s only natural for them toe seeking my blessing," Hao Jian made up. "Yeah, right," Shu Ya said with a look of disdain, clearly not believing a word. "Hey, you don''t believe me? Alright then, I''ve hired them at thepany anyway; you can go see for yourself tomorrow," Hao Jian said. Actually, he had his reasons for agreeing to the seven brothers'' request. He was currently at odds with Boss Liang in thepany, and whereas Boss Liang had strong supporters, his own side was full of the defeated and the weak. It was time to bring some fresh blood into the security department, and these seven brothers were the perfect candidates. Their skills were mediocre, yet stronger than the average person, which made them unlikely to draw attention¡ªnothing could be more suitable. "What, you agreed?" Shu Ya said angrily, "Hao Jian, thatpany is mine; it''s not your ce to meddle and pull strings, I absolutely won''t allow such things." Shu Ya was a very precise person; she would never allow any corruption or misconduct in herpany. "Don''t make it sound so bad; I''m just arranging a few bodyguards for you. After all, you know how unpleasant things were between you and your father today. With his ruthless nature, who knows what he might do out of desperation! I''m doing this for your own good," Hao Jian pleaded earnestly. "Really?" Shu Ya was half-convinced, always feeling that this fellow wasn''t so kind-hearted. Upon hearing this, Hao Jian immediately became unhappy: "I consider your best interests so much, and you still doubt me? In order to test these people''s abilities for you, my fingers got scrapped. Come on, give it a kiss." Shu Ya pped Hao Jian''s hand away, scolding, "You''re disgusting." Hao Jian burst intoughter. He was starting to understand Shu Ya''s personality; although she appeared cold on the outside, she was the least resistant to a mix of nagging, persistence, and ying the victim, which was precisely what he was good at. . "Bastard! How dare she treat me like this, I am her father!" Noises of smashing and crashing came from a vi! Shu Yuntu was throwing a fit in the living room, shattering anything that could be thrown. Of course, everything he smashed was worthless. "You see her as your daughter, but she doesn''t see you as her father," Fu Jinmei said indifferently as she sat on the sofa painting her nails. She didn''t bother stopping Shu Yuntu, allowing him to vent his frustration, even though it was ridiculous. The more useless the man, the bigger his temper; Fu Jinmei knew this well, and she also knew that her husband was a waste. But she didn''t care, as long as he gave her money to spend. "No, I absolutely can''t let her get married!" Shu Yuntu clenched his teeth with a fierce look on his face. If Shu Ya got married, he would end up with nothing. He couldn''t tolerate such a thing happening. "Then you only have one option," Fu Jinmei said with a smirk, a sh of venom in her eyes. "What is it?" Shu Yuntu asked gloomily. "That is to make her disappear from this world," Fu Jinmei said with a coldugh. "What?" Shu Yuntu cried out in shock. Was Fu Jinmei asking him to kill his own daughter? "Do you have another choice? If you don''t kill her, you won''t get anything," Fu Jinmei snorted and then returned to painting her nails. "But she is my daughter," Shu Yuntu hesitated. Even a tiger wouldn''t eat its young. Besides, Shu Ya hadn''t deprived him of food and clothing over the years. If it wasn''t for Fu Jinmei''s instigation to seize the Shu Ya Group, he would still be getting millions in pocket money each year. Fu Jinmei was a bottomless pit; at first, she would spend only a few hundred thousand a year, but then it became millions, and eventually tens of millions. Her demands grew greater and greater. And clearly, the few millions in pocket money Shu Yuntu had no longer satisfied her, so she started to urge him to take over Shu Ya''spany. The wickedness of a woman''s heart, especially one who was both vicious and greedy. "She no longer regards you as her father; why cling to the past? Shu Yuntu, you surely don''t intend to spend your life looking up to others, do you? Think about it, if you kill her, thepany is yours, and you''ll be a billionaire. Who would dare to look down on you then?" Fu Jinmei egged him on from the side, ording to the will, as long as Shu Ya died or didn''t marry before the age of twenty-three, she would lose her right to inherit thepany! Then, byw, thepany would naturally transfer to Shu Yuntu''s name. With that in mind, Shu Yuntu began to hesitate. Should he choose family or wealth? Chapter 72 You Can Call Me Grandpa! "Mom, Dad, what are you talking about?" Meanwhile, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old teenager suddenly walked out of the room. "Come here, my good son. Tell your father that you''re his son, and what others have isn''t worth a thing." Fu Jinmei gestured to her son while mockingly looking at Shu Yuntu. At this time, Shu Yuntu seemed to have made up his mind, speaking in a deep voice, "Tomorrow I will find that kid and give him some money to get lost. If he agrees, then it''s settled. If he doesn''t, I''ll send both him and his mother to the next world!" "Mom, what on earth is Dad talking about?" The teenager sat next to Fu Jinmei. "Don''t mind him. He''s senile," Fu Jinmei said disdainfully. In her eyes, Shu Yuntu''s approach was nothing but womanlypassion,cking any backbone. Why bother handing out money for free when you can get rid of that wretched girl directly? What a waste of effort! "Mom, I recently took a liking to a Herm¨¨s men''s bag that costs over fifty thousand. Can you buy it for me?" The teenager looked up at Fu Jinmei and asked. "Didn''t I just buy you a Louis Vuitton men''s bagst month for over thirty thousand?" Shu Yuntu said angrily. "That wasst month''s, it''s outdated now. I want thetest model," the teenager dered confidently. "All my money will eventually be squandered by you and your mother!" Shu Yuntu said with frustration and anger, thinking of them both as vampires. "Mom, look at what Dad is saying about me," the teenager said to Fu Jinmei, pretending to be aggrieved. "You''ve got the nerve to snap at us, mother and son, but do you dare confront Shu Ya like that?" Fu Jinmei snapped back. "You¡ª Ah!" Shu Yuntu abruptly waved his hand, asking himself what bad karma he had incurred to be gued by this pair, one big and one small. The next day, the Gourd Brothers reported to the human resources department on time, naturally with Hao Jian registering their information. "Master, you''re so skilled, why do you only work as a driver?" the second of the Gourd Brothers asked with confusion; even they as assassins made more than that in a month. "Experiencing life," Hao Jian replied without looking back, while checking the personal information of the Gourd Brothers. "You don''t know shit, the master has seen through fame and fortune, hence returning to simplicity," Old Big, the Monk, thought Hao Jian was displeased, so he hurriedly chipped in. "Big brother is right," Old Three added. "The master wants us to be security guards probably to temper our will. Didn''t he tell us that martial arts should start from the mundane? Don''t you understand such a simple principle?" The Monk looked at his brothers with a look that seemed to say how disappointed he was in theirck of understanding. "Big brother is right," Old Three said again. Hao Jian was at a loss for words, then looking at the three men''s information he asked with some incredulity, "Excellent Li, Outstanding Li, Stupid Li, what kind of nonsense are these? How much must your master hate you to give you such names?" Hao Jian was genuinely speechless; could these even count as people''s names? Old Big, Excellent Li said with a wry smile, "Our master is a simple man like us, who can''t read many characters, so he¡ª" "I''ll give you new names," Hao Jian dered, looking lively, as if it was his ce to grant the Gourd Brothers a rebirth. "Really? Thank you, master!" Excellent Li and the others hurriedly expressed their gratitude. In truth, they knew the names of all seven brothers were unpleasant, but being martial artists from a young age and illiterate, they had no way to choose better names. "Hmm," Hao Jian nodded and pointed at the seven brothers in turn, saying, "You''ll be called Big Baby, Second Baby, Third Baby, Fourth Baby, Fifth Baby, Sixth Baby, Seventh Baby." And so the faces of the Gourd Brothers darkened. Damn it, did they really be the Gourd Brothers? Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire "Master, I think our current names are pretty good, no need to change," Excellent Li said with a forced smile. Compared to the names given by Hao Jian, he suddenly found the name Excellent Li to be quite nice, bizarre as it may be, but at least it had amanding ring to it. Unlike the names Hao Jian picked, which were not only bizarre but also incredibly tacky. Hao Jian''s expression darkened as he stated, "No, that won''t do. I can''t remember your names like that. It''s better to call you the Gourd Brothers, it''s easier to recognize." "Alright," said Excellent Li and a few others, forcing a smile uglier than a cry. "And to make it even easier for me to tell you apart, starting tomorrow Big Baby will wear red clothes, Second Baby will wear orange, Third Baby yellow, and so on. If you don''t know how to dress, look up ''Gourd Brothers'' on Baidu. If the attire isn''t uniform tomorrow, you''ll be sorry," Hao Jian hummed, his mischievous side taking delight. The Gourd Brothers were speechless, washing their faces with tears. Their master indeed had some pretty special inclinations. "So what do we call you, master?" Big Baby suddenly asked. Since they were the Gourd Brothers, surely Hao Jian must y some role, right? Hao Jian raised an eyebrow, "You can call me Grandpa!" "..." The seven men had only nk expressions. Afterpleting the induction process for the seven brothers, Hao Jian took Big Baby aside and said with a serious tone, "Big Baby, there''s something I need you to do," Big Baby responded with due respect, not expecting to be entrusted with a task so soon, and eagerly said, "You just say the word, master."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Then, Hao Jian handed Big Baby a document bag, "I need you to follow and investigate this woman for a while. Here are her photo and various details. From today on, follow her. I want to know everything she eats, drinks, and disposes of daily. And make sure she doesn''t notice you." Big Baby nced at the somewhat seductive woman in the photo and asked, "Master, is this woman a martial artist?" "No, she''s just a regr person," Hao Jian replied. "Then there''s no problem," Big Baby confidently assured. As long as she wasn''t a martial artist, he could guarantee an undetected tail. "Good, I''ll leave this task to you then. Of course, once it''s done, I won''t let you go unrewarded. I will personally teach you and your brothers martial arts," Hao Jian knew that this was the time to offer some incentive. At these words, Big Baby was visibly excited, thumping his chest in promise, "No problem, master, I willplete the mission!" "Go," Hao Jian gestured with his chin to Big Baby, watching his receding figure with an indistinct smirk curling at the corner of his mouth. Chapter 73 I Agreed! Today, an unexpected visitor came looking for Hao Jian¡ªit was Shu Ya''s father, Shu Yuntu. His intention was clear: He summoned Hao Jian to a restaurant and directly threw a check for one million at him. Hao Jian nced at the check but did not take it, roughly guessing Shu Yuntu''s intention. He feigned ignorance and asked, "What does this mean?" "Leave Shu Ya, and this money is yours," Shu Yuntu said coldly, getting straight to the point without wasting words with Hao Jian. He nned to bribe Hao Jian to leave Shu Ya, reasoning that as long as Shu Ya couldn''t get married this year, thepany would be his. "Just this one million, you think I''m a beggar?" Hao Jian sneered. Shu Yuntu''s gaze hardened; this kid really wasn''t easy to deal with! He had initially considered Hao Jian nothing more than a loser of a driver, thinking one million would be enough to buy off the poor kid. But unexpectedly, Hao Jian didn''t even care for it, probably because having been with Shu Ya for so long, his sights had been set much higher. "I''ll give you another million," Shu Yuntu said, his teeth clenched in having to offer another million. "If there''s nothing else, I''m going to head back," Hao Jian said, tapping his fingers on the table, showing signs of impatience. Experience more on empire "Three million!" Shu Yuntu said in a deep voice, his eyes turning red. "Next time there''s nothing to discuss, don''t ask me out," Hao Jian said as he stood up, ready to leave. "Four million!" Shu Yuntu roared. He anticipated that Hao Jian would be difficult, but he didn''t expect him to be this intractable. He had originally budgeted two million, but now it had more than doubled. These millions were his personal stash of savings; otherwise, it would have already been wasted by Fu Jinmei. "A t price, ten million!" Hao Jian turned his head back and held up one finger to Shu Yuntu. "What? That''s outright extortion!" Shu Yuntu, angered, stood up and mmed his hand on the table. Ten million, the private funds he had hidden over many years amounted to just over ten million. Hao Jian, doing nothing, had the nerve to demand so much? "If you don''t agree, then forget it. Bye," Hao Jian waved his hand at Shu Yuntu, losing interest in talking. "Wait!" Shu Yuntu called out, his face stern: "Ten million is too much. Can''t it be a little less?" Shu Yuntu didn''t want to resort to murder to solve the problem if money could handle it, after all, Shu Ya was his daughter. Moreover, since Hao Jian had already shown some flexibility, it indicated he could be bought. Hence, Shu Yuntu still wanted to negotiate with him. "Ten million, no less," said Hao Jian, firm in his stance, but he sat down again, his face sporting a shamelessly thick grin: "Father-inw, why are you so shortsighted? Once I leave Shu Ya and she fails to get married, she won''t inherit, will she? Then the group will rightfully be yours, won''t it? When you''re sitting on hundreds of billions, would you really care about this mere ten million?" Shu Yuntu thought about it and felt it made sense; after all, you can''t catch the wolf without losing the sheep. But ten million was really too much, maybe. He''d rather actually feed his own child to the wolf. Seeing Shu Yuntu still hesitating, Hao Jian said, "If you give me ten million, I can also agree to help you carry out your n." "How would you help?" Shu Yuntu looked doubtfully at Hao Jian. "I can keep dragging things with Shu Ya, not marrying her! Wait until the date on that will expires, then I''ll dump her! By then, even if she wants to find another man, it''ll definitely be toote. Then the group will naturally transfer into your name, right?" Hao Jian said with a wicked smile, seeming very sinister. A jolt went through Shu Yuntu''s heart, thinking: Right, why didn''t I think of that! Even if I give this young man the money now to make him leave Shu Ya, it''s still not a foolproof n¡ªShu Ya might still find another man to marry. After that, Shu Yuntu scoffed with a coldugh, "You''re really ruthless." Previously, you were professing how much you loved Shu Ya, but now you havepletely changed. "It''s mutual," Hao Jian replied with a coldugh of his own. At best, he was a stranger, but Shu Yuntu was Shu Ya''s biological father; when it came to being ruthless, Shu Yuntu was far worse than himself. "Why should I believe that you''ll definitely do as you say? Maybe you''re just fooling me," Shu Yuntu challenged. Though not the brightest, Shu Yuntu was definitely not stupid; he wouldn''t easily hand over the money without any written guarantee from Hao Jian. "I can''t give you that guarantee, so you only have one option: to gamble that I will keep my promise," Hao Jian shrugged. How could such a thing be guaranteed? Even if there were a written agreement, it wouldn''t have any legal effect. Shu Yuntu frowned deeply, and to be honest, Hao Jian''s attitude was worrisome to him.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Then, a hint of impatience flickered across Hao Jian''s face: "Next time, please make sure you have thought things through before youe to me!" he said. "Wait, take the money!" Knowing he had no choice, Shu Yuntu reluctantly issued another check for nine million to Hao Jian. Hao Jian kissed the check twice and burst intoughter, presenting theplete picture of a money-obsessed scoundrel. Seeing this, Shu Yuntu actually felt relieved and said with a smile: "As long as you help me acquire thepany, I promise you 5% of the shares. From now on, you''ll be a shareholder and will receive this much every year." "Thank you, father-inw, I will definitely work hard," Hao Jian pped his chest, showing his excitement. Shu Yuntu''s face darkened as he scolded, "Don''t call me father-inw!" When Hao Jian called him that, he was reminded of the scene from yesterday where Hao Jian had been flirting with his wife. Hao Jian just shrugged his shoulders nonchntly and with bold strides, he walked out of the restaurant. At that moment, his phone rang, it was Shu Ya calling, and she seemed upset, her voice cold: "Come to my office." "So you''ve heard already?" Hao Jian couldn''t help but smile and was puzzled, how did Shu Ya find out so quickly that Shu Yuntu was looking for him. When he arrived at the entrance to Shu Ya''s office, before he could push the door open, he saw Boss Lianging out. Upon seeing Hao Jian, Boss Liang''s mouth stretched into a scowl, and he passed him by, huffing angrily. Hao Jian shook his head with a bitter smile, wondering why Shu Ya had found out so quickly. So, it was because of a Little Ghost. Afterward, Hao Jian entered the office and saw Shu Ya standing by the window, her back to him, making the atmosphere instantly much more serious. Hao Jian, acting as if in his own home, grabbed a drink from the fridge and started to drink. "Did my dad look for you?" The very moment Shu Ya found out that Shu Yuntu had gone looking for Hao Jian, she was worried that Hao Jian could be bought over by him, so she hurriedly called him over. Seeing him still acting like a rascal, she actually felt a sigh of relief. "Yeah, he gave me a sum of money to leave you," Hao Jian said while drinking his beverage. "You refused?" Shu Ya asked, as a smile appeared on her face. Hao Jian''s candidness meant he wasn''t hiding anything. "I epted," Hao Jian said slowly. Chapter 74 Lets Get Married! "You turned him down?" Shu Ya''s face broke into a smile. Hao Jian''s candidness meant he had nothing to hide. "I epted," Hao Jian said leisurely. "What?" Shu Ya''s smile froze on her face. "How could you agree to him? You had already promised me!" Hearing that Hao Jian had agreed to her own father, Shu Ya''s pretty face turned red with anger! She never expected Hao Jian to be so mercenary! "If I hadn''t agreed, where would the ten million rewarde from? Who would turn down free money?" Hao Jian looked at Shu Ya. Why did it seem like this girl just couldn''t figure it out? "So what you''re saying is, you deceived him?" Shu Ya stared nkly. "No shit, he''s only offering me ten million, but you''re giving me thirty million. Would I help him if I were fool?" Hao Jian curled his lip, thinking you really underestimate me, don''t you? Am I the sort of person to choose less over more? "Bastard." Shu Ya red at Hao Jian, a bit angry. She had really thought Hao Jian was about to betray her. Continue reading at empire This guy, he can''t even speak clearly. He''s making her emotions bounce all over the ce. "Oho, I''m on your side and still get called a bastard. Maybe I should just go over to Shu Yuntu''s side," Hao Jian said jokingly. "Fine, go ahead then, if you don''t want that thirty million," Shu Ya said with a coldugh. Now she was getting a read on Hao Jian''s personality. After thinking it over carefully, Hao Jian sighed, "Fine, curse me if you want, just as long as the moneyes through!" "What else did you tell him?" Shu Ya knew that Shu Yuntu was no fool; otherwise, he wouldn''t have managed to deceive her mother. There was no way he would trust Hao Jian so easily. Hao Jian must have promised him something else. "I also told him I''d work together with him, stay undercover by your side, dy but not marry you, so the corporation would naturally fall into his hands." Hao Jian shrugged andyfortably on the couch. "That makes more sense." Shu Ya gave a coldugh. Her father was indeed cunning. To get thepany, he was actually willing to spend so much, and what irked Shu Ya the most was that the money was what she had provided. Using the money she had given to go against her felt exceptionally lousy. "Hao Jian, let''s get married." Suddenly, Shu Ya looked up, her gaze intense as she watched Hao Jian. ... Meanwhile, at the Liang Family''s home. Dressed casually, Liang Jiankun sat at his desk on the balcony, reading¡ªa habit of his to enjoy a little drink while reading in the afternoon. Just then, a bodyguard in a ck suit walked in. Before he could get close, Liang Jiankun asked: "Have you found the Seven Brothers?" Sincest night, he hadn''t been able to contact them. He had thought they were dead, but when he sent people to check, there were no bodies. This left even Liang Jiankun puzzled; if they weren''t dead, why hadn''t they killed Hao Jian, and why hadn''t they reported back to him? "We found them, but¡ª" The bodyguard hesitated. "Hmm?" Liang Jiankun closed his book, his gaze sharpening as he stared at the bodyguard and demanded: "Speak!" "We discovered that the Seven Brothers not only failed to kill Hao Jian, but they also became sworn brothers with him, and now they are working within a corporation." "What?" Liang Jiankun suddenly stood up, his expression turning cold. He had ordered those Seven Brothers to kill Hao Jian, but they had be brothers with him instead? What the hell is this situation? "It''s true, we heard Excellent Li and that Hao Jian arm in arm, even calling him something. ''Master. Master!''" the bodyguard said with a wry smile: "That Hao Jian looked even younger than the seven brothers, no idea why they would call him Master." With that, Liang Jiankun''s expression darkenedpletely. Calling Hao Jian Master? What could Hao Jian teach them? Wasn''t he just a broken driver? "You must get to the bottom of this for me! From which elementary school he attended when he was little to how many moles he has on his body, I want it all clear! As one of Hua City''s Four Young Masters, there''s no way I can swallow this indignity!" Liang Jiankun said with resentment in his eyes. From childhood to adulthood, he had never been yed like this. The key point was that the seven brothers had already taken nearly ten million in advance from him, yet they had turned to someone else. How could this not anger Liang Jiankun? Just as Liang Jiankun was fuming, someone came to report, "Young Master, Excellent Li has returned." "He has the face toe back?" Liang Jianbin was taken aback, then anger surged on his face: "Let him in!" Not long after, the expressionless Excellent Li walked in, but didn''t say a word, like a block of wood. Seeing this, Liang Jiankun red furiously: "Excellent Li, you think you''re really something, huh? Daring to take my money and do nothing, do you think I, Liang Jiankun, am easy to bully?" Excellent Li''s mouth curled into a slight smile: "Young Master Liang, I came here today to return the check to you. My brothers and I will not be taking on this job." Saying this, he directly threw the check onto the table. Seeing this, Liang Jiankun was stunned. Then, rage filled his eyes: "You say you''re not taking the job just like that, do you think this is child''s y? Dare to y me? Do you believe I can ensure your seven brothers can''t leave Hua City?" But there was not a hint of panic on Excellent Li''s face, his expression full of mocking amusement: "First off, I don''t go by Excellent Li anymore, I''m called Big Baby." "..." Liang Jiankun and the others were all stunned. Big Baby? What kind of name was that? "Secondly, I''ve returned the check to you, whether you want it or not is up to you. You think I''m ying you, or bullying you, that''s your business! Not my concern, and I don''t want to manage." "Then, as for your im that you can make sure our seven brothers can''t leave Hua City, if this were before, you certainly could have done it, but now..." Big Baby didn''t continue, but revealed a meaningful smile, filled with amusement and mockery. Liang Jiankun and the others were already stunned. Was this still the same Excellent Li? How dare he talk to himself like this? Had he eaten the gall of a leopard?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om In the past, he would never dare to speak to Liang Jiankun like this, but now things were different. His master was far more formidable than Liang Jiankun. And Big Baby believed, his master would definitely not let Liang Jiankun touch the seven brothers. Having Hao Jian backing him, he feared nothing. "I''ve delivered the message. As for what you want to do, that''s up to you." Saying that, he turned around and strode off. But just at that moment, Liang Jiankun''s two bodyguards stood in front of him, their gazes vicious. Big Baby had caused such embarrassment to Liang Jiankun, so they, as subordinates, naturally had to vent their master''s anger. At this moment, a trace of mockery crossed Big Baby''s lips. "Bang bang." The two bodyguards were directly flung out, crashing against the wall, and fell to the ground coughing up blood. "Overestimating yourselves," Big Baby said with a coldugh. His master bullying him was one thing, but even these nobody cats and dogs wanted to dig at his head? Chapter 75 Im Getting Married! Seeing Big Baby hit his own dog right in front of him, Liang Jiankun was on the verge of going mad!N?v(el)B\\jnn This was practically a p in his own face! But Big Baby seemed unconcerned. He turned his head back to look at Liang Jiankun: "By the way, Young Master Liang, considering our acquaintance, I will give you a piece of advice. Stop looking for trouble with my master, Hao Jian. Because you can''t afford to provoke him, and neither can the Liang Family." After that, Big Baby revealed a strange smile and strode away. "Well yed, Excellent Li, well yed, Hao Jian!" Liang Jiankun''s body trembled, his forehead bulging with countless veins like tiny earthworms. He would remember today''s humiliation! Continue reading stories on empire Meanwhile, in Shu Ya''s office, she faced the window, blowing in the cold wind with cheeks flushed. By now, Hao Jian had already left, yet she seemed to be immersed in the joy of the uing wedding. Damn it, what''s wrong with me? Why would I be happy about marrying that bastard? Shu Ya covered her hot cheeks, not understanding what was happening to her. She had thought that even if she married that bastard Hao Jian, she wouldn''t show any emotion. Even if there were emotions, they should have been of sadness, not this rming feeling she was experiencing now. At this moment, Boss Liang rushed in, forgetting even to knock. He said urgently: "President, I went to investigate the restaurant where they met today. Someone heard them engaging in an illegal deal, and the object of the deal was you!" Boss Liang also knew about Shu Yuntu, mainly because Shu Yuntu had beening to thepany every other day asking Shu Ya for money. Over time, he became aware of Shu Ya''s deadbeat father. And when Shu Yuntu called Hao Jian over today, he sensed something was off, feeling that something was going on. So he followed them secretly and then saw Shu Yuntu and Hao Jian discussing some plot. He came back to report to Shu Ya, but she seemed indifferent, as if she didn''t take it seriously. Boss Liang thought she didn''t believe him and went to collect evidence for her. "This is the surveince video I got from the restaurant. You should be able to hear their conversation. Take a look." Boss Liang presented a USB drive to Shu Ya like it was a treasure. Shu Ya looked at him suspiciously and then picked up the USB drive: "Have you seen what''s inside?" If Boss Liang had seen it, then he would probably know about her uing marriage to Hao Jian, wouldn''t he? In that case, she might have no choice but to fire him. "Not yet. I was so eager to let you know the truth that I forgot to watch it." Boss Liang gave a simple smile, as if to show off his loyalty and how eager he was to protect her. "Wait for me on the sofa." Shu Ya said indifferently, plugging the USB drive into herputer. "Oh." Boss Liang was a bit disappointed. He had actually wanted to watch it with Shu Ya, but upon hearing her words, he had no choice but toply. He did not know that Shu Ya had no intention of letting him see the video. The identity of herself and Hao Jian still had to be kept secret. Shu Ya opened the video and then adjusted the volume so that only she could hear it before she began to watch. And by the end, when Shu Ya saw Shu Yuntu offer Hao Jian a five percent share, her expression froze on the spot. After a moment, a blush crossed her cheeks, and she muttered under her breath, "You deadbeat." All day long talking about money, makes people really think he''s a ve to wealth, yet surprisingly he turned down such a tempting offer for his own sake. A five percent shareholding would mean Hao Jian would get tens of millions in dividends every year, not to mention it was more than what she offered, and it was an annual thing! But that damn guy wasn''t tempted; instead, he chose to stand by her side. Not only did he choose to stand by her, but he also didn''te to her to im any credit. Seeing him ck off all the time, she was now sure it was all an act! "President, did you call for me?" Boss Liang, mistaking Shu Ya''s words for a summons, hurriedly stood up. Upon hearing this, Shu Ya''s expression instantly darkened, "I''ve already seen the video." "So, is the president nning to fire Hao Jian now, or call the police?" Boss Liang''s face lit up with surprise; in his view, after watching the video, Shu Ya would definitely explode with anger, and then fire Hao Jian. Hao Jian, oh Hao Jian, you can''t me me this time; if you have to me someone, me yourself for not knowing what''s good for you and daring to disregard me! "Senior Section Chief Liang, what on earth is in your head? I assigned you to take charge of the group''s security, not to spend all day holding onto your colleagues'' coattails!" Shu Ya mmed the desk, her expression icy as she scolded. Boss Liang was instantly bbergasted; this was definitely not the expected move! Logically, Shu Ya should indeed be furious by now, but it should be directed at Hao Jian, not him! "Hao Jian has already exined today''s incident to me, so stop finding fault with him in the future," Shu Ya said emotionlessly. For some reason, listening to Boss Liang badmouth Hao Jian made her very angry, as if Boss Liang was speaking about her. Boss Liang had turnedpletely to stone, never expecting the plot to twist this way. What the hell did Hao Jian feed the president? "You may leave now. Remember, don''t let this happen again, or prepare to pack up and go," she said. Shu Ya was extremely angry. Hao Jian hadn''t really done anything to Section Chief Liang, yet this Liang kept looking for trouble with Hao Jian every few days. Even if Hao Jian had offended him, wasn''t this a bit too petty? Boss Liang turned around stiffly and staggered out of the president''s office! And as soon as he left the office, he mmed his fist into the wall, his expression sinister: "Hao Jian, I will never let you off the hook!" . Meanwhile, Hao Jian was wandering around the HR department like a lost soul, his hands hanging down, face expressionless, walking unsteadily, looking just like a zombie from a TV show; he didn''t even notice Yuan Shanshan greeting him. Marriage. I''m about to get married, right? I''m about to step into a grave!!! He wanted to die now, feeling like a death row inmate who hears the sentence for the first time; not too scared at that moment, but truly frightened when the time to ascend the scaffold arrives. Hao Jian pushed open the HR department''s door, then strode into Xiao Qiang''s office, and crashed onto the sofa. Since Hao Jian had not been assigned to any department, Shu Ya had no choice but to leave him with Xiao Qiang, having him share an office with Xiao Qiang! In fact, to say it was sharing office work was just to have Xiao Qiang keep an eye on him, to prevent him from wandering around. "What''s wrong, feeling down?" Xiao Qiang, seeing Hao Jian like this, couldn''t help but ask curiously. Lying on the sofa and looking at the ceiling, Hao Jian had a look of utter destion: "I''m getting married." Chapter 76 Farewell, My Harem! Hao Jiany on the sofa, looking at the ceiling with an expression as if there was nothing left to live for, "I''m getting married." Upon hearing this, Xiao Qiang''s delicate body shuddered, her head bowed, a hint of loss suddenly appeared on her face: "Why the rush, you''ve never mentioned it before." "I only found out today myself." Hao Jian forced a bitter smile, cursing Shu Yuntu and Boss Liang in his mind countless times. If not for these two bastards, he wouldn''t have to face his execution day so soon. "Then congrattions to you, I guess." Xiao Qiang said somewhat insincerely, her smile appearing rather forced. "What''s there to congratte, I don''t even want to marry her." Hao Jian curled his lips, ming his own soft heart for agreeing to Shu Ya in the first ce. Now great, he had to y the "upright gentleman" for three years. Just thinking about it made him want to die, as he wouldn''t even have an excuse to cheat anymore. Besides, when that time came and Shu Ya walked away dusting off her pants, continuing her role as a female president while he was left aged and unwanted, what would he do then? s, heaven envies the talented! Am I just too handsome or what? Is that why this is happening to me? "What? Then why are you still marrying her?" Xiao Qiang eximed incredulously, a glint of hope, or maybe fantasy, shing in her eyes. "I was forced by the circumstances. She coerced me with death, I had no choice but to marry her," Hao Jian said helplessly. "No way, how can there be such a shameless woman, you don''t even like her and yet she''s still clinging to you." Xiao Qiang also voiced her indignation for Hao Jian, finding this type of woman the most detestable. Clearly, the other person doesn''t love you, yet you still cling desperately, without any dignity. Hao Jian shrank his neck, not daring to respond, knowing that if Xiao Qiang realized she was talking about Shu Ya, whom she respected the most, he couldn''t imagine her reaction. "So what are you going to do now?" Xiao Qiang asked urgently, not understanding why she was so agitated. Simply hearing Hao Jian mentioning getting married made her feel very ufortable. "What else can I do? Farewell, my little grove! Farewell, my harem," Hao Jian wailed in despair. Xiao Qiang couldn''t help butugh at his antics, "Don''t be so informal, you''re about to be a husband. How will you provide your future wife with a sense of security with this behavior?" "She doesn''t need me to give her a sense of security, she just wants to be married to me for three years. Once the three years are up, she''ll divorce me and walk away." "What? What do you mean?" Xiao Qiang was somewhat confused, then looked at Hao Jian with a peculiar expression: "She wouldn''t happen to have someone else''s child that she''s nning to find a father for, and that''s why you ended up being chosen, right?" That was the only exnation that made sense as to why that woman would make a three-year agreement with Hao Jian. Hao Jian''s face darkened, "Have you been watching too many soap operas?" "Life imitates art. What I said has happened before, it''s not just rmist talk," Xiao Qiang chuckled. "Hey, why do I feel like you are particrly happy that I''m stepping into the grave?" Hao Jian grew a bit annoyed. He couldn''t grasp why Xiao Qiang seemed so cheerful. "Me? No way," Xiao Qiang said, a bit guiltily as she lowered her head. A marriagesting only three years before ending in divorce wasn''t entirely uneptable. Hao Jian looked Xiao Qiang up and down doubtfully but didn''t think much more of it and sighed: "Enough about me. Let''s talk about you. Has that scumbag boyfriend of yourse looking for you?" "No more, I heard he left Hua City after thatst incident. Speaking of which, I ought really to thank you. Why don''t you find some time toe over for dinner at my house? I''ll cook for you myself." Xiao Qiang was full of anticipation, his bright, shiny eyes extremely lethal. Hao Jian took a cautious step back and murmured tensely, "Are you trying to hit on me?" "Huh?" Xiao Qiang''s expression instantly froze. The atmosphere immediately fell silent, with something called "awkwardness" permeating the air. "How could that be, why would you think that? Really, haha, hahaha." Xiao Qiang was the first to break the silence, but the more he smiled, the more unnatural his expression appeared, making it seem increasingly forced. "You are indeed trying to hit on me!" Hao Jian dered, subconsciously tightening his cor. "I am not!" Xiao Qiang grew increasingly angry, his face red and neck thickening, thinking: this deadbeat is so unbearable! "You are, from those spring-like eyes of yours, I can see all the desire! Plus, when you talk, that slight tremble in your voice, it shows how agitated you are at this moment, indicating you really want to possess me. Not just that, even the slightlyscivious expression on your face from time to time, it isn''t hard to guess your intentions. Talking about having dinner at your ce, I think you actually want to devour me!" Hao Jian said indignantly. Eyes brimming with desire? Explore stories at empire Voice trembling? Thatscivious expression? Xiao Qiang''splexion gradually darkened until it turnedpletely livid. "Ah, never mind, I don''t me you. If anyone''s to me, me my handsome face which even made a rich woman force marriage on me, and now even my boss has lost her nature, nning to take advantage of me. My fault, I suppose, for being too handsome. If the heavens were to gift me beauty but had to take something else away in return, then I am willing to bear it!" Hao Jian, with a seductive look, began to tear at his clothes while licking his dry tongue: "COMEONBABY! Let me go crazy onest time before getting married, else you''ll never get another chance!" "Go to hell!" Xiao Qiang directly threw a thick stack of messy documents at Hao Jian. "Bang!" The door to the minister''s office mmed shut, and Xiao Qiang walked out with a dark face, still cursing: "This goddamned jerk." Just as Yuan Shanshan arrived at the office doorway and was stunned by the scene, she didn''t even get a chance to greet Xiao Qiang, who stormed off, seemingly without noticing her. No need to ask, it must have been that scoundrel Mr. Hao Jian who angered Minister Xiao. Yuan Shanshan pushed the door open, only to see Hao Jian lying on the sofa, covered with all kinds of documents, even a shredder resting on his head. Then, Yuan Shanshan saw Hao Jian''s body jerk once, then again. This truly frightened Yuan Shanshan, so she quickly cleared the stuff off him and helped him up: "What happened to you, who did this to you?" "A woman who wanted me but couldn''t have me, holding a grudge in her heart." Hao Jian said solemnly, as if it were exactly so.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "You mean Minister Xiao?" Yuan Shanshan was stunned. It couldn''t be, even if Xiao Qiang couldn''t get Hao Jian, she wouldn''t resort to physical violence, right? Besides, with her credentials, would she even fancy Hao Jian? "Who else but her? That malicious woman!" Hao Jian said resentfully. Chapter 77 Do you also want to flirt with me? "By the way, what did you want to see me for?" Hao Jian asked Yuan Shanshan.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Oh, that''s because you gave me the suggestion to design a ring for mothers, didn''t you? I wanted to show you my sketch." After saying this, Yuan Shanshan handed over the folder she was carrying to Hao Jian. When Hao Jian took a look, his eyes immediately lit up, "Carnation?" "Yes, the carnation symbolizes elegance and motherly love. That''s all I could think of for now, what do you think? Is it good?" Yuan Shanshan looked at Hao Jian somewhat nervously, fearing that he would reject her proposal. "Good, of course it''s good!" Hao Jian nodded vigorously: "Your idea is pretty great. Anyone who sees this ring will immediately think of mothers; there''s nothing more appropriate than this." "Really?" Yuan Shanshan''s face was flushed with excitement, feeling that getting Hao Jian''s approval pleased her more than thepany''s approval. "Of course, the group''s anniversary is in a month. You can take this opportunity tounch this product then, and I''m sure it will be very popr," Hao Jian said with finality. This was a breakthrough for Yuan Shanshan. Fewpanies design a ring specifically for mothers, but Yuan Shanshan did, and it was sure to elicit a good response. "Then I''ll take your word for it." With Hao Jian''s approval, Yuan Shanshan also gained confidence. "By the way, are you free tonight? I''d like to invite you to dinner, as a way to thank you." Upon hearing this, Hao Jian was immediately startled and looked at Yuan Shanshan warily: "You''re not trying to hit on me, are you?" "..." . At eight o''clock in the evening, Hao Jian drove home alone, as Shu Ya was busy with a meeting and would be upied until midnight, so she had asked him to go back first. As he parked the car downstairs, Hao Jian heard arguinging from upstairs. "Sister Lan, just sign the paper obediently. You can''t fight those developers," a portly middle-aged man said with a sycophantic smile on his face, but his chubby cheeks made the smile seem quite disgusting. "You can forget about it; I will absolutely not sell this house!" Sister Lan stood with Tongtong behind her, her expression stern. "That''s not for you to decide. If you don''t sign, I''ll make your life miserable!" Behind the fat man, a man with a face covered in scars, Scarface, spoke menacingly. His re was enough to make Tongtong burst into tears! But thinking of what Hao Jian had told her about protecting her mother, Tongtong immediately puffed out her little chest, stepped in front of Sister Lan, and said in her childish voice: "If you dare to mess around, I''ll call the police and have them arrest you!" A warmth surged in Sister Lan''s heart. "Police? Haha." Scarface was amused by Tongtong: "If we were afraid of the police, we wouldn''te here." "Sister Lan, just listen to my advice. Take thepensation and live a good life with Tongtong. You can''t fight them. The property developer has a lot of power in Hua City, with connections in both the police force and the municipal office. Even calling the police is useless," Fatty earnestly said. "Wang Zhendong, you im to have been good brothers with my husband, and now you''re colluding with strangers to bully my daughter and me. Are you even human?" Sister Lan was filled with rage. Wang Zhendong used to get along well with herte husband, like brothers. When Wang Zhendong first arrived in Hua City, he had nothing, and it was her kind-hearted husband who took him in, provided for him, and found him a job. But even then, she felt Wang Zhendong''s gaze on her was not quite right, and she mentioned it to her husband, who scolded her for Wang Zhendong''s sake. Her husband had trusted Wang Zhendong so much, but Sister Lan could never have imagined that after her husband died, he would side with a stranger to bully her and her daughter. Being criticized like this, Wang Zhendong''s face also turned ugly: "Your husband has been dead for a long time, Sister Lan. People need to look forward. What''s the use of hanging onto that broken house? Thepensation the developers are offering is not low; it''s enough for you to buy two such houses." "This is what my husband left for me, I will definitely not sell it!" Sister Lan firmly refused. The reason she clung to this ce was that it held beautiful memories for her and Tongtong, allowing her to asionally reminisce about the departed. If she moved away, she feared she would never be able to recapture that feeling again. This had nothing to do with money; it was all about sentiment, "Not selling? If you won''t sell, I''ll have you sold into prostitution in the Philippines!" Scarface threatened with a sinister expression. At that moment, his gangsters behind him were striking their palms with wooden clubs, each of them wearing a menacing face, and threateningly looking at Sister Lan. Sister Lan hurriedly pulled Tongtong backwards, increasingly uneasy in her heart. "Sister Lan, don''t me me, Brother Dong, for not helping you. It''s your own stubbornness, insisting on opposing them. You''re not afraid for yourself, but what about Tongtong? Don''t you care about her?" Wang Zhendong''s face slowly revealed a sneer; he had lost his patience and started threatening Sister Lan. Sister Lan''s expression suddenly stiffened, and she panickedly said: "No, don''t hurt Tongtong." Seeing this, Wang Zhendong was taken aback at first, but then a vile smile quickly emerged at the corner of his mouth. Indeed, Tongtong was her weakness. "I can agree not to harm Tongtong, as long as you spend one night with me. This way, I can not only guarantee not to hurt Tongtong but also talk to the developers for you and get you some more money. How about that?" Wang Zhendong chuckled lewdly, hisscivious gaze sweeping over Sister Lan''s voluptuous body! "In your dreams!" Sister Lan was so angry that her face turned red, and her lips nearly burst with blood. Wang Zhendong indeed harbored foul thoughts toward her. "Sister Lan, it''s been so long since your big brother passed away. It''s hard for you to care for Tongtong all by yourself. If you were with me, wouldn''t you be so much better off? We could raise Tongtong together, and now that I have some influence in the real estatepany, I won''t let you suffer," Wang Zhendong said earnestly. "Wang Zhendong, you shameless beast, how can you say such things? How can you live up to my husband?" Sister Lan pointed at Wang Zhendong and cursed furiously, her trembling body unable to contain her anger. To think her husband had considered him a brother, and yet this man proved to be so depraved. "Sister Lan, now that it''se to this, I might as well stop pretending. I''ve liked you for a long time. My feelings for you are no less than that bookworm''s. Give Brother Dong a chance, will you?" Chapter 78 Ill Let You Die Right Here! Wang Zhendong had been stunned by Sister Lan''s beauty and the sensual aura of a young widow since the first time he set eyes on her! At that time, Wang Zhendong had nothing to his name, and Sister Lan''s husband was still alive, so although Wang Zhendong had some ulterior motives, he dared not do anything to her. But now it was different¡ªSister Lan''s husband was dead, and she was a single woman, so his chance had arrived. "Get lost! Get the hell away from me!" Sister Lan snapped furiously, clearly infuriated by Wang Zhendong''s shamelessness. "Yo, Wang Zhendong, looks like your littledy isn''t giving you much face, eh?" Scarface sneered mockingly. At that moment, Wang Zhendong''s gaze also turned somewhat strange: "Sister Lan, you say he''s been gone for so many years, and you haven''t found a man! Don''t you have any physical needs? They say a woman at thirty is like a wolf and at forty like a tiger. Even if you don''t find a man now, you''ll find er¡ªit''s just a matter of time! Since that''s the case, why not me? After all, ''why let the water flow into someone else''s field?'' I promise I''ll take good care of you and Tongtong." What Wang Zhendong said was downright shameless and explicit, clearly suggesting that Sister Lan must be desperate, which was incredibly humiliating for her. And Scarface and the others burst into raucousughter, their eyes lecherously fixed on Sister Lan: "If you really have those needs, us brothers could help you out." "Wang Zhendong, you''re despicable!" Sister Lan burst into tears, angered by Wang Zhendong. Since the death of her husband, she hadn''t been involved with any man to protect her reputation. But Wang Zhendong''s words were akin to trampling on the one thing she held dear in her heart. How could she not be furious? "You''re making my mom mad, you''re a bad guy!" Tongtong red at Wang Zhendong with teeth clenched. "Be good, Tongtong. Uncle isn''t a bad guy; I''m doing this for your mom''s sake. You don''t want your mom to keep struggling, right? If Uncle marries your mom, I can provide for you, and you won''t have to be bullied like this anymore." Wang Zhendong was gently coaxing; since Sister Lan was unapproachable, he had to target little Tongtong now. But Tongtong wasn''t buying it: "My mom would never like you, you''re so ugly¡ªlike a toad lusting after a swan''s flesh!" Children are the purest and most outspoken. Knowing that Wang Zhendong was not a good person, she naturally wouldn''t give him face and spoke her mind. "Haha, a toad lusting after swan''s flesh, the little girl''s got it right!" Scarface burst outughing, his words dripping with mockery. And he truly thought so; with Wang Zhendong looking like a toad, it would be downright bizarre for Sister Lan to marry him. Although Wang Zhendong and Scarface were in cahoots, Scarface genuinely despised Wang Zhendong, who would betray his brothers and seduce their widows¡ªhe was scum in Scarface''s eyes. After all, they from the Jianghu valued righteousness above all, and seducing a brother''s widow was the utmost taboo. "Aiyowei, Wang Zhendong, it seems your reputation really is terrible. The beautifuldy won''t pay you any mind, and the pretty little girl detests you, what are you going to do now?" Scarface''sckeys also mocked. "You little brat!" Wang Zhendong cursed, furious. Tongtong had made him lose face, and in his anger, he pped her across the face. p! Tongtong staggered from the p, a bright red handprint emerging on her delicate cheek, sobbing piteously from the pain as she clung to Sister Lan: "Wuwuwu, Mommy, he hit me. It hurts, Tongtong''s face! He''s a bad man!" At that moment, everyone saw Tongtong''s cheek swelling rapidly before their very eyes. Even Scarface frowned at this sight; to strike such an adorable little girl, Wang Zhendong was simply heartless and mad. The earlier im that he would treat them well now seemed all the moreughable. "Tongtong." Sister Lan hurriedly soothed Tongtong''s beaten face. "Hiss, Mom, don''t touch it, it hurts!" Tears streamed down Tongtong''s face like a string of pearls, plopping softly to the ground. "Wang Zhendong, you beast, Tongtong is still a child, what fault does she have that you treat her this way!" Sister Lan trembled uncontrobly, her beautiful face filled with despair. How could she, a frail woman, possibly be a match for these burly men? "Enough talk, you''ll sign this contract today whether you like it or not!" Wang Zhendong hadpletely lost his patience and roared at Sister Lan. Then, wearing a sinister smile, Wang Zhendong said, "Sister Lan, you really should find yourself a man!" "I''d choose anyone but you, so you can just drop dead!" Sister Lan was full of hatred, she would rather marry a beggar than Wang Zhendong, this scum. "Very well, very well, very well." Wang Zhendong repeated ''very well'' three times, his face growingpletely dark as hemanded: "Do it, smash this ce up!" Upon Wang Zhendong''s order, Scarface and the others promptly entered Sister Lan''s house! Their boss had taken money from Wang Zhendong, and as the saying goes, "take the money and get rid of disasters for others." So naturally, they had to do some conscience-stricken deeds. Like bullying a mother and her orphaned daughter. Sister Lan held Tongtong tightly, crying nonstop, yet there was nothing she could do. A single woman without a husband, anyone could bully her. "Uncle Hao Jian won''t let you get away with this!" Just then, Tongtong suddenly shouted at Wang Zhendong! In her mind appeared the figure of Hao Jian, perhaps because thinking of Hao Jian brought herfort. Sister Lan was also stunned, not knowing why Tongtong would bring up Hao Jian. From the bottom of her heart, she did not want Hao Jian toe, because she could tell that these people were not to be trifled with. Even if Hao Jian came, it would be useless, and might even harm him.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Hearing this, Wang Zhendong sneered: "So that''s why you''ve been refusing me. It turns out you had a man on the side already, huh? And here I thought you were so chaste. You''re nothing but a whore." "You''re the whore, you disgusting toad, I won''t let you talk about my mom like that!" Tongtong said angrily, wanting to protect her mother. "It looks like you''re asking to die!" Wang Zhendong was furiously enraged and raised his hand again, preparing to hit Tongtong. But Sister Lan would not give him the chance, she hugged Tongtong tightly, her body shivering nonstop, as both mother and daughter were frightened. Wang Zhendong sneered, "Do you think that by protecting her, I won''t be able to hit her?" Such a naive woman. "If you dare hit her again, I will make sure you die right here!" Suddenly, a chillingly cold voice emanated from behind Wang Zhendong and Scarface. At that moment, Wang Zhendong and Scarface both felt a sharp, cold wind strike them from behind, sweeping over their entire bodies and making them shiver simultaneously. As they both turned around, it was as though they had seen the phantom of the God of Death. Chapter 79 Brother Zhang Avenges You! The man stood at the staircase entrance, merely five steps away from them, engulfed as if by darkness itself! His body was wreathed in a gloomy and dark mist, his eyes a brutal and fierce shade of murky green, resembling the God of Death returning from Hell, but Wang Zhendong and Scarface blinked, and when they looked at the man again, the illusion had vanished; instead, they saw a young man in his twenties, ring at them with eyes full of anger and bloodlust. Wang Zhendong and Scarface exchanged a startled look, both seeing the panic in each other''s eyes. If this was an illusion, how could two people see it at the same time? There could be only one exnation: it was not an illusion. Wang Zhendong and Scarface both felt something was off about Hao Jian, but ultimately, it was Wang Zhendong who mustered up the courage to confront him: "Who do you think you are, meddling in our business?" "Me? Aren''t I just the wild man you were talking about?" Hao Jian said with a mocking smile, and hearing this, Wang Zhendong suddenly had a bad feeling, "Uncle Hao Jian." Tongtong struggled free from her mother''s embrace and flung herself towards Hao Jian, then buried herself in his arms. "It''s brother," Hao Jian said with a frustrated expression, this little devil. Sister Lan was also stunned; she hadn''t expected Hao Jian to actually appear, let alonee to their rescue. "Uncle Hao Jian, they hit Tongtong just now. Tongtong''s face hurts," Tongtong said tearfully, sobbing continuously, looking extremely aggrieved. Upon hearing this, Hao Jian''s face turned steely. He tried to suppress his killing intent, saying gently: "Little girl, your brother will get revenge for you." At that moment, Sister Lan also stood up, looked at Hao Jian for a few seconds, and couldn''t help but lean on his shoulder and cry. Because at that moment, she truly felt wronged; there should have been a man to shelter them, but unfortunately, there was none. Sister Lan had thought that she and her daughter were bound to suffer humiliation today, but she had not expected Hao Jian to suddenly appear. It was like seeing a glimmer of dawn in the pitch-dark night, filling her with hope and intense concern. Meanwhile, seeing the woman who was originally his being taken away by Hao Jian made Wang Zhendong''s face show a chill again, and he sneered: "So it''s you! What, are you nning to stand up for them?" "Standing up for them is too grand, just thought I''d teach a lesson to someone like you who bullies orphans and widows." Hao Jian, holding the two beauties, one big and one small, red fiercely at Wang Zhendong. Upon encountering Hao Jian''s fierce gaze, Wang Zhendong''s expression slightly recoiled. "Brother, what path are you from, state your name?" Scarface raised his eyebrows, he didn''t immediately challenge Hao Jian because he could tell Hao Jian was no ordinary person. "Pedestrian''s path, the zebra crossing," Hao Jian responded mockingly. Scarface''s expression stiffened, clearly seeing that Hao Jian was mocking him, but still suppressed his anger and said: "Brother, if you know them, I advise you to persuade them to sign the contract quickly and move out. There''s no need to have your family destroyed over this shabby house, right?" "You guys step aside first, let me handle this matter." Hao Jian patted Sister Lan and Tongtong''s shoulders. The two obediently stepped aside. "Brother, think carefully, thepensation sum is shockinglyrge, enough for you to buy two houses like this, and also." Scarface didn''t want to resort to violence if he could avoid it; this kid was a bit malevolent, and a real fight might not end well. "Not selling!" Hao Jian tly refused, his expression indifferent. "What?" Scarface was stunned.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "I said I won''t sell, so you can leave," Hao Jian said bluntly. "Brother, I am speaking to you nicely as a sign of respect, are you sure you won''t show me some respect?" A sh of malice crossed Scarface''s brow. Having mingled in the Jianghu for so many years, he had never been scolded like this. Instantly, he felt his temper re. Although somewhat wary of Hao Jian, that did not mean Hao Jian could boss him around. "Show you respect? I''m neither your dad nor your mom. Why should I show you any respect?" Hao Jianughed in anger. A street gangster asking the God of Death for respect, was this a joke? "You!!!" Scarface was also furious, his face turning an iron shade of blue. He had never expected this guy to be so arrogant! Meanwhile, Hao Jian heard noises of smashing from inside Sister Lan''s house. He turned his head towards Wang Zhendong and Scarface''s backs and immediately saw a group of burly men smashing things inside. Hao Jian straightened his neck, smiling, "For every item you break, you''ll pay ten times its price." Scarface promptly pulled out the machete at his waist, his eyes fierce, and said: "I''m giving you one more chance. Sign it or not?" "Why waste words, just kill him," Wang Zhendong said furiously, then mockingly said to Sister Lan: "Sister Lan, impressive, finding a young chap for an old cow to graze on. Too bad he has nothing but bravery." Sister Lan felt both embarrassed and angry after being ridiculed by Wang Zhendong, also filled with worry for Hao Jian. However, as soon as Wang Zhendong''s words were uttered, a p fiercelynded on his chubby face! Smack!!! The sound was extremely loud, echoing within the room. Wang Zhendong was sent flying several meters away, crashing into the stairwell, where he fell and broke his head open. This scene stunned everyone! They all turned to look, only to find that Hao Jian was the one who had struck the blow! "I usually settle things with actions rather than words. From the start, you''ve been running your mouth. Did you really think I wouldn''t hit you or what? Do I look that harmless to you?" Hao Jian was speechless. How could anyone challenge his confidence, acting as if he wouldn''t dare to touch him? Turns out, Wang Zhendong indeed thought so, believing that toy a hand on him, Hao Jian would have to get past Scarface first. But who could have expected Hao Jian to strike so quickly, like a sh of lightning? Let alone Scarface, even he couldn''t react in time, and before he knew it, he was flying through the air. "You''re courting death!" Scarface was livid, and he swung his machete towards Hao Jian. "Hao Jian, be careful!" Find adventures at empire Sister Lan cried out in shock, her pretty face filled with terror. She should never have involved Hao Jian in the first ce, and now she had dragged him into this mess. But the corner of Hao Jian''s mouth curled into a sneer as he moved swiftly, just as the machete was about tond on his head. "p!" After a loud p, Scarfaceically spun around twice for three hundred sixty-five degrees and then staggered back against the wall, barely able to stand. This p had stunned Scarfacepletely, leaving him dizzy and unable to recover for a long while. "Brother Scar!" The other gangsters in the house, hearing themotion, rushed out. Scarface shook his head violently, finallying to his senses and bing even more furious! Pointing at Hao Jian, Scarface with a ferocious face shouted fiercely: "Go! Kill him!!!" Chapter 80 Just Beat the Disabled! Hearing Scarface had given a deadly order, his cronies charged at Hao Jian, one after another, howling loudly! However, they had just rushed in and immediately, there was a series of crisp, snapping sounds! Find exclusive stories on empire Snap, snap, snap! One by one, the cronies ended up just like Scarface, spinning in ce from the ps, resembling ballet dancers, which was utterly ridiculous to the extreme. "Wow, uncle is so awesome, he can spin people like tops!" Tongtong excitedly eximed. Sister Lan was dumbfounded too, she had never seen this side of Hao Jian before. Had he learned martial arts? Alone, he had taken down seven or eight thugs. At that moment, Hao Jian turned to Sister Lan and said, "Sister Lan, go see how much stuff inside the house was smashed." Sister Lan quickly snapped out of her astonishment, hurried into the house, and soon came back out: "The smashed things are all like TVs and stools." "About how much money''s worth?" "Maybe over thirteen thousand," Sister Lan said uncertainly, yet she didn''t know why Hao Jian was asking this. "Okay, thirteen thousand times ten is one hundred thirty thousand. Time to pay up," Hao Jian said spreading his hands towards Scarface. "Pay my ass!" Scarface roared, as he was always the one extorting others; when had he ever been extorted like this? This feeling was just too suffocating! "p!" Hao Jian pped him again, knocking out two of Scarface''s front teeth and swelling up his right cheek. Hao Jian stretched out his hand again, demanding, "Pay up!" "Woah, woah!" The furious-looking Zhou Aimin muttered something unclear. "What the hell are you saying, speak Mandarin!" Hao Jian impatiently said. Then Scarface flipped him the middle finger. "Fuck!" Hao Jian cursed loudly, shouting, "Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms!" "p, p, p." Continuous smacksnded on Scarface''s face, making him fling his head back and forth, and soon, he had turned into Pig Head Three. "Stop hitting, five times the payment, I''ll pay five times," Scarface almost cried out; this man was simply a demon. "You even dare to beat Brother Scar to this state, our boss won''t let you go, you''re dead meat!" one of the cronies indignantly said! "Your boss?" Hao Jian frowned slightly, his face showing a flicker of ferocity! "What, scared? If you''re scared, just sign the contract peacefully, or you''re going to be in big trouble!" Seeing Hao Jian''s surprised expression, that person thought he was scared and then started to threaten with a smug grin on his face. Hao Jian gave him a deep look and again raised his hands, using his Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms to beat that thug into the same miserable shape as Scarface, who also became Pig Head Three. "Don''t mention your boss; even the Heavenly King is useless!" Hao Jian mocked, for him, these underground forces were just swarms of ants, and he naturally didn''t take them to heart! Scarface was utterly shocked; they had already pulled out their boss, and this bastard was still so arrogantly unbearable. p!!! After pping that guy away, Hao Jian coldly looked over the ce: "Anyone else wants to disagree? Step forward!" But now, who would dare to step forward? After the lesson given to Scarface, they certainly didn''t want to court death. "Since there is none, then everyone kneel down and sing ''Conquered''!" Hao Jian thundered. Dare to create trouble in his territory, were they really going against him? Scarface and the others, not daring to rebut, knelt down one after another, yet all had grimaces on their faces: "We don''t know how to sing ''Conquered''." "Don''t know? Then eat a p!" Hao Jian coldly huffed. "I know! I suddenly know how to sing it!" Scarface quickly raised his hand and then started: "Just like this, being conquered by you..." "Come here!" At that moment, Hao Jian waved Wang Zhendong over. Since Scarface and his crew had already been dealt with, how could Wang Zhendong not be involved as well? That would be so unfair to them! Hao Jian was always one for fairness. "Huh?" Wang Zhendong was about to make a run for it; after witnessing Hao Jian''s disy of Divine Might, he lost all confidence in facing Hao Jian and only wanted to get the hell away from this demon. "I told you toe here, damn it!" Hao Jian barked ferociously. Fucking hell, this damn fatty, the more I look at him, the more disgusting he gets, looking like a toad and still dreaming of swan meat. "Uncle, you''re swearing! That''s naughty!" Tongtong pouted, unhappy. Mom had told her that swearing was rude, and kids who swear are naughty. Sister Lan gave a slight smile and pinched Tongtong''s rosy cheek. "Alright, alright, Uncle won''t swear." With no choice, in front of the child, Hao Jian decided to maintain some adult decorum, and mustered a faint smile as he said to Wang Zhendong: "Fatty, hurry up ande over here, okay? Otherwise, I''m really going to stuff your toad head right up your fat ass." Wang Zhendong hurriedly rolled and crawled over, staring eagerly at Hao Jian, awaiting hismand, looking every bit the servileckey. Hao Jian clicked his tongue in amazement, "Looks like a toad, but behaves like a dog." At these words, not only did Wang Zhendong not get angry, but he also obediently barked twice, hardly any different from a dog. "Wow, the more I say it, the more you y along, you really are a cheap one." Hao Jianughed out loud, clearly delighted, and then pped him across the face. Probably the most speechless person here would be Wang Zhendong. He saw Hao Jianughing with joy and thought he was off the hook, only to realize this guy turned around and smacked him. "Dude, why did you hit me?" Wang Zhendong said innocently. "Because I don''t like your face, got a problem with that?" Hao Jian sneered. "Fine, of course, it''s fine," Wang Zhendong squeezed out a smile more bitter than bitterness itself. "Look at you, living a man yet acting like a cur. Sister Lan''s family was so good to you back then, not only are you ungrateful, but you also repay kindness with enmity, bringing people to steal their house. Are you even human?" Hao Jian surveyed Wang Zhendong with interest, his eyes full of contempt. Wang Zhendong hurriedly pped his own face: "I''m not human, I''m worse than a pig or dog; I definitely will reform, please be magnanimous and let me go as if I were just a fart." A fart, to be let go? Hao Jian was taken aback, then red fiercely, "Are you fucking trying to say I''m farting around? Are you?" Fucking hell... this works? Wang Zhendong was somewhat dumbfounded, but still pleaded with a sad face: "No, no, no! Boss, I''m a fart, moreover a stinky one, please let me go!" "Damn it! I don''t let off stinky farts! If you dare nder me again, I''ll p you to death!" Hao Jian instantly pped Wang Zhendong across the face again! Wang Zhendong almost cried! Damn it! Holding a stinky fart and stubbornly not letting it go, what kind of freak is this! "Do you really know your mistake now?" Hao Jian asked seriously as he looked at Wang Zhendong. "Yes, I really do know my mistake. I will go home and pray to Buddha, burning incense, and from now on, cultivate kindness." Wang Zhendong saw Hao Jian''s tone soften, and was overjoyed, nodding repeatedly, but inwardly cursed: Fool, you''re so damn easy to fool; whatever I say goes! Just you wait till I find someone to deal with you, asshole! Suddenly, Hao Jian narrowed his eyes at Wang Zhendong, "Are you thinking right now, how is there such a fool who is so easy to fool?" Wang Zhendong was caught off guard, shit, can this guy read minds?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om But how could he admit it now, he hurriedly shook his head and said, "No, no, no, how could I think like that? I truly want to change." "Fine then, if you have truly changed, I won''t make it hard for you anymore, I''ll just cripple you instead." Chapter 81 What you said makes a lot of sense! The first part of the conversation had Wang Zhendong excited, but by the second part, he was devastated. Not difficult for him? Leaving him disabled isn''t making things difficult for him? If Wang Zhendong had known that Hao Jian had just intended to kill him, he probably wouldn''t have thought this way. "You can''t do this, this is illegal, you could go to jail," Wang Zhendong tried to make a final struggle, warning Hao Jian. "Hmm, you make a good point." Resting his chin on one hand, Hao Jian also felt that Wang Zhendong had somewhat of a point. Wang Zhendong finally breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that Hao Jian still had some sense, or else he really would have been done for. "So I n to let them do it," Hao Jian said, pointing to Scarface and the others. Then Wang Zhendong''s expression became very animated. But Hao Jian didn''t care, he said to Scarface and the others, "Go, break his legs for me!" "This, isn''t this a bit much?" Scarface hesitated, no matter what, Wang Zhendong was still his boss''s man, and if he were disabled, Brother Spice Ginger and the boss might get angry. "Not a good idea? How about I disable you instead?" Hao Jian cackled strangely, the threat was very clear. Scarface shivered all over, believing that this demon definitely meant what he said. Grinding his teeth, Scarface ordered, "Go break his legs for me!" "Brother Scar, you!" Wang Zhendong was stunned, he hadn''t expected Scarface to really go through with it. "Wang Zhendong, if you must me anyone, me yourself for provoking the wrong person. Breaking your legs is better than breaking mine, ept your fate!" Scarface sighed and turned away, unable to look at Wang Zhendong. "Scarface, fuck you, if you touch me, I swear I won''t let you off!" Wang Zhendong roared like thunder,pletely freaking out. Hearing this, Scarface''s face also turned cold, getting somewhat annoyed. Already feeling ufortable being pushed around by Hao Jian, and now he had to put up with Wang Zhendong''s anger¡ªwho wouldn''t feel upset? "Mommy, that toad just swore!" Tongtong suddenly tugged at Sister Lan''s mouth corner and spoke. "Right, right, right, first a p, then break the legs!" Hao Jian fanned the mes from the sidelines,pletely forgetting he was the instigator. After that, two people grabbed Wang Zhendong from behind to let Scarface personally do the job. Rolling up his sleeves with a sinisterugh, Scarface said, "Dare to curse at me, eh?" Wang Zhendong''s face turned ashen; he truly regretted it now. Why on earth did he have to dig his own grave? If not for his suggesting to his boss to develop this piece ofnd, none of this mess would have happened. Actually, Wang Zhendong''s boss had always wanted to develop a piece ofnd in Hua City, but had no target in mind until Wang Zhendong actively rmended thisnd to him. The reason he did this was also to trap Sister Lan using illegal means, hoping that once Sister Lan hit a dead-end, she might turn to him for help. Then, he could take the opportunity to deceitfully win her over. But he had never anticipated that Hao Jian would appear out of nowhere like Cheng Yaojin, messing up all his ns. "I think we should let it go." Sister Lan was ultimately too kind-hearted. Seeing Hao Jian about to cripple Wang Zhendong, she immediately felt a surge ofpassion. But Hao Jian simply smiled, "If the price of a mistake is too low, then the crime rate in this world would surge dramatically. You understand that, right?" If Wang Zhendong wasn''t made aware of what a price is, then in the future, he would only be more ruthless, and even if not Sister Lan, he would harm someone else''s family. Sister Lan''s expression nked out, and then she said no more. Just as Scarface was about to make his move, his phone rang; he looked at Hao Jian with annoyance and said, "Big brother, can I take a call?" "Take it," Hao Jian said impatiently. Such a nuisance. Scarface nced at the caller ID, and as if seeing a savior, he shouted into the phone the moment he answered: "Boss, I''m at XXX, I got beaten up,e and take revenge for me!" "Damn!" Hao Jian was startled, realizing this bastard was calling for backup. He swiftly kicked him so hard that Scarface nearly threw up his galldder. But Scarface, wiping the corner of his mouth, sneered, "Kid, you''re dead. My boss is already on his way, just wait to be chopped into pieces!" Stay connected via empire "Kid, his boss is a ruthless character; you hit his underling, he''ll definitely chop you into neen pieces. Be smart and hand over that chick to us now, or else you won''t have a whole corpse left!" Wang Zhendong also sneered. These two fools, who had just hated each other''s guts, suddenly united over amon enemy¡ªit was bothughable and exasperating. It was also because they knew their savior was close by. As soon as he arrived, Hao Jian would undoubtedly be dead, so they were no longer so afraid of Hao Jian. Scarface''s confidence was growing: "If you kneel down and kowtow a few times right now, maybe I''ll consider letting you keep a dog''s life." "I think there should still be some time left before your boss arrives, right?" Hao Jian rolled up his sleeves and walked towards Wang Zhendong and the other, his face switching expressions incredibly fast. It seemed he had been too kind, unable to make them realize their mistakes. Instantly, Scarface and Wang Zhendong''s faces turned green. Just as Hao Jian was approaching, a roar of car engines suddenly erupted downstairs, and a dozen vans squeezed into the yard. "My boss is here! Hahaha, kid, you''re dead now!" Scarface burst intoughter, knowing his boss hade to rescue him. Now, the kid was definitely going to die! Hao Jian frowned slightly¡ªdid they really arrive that fast? But even so, he rushed up and beat up Wang Zhendong and the other fiercely. Regardless of who their boss was, beat them first and talkter! "Who dares to touch my brother, I''ll ughter him!!!" At the same time, a fierce-faced bald man shouted from downstairs! He was naturally the boss of Scar and the others, having just been passing by and decided to check on Scarface''s progress.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Little did he know that he would receive a distress call from Scarface, prompting him to immediately gather his men and rush over. The bald man charged in front, full of fury, and as soon as he reached Hao Jian''s floor, he saw a man beating up Scarface and Wang Zhendong. "Stop!!!" The bald man was enraged but utterly baffled¡ªwhy was Scarface getting beaten while his underlings just watched and didn''t help? It wasn''t that they didn''t want to help; they simply didn''t dare. They''d lose the fight and just end up getting beaten too, better stay put. The bald man had thought there must be a group, otherwise, why else would there be a distress call? But seeing it was just one man, he couldn''t even describe his feelings. Scarface quickly scrambled to his boss and then pointed fiercely at Hao Jian: "Boss, it''s this kid. Kill him for me!" Chapter 82 Someone You Can Never Afford to Offend! At that moment, inside the room, seeing the bald man and his men charging in, everyone was ecstatic! Not only were Scar and the others wearing faces of glee and cruelty, but even Wang Zhendong''s face also broke into a thick grin: "Haha... Kid, you''re finished, you''re dead for sure! Brother Spice Ginger is here, soon I''ll make you wish you were dead!" "Brother Spice Ginger! Avenge us, kill this bastard!" "Yes! Kill him! This jerk dared to hit my face just now, he must be crippled!" ... These people started shouting aggressively one after another, as if they had already seen Hao Jian''s tragic fate! And at this time, the bald man had already led his men in! "Get him! Dare to hit my brother, kill him!" The bald man saw that Hao Jian was still fiercely pping Scar and the others, and he shouted angrily! Barely had his wordse out when he saw Hao Jian turn around; that somewhat delicate face appeared right before the bald man''s eyes! This face, as if possessing magical powers, made the bald man shake violently right then! "How... how is it... you?!" The bald man''s eyes went wide, as if he had seen a ghost. Not just him, even Hao Jian was a bit stunned, almostughing out loud! It turned out that this person was none other than Spice Ginger, the gangster whom Hao Jian had severely beaten after a car race! At this moment, seeing Spice Ginger''s reaction, both Wang Zhendong and Scarface were stunned! Could it be... that Brother Spice Ginger knew him? Scarface and Wang Zhendong looked at each other in disbelief! However, at this moment, a cold smirk crossed Hao Jian''s lips, and he said yfully: "So it''s Brother Spice Ginger, seems like I didn''t beat you hard enoughst time, so you didn''t learn your lesson, huh?" What!!!! Hao Jian''s statement stunned everyone! Brother Spice Ginger was... beaten by this kid? Scarface and Wang Zhendong''s faces were filled with disbelief! But then, they remembered! Brother Spice Ginger hade down from Qiuyun Mountain beaten up; it was said that he was beaten by some unknown neer, but Spice Ginger never thought about taking revenge, which Scarface had always found iprehensible. Could it be that even Brother Spice Ginger didn''t dare to touch him? A bad premonition suddenly surged in Scarface''s mind. Brother Spice Ginger''s face was a spectacle at this moment, looking at Hao Jian, his little heart almost leapt out! The scenes at Qiuyun Mountain were still vivid in his mind, which instilled extreme terror in Spice Ginger''s heart! In his heart, he cursed Scarface''s ancestors for generations, wondering why he had provoked such a cmity. If he wanted to die, he shouldn''t drag him along, right? Last time at the summit of Qiuyun Mountain, Hao Jian, barehanded, had defeated dozens of them armed with knives, basically a monster. Thinking that he had once again encountered this cmity, Brother Spice Ginger''s legs were shaking!N?v(el)B\\jnn Then, Brother Spice Ginger turned around gloomily and backhandedly pped Scarface. "Smack." This p left Scarface stunned; he pitifully looked at his boss: "Boss, why did you hit me?" It was one thing for Hao Jian to hit him, but for his own boss to hit him without reason, what the hell was that. "Damn! I don''t just want to hit you, I damn well feel like killing you!" Brother Spice Ginger cursed loudly, and indeed, he meant it. Of all people to annoy, they had to mess with someone even he deeply feared, and if they angered him, they might get a severe beating again soon. Especially given Hao Jian''s ruthlessness, it seemed possible that in a fit of anger, the guy might kill them all! "Scarface, you damn dared to offend this man... this..." Brother Spice Ginger pointed at Hao Jian, trying to say his name but suddenly realized he didn''t actually know Hao Jian''s name. "Hao Jian." Tongtong promptly added in. "Yes, you dare to offend Brother Jian? I think you''re tired of living," Brother Spice Ginger said, growing angrier as he spoke, and pped him again. By now, Scarface hadpletely petrified, not even reacting to Brother Spice Ginger''s ps. In that moment, he finally realized that Hao Jian must be the legendary Over River Dragon. From Brother Spice Ginger''s attitude toward him, it was clear this was someone he absolutely couldn''t afford to offend. Had he just arrogantly dered that Hao Jian was done for? Scarface now truly wanted to p himself several times. "Scar, apologize to Brother Jian!" Brother Spice Ginger pped the back of Scarface''s neck, causing him to bend over. Then, with a sycophantic expression, he said to Hao Jian: "Brother Jian, this little brother of mine didn''t know any better and has offended you. I hope you can forgive us." Brother Spice Ginger''s underlings were all dumbfounded¡ªwas Brother Spice Ginger really backing down? Who exactly is this man who could make the tough guy of East City District act like a whipped dog? Let alone them, even Brother Spice Ginger didn''t know who Hao Jian was, but having been in the underworld for so many years, he had developed a keen instinct¡ª he could tell at a nce that Hao Jian was no ordinary man. Sister Lan was also stunned, silently specting about Hao Jian''s identity, wondering who he was that even a mafia boss feared him so much. Explore new worlds at empire "Brother Jian, I''m sorry, I won''t dare do it again. Please have mercy and spare me this time," Scarface bowed deeply, no longer daring to be flippant as before. "Don''t bother them mother and daughter again, the house is not for sale, got it?" Hao Jian said with a stern face. "This¡­" Brother Spice Ginger hesitated, as it was indeed a lucrative deal, but meeting Hao Jian''s chilly gaze, he couldn''t help but grit his teeth: "I promise you, they won''t be troubled by me again." Having no money is better than having no life. "Also, you must pay for the things that were damaged. $130,000, hand it over now." Hao Jian''s attitude was far from polite, almost as though hepletely disregarded Brother Spice Ginger. But Brother Spice Ginger didn''t dare show the slightest displeasure and kept nodding his head, reverently writing a cheque and handing it over. After taking the cheque, Hao Jian immediately handed it to Sister Lan. Sister Lan jumped back in shock, stepped backwards, and refused to take the cheque, shaking her head vigorously: "No, this is your money, I can''t take it!" Actually, she hadn''t even hoped to get the money back; she just wanted the bad guys to stop troubling her. Moreover, the amount was far toorge for her, as, after all, the money was reimed by Hao Jian and rightfully belonged to him. But Hao Jian insisted, stuffing the cheque into her hands: "Consider it as my rent then." Sister Lan gave a wry smile, thinking to herself, maybe it''s best to just keep it safe for Hao Jian. "You guys go inside first, I''ll handle everything else," Hao Jian said to Sister Lan, who nodded and led Tongtong inside the house. At that moment, Hao Jian turned to Wang Zhendong, his expression cold, "It''s time we sorted out our matters." Wang Zhendong couldn''t utter a word, looking stunned and foolish like a quail, watching Hao Jian. Really, from the moment Brother Spice Ginger had been nodding and bowing like a dog in front of Hao Jian, he had been bbergasted, and still hadn''t recovered. Who could have predicted the turn of events? The reputed leader of East City District, Brother Spice Ginger, was actually kowtowing to someone younger than him¡ªhe desperately wanted to know who Hao Jian really was. Wang Zhendong knew he was done for, but before his demise, he wanted some rity. He raised his head, his gaze nk as he looked at Hao Jian: "Can you tell me, who exactly are you?" "Someone you will never be able to afford to offend." Hao Jian said coldly, not as a boast, but stating a fact. Wang Zhendong could only give a bitter smile; he understood that he didn''t even have the right to know Hao Jian''s true identity. "Crack." A sound of bone breaking followed. Apanying that was a tremendously agonizing scream. Wang Zhendong rolled back and forth on the ground, his face twisted in pain. Hao Jian nced at him indifferently, then shifted his gaze: "Take this trash away." Chapter 83 Call Him God of Death! "Boss, with so many of us, why don''t we take down that kid?" A minion asked Brother Spice Ginger, puzzled as to why he would choose to back away when they clearly had the numbers to overwhelm the opponent easily. Scarface also pricked up his ears, wanting to hear his boss''s exnation, and he was even more eager to know what sort of background Hao Jian had that could make Brother Spice Ginger retreat. Brother Spice Ginger snorted, "Take him down? I''d rather live a few more years." "Do you think he''s easy to deal with? Didn''t you see his eyes? Filled with frenzied violence and cold Killing Intent, utterly inhuman! Anyone with such eyes surelyes from the dark world." "The dark world?" The minion was even more confused. What world was the dark world? Brother Spice Ginger exined, "The dark world is the evil side of this world. In that world, all of humanity''s basest traits are reflected¡ªmurder, bestiality, madness, deception, rape¡ªa whole array of darkness all coexisting. Every person seems to revert to a primitive state, reiming terrifying bestial instincts just to survive through constant killing." "Back in the day, I was fortunate enough toe in contact with that world. I thought I could step into it, but I ended up being so frightened that my legs went weak and I scrambled out. You can''t imagine what I saw." Brother Spice Ginger wore a bitter smile, and as he spoke, his expression became unnatural and his face somewhat pale, evidently, the memory still deeply unnerved him. "Boss, what exactly did you see?" Scarface asked in horror, wondering what could scare Brother Spice Ginger, who was known for his ferocity and ruthless ways. Brother Spice Ginger showed a look of reminiscence, "It was one evening, the sunset was like blood. I saw a man standing in the afterglow, alone as if he was a deste wilderness, giving off a feeling of bleak destion, as if everything would lose its vitality in front of him. He held a military knife, with hundreds of top mercenaries'' bodies lying at his feet. In the moment he turned around, I thought I was surely dead. That utmost cold gaze was as if he was the high and mighty God of Death, and I was nothing but a lowly ant." Then, Brother Spice Ginger chuckled bitterly, "However, he didn''t kill me. Looking back, he probably thought I wasn''t even worthy to die by his hand. To this day, I can''t recall his face, but I only remember those cold eyes, exactly like Hao Jian''s!" "Boss, who was that man?" Scarface asked in astonishment, wanting to know more about the man who even Brother Spice Ginger feared. "I don''t know, all I know is, they call him... God of Death!" . "Hao Jian, I really owe you this time; if it weren''t for you, my daughter and I wouldn''t know what to do," Sister Lan said with a choked voice, still frightened by the events that had just unfolded. "Sister Lan, what are you talking about? If it hadn''t been for you taking me in, I would have been sleeping on the streets by now! You treat me as one of your own, so this was all part of my duty, no thanks needed." Hao Jian gave a wry smile, then bent down to pinch Tongtong''s little cheek, "Besides, how could I allow anyone to bully my little princess?" "Brother Jian is so nice, I want to marry you when I grow up!" Tongtong hugged Hao Jian''s thigh tightly. "You little rascal, why aren''t you calling me uncle anymore?" Hao Jian teased. Tongtong pouted and said in a baby voice, "If I call you uncle, then I can''t marry you. It''s better to call you brother." "Hey, quite clever, aren''t you?" Hao Jianughed heartily, realizing that this little girl was trying to bridge the generational gap between them. "This little mischief-maker is at it again!" Sister Lan also nced sideways at her, but with a smile at the corner of her lips. Seeing herugh, Hao Jian finally put his mind at ease and joked: "Sister Lan, you''reughing? That''s the way to do it, take everything lightly, don''t always look so gloomy. You look much better when you smile." At his words, Sister Lan shyly lowered her head, speaking in an extremely soft voice, "You can just call me Ruo Lan." "Huh?" Hao Jian was stunned, it was the first time he had heard Sister Lan''s full name, and he didn''t understand why she suddenly wanted him to call her by her full name. "That doesn''t seem quite right?" Hao Jian said with a wry smile, feeling that using her full name would make him ufortable. "It''s okay, just call me that." Ruo Lan looked at Hao Jian earnestly, but upon meeting his gaze, quickly lowered her head again in panic. Tongtong, the clever little girl, tilted her head, looked at Hao Jian, then at her mother, and then sighed heavily: "Well, Hao Jian, I might as well just call you uncle." The little girl probably felt she had no hope, so she took a step back voluntarily. This made both Hao Jian and Ruo Lan blush, neither of them had expected the little girl to be so clever. Hao Jian also coughed twice, patting his chest, "Anyway, if you have any problems in the future, juste to me, don''t try to bear it all alone. Let men handle the rough stuff." Hearing this, a warm current surged in Ruo Lan''s heart, her lips began to curl into a smile, but when she remembered that Hao Jian already had a girlfriend, that smile turned into a bitter one: "Won''t that trouble you? Your girlfriend might be unhappy." "Kidding, I tell her to go east, she wouldn''t dare to go west! I tell her to beat a dog, she wouldn''t dare to chase a chicken! Unhappy? Would she dare?" Hao Jian snorted, proudly, acting all pompous. Stay tuned with empire Tongtong immediately ran her finger across her face: "Uncle, boasting shamelessly." "Seriously, she even came to propose to me yesterday, begging me to marry her, she even knelt down. But I found her ugly and refused, you know what she did? She cried buckets, ruining her makeup, threatening to jump off buildings, to hang herself, saying if I didn''t marry her, she''d die right before me. Ah, no choice, I''m just soft-hearted, so I had to agree," Hao Jian spoke with feigned helplessness. Just then, Shu Ya came home, just in time to see Brother Spice Ginger and others passing through the hallway, and was startled by these "gang brothers." But as soon as she came up, she heard Hao Jian speaking ill of her, and her face gradually darkened. Tongtong and Ruo Lan, seeing Shu Ya standing behind Hao Jian with a murderous expression, both took a step back simultaneously. "What''s wrong? Can''t handle that? Then wait, in a few days, she''s going to drag me to the Civil Affairs Bureau, destroying my lifelong bachelorhood at the hands of such a woman," Hao Jian sighed heavily, as if he were greatly wronged. At that moment, Ruo Lan gave him a look. "Ruo Lan, what''s wrong with your eyes? Got sand in them?" Hao Jian asked nkly. Ruo Lan rolled her eyes and decided to ignore him.N?v(el)B\\jnn "Her eyes aren''t filled with sand, she just saw meing back," Shu Ya spoke up, her voice cold as ice,ing from behind Hao Jian. Chapter 84 Women Are All Liars! Afterward, the three of them clearly saw Hao Jian''s body suddenly stiffen, then his face, full of a smug smile, instantly froze, his mouth twitching repeatedly! Then, realizing what was happening, Hao Jian approached with a ttering grin, "Wife, you''re back; you must be tired from work. Come, let me give you a massage." "So sleazy." Tongtong pouted, uttering this sage-like remark despite her young age. Hao Jian''s mouth twitched, and he bared his teeth in a grimace at Tongtong, threatening her to shut up or he''d definitely take care of her. But Tongtong snorted proudly and turned her head away, ignoring him. "Hao Jian, what happened at home? Why did I see so many Mafia youths just now? Did you cause trouble again?" Shu Ya asked, not understanding. She also noticed Sister Lan''s house was in disarray, clearly the result of them being targeted. The first thought that popped into Shu Ya''s head was that Hao Jian had got into trouble, which then affected Sister Lan''s family. "There was a bit of an incident." Hao Jian''s expression tensed, opting not to exin because just the thought of nearlymitting murder filled him with irritation. He had promised ''her'' to live as an ordinary person, but tonight, he almost unleashed his surging urge to kill, almost returning to that bloodthirsty and crazy state! Seeing Hao Jian looking somewhat unwell, Shu Ya didn''t dare to ask why but merely nodded in a daze. Hao Jian then turned to Ruo Lan and her daughter, his face breaking into a smile again: "Ruo Lan, remember this, next time anything simr happens you must notify us. We can''t say we will definitely help you, but at least the more people are involved, the more solutions we''ll have." Shu Ya''s eyes narrowed, Ruo Lan? Was that Sister Lan''s full name? Why was he addressing her so affectionately? Did her heart feel ufortably tight? Sister Lan nodded obediently, "I''ll remember that." Watching Hao Jian head upstairs, Shu Ya became even more displeased. Since she couldn''t get any answers from Hao Jian, she decided to shift her focus onto Ruo Lan: "Sister Lan, what exactly happened? Why won''t he tell me?" "Shu Ya, I''m a bit upset right now, can I tell you when I''m free?" Ruo Lan said with a wry smile. Her feelings were truly in disarray because she discovered that her heart, which she thought would never flutter again, was pounding today. This made her feel somewhat guilty toward herte husband, so she needed some time to be alone and reflect. Without waiting for Shu Ya''s response, she turned and walked into the house. "Hey?" Shu Ya waspletely baffled. Couldn''t those two really have an affair? Why were they both so secretive? "Tongtong, can you tell sister what happened, please?" Shu Ya bent down and spoke tenderly to Tongtong, this being her only hope. "Bad guys wanted to bully Tongtong and Mommy, and they even pped Tongtong," said Tongtong in her babyish voice. Tongtong pointed to her slightly swollen face, her innocent and tender tone evoking sympathy. Seeing Tongtong''s face, Shu Ya indeed noticed the swelling and furrowed her brows: "Who could be so heartless as to not even spare a child? Tell sister, and I''ll definitely sort them out for you." "No need," Tongtong said cheerfully, "because Uncle has already taken revenge for Tongtong!" "Taken revenge? Are you talking about those people from earlier?" It was then that Shu Ya remembered the people she had seen earlier. "Oh, Uncle was so angry when he saw Tongtong being beaten, so he beat them up too. Uncle was really scary just now, and Tongtong was so afraid." Shu Ya nodded heavily, finally understanding why Hao Jian had looked so upset. That guy, he must have been truly angry this time. When Shu Ya returned home, Hao Jian had already gone to take a shower. Her mood was somewhat heavy because she realized she didn''t understand Hao Jian at all. If he were just a thug or a rogue, could he have single-handedly scared off dozens of people by himself? Without truly understanding him, she had forced him to marry her, and now Shu Ya felt quite guilty about it. Shu Ya sat on the sofa, lost in thought, and at that moment, the bathroom door opened. Hao Jian walked out and saw Shu Ya daydreaming, he started tough, "What are you spacing out for? Aren''t you going to take a shower?" Shu Ya turned her head, but her expression suddenly became one of terror, "Your body..." What she saw was Hao Jian''s torso covered in a dense array of scars ¡ª knife wounds, gunshot wounds, and even some from explosions. It looked extremely frightening, with not an inch of unscathed skin. Previously in the bathroom, Shu Ya hadn''t looked closely at his body, so she hadn''t noticed.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Experience new stories on empire But today, upon a careful look, she was shocked and speechless. What exactly had happened to this guy, why did it seem like he was falling apart? Hao Jian noticed Shu Ya''s gaze, looked down at his own body, andughed, "Oh, you mean this? These are scars from the battlefield. Didn''t I tell you I was a soldier? You just wouldn''t believe me." Seeing Hao Jianughing, Shu Ya suddenly felt a surge of heartache, and her beautiful eyes reddened slightly. Hao Jian was also startled by her sudden reaction, and after a moment''s contemtion, he gently asked, "What''s wrong?" "Nothing... It''s nothing..." Shu Ya quickly turned her head away to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes! At that moment, in her eyes, Hao Jian''s body was filled with stories. Each scar, a story. This man was like a book, a lone wolf! Though he seemed optimistic and yful, it was only in the quiet of the night that he would hide away alone, tenderly nursing his wounds. Hao Jian could clearly see what Shu Ya was thinking and, feeling a warm current in his heart, ced his chin on her head and said with a smile, "It''s all in the past now..." Shu Ya lifted her head, her eyes still moist, wanting to say something, but unable to speak: "Hao Jian..." Seeing the cute pout of her little mouth, Hao Jian couldn''t hold back any longer and embraced her head, kissing her deeply. "Boom!" Shu Ya''s mind went nk instantly, not having expected Hao Jian''s sudden attack. For a moment, she was totally frozen, even forgetting how to resist. But after a short while, Shu Ya seemed to be enjoying it too and started to respond actively. After kissing for a while, until they were almost unable to breathe, Shu Ya suddenly pushed Hao Jian away and after kicking him in the knee, she stormed into the room, leaving behind the words "You shameless man." "Liars, all women are liars! It''s better to believe in ghosts than to trust the lies of a woman!" Hao Jian nearly twisted his nose in anger, swearing under his breath. Chapter 85 Tongtong, Is Your Aunt Here? The next day, Shu Ya got up early for work and left without even saying goodbye to Hao Jian; she just drove off on her own. Hao Jian knew that the woman was probably embarrassed about the incident from yesterday, which is why she couldn''t face him. Coming downstairs, Ruo Lan had already prepared breakfast, and upon seeing this, Hao Jian pounced like a hungry wolf and then began to feast to his heart''s content. "Uncle Cheapo, you really can eat!" Tongtong looked at Hao Jian''s way of eating, her little mouth twitching, before speaking in a babyish voice. "Having an appetite is a blessing, hasn''t Sister Lan taught you that?" Hao Jian pinched Tongtong''s chubby little cheeks, smiling gleefully. At this moment, Ruo Lan''splexion was somewhat unsightly, and as she watched Hao Jian eat like a pig, her lips pursed, and she said in a intive tone, "Hao Jian, I have something to tell you." "Okay, Sister Lan, go ahead," Hao Jian said, nodding while continuing to drink his porridge. "Don''t call me Sister Lan!" Ruo Lan said with a dark expression. Hao Jian sighed helplessly, "Okay, Ruo Lan, what''s wrong?" He didn''t understand why Ruo Lan was so angry. Was it just a name? What difference did it make what he called her? "Shu Ya talked to me today, she wants to set me up with a boyfriend." Ruo Lan''s eyes fixed intently on Hao Jian, as if trying to read his expression. Because of the events from the day before, Shu Ya hade to understand her feelings for Hao Jian. Although he was somewhat frivolous, his character was still decent. Even if it was just pretending, it seemed she wouldn''t reject the idea. Under such circumstances, she did not want any potential threats to emerge, like an extramarital affair or something. The thoughts of a woman can be deviously cunning when fueled with jealousy. At this very moment, Hao Jian still didn''t notice that there was something off about Ruo Lan''s expression and straightforwardly nodded and said, "Oh? Isn''t that good? It''s about time there''s a man in the house, so you all have someone to rely on, right?" "You think that''s good?" Ruo Lan was visibly frustrated, staring at Hao Jian. Hao Jian was dumbfounded, what had he said wrong? Indeed, wasn''t that a good thing? It was time for Ruo Lan to consider her own needs after five years of widowhood. Ruo Lan narrowed her eyes and looked at Hao Jian for a while, then coldly said, "Are you finished eating? Once you''re done, I''ll clear up!" "Hey, hey." Just as Hao Jian was about to speak, Ruo Lan had already taken away his porridge without further discussion. He was utterly speechless. What was wrong with Ruo Lan today? Had he offended her in some way? "Hey, Tongtong, is your mom on her ''that time of the month''? Why is she so fiery?" "What''s ''that time''?" Tongtong was confused, scratching her little head, and asked innocently. Hao Jian grinned, saying cheerfully, "Is your mom having her period? Has your auntie from your mom''s side visited?" "We don''t have an auntie from my mom''s side at our house?" Tongtong felt that Uncle Cheapo was acting weird today, but couldn''t quite put her finger on how. "Your house does have an auntie from your mom''s side; your mom''s periodes to visit for a few days every month, isn''t that your auntie from your mom''s side?" Hao Jian''s leering smile grew even broader! At this moment, Sister Lan in the house heard what Hao Jian said and immediately frowned in exasperation! "Hao Jian, why don''t you just go die!!!!!" With screams, pots, pans, cooking utensils, and even a kitchen knife flew out all at once! ¡­ Hao Jian arrived at thepany, holding an additional document in his hand that contained feedback on ring designs, which he nned to give to Yuan Shanshan. Because of Hao Jian''s acute insight, Yuan Shanshan consulted his opinions on every detail of her ring designs. And it was precisely because of his input every time that Yuan Shanshan had her breakthroughs, perfecting her work step by step. In some sense, the formation of this ring also owed a part of its sess to Hao Jian. Now that the ring had nearly beenpleted, all that was left was the finishing touches, so he intended to give his final thoughts to Yuan Shanshan. However, when Hao Jian entered the design department, he found Yuan Shanshan absent. He blinked in surprise¡ª it was working hours, so why hadn''t shee to work? "Hello, is Yuan Shanshan here?" Hao Jian asked one of the female designers. Upon seeing Hao Jian, the female designer''s expression turned somewhat odd as she said, "She just had a fight with the department head and then went up to the rooftop." "Do you know what they fought about?" Hao Jian was somewhat startled; considering his understanding of Yuan Shanshan, she shouldn''t be someone who lost her temper easily. "How would I know that? You should probably ask Yuan Shanshan herself," the other''s attitude became gradually impatient, seemingly reluctant to discuss the matter further. Seeing this, Hao Jian just shrugged and smiled. He could tell that this girl was probably wary of their department head, hence her reluctance to talk more about the incident. When Hao Jian found Yuan Shanshan, he discovered her standing on the edge of the rooftop, hands crossed over her chest, bracing against the cold wind, her face still bearing faint traces of tears¡ªclear signs that she had just been crying. "What''s wrong?" Hao Jian approached and knew something must have happened by the look of Yuan Shanshan. Yuan Shanshan had already stopped crying, but upon seeing Hao Jian approach, her tears welled up again in victimized defeat, throwing herself onto Hao Jian and starting to sob. "Tell me everything, what exactly happened? Only then can I help you," Hao Jianforted her, patting her back. Yuan Shanshan took a few steps back, still sniffling: "My designs were giarized by the department head." At that moment, she felt utterly wronged. To win appreciation from thepany, she had worked day and night on the ring designs. Just when she had sessfully created them, her designs were stolen by the department head. And what made it even more agonizing was that the department head had handled every detail of the design document, leaving her without any proof; it nowpletely belonged to the department head. Only now did Yuan Shanshan truly understand the ruthlessness and darkness of the workce. Hao Jian''s expression darkened slightly, his eyes growing cold: "Is this why you argued with him?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Yuan Shanshan''s eyes, swollen from crying, nodded in grievance: "He giarized my work, and I confronted him about it, but he shamelessly insisted that the design document was his creation. Without any evidence, I had no choice but to swallow the bitter pill." "What''s your department head''s name?" Hao Jian asked with a grim expression. "Our department head is He Runyu, a veteran of thepany," Yuan Shanshan shook her head as her eyes reddened once more. Being a neer, going against a veteran department head was like a moth to a me, utterly hopeless! "Lead me to him, I''d like to have a word with him," Hao Jian''s face grew darker. This matter couldn''t just be dropped; after all, he had contributed half the effort to the design document. If He Runyu giarized the design, it was as if he had bullied Hao Jian himself! It had always been him bullying others, with no one daring to bully him. How could he just let this go? "It''s no use; his power within thepany is too great. We can''t afford to offend him." Yuan Shanshan shook her head bitterly. She didn''t dare offend He Runyu, fearing that a single displeasure from him could get her fired. With her mother currently in the hospital, and money needed on all fronts, she truly couldn''t afford to spend time looking for another job. Chapter 86 This is Fighting! Hao Jian could clearly discern the worries in Yuan Shanshan''s heart and, in that moment, he said with a smile, "If you are afraid that he will fire you, then you need not worry. Since I''ve already nned to stand up for you, I certainly won''t let him continue to behave arrogantly in thepany. What you need to do is just likest time on Akina Mountain, just trust me!" Yuan Shanshan was taken aback for a moment and then, after pondering for a while, she finally nodded, "I''ll take you to him!" When Yuan Shanshan and Hao Jian returned to the design department, all the colleagues immediately turned their attention to them. They were curious about why Yuan Shanshan was bringing Hao Jian. Could it be that she wanted him to stand up for her? With this thought, they found it quiteughable. A mere driver, what could he do to their minister? Yuan Shanshan was truly naive. However, Yuan Shanshan ignored their whispering and directly led Hao Jian into the minister''s office. He Runyu was in his office watching a Japanese film; upon seeing Yuan Shanshan enter, he turned off the film and then looked up at her, scoffing as he said, "Yuan Shanshan, have you thought it through? Do you still insist that the design book is yours?" "That design book was indeed mine!" Yuan Shanshan angrily retorted. She had drawn every line of that design herself¡ªwhat did he mean by ''she thought''? "That''s not for you to decide, now is it? Thew speaks of evidence. Do you have any?" He Runyu smugly motioned for Yuan Shanshan to present her evidence. "All the evidence has been destroyed by you!" Yuan Shanshan was livid, inwardly cursing He Runyu for his shamelessness. He had destroyed the evidence himself, and now he was demanding that she produce it. How could she possibly have it? "That too needs evidence. You im I destroyed the evidence¡ªdo you have proof?" He Runyu''s smile grew even more smug, even shameless. He was sure that Yuan Shanshan couldn''t touch him, so he spoke without any reservations. "You..." Yuan Shanshan was so angry she almost ground her teeth to dust, but she could only re at He Runyu, powerless to do anything. "Minister He, right?" At this point, Hao Jian knew it was his turn to step up. From the conversation between him and Yuan Shanshan, he was fully convinced he was dealing with a scumbag. "Oh, so you brought your boyfriend to fight for you? You think that scares me? If you dare touch me, I''ll make sure none of you can walk away from here unscathed! Yuan Shanshan, I heard your mother is in the hospital needing a lot of money for medical bills. What if I fire you now, what would happen then?" He Runyu chuckled coldly, clearly confident he had Yuan Shanshan cornered. At these words, Yuan Shanshan went rigid, hit right at her vulnerable spot. Seeing Yuan Shanshan''s reaction, He Runyuughed even louder: "Yuan Shanshan, I''m not afraid to tell you outright¡ªI giarized your work, so what? Without evidence, you can only swallow your broken teeth. Dare to trouble me, and I''ll immediately kick you out!" Hearing this, Yuan Shanshan was already thinking of retreating. Indeed, there was nothing they could do to He Runyu. At this moment, seeing that Yuan Shanshan wasn''t speaking, He Runyu became even more brazen, leering as he said, "Of course, if you want the design book back it''s simple, spend one night with me. Just one night, and I''ll return the design book to you and even help you be the chief designer. How about that?" It turned out that He Runyu had harbored inappropriate thoughts toward Yuan Shanshan ever since she joined thepany and had always been looking for a chance to get his hands on her. This giarism incident partly happened because Hao Jian genuinely admired Yuan Shanshan''s design, and partly because he schemed to use the design book to threaten Yuan Shanshan intopliance. Hao Jian raised an eyebrow, He Runyu treated him as if he were Yuan Shanshan''s boyfriend, yet he still spoke such words in front of him, which was a clear insult and a p in his face. By this time, Hao Jian was already ready to fight. "You are shameless! I will absolutely not agree to your demands!" Yuan Shanshan trembled with anger.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Shanshan, people always look forward. What can this ''loser'' boyfriend of yours do for you? I''m different. I have both power and money. If you be my woman, I can use my power to benefit you, ensuring your smooth and rapid promotion within thepany. Think about it?" He Runyu stared intently at Yuan Shanshan, his eyes shimmering with desire, like a hungry wolf. "No need to think about it, even if I were to apany someone in bed for free, I wouldn''t be a woman to a scumbag like you, because you make me feel disgusted!" Yuan Shanshan scoffed with a fierce response. He Runyu''s expression changed, then a sinister smile appeared on his face, "Good! Very good! It won''t be long before youe begging me over today''s words. Don''t forget, I am the head of the design department. As long as I''m above you, you''ll never have a chance to turn things around!" "p!" As soon as the words fell, a p flew directly toward him, hitting He Runyu''s face hard. Yuan Shanshan was stunned at this moment, not expecting Hao Jian to suddenly strike. Hitting someone was illegal, and if He Runyu called the police, they would be doomed. "You dare hit me?" He Runyu was stunned, then blood rushed to his head, his eyes filled with ferocity, staring straight at Hao Jian. "Hit you? That was nothing," Hao Jian shook his head, a cold smile forming at the corner of his mouth: "This is hitting!" As the words fell, Hao Jian threw a punch thatnded heavily on He Runyu''s face, knocking him down with several teeth lost and blood gushing from his mouth. Hao Jian looked down at him from a height, his face full of disdain: "How does it feel? Is the flower blooming red?" Continue reading on empire Yuan Shanshan was petrified on the spot, and now there was no turning back. "Yuan Shanshan, you dare bring your lover to hit me, just wait to be fired. And you, I''m going to call the police and have you thrown in jail!" He Runyu''s teeth ttered, his face twisted with ferocity, unable to ept that he had been bested by a mere employee, which he absolutely couldn''t tolerate. Dare hit me? I will make you pay! "Call the police? Great, I just so happen to want the police to hear what I''ve recorded." Hao Jian took out his phone, pressed the y button, and started ying the recording. Every word He Runyu had said was captured perfectly. At that moment, He Runyu''s face turned ashen. If this got into the hands of the police, he could end up in prison. "Minister He, you were able to sessfully steal others'' work among numerous subordinates without leaving evidence of the crime, which shows you''re somewhat clever. Unfortunately, you''re still not clever enough," Hao Jian said with a coldugh. He Runyu had made a very critical mistake. He had be too arrogant, not taking into ount that they might record him, and thus he spoke without restraint. At this moment, Yuan Shanshan''s eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked at Hao Jian. Once again, he had saved her! Chapter 87 Youre Despicable, But I Like It! "What do you want?" He Runyu could no longer be arrogant, staring at Jiang Shan with an ugly expression. "Do you even need to ask? Of course, it''s to send you straight to prison," Hao Jian said with a coldugh, twirling the phone in his palm before putting it back into his pocket. He Runyu''s face turned even darker, "Give me the recording, and I''ll return the design book to you." All he could do now was to soften, aspared to going to prison, a mere design book really wasn''t much. "Even if you don''t give it back to us, as long as we give this recording to the police, we can still get the design book back," Hao Jian said dismissively, finding He Runyu''s offer meaningless. "I can also help your girlfriend secure the position of chief designer," He Runyu spoke again, his expression now somewhat frantic. "What do you think?" Hao Jian looked at Yuan Shanshan. Yuan Shanshan, with an expressionless face and pridefully said, "Even without his help, I can still secure the position of chief designer." The fact that even He Runyu had to giarize her work proved its quality, and she had confidence in herself. Hao Jian smiled with some admiration; had Yuan Shanshan actually epted He Runyu''s offer, although he wouldn''t have said anything, deep down, he would have some thoughts about her. Fortunately, Yuan Shanshan made the right decision. "I can give you money, a lot of it, Yuan Shanshan, isn''t your mother suffering from heart disease? If you take my money, you can afford her treatment, right? Think about it, that''s your mom. Would you really give up your mother''s life because of a moment of anger? Is it worth it?" He Runyu''s voice had turned somewhat desperate; these two were far more difficult to deal with than he had imagined. If he couldn''t bribe them, he really would only be left with prison as an option. "No need for that, your money is all made by exploiting your subordinates! I won''t take that kind of money," Yuan Shanshan said coldly. He Runyu''s expression instantly froze. "It seems like the only option left for you is to go to jail," Hao Jian chuckled, his expression yful. "No! Give me the phone!" He Runyu roared furiously, charging over with a ferocious face; he had gone mad, absolutely unwilling to let such a thing happen. Once he went to prison, it would truly be over for him. If the news got out, even after he served his time, nopany would dare to hire him. "Idiot!" Hao Jian scoffed coldly, and then he swiftly kicked straight up, striking He Runyu in the face and sending him tumbling to the ground: "Feeling regret now? Weren''t you acting all arrogant just a while ago?" "I dare not, please just let me go this once, I''ll listen to everything you say from now on, just don''t make me go to prison, I promise you anything," He Runyu pleaded. After being kicked down, he immediately crawled back, clutched Hao Jian''s legs with both hands, his panic making him forget the pain. "But we do want you to go to jail," Hao Jian said, his face filled with a thick sense of amusement, having no sympathy for such scum: "I suppose this isn''t the first time you''ve giarized a subordinate''s work, right? Never thought you''d capsize in the gutter one day, did you? This is called karma! Do you understand?" "Please, I beg you." He Runyu''s face was ashen, but no matter how he begged, Hao Jian remained unmoved. When a person does something wrong, they should pay for their mistakes. He would always say the same thing: if the cost ofmitting a crime is too low, then the world would be a chaotic ce. Hao Jian kicked He Runyu away and directly pulled Yuan Shanshan towards the exit, but when they opened the door, they saw a dozen employees gathered at the doorway. Stay connected through empire And at this moment, they all wore expressions filled with rage. It turned out that they had seen Yuan Shanshan bring Hao Jian into He Runyu''s office and were curious about how Yuan Shanshan would deal with He Runyu, so a group of them gathered here to eavesdrop! Little did they know that not all ears were safe, and upon listening in, it immediately triggered many sad past events among them. Every one of them had been giarized by He Runyu before, but because he was the department head, they could only swallow their anger and stay silent. Seeing everyone''s reaction, Hao Jian and Yuan Shanshan were first shocked, then that despicable Hao Jian quickly turned his eyes, stepped aside, and said: "I now have solid evidence of He Runyu''s crimes, and it won''t be long before he is arrested! So if you have grievances or vendettas, now is the time to address them, everyone!" Hearing this, everyone''s eyes turned bloodshot as they red at He Runyu.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om He Runyu shrank back, looking at the crowd anxiously. Immediately afterward, the designers rushed into the office one after another, unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks on He Runyu. They had been oppressed by He Runyu for far too long, and now that they knew he was going to prison, they all felt a thrilling sense of pounding the daylights out of a drowning dog. Especially the words from Hao Jian, ''if you have grievances or vendettas,'' directly aroused their ferocity. Then, Hao Jian and Yuan Shanshan heard He Runyu''s frequent cries for help. Yuan Shanshan gave Hao Jian a white look, but her face was blooming with a beautiful, floral smile: "You''re really despicable... but I like it..." "Who allowed him to mess with me? He dared to meddle with my stuff; he was really asking for it." Hao Jian snorted. He Runyu had dug his own grave by messing with the wrong person¡ªYuan Shanshan. "Hao Jian, this time, I really don''t know how to thank you." Yuan Shanshan felt like there was a little deer knocking about in her heart, and she seemed a bit shy as she spoke. "We''re friends, no need for thanks. Besides, that design n is half mine too; how could I let anyone else touch what is mine?" Hao Jian said with a smile. "Regardless, I should thank you. If it wasn''t for you, I might not have gotten the design ns back. How about I treat you to a meal?" "Let''s wait until you''ve been paid. Also, I''ll take your design ns directly to the president; I believe she will appreciate them given her character." To avoid further issues, Hao Jian decided to take the n straight to Shu Ya for her to decide. "Really? What if the president doesn''t like it?" Yuan Shanshan was nervous, as it was her first design in the workce, and if it wasn''t approved, it would be a massive blow for her. "No way, I''m the president''s driver; nobody knows her taste better than I do," assured Hao Jian, thumping his chest. Half an hourter, the police arrived at the scene, and by this time He Runyu had been beaten to the point his nose was blue and his face swollen, covered in blood, and in utter disarray. The lead officer, a plump cop, was stunned at the sight and couldn''t help but wonder about the deep-seated grudge it took to beat someone to such a state. The officer red and shouted angrily: "Who did this to him?" Chapter 88 Youre So Naughty! Hearing this police officer''s bellowing question, no one made a sound; everyone was as silent as the mute, standing there, looking at each other. "I''m asking you a question here! Who beat him up like this?" the fat police officer barked. "He fell and hurt himself!" Hao Jian added. "Bullshit, could he beat himself up to this extent?" The fat police officer clearly didn''t believe it. Just how stupid would someone have to be to hurt themselves like this? "Who knows? Maybe he fell down the stairs?" Hao Jian said mockingly. "Fell down the stairs?" The fat police officer paused for a moment; if that were the case, then it was indeed possible. Then, he looked towards He Runyu: "Is that what happened?" "Wuu wuu wuu wuu." He Runyu tried to speak, but his whole face was swollen, and almost all of his teeth had been knocked out, producing a weird noise whenever he opened his mouth, simr to the sound of a broken ordion; it made himpletely unintelligible. "What the hell are you saying?" The fat police officer red at He Runyu, growing somewhat angry. "He said you''re a dead fatty and that your butt is even bigger than his grandma''s face," Hao Jian quickly struck again with the jab. The fat police officer''s eyes widened instantly, "What? Why is he cursing me?" "Maybe it''s because he giarized the work of ourpany''s staff, knew he was going to jail, and figured he was screwed either way, so he might as well curse and let off steam," Hao Jian spected rudely, smirking, "After all, there aren''t many who dare to curse at a police officer; he probably wants to be the first."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om He Runyu frantically shook his head while making wuu wuu noises, trying to defend himself, but what he said could not be understood by anyone. "Then how can you understand what he''s saying?" The fat police officer wasn''t stupid. He Runyu was obviously producing nothing but noise; how could Hao Jian possiblyprehend what he meant? Hao Jian kept a straight face and replied: "It''s a dialect from a minority ethnicity in the Northwest; I happened to have lived among them for a while, so I understand a bit. I guess he wanted to insult you but didn''t dare let you know, so he used thatnguage. Oh, and by the way, shaking his head means ''Caonima'' in their culture." "You bastard, dare to insult a police officer?" The fat police officer was livid and swung his hand at He Runyu. He Runyu was truly on the verge of tears; how desperately he wanted to defend himself but was unable to utter a single coherent sentence. And the others were almost suffocated with internal injury, secretly admiring Hao Jian for his ability to spout such nonsense; they had almost believed him. "Take this kid away. Daring to insult a police officer? You''ll have a taste of what''sing when we get back to the station!" The fat police officer ordered and had his subordinates pick up He Runyu, ready to take him away. But just as they were about to enter the elevator, the doors opened, and Shu Ya and Xiao Qiang stepped out from it together. At that moment, Shu Ya had a grave expression on her face. Her arrival seemed to carry an air of dominance that shook everyone present. Even the policemen couldn''t help but stare for a moment, taking in her beauty and authority, which also left them awestruck. Upon seeing Shu Ya, He Runyu immediately acted as if he had seen his savior, making wuu wuu noises. "What in the world is going on here?" Shu Ya kept a stern face. She had rushed over as soon as she heard that there was a problem in the design department, only to find He Runyu being arrested. He Runyu was the backbone of thepany, closely tied to its sales figures. To Shu Ya, he was a vital minister. How could she allow him to be taken away by the police without a full understanding of the situation? Upon seeing this, the design department staff one by one looked disheartened. If the president stood up to speak for He Runyu, then they would truly be out of options. They also knew the value of He Runyu to thepany. With everything predicated on interests, Shu Ya would not likely take their side. At that moment, Hao Jian quickly walked over to Shu Ya and whispered a few words into her ear. Shu Ya''s expression changed dramatically, and she red at He Runyu: "I never thought you would be such a person, truly a disgrace to ourpany!" He Runyu was stunned. This wasn''t right. What on earth did Hao Jian tell the president that made her believe him so easily? With such a cautious and wise character, shouldn''t she have questioned him first? Little did he know that it wasn''t mainly about what Hao Jian had said, but rather the rtionship he had with Shu Ya. He Runyu had thought that Shu Ya would believe him, but in reality, she trusted Hao Jian more. "Take him away!" The plump police officer, snapping out of his brief daze, also recovered and barked an order to his subordinates. At the same time, he couldn''t help but inwardly sigh: The female president is really beautiful. "Hao Jian,e to my office!" Shu Ya said expressionlessly, leaving no room for Hao Jian to exin, and turned to enter the elevator. "Hao Jian..." Yuan Shanshan looked at Hao Jian with concern! She could tell that Shu Ya''s attitude was not very good and worried that she might take it out on Hao Jian. "Don''t worry, it''s fine. The president is wise and fair, she won''t do anything to me," Hao Jian patted her hand reassuringly, signaling not to worry, and then followed into the elevator. "Are you saying that He Runyu giarized Yuan Shanshan''s work?" Inside the office, Shu Ya scrutinized Hao Jian. "Yes, and not just hers. That''s why he got beaten so badly. You didn''t see earlier, a whole swarm of the design department staff rushed at him, hitting him viciously. I desperately tried to stop them, but I couldn''t!" Hao Jian exaggeratedly described the scene, and indeed, he did try to intervene. However, while he was trying to stop them, he also didn''t forget to give a few sly kicks. No hitting, no hitting. Bam, bam, bam, three kicksnded. "Is there evidence?" Shu Ya asked, raising her eyebrow. "Yes, it''s a recording, which I have handed over to the police. Plus, those employees can also testify. The vast majority of them have had simr experiences, but they were too afraid to speak out." Shu Ya''s face looked somewhat downtrodden. "I thought I was running thepany well, but it turns out we still had some who slipped through the. I have seriously neglected my duties in management." "You can''t me yourself for that. The main issue is that He Runyu is too cunning. He always destroys the evidence, making it impossible to start an investigation. If he hadn''t been careless this time, it would have been tough to catch him." Hao Jian also spoke indignantly, thinking that if he hadn''t kept his guard up, that guy would have slipped away again. Shu Ya looked Hao Jian up and down, paused slightly, and then with a face full of disbelief said: "Hey, Hao Jian, I''ve been wondering why you''re involved in everything. Ever since you joined mypany, I''ve noticed continuous troubles here. Could you be some sort of cmity incarnate?" Chapter 89 Would You Like to Enter the Grove with Me? "How can you say that about me? I''ve just helped you remove a malignancy, which counts as a major aplishment, right? You''re not offering a reward, which is fine, but to talk about me like that, you do know it''s hurting my feelings, don''t you?" Hao Jian''s face was full of grievance as he raised a finger, gently pointing it at Shu Ya''s forehead: "You''ve hurt me and justughed it off. You''re really mean..." Shu Ya broke out in a cold sweat! "Alright, then tell me, what reward do you want?" Shu Ya coldly sneered, wondering what audacious request Hao Jian would dare to make as ugly people sure y long games. "This... Hehehe. Actually, I''ve thought about it a long time ago; I''m just afraid you wouldn''t agree." Hao Jian chuckled foolishly, appearing somewhat sleazy as his eyes roamed indecently across Shu Ya''s body, evidently thinking of something not suitable for children. "Oh? You want to sleep with me?" Shu Ya instantly understood the implication in Hao Jian''s words and asked with a calm expression. Had it been before, seeing Hao Jian like this would have definitely enraged her, but now that she had figured out what he was really like, she was no longer that angry. If Hao Jian himself wasn''t embarrassed, why should she be? "How can you say that? Do I look like someone who seeks rewards for small deeds?" Hao Jian looked very agitated, as though he had just received a profound insult. Shu Ya was shocked. Could it be she had misunderstood him? "Then tell me what reward you want, go on." Shu Ya was now intrigued. If Hao Jian wasn''t harboring perverted thoughts, then what did he want? Hao Jian nced at Shu Ya shyly: "Would you...e with me to the little woods?" "." Shu Ya was silent for about three to five seconds before mming the table: "In the end, you still want to sleep with me?" "Look at you, how could your thoughts be so dirty! Who says that going into the woods means we''ve got to do ''that''? We could chat about life there, speak freely, wouldn''t that be good too?" Hao Jian''s face was as thick as a city wall, still wearing a grin. "If it''s just to exchange life experiences, then why go to the woods?"N?v(el)B\\jnn Shu Ya was sweating profusely, not believing a word of Hao Jian''s nonsense. If he really just wanted to talk, any ce would do. Why did it need to be the woods? "We don''t have to go to the woods; we could also go to a hotel. There''s a newly opened love hotel near our ce. I''ve heard it''s really nice; first-time visitors get free vibrators and massage sticks. Let''s check it out?" Hao Jian''s eyes shone brightly, full of anticipation as he looked at Shu Ya. "Hao Jian! Can you not be so sleazy!" Shu Ya was exasperated; she thought she could remain calm, but reality proved to her that she was still too naive. No matter how much she tried to stayposed, this jerk always knew how to provoke her. "Even such a small request you won''t entertain. And I''ve been so helpful to you," Hao Jian muttered, deliberately making a noise of disdain. Shu Ya was flushed with embarrassment: "You call this a small request? You want to have... that sort of rtionship with me!" "Impossible, I''m not that kind of person. If you don''t believe me, try going into the woods with me!" Hao Jian spoke earnestly. "I don''t want to." Shu Ya didn''t even need to think before she shook her head in refusal! She felt that she couldn''t use her own innocence to test whether Hao Jian had any integrity because that was really a vexing matter. "Hmm, since you''re not falling for it," Hao Jian said with an annoyed curl of his lip. "Haven''t you been getting along famously with Yuan Shanshantely? You even stood up for her today. She must be utterly touched right now, right? Why don''t you ask her if she wants to go into the woods with you?" Shu Ya mocked, feeling inexplicably stifled at the thought of Yuan Shanshan. Hao Jian squinted at Shu Ya, "Are you jealous?" "Ha, what a joke, me, jealous? Our rtionship is nothing more than a transaction! Whatever you want to do is your business, I''m not going to be jealous over someone as unscrupulous as you, I don''t even like you!" Shu Ya said disdainfully, making a very contemptuous face. "You''re jealous!" Hao Jian insisted this time. "Ha, ha..." "Her and I are just friends, and we''ve been so closetely because we designed a ring together," Hao Jian exined, smiling. His smile implied that Shu Ya''s haughty demeanor was quite amusing. How had Hao Jian found out? Generally speaking, if Shu Ya truly didn''t care about his rtionship with Yuan Shanshan, she wouldn''t even have bothered to ask! But now, she deliberately made that disdainful expression toward him, which seemed a bit off. "There''s no need to exin it to me. I''m not at all interested in what''s going on between you two," Shu Ya huffed, though her expression improved slightly. Pretending not to hear, Hao Jian still asked with a mischievous grin, "You''ve seen the design for that ring, right? How do you feel about it? It must be pretty good, huh?" "Using motherhood as the selling point is indeed quite innovative. It''s going to be Fanzhuo''s main focus for the next issue," Shu Ya decisively stated. That''s just the kind of person she was; although she didn''t particrly like Yuan Shanshan, she kept business separate from personal feelings. Moreover, Yuan Shanshan''s idea was excellent, and the ring she designed was elegant and majestic, fitting the theme of motherhood perfectly. Shu Ya had a feeling that Yuan Shanshan''s ring would be a big hit. "If Yuan Shanshan knew how you rated her, she would definitely be delighted, especially since you''re her idol, and she is striving to reach your level," Hao Jian said with augh. Hao Jian also smiled, happy for Yuan Shanshan that her ring could be a highlight. Shu Ya gave a small smile, her expression subdued, as she handed the design portfolio over to Hao Jian: "Have her design a matching men''s ring too. There''s one for mothers, how can fathers be left out?" "Why not add grandfathers, grandmothers, maternal grandfathers, maternal grandmothers, aunts, and uncles too? Why don''t we create a family set series?" Hao Jian suggested with a beaming smile. Shu Ya''s expression darkened as she retorted: "At Shu Ya Group, we only focus on premium products, crafting the most luxurious jewelry at the top tier. Do you think it''s like cheap street vendor goods? All in one set?" It was precisely because each piece was unique that it was so precious, much like love itself. If they were mass-produced, avable to everyone, then the jewelry would lose its inherent meaning, and so would the significance of that motherly love ring. "Alright, then I''ll go find Yuan Shanshan now. Oh, and I won''t being back tonight, you can drive back by yourself," Hao Jian suddenly said. "Why aren''t youing back?" Shu Ya asked, her gaze wary as she watched Hao Jian. "Why even ask? Obviously, I''m taking Yuan Shanshan into the woods," he eximed. Crash. A heap of files was thrown by Shu Ya, but Hao Jian had already opened the door and left. Chapter 90 Reward Me with a Tomb! "She didn''t give you a hard time, did she?" Hao Jian had juste downstairs when Yuan Shanshan hurried over and asked anxiously. "Of course not, I told you the president is very understanding. After she understood the whole story, not only did she not me me, but she even said she wanted to reward me," Hao Jian said with animated expressions. "Reward you with what?" Yuan Shanshan also asked curiously, assuming it must be something valuable since it was the president''s reward. Suddenly, Hao Jian''s face fell as he remembered something upsetting: "She said she wanted to reward me with a tombstone." "A tombstone?" Yuan Shanshan was bbergasted and asked in confusion: "Why would she give you a tombstone all of a sudden?" "She probably thinks I''m living too carelessly, so she decided to give me a bit of a shock," he guessed. Hao Jian, finding it both funny and sad, said, "A tombstone for love, eh? Once you step into that, there''s noing back." Yuan Shanshan looked at Hao Jian, puzzled. She realized she couldn''t understand at all what Hao Jian was talking about.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Enough about me, let''s talk about you. The president really appreciates your design and wants you to create another one, a men''s ring rted to fatherhood," Hao Jian said. "No way, really?" Yuan Shanshan jumped up and down on the spot three times, overwhelmed with excitement. Getting recognition from Shu Ya would give her immense confidence. "Of course, why would I lie to you about something like this? So just do your best." Hao Jian handed the design book to Yuan Shanshan,ughing as he did so. This way, Yuan Shanshan would be able to firmly establish herself in thepany. But at that moment, Yuan Shanshan bit her lip and mustered up a lot of courage before suddenly hugging Hao Jian. Hao Jian was stunned by this unexpected gesture. "Hao Jian, thank you. If it weren''t for your idea, I would never have been able to design such a ring. I''m taking you out for a mealter, and you''re not allowed to say no¡ªyou muste!" Hao Jian was just about to refuse, but hearing Yuan Shanshan say this, he simply gave a wry smile and said no more. At dinner time, Yuan Shanshan indeed took Hao Jian out to eat, and she also invited Che Xiaoxiao along. This girl was still always idle, and when not racing cars, she was working as a taxi driver¡ªunofficially, of course. Che Xiaoxiao just happened to be nearby Yuan Shanshan''spany when she got the call, and directly came over. After dinner, the three of them went shopping in the mall. Hao Jian had nned to leave, but both girls insisted he stay with them. Checking that he still had a few hours before his night shift, he agreed. He definitely couldn''t go home today anyway, since Tie Shan''s wife was giving birth and he had asked Hao Jian to cover for him for the day. The three of them entered a high-end French women''s clothing store, already bustling with customers selecting clothes, each dressed to the nines, carrying LV or Herm¨¨s designer bags. Hao Jian nced at the price tags on the clothes and involuntarily gasped: "A T-shirt for 100,000 RMB? Are they trying to rob us?" "Designer brands are selling fame, not quality, you don''t know anything," Che Xiaoxiao retorted sharply. "Xiaoxiao, maybe we should leave, these clothes aren''t something we can afford," Yuan Shanshan suggested gently tugging at Che Xiaoxiao''s sleeve, as the cost of one item was equivalent to her annual sry. Sometimes life is just that unfair¡ªsome buy clothes that cost as much as a normal family''s yearly expenses. But some people, even if they struggle for a lifetime, still can''t afford a house of just a few dozen square meters. "So what if I can''t buy? It doesn''t hurt to look and enjoy the view," said Che Xiaoxiao nonchntly. Unlike Yuan Shanshan, she was moreposed and confident. Even if she couldn''t afford it, she wouldn''t feel inferior, because she knew it was only a matter of time before she could. "Yo, isn''t that Che Xiaoxiao? Are you here to pick out some clothes too?" Just then, a mocking voice came from behind the group. Hao Jian and the others turned around and saw a woman in a red tight dress, mboyantly dressed, walking over with a middle-aged man in a suit. The woman was quite attractive, but she couldn''tpare to Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao; her looks were just above average. And the man beside her was even more unremarkable ¡ª nearly fifty, sporting a big belly as if he were ten months pregnant, and also quite bald, just like a monk. Seeing these two together, one wouldn''t need to guess their rtionship. Upon seeing the arrivals, Che Xiaoxiao clearly wasn''t too pleased, "Yes, what about it?" From Che Xiaoxiao''s attitude, Hao Jian could tell she didn''t have a good rtionship with the woman before them. "Nothing much, just surprised. You always dress so simply, why the sudden interest in designer brands?" Ma Ru chuckled with a yful smile, but she entuated the word "simply" heavily, loaded with mockery. She and Che Xiaoxiao were university ssmates, in the same department, and Ma Ru was a senior. Originally, before Che Xiaoxiao appeared, Ma Ru had been the beauty of their department. However, once Che Xiaoxiao showed up, she took that title from Ma Ru, thus breeding jealousy and discord between them. Of course, Che Xiaoxiao didn''t like her either, as Ma Ru had badmouthed her more than once. Moreover, Ma Ru''s lifestyle was questionable. Although her family was of the working ss, she was always adorned with designer bags and jewelry, making it easy to guess what she was up to. "Ma Ru, who is this? Why don''t you introduce me?" At this moment, the middle-aged man beside her also smiled. His name was Liu Fudong, a returned overseas Chinese who had made a good deal of money in business early on, hence he had started keeping university students. As Liu Fudong spoke, his gaze swept over Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao. He had never seen such high-ss beauties before and instantly felt his heart pound, barely able to resist approaching them. "Godfather, she''s my ssmate, her name is Che Xiaoxiao, and she usually shops at Dongzhimen. It''s her first time in a ce like this, which I also find quite surprising," Ma Ru said with a face full of sarcasm. Dongzhimen was known for selling cheap items costing around forty to fifty, mentioning it was undoubtedly to embarrass Che Xiaoxiao. In school, Ma Ru lost all the attention to Che Xiaoxiao, and seeing an opportunity for revenge, she was certainly not going to let it pass. "Ma Ru, long time no see, I didn''t expect to bump into you here." Che Xiaoxiao, however, didn''t seem angry at all and went up to shake hands with Ma Ru, all smiles and seemingly trying to ingratiate herself. This demeanor of Che Xiaoxiao puzzled both Yuan Shanshan and Hao Jian, as they expected, given Che Xiaoxiao''s character, she would have confronted her directly by now. But Ma Ru didn''t speak, just sneered internally, guessing that Che Xiaoxiao must have been envious of her fortching onto a wealthy man, which is why she came up to curry favor. "You are Ma Ru''s godfather, right? Thanks for giving us a lift homest time. Your Lincoln Stretch Limousine is really beautiful." After shaking hands with Ma Ru, Che Xiaoxiao suddenly turned to Liu Fudong and said cheerfully. However, this remark made Liu Fudong''s expression freeze, as he had never given Che Xiaoxiao a ride home, nor did he own a Lincoln Stretch Limousine. That... Chapter 91 Classmates Who Compete Over Whose Dad is Better! "I don''t have a Lincoln Stretch Limousine," Liu Fudong said with a dark face. "You don''t?" Che Xiaoxiao was stunned for a moment, then she nced at Ma Ru with some apology, as if she had realized something, and immediately smiled sheepishly: "Oh, that, I must have remembered wrong! That Ma Ru''s sugar daddy must not be you. Don''t take it to heart, haha." With that said, Liu Fudong''s face turned even darker, his eyes filled with anger as he red at Ma Ru, filled with suspicion and scrutiny. Seeing this, Ma Ru was almost beside herself with anger, and she quickly said: "Che Xiaoxiao, what nonsense are you talking about? I only have one sugar daddy, and I never asked him to drive you home!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Yes, yes, my mistake, it was another friend''s sugar daddy who drove me home." Che Xiaoxiao nodded repeatedly, but this only seemed to make things more suspicious. Hao Jian and Yuan Shanshan could see what was happening. Che Xiaoxiao was deliberately trying to mess with Ma Ru. In terms of spouting nonsense, Hao Jian felt she was almost on par with himself. And Liu Fudong was indeed fooled. It was clear that Che Xiaoxiao was backpedaling because she had slipped up. "Sugar daddy, don''t listen to her bullsh*t. This bitch has always had it in for me at school, so now she''s taking her revenge," Ma Ru hastily exined, afraid that Liu Fudong would misunderstand. She had worked hard to hook up with this rich man, and she was not ready to let him slip through her fingers until she had milked him for seven or eight bags. Liu Fudong''s face was dark, he nodded but didn''t speak, and it was uncertain whether he was really listening. "Who are you calling a bitch?" Che Xiaoxiao red. "A bitch like you!" Ma Ru replied unapologetically, her eyes fierce. At that moment, Che Xiaoxiao giggled: "Right, the bitch is calling me out!" Ma Ru was taken aback, finally realizing she had fallen into the trap Che Xiaoxiao had set for her, and her anger grew. She red directly at Che Xiaoxiao: "Che Xiaoxiao, you freaking bitch! Don''t think I don''t know. You''re just jealous because I dress and essorize better than you, so you''re trying to nder me in front of my sugar daddy." Ma Ru scoffed condescendingly, "But I can understand. A little gangster girl like you can only wear those cheap street stall clothes. Seeing someone in designer wear, it''s no wonder you turn green with envy." "Envious of you? What a joke. I''m not the one selling my body," retorted Che Xiaoxiao, shrugging her shoulders with a mocking curl of her lip. "You dare call me a whore?" Ma Ru was stunned on the spot. Che Xiaoxiao had actually insulted her so tantly in public? "Oh, my mistake. I take that back. Most whores are forced into it by life circumstances or family issues, but you''re different. You threw away your dignity and bottom line willingly out of vanity, so calling you a whore would be an insult to them. You should only be called a bitch, a green-tea bitch!" Che Xiaoxiaoughed mockingly. "Che Xiaoxiao, you lowlife, I''ll make you pay!" Ma Ru''s expression turned malevolent as she lunged at Che Xiaoxiao, aiming to w her face. Just then, Liu Fudong stepped in to stop her, a gentle smile on his face as he said to Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao: "We''re all ssmates. Why let things get so tense? To meet is fate, and since you like the clothes here, go ahead and pick a few sets. I''ll foot the bill, and let''s consider the grudge with Ma Ru settled." "Godfather!" Ma Ru shook Liu Fudong''s hand, looking very reluctant. Why should she buy clothes for Che Xiaoxiao when she insults her like that? She didn''t know that Liu Fudong had already taken an interest in Che Xiaoxiao and Yuan Shanshan, and he was doing this to show off his wealth in front of them, to make them admire him. That way, he would have a way to get his hands on them. "Hey, you are all ssmates, why be so petty?" Liu Fudong chided, then looked at Che Xiaoxiao and the other with a smile: "Pick whatever you like, it''s on me!" When Liu Fudong said this, his gaze towards Che Xiaoxiao and Yuan Shanshan was filled with tant desire! "No need, we are not here to sell ourselves. We can''t earn the money for selling flesh." Che Xiaoxiao directly shook her head to refuse. "Che Xiaoxiao, who are you saying is selling flesh?" Ma Ru red and said, wishing she could tear this sharp-tongued little wretch to pieces right then. "Don''t overreact as if you''re afraid others won''t know you''re up for sale. Since you''ve be a whore, don''t pretend to be a saint. It''s not like no one knows what kind of person you are. Your great reputation has long spread throughout the entire school. Green tea bitch, public bus, incense burner - you''ve done them all, what are you afraid of people saying?" Che Xiaoxiao said mockingly. "You''re deliberately smearing my name, I''ll sue you for defamation!" Ma Ru roared. "ssmate, this is also just a simple gesture of goodwill, no need to put it so unpleasantly." Liu Fudong also chimed in, his expression turning somewhat ugly. "A simple gesture of goodwill? If I take your clothes, I guarantee, the next moment you will want our phone numbers, then take us out forte-night snacks, and then expect us to sell our bodies just like this green tea bitch." Che Xiaoxiao snorted. Ma Ru was so angry her nose was nearly crooked - Che Xiaoxiao truly never missed an opportunity to insult her. Calling her a green tea bitch was as harsh as it gets. But Liu Fudong didn''t get angry. Instead, he just smiled slightly: "You''re right, I indeed would do that, but what''s wrong with it? Isn''t today''s society like this? Filled with the stench of materialism and desire. You have something I want, and I have something you want. We''re just exchanging goods; at most, it''s a lifestyle. There''s no need to view it with a critical eye, right?" "Right, it is indeed just a lifestyle, but I choose to live with more dignity." Che Xiaoxiao calmly responded, and then her expression changed as she coldlyughed at Liu Fudong: "However, uncle, you ask me not to view this matter critically, but I wonder, how would you feel if your daughter also married a man your age?" Then, Liu Fudong''s face turned green, feeling a rush of anger in his heart. Seeing her man losing the argument, Ma Ru quickly stood up and eximed: "Che Xiaoxiao, what are you pretending to be so pure for? I know you too well. Hanging around gangster-like men all day, acting like a Little Gangster Girl. At least I get something in return, and what about you? At best, you''re just yed with for free, right?" "You wretch, I''ll skin you alive!" Che Xiaoxiao clenched her teeth in anger ¨C Ma Ru actually dared to insult her and her friends like this, and she was furious enough to p her right in the face. But Che Xiaoxiao''s hand was caught by Liu Fudong, who looked at her with a smile that didn''t reach his eyes: "Resorting to violence at the drop of a hat, seems like you really are a Little Gangster Girl. And you still have the nerve to lecture me? You''re probably already worn out from being yed with by others, aren''t you?" Chapter 92 Competing in Paternity to the Extreme! "Go to hell." With Che Xiaoxiao''s fiery temperament, there was no way she could tolerate such insults from Liu Fudong. She immediatelyunched a kick straight toward Liu Fudong''s groin. Luckily, Liu Fudong reacted swiftly, dodging Che Xiaoxiao''s kick while ring at her with a chilling expression and barked, "You little bitch, you''re asking for it!" Having said that, Liu Fudong''s face turned ferocious, and with a swing of his hefty hand, he aimed a fierce p at Che Xiaoxiao''s cheek! However, before his hand couldnd, Hao Jian grabbed it! Liu Fudong was startled, and upon seeing Hao Jian, his face instantly darkened, "Who''s this loser? Let go! If you don''t let go, I''ll kill you, you freak!!!" Liu Fudong, judging Hao Jian''s outfit, instantly pegged him as a loser and naturally didn''t take him seriously. "Loser, I advise you not to meddle in other people''s business, or you''ll regret it!" Ma Ru also sneered coldly. Since Liu Fudong had some clout in Hua City, if this idiot dared to interfere, Liu Fudong would surely dump him into the sea to feed the fish. Looking at the menacing duo, Hao Jian helplessly shrugged his shoulders and sighed, "I''m a civilized person, I really don''t want to hit anyone!" Before Liu Fudong and Ma Ru couldprehend what Hao Jian intended, his fist had already thundered toward them! Bam! A punchnded squarely on Liu Fudong''s face, smashing against his row of teeth. The crowd immediately saw most of his teeth fall out as Liu Fudong''s mouth filled with blood. Liu Fudong himself was dazed, everything happened so fast, he couldn''t even understand what just happened. "Aah!" After about two seconds, the pain gradually overwhelmed him, and Liu Fudong screamed dreadfully, hands covering his mouth. "You freak, you dare to hit me? I want you dead! I will definitely make you die!" Liu Fudong went berserk, yelling at Ma Ru, "Call Captain Ma, get him over here with his men! I want this freak behind bars! I want him dead!!!" Ma Ru too was startled and hurriedly took out her phone to call, then told the other side the exact address. After the call, Ma Ru breathed a sigh of relief, then pointed at Che Xiaoxiao and the others and sneered, "Che Xiaoxiao, I''m telling you, you''re in big trouble now! We''ll sue you until you rot in jail!" "Fine, if we''re doomed anyway, before I sit in jail, let me deal with you first!" Che Xiaoxiao snorted coldly, rushed up, and tackled Ma Ru, then began to pull her hair. "You..." Liu Fudong was dumbfounded; he couldn''t believe Hao Jian and the others still dared to strike, even after the police had been alerted. "If you came shopping with a girl, you should have just shopped without making a fuss. Now look, you''ve caused bloodshed," Hao Jian said, taking a keen interest in Liu Fudong. Liu Fudong kept quiet, being the clever one, he knew better than to provoke Hao Jian now, lest he strike again. But Hao Jian didn''t care and kicked over again: "I''m talking to you, why aren''t you responding?" "I have nothing to say to you," Liu Fudong said sternly. "But I have something to say to you," Hao Jian kicked Liu Fudong again. "Sir, you can''t assault other customers in our shop," at that point, a female waitress approached, speaking to Hao Jian timidly. "Assault? I didn''t assault anyone," Hao Jianughed, then pped Liu Fudong''s fat head: "Speak up! Did Iy a finger on you?" "No, not at all," Liu Fudong said bitterly. His body had been drained by indulgence in alcohol and lust, weak and frail. How could hepare with the robust Hao Jian? If he fought back, he would only be beaten more miserably and lose even more face! "See, I didn''ty a finger on him," Hao Jian chuckled darkly. "I am aw-abiding good citizen, plus I''m handsome. How could I possibly rough someone up?" Everyone was exasperated. Why did he have to mention he was handsome? What the hell did his looks have to do with anything? "But if you didn''t rough him up, how did his tooth fall out?" the waitress asked, dazed. "Did you hear that? I''m asking you, how did your tooth fall out?" Hao Jian asked as if he were scolding his son, giving Liu Fudong another p. "It fell out because I knocked it out myself," Liu Fudong was almost in tears. "See. This has nothing to do with me," Hao Jian shrugged his shoulders, showing an innocent expression.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Since it''s none of your business, can you ask yourpanion to stop? I see thatdy customer has been crying and yelling for a while now," the waitress said exasperatedly. "Che Xiaoxiao, that''s enough, don''t hit her too hard, just scratch her face a couple of times," Hao Jian turned his head to speak to Che Xiaoxiao. Che Xiaoxiao looked up at Hao Jian: "You have a knife?" Hao Jian fumbled in his pocket for a moment, then handed Che Xiaoxiao a nail file: "Here, take it!" Che Xiaoxiao''s face darkened, and she cursed, "You disgusting wretch!" At that moment, the sound of police sirens reached them, and four or five policemen rushed into the store. "Captain Ma, I''m over here!" Seeing the police arriving, Liu Fudong''s face lit up with ecstatic joy, and he immediately shouted at the tall, long-faced police officer leading the team! The tall, long-faced police officer was the local police station chief, Ma Zifeng. Seeing their savior arrive, Liu Fudong and Ma Ru felt as though they had seen a lifesaver. And seeing the disheveled appearances of Liu Fudong and Ma Ru, Ma Zifeng was also greatly surprised: "Old Liu, what happened to you? How did you end up like this?" Ma Zifeng might have wished he hadn''t asked, as the question immediately made Liu Fudong break down crying. He pointed at Hao Jian like a resentful wife and bitterly said: "It was them, they beat me up like this, arrest them all!" "Oh?" Ma Zifeng looked up at Hao Jian to see him standing there with a slight smile, calmly looking back at him. Ma Zifeng frowned. He was unhappy with Hao Jian''s arrogance; he acted like he didn''t take them seriously. "Boy, you''ve got a heavy hand, to beat someone up like this," Ma Zifeng said with a forced smile. "Not too bad, I was already holding back. He just can''t take a hit very well," Hao Jian responded nonchntly, spreading his hands. "Really? And do you know who I am?" Ma Zifeng asked coldly, anger ring in his eyes. Hao Jian was speaking arrogantly even after assaulting someone; his audacity knew no bounds. "I know, I heard him: Captain Ma, the police chief," Hao Jian replied. "Since you know, then how dare youy a hand on my brother?" Ma Zifeng''s smile turned increasingly fierce. Chapter 93 More People Say Im Handsome! "I didn''t know he was your brother, but even if I had known, I think I would have still gone after him," Hao Jian said with a slight smile, spreading his hands. Ma Zifeng''s face darkened instantly, and he sneered: "Kid, has anyone ever told you that you''re very arrogant?" Hao Jian made a scissor gesture with his fingers, "Yes, but more have said I''m handsome!" Everyone was speechless. "Do you think you''re funny? Do you believe I can wipe that smile off your face?" Ma Zifeng said, somewhat angrily. "I don''t believe it." Hao Jian shook his head, still wearing a yful smile. "Put him in the car!" Ma Zifeng barked. He had already nned to teach the kid a lesson once back at the station, to let him know just how many eyes Lord Ma had. "Get in the car, you little rascal!" one of the officers pushed Hao Jian. "Don''t push me!" Hao Jian said angrily. "Why can''t I push you? Who do you think you are?" the officer scoffed. "Because I''m handsome!" Hao Jian replied seriously. "Damn it, I think you''re courting death!" the officer exploded, as Hao Jian was clearly mocking him. The officer kicked towards Hao Jian''s back, but just then, Hao Jian furrowed his brows, smiled, and suddenly spun around, brushing past the officer and then driving a fist towards his face. "Bang!" The officer fell to the ground, his face swollen and bruised, his right cheek quickly swelling up. "You dare assault an officer?" Ma Zifengpletely lost his temper and drew his pistol pointing at Hao Jian:n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Hands on your head, get down on the ground! Now!!!" Hao Jian looked at Ma Zifeng, smiling with his lips, but his eyes were somewhat cold: "Actually, I really hate having guns pointed at my head. Anyone who dares to do so has ended up dead." "Oh? Is that so? Are you saying you want to kill me?" Ma Zifeng let out a coldugh, thinking the kid must be brain-dead. No matter how good his Kung Fu was, he was no match for a knife, let alone a gun. "If you continue pointing that gun at me, I won''t rule out that possibility," Hao Jian said with a smile, a threat that could unleash his ferocity. His heart was already starting to get agitated. "Fine then, make your move, see if I don''t blow your head off with one shot!" Ma Zifeng said fiercely, this kid really was unbearably arrogant. Liu Fudong and Ma Ru both sneered, hoping Hao Jian would resist violently, giving Ma Zifeng a legitimate reason to kill this despised fellow on the spot. "Hao Jian, don''t be impulsive, I beg you," Yuan Shanshan also hurriedly shouted, her voice slightly tearful, worried Hao Jian might impulsively do something foolish. "Yeah, uncle, a wise man does not eat the immediate loss. Let''s just endure this for a moment," Che Xiaoxiao chimed in. If Hao Jian assaulted an officer at this time, Ma Zifeng would have the right to shoot him on the spot. Hearing this, Hao Jian curled his lip and said to Ma Zifeng: "Alright, you''re lucky this time." Lucky? Me? Ma Zifeng was almost amused by Hao Jian, thinking the kid must be brain-dead. Surely, he should be the one holding the gun? The others also found Hao Jian''s words hrious, making it sound like he was sure to kill Ma Zifeng. To ordinary people, having a gun means you''re the boss, but for someone like Hao Jian, that didn''t apply. He had at least a hundred ways to kill Ma Zifeng before he could even fire his gun. "Put him in the vehicle!" Ma Zifeng shouted, too tired to argue with Hao Jian and directly ordered him to be taken back to the station, where there would be plenty of time to deal with him. This time, Hao Jian didn''t resist and obediently got into the police car, and Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao naturally couldn''t escape either. "You two alsoe make a statement," Ma Zifeng said to Liu Fudong and hispanion. Liu Fudong leaned in, his face bearing a malicious smile, "Captain Ma, how long will that kid be locked up this time?" Ma Zifeng snorted, "If it were just intentional injury, he could be out in no more than a year, but since he dared to attack the police in public, he''s looking at no less than five years." "That''s good, that''s good. He dared toy hands on me, just go ahead and crush him to death; I''ll cover any cost!" Liu Fudong pped his chest, his hatred for Hao Jian intense, furious that Hao Jian had dared to beat him to such a state that he was missing a row of teeth. "No problem." Ma Zifeng also snickered strangely because, amongst the money that Liu Fudong was shelling out, he would also have his share. Hao Jian and the two others were taken to the police station, but before they had even got out of the car, Ma Zifeng grimly instructed his subordinates: "Get the tiger bench and such ready; I''m going to make that kid regret being born in this world!" "Understood!" The subordinate replied and quickly went to prepare. Turning his head, Ma Zifeng saw Hao Jian sitting in the police car, watching him with eyes as cold as frosty pools, making him shudder. In that moment, Ma Zifeng''s expression froze; being stared at by Hao Jian, he suddenly felt every hair on his body trembling. It must be an illusion! Definitely an illusion! Ma Zifeng looked down, bit his teeth fiercely, then looked up and red at Hao Jian before striding into the police station. This kid is somewhat demonic; better not to deal with him alone. "Hao Jian, what are we going to do?" Yuan Shanshan asked, somewhat scared. She could see that Ma Zifeng and Liu Fudong were in cahoots and would definitely help Liu Fudong deal with them. "What else can we do? Just wait for death!" Liu Fudong, also inside the police car,ughed out loud: "Kid, wise up and kneel down to kowtow to your lord, or else wait to get your ass busted in prison!" "You''ll be done over a thousand times a day; let''s see if your little body can take it." Ma Ru also scoffed teasingly at Hao Jian, then venomously red at Che Xiaoxiao: "And you, Little Gangster Girl, we''ll make sure you end up in jail too, see if you dare to brawl again!" "Are you done talking?" Hao Jian slowly raised his head, his face covered in a chilly hue, his body emanating waves of murderous aura. With his hands shackled and sitting in the police car, just the tilt of his head created an unsettling atmosphere, as if he were a death row inmate who had killed myriad times. At this, Liu Fudong and Ma Ru promptly shut their mouths, no longer daring to speak. Before long, Ma Zifeng returned, this time with a dozen people in tow, his presence as formidable as if facing a great enemy. "Get out!" Ma Zifeng bellowed at Hao Jian with full confidence, backed by so many of his men; he simply didn''t believe Hao Jian would dare do anything to him. Hao Jian couldn''t help but smile ruefully at this, yet he obediently stepped out of the car asmanded by Ma Zifeng. "Keep acting tough, you''ll suffer soon enough." Seeing Ma Zifeng return gave Liu Fudong some courage, and he said with a sinister tone. "Bang!" Then he rolled out like a kicked ball,nding next to a garbage can, unable to get up for a long time. "You dare to attack someone in the police station?" Ma Zifeng was so furious that steam could have been blowing out his nostrils. Could this kid really be so rebellious? Chapter 94 Long Time No See, Master! "I hit someone? Did I hit someone?" Hao Jian curiously asked Che Xiaoxiao and Yuan Shanshan. Of course, Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao shook their heads in unison¡ªwho would stand up for Liu Fudong? "Nonsense, we all saw you hit him!" Ma Zifeng roared like thunder. Liu Fudong had rolled out, what else could that be if not a hit? "Oh? Is that so? Did you see me hit him with my hand or my foot? Which hand, which foot?" Hao Jian sneered. This moment, Ma Zifeng and the others were petrified! Indeed, they had seen Hao Jian make a move, but which part of his body he used to hit the person, they hadn''t seen clearly. This really scared them, for it was too bizarre. They saw Hao Jian make a move, yet they didn''t see how he did it, which was very suspicious. "What''s the matter, can''t say it? If you can''t say it, then it didn''t happen? He fell on his own." Hao Jian shrugged, indifferent to the matter. Not far away, Liu Fudong was seething with rage, but he couldn''t utter a word now, grimacing in pain. . At this time, in the director''s office, Director Lin Nantian was chatting with an elderly man. The elderly man wore a Kung Fu robe, was slender, and carried himself with lofty pride, giving off an almost celestial vibe. His face vaguely disyed a touch of arrogance, and during the conversation, his haughty demeanor was visible, obviously a very proud person. Just then, Lin Nantian and the elderly man heard the noise outside. Both turned their heads and saw Hao Jian and Ma Zifeng arguing incessantly. "Hmm?" The elderly man slightly furrowed his brow, also quite surprised, and thought to himself: Why is he here too? "Do you know them?" Lin Nantian noticed the elderly man''s reaction and also grew curious. The person able to make the proud Old Man Lin show such an expression must be quite extraordinary. "I know that man, it seems your people have detained him," Old Man Lin said, somewhat displeased. "So what if they have?" Lin Nantian snorted. It was only natural to arrest someone who broke thew, wasn''t it unnecessary to even ask? "Let him go," Old Man Lin said calmly. "Why?" Lin Nantian scoffed. "What, is the State Security Bureau going to start meddling in our Hua City Police Station''s affairs now?" "Of course, you can also choose not to release him." Old Man Lin remained expressionless, but his eyes held more mockery, seemingly ridiculing Lin Nantian for his ignorance. Seeing this, Lin Nantian also felt something was amiss: "Who is he?" "Someone you can''t afford to provoke, that''s all I can tell you," Old Man Lin replied, not daring to reveal too much, otherwise he would be reprimanded by his superiors. Hao Jian''s identity was confidential; even Old Man Lin knew only a fraction of it. "You can''t afford to provoke him either?" Lin Nantian was surprised, knowing Old Man Lin''s character, he wasn''t one for rmist talk. "I can''t afford to provoke him either!" Old Man Lin affirmed. Then Lin Nantian fell silent, his gaze flickering as he contemted how to handle the situation. If even Old Man Lin couldn''t provoke this person, he definitely couldn''t either. "Release him, unless you want him to destroy your police station. Besides, between you and him, no one would choose to stand on your side," Old Man Lin warned Lin Nantian, urging him to quickly decide his stance. "If needed, I can go out with you. I have an old acquaintance with him; he should show me some respect." Lin Nantian nodded: "Come out with me." At that moment, an infuriated Ma Zifeng was shoving Hao Jian into the police station, and Liu Fudong followed behind, cursing: "Kid, I''ll make you unburiable! You dare to hit me? Just you wait; once you''re in jail, I''ll certainly take good care of your two girlfriends!" "What''s all the noise about?" A rather authoritative scolding sounded. Lin Nantian and Old Man Lin came out, ring at Liu Fudong. "Director!" Ma Zifeng and others quickly saluted. "What''s going on?" Lin Nantian asked, raising an eyebrow. "This guy intentionally injured someone, disturbed public order, and even dared to attack the police openly." Ma Zifeng pointed at Hao Jian, secretly sneering in his mind, sure that with Lin Nantian stepping in, this man was doomed! At this moment, everyone saw Old Man Lin walk straight towards Hao Jian, slightly bending his waist, and giving a 75-degree bow: "It''s been a long time, sir!" Seeing Old Man Lin do this, everyone was stupefied on the spot. The most shocked of all was Lin Nantian; he knew Old Man Lin better than anyone else.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Despite his usual inconspicuous demeanor, he was very arrogant and came from a mysterious department like the State Security Bureau, where he could even forego saluting high-ranking officials. Chapter 95 My Friend Got Scared to Pee! But now he was bowing to such a young man in his early twenties. What on earth was this young man''s identity? Ma Zifeng and the others were all baffled, wondering what was going on with this old guy. Did he also know this kid? Seeing a dignified elder bowing to Hao Jian, Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao couldn''t help but cast surprised nces towards Hao Jian. At that moment, however, they saw Hao Jian looking at Old Man Lin with an indifferent expression: "Old Man Lin, you''re here as well?" "Yes, I''m here to take care of some business," Old Man Lin nodded, his attitude bing even more respectful. "Why is sir here as well?" "Don''t ask what you shouldn''t!" Hao Jian withdrew his gaze, his demeanor aloof. To tell the truth, he hadn''t expected to encounter Old Man Lin here. He didn''t want too many people knowing he was here, lest they disturb his peaceful life. "Yes." Old Man Lin nodded repeatedly, no longer speaking. He had originally thought that Hao Jian must havee to withstand the Mercenary Alliance, but now it seemed that was clearly not the case. Lin Nantian was so shocked he couldn''t utter a single word. Scolded like a grandchild, was this still Old Man Lin? At this time, Lin Nantian''s gaze towards Hao Jian was filled with reverence, and he hastily chastised Ma Zifeng: "Quickly release this sir and his friends!" "But Chief, they attacked the police," Ma Zifeng was stupefied. What exactly was going on now? "I told you to release them!" Lin Nantian said sternly. He wished he could p Ma Zifeng several times right now. This damn fool had actually brought such a big shot his way. Even Old Man Lin had to treat him with utter respect, and it went without saying that he had to as well. "Yes... Yes!" Ma Zifeng could only brace himself, nodding and agreeing to unlock Hao Jian, while also having a bad premonition. Liu Fudong and Ma Ru''s expressions had also be nk. What was happening now, with the Chief personally unlocking the handcuffs for this kid? What was his identity? "No need." Hao Jian replied coldly, then suddenly exerted force with both hands. With a snap, the handcuffs were directly broken. "Hiss." Except for Lin Nantian and Old Man Lin, everyone stared at Hao Jian as if they had seen a ghost. Breaking free from handcuffs effortlessly¡ªwas this guy even human? The awe in Lin Nantian''s eyes deepened even further. Indeed, as Old Man Lin had said, this young man was no ordinary person. "Sir, can I assist you with anything?" Old Man Lin, realizing that Hao Jian had encountered trouble, took the initiative to offer his help in solving the problem. He did so not to ingratiate himself but out of respect. Even though Hao Jian was younger than him, the tremendous services he had rendered to the nation were countless andmanded his admiration. "My two friends and I were just strolling through the streets when we encountered this misfortune. You tell me what should be done about it?" Hao Jian naturally wouldn''t reject Old Man Lin''s kindness. After all, it was better for the police to handle certain matters. If he were to take action, it would result in casualties. Moreover, both Yuan Shanshan and Che Xiaoxiao were present; he didn''t want the scene to be too bloody. Lin Nantian and Old Man Lin exchanged nces, their expressions dark. They hade to understand the situation. They guessed correctly. A big shot like Hao Jian wasn''t likely to bully these small fries. He wasn''t that bored, and moreover, these small fries didn''t have the stature to be bullied by him. "Plus, this officer, upon his arrival, joined in their oppression, ganging up on me. He scared my two femalepanions to tears; on the way here, Che Xiaoxiao was even frightened to the point of wetting her pants." Hao Jian suddenly changed tack, resuming his yful banter. The facial nerves of the crowd twitched; they were at a loss for a response. Che Xiaoxiao herself was stunned for a while until she finally snapped back to reality and roared: "Hao Jian, you bastard, it''s you who wet your pants!" "You didn''t wet your pants? Did you get so scared that you crapped yourself?" Hao Jian asked with a contemtive expression. "Hao Jian!" Che Xiaoxiao burst out in a roar. "I''m using a figure of speech, mainly to reflect how pitiful you are, you know? Why can''t you follow the script? I set the stage for you, and you still don''t get it, so dumb." Hao Jian sighed, deeply disappointed with Che Xiaoxiao''s performance. "To portray me as pitiful, must you use vulgar terms like wetting myself or crapping myself? Can''t you just say I was scared to tears? Is that not good enough?" Che Xiaoxiao ground her little tiger teeth, looking utterly aggrieved! Who would want to y along with such a lousy script? Isn''t this just smearing one''s own image? "How could that be enough? It''s not tragic enough unless you''re scared into crapping yourself. It''s simple and crude and immediately makes people understand the kind of pain you''ve gone through." "It also immediately lets people know how disgusting I am!" Che Xiaoxiao raged. "How could that be? You''re so cute that even if you got scared into crapping, it would still be adorable," Hao Jian consoled. "Could you not keep mentioning crap? Is that not disgusting?" Che Xiaoxiao was speechless, Hao Jian had no shame, but she still had some. "What''s so disgusting about crap? Don''t you crap every morning? After doing so, you even nce back at it." Hao Jian said discontentedly, then looked to the crowd: "Do you guys find crap disgusting?" Lin Nantian shook his head, his expression stiff, but Old Man Lin, seeming quite used to the topic, wore a very certain look on his face. The rest were on the brink of throwing up but still managed to suppress their disgust and shook their heads. "See, they don''t find it disgusting. Talking about crap isn''t disgusting, eating crap is disgusting." Hao Jian snorted haughtily, seemingly proud that what he said was correct. "Blech." A group of people turned away and started to vomit violently. "Look, you''ve made them throw up," Hao Jian said with disgust as he looked at Che Xiaoxiao. "I..." Che Xiaoxiao was petrified on the spot, at that moment truly feeling the urge to kill Hao Jian. "Ma Zifeng, did you lead people in bullying this gentleman and hisdy friend?" Lin Nantian could no longer stand to watch and just wanted to quickly resolve the farce. At these words, Ma Zifeng and Liu Fudong were on the verge of tears. They bullied Hao Jian?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Ma Ru''s face got scratched, Liu Fudong lost a tooth, one of Ma Zifeng''s men was knocked unconscious, but looking at Hao Jian and his group, they were all without a single scratch. Who was bullying whom here? "Chief, we''re being wronged, look how injured they all are," Ma Zifeng pointed to Liu Fudong, then gestured towards Hao Jian and his group: "And then look at them, do they look injured? Isn''t it clear who the bullies are?" "Who says I haven''t been injured? I got hurt too, okay?" Hao Jianined, extending his palm: "Look, my fingernail is broken." That''s considered an injury? Everyone was speechless. They had seen many shameless people, but this level of shamelessness was truly a first. Hao Jian wasparing his injury to Liu Fudong''s? The man had lost a tooth, for goodness'' sake. Chapter 96 I Can Show You! "It''s quite severe," Lin Nantian coughed twice, his face turning red as he spoke. After uttering these words, he felt like he could no longer face anyone. Everyone just wanted to say one word, which was Fuck! Could you make it any more obvious that you''re covering for someone? "Right, it really is severe. Chief, do you know how they''ve been bullying us? I can demonstrate it for you," Hao Jian said. "Yes, show me," Lin Nantian responded. Lin Nantian felt like crying, thinking to himself, For God''s sake, can you stop making a scene? Just finish this already! "This is how he bullied me." Hao Jian said before backhanding Liu Fudong across the face. Liu Fudong covered his face, looking pitiful and clueless about what was happening. "Then he hit my hand," Hao Jian continued as he kicked Liu Fudong, adding: "And then he hit my foot." "Next, he just kept repeating these two actions." Hao Jian started beating and kicking Liu Fudong relentlessly. The crowd watched Hao Jian''s brutal actions, speechless and unsure how to describe their emotions. Shameless! Utterly shameless! How could someone be so shameless? He was clearly beating someone else, yet iming they hurt his hands and feet. Lin Nantian was about to cry, saying weakly, "Sir, you can stop now, I understand the whole story." If he didn''t stop Hao Jian now, he might actually kill someone, and that would not reflect well on him as the chief. "It''s good that you understand, Chief. It really wasn''t our fault," Hao Jian said, looking innocently at Lin Nantian. Lin Nantian waved his hand, bitterly smiling: "Yes, yes, all of you are innocent." By now, Liu Fudong''s face was swollen like a pig''s head, and hey on the ground twitching slowly. Upon hearing Lin Nantian''s words, another spurt of fresh blood sprayed out, not from the beating, but from anger. He was beaten to this extent, and they still considered Hao Jian and his group innocent? "Take them and lock them up in the cell, criminal detention for six months," Lin Nantian ordered directly. Hao Jian''s intentions were clear by now; since Liu Fudong and his group had offended him, they should pay the price. "What?" Ma Ru''s face drained of color as she hastily clung to Liu Fudong''s arm: "Godfather, you must think of something quickly. I don''t want to go to jail; I''m still a university student. If I go to jail, my life will be ruined!" Her parents had struggled to put her through university. If her family found out about this, they might disown her, and the university would likely expel her. Liu Fudong was utterly dumbstruck at this point! What else could he say now? Not only had he been beaten up, but now he was about to be sent to prison. What on earth was happening? "Arrange a special cell for him. He likes the feeling of chrysanthemums being caressed." Hao Jian''s sinisterugh echoed, thinking to himself that if they wanted to vite him, now it was time to see who would end up vited. Lin Nantian''s heart tightened, thinking to himself how ruthless Hao Jian was, nning to make Liu Fudong experience homosexual love. Hao Jian winked at Liu Fudong, "In these six months, I believe you will have a rather lush experience, tough guy." Hearing this, Liu Fudong''s eyes rolled back, and he faintedpletely, utterly despairing. "Mr. Hao Jian, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me this once. I won''t dare to do it again," he pleaded. Seeing this scene, Ma Zifeng was already scared to death, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. With a thud, he knelt down before Hao Jian. If even Lin Nantian obeyed Hao Jian, what chances did he have at resisting? Ma Zifeng wasn''t foolish. Judging by Lin Nantian''s reaction to Hao Jian, he knew Hao Jian must be a big deal, and he had really kicked the iron te this time. "Realized you''ve kicked the iron te, so you''re begging for mercy?" Hao Jian chuckled coldly, "Do you still think I was joking when I said I''d spare your life?" Ma Zifeng shuddered, finally understanding why Hao Jian was soposed earlier; the man had never considered him significant at all. To think he had amusingly considered Hao Jian an ignorant fool; the real fool was himself! "But I already gave you a chance. Do you think I would give you a second one?"N?v(el)B\\jnn Hao Jian approached Ma Zifeng with a smile that was not quite a smile, a handgun now mysteriously in his hand. "Is that my gun?" At this moment, one of the officers suddenly cried out in horror. He hadn''t felt his gun being taken at all. Seeing this, Lin Nantian gasped, turned his head to look at Old Man Lin, as if asking whether Hao Jian would really kill someone here. "That''s his style, perverse, arrogant, unrestrained." Old Man Lin too could only bitterly smile, unfortunately telling Lin Nantian that it was true, Hao Jian was really nning to kill here, and they would have to clean up after him. "Mr. Hao Jian, I... I''m just ackey. I didn''t know your status, this... really isn''t my fault," Ma Zifeng pleaded with a mournful face. "Ackey? I think it''s more than just that. You must have taken quite a few benefits from Liu Fudong, right? Speaking of which, you are more despicable than Liu Fudong. It''s normal for them to be ruthless because they''re rich, but you, as a civil servant of the state, misuse the authority given to you by the state to do whatever you want! In the end, you even turned your fangs towards your benefactors!" Hao Jian''s face was icy, his tone chilling as he said: "If today you met someone else instead of me, would you be begging me desperately like you are now? You wouldn''t! You would torment them cruelly! You would use every means at your disposal to destroy them! And no one would ever know about it." Hao Jian''s words struck a chord with everyone present. At this moment, Lin Nantian and Old Man Lin looked most troubled. To have such a person under one''smand, and even as the police captain, if this got out, Lin Nantian''s reputation would be in tatters, and some might even suspect Lin Nantian was in cahoots with Ma Zifeng. Old Man Lin''s anger stemmed from his loyalty to the state and the people. He could not tolerate acts of betrayal against the state and harm to the people. In his view, Ma Zifeng indeed deserved to die. "Let him handle this matter, I will report it to the authorities," Old Man Lin said coldly, his words already sealing Ma Zifeng''s fate. Hao Jian was equally enraged for the same reasons as Old Man Lin. Whether a police officer or a soldier, one should protect the homnd and prioritize the people. Hao Jian was proud to be a soldier, but Ma Zifeng''s actions were an insult to the medals they wore. Chapter 97 is a handsome talent, and also a weird talent! "Mr. Hao Jian, I... was wrong, I was really wrong, please, have mercy. I have a wife and children." Ma Zifeng sobbed uncontrobly, repeatedly kowtowing to Hao Jian, his face a picture of desperate agony. "Now you remember you have a wife and children? When you harmed others, did you ever think they also had families? Today you can send others to jail, and tomorrow you could send innocent people to Hell!" Hao Jian let out a coldugh, then raised the pistol in his hand, aiming it at Ma Zifeng: "In your next life, remember to be a good cop!" Ma Zifeng stared nkly at the dark muzzle, his mind aplete nk. Regret? Of course, but even more so, guilt. Hao Jian was right, he indeed deserved his fate, the only thing he felt sorry for was his daughter and wife, leaving them to live in sorrow. "Hao Jian, no!" Yuan Shanshan shouted, her eyes brimming with tears, even if she disregarded Ma Zifeng, she still had to consider his wife and children. If Ma Zifeng died, his wife and children would surely be heartbroken. Ma Zifeng was definitely a bad person, but his family wasn''t. But Hao Jian ignored her, simply pulling the trigger. "Click!" The pistol immediately made a sound, but it obviously wasn''t a gunshot. Just when everyone thought Ma Zifeng was a dead man, Ma Zifeng survived. Ma Zifeng slowly opened his tightly shut eyes, looking at Hao Jian in confusion; he hadn''t expected this oue. Hao Jian hadn''t killed him? Ma Zifeng was drenched in cold sweat, too shocked to utter a word. Hao Jian gave a faint smile, dropped the pistol and the bullets to the ground, and said to Ma Zifeng: "From now on, I believe you will indeed be a good cop." It turned out, he had removed the bullets from the pistol when he got it. The reason he spoke of killing Ma Zifeng was simply to let Ma Zifeng experience life and death. People only truly appreciate the world and awaken to their true selves when faced with life and death. "I''ll leave what follows to you guys," Hao Jian told Lin Nantian and Old Man Lin, then turned and left with Yuan Shanshan and the others. At that moment, no one dared to stop Hao Jian; everyone watched him with eyes filled with terror. This man had really scared them. Ma Zifeng finally came to his senses from his bewilderment, yet he still knelt on the ground, wailing. "He''s an entric," Lin Nantian said, shaking his head and chuckling as he watched Hao Jian''s departing figure. Having been a policeman for decades, his insight was usually sharp, yet now he found he couldn''t see through Hao Jian. "Indeed, a genius, and an odd one at that," Old Man Lin said with a nod, smiling. "If you want to fend off the trouble that''sing, he will be a powerful ally," Old Man Lin told Lin Nantian. He had two purposes foring today: one was to catch up with Lin Nantian, and the other was to bring him a piece of news. "Just him alone?" Lin Nantian was astounded. Just Hao Jian alone, how could he be of any use? "He alone is enough." Old Man Lin left a meaningful remark and strode out of the police station. .. "Hao Jian, you really scared me just now, I thought you were actually going to kill him." Yuan Shanshan sighed deeply, patting her chest, still visibly shaken. Hao Jian forced a smile: "Killing doesn''t solve the problem, just like killing more corrupt officials will only lead to more corrupt officials appearing. It has to be solved from the root." "Uncle, I''m really getting more and more curious about your identity, who are you exactly? Why does even the director have to be so polite to you?" Che Xiaoxiao looked at Hao Jian with full curiosity, she initially thought they were all doomed, and was considering whether or not to call her family.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Who knew that after the director saw Hao Jian, he acted as if a mouse hade across a cat. "Ever heard of what''s called a ''national treasure''? That''s me!" Hao Jian said, thumb pointing at himself, with a smug look on his face. "National treasure? You?" Che Xiaoxiao looked at Hao Jian with disdain: "If a national treasure is someone like you, then Huaxia isn''t far from doom." "What do you mean?" Hao Jian red at Che Xiaoxiao, annoyed. Hey, telling the truth yet nobody believes it. "It means cut the boasting, why don''t you say that even the President has met you?" Che Xiaoxiao scoffed, Hao Jian''s words might fool a three-year-old. Hao Jian was immediately shocked: "How did you know the President has met me?" " " "What a hrious joke, Uncle," Che Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes, this is getting more and more ridiculous. "Believe it or not." Hao Jian snorted too, thinking if you don''t believe it, then forget it. Then, Hao Jian suddenly seemed to remember something, checked his watch, and suddenly eximed: "Shoot, I have to cover a night shift for a buddy of mine, gotta run, bye." "It''s really weird, a guy who even the director has to treat respectfully is actually going to be a driver, don''t you think that''s strange?" Che Xiaoxiao pouted and said. "It is quite strange, but I think maybe it has to do with his experiences," Yuan Shanshan said with a slight smile. "How so?" "I don''t know, just a feeling? I always sense a kind of inexplicable sadness in his eyes; I don''t know if it''s just my imagination." Sometimes, Yuan Shanshan really felt that way, when Hao Jian was not paying attention, a touch of destion always seemed to leak out from the depths of his eyes. "How can that be, that guy is just a rogue, how could he possibly be sad, you must be mistaken." Che Xiaoxiao stated decisively, thinking about how Hao Jian had bullied her at the police station earlier, sad my foot! He''s just aplete jerk. Yuan Shanshan just smiled and didn''t argue with Che Xiaoxiao, but she did not agree with her either. After all, their understanding of Hao Jian was too limited. When he got back to thepany, Hao Jian changed into Tie Shan''s security uniform and went on patrol with Heigui! Thepany was eerily quiet in the dead of night. "You take the floors above the twentieth, I''ll take the ones below," Heigui said, but he seemed quite nervous. "Why do you look like you''ve seen a ghost?" Hao Jian asked, puzzled, as Heigui''s face had turned pale. Normally quite dark, the sudden pallor made him look humorously ridiculous, as if he''d been dusted with ayer of frost. "No, no problem," Heigui hastily shook his head. "No problem?" Hao Jian narrowed his eyes, "then you take the floors above twenty, and I''ll take below." "No, please, bro." Heigui suddenly panicked, grabbing Hao Jian''s legs, practically turning into a tearful mess. "Tell me! Why are you sending me to the twentieth floor?" Hao Jian demanded. This son of a gun, you can tell he''s up to no good, definitely hiding something. Chapter 98 If youre not afraid of people, why fear ghosts? Heigui touched his nose somewhat embarrassedly and said with a forcedugh, "I''ve heard recently that strange noises oftene from the forty-fourth floor, very eerie ones, and many people have heard them. Some say there''s something unclean up there, others say someone died on the forty-fourth floor before, a manager and his secretary getting cozy by the window when they identally fell down. So, the spirit''s been hovering around the forty-fourth floor." "You actually believe that? Are you stupid?" Hao Jian was speechless. Was this meant to fool a three-year-old? Feeling uneasy, Heigui said, "I didn''t believe it either, but a few days ago, when I was patrolling the forty-fourth floor, I heard that strange noise too, and I even caught a glimpse of a figure. I was scared stiff right there and then." "Are you sure you weren''t seeing things?" Hao Jian asked, furrowing his brows. If that was really the case, then things were indeed a bit fishy. "Of course I saw it right. Tie Shan was with me that day; what do you think that beast asked you to cover his shift for? His wife isn''t due to give birth for another couple of weeks." Unscrupulously, Heigui ratted out Tie Shan, mainly because Tie Shan found a substitute to cover for him, and he didn''t. "Damn it," Hao Jian cursed under his breath. So, he was the one who''d been duped. "Hao Jian! Brother Jian! Please spare me this time, I really don''t want to go to that ghostly ce." Heigui hugged Hao Jian''s thighs, clearly scared out of his wits. "A grown man scared to death, you might as well be dead." Hao Jian looked at Heigui, who was clinging to his thighs, with disdain, "Get off! Don''t cling to my legs, I''m not into that." "I''m not... Brother, you''re my own brother..." Heigui was on the verge of tears, snot and tears mixed, after that incident, he would rather die than go to the twentieth floor. "Alright, alright, I''ll go patrol for you." Hao Jian was speechless, big and burly but with a heart smaller than a rabbit''s! Ghosts? How could such things exist in the world. "Brother, you''re my brother!" Heigui shouted excitedly, staring at Hao Jian with emotion, looking as if Hao Jian was the most beautiful person in the world. "Get lost, get lost, get lost." Hao Jian cursed irritably, kicking him out. "Or, let''s just forget it, if there really is something unclean up there, by making you go, wouldn''t I be harming you? Let''s do this, we''ll just stroll below the twentieth floor, and by tomorrow we can just cover it up with Boss Liang." Heigui said hesitantly. "That won''t do. If we ck off and thepany suffers a loss, the entire security department will be implicated." Hao Jian disagreed firmly. This was noughing matter. He didn''t believe in any ghostly stuff, but he worried about burrs. Since so many colleagues had heard strange noises, it definitely wasn''t an ident. There could well be a burr lurking around, and he wanted to clear up what was really going on. "Aren''t you afraid?" Heigui looked at Hao Jian in surprise, when he told everyone about this, each person was so scared they were speechless, but Hao Jian didn''t seem to be scared at all. Hao Jian chuckled, "I''m not even scared of people, why should I be scared of ghosts?" ... Afterward, Hao Jian patrolled floor by floor, but he did not hear the ghostly screams Heigui talked about. He even wondered if those two were drunk that night, hallucinating sounds and sights. Just when Hao Jian felt amused by the thought, a strange noise came along. It sounded like a broken ordion, whooshing back and forth. With the night wind''s apaniment, it was especially sinister and eerie. Hao Jian frowned slightly, so there really was a weird noise? But Hao Jian didn''t think it was any ghost causing trouble, he quickly walked toward the direction of the sound. He soon arrived at the entrance of an old warehouse, or rather this whole floor consisted of warehouses, stacked full with all sorts of clutter, and it was rare for anyone toe up here. At this moment, Hao Jian was on the forty-fifth floor, just one level below the topmost floor. Since many warehouses on this floor had no windows, the wind was particrly strong, howling loudly, coupled with the eerie sound of a wind harp, which made the atmosphere even more sinister. Hao Jian stood at the entrance of one of the warehouses, his eyebrows deeply furrowed, for he heard the noiseing from behind the door. "Creak." Hao Jian pushed open the iron door and walked in, only to be greeted by darkness, with various items littered all over the floor, making the spacious warehouse seem cramped. With the help of the moonlight, Hao Jian saw a man sneakily dragging something, making the whooshing sound, the strange noise Heigui had mentioned probably originated from here. Hao Jian focused his eyes and saw that it was actually a batch of silver ornaments used for jewelry decoration; this guy was actually stealing silver! "What are you doing?" Hao Jian barked angrily. The man had not expected someone to barge in at this time and interrupt him; startled by Hao Jian''s shout, he shivered. He turned around to look at Hao Jian and, upon seeing the security guard uniform on him, his face quickly twisted into an expression of intense irritation: "From the security department?"N?v(el)B\\jnn "That''s right. Who are you, daring to steal in the warehouse?" Hao Jian retorted coldly. By now he could see the other person clearly; he was a wiry old man, not very tall¡ªprobably only about one meter sixty¡ªand hunchbacked, looking quite like a rat. "Get out!" Seeing Hao Jiane in, the old man was far from scared; instead, he scolded Hao Jian directly, exhibiting an extremely bad attitude. "Hey!" Hao Jian was so angry he felt his nose could be crooked. This old man was really brazen, daring to be so arrogant while stealing. "Old man, I advise you to put the things down, or else don''t say I bullied an elderly manter," Hao Jian said with a smirk, seeing that this old fellow dared to be so arrogant, there was no need to show him respect. "You don''t recognize me?" Seeing that Hao Jian actually didn''t recognize him, the old man immediately furrowed his brows, seemingly quite surprised that there was someone in thepany who didn''t know him. And true, Hao Jian really didn''t recognize him; he sized up the old man and asked, "Are you a national leader?" "No." The old man''s face darkened¡ªif he were a national leader, would he need to work in thispany? "Are you a big star?" Hao Jian inquired further. "No." The old man''s face grew even more unsightly; have you ever seen a star who looks like this? "Then why should I know you?" Hao Jian scoffed disdainfully, the old man''s way of talking was quite funny, as if Hao Jian had to know him, and as if not knowing him was a sin. "I''m Sun Minghui, the head of the Marketing Department!" the old man yelled angrily; how dare a mere security guard speak to him that way? "Sun Minghui?" Hao Jian was taken aback, wasn''t this the Old Sun that Heigui and the others had talked about? One of the four individuals to keep away from, he hadn''t expected to run into him. Chapter 99 Want to Steal Something? Wooden Door! Hao Jian suddenly recalled what Tie Shan had told him; he said that Sun Minghui was dirty-handed, always stealing from thepany and then framing it on them. What Hao Jian hadn''t expected was to actually catch him in the act. In the deep of night, close to dawn, Sun Minghui was sneaking around the warehouse alone, dragging a batch of iron boxes filled with silver jewelry. His intentions were self-evident. "I didn''t expect it to be Minister Sun, a pleasure to meet you," said Hao Jian with a smirk, cupping one hand in the other before his chest in greeting. "Since you know who I am, why don''t you just scram?" Sun Minghui said, sneering. "I can''t do that. As a security guard of thepany, it''s my duty to protect thepany''s property. I can''t just watch a thief stealpany finances and ignore it," Hao Jian said solemnly. "You''re calling me a thief?" Sun Minghui''s eyes immediately zed with rage. He knew many were aware of his deeds. Even the president turned a blind eye, and no one had ever dared to call him out. It was precisely because of this that Sun Minghui became increasingly brazen. And now, a mere security guard dared to call him such piercing words to his face, Sun Minghui was instantly furious. Hao Jian sneered, "Sneaking around and moving stuff in the middle of the night, if not a thief, then what?" Sun Minghui was indeed as the rumors described, engaging in sneaky thefts and being brazen about it. He was stealing, and he did it so confidently. The shamelessness was invincible. Hao Jian didn''t even know what to say. "I am the head of the marketing department, and I have the authority to take any item from the warehouse. What does a new security guard like you know? You even dare to meddle in my affairs?" Sun Minghui snorted angrily, his face darkened. He was certain Hao Jian had to be new; otherwise, he would never dare to talk to him like this. Being new and not understanding how things work, Sun Minghui felt it was necessary to teach him a lesson about what it means to understand. "All I know is that a minister can indeed take items from the warehouse! But before taking anything, you must report to security. I suppose you haven''t done that, right? And I''ll tell you this: I, the small security guard, will definitely handle this matter!" Hao Jian hummed. If Shu Ya had nothing to do with him, he wouldn''t bother with such trivialities. But the thing is, Shu Ya was about to be his wife. Although it was just for a term of three years, she would still be his wife, and of course, he had the obligation to protect her property for her. Another thing was that this old fool was acting all high and mighty, which really annoyed Hao Jian. Since he was irritated, Sun Minghui shouldn''t expect to enjoy himself. "Are you sure you''re not giving me this face?" Sun Minghui''s face was filled with ferocity, clearly angered to the point of embarrassment! "If you want to take something, just report to security," Hao Jian said with crossed arms, looking at Sun Minghui with interest. His stance was clear. Thinking of stealing? Dream on! "Damn it, what do you think you are? I have eaten more salt than you have eaten rice; how dare you talk to me like this? Do you believe I can make it so you can''t stay in thispany?" Sun Minghui exploded in rage. A nobody dared to talk back to him this way; when had he ever lost so much face in thepany? In his eyes, getting rid of Hao Jian was as easy as moving his lips. Since this kid was courting death, he might as well oblige! "Eaten more salt than I have eaten rice? Then you must have high blood pressure by now, howe you haven''t dropped dead?" Hao Jian mocked. "You¡­" Sun Minghui was suddenly at a loss for words, trembling as he pointed at Hao Jian: "I''m asking you onest time, are you going to get out of the way or not?" "What if I do, what if I don''t?" Hao Jian found it amusing. "If you step aside, I''ll act as if nothing ever happened. If you don''t, hmm, then I''ll make sure you regret it!" Sun Minghui snorted heavily, his gaze filled with malice. "Oh, then no," Hao Jian pursed his lips and said. "You... Are you ying me?" Sun Minghui red at Hao Jian fiercely, realizing that this boy was dead set on courting his trouble. "Wow, you''ve seen through something so difficult to guess, you''re really smart!" Hao Jian eximed in admiration. However, hearing this, Sun Minghui flew into a rage. His face grew so dark it seemed it could drip water. He took out his cell phone and made a call, uttering just two words: "Come up!" After that, Sun Minghui stared at Hao Jian, his sinister smile emerging, "Now, even if you want to leave, you won''t be able to." Hao Jian just smiled and shrugged, making noment. It wasn''t long before four burly men ran up from downstairs and arrived beside Sun Minghui! Sun Minghui wanted to steal from thepany, and of course, he couldn''t do it alone. After all, he was too old for the heavy lifting. So, every time it was his job to drag the items downstairs, then the four men would transport them to the pawnshop to be sold. "Old Sun, what''s taking so long?" One of the burly men, his face fierce, spoke discontentedly. "This new security guard won''t let me take things out, help me deal with him!" Sun Minghui said grimly, the only thought in his mind at the moment was to teach Hao Jian a lesson and show him whom he could provoke and whom he couldn''t. "Oh?" The big man turned his head toward Hao Jian, a cruel smirk on his face: "Kid, you dare to mess with Third Zhu''s business?" Seeing that Hao Jian barely had much meat on his bones, Third Zhu''s men all began to ridicule him. Did a skinny guy like him dare to mess with their livelihood? Wasn''t that just seeking death? "Third Zhu? Why not just call yourself Pig Head Three? That name would suit your character better." Hao Jian teased. Third Zhu''s expression instantly stiffened ¨C this kid was pretty cocky. "Boss, he''s making fun of you," one of Third Zhu''s men said. Third Zhu turned and pped him across the face: "Damn it, do I need you to tell me that? Don''t I know that already?" Then, with a sinister smile on his face, Third Zhu looked at Hao Jian: "Kid, I''m giving you a chance right now. Kneel and kowtow to me three times, and I''ll act as if nothing happened. Otherwise, I''ll have my brothers break your limbs and cut your tongue out." Hao Jian looked at Sun Minghui, then at Third Zhu, andughed: "The same old form, the same old taste! Did you guys rehearse this together before you came?" "Break his limbs for me!" Third Zhu waspletely infuriated, his demeanor murderous as he spoke. At this point, the kid was still daring to mock him; he was inly seeking death. The burly menughed grimly and charged at him! Third Zhu was at the forefront, his fist aimed directly at Hao Jian''s face. Hao Jian let out a contemptuous scoff, his figure shifting like a ghost, silently appearing at Third Zhu''s side. Third Zhu''s punch just grazed Hao Jian''s nose. "Swish!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Then, with a dragon tail sweep, Hao Jian''s leg directly kicked towards Third Zhu''s abdomen, sending him flying horizontally through the air. The crowd watched as Third Zhu flew five or six meters and ''thud'' fell to the ground, then started to moan. "You... you dare to hit our boss?" The others, upon seeing Third Zhu being kicked away, were first stunned, then filled with immense rage, their faces ferocious. "Don''t rush, soon you''ll all be just like him," Hao Jian said with a yful smile! Chapter 100 Despicable Uncle, Do You Like What You See? "You''ll be just like him soon!" After saying this, Hao Jian charged like a frenzied rhinoceros, each step as heavy as a thousand pounds, leaving distinct footsteps on the ground, sending those three men flying in all directions. Bang Bang Bang! One by one, the men were flung out like dead dogs, crashing to the ground! They all felt as if they had been hit by a train, their skeletons nearly falling apart, and they looked at Hao Jian with fear and astonishment, their faces filled with terror. They couldn''t understand how this seemingly thin and frail guy could be as terrifying as a humanoid monster. At this moment, Hao Jian walked toward Sun Minghui! Sun Minghui waspletely stunned, and when he saw Hao Jianing, he shuddered all over: "You..." "p!" Hao Jian didn''t bother to exin and pped Sun Minghui''s face hard. Sun Minghui, covering his face, looked at Hao Jian dumbfounded, thinking to himself that this was not the script he had in mind. This guy isn''t following the script at all! "I''m going to fire you!" Sun Minghui shouted, trying to keep his fear at bay. "Fire me, huh?" Hao Jian delivered another p. p! "I''ll dock your pay." Sun Minghui took a couple of steps back. "Dock my pay, huh?" Hao Jian pped him again. p! "I''m calling the police." Sun Minghui cried out, quickly retreating another two steps. "Call the police, right." Hao Jian raised his hand, but this time Sun Minghui caught on and quickly ran away. "Oh, you dare to dodge? Get over here!" Hao Jian reprimanded. Sun Minghui hesitated, looking at Hao Jian and wondering whether to go over or not. "If you don''te here, when I catch up to you, you''re in for another beating," Hao Jian threatened directly. With no other choice, Sun Minghui could only walk back dejectedly and stand in front of Hao Jian. "I told you to dodge, I told you to dodge!" Hao Jian alternated left and right, pping Sun Minghui''s face rapidly and furiously. "Stop hitting me, stop it, I won''t dare again!" Sun Minghui burst into tears. He had never been mistreated like this in his life, and he felt extremely aggrieved. Hao Jian cursed: "Old bastard, don''t think I''ll spare you just because you''re old." After that, Hao Jian left Sun Minghui behind and walked toward Third Zhu, looking down on him from above. Seeing Hao Jian looking at him, Third Zhu was also shocked, lying there half upright, not daring to move an inch. "You were nning to break my arms and legs, so if I disable your legs, you have nothing toin about, right?" Hao Jian sneered evilly and then stamped his foot down on Third Zhu''s knee. When Third Zhu saw Hao Jian''s foot on his knee, his pupils dted suddenly: "Wait!" "Crack." A bone-breaking sound echoed, and Third Zhu''s body convulsed violently, screaming in agony. That sound was particrly grating in the silent night. "In the future, don''t let me see you here again, or I''ll beat you every time I do, hear me!" Hao Jian said with a show of arrogance. Except for Third Zhu, who had passed out from the pain, the others nodded frantically like pecking chickens. ``` "Scram!" ``` Hao Jian waved his hand impatiently, and those people ran off without looking back, not even caring about Third Zhu. "Hold on," Hao Jian drawled. "Is, is there anything else?" Sun Minghui and the others stopped in their tracks, looking anxiously at Hao Jian. Hao Jian pointed to Third Zhu on the ground, "Take your trash with you." Sun Minghui and the others hurriedly helped Third Zhu up and then slipped away without looking back. ... After working an overnight shift, Hao Jian felt an overwhelming fatigue and took a taxi home after his shift. As he dragged his tired body past Ruo Lan''s door on his way home, he heard her calling out: "Hao Jian, wait a moment." Hao Jian turned around and asked, "What is it, Ruo Lan?" "Didn''t youe homest night?" Ruo Lan asked with concern. "Yeah, I covered a night shift for a colleaguest night, and I''m dead tired," yawned Hao Jian. "Have some breakfast first, then go to sleep after. Skipping breakfast isn''t good for you, especially after staying up all night. I just made some preserved egg and lean pork congee, have some while it''s hot." Ruo Lan looked at him with hopeful eyes, as if she was worried he would refuse. "Sure," Hao Jian thought for a moment before deciding to sit down. Ruo Lan was pleased with his decision and promptly went to the kitchen to prepare something. Just as Hao Jian was ogling Sister Lan, little Tongtong sneaked up to him, mischief written all over her face: "Uncle Scumbag, like what you see?" "Cough cough... Yes!" Hao Jian had a face full of shameless smiles, but then he realized something was wrong. Seeing that it was Tongtong who was beside him, his face turned red and he coughed awkwardly: "Cough cough... I mean, your mom looks so good cooking!" "And what exactly does ''so big'' refer to?" Tongtong''s forehead creased with lines of confusion as she stared straight at Hao Jian. "Cough cough... I... I meant your mommy''s steamed buns are so big and nice!" Hao Jian touched his nose, feeling incredibly awkward. "And ''so round''?" Tongtong''s gaze became even more unfriendly! "That watermelon is really round, and it''s so smooth to eat..." Hao Jian touched his nose and chuckled nervously, clearly feeling guilty! Listening to this bastard''s ability to fib, Tongtong pouted and then shouted directly: "Mommy, Uncle Scumbag keeps staring at you, saying you''re so big and round!" Pfft! Hao Jian almost spurted out a mouthful of blood! This darn kid, she really dares to say anything! Meanwhile, Sister Lan in the kitchen apparently didn''t hear clearly and poked her head out, asking: "Tongtong, what did you say?" "Cough cough... Ruo Lan, it''s... it''s nothing, Tongtong is just hungry, she''s asking you to cook faster..." Before Tongtong could speak, Hao Jian quickly said with an awkwardugh. "Okay! Just wait a bit, it''ll be ready soon!" Sister Lan smiled serenely, not suspecting anything, and continued cooking. Looking at Sister Lan''s virtuous demeanor, Hao Jian''s heart fluttered just a bit. Now that''s the image of a virtuous wife and mother! But then, seeing Tongtong''s disapproving look, he felt even more embarrassed: "Little one, out with it, what''s your price?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Hao Jian knew this clever little imp Tongtong surely had something up her sleeve, and that''s why she was ckmailing him into a corner! "Hehe... Uncle Scumbag figured it out, I''m so shy..." Tongtong blushed, and with a giggly smile, she said: "Uncle Scumbag, why don''t you be my daddy?" Chapter 101 Have you heard the story that Sha Bi said does not exist? ``` Crack! Hao Jian was visibly confused, digging at his ear! What? What did you say? "There''s a parent-teacher conference at school this afternoon where all the students'' fathers and mothers wille together. But I don''t have a father, can you pretend to be my dad?" Tongtong pouted, her eyes red and teary within her vibrant gaze, her little face conveying a mix of dejection and hope as she spoke. She didn''t want to bebeled as the child with no father. Even if she never voiced it, in her heart, she still cared, more or less. "Tongtong, what are you talking about? Uncle Hao Jian just got off work and is really tired, how can you bother him with this?" Sister Lan had just brought out a bowl of porridge from the kitchen when she overheard Tongtong''s request to Hao Jian and immediately chided her angrily. Tongtong pursed her lips again, tears glistening in her eyes as she hung her head and fell silent, looking wronged. Hao Jian paused, seeing Tongtong''s sad face, he felt a twinge in his heart, and then said with a smile: "Ruo Lan, it''s fine! I have the day off tomorrow anyway, and the parent-teacher conference doesn''t start until afternoon, right? I can still get some sleep." Hao Jian was very fond of Tongtong, so faced with such a request at the moment, he couldn''t refuse! "You... you agreed?" Ruo Lan was taken aback, she hadn''t expected Hao Jian to actually say yes. "It''s just a small effort, what''s there to disagree with?" Hao Jian replied with a smile, then pinched Tongtong''s little cheek: "Besides, this is a request from my little princess, how could I not agree?" "Cheap uncle, can I call you daddy now?" Tongtong asked eagerly, her face lighting up with excitement upon hearing his words. At that moment, both Hao Jian and Ruo Lan were startled, and then Ruo Lan''s eyes began to well up with tears immediately. "Is it not okay?" Seeing Hao Jian not responding, Tongtong thought he didn''t agree and her little white face immediately showed a disheartened expression. Hearing her words and seeing her face, Hao Jian felt even more mncholic. She was still just a child, yet unable to experience even a day of fatherly love; this was already an extraordinarily cruel thing. "Of course it''s okay, from now on I''m your godfather." Hao Jian held Tongtong in his arms, unable to bear seeing her upset. This child was in such need of love, and all he could do was to try to fulfill her small wish as much as possible. "Really?" Tongtong froze, then lifted her little head, her beautiful eyes brimming with surprised tears, and then turned back to look at her mother: "Mommy, can I call Cheap Uncle my daddy?" Ruo Lan''s eyes also couldn''t help but grow moist; she covered her mouth, struggling not to let the tears fall, and nodded vigorously: "Yes... you... can..." ... Afterward, Ruo Lan and Tongtong headed to the school first, both mother and daughter dressed with care. The pair, one tall, one small, immediately attracted the attention of many as they walked through the campus. "Tongtong, Daddy will just go to the restroom first, and then I''lle to your ss," Hao Jian said, feeling the sudden urge to use the bathroom. "Okay." Tongtong obediently responded, walking into the ssroom with Ruo Lan. But no sooner had she sat down than a chubby boy approached, pped his hands down on Tongtong''s desk, and said arrogantly: "Hey, Ma Zitong, didn''t you say your dad woulde to the parent-teacher conference? Where is he?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "My dad''s in the bathroom, he''ll be here in a bit!" Tongtong huffed, clearly disliking the chubby boy. "Keep dreaming. You always say your dad wille, but it''s only ever your mom who shows up. Heh heh... you''re just a wild girl who was born with a father but not raised by one!" the chubby boy sneered. "I''m not a wild girl; my dad will definitelye!" ``` Tongtong''s little face flushed with anger, her big eyes brimming with tears, yet she insisted on believing Hao Jian would definitelye back because Hao Jian had never lied to her before. At this time, Ruo Lan also frowned slightly, but after all, the other party was just a child, so she didn''t say anything. At that moment, a voluptuously dressed, corpulent middle-aged woman came over, seized Wang Xiaotao''s hand, and dragged him to her side: "Xiaotao, how many times has Mommy told you not to make friends with poor people, why don''t you ever listen?" At the same time, she gave Tongtong and Ruo Lan a look of disdain. Feeling looked down upon like that, Tongtong immediately felt aggrieved and said: "I''m not his friend, it was he who kept pestering me." Upon hearing this, the middle-aged woman scoffed and said, "What a joke, what status does our Xiaotao have, and what status do you have? Some wild girl from who knows where, our Xiaotao would pester you?" "I''m not a wild girl!" Upon hearing those words, Tongtong immediately burst into tears! Ever since kindergarten, her ssmates had always called her the wild girl without a father, so Tongtong was particrly sensitive to thatbel. Ruo Lan''s pretty face turned extremely pale at this moment, looking at Tongtong with immense pity! "Alright, Tongtong! We won''t cry, Mommy has told you, you have to be strong! Got it?" Sister Lan''s tear-filled eyes smiled as she spoke to Tongtong! Tongtong obediently nodded her head, wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes, pouted her small mouth, and said stubbornly: "Mommy, Tongtong knows! Tongtong will definitely be strong!" "Good girl!" Watching this scene, Ruo Lan felt an even deeper surge of heartache! The middle-aged woman, upon seeing this scene, curled her lips and showed a face full of contempt and disgust: "Oh! Being strong? Can strength be eaten? A widow and a wild girl, no matter how strong you are, what''s the use? Tell your daughter not to pester my son in the future, otherwise, don''t me me for not being polite! Our Xiaotao will not be friends with your kind of poor losers!" At this time, Hao Jian had juste back from the restroom and saw a middle-aged woman bullying Ruo Lan. His face instantly darkened, and he quickly stepped forward, shielding the mother and daughter behind him. The middle-aged woman, upon seeing Hao Jian ring at her, was initially startled, but then let out a coldugh. "Oh! Are you the wild man this widow found? You''vee at the right time, from now on, keep this wild girl away from my son. Our family and you poor people are not the same, you know. Our Xiaotao will go abroad for school right after finishing elementary, and I don''t want him to make friends with poor ghosts and beughed at abroad." The middle-aged woman''s words were full of bitterness and contempt, and her expression seemed to ce herself far above, undisguised in her revulsion and disdain. Hao Jian was taken aback and then, looking at Tongtong''s face full of tears, he immediately understood what was happening! At that moment, a sinister curve formed on Hao Jian''s lips, and he said tly: "For an adult to speak such nasty words to a child, don''t you think you''re going too far?" "Too far? I''m only stating a fact! Aren''t you just a bunch of dead poor ghosts? Look at how your daughter is dressed, how tacky. Her whole outfit probably doesn''t even cost two hundred, does it? You know what our Xiaotao wears? Dolce & Gabbana, one article of clothing costs over five thousand. Can you afford that? Your daughter with her poverty-stricken appearance wants to be friends with him, does she match up?" the middle-aged woman mockingly retorted without restraint. The middle-aged woman''s words were like swords, piercing the hearts of Ruo Lan and Tongtong, casting a forlorn shadow on their pretty faces! A mother and child, with no one to defend them, were left to be bullied! The look in Hao Jian''s eyes shed sharply; this was the first time he encountered such a mean and harsh woman: "Madam, by your appearance, you seem to be an educated person! I wonder if you''ve ever heard of a story called ''The Emperor''s New Clothes''?" Hmm? The woman was taken aback, then furrowed her brow in disgust and said, "No!" "Since you haven''t, then you''re the fool!" Hao Jian shrugged, mimicking the look of someone watching a fool! It was then that the middle-aged woman realized what he meant, anger and shame flushing through her chubby face: "You¡­ You poor trash, how dare you insult me?" "Insult you? Although I don''t hit women, if you dare to say one more word, I may just have to make your fat face bloody!" Hao Jian''s eyes shed ominously, followed by a stern shout: "GET OUT!!!!" Chapter 102 The Teacher Without Morality! Hao Jian''s fierce demeanor startled the middle-aged woman, who red at Hao Jian, wanting to continue her abuse, but her mouth twitched, and she dared not say: "Son, let''s go!" At that moment, the middle-aged woman could only lead her son away, fuming! Seeing this, Tongtong and Ruo Lan finally breathed a sigh of relief! "Dad, you are so amazing!" Tongtong''s eyes, filled with little stars, looked at Hao Jian as she cried andughed, obviously very happy! Ruo Lan also nodded at Hao Jian gratefully! ¡­ Meanwhile, on the other side! "Mrs. Zhang, you are here? Please, have a seat?" At this time, Teacher Zhao walked in; he was a male teacher in his early thirties and immediately ingratiated himself upon seeing the middle-aged woman. It was because Zhang Yueqin''s husband was the Director of the Education Bureau of Hua City, and Teacher Zhao desperately wanted topete for the position of school principal, so naturally, he took the opportunity to suck up. Upon hearing this, the furious Zhang Yueqin, upon seeing Teacher Zhao, lit up and then sneered, pointing towards where Hao Jian and the others were: "Teacher Zhao, I want to sit there." Hmm? Seeing this, Teacher Zhao also hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile: "But there are already people sitting there, and Xiaotao''s seat isn''t there either." "I said I want to sit there, so I must sit there, Teacher Zhao, please make them leave," Zhang Yueqin said rudely. "This¡­" Teacher Zhao hesitated, as asking him to drive a parent away somewhatpromised his integrity as a teacher. "Teacher Zhao, the old principal is retiring soon! I heard that you''re also interested inpeting for the position, right? You should know what my husband does; what do you think your chances of bing the principal are if I say something in his ear?" Zhang Yueqin threatened coldly. Teacher Zhao immediately tensed up and hurriedly said, "Mrs. Zhang, don''t be angry; I''ll have them vacate the seats for you right away." Then, Teacher Zhao strode towards Ruo Lan, his face turning stern as he said to Tongtong:N?v(el)B\\jnn "Ma Zitong, please switch seats with your mom and dad." "Dad..." Tongtong held Hao Jian''s hand, feeling uneasy, as students normally do fear their teachers, and she was no exception. Hao Jian wasn''t angry and smilingly looked at Teacher Zhao, asking: "May I ask why?" At this, Teacher Zhao became displeased, thinking Just move when asked, what''s with all the fuss? Seeing Hao Jian dressed shabbily, he subconsciously categorized him as a pauper, and when choosing between Zhang Yueqin and a pauper, he knew whom to pick. "Because I want that seat!" Just then, Zhang Yueqin approached again, provocatively looking at Hao Jian, thinking, Who dares to curse me? I''ll make you embarrassed in public! Hao Jian''s brows furrowed slightly, and his smile turned colder as he looked at Teacher Zhao: "Just because she wants to sit here, you are making us give up our seats for her? She is a parent, I am also a parent, why the discrimination!" Meanwhile, Ruo Lan''s face turned deathly pale with anger. It was bad enough that Zhang Yueqin was bullying them, but unexpectedly, even a teacher behaved so mercenarily. Such an immoral teacher, how could he educate students properly! "Because my husband is the Director of the Education Bureau, and you are just a pauper." Zhang Yueqin chuckled twice, looking Hao Jian up and down: "Looking at you, you probably don''t even earn ten thousand a month, do you?" Zhang Yueqin''s behavior was truly despicable. As the saying goes, don''t p the face and don''t reveal shoring, yet she deliberately poked at people''s sore spots. "Indeed, I don''t." Hao Jian shrugged nonchntly, feeling no inferiority or need to hide his upation and ie, instead, he mockingly looked at Zhang Yueqin, sneering: "But although I earn little, it is money earned through my ownbor! And for an education director to spend over five thousand on a single piece of clothing for his child and tens of thousands on a makeover, when did government officials be so wealthy? Or is it through corruption and bribery perhaps?" Hao Jian''s gaze was sharp as a knife, causing Zhang Yueqin''s expression to change, and then she impatiently said: "Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and switch seats! Don''t make us drive you out, then you''ll really lose all your dignity!" "This is my seat, I won''t switch!" Tongtong angrily said, tears welling up in her eyes. Though young, she could feel that these people were bullying her. "I''m the head teacher, and I have the final say in this ss, Ma Zitong, switch with Wang Xiaotao immediately, or I will expel you!" Teacher Zhao also pressured her, as to smooth his own promotion, he could not care much about anything else. Seeing the teacher helping a malicious woman to bully her, Tongtong''s eyes glittered with tears, her head stubbornly shaking: "I... I won''t switch!" "Good! You dare to disobey even your teacher, let''s see how I''m going to teach you!!" Teacher Zhao, infuriated to a lividplexion, since he''d already offended Tongtong''s family, didn''t mind going a bit further. In his eyes, as long as hetched onto Zhang Yueqin''s coattails, that was enough! Right then, a fierce light shed in Teacher Zhao''s eyes, and his hand fiercely pped towards Tongtong''s little face! Smack!!! A crisp sound rang out, and a figure was sent flying! And when everyone snapped out of it, they werepletely stunned, for the one sent flying was none other than Teacher Zhao! Chapter 103 Do You Even Deserve to Talk About Upbringing? Bang! When Teacher Zhao was sent flying several meters by a p from Hao Jian and copsed to the ground, everyone there was stunned! Especially Teacher Zhao, who touched his rapidly swelling face, disbelief thick in his expression as he stared fixedly at Hao Jian: "You... you actually dare to hit me? I''m your daughter''s teacher, do you know what hitting me means?" Teacher Zhao couldn''t believe he had actually been hit by a parent! Considering that the current educational resources are extremely scarce and ss advisors like him are almost revered by every parent, who usually appease them with red envelopes during holidays and treat them with utmost respect!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om And now, this bastard had the audacity to hit him, which startled and enraged Teacher Zhao! Zhang Yueqin and Ruo Lan were also taken aback, following which Zhang Yueqin''s lips twisted in a mean smirk, her face filled with schadenfreude, while Ruo Lan was full of worry! "Teacher? Those with morals can be called teachers, those without should be called dog shit, and you, you''re worse than that!" Hao Jian''s gaze was icy! Hao Jian could hit Tongtong even in front of her parents; one could only imagine what Tongtong''s situation would be like if they weren''t there! "You... you..." Teacher Zhao, upon hearing this, trembled with anger, his face filling with resentment: "Fine! You dare to hit me, then I''ll make sure your daughter can''t continue school here! Just you wait, just you wait!" Listening to Teacher Zhao''s angry words, the plump boy looked gleefully at Tongtong,ughing and saying: "Wow! Ma Zitong, did you hear that? Teacher Zhao is going to stop you from attending school! Beg me, and if you let me kiss you, I might just find a way to let you continue your studies!" The plump boy, full of smugness, spoke while he began to lean towards Tongtong to kiss her! Tongtong''s face was full of disgust. As the plump boy leaned in, she immediately pushed him away: "I won''t let you kiss me!" Tongtong''s lips pouted, her face a mixture of grievance and disgust. After the plump boy was pushed away, he immediately startedining to Zhang Yueqin: "Mom, did you see that? Ma Zitong wouldn''t let me kiss her, and she hit me too! Wuu... This wild girl is too much!" Hearing her son''sints, Zhang Yueqin''s plump face instantly showed a fierce expression as she shouted at Tongtong: "You little bastard, how dare you hit our precious child, I''m going to teach you, a rude brat, a lesson today!" Having said this, Zhang Yueqin swung her hand at Tongtong''s face! Seeing this, Ruo Lan was shocked and quickly protected her daughter! p! With a sharp crackling sound, Ruo Lan suddenly startled! Because she hadn''t been hit; instead, Zhang Yueqin staggered from a p! Zhang Yueqin, disheveled, her chubby face instantly bearing a bright red palm print, stood frozen on the spot, staring straight at Hao Jian: "You... you poor loser dare to hit me?" Zhang Yueqin couldn''t believe it, but when Hao Jian heard this, he sneered broadly: "Why do all you idiots like to say that phrase? I''m neither your dad nor your mom, I neither care for you nor love you, so why can''t I hit you!!!" "You poor deadbeat, you actually dare to hit me? Good! You just wait! If you dare, don''t run away!!!" Sinc[Zhang Yueqin had be the wife of the Director of the Education Bureau, she had never suffered such an indignity, her pain causing her to grimace, quickly pulling out her cellphone to call her husband: "Director Wang, listen up, your wife and son are about to be killed at the school. If you don''te now, just wait to collect our corpses!" Teacher Zhao looked over as Zhang Yueqin was making a phone call. Immediate joy filled her eyes, and she looked at Hao Jian with a gaze full of mockery and hatred! This poor loser is so arrogant. Just wait until Director Wang arrives, and see how you''ll die off! And that little bastard of his¡ªoffending me, he better not even think about schooling here anymore; even a word from Zhang Yueqin''s husband would ensure no one in Hua City would dare take in that little bastard! Thinking this, a sinister smile crept across Teacher Zhao''s face, her expression filling with mockery! And Zhang Yueqin, without waiting for a response from the other end of the phone, just hung up. She then red at Hao Jian, gritting her teeth: "My husband will be here any minute, you just wait for your downfall! And your little brat, I''ll make sure she can''t stay in this school or any school in Hua City!" "Smack!" As soon as the words left her mouth, Zhang Yueqin''s cheek received another p. "You." Zhang Yueqin was so infuriated she actually started crying from frustration. "Before your husband gets here, you better keep your mouth clean! Even though I don''t like hitting women, that doesn''t mean I won''t!" Hao Jian said fiercely. Hao Jian could tell immediately that Zhang Yueqin was not a smart person. As the saying goes, ''three times is too many,'' yet she insisted on insulting him repeatedly and got pped each time. Hadn''t she learned to behave after getting treated like that? How could she not be asking for it? Zhang Yueqin''s face flushed red and then pale, but she stayed silent, bitterly thinking: Son of a bitch, swagger all you want. Once my husband gets here, I''ll make you regret being born! About half an hourter, a middle-aged man in his forties appeared in the ssroom with two imposing bodyguards. This middle-aged man had fair skin, wore a well-fitting ck suit, had a slick back hairdo, and spotlessly polished leather shoes. With a pot belly, he was dressed in typical bureaucratic fashion. "Husband!" As soon as Zhang Yueqin saw her husband, Wang Tianwen arrive, she was so emotional she nearly cried. "What exactly happened?" Wang Tianwen asked sharply, thinking: What has this crazy woman stirred up now? He was supposed to attend a very important meeting, but her inexplicable call had forced him to cancel it and rush over. "It''s him! He just hit me! Husband, have someone arrest him, break his limbs, then lock him up! Lock him up for five years, no, ten years!" Zhang Yueqin shrieked maliciously. Wang Tianwen frowned slightly. This damned fool, such things shouldn''t be said out loud, especially if reporters caught wind of it¡ªhe would be doomed. Fortunately, aside from Hao Jian and the others, there was no one else around, otherwise he really couldn''t resist pping Zhang Yueqin a few times. Wang Tianwen nced at Hao Jian and saw him calmly looking back, his attitude somewhat defiant. Seeing this, Wang Tianwen instantly showed displeasure: "Why did you hit my wife?" "Because she was going to hit my daughter." Hao Jian replied indifferently. Wang Tianwen''s bureaucratic airs might frighten others, but they surely didn''t intimidate him. "It was that little bast**d who hit Xiaotao first, then I reacted!" Zhang Yueqin quickly said. "You''re lying; he tried to kiss me, and I pushed him away. I didn''t hit him!" Tongtong cried out, feeling utterly wronged; it wasn''t her fault at all. "Teacher Zhao, tell us what happened." Wang Tianwen then turned to Teacher Zhao. Teacher Zhao naturally sided with Zhang Yueqin now that Wang Tianwen was present, immediately feeling confident: "Director Wang, Mrs. Zhang is right; it was Ma Zitong who pushed Xiaotao first. I didn''t see Xiaotao kiss her. And Ma Zitong''s father, he''s nothing but a hooligan, not only did he hit Mrs. Zhang, but he even hit me, a teacher!" "You''re lying! You clearly saw it! My dad isn''t a hooligan!" Tongtong cried out, tears streaming down her face. "When adults are talking, should a child butt in, have you no manners?" Wang Tianwen immediately scolded loudly. Tongtong, intimidated by Wang Tianwen''s fierce demeanor, quickly took shelter behind her mother, her sobs continuing unabated. And Hao Jian narrowed his eyes, staring at Wang Tianwen as he spoke: "Manners? You talk about manners? You sire a thug for a son, marry a shrew for a wife, and you, a head of the education department, talk about manners?" Chapter 104 Lets Play a Game! "How audacious! You... you actually dare to say my son is a hoodlum! My wife is a shrew! Good! Very good!" Wang Tianwen''s face underwent a drastic change, his eyes ring at Hao Jian with fury. This kid has some nerve to dare to speak to him in such a manner, as if it were no different from pping him in the face. "A kid not even ten years old dares to do something as rogueish as forcefully kissing a girl, and your wife spouts ''bastard'' as soon as she opens her mouth!" Hao Jian snorted with disdain, his eyes fixed intently on Wang Tianwen: "Is this what you call upbringing? It seems your whole family is really a bunch of well-bred ''things''!" "No matter what, if you hit someone, you have to pay the price." Wang Tianwen''s expression was very ugly too, as Hao Jian had put it, he naturally knew what kind of person his wife was. Causing trouble outside wasn''t new to her; he naturally wouldn''t ask those parents, as doing so would be equivalent to humiliating himself. All he wanted now was to teach Hao Jian a lesson, this arrogant kid. He didn''t care in the slightest who was right or wrong. "So you mean, even if you know your wife is in the wrong, you still want to me us?" Hao Jian asked, frowning. "And what if I do?" Wang Tianwen scoffed. In the past, he wouldn''t have dared to speak in such a manner. But today was different. Hao Jian had shown enough arrogance in front of him, and in such a situation, he was close to losing his reason, wishing only to trample Hao Jian thoroughly. "Kid, in this world, it''s not all about being able to fight; there are some people you just can''t afford to provoke," Wang Tianwen said with a sly and unsmiling face. He had decided that if Hao Jian was daring enough to be so bold, he would send him to the police stationter and make sure someone "educates" him properly. Hao Jian nodded seriously: "I quite agree with your point, but it certainly doesn''t include you." Wang Tianwen''s expression froze, the anger in his eyes intensifying. Hao Jian had not only hit his wife but repeatedly provoked him, and his patience was at its limit. "Do you know who I am?" Wang Tianwen asked with a darkened face, now curious whether Hao Jian really knew his true identity to speak to him this way. "Of course, I know. The head of the education bureau, right? So what, you want to throw your weight around in front of me?" Hao Jian retorted with a cold snort. "You know I''m an official and still dare to speak to me like this?" Wang Tianwen''sugh became colder, realizing this kid knew his status and was deliberately courting death. A lowly "loser," really thinking he couldn''t handle him? Originally, Wang Tianwen didn''t want to spoil his image by quarreling with an ordinary person. If Hao Jian had been willing to apologize sincerely and then p his wife a few times in return, maybe he would have let the matter slide. But unfortunately for him, the kid was too arrogant and even dared to challenge him. If he didn''t teach him a lesson, he wouldn''t be Wang Tianwen! "In the film V for Vendetta, there''s a ssic line where V says, ''People should not be afraid of their governments; governments should be afraid of their people. If a government does not serve the people but dominates them, it is not a government, but a dynasty,''" Hao Jian said with a smile, "The people gave you that official''s cap, and if you don''t treasure it, the people will take it off for you." "Just you?" Wang Tianwen almostughed in anger, a "loser" thinking he could take his official''s cap, which was ridiculous. "Yes, just me," Hao Jian stated confidently. From the moment he saw Wang Tianwen, he knew that such an official should be removed from office.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Beat this kid up, then send him to the police station." Wang Tianwen lost the interest to talk to Hao Jian and wanted Hao Jian to realize just how cruel reality was, and that ordinary citizens could never fight against an official! Upon hearing this, the two bodyguards behind Wang Tianwen started walking towards Hao Jian. "Break his arms and legs, make him a cripple!" Zhang Yueqin excitedly added, maliciously wanting to ruin Hao Jian. "Don''t hit my dad!" The little girl heard they were going to harm Hao Jian, and she wasn''t happy about it, rushing in front of Hao Jian and spread out her arms wide like a chick protecting its mother hen. Her cheeks were puffed up, and the corners of her eyes were glittering with tears, but her eyes were stubborn, refusing to back down even half a step. At this, the two bodyguards found themselves in a difficult position, turning back to look at Wang Tianwen, seemingly seeking his opinion. "Don''t mind her. If she dares to obstruct, hit her as well!" Wang Tianwen snorted angrily, apparently beside himself with fury. As head of the education bureau, he should have been a friend to children, but at this moment, he had be an assassin of children. The two bodyguards looked at each other, helpless resignation clear in their eyes. They didn''t want to bully a child, but they had no choice, as Wang Tianwen was their boss. If they disobeyed, they faced the risk of getting fired. At these words, Hao Jian''s eyes sharpened, his pupils contracting into dangerous pinpoints. This time, he was truly enraged. "Tongtong,e back," Hao Jian said, grabbing Tongtong''s shoulder. But Tongtong shook her head fiercely: "They want to hurt Dad, Tongtong won''t allow it." "Be good, Tongtong, these two trash can''t hurt Dad. I''ll show you a game in a minute," Hao Jian said with a smile boding ill intent. Hearing Hao Jian call them trash, the two bodyguards also looked furious. "What game?" Tongtong turned around, looking puzzledly at Hao Jian. "It''s called Invincible Wind Fire Wheel, do you want to see it?" "Yeah! Yeah! Daddy, start the show!" Tongtong looked up with innocent excitement. Hao Jian smiled faintly, turning back to face the two bodyguards, "My daughter wants to see the Invincible Wind Fire Wheel, so I''ll have to trouble you two!" Invincible Wind Fire Wheel? Is this guy an idiot? Even now, he still dares to be so arrogant! At this moment, not just the two bodyguards, but everyone around including Wang Tianwen''s family and Teacher Zhao were all sporting mocking looks! This attention-seeking fool is soon going to be beaten into an idiot! "You''re courting death, kid!" Continue reading on empire Both bodyguards let out a synchronized roar, coordinated in their attacks, kicking towards Hao Jian''s face from the left and right. Two legs, one left and one right, sweeping toward Hao Jian''s left and right cheeks. "Bang!" Hao Jian effortlessly raised his hands, blocking the two men''s assault. The two bodyguards disyed expressions of disbelief, feeling as if they kicked solid steel the moment they connected, their legs beginning to throb slightly with pain. Chapter 105 Great Validation of the Face-Slapping Power Transmission Effect! "Weak! Too weak!" Hao Jian chuckled lightly, then with a backhanded grip, he grabbed their legs. Before the two bodyguards could react, he made his move! Hao Jian stomped his foot and his body began to spin, dragging the two bodyguards into a spin as well. "Invincible Wind Fire Wheel!" He held onto the legs of the two bodyguards, spinning like a giant windmill, filling the entire ssroom with the terrified screams of the bodyguards while everyone present was stunned. No one could have imagined that Hao Jian, a slender and delicate-looking young man, could single-handedly lift two burly bodyguards off the ground. "Tongtong, did you see that? This is called Invincible Wind Fire Wheel!" Hao Jian roared withughter. "Daddy is so cool, Tongtong wants to see more! Spin faster!" Tongtong jumped up and down pping her hands, absolutely thrilled. Just moments ago she was crying, but now she wasughing because of Hao Jian. "Alright, then faster it is!" Hao Jianughed loudly and spun even more quickly, like a gust of wind. Then, everybody watched as the two bodyguards frothed at the mouth and rolled their eyes back,pletely done for. Ruo Lan gave a resigned smile, thinking about what a troublemaker he was. Among the watchers, Wang Tianwen and his group were the most shocked! Initially, they thought the two strong men would easily take down Hao Jian, but they could never have imagined that within mere seconds, Hao Jian would overpower them! Now, this jerk was using them to impress his daughter, their plight was miserably pathetic. Is this guy even human? "Swish! Swish!" Just then, Hao Jian suddenly let go, and the two bodyguards flew out,nding in a nearby pile of trash with a couple of heavy thuds. The two men lifted their heads trying to stand up, but instead, their eyes rolled back and they passed out. Gurgle! Seeing this scene, Wang Tianwen, Zhang Yueqin, and Teacher Zhao all swallowed their saliva fiercely! Damn, can you even y like this? The three of them felt their hearts pounding wildly, shocked that someone could toss the formidable bodyguards around like trash! "Honey, what should we do?" Zhang Yueqin''s face went pale,pletely at a loss for ideas. If even Wang Tianwen''s bodyguards couldn''t handle Hao Jian, they stood even less of a chance. At this moment, she had lost all her earlier arrogance. She was hunching her neck, her face filled with fear. To outsiders, she might appear pitiful, but in Hao Jian''s eyes, she got what she deserved. "Don''t... don''t worry! I had already called Old Lin at the police station before I came! They''ll be here soon!" Experience tales with empire Wang Tianwen''s face alternated between pale and flushed, clearly frightened by Hao Jian''s actions. Zhang Yueqin felt relieved upon hearing this. With her husband''s deep connections, dealing with this rascal would be a piece of cake! And while the couple whispered among themselves, Hao Jian approached with a gentle smile: "Before the people you called arrive, would you mind if I conduct a little science experiment with you?" "What... what kind of science experiment?" Wang Tianwen swallowed hard, sweat beading on his forehead as he fearfully looked at Hao Jian. Hao Jian, his face still beaming, said: "Testing the effect of face-pping power transmission!!" At this moment, Wang Tianwen''s face turnedpletely dark. Damn, just the name sounds like a scam! "If you don''t refuse, I''ll take it as your agreement." Hao Jian''s lips slightly lifted, and with those words, a pnded fiercely on Wang Tianwen''s face! ¡­ When Captain Ma Zifeng arrived at the school with a group of police officers, they immediately witnessed a scene they would never forget! A youth was seen fiercely pping Mr. Wang''s face, and then as if the force of the p transferred, Mr. Wang pped Mrs. Zhang Yueqin in the face! Afterward, the pping force continued, and Zhang Yueqin pped a male teacher across the face! Mr. Wang, Mrs. Wang, and the male teacher all had their faces swollen red, almost resembling pig heads, tears brimming in their eyes, like oppressed daughters-inw! Seeing this, Captain Ma Zifeng and the group of police officers all twitched their mouths! Damn! They really know how to y it up! "Who called the police?" Although extremely shocked, Captain Ma Zifeng still shouted loudly. And seeing the group of police officers rushing over, the three Wang Tianwens almost cried, more relieved than seeing their own mothers! "This... here, here! Comrade police, hurry up!" Teacher Zhaopletely broke into tears, immediately shouting urgently as if he saw a lifeline, his face already swollen like a pig''s head, now speaking with a whistling sound in his mouth! And at that moment, Wang Tianwen''s bruised face showed a thick sneer, loudly shouting at the police, "Quick! Captain Ma, arrest this man! Damn it, daring to hit me? I must make him regret it!!!" Wang Tianwen and Zhang Yueqin''s faces showed thick venomous sneers, as if in their eyes, with the arrival of the police, Hao Jian waspletely done for! At this time, six or seven police officers had already run up close, with Captain Ma Zifeng leading. When he saw Hao Jian, he instantly froze. Hao Jian also showed a hint of surprise in his eyes, but it was quickly covered by indifference. "Captain Ma Zifeng, arrest that bastard!" Wang Tianwen immediately pointed at Hao Jian and yelled loudly. Ma Zifeng hesitated for about three to four seconds, then quickly walked toward Hao Jian. As he stood in front of Hao Jian, just when Wang Tianwen and others thought Captain Ma Zifeng was about to arrest Hao Jian, they saw Captain Ma Zifeng bend down ny degrees and bow to Hao Jian:n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Sir." Thispletely stunned Wang Tianwen, Zhang Yueqin was dumbstruck, and Teacher Zhao was utterly shocked! Sir? What the hell is going on? From Captain Ma Zifeng''s attitude toward Hao Jian, it wasn''t hard to guess that Hao Jian must have had a significant background, probably more prestigious than Wang Tianwen, otherwise Captain Ma Zifeng wouldn''t have directly ignored Wang Tianwen to approach Hao Jian. At this point, Wang Tianwen had a bad premonition because since the beginning, Hao Jian had maintained a confident demeanor! Initially, Wang Tianwen thought Hao Jian was just a reckless brute, but now, it seemed the situation wasn''t as simple as he had imagined. Wang Tianwen really wanted to grab Zhang Yueqin by the cor and yell at her, "Look, is this the useless ''fuzzball'' you spoke of?" "Didn''t expect to meet so soon," Hao Jian said expressionlessly. "Yeah," Captain Ma Zifeng also had a bitter smile on his face. From Lin Nantian''s words, he generally knew Hao Jian''s identity; this was a man even Lin Nantian couldn''t afford to offend. If Hao Jian had really wanted to kill him, he would have genuinely died in vain, with no one daring to question it. But Hao Jian didn''t kill him, though he could have, and that was something Ma Renyuan was deeply grateful for. Thinking back to how he had foolishly antagonized Hao Jian, Captain Ma Zifeng felt endlessly embarrassed. Chapter 106 Someone You Cant Afford to Offend! "Ma Zifeng, have you lost your mind? My husband told you to arrest him! Why are you bowing to him?" Zhang Yueqin called out dissatisfied, still unaware that something was amiss, as domineering as ever. Turning his head displeased, Ma Zifeng nced at Zhang Yueqin and Wang Tianwen, a yful sneer forming at the corner of his mouth, "I won''t be arresting Mr. Hao Jian." "What? Are you joking? Ma Zifeng, don''t forget we''re very close with Director Lin. If you don''t listen to us, watch out¡ªwe''ll tell Director Lin and make sure you regret it!" Zhang Yueqin angrily threatened, astonished that an underling would dare to disobey his master¡ªit was like the world had turned upside down. "If Director Lin knows that you want to arrest Mr. Hao, he would definitely not agree to your request." Ma Zifeng sneered, thinking to himself that these fools had yet to realize the kind of entity they had provoked. However, by this time, Wang Tianwen had already begun to sense that something was wrong and tentatively asked, "You haven''t even asked what happened, so how can you be so sure that Director Lin won''t agree to our request?" "No matter what happened, Director Lin won''t help you," Ma Zifeng said indifferently. "Why?" "Because Mr. Hao is someone not even Director Lin dares to provoke," Ma Zifeng answered. Upon hearing this, both Wang Tianwen and Zhang Yueqin gasped in shock. Someone not even Lin Nantian could afford to provoke? Was this kid that powerful? They were doomed! Wang Tianwen''s heart skipped a beat. If not even Lin Nantian could provoke him, didn''t it mean that he was also out of his depth? "Keep calling people. Call everyone you can. I''ve got all the time in the world," Hao Jian said, amused as he watched Wang Tianwen. Wang Tianwen fell silent. Where did he have anyone else to call upon? Lin Nantian was his final resort, but now that even Lin Nantian dared not touch Hao Jian, who else would? "Who¡­ exactly are you?" Wang Tianwen asked, his face an ashen color as he stared at Hao Jian, wanting to know who this man was, why even Lin Nantian, the topw enforcement officer in Hua City, didn''t dare act against him. "Just an ordinary citizen capable of removing your official cap," Hao Jian said with a smile. "Is there¡­ any chance for reconciliation between us?" Wang Tianwen was already showing signs of backing down. He could tell that Hao Jian wasn''t joking; he truly had the means to determine his fate. "If I pped you and then apologized, would you ept that?" Hao Jian didn''t directly answer Wang Tianwen''s question but instead responded in this manner. Hearing this, Wang Tianwen''s expression was as rich as it could be. It seemed like it had been Hao Jian bullying him from the moment he appeared, hadn''t it? Explore more at empire "I can offer you a lot of money," Wang Tianwen gritted his teeth, hoping that money could sway Hao Jian. "Oh? How much can you give?" Hao Jian asked with interest. Seeing a glimmer of hope, Wang Tianwen hurriedly said, "Five million, no, eight million!" Eight million was all the money he had embezzled over the past two years. He originally intended to keep three million for himself, but after careful consideration, he decided to throw it all in. Money lost could be earned back, but if he lost his official position, he would lose everything. At this moment, Wang Tianwen could have killed Zhang Yueqin. If not for her, why would he have ended up in such a plight? Why would he have offended such a fearsome figure? Meanwhile, Zhang Yueqin was stunned, staring nkly at Hao Jian, her mindpletely nk. Calling themselves a poor loser when in reality they''re someone even their own husband dares not provoke! This... this is just too messed up! Hao Jian didn''t speak but turned to Ma Zifeng beside him and asked, "Is it reasonable for an official from the Ministry of Education to have so much money?" Ma Zifeng immediately understood Hao Jian''s implication and answered, "That''s definitely unreasonable." "Then you''d better have a good talk with your director when you get back, and make sure this matter is thoroughly investigated," Hao Jian said leisurely, his underlying meaning clear¡ªhe was preparing to make a move on Wang Tianwen! Ma Zifeng also knew that Hao Jian wouldn''t let Wang Tianwen off the hook and replied with a wry smile, "Okay, when I get back, I''ll definitely talk to Director Lin." "Are you sure you want to do this? My uncle is a department-level official, and he won''t let you off if you dare to touch me!" Wang Tianwen''s expression suddenly turned to panic, showing signs of desperation. "Department-level official? Even provincial-level officials won''t be enough to deal with me," Hao Jian said with a thick smirk. Wang Tianwen waspletely shocked; he had guessed Hao Jian had a significant background, but this was beyond significant¡ªit was astonishing! If even provincial-level officials couldn''t touch him, did that mean there was a simrly powerful figure standing behind Hao Jian? "Alright, take him back," Hao Jian ordered, pointing at Wang Tianwen. "But he''s the Minister of Education, and logically, without an arrest warrant, I don''t have the authority to arrest him," Ma Renyuan hesitated, not having the proper jurisdiction. "Soon he won''t be, take him back to the police station, and have your director follow my instructions. If anything happens, I''ll take the me!" Hao Jian said with a sinister smile, clearly resolved to bring Wang Tianwen down. With those words from Hao Jian, Ma Zifeng waspletely at ease and signalled his underlings with a nce; they all walked towards Wang Tianwen. "Don''t arrest my husband, let him go!"N?v(el)B\\jnn Zhang Yueqin turned pale with fear at the sight, rushing over to scuffle with the police, refusing to let them take Wang Tianwen away. "Step aside! Otherwise, I''ll arrest you for obstructing official business!" Ma Zifeng shouted, fed up with the crazy woman''s antics and itching toy hands on her. "I won''t! If you''ve got the guts, then arrest me too!" Zhang Yueqin looked ready to fight them to the death. Although Ma Zifeng wanted to do something, it was actually Wang Tianwen who acted first; he kicked Zhang Yueqin to the ground and red at her furiously: "Get lost, you damn fat pig! If it wasn''t for you, would I have ended up like this today? I told you not to make trouble everywhere, but you dared to mess with Poria Cocos? The thing I regret most in my life is marrying you, you pig!" Wang Tianwen was genuinely furious. Ever since he became a leader, Zhang Yueqin had been causing trouble everywhere, relying on her status as a leader''s wife. Wang Tianwen also had to clean up her mess more than once and now he had hit rock bottom with nowhere to even cry. Wang Tianwen was filled with regret, regretting marrying such a woman. ... Inside the police station! "Lin Nantian, after all these years of friendship, you''re actually arresting me?" Wang Tianwen shouted loudly, extremely dissatisfied. Lin Nantian also gave a bitter smile, "It''s not that I want to arrest you, but ''he'' wants to arrest you, I really have no choice." Chapter 107 Artistic Friends! Lin Nantian and Wang Tianwen had been friends for many years, but there was no way Lin would offend Hao Jian for Wang''s sake because crossing Hao Jian would be tantamount to joking with one''s life and fortune. "Who exactly is he?" Wang Tianwen asked in a deep voice. He knew he was doomed, but before his downfall, he at least wanted to know who his adversary really was. "I don''t know either," Lin Nantian shook his head and smiled bitterly, "With my status, I''m not qualified to know his identity. Old Wang, you''ve really crossed the wrong person this time." "..." . Afterward, Wang Tianwen was locked up for suspected corruption, and Zhang Yueqin was also expelled from the Wang Family because of this incident. And Teacher Zhao, because of this matter, became infamously notorious throughout themunity. After being fired by the school authorities, no other school dared to hire him, and he had no choice but to shamefully slink back to his hometown. A week went by, and suddenly one morning, Hao Jian received a phone call from Che Xiaoxiao. "Uncle, it''s my birthday tonight. I''m throwing a party at the bar; are youing?" Che Xiaoxiao asked. "No." Hao Jian rejected her without a second thought. How old was he, to be mixing with a young girl like Xiaoxiao? He didn''t want to end up with people suspecting him of having a predilection for children. Moreover, the party guests would surely all be around Xiaoxiao''s age. He had nothing inmon with those youngsters. Hao Jian didn''t want to go there just to sit around foolishly. "Come on; it''ll be fun," Xiaoxiao pleaded when she heard Hao Jian wouldn''te, immediately resorting to a persistent, nagging persuasion. "No, I want to sleep at home. If there''s nothing else, I''m going to hang up," Hao Jian said, growing impatient. "Wait, uncle, I have a lot of beautiful women here. Do you want me to introduce you to some?" Seeing Hao Jian''s continued refusal, Xiaoxiao resorted to seduction. But who would have known that Hao Jian remained unmoved, uttering indifferently, "Bye-bye." "I''m a child without a father!" Xiaoxiao suddenly yelled out. "Hm?" Hao Jian was about to hang up, but hesitated when he heard this. He was perplexed as to why Xiaoxiao would suddenly say that to him. A somewhat dejected voice came from the other end: "My dad died early, and my mom is always so busy with work that she never has time to spend with me. Although today is my birthday, I think she probably forgot about it too. Honestly, I don''t even want to celebrate it because it''s always my friends who insist on celebrating for me, and I''ve grown tired of that feeling." "You don''t expect to find your father''s shadow in me, do you?" Hao Jian asked with a grimace. "Just this once, okay? My dad never celebrated a birthday with me. Even if it''s pretend, I want to experience what it feels like," Xiaoxiao spoke in a disheartened tone. "..." Hao Jian. "If you don''t want to, it''s fine, I''ll tell them to cancel the party," Xiaoxiao said with a wry smile, not wanting to trouble Hao Jian anymore. "Time, ce?" Hao Jian finally sighed. "You agreed?" Xiaoxiao asked, full of surprise. Hao Jian gave a bitter smile, "After what you''ve said, how could I refuse?" At eight o''clock in the evening, Hao Jian appeared punctually at the entrance of a bar called "Bonfire." From a distance, he spotted Che Xiaoxiao standing not far away, d in a thin backless dress, shivering in the night breeze, her little face also red and flushed from the cold. Yet even so, Che Xiaoxiao''s mouth still carried a hint of a smile, her flushed little face full of excitement. Hao Jian shook his head helplessly and walked over to her, "Why didn''t you wait for me inside?" "I was afraid you wouldn''t find your way here," Che Xiaoxiaoughed carefree. "You," Hao Jian didn''t even know what to say to her, so he took off his own jacket and draped it over Che Xiaoxiao. "Thank you." Che Xiaoxiao''s face turned a bit redder, she had never been treated with such consideration by a boy before. "Let''s go in," Hao Jian ruffled Che Xiaoxiao''s hair and walked into the bar with her. The bar wasn''t veryrge, just over a hundred square meters, and when full it probably amodated around a hundred people. At the moment, the bar was almost empty, with only seven or eight people sitting there drinking and chatting, one of them an old man. Seeing the confusion on Hao Jian''s face, Che Xiaoxiao exined, "This is my friend''s bar, they closed for business today to celebrate my birthday." Hao Jian nodded in understanding. "Xiaoxiao, your friends have arrived?" a fashionable girl turned around, also scantily dressed, trying to be provocative with every gesture. As soon as she spoke up, she immediately attracted the attention of the others, all of whom started staring at Hao Jian. The group was all dressed in avant-garde, or rather, artistic styles that made it clear at first nce that they were involved in the arts, which made Hao Jian feel they were being pretentious¡ªas if they were afraid others wouldn''t realize they were into art. One of the men, seeing Che Xiaoxiao wrapped in a man''s jacket, immediately took on a colder expression and said with derision, "Xiaoxiao, your friend here seems a bit old, doesn''t he? This getup of his, I often see on my grandfather. Bringing him to hang out with us young folks, won''t he feel out of ce?" These words were excessively offensive, as Hao Jian was clearly about the same age as them, but thement implied he was older and dressed like an old man, no doubt a jab at him being old-fashioned. Hao Jian was actually dressed quite normally today, in a tidy shirt paired with jeans; this attire would be considered average, but it certainly seemed out of cepared to the trendy clothes of the others.N?v(el)B\\jnn Hao Jian also scrutinized the man, who was wearing a cape, had messy long hair, and stubble around his mouth, reminiscent of those artists in the movies who are devoted to their art. Upon hearing these words, Che Xiaoxiao''s friends allughed quietly. "Qian Shaohang, why is your mouth so nasty? Does my friend need your judgment?" Che Xiaoxiao said angrily. Hao Jian was someone she had gone to great lengths to invite, yet Qian Shaohang insulted him for no reason¡ªhow could Che Xiaoxiao not be annoyed. For her, all the friends here were less important than Hao Jian. Although they appeared to treat her well on the surface, each of them looked at her with a degree of derision. Unlike Hao Jian, who looked at her with such pure eyes, treating herpletely like a little sister. Back on Qiuyun Mountain, the scene of Hao Jian standing up for her remained unforgettable to this day, and perhaps even Che Xiaoxiao herself hadn''t realized that she hade to see Hao Jian as someone she admired. Qian Shaohang curled his lips, "I''m speaking the truth. We''re talking about things rted to art¡ªdoes he even understand that?" Chapter 108 I Know a Little Bit Too! "You." Che Xiaoxiao was so angry she was lost for words.N?v(el)B\\jnn Hao Jian pulled Che Xiaoxiao aside and said with a smile, "What is there to be angry about? Your friend was just joking with me. Moreover, he wasn''t wrong, I was dressed rather old-fashioned." Seeing that Hao Jian was not only not angry but also showed enough magnanimity, it immediately impressed Che Xiaoxiao''s friends. Qian Shaohang, however, did not expect this reaction and snorted in dissatisfaction. He had thought that Hao Jian would definitely get angry and storm off, which would have yed right into his hands. Seeing this, a warm feeling also emerged in Che Xiaoxiao''s heart. She knew Hao Jian had done so for her, to avoid putting her in a difficult position between him and her friends. "However, speaking of art, I do know a bit about it," Hao Jian said. "You know about art? That doesn''t seem likely," Qian Shaohang scoffed, and looking at his old-fashioned outfit, thought to himself, ''Like a nerd with no sense of art, and he dares to im he understands art?'' Hao Jian nodded, "Judging by your outfit, you must be a painter, right? It just so happens I can paint too." "You can?" Qian Shaohang could not help butugh in disbelief, daring to say he could paint in front of him? "You are hardlyparable to Qian Shaohang, he is a somewhat renowned painter in this city. One of his paintings was auctioned for a hundred thousand yuan," the fashionable woman said with augh, her eyes filled with admiration as she looked at Qian Shaohang. Upon hearing this, Qian Shaohang raised his proud head, looking disdainfully at Hao Jian. Heard that? My painting sold for a hundred thousand, and you dare talk about painting in front of me? It''s simply showing off in the presence of an expert. "This time in Che Xiaoxiao''s birthday, Qian Shaohang, you surely can''t be stingy," teased the bar owner at this moment. "Of course, I''ve already prepared everything." Qian Shaohang huffed, then handed a painting tube to Che Xiaoxiao, and said affectionately, "Just a small token, I hope you can ept it. Although it''s only worth fifty thousand yuan, I spent a long time on it." Clearly, Qian Shaohang was interested in Che Xiaoxiao, otherwise, he wouldn''t have given such an expensive gift. He tried to sound like the painting was not worth mentioning, but his face was full of pride. "This..." Che Xiaoxiao seemed hesitant about epting such an expensive gift, even ncing at Hao Jian subconsciously. Seeing this, Qian Shaohang immediately frowned, feeling somewhat displeased. "Take it, after all, it''s someone''s sincere gesture," Hao Jian said with a smile. "Then thank you very much," Che Xiaoxiao nodded, then thanked Qian Shaohang. If it hadn''t been for Che Xiaoxiao''s nce just now, Qian Shaohang might have been pleased, but now he managed only a strained smile, barely squeezing it out. "Che Xiaoxiao, since you''ve epted such a precious gift, why not show it to us? Let''s also have Elder Qiu give his opinion," said the fashionable woman with a somewhat sour tone. Che Xiaoxiao nodded, then pulled open the painting tube and unrolled the canvas, revealing a painting to everyone present. The painting depicted a sea of flowers under a sunset, rendered with appropriate watercolors and strokes, integrating the sea of flowers with the sunset vividly. The primary colors were particrly vibrant, leaving everyone speechless. "How beautiful!" The fashionable woman eximed, and although she was no connoisseur of painting, she could tell that the painting was outstanding, giving a refreshing feeling. At that moment, an elderly man in his fifties with sses approached and observed the painting seriously. He was Elder Qiu, an art appraiser with a certain reputation in Hua City''s industry. He could tell the quality of any artwork at a nce. After looking, Elder Qiu also showed a smile, "Not bad, not bad, this painting is indeed worth fifty thousand." Upon hearing this, Qian Shaohang''s arrogance intensified, and he provocatively looked at Hao Jian. However, at that moment, Qian Shaohang saw Hao Jian shake his head. Although he didn''t say anything, his face revealed his disappointment with the painting. Seeing this, Qian Shaohang was immediately filled with rage and asked, "What? Mr. Hao Jian seems not too satisfied with my painting?" Hao Jian, feeling embarrassed, scratched his head. Not expecting that his unintentional action had been noticed by Qian Shaohang, he had no choice but to speak: "Not satisfied wouldn''t be the right term, it''s just that I feel this painting could be better." He really felt that Qian Shaohang''s painting was stillcking, although it could be considered not bad, it was hard to qualify as truly elegant. Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Hao Jian as if he were a freak. Even Elder Qiu hadn''t said anything, and here was ayman passing judgment? Wasn''t he taking himself too seriously? Elder Qiu also snorted coldly, ring at Hao Jian with dissatisfaction. By saying this, wasn''t he implying that there was a problem with his own judgment? "Oh? Is that so? It seems Mr. Hao Jian really understands paintings. Since that''s the case, why don''t you evaluate this painting for me, tell me exactly what''s not good about it," Qian Shaohang said with a coldugh. Hao Jian opened his mouth, about to speak, when that fashionable woman interrupted him, saying sarcastically: "You better not judge casually, if it''s not ignorance masquerading as knowledge, then it''s just humiliation." Hao Jian smiled and then shut his mouth, choosing not to speak anymore. "If the evaluation isn''t good, I won''t me you. You just punish yourself with three drinks and leave, but if you don''t evaluate, that means you really are feigning knowledge. In that case, you should still leave." Qian Shaohang added, determined to make Hao Jian critique his painting today. If he couldn''t do it, then he should just get out! "Qian Shaohang, Zhang Qiuya, don''t go too far!" Che Xiaoxiao was agitated, Hao Jian was invited by her, how could they drive him away? "Che Xiaoxiao, you also see, it''s not us trying to make things difficult for your friend, but he''s deliberately picking faults!" Qian Shaohang said dissatisfied, yet his stance was still firm. "Fine, since you want him to leave, I will leave too!" Che Xiaoxiao, flustered, immediately grabbed her handbag and was about to leave. This stunned everyone. They had never thought Che Xiaoxiao would leave her friends for a man. What was her rtionship with this man? "Hey, today''s your birthday, you should be happy. Don''t be like this," Hao Jian suddenly grabbed Che Xiaoxiao''s arm. "But." Che Xiaoxiao hesitated. She didn''t know whether Hao Jian understood paintings. If he didn''t, wouldn''t that be humiliating? "It''s okay, it''s just assessing a painting. It''s not toote to leave after I''ve spoken," Hao Jian said with a smile, then looked at Qian Shaohang: "Alright, I''ll evaluate your painting." Since someone was offering their face for a p, why would he refuse? Chapter 109 Painting with Wine? Hao Jian pointed at Qian Shaohang''s painting and said, "This painting of yours has a niceyout, excellent coloring, and thebination of colors is top-notch. One nce, and people can''t help but be deeply captivated by it." Qian Shaohang snorted rudely and a look of disdain appeared on his face. Do I need you to tell me that? Don''t I know it myself? "Handsome guy, we asked you to point out the ws in Qian Shaohang''s painting, not to brown-nose," said the sultry Zhang Qiuya teasingly, staring intently at Hao Jian.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Hao Jian nodded. "Now I am going to talk about its ws. You focus on color but chase perfection too much, making the colors overly pronounced. Could the sea of flowers under the sunset really be this bright and vivid?" Upon hearing this, Qian Shaohang and Elder Qiu were both startled and instinctively took another look at the painting. Elder Qiu looked especially earnest, wondering if he really had misjudged. "Of course, it wouldn''t be that vivid. The light of the sunset should be dim, carrying a sense of age, leaning more toward a shade of orange, but your colors are golden. Rather than a sunset, it would be better to say it''s the zing sun." Hao Jian continued his critique, with just the color aspect already seeming unreasonable. "Hiss." At that moment, upon hearing Hao Jian''s words, Elder Qiu also couldn''t help but gasp, realizing there indeed was a critical issue with Qian Shaohang''s painting. Seeing Elder Qiu''s reaction, Qian Shaohang''s expression started to sour: "But to say my painting is bad just because of this isn''t that nitpicking? I could say that my painting aims to capture a certain mood. Since it''s a mood, it doesn''t need to strictly adhere to realism¡ªyou, an amateur, whether you understand or not?" As Qian Shaohang finished speaking, he threw the question back to Hao Jian, while everyone turned their gaze back to Hao Jian, waiting for his response. "Yes, you could certainly argue it represents a mood. But if it''s a mood, what exactly are you trying to convey? Is it cheerful and charming, or mncholic and somber? If it''s the former, better to depict the zing sun, which could more vividly emphasize the painting''s brightness; if thetter, why not make the colors deeper and more restrained, perhaps also paint a young girl standing in the sea of flowers gazing at the sunset to bring depth and texture to the painting? Your alternating between vividness and mncholy gives it an inconsistent feel, do you understand?" After listening to Hao Jian''s opinions, people looked at Qian Shaohang''s painting and felt it wasn''t that great anymore. Elder Qiu too seemed contemtive for a while, then deeply bowed to Hao Jian: "I have learned a lot." Everyone was astonished; Elder Qiu''s reaction indicated that Hao Jian''s identified issues truly existed. Their gaze towards Hao Jian also changed. "You talk as if you know so much, why don''t you try painting one yourself?" Zhang Qiuya said disdainfully, standing by Qian Shaohang''s side, naturally speaking up for him. At thisment, Elder Qiu frowned and couldn''t help but reprimand: "Does it mean that one cannot critique paintings if they don''t know how to paint? Does that mean I also have no right to critique paintings?" Elder Qiu also couldn''t paint, and Zhang Qiuya''s remark had inadvertently insulted him too. "That''s not what I meant," Zhang Qiuya said, her face flushing with embarrassment as she hurriedly tried to defend herself! She did not dare to offend Elder Qiu; otherwise, the art pieces in her gallery might never sell again. "I don''t care what you meant, I''m telling you what it means. Those who understand art aren''t necessarily artists, just like appreciating a song doesn''t require the ability to sing it," Elder Qiu bluntly said. Then Zhang Qiuya had nothing else to say. "It doesn''t matter. Since today is Che Xiaoxiao''s birthday, I don''t have much to gift to Xiaoxiao. I shall paint a picture for her, and if it''s not good, don''tugh," Hao Jian said with a smile, then asked: "Do you have watercolors here?" "You really like to joke, this is a bar, how could there possibly be watercolors? You said it because you knew they weren''t here, didn''t you?" Zhang Qiuya said sarcastically, not daring to offend Elder Qiu, so she vented all her frustration on Hao Jian. Hao Jian ignored Zhang Qiuya''s mockery and said, "Since there''s no watercolor, we''ll use alcohol. I assume there is some here?" "Painting with alcohol?" Everyone found it quite amusing. "Wait here, I''ll get it for you right away." The bar owner was suddenly interested and quickly ran off, soon returning with a box of colorful liquors and a sheet of white paper. "Brother, pick whatever you like, it''s on the house!" the bar owner said generously, having never seen anyone paint with alcohol before. To feast his eyes on such a sight, a few hundred bucks was nothing. "Thanks a lot, brother," Hao Jian nodded, then picked out four bottles. "That''s enough." "Just four colors? Don''t you need dozens of colors for painting generally?" the bar owner asked, surprised. "It''s enough," Hao Jian said with a smile, then began to paint, ignoring the skeptical looks from the crowd. He took several sses, then poured his chosen bottles into them, immediately creating a range of different colors in each. Everyone was stunned; Hao Jian had somehow developed five distinct colors from just four bottles of liquor. Elder Qiu stroked his beard and nodded, confirming from this alone that Hao Jian must be an expert. "Wow, that''s incredible," a man dressed as a guitarist couldn''t help but exim. "What''s so incredible about that, I can do it too!" Qian Shaohang huffed, displeased. "But he created those colors using alcohol, can you do that?" the guitarist retorted with a curl of his lip. "..." At this moment, Qian Shaohang didn''t know how to respond. If he imed he could, and everyone asked him to demonstrate, he could be in big trouble. After blending the colors, Hao Jian simply dipped his fingers in the alcohol and began to add colors to the in piece of paper, painting with his fingers. They watched Hao Jian working on the paper, but it barely seemed like he was painting, more like he was just scribbling. After a long time, nobody could tell what he was trying to depict. "What a load of rubbish." Zhang Qiuya scoffed disdainfully, thinking that this kid was indeed pretending to know what he was doing¡ªit was just a bunch of messy colors. Hao Jian ignored her, continuing to focus intently on his painting. Within half an hour, his "scribbling" was a sess. "Mr. Hao Jian, why don''t you tell us what this painting is supposed to be? A bunch of stains?" Qian Shaohangughed out loud. Could that even be called a painting? Hao Jian didn''t say a word but simply flipped the painting over. Then everyone fell silent. Chapter 110 Masters Touch! Everyone was stunned. The painting had been upside down, so all they had seen was a jumble of colors, but once Hao Jian flipped it over, apletely different scene appeared. On the white paper, a woman emerged, and naturally, this woman was Che Xiaoxiao! Hao Jian had painted this piece based on the very first scene he had seen of Che Xiaoxiao, who was focused on driving her car with a yful smile flirting at the corners of her mouth. The painting was abstract, yet it looked incredibly lifelike. "Painting upside down, this is truly the work of a master! This painting must be worth more than two hundred thousand!" Elder Qiu eximed. Such fluid lines and clever curves were beyond the capabilities of an ordinary person. What was even more remarkable was that Hao Jian had created this painting without using any watercolor or brush, which escted the level of the artwork several notches. At this moment, the crowd still hadn''t recovered from the shock of the painting, staring at this unbelievable piece. Although most of them didn''t understand art, seeing Hao Jian''s painting made them feel it was considerably better than Qian Shaohang''s. Qian Shaohang''s painting had merely caught their eye, but Hao Jian''s was different; it captivated thempletely, making it impossible to look away. Che Xiaoxiao was also incredibly excited, as she had not expected Hao Jian to paint her. "This painting, I''ll buy it for two hundred thousand!" The bar owner spoke up immediately, knowing even in his ignorance that this was a masterpiece, possibly even appreciating in value in the future. "I''ll offer two hundred fifty thousand," another man chimed in, knowing there was no better time to act. "I... I''ll offer three hundred thousand." Zhang Qiuya also muttered softly, even she couldn''t resist wanting to buy this painting now. At those words, Qian Shaohang immediately red fiercely at Zhang Qiuya, causing her to quickly lower her head, but she didn''t change her offer. She owned a gallery, meaning she was a businesswoman. Since Elder Qiu had mentioned the painting was valuable, naturally, she was inclined to make a bid. Even if it meant offending Qian Shaohang, she had no choice; the painting was too good to pass up. "I bid five hundred thousand!" Elder Qiu also joined in the excitement. With that bid, everyone was stunned as the price had suddenly increased by three hundred thousand. Zhang Qiuya discontentedly said, "Elder Qiu, didn''t you say this painting is worth only two hundred thousand?" "I said it was worth more than two hundred thousand. Who said it''s worth only that much? After all, the artist created this painting without using watercolors or brushes. Just that fact alone could quintuple its value. If an expert artist finds this, they might not hesitate to pay two hundred thousand, or even two million." Elder Qiu huffed, then scanned the crowd, "Don''tpete with me, or I won''t introduce you to good items in the future." With that, Zhang Qiuya and others could only smile bitterly and relinquish their im. "Sorry, Elder Qiu, I''ve already agreed to give this painting to Che Xiaoxiao as a birthday gift, so I won''t be selling it," Hao Jian shook his head apologetically to Elder Qiu. "A birthday gift doesn''t have to be so valuable. Why don''t you paint another one for Che Xiaoxiaoter?" Elder Qiu still wouldn''t give up, encountering a piece he admired so much, how could he let it go? "Yeah, Hao Jian! You don''t have to mind me, this painting is indeed too expensive. I can''t ept it," said Che Xiaoxiao considerately, though her heart actually desired it, not because of its high value, but because it was a gift from Hao Jian. "How could I not? Since I''ve said it''s a birthday gift for you, I must give it to you. After giving it to you, whether you sell it or throw it away, that''s up to you," Hao Jian said, stuffing the painting into Che Xiaoxiao''s arms with a casual air, as if it was just a piece of scrap paper.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Be careful, be careful," Elder Qiu hurriedly said, feeling incredibly frustrated, almost wanting to hit Hao Jian. Such a treasure should be treated with care. "Are you really going to give it to me?" Xiaoxiao''s face lit up with joy, cradling the painting yet unable to let it go. "Of course, when have I ever lied to you?" Hao Jianughed with a hehe. Xiaoxiao didn''t say anything; her smile was exceptionally bright. She tossed Qian Shaohang''s painting onto the table and then carefully rolled up Hao Jian''s painting and put it into a drawing tube. Seeing this, the corners of Qian Shaohang''s mouth twitched uncontrobly. His paintings used to be worth a fortune, but now they were being rejected. At this moment, Qian Shaohang absolutely hated Hao Jian, not only because Hao Jian had stolen his limelight but also because Hao Jian had bewitched his goddess. "Xiaoxiao, can we discuss something?" At this time, Elder Qiu, targeting a shift, approached like a crafty old fox with an ulterior motive. Xiaoxiao knew what he wanted, and she shook her head directly: "Not for sale!" "Eight hundred thousand!" "Not for sale!" "One million!" "Not for sale!" "Then how much would it take for you to sell it?" Elder Qiu was almost crying, staring intently at Xiaoxiao''s drawing tube. "No amount of money could make me sell it!" This was a gift from Hao Jian, and just for that reason alone, she would never sell it. "Elder Qiu, Xiaoxiao is much sharper than you. This painting will definitely appreciate in value. She might n to find a buyer then," sighed the bar owner, filled with all sorts of envy and resentment. "Ah, it seems I must painfully let go." Elder Qiu also disyed a very disheartened expression. "Elder Qiu, there''s no need to be like this. If you want, I''ll give you another painting some other day," Hao Jian said with a smile. Elder Qiu''s eyes suddenly lit up, and he spoke with a tremble: "Are you serious? You better not back out!" "Don''t worry, since I''ve promised to paint for you, I definitely will," Hao Jian assured. "When will you give it to me?" Elder Qiu looked impatient, almost as if he wished Hao Jian could paint it for him right there and then. Hao Jian, caught betweenughter and tears, said, "Well, you have to give me some time, right?" "Alright, alright, here''s my phone number, make sure to contact me when it''s time." Elder Qiu rubbed his hands nervously, knowing that he was being too anxious, and then offered his business card. And after Hao Jian''s maneuver, weren''t Xiaoxiao''s friends no longer underestimating him? Who said he wasn''t an artist? He was a great painter, indeed, just very low-key about it. At this time, Qian Shaohang was literally left out in the cold, too embarrassed to talk to Hao Jian, while others naturally couldn''t bother to pay him any attention. Qian Shaohang sat alone, drowning his sorrows in drink, feeling as if there was a stone blocking his chest, indescribably angry. "Don''t lose heart. I believe you are much better than him," Zhang Qiuya said, standing beside Qian Shaohang, her words belying her true feelings. "Really? If that''s the case, then why did you buy his painting?" Qian Shaohang sneered as he looked at Zhang Qiuya. Chapter 111 Doesnt it look like a dog? Zhang Qiuya was at a loss for words, hanging his head low, "You also know I''m a businessman." "Heh heh." Qian Shaohang let out a coldugh twice, didn''t speak, but his expression grew darker. Seeing Qian Shaohang like this, Zhang Qiuya knew Qian Shaohang didn''t want to talk to him, so he heaved a sigh and walked to the side. But just as Hao Jian and the others were drinking and chatting, more than a dozen burly men walked in through the doorway, all uniformly dressed in ck. Leading them was an especially tall and robust man with a height of one meter ny-five, sporting a long centipede scar on his face, extremely intimidating. The sight of these men made Zhang Qiuya jump, while the bar owner hurriedly went up to greet them. "Brother Huoniu, what brings you here?" the bar owner said fawningly. Brother Huoniu snorted, "I''m here for a drink, what, not wee?" "Wee, wee, but could it be another day? I''m celebrating a friend''s birthday today, how about I treat you another day?" The bar owner''s face was filled with a sycophantic smile, knowing the man before him, Brother Huoniu, was the local tough, and he, the humble bar owner, certainly couldn''t afford to offend him. "Heh, does Brother Huoniu need your invitation?" Brother Huoniu said with a sneer that was anything but amiable. "Brother Huoniu." The bar owner''s face immediately showed a bitter expression. "Quit your damn thering, my brothers want to drink, hurry up and serve us, or I''ll smash up your ce," Brother Huoniu threatened rudely. "But I really have friends over today." The bar owner was in a difficult spot, mixing these thugs with his friends, heaven knows what could happen. "Fuck!" Brother Huoniu pped the bar owner''s face with the back of his hand, rebuking angrily, "Situ Ming, am I giving you too much face? I said my brothers want to drink, try fucking whining one more time." Situ Ming, rubbing his face, sighed and nodded, then turned and walked toward the bar. "Dammit, won''t smarten up without a beating, truly despicable!" Brother Huoniu spat, spitting on the ground with disdain. Situ Ming, with nowhere to vent his rage, had an increasingly dark expression on his face. He approached Hao Jian and his friends and gave them an apologetic look. Hao Jian and the others nodded, showing understanding. After all, everyone''s trying to make a living, and no one''s got it easy. Situ Ming delivered the drinks to Brother Huoniu and his group and was about to leave. "Hold on!" Brother Huoniu suddenly called him back, chuckling sinisterly, "Do I look like the kind of guy who drinks without paying?" Then, he pped a thick stack of cash onto Situ Ming''s face, "Take it! The extra is for you!" The bills rustled noisily all around, while Situ Ming''s face rapidly turned red. He was paralyzed, unable to move for a moment. "What, you don''t want Brother Huoniu''s money?" Brother Huoniuughed heartily. "It''s not that," Situ Ming said somberly. "Then hurry up and pick it up," Brother Huoniu''s brothers coldly sneered at Situ Ming. With no other choice, Situ Ming had to bend down to pick up the bills, swallowing his humiliation. "Oops, my shoce is loose." Brother Huoniu suddenlyughed coldly, stepping on Situ Ming''s head with his foot. Situ Ming didn''t dare move, nearly grinding his teeth to powder. In truth, Brother Huoniu''s shoce wasn''t loose at all, he had undone it himself after stepping on Situ Ming''s head, and then pretended to busily retie it. Meanwhile, his brothers all startedughing loudly, one of them quoting Master Xing, "Look at him, doesn''t he look like a dog?" "Alright, get up." After tying his shoce, Brother Huoniu patted Situ Ming''s shoulder, signaling for him to get up. Situ Ming collected the money, holding back his anger, and turned to leave. "Truly a good dog," Brother Huoniu chuckled with a sneer. Over there, Hao Jian''s brow slightly knitted, also very dissatisfied with Brother Huoyun''s actions. "Are you okay?" Che Xiaoxiao looked at Situ Ming with concern. Situ Ming shook his head with a bitter smile, wiping the bar table, "It''s nothing, I''m used to it." His words were light, yet they felt profoundly sad. "That''s too much, I''ll call someone to deal with them!" Che Xiaoxiao snorted coldly, very angry. Situ Ming hurriedly shook his head, "Don''t, he''s not someone you can afford to mess with. He''s not like those hoodlums and bullies; he really lives by the de, a true man of the underworld." Then, a bitter smile appeared at the corners of Situ Ming''s mouth, "And what good is it even if you beat him? He would juste back to take revenge on meter." Hearing this, Che Xiaoxiao could only swallow her anger. If she beat Brother Huoniu, what would happen if heter sought retribution from Situ Ming? "Let it be, let''s drink," Situ Ming said with a smile, serving drinks to Hao Jian and the others. At this moment, all he hoped was for Brother Huoniu and his men to finish their drinks and leave quickly, to avoid stirring up more trouble. But it just happened that the very thing he feared came to pass, as Brother Huoniu and his buddies drank and chatted, their gaze drifted involuntarily towards Che Xiaoxiao and Zhang Qiuya. Afterward, Brother Huoniu licked his lips, his eyes revealing a hint of lust. "Brother Huoniu, those two chicks aren''t bad, eh," one of his underlings noticed Brother Huoniu''s intentions. "Indeed," Brother Huoniu nodded. "Why not try hitting on them? I believe with our Brother Huoniu''smanding presence, we can definitely handle those two chicks," the others egged him on. "Alright, I, Brother Huoniu, will go meet them," he said with a lewd chuckle, heading towards the two girls. Seeing Brother Huoniu approaching, Hao Jian and the others couldn''t help frowning. But before they could react to what he was about to do, Brother Huoniu had already appeared before Che Xiaoxiao, saying sleazily, "Big sister, let me buy you a drink."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "I don''t have money to buy my own drinks? Do I need yours?" Che Xiaoxiao replied disdainfully, not harboring any good feelings toward this Brother Huoniu. "Oh my, sassy, aren''t we, sister? I like it!" Brother Huoniu chuckled, reaching out to ce his hand on Che Xiaoxiao''s shoulder. Chapter 112 Isnt this too much?! "Qian Shaohang, you have to go and help Xiaoxiao," Zhang Qiuya urged Qian Shaohang as she saw Che Xiaoxiao being entangled by Brother Huoniu, bing anxious herself. Although Zhang Qiuya liked Qian Shaohang and resented Che Xiaoxiao for stealing away the man she liked, Xiaoxiao was ultimately her friend, and she didn''t want to see Xiaoxiao harassed by Brother Huoniu. Qian Shaohang''s body stiffened, and his face turned somewhat ashen. Situ Ming had already said that Brother Huoniu was a man who licked blood from the de''s edge. If he intervened, he would probably get chopped up. Moreover, Brother Huoniu was so burly, his own frail frame stood no chance of stopping him. "She''s already fallen for someone else, so what happens to her is none of my damn business," Qian Shaohang said, feigning calmness, seemingly too afraid to meddle in this business. Zhang Qiuya was shocked on the spot, staring fixedly at Qian Shaohang; she hadn''t expected him to say such a thing. Wasn''t Che Xiaoxiao the girl he liked? How could he be like this? Feeling guilty under Zhang Qiuya''s intense gaze, Qian Shaohang lowered his head and muttered, "Since she already has a boyfriend, her boyfriend should be the one to protect her." Qian Shaohang certainly did not want to risk his life for a woman who had already fallen in love with someone else. Zhang Qiuya shook her head, looking at Qian Shaohang with a cold sneer: "Qian Shaohang, I really misjudged you!" Not just Zhang Qiuya, including Situ Ming, everyone cast contemptuous nces toward Qian Shaohang. With his face pale as iron, Qian Shaohang kept his head down, drinking alcohol, pretending not to see everyone''s looks, and ignored Zhang Qiuya''s words. "Kid, you have a bright future. I''ve got my eye on you," Brother Huoniu pointed at Qian Shaohang andughed heartily. At that moment, Zhang Qiuya turned her gaze to Hao Jian, hoping he would intervene, but instead, she saw Hao Jian, like Qian Shaohang, steadily drinking without as much as a nce at Brother Huoniu. Zhang Qiuya smiled bitterly and lowered her head, thinking that Hao Jian should be somewhat different from Qian Shaohang, only to be disappointed. "Brother Huoniu, could you do me a favor and let my friend go?" Situ Ming chose to step forward at this time. After all, it was his idea to invite Che Xiaoxiao for drinks, so he had to take responsibility. Brother Huoniu''s eyes rounded fiercely, and he pped Situ Ming''s face hard while jeering, "What makes you think you''re worthy of a favor from me?" With his face burning, Situ Ming clenched his jaw as he said: "Brother Huoniu, no matter what, I''ve been attending to you for so long. Sometimes you give money when you''re happy, and don''t when you''re not. I''ve never uttered a word. Even if you won''t do me a favor, you should at least consider how often I''ve yed the host." "Oh, you dare to negotiate with me, huh?" Brother Huoniu, furious yet sneering, grabbed a bottle of wine and smashed it onto Situ Ming. Situ Ming fell to the ground, clutching his head and wailing incessantly, his forehead instantly crimson. "Smash this ce up!" Brother Huoniu roared, and hisckeys immediately stood up, grabbing chairs and randomly smashing up the bar. "Blind trash, you think you can negotiate with me?" Brother Huoniu snorted coldly and kicked Situ Ming hard several times. "Stop! Or else I''ll call the police!" Zhang Qiuya, now frightened into tears, shouted angrily. "Call the police? Do you really think that would do any good? Let me tell you, all the local police, patrol officers, armed police are all well acquainted with me, we refer to each other as brothers," Brother Huoniu said with disdain, and then tossed a cell phone onto the table: "Go on, call the police! I won''t stop you." Zhang Qiuya was suddenly speechless, frozen in ce, knowing that Brother Huoniu wasn''t joking. Which mobster didn''t have an official backing? "You, let my friend go!" Che Xiaoxiao also shouted at Brother Huoniu, her face filled with rage. "Let him go? Sure, as long as youe with me to the little woods," said Brother Huoniu with a lecherous chuckle. He was particrly fond of little Lolitas, especially a pretty and cute one like Che Xiaoxiao. "Dream on, and maybe take a look at yourself in the mirror!" Che Xiaoxiao said with disgust, trying to break free from Brother Huoniu''s grip, but his hand was like a vice, firmly holding onto her. At this moment, Brother Huoniu''s face turned ugly due to Che Xiaoxiao''s words, his smile strained as he said: "Girl, it''s an honor for you that Brother Huoniu is taking a liking to you. As long as you''re with me, you can strut all over East City District. But if you keep disrespecting me, don''t me me for getting rough." Che Xiaoxiao''s hand was tightly caught by Brother Huoniu, pain was evident on her face, but she still defiantly met his gaze, "You can forget about it!" "Alright, alright, it seems you really want to force me to be forceful!" Brother Huoniu''s face turned cold, and he reached out with his other hand towards Che Xiaoxiao, intending to abduct her on the spot. Just then, from out of the blue, a hand reached over and grabbed hold of Brother Huoniu''s hand. "Hmm?" Brother Huoniu''s eyes narrowed, focusing on the owner of the hand. Hao Jian casually held a cigarette at the corner of his mouth, a smile in his eyes, "Brother, isn''t this going too far?" "Who the hell are you?" Brother Huoniu scoffed with a smile on his face, yet a surge of anger couldn''t help but rise in his heart. "I''m her boyfriend. Bullying my girlfriend in front of me, that''s not very nice, is it?" Hao Jian chuckled, unfazed. "Boyfriend? That''s no big deal, we can have a threesome, I don''t mind," Brother Huoniuughed shamelessly, thinking himself witty, though no one else found it amusing. "I''m sorry, but I''d rather not have my ''cabbage'' ravaged by a pig," Hao Jian shook his head, rejecting Brother Huoniu''s suggestion. Upon hearing this, Che Xiaoxiao immediately red at Hao Jian dissatisfied. This jerk,paring her to a cabbage? Seeing Hao Jian dare to call Brother Huoniu a pig made Zhang Qiuya and others gape in shock. Wasn''t this courting death? Didn''t Hao Jian see how many people Brother Huoniu had brought with him? At this moment, Qian Shaohang also disyed a cold smile. Talking to a mafia leader like that, this kid must be insane? Qian Shaohang thought it would serve Hao Jian right if Brother Huoniu wasted him, thereby exacting Qian''s own revenge. "Kid, you don''t seem to get how things work, do you?" Brother Huoniu alsoughed coldly, seeing Hao Jian looking at him with an amused smile, his inner fury rising rapidly. Hao Jian smiled and pointed at Brother Huoniu''s hand, "Take your hand off her." By this time, Brother Huoniu''sckeys had finished their destruction and started to surround Hao Jian. Brother Huoniu red at Hao Jian with a cold smile, "Say that again if you dare?" "Shua shua shua." Brother Huoniu''sckeys all drew out their machetes, the ring des and killing intent creating an especially frightening scene. "How much money do you want to let this go? I''ll pay you!" Zhang Qiuya said, trying to sway Brother Huoniu with money. "Money? Haha." Brother Huoniuughed coldly, then outright pped Zhang Qiuya, "I''m after respect right now, not money! Get it?" Then, Brother Huoniu turned his attention back to Hao Jian, "I asked you to say it again!" Hao Jian sighed, "To tell the truth, I really didn''t want it toe to this, but reality always seems so relentlessly disappointing, doesn''t it?" "Bang!"N?v(el)B\\jnn As his words fell, a beer bottle flew from Hao Jian''s hand, striking Brother Huoniu''s head heavily. Chapter 113 Does It Come with Special Effects? ng! The beer bottle shattered in an instant, shards scattering across the ground! Brother Huoniu''s whole head blossomed like a flower, as pieces of ss plunged into his eyeball¡ªit looked like that eye was done for. "Ah¡­ Fuck! Kill him for me!!!" Brother Huoniu, after all a ruthless man,manded his subordinates to kill Hao Jian instead of howling in pain as he hit the ground. The dozen or so underlings raised their knives high, their ferocious gazes fixed on Hao Jian. Hao Jian, hands in his pockets, met their stares, "So you all want to end up in the hospital, huh?" The dozen underlings all took a step back, actually intimidated by Hao Jian alone. "Chop him up! Who the hell do you roll with?" Brother Huoniu, seeing his men not moving, trembled with rage. Hearing this, a fierce ruthlessness shed across the faces of the underlings, and all of them swung their knives at Hao Jian. Swish, swish, swish! "Hao Jian, watch out!" Zhang Qiuya yelled in fright. On the contrary, Che Xiaoxiao was unusually calm because she had seen Hao Jian''s skills and was full of confidence in him. Hao Jian spat out the cigarette butt from his mouth, aiming it right into one of their eyes, causing the man to cry out in pain from the burn. Then his hands moved like the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, striking out fiercely; his palms flickered wildly, smack, smack, smack, sending the dozen underlings in front of him flying back in an instant. "Fuck¡­ Fucking hell¡­" Those underlings nced at their now twisted and deformed knives with shocked expressions¡ªhad this guy just destroyed their steel knives with his bare hands? Is this... some kind of special effect? But Hao Jian didn''t give them a chance to hesitate, charging into the crowd. After a flurry of punches and kicks, all of them were down. And at that moment, Zhang Qiuya and the others were frozen stiff! They didn''t know how to describe their emotions; from the time these people surrounded Hao Jian to the time they were all lying on the ground, not even a minute had passed. Was this guy Zhao Zilong reincarnate? Almost everyone thought Hao Jian was done for and were considering whether to help him out, but Hao Jian had resolved it all by himself. After knocking them to the ground, he wasn''t finished; he continued on to the next person, stepping on his knee, and with a ''crack'', shattered the man''s kneecap in an instant. Then the second, the third... The crowd only felt their hearts pounding wildly,pletely stunned! Watching the gangsters on the ground screaming in agony, cold sweat appeared on everyone''s foreheads! So... so ruthless! Qian Shaohang felt as if his scalp was exploding, a chill running from the soles of his feet to his forehead! Hao Jian''s ferocity had nearly scared him witless¡ªwhat if Hao Jian took a dislike to him and did the same to him? Dozens of people, all one by one, had a leg ruined by Hao Jian, who throughout remained calm as if he was doing something utterly mundane. After all that, Hao Jian slowly lifted his head, noticing everyone looking at him with awe, he paused, scratched his head, and asked in confusion: "What''s up?" What''s up?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om What the fuck do you mean, what''s up? Holy shit! "You... you went a bit too far, didn''t you? It would''ve been enough to just beat them up; was there really a need to cripple them?" Zhang Qiuya said with a stiff expression, feeling scared after witnessing Hao Jian''s actions. She felt that Hao Jian was even more terrifying than this Brother Huoniu. This guy was simply inhumane, breaking someone''s leg as if it were as simple as eating and drinking! Before Brother Huoniu took action, there would be some emotional fluctuation, but Hao Jian had none. That ease and casualness, that indifference, as though it wasn''t his first time doing such things. Not only did Zhang Qiuya feel this way, Situ Ming and the others did too. They couldn''t help but specte about Hao Jian''s identity. In their eyes, Hao Jian could be gentler than amb when calm, but more ferocious than a starving wolf when provoked. "Not necessary? I don''t think so. Looking at them, you should know this isn''t their first time doing this kind of thing. If left unchecked, more people will suffer at their hands," Hao Jian exined, deliberately slowing his tone: "Think about it carefully, what would have happened if I had not appeared here today? At that time, would you still think they deserve pity?" Everyone was silent, their mouths revealing bitter smiles. The thought was unbearable; had it trulye to that, they could only have watched as Che Xiaoxiao was taken away. The fate that Che Xiaoxiao would have faced... Thinking about their previous disrespect towards Hao Jian, and then the fact that he turned around and saved them, they felt a strange sense of guilt. "In order to prevent them from harming others, I had no choice but to cripple them. I have a saying: ''If the price of a mistake is too small, then one cannot restrain thetent beast within oneself!''" Hao Jian said without expression, feeling he must do this, and that the people should pay the price for their actions. "We''re not saying what you did was wrong, we''re just worried that you''ve made such a big scene, it might not end well," Elder Qiu hurriedly exined. "You don''t need to worry about that, I have ways to deal with it," Hao Jian replied confidently. A mere dozen gangsters were nothing he couldn''t handle. With that, everyone''s curiosity about Hao Jian''s identity increased. "Don''t mess around. My boss is top dog in East City District. If you touch me, he''ll make sure you regret it," Brother Huoniu said, still trying to intimidate, even though he saw Hao Jian take down all his underlings single-handedly. "Then let hime. My name is Hao Jian; I''ll be waiting," Hao Jian replied, shrugging. He grabbed Brother Huoniu by the hair and flung him fiercely out of the hotel; Brother Huoniu went flying out the door. Zhang Qiuya and the others were shocked by Hao Jian''s move. Brother Huoniu, who weighed at least two hundred pounds, was tossed out with just one hand. They looked Hao Jian up and down, but no matter how they looked, they couldn''t reconcile Hao Jian''s physique with his ability to throw Brother Huoniu out. "Come on, let''s drink," Hao Jian said, plopping down at the bar. "Oh, oh." The crowd seemed to awaken from a dream and began picking up their sses hesitantly. At that moment, in Zhang Qiuya''s gaze towards Hao Jian, there seemed to be a hint of something indescribable. She had admired Qian Shaohang''s talent, but after today''s event, she was utterly disappointed in him. Yet, Hao Jian appeared before them like a Heavenly God descending, resolving the crisis with ease. Zhang Qiuya felt as if there was a deer scampering around inside her. But just then, Hao Jian suddenly turned his head to look at Qian Shaohang: "Aren''t you going to scram?" A man who can''t even protect the woman he likes is simply a waster. As Hao Jian spoke, almost everyone red at Qian Shaohang, angered by his previous behavior. Qian Shaohang''s face became so dark it was almost dripping, his fists clenched, feeling deeply humiliated. "Qian Shaohang, from now on, we''re no longer friends. My bar no longer wees you; just go," Situ Ming echoed along. "Right, you call us brothers in daily life, but turn your back at the critical moment. You''re such a pitiful person. Just scram!" the guitarist scolded. Chapter 114 When Masters Curse in the Street! "A crummy bar, who cares abouting here?" Qian Shaohang grimaced and huffed, picking up his belongings and quickly left the bar. From that moment, he and these former friends werepletely estranged. "Hmph, scum." Che Xiaoxiao also pursed her lips, thinking how lucky she was not to have fallen for Qian Shaohang, otherwise her fate now would be unknown. "Don''t get upset over such a scumbag,e on, let''s drink. Hao Jian, brother, thank you. We really owe it to you this time." Situ Ming raised his ss to toast Hao Jian. The mood of the others hadn''t changed with Qian Shaohang''s departure, on the contrary, they were quite pleased. Because today they had made friends with Hao Jian, a talented, dignified, and crucially, formidable in fights. If anyone dared to bully them in the future, they would directly call Hao Jian, and watch him annihte those people. They kept drinking until twelve at night before the crowd finally dispersed, and Hao Jian incidentally threw out the gangsters from the bar as well. When he was preparing to give Che Xiaoxiao a ride, the drunk Boss Qiu slurred his words, asking Hao Jian to remember to draw for him. Hao Jian couldn''t help but smile, they were so drunk they couldn''t even stand straight, and still, Boss Qiu was worrying about his painting. Afterward, Hao Jian drove Che Xiaoxiao home. On the way, Xiaoxiao, unlike before, quietly looked out the window, creating a somewhat strange atmosphere. "Hao Jian, thank you." After a long time, Xiaoxiao finally couldn''t hold back and spoke. "If we''re friends, no need for thanks. Besides, didn''t I promise to be your ''dad'' tonight?" Hao Jian said with a wicked grin, turning his head to Xiaoxiao and winking, his face not serious at all. Xiaoxiaoughed, gave him an annoyed look, and sighed, "Now I''m suddenly regretting letting you be my dad." "Not be your dad, then what?" "Be my boyfriend." Xiaoxiao suddenly mustered up the courage, looking earnestly at Hao Jian. "Ah? Really?" Hao Jian''s expression shifted dramatically; this little girl has a crush on him? But he had no love for ''lolitas''. "Just kidding, why so scared?" Xiaoxiaoughed heartily, pushing Hao Jian lightly. "Whew, you scared me to death. Never joke about that kind of thing again." Hao Jian patted his little heart, really scared by Xiaoxiao just then. "You''re really hurting my feelings, do you know that? Am I that bad?" Xiaoxiao red at Hao Jian, discontent. Was she that unattractive to him, that the very idea of being his girlfriend turned his face green? This big, super duper jerk! "No, it''s my issue. Qian Shaohang said it before too, didn''t he? I''m so old, you even call me uncle, a wilted flower, how could I possibly match up to you?" Hao Jian hurriedly exined with a bitter smile. "Oh stop it, you''re only six or seven years older than me." Xiaoxiao pouted. Hao Jian didn''t know how to respond, and could only offer a bitter smile. Hao Jian drove into the residential area where Xiaoxiao lived, only to discover it was a wealthy vi area called "Snowy Moonstream." "I didn''t know your family was so rich. So you''re a little rich girl?" Hao Jian said, amazed. "What''s the use of a big house? There''s no one inside." Xiaoxiao said expressionlessly. Hao Jian also noticed that Che Xiaoxiao was in a bad mood and dared not bother her further. Hao Jian drove into the parking lot and was about to reverse into a spot when suddenly, a pretentiously low-key red Ferrari shot out and rudely snatched Hao Jian''s parking space. "Screech!" Hao Jian hastily hit an emergency brake, luckily reacting quickly, or else he would have collided with the other vehicle. "Ah!" Che Xiaoxiao, holding her head, had not reacted in time when Hao Jian suddenly braked, and her head knocked against the car window. Although it was nothing serious, it still hurt quite a bit. "Are you okay?" Hao Jian asked anxiously, knowing he would be in deep trouble if Che Xiaoxiao was hurt. "I''m fine, just a bump. What''s wrong with this person, doing something so dangerous just to snatch a parking spot?" Che Xiaoxiao also looked displeased at the red Ferrari in front of them. A fierce look flitted across Hao Jian''s eyes, "When some people gain status, position, and wealth, they be confident, while others be arrogant. Unfortunately, we''ve encountered thetter." Just then, a man dressed in a suit, obviously a sessful person, got out of the car and gave Hao Jian a provocative nce, scoffing, "Idiot!" Having said that, the man started to walk away! "So arrogant, let''s beat him up!" Che Xiaoxiao immediately got upset, what kind of nerve, almost causing them an ident and still so arrogant, did he really think they were so easy to bully? "As you wish!" Hao Jian didn''t object and directly opened the car door and stepped out. The other guy didn''t expect Hao Jian to get out and simply stopped, looking down at Hao Jian with disdain. "Are you blind? Such a big car, can''t you see it? Can''t you drive properly? I curse your mother, you damn fool! Later, you''re going to crash your car! Your wife and son will be rolled under the wheels and crushed into bits! So you think drifting is cool? Then why don''t you drift in your parents'' hearse, you idiot!" Hao Jian cursed furiously as soon as he got out, a skill he had picked up from his driving instructor back in the day. That instructor had a sage saying: In this world, there are only two kinds of people, those who drive slower than me are idiots, and those who drive faster than me are fools.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Hao Jian had naturally learned a few things while learning to drive, and now he put them into practice. Che Xiaoxiao was totally dumbfounded, damn, a master suddenly turning into a shrew and starting to curse on the street, this really was a possessed old driver. The man''s face immediately turned green with rage, and he red at Hao Jian, threatening, "Kid, dare you curse me like that again?" "I curse your mother, I''ll dance on your parents'' graves!" Hao Jian shouted at the man, then turned to Che Xiaoxiao, "In my entire life, I''ve never heard such a bizarre request, someone actually likes being cursed." Che Xiaoxiaoughed as well, ring fiercely at Hao Jian, was that really what they meant, and you just twisted their words? "Kid, oh shit, do you know who I am? Are you looking to die?" the man asked darkly, encountering someone daring to curse him like this for the first time. "Of course, a fool who drifts a hearse." Hao Jian replied unapologetically. If it weren''t for his sudden braking earlier, a tragedy might have indeed urred, no one knew what would have happened. The man''s actions were insane and irresponsible, probably thinking his wealth allowed him to disregard others. Chapter 115 How can you have no principles at all? And indeed, just as Hao Jian had thought, this man looked down on him because he saw that Hao Jian was driving only a BMW worth a few hundred thousand. The residents of this wealthy district were all either rich or noble, with the cheapest car worth over three million. Yet there was Hao Jian, driving a ragged BMW worth a few hundred thousand, which he found disdainful. "Kid, since you don''t know who I am, let me tell you. My name is Liu Rizhao, I''m the boss of this wealthy district, which is to say, I built this ce. Now, do you friggin'' know?" Liu Rizhao said with a gloomy expression. "Liu Rizhao? It''s actually him?" Che Xiaoxiao also showed a surprised expression. "What, you know him?" Hao Jian looked at Che Xiaoxiao curiously. Che Xiaoxiao was speechless, "In all of Hua City, probably only you don''t know him. He''s a real estate tycoon in Hua City. He might not be the richest man, but he''s definitely in the top ten." "No wonder he''s so arrogant." Hao Jian shrugged; Liu Rizhao indeed had the capital to be pompous. "Now that you know who I am, get on your knees right now, and p yourself a hundred times! If I''m in a good mood, I''ll let you off like a fart!" Liu Rizhao said with a grim smile, looking at Hao Jian and Che Xiaoxiao. "Oh, what an idiot," Hao Jian chuckled. Liu Rizhao''s expression stiffened, and he looked at Hao Jian deeply but did not continue to demand that Hao Jian kneel, choosing to turn around and leave instead. He was alone at the moment and wouldn''t just get into a conflict with Hao Jian, but he would have someone investigate Hao Jian first thing in the morning and then teach him a lesson. "Hey, move your car. I saw this spot first." Hao Jian had no intention of just letting Liu Rizhao leave unless he gave up the parking spot. Liu Rizhao indeed turned his head, a cold smirk appearing at the corner of his mouth: "I make the rules in this entire vi area. If I say you can''t park, then you can''t park here!" "Besides, every car here is worth hundreds of millions. Youe here driving a ragged BMW worth a few hundred thousand, do you think you deserve it?" "I said, move the car!" At that moment, Hao Jian didn''t seem interested in wasting further words with Liu Rizhao and repeated the phrase coldly with a chuckle. "Idiot," Liu Rizhao sneered,pletely disregarding Hao Jian, and turned to walk away. "Bang!" And just as Liu Rizhao turned around, he heard a loud bang from behind him, followed by the sound of his beloved car crying like a bullied little girl. Liu Rizhao quickly turned back, only to see that his Ferrari''s hood waspletely dented, as if it had been struck by a giant hammer. "I... fuck! You dare smash my car?" Liu Rizhao''s eyes were about to burst with rage. It was his brand-new car, and a limited edition one at that. "I already warned you," Hao Jian said nonchntly, breaking off a car light and looking at Liu Rizhao with a smile. "Kid, you''re gonna pay for this!" Liu Rizhao pointed at Hao Jian and then started to make a phone call. Before long, five or six security guards wielding batons rushed over. "Boss, what''s the matter?" they asked respectfully. "This bastard dared to smash my car. Beat him to death ¨C if there''s any trouble, it''s on me!" Liu Rizhao said through gritted teeth, almost going mad with grief seeing his car smashed like that. And so, those security guards began to circle around Hao Jian. With their boss right there, it was naturally a good opportunity for them to show off. Their faces full of fierce smiles, they stared at Hao Jian and nced at Che Xiaoxiao, their expressions filled with lewdness! "Rich people are indeed great, always followed by a few dogs. When I''m rich, I''ll keep some too. Without lifting a finger, just by giving an order, they''ll bite for me," Hao Jian sincerely eximed. Mocked by Hao Jian, the security guards'' faces turned ck with fury, their malevolence intensifying as each of them seemed eager to break Hao Jian''s legs to show him their power. "Hao Jian, you''re deliberately making enemies," Che Xiaoxiao said with a grin, without a hint of anxiety, knowing these guys were no match for Hao Jian. "You''re asking for it!" The guards were provoked, as being called ackey was their taboo, yet Hao Jian brought it up repeatedly, touching their raw nerves. "Right, thrash him hard, kill him for all I care. I have plenty of money and can settle this matter for you!" Liu Rizhaoughed heartily from behind. To dare to provoke Liu Rizhao in Hua City? Utterly sick of living. Hearing this, the guards became as excited as if they had been injected with adrenaline, even more unrestrained and wild. "Heh heh... Kid, you hear that? Offend our boss, and you''re asking for death!" "Beat him mercilessly! Frigging make him recognize how tough I am!" "..." These security guards were extremely fierce, and at this moment, they pounced like tigers and wolves! Hao Jian''s lips curled into a sneer as he whisked away like a whirlwind, instantly appearing behind the group of security guards. The guards stood as if they were statues, and it took them about four or five seconds before they copsed to the ground and began to vomit. Liu Rizhao was stunned; what on earth had happened? How could his men have ended up like this? Meanwhile, seeing Hao Jian approaching, Liu Rizhao''s footsteps grew chaotic. As he thought of running away, Hao Jian had already appeared in front of him. "Are you going to beat me to death?" Hao Jian asked Liu Rizhao with a sarcastic smile. "No, no," Liu Rizhao immediately shrank back, shaking his head nervously. Hao Jian nonchntly pped him across the face, turning Liu Rizhao''s head to one side, "No, what? Can''t you speak properly?" "Yes, yes!" Liu Rizhao nodded vigorously like a pecking chick. "Are you the ''Hearse Drifting''?" Hao Jian asked, patting Liu Rizhao on the shoulder. "Yes, I am Hearse Drifting," Liu Rizhao squeezed out a smile uglier than a cry. "Smack." Another p, and Hao Jian, with a look of disgust, said: "That smile is so hideous. Are you trying to gross me out on purpose?" ".." "Who''s in the hearse?" Hao Jian demanded. "My dad and my mom," Liu Rizhao truly felt like dying. Even though his parents weren''t with him, saying something like this felt inherently wrong. If Mom and Dad found out, wouldn''t they kill him? "Whose ashes do you mix in your rice?" Hao Jian seemed hooked on this game and continued to press. "My wife''s and son''s." Liu Rizhao was close to tears, wailing inwardly: Heavenly Empress, Jade Emperor, I''m being coerced, please don''t let it count!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Che Xiaoxiao giggled coquettishly, her body trembling withughter. She hadn''t expected Hao Jian to be so ruthless, making Liu Rizhao curse his own family to death. "Right, not only is your hearse drifting elegant, but you also dance on your dad''s grave, hang your mom on a tree, mix your son''s ashes in your rice, and surf on your wife''s coffin!" Hao Jian rattled off several usations in a row. "Yes, yes, whatever you say," Liu Rizhao replied with a mournful face, truly a picture of misery. "How can you have no principles at all?" Hao Jian asked angrily. "." Liu Rizhao had no reply. I''d like to have principles, but do I ****** dare? "Do you think you won''t get beaten just because you cooperate with me?" Hao Jian asked with a sinister smile. "Hm?" Liu Rizhao looked confusedly at Hao Jian; he really thought so. I''ve alreadyplied to this extent, do you have the heart to hit me? "You guys,e over here!" Hao Jian shouted menacingly at the remaining security guards. The guards walked over submissively. "Take off your clothes!" Hao Jian ordered unceremoniously. "Ah? What for?" The guards expressed shock. "Just take them off when I tell you to. What''s with all the backtalk? Are you asking for a beating?" Hao Jian threatened. "But there''s a girl here," they said, ncing warily at Che Xiaoxiao. "Turn your head away," Hao Jian told Che Xiaoxiao. Che Xiaoxiao snorted, "As if I''m interested." Seeing that Che Xiaoxiao had turned away, the guards reluctantly began to strip with sullen faces. Before long, five stark-naked figures stood before him. Chapter 116 Not Suitable for Children, No Watching! "And you, strip as well," Hao Jian pointed at Liu Rizhao. Liu Rizhao''s expression stiffened, "Can I, can I not strip?" "You can, but then I''ll beat you until you can''t take care of yourself," Hao Jian gestured with his fist and smirked. Liu Rizhao looked at Hao Jian resentfully, then started taking off his clothes one by one, soon looking just like the other security guards. Six people stood naked in the cold winter night, shivering uncontrobly. "Attention!" Hao Jian suddenly shouted, and all six stiffened simultaneously. "Turn left and right!" The six turned right! "Run forward! Streak for fiveps!" Hao Jian ordered. "What?" All six were stunned, Hao Jian actually wanted them to streak? With so many people in this vi district, if they streaked for fiveps, they would be famous by tomorrow. "Run or eat my fist!" Hao Jian huffed, Was he, Hao Jian, easy to bully? Bullying him came with a cost, understand? Then the security guards helplessly lowered their heads. "Remember, while running you must also shout this slogan: ''You are ****, you are shameless stinking ****,'' got it?" Hao Jian was very serious while saying something not serious at all. No one responded, they all thought to themselves, had this guy lost his mind? "Are you listening to me?" Hao Jian kicked Liu Rizhao''s butt impatiently. "Remembered! Remembered!" Liu Rizhao cried with tears streaming down his face. Why was it always him getting hurt? If this were in a rich district, he''d definitely make the papers tomorrow. "No cking off, I''lle back to checkter. If I find you didn''t run or ran too little, it''ll be worse for you. Don''t think I can''t find you!" Hao Jian huffed and then turned towards Che Xiaoxiao: "Come on, I''ll take you home." "But I want to watch," Che Xiaoxiao looked a bit disappointed. She had never seen people streak before. "Not suitable for children, you can''t watch!" Hao Jian sternly refused. "I''m already an adult! I just turned eighteen today!" Che Xiaoxiao protested discontentedly. "Even so, you''re a girl!" Hao Jian ignored Che Xiaoxiao''s protests, grabbed her by the cor, and headed home. Upon entering the house, Hao Jian''s first impression of Che Xiaoxiao''s home was big! His second impression, very big! His third impression, extremely extremely big! The house had at least two hundred fifty square meters on a single floor, and it was a three-story duplex, plus a garden and swimming pool. This vi couldn''t go for less than a hundred million. "What do your parents do to be so wealthy?" Hao Jian looked up at the European-style architecture. "My mom works in the government and holds a high position." Che Xiaoxiao turned on the light, then threw her handbag onto the sofa, and seemed eager to find something to frame the painting Hao Jian gave her. "Tsk tsk tsk, three years as a governor can amass a hundred thousand pieces of silver." Hao Jian remarked. "Tch! You speak so crudely, that''s not money my mother embezzled. My father was a sessful businessman before he died. After his death, we inherited his fortune, that''s why we live in such avish house," Che Xiaoxiao exined. "I see," Hao Jian revealed an understanding expression: "But this house, despite its size,cks a human touch and feels quite empty," he said. Upon hearing this, Che Xiaoxiao''s smile vanished, reced by a touch of mncholy:N?v(el)B\\jnn "You noticed? It''s because my mom is busy with work and is hardly ever home. It''s just me here, so it gets lonely." "You must get scared being alone at home," Hao Jian couldn''t imagine how Che Xiaoxiao handled those periods. "I used to when I was younger, but I gradually got used to it," Che Xiaoxiao forced a smile. Hao Jian sighed, "Now I finally understand why you are so wild." Che Xiaoxiao always hung out outside, went to bars, sang at KTV, and even raced with people. It was because she needed to vent, venting the frustration and loneliness inside her. She always dreaded going home because it was just her alone. Every time she returned, it was pitch ck, making her feel unfamiliar and frightened. "Environment can drive a person mad." Che Xiaoxiao shrugged and shed a bright smile, "Enough about me, let''s talk about you. Why did you let Brother Huoniu off earlier?" Hao Jian asked with a faint smile, "Did I let him off?" "Stop pretending, others might not see it, but can''t I? You beat his followers so badly, but for him, the main culprit, you just threw him out. Why is that?" This question had been puzzling Che Xiaoxiao; logically, Hao Jian wouldn''t have feared Brother Huoniu, otherwise he wouldn''t have struck. At this, Hao Jian just smiled, remaining silent. He indeed had shown mercy, but his mercy had a purpose. As for what the purpose was, that he couldn''t reveal to Che Xiaoxiao. "Fine, don''t tell me then, I don''t want to know!" Che Xiaoxiao muttered discontentedly. Just then, a roaring sound of a car came from outside the vi. "Oh no! My mom is back!" Che Xiaoxiao''s expression drastically changed, and she screamed. "So what if she''s back, why the big fuss? Anyone would think you''ve seen a ghost," Hao Jian quipped. "You don''t understand, my mom is very conservative, and she doesn''t even know who I hang out with outside. If she sees me bringing a man home in the middle of the night, she''ll kill me!" Chapter 117 Your Mom is Teasing You! "What should we do?" Hao Jian was at a loss for words. Surely he couldn''t hide himself, right? Wouldn''t that be too embarrassing? But little did he know, Che Xiaoxiao had this in mind. She looked at Hao Jian seriously, "You''d better hide first, and after my mom leaves, you can sneak away." "Damn, does it have to be this thrilling? Like having an affair or something. Why don''t you just tell your mom that I''m your friend who gave you a lift home?" With mixed feelings ofughter and tears, Hao Jian felt like he was being treated like a cheating husband caught in the act, and honestly, he couldn''t stand it. "That''s not going to work. You don''t understand my mom. She won''t allow me to have any contact with boys. If she sees you at my ce, it''s not just me who''s done for; you''ll be screwed too!" Che Xiaoxiao threatened. "Cut it out, I don''t believe this! It''s not like she can kill me, right?" Hao Jian scoffed, underestimating her¡ªa woman''s capabilities. "She might not kill you, but she can make sure you wind up in prison with just one word." Che Xiaoxiao snorted twice, thinking that Hao Jian didn''t realize how terrifying her mother could be, hence his bravado. "Really, that unreasonable?" Hao Jian frowned; going to jail would be a real problem. "Have you ever seen a woman be reasonable?" Che Xiaoxiao sneered, mocking Hao Jian''s naivety. "If you''re going to hide, do it now. Otherwise, my mom wille in, and watch out¡ªshe might use you of abducting an underage girl!" Che Xiaoxiao pouted, looking indifferent to whether he hid or not. "How could that be? Aren''t you an adult today?" "Yes, but the age on my household registration is a month younger than my actual age. Technically speaking, I''m still a minor," Che Xiaoxiao said with a yful smile. "Knowing you, I must have had incredibly bad luck in my past eight lifetimes!" Hao Jian cursed under his breath and then hurried upstairs. "Hehe." For some reason, seeing Hao Jian in a tough spot inexplicably pleased Che Xiaoxiao. "Over here, hide in my room." Che Xiaoxiao led Hao Jian to her room and quickly shut the door. Che Xiaoxiao''s room was different from most girls''. It wasn''t the typical cute pink but a cool, metallic green and was stered with various car posters. But Hao Jian had no time to take in these details because he already heard the sound of a door opening downstairs. "Where should I hide?" Hao Jian was as antsy as an ant on a hot pan, nearly jumping up in panic. If Guo Shuxian, Che Xiaoxiao''s mother, caught him, not only would he end up in jail, but his good reputation would bepletely ruined! "The closet! The closet!" Che Xiaoxiao quickly pointed to her wardrobe. Hao Jian rushed to the wardrobe, but when he opened it, he was dumbfounded by the assortment of colorful, varied styles of underwear piled inside. Lace-trimmed, shoulder-strapped... even thongs were in there! Damn... this could cost him his life... "You want me to hide in here?" Hao Jian couldn''t believe his eyes. Che Xiaoxiao''s face also flushed red in an instant, "That''s a mistake, hide in the bathroom! My bathroom is big enough!" Che Xiaoxiao pushed Hao Jian into the bathroom, but just then, there was a knock on the door of Che Xiaoxiao''s room. "Xiaoxiao, are you asleep?" came the voice of Che Xiaoxiao''s mother from outside. "Don''t move in here, I''ll deal with her." Che Xiaoxiao gestured for Hao Jian to keep quiet and then quickly stripped off her clothes at top speed. "What are you doing? At this time, you''re still thinking about that?" Hao Jian stared in disbelief at Che Xiaoxiao and began toment, "To think my good reputation was ruined by a moment of weakness and getting on this treacherous ship. Forget it, I''ll throw out all the stops today. If you want to do it, just do it, I won''t resist!" "Screw you! Haven''t you had enough yet?" Che Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes at Hao Jian, annoyed, stripped down to just her underwear, and quickly went to the closet to find pajamas to change into. She couldn''t let her mother see her still dressed in casual clothes sote at night; otherwise, her mother would guess she had just returned, given that she was an expert in navigating the bureaucratic world, each member sharper than thest. After doing all this, Che Xiaoxiao finally took a deep breath, put on an act of having just woken up, rubbing her eyes as she opened the door: "What''s up?" "You were sleeping? I''m sorry, dear, Mommy came back toote to celebrate your birthday with you. But Mommy brought you a birthday gift." Guo Shuxian suddenly pulled out a helmet from behind her back: "Ta-da-da-da, guess what this is?" "This is..." Che Xiaoxiao waspletely stunned because she saw autographs on the helmet. "This is actually Croke''s signature, you know. I know she''s your idol, so I made a point of asking my friend to get it from her while abroad at one of her races." Guo Shuxian said with a beaming smile, knowing full well how much Xiaoxiao admired racecar drivers, especially Croke. Because Croke was one of the top ten female racecar drivers in the world and the only one who had ever won a world-sspetition, Xiaoxiao had always set her as a target. "Thanks, Mom, but I''m really tired and want to sleep." Che Xiaoxiao took the helmet from Guo Shuxian''s hands and intended to close the door. Under other circumstances, she surely would have been overjoyed, but now there was a man hiding in her room, making it impossible for her to be happy. "Hold on." Guo Shuxian stopped the door with her foot, looking at Xiaoxiao with a intive expression: "You child, Mommy went through so much trouble to get this gift you like, and this is how you treat me?" "Mom, you''re drunk, aren''t you? I''m really sleepy. Can we talk about this tomorrow?" Che Xiaoxiao covered her nose, smelling the alcohol on Guo Shuxian, no wonder she was acting so crazy tonight. "Okay, then let Mommy check your body, let me see if growing another year older made anything else grow." Guo Shuxian barged in and hugged Xiaoxiao, her hands starting to grope Xiaoxiao''s chest. "Ah! Mom, what are you doing?!" Che Xiaoxiao cried out in rm, with Hao Jian still watching from behind. "Huh, howe they''re still so small?" Guo Shuxian asked, genuinely perplexed. "Mom! Stop it!" Che Xiaoxiao was furious, not only had her mother groped her, but now she wasining about her small chest size. It was almost enough to drive someone insane. "Oh, upset now? You never used to get mad when we yed around like this before," Guo Shuxian said, ruffling Xiaoxiao''s hair quite hard. How could that be the same, before my room definitely didn''t have a secret man hiding in it! Xiaoxiaoined in her mind. "Well then, how about I let you feel mine? Mommy''s are the real deal¡ªexploding with E-cups," Guo Shuxian said with a seductive look, clearly quite drunk. Hao Jian inside the bathroom shrank back, thinking that Xiaoxiao''s mom was a bit too formidable. "Who would want to touch yours." Che Xiaoxiao, head lowered with an embarrassed expression, knew Hao Jian was inside and must have heard everything. "Hey, rejecting them? Who used to grab my chest and say, ''Mom, your breasts are so big, so pretty; am I really your child? Why are mine so small?''" Guo Shuxian squinted her eyes at Xiaoxiao. "Stop it, just go!" Che Xiaoxiao pushed Guo Shuxian out, almost to her wit''s end, her dignitypletely lost in front of Hao Jian.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om When Che Xiaoxiao returned to the bathroom, she saw Hao Jian eyeing her with a peculiar expression. "Will you just drop dead already!" Che Xiaoxiao, cheeks puffed up with anger, couldn''t believe this jerk was teasing her too? "Your mom''s just kidding with you, actually, yours aren''t small at all," Hao Jian looked at Che Xiaoxiao sincerely. Chapter 118 Heading in a More Thrilling Direction! "Shut up!" Che Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth, not wanting to hear anything about "breasts" anymore, or else she really feared she wouldn''t be able to restrain herself from killing someone. ... At that moment, Che Xiaoxiao opened the bathroom window and said, "You should leave through here, even though it''s the second floor, I think with your skills it shouldn''t be a problem." "Mhm," Hao Jian responded, now all he wanted was to leave this damned ce as quickly as possible. "Xiaoxiao, open the door." But just at that moment, as fate would have it, Guo Shuxian returned and knocked on Che Xiaoxiao''s door again. "Quick, hide. Quick, hide," Che Xiaoxiao hurriedly pulled Hao Jian back in. Hao Jian felt like he was ready to die: "I must be yed to death by you mother and daughter!" "Mom, is there something else?" Not to mention Hao Jian wanting to die, now Che Xiaoxiao herself wanted to die. Her mother usually went straight to sleep when she came back, but why didn''t it stop tonight? Could it have something to do with being drunk? "Just open the door first." "No, you tell me what it is first." "Hey, you child," Guo Shuxian was getting annoyed: "My pajamas have been washed, I want to borrow one from you to wear." "This... Alright then." Guo Shuxian could only helplessly open the door because she knew she couldn''t fool her, as she was aware that her daughter had plenty of pajamas. If she refused to lend one, it would only raise her mother''s suspicions. "What in the world is going on with you tonight? Why are you acting like you''vemitted a crime?" Guo Shuxian eyed Che Xiaoxiao disapprovingly. "It''s nothing, I''m just tired, oh my god!" Che Xiaoxiao suddenly screamed in horror, pointing at Guo Shuxian. Che Xiaoxiao''s scream also startled Hao Jian in the bathroom. Peering through the crack in the door, he wanted to see what was happening outside, but when he got a clear view, he, too, couldn''t help but gasp. Guo Shuxian, unbeknownst to how, had already taken off her professional attire, leaving only her undergarments, and what''s more, they were the most deadly kind, fiery red withce trim, showing off her impressive figure in all its glory. Those long, straight, desirable legs; although she was thirty-seven, she had a voluptuous figure that was yet well-proportioned, with tight, fair skin, full breasts, and a perky rear¡ªmainly, she was still beautiful. Hao Jian hadn''t taken a good look before, but now that he saw clearly, he realized that Guo Shuxian was indeed a top-notch beauty. That made sense. Che Xiaoxiao was so pretty because she took after her mother. "You silly girl, what are you screaming about? You startled me." Guo Shuxian patted her chest, herself startled by Che Xiaoxiao''s sudden outburst. What do you mean, scream? You''re stripping in front of my friend, how can I not scream?N?v(el)B\\jnn Che Xiaoxiao felt like crying and quickly blocked her mother''s view: "Can you put your clothes on?" "Why? You''ve seen me like this before, is it worth making such a fuss?" Guo Shuxian giggled, but disregarded Che Xiaoxiao and continued to move around her room in her underwear. Che Xiaoxiao heaved sigh after sigh, covering her face, but was utterly helpless and cursed inwardly: Hao Jian that scumbag is getting a real bargain here! Meanwhile, Hao Jian, witnessing this scene from inside the bathroom, was close to losing control, even wanting to whistle to express his excited emotions. But he knew that if he dared to do so, both women would definitely ughter him. It took a good while before Guo Shuxian, dizzily, found the pajamas. Che Xiaoxiao hurriedly urged, "Now that you''ve found it, go back to your room to bathe. I''m going to rest too." "That won''t do, the showerhead in my bathroom is broken, so I need to use yours to wash up!" Guo Shuxian pouted and said enticingly. "What?" Che Xiaoxiao''s exmation had now turned into aplete scream. Inside the bathroom, Hao Jian bore an expression that read ''I have nothing left to live for,''menting how the author of this book really didn''t hold back on ying him to death for a more thrilling plot. "What on earth is up with you, child, with all this screamingte at night? Have you seen a ghost?" Guo Shuxian said somewhat angrily, being scared several times in a row by Che Xiaoxiao. "You can''t bathe in my room." Che Xiaoxiao''s head shook like a rattle. "Then what do you want me to do? Am I supposed to go without a bath?" Guo Shuxian snorted. "How about youe back tomorrow?" Che Xiaoxiao tentatively asked. But Guo Shuxian was fuming and wasn''t going to listen, marching straight past Che Xiaoxiao towards the bathroom. Che Xiaoxiao grabbed Guo Shuxian''s hand, pleading, "Mom." "Let go, or I''ll really get angry!" Guo Shuxian''s tone turned unfriendly. Che Xiaoxiao could only let go helplessly, thinking to herself that they were definitely doomed now. "This silly girl, acting all crazy tonight." Just as Guo Shuxian shut the bathroom door, she started to mumble to herself, without noticing someone was in the bathroom, only seeing that the tub was inexplicably filling with water, bubbles floating on top. "This silly girl, leaving the water running after a bubble bath. Well, that''s fine, saves me from having to turn on the water." Guo Shuxian talked to herself, beginning to take off the undergarments she was wearing. At that moment, Che Xiaoxiao, eavesdropping outside the bathroom, also felt something was off. Logically, her mom should have discovered Hao Jian by now, so why was there still nomotion? Perhaps Hao Jian took the chance to slip away while they were talking? It must be the case! Che Xiaoxiao let out a sigh of relief, thankful that Hao Jian was smart enough, otherwise, they would have been dead for sure! "Ah!!!!" But the very next second, a piercing scream of terror echoed from the bathroom. Che Xiaoxiao shrank her head back, a bitter smile crossing her lips: "I... overestimated him!" Half an hourter, Hao Jian and Che Xiaoxiao both appeared on the sofa in the living room, heads drooping, embodying the picture of guilt with a demeanor that screamed, ''I am culpable, deserving of my fate.''" Chapter 119 Shes Telling the Truth! At this moment, Guo Shuxian was sitting in front of the two, draped in a bathrobe, with her arms crossed over her chest and a sharp look in her eyes thatmanded authority as she stared at the pair: "Speak up, what exactly is going on?" "He''s my friend. He drove me home tonight, and we just happened to run into youing back. I hid him to avoid any misunderstandings," Che Xiaoxiao exined meekly, her head bowed. "Hello, Auntie," Hao Jian hurriedly raised his hand in greeting, offering an apologetic smile. "Who are you calling ''Auntie''? Do I look that old to you?" Guo Shuxian''s voice was fiercely indignant, her face flush with anger. Just the thought of this guy having seen her naked made her wish she could y him alive. How dare he call her ''Auntie''? Did she look like an auntie? Couldn''t he see she was only eight or nine years older than him? "So, Big Sister?" Hao Jian ventured cautiously, keenly aware that Mother Tiger was in no mood for nonsense and it was probably best not to provoke her. "Big Sister? Ha, ''Big Sister'' implies age too, doesn''t it? What''s the difference between calling me that and ''Auntie''?" Guo Shuxian was especially annoyed. This kid really had no sense of subtlety; wasn''t he just trying to say she was old? "I can''t exactly call you ''Sister'', can I?" Hao Jian was on the verge of tears; now he truly understood why Xiaoxiao used to say her mother was terrifying¡ªshe really was difficult to deal with. "Call me Miss Guo, or Mrs. Guo, got it?" Guo Shuxian said icily. "Understood, understood," Hao Jian nodded earnestly, like a chick pecking at grains. "So, tell me, what''s your rtionship with my daughter?" Guo Shuxian scrutinized Hao Jian, her stare as if she were interrogating a criminal. "Me? I am just her friend, she said as much earlier, didn''t she?" Hao Jian replied with a wry smile. "Friend? I wasn''t aware she had such a ''friend''. And you''re so much older than her; how could you possibly just be friends?" Guo Shuxian was clearly dissatisfied with Hao Jian''s exnation. In her eyes, Hao Jian being alone with Che Xiaoxiao in the middle of the night was highly suspicious. Guo Shuxian hadplete faith in Xiaoxiao, but she did not trust Hao Jian. Hao Jianughed dryly, "Miss Guo, there''s no need to pry further. It''s not just me; I bet you don''t know a single friend of Xiaoxiao''s, right?" Guo Shuxian''s brows furrowed instantly, surprised by Hao Jian''s astuteness in detecting her intentions. She truly did not know much about Xiaoxiao''s friends because her busy work schedule had prevented her from getting to know Xiaoxiao''s social circle properly. "You''re right, I am not aware of the kind of friends Xiaoxiao has, but no matter what type of friends she makes, I will not allow her to befriend someone like you!" Guo Shuxian stated sternly. "Me? What about me?" Hao Jian was also getting annoyed. Me, ''someone like me''? What''s wrong with ''someone like me''? "What''s wrong with you? You''re much older than her, yet you''re getting ambiguously close with such a young girl. You think I don''t know what''s on your mind? You just want to take advantage of her youth and naivety, and once you''ve had your way with her and got her pregnant, you''ll just walk away without a care. I''ve seen plenty of guys like you!" Guo Shuxian snorted coldly, her first impression of Hao Jian cementing her belief that he was not a good person, his every move as despicable as a scoundrel''s. "She''s easy to deceive?" Hao Jian was so angry he felt like cursing. With Xiaoxiao''s clever and mischievous personality, could he deceive her? It would be a miracle if she didn''t end up selling him out! "Well, you can insult my character, but I won''t allow you to insult my preferences! I have zero interest in ''lolitas''; mature women like you are my true interest," Hao Jian asserted angrily, unable to contain his indignation at being used by Guo Shuxian of being a pervert. Enough was enough¡ªeven an uncle has his limits! Che Xiaoxiao and Guo Shuxian both felt like banging their heads against a wall. Such a defense was truly one of a kind! "You are indeed a pervert!" Guo Shuxian said angrily. It was bad enough that he had seen her naked, but now he was even flirting with her in front of her own daughter? "Pervert? How do I resemble a pervert? Have you ever seen a pervert as handsome as me?" As soon as Hao Jian heard this, he felt annoyed. With his good looks, did he need to stoop to being a pervert? Wouldn''t that be a waste of my beauty that rivals Pan An''s?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "From head to toe, you look the part!" Guo Shuxian said darkly, truly speechless at this man. It was bad enough that he was a pervert, but narcissistic too? It''s true what they say ¨C every type of bird exists in a big forest. "Stop it!" Che Xiaoxiao stood up and shouted, silencing both Hao Jian and Guo Shuxian. "Xiaoxiao, you..." Guo Shuxian looked at Che Xiaoxiao in shock, unable to believe her usually well-behaved daughter would scold her. "I invited him over. Today is my birthday, but no one was with me, so I had to ask a bunch of friends to go out and have fun. In the evening, I asked him to take me back home. He didn''t do anything to me; if you don''t believe me, you can take me to the hospital tomorrow to check my virginity," Che Xiaoxiao said expressionlessly. At this, Guo Shuxian found herself at a loss for words. After hesitating for a moment, Guo Shuxian sighed and said with some guilt, "I''m sorry, I know I''ve been neglecting you, but you shouldn''t be bringing a strange man into our house in the middle of the night. What if something had happened?" "Exactly, I don''t even bother to scold you, but how can you be so brainless at your age? All those years of education, were they for nothing? Didn''t your teachers cover this in school? Haven''t you ever heard the story of the seven littlembs and the big bad wolf?" Hao Jian joined in the scolding of Che Xiaoxiao, but with a look of righteous indignation, "This time I''ll let it slide, but don''t let it happen again, okay? I am leaving now, contact me if you need anything." With that, Hao Jian took the opportunity to stand up and prepare to slip away. "You sit down!" Guo Shuxian shouted angrily, furious at how shameless he was. Couldn''t he hear that she was talking about him? And he still had the nerve to lecture Xiaoxiao? Hao Jian obediently sat back down, with a forced smile on his face, "I am mainly worried about getting stuck in traffic if I go back toote." "¡­" Guo Shuxian decided to ignore him and sternly said to Che Xiaoxiao, "Your mother is older than you and has seen more people. Some people may seem harmless, but they are filled with bad intentions, always thinking about luring underage girls like you." "Me? Are you talking about me?" Hao Jian stretched out his neck like an alpaca. "Luring? I confessed to him and he rejected me. He isn''t even slightly interested in your daughter, okay?" Che Xiaoxiao said, annoyed. Guo Shuxian hadn''t brought it up, but now that she did, it made Xiaoxiao feel ufortable all over again. "She... She''s telling the truth," Hao Jian pointed to Che Xiaoxiao and nodded earnestly, indicating his innocence to Mrs. Guo. "Don''t interrupt!" Che Xiaoxiao and Guo Shuxian both scolded simultaneously. "¡­" Don''t interrupt... Don''t interrupt... Hao Jian was screwed! Dammit, do I owe you and your daughter or what? Hao Jian was filled with rage. What on earth was this all about? Chapter 120 So You Really Are Her Biological Child! "What makes you think you''re too good for my daughter? What''s wrong with her, huh? She''s beautiful, has a great figure, smart, and countless young men are after her. What gives you the right?" Guo Shuxian instantly felt displeased. A daughter is a mother''s little cotton-padded jacket, and there''s an unspoken rule in the heart of every mother: My daughter can look down on you, but you absolutely cannot look down on her! "It''s not that she''s not good, it''s just that..." Hao Jian was halfughing, half-crying, wanting to exin. Guo Shuxian interrupted him directly: "Just what? My daughter is so beautiful, being fancied by you should be considered your great fortune? You still dare to be picky, are you blind?" Guo Shuxian threatened, "I''m telling you, if you can''t give me a good reason today, don''t even think about leaving this room!" "Alright, alright, I actually like her," Hao Jian couldn''t bear it any longer and reluctantly changed his tune. "You really are a pervert, not even letting little girls go," Guo Shuxian stared deeply at Hao Jian, a creepy smile on her face as if to say "I knew it." "Can I beat up your mom?" Hao Jian turned to ask Che Xiaoxiao. "What do you think?" Che Xiaoxiao red back. "Sigh," Hao Jian sighed heavily. "What? You still want to hit me? Abducting an underage girl, and you think you''ve got the right? Do you believe I would call the cops right now?" Guo Shuxian fumed, her face red with anger. This scoundrel had bullied her daughter and now he was thinking of bullying her? Was Guo Shuxian someone easy to mess with? "You really are her biological mother." Hao Jian looked at Che Xiaoxiao and nodded seriously. Before, Xiaoxiao had said her mother would definitely do this, and sure enough, it happened just as she predicted. "You go ahead first, we''ll get in touch another day," Che Xiaoxiao said to Hao Jian, looking a bit worn out. "Don''t you dare!" Guo Shuxian shouted. "Are you sure you can handle it?" Hao Jian asked with some concern. "I said you''re not allowed to leave, didn''t you hear me?" Guo Shuxian shouted again. "It''s fine, she''s my mom, she''s not going to kill me, right?" Che Xiaoxiao forced a smile. "Are you even listening to me?" Guo Shuxian was livid, these two insubordinate youngsters acting as if she were invisible. "Okay then." Hao Jian stood up and left. "If you dare to leave, I will call the police right now!" Guo Shuxian threatened, her hand on her phone as if ready to make a call.N?v(el)B\\jnn Hao Jian''s forehead bulged with veins, growing angrier at being provoked in turns. He turned around and smiled slyly at Guo Shuxian: "Auntie, I saw you''re a bit saggy just now, but it''s understandable with age. I have a method here, just three months, and you can regain your past figure. Not for three or four thousand, not for one or two thousand, just for the grateful price of 998!" "Swish!" A water ss was thrown at him. Hao Jianughed as he opened the door and left, the water ss smashing against the door behind him. "Bastard!" Guo Shuxian gritted her teeth in anger. This despicable man had to pick on the most sensitive spots, doing it on purpose! After leaving Che Xiaoxiao''s home, Hao Jian drove out of the vipound, then pulled over at the roadside and lit a cigarette for himself. In the night, his face was hazy and profound in the smoke, seemingly hesitant about whether to go through with the unfinished business. After finishing his cigarette, his eyes finally shed with cold determination, he mmed his foot on the elerator, and the car shot out like a steel bullet. . "No. Stop! Let me go!" Within a big manor, a woman''s fearful screams echoed. "Damn it, strip her clothes off!" Brother Huoniu, his head wrapped in a bandage, yelled ferociously. He was having a tough night. Not only had Spice Ginger swept through his territory, but some unknown punk had beaten him ck and blue, scraping his face, fundamentally ruining his appearance. Fortunately, on his way back, he caught a good-looking housewife; Brother Huoniu just grabbed her to take his anger out on her. "Damn it, I must find that kid, then chop him up into a thousand pieces!" Brother Huoniu sat on a nearby sofa, gulping down his alcohol in frustration, suddenly mmed the bottle, and said ferociously: "And that bitch, after I''m done ying with her, I''ll send her to the Philippines to be a military prostitute!" "Brother Huoniu, don''t be mad. The boss already knows about this and has sent people to find them. We should have news soon," one of his followers said with a sinisterugh. Brother Huoniu nodded, unbuckling his belt, he leered and walked over, "Today you''re in luck to meet me. In a while, you''ll get to taste the strength of Brother Niu." "You really can''t teach an old dog new tricks." Just then, a light, drifting voice came from the rooftop. Brother Huoniu and his men were startled and looked up to see a man in a trench coat, smoking a cigarette, descending from the skylight with a wild grin on his face. "It''s you!?" Brother Huoniu was shocked, not expecting Hao Jian toe to him. "That''s right, it''s me. I''ve been thinking about it, and I''ve decided it''s better to end you, so here I am." Hao Jian said with a not-so-friendly grin, judging by Brother Huoniu''s ruthless nature, he would definitelye after Situ Ming and Che Xiaoxiao again, possibly even killing them both. Having met too many people like Brother Huoniu, Hao Jian decided not to disable him immediately but chose toe alone now to prevent future trouble. No sooner had Hao Jian finished speaking, Brother Huoniu''s men instantly drew their guns on him, their expressions fierce, ready to shoot Hao Jian into a sieve at a word from Brother Huoniu. "You think you can finish me? Kid, do you think this is the same as at the bar?" Brother Huoniu let out a coldugh. "After I kill you, I''ll go find your girlfriend. Don''t worry, I''ll take very good care of her!" "You won''t get the chance. Tonight, you will die here," Hao Jian sneered, looking at Brother Huoniu as if he was looking at a dead man. "I''m going to die here? Kid, did you not see the guns in our hands?" Brother Huoniu burst intoughter. Was this young man insane? How could he possibly think of killing him under these circumstances? "Saw them, so what?" Hao Jian shrugged nonchntly. Chapter 121 As Long as You Die! "So I can just kill you directly, understand?" Brother Huoniu cursed under his breath. Seeing Hao Jian still looking unconcerned, he grew furious. "You can''t do it, because you''re nothing but trash!" Hao Jian sneered coldly, then his figure shed out like a wraith. "Shoot him!" Brother Huoniu roared in rage. ¡­ "Crack! Crack!" The cool evening breeze wafted through the room, apanied by the sound of something breaking, crisp and bloody. Brother Huoniu and the young woman watched in horror, both too terrified to speak. Hao Jian grabbed one of the underlings by the head and twisted violently. With a crisp "crack," the man''s head rotated 360 degrees in an instant! Then, Hao Jian reached out his hand, and seized another gangster by the neck, squeezing it fiercely! Crack! The neck broke with a snap, and the man''s head drooped lifelessly down! Brother Huoniu''s eyelids twitched wildly, his face pale as paper, with huge beads of sweat streaming down his forehead! What was he witnessing? A living man moving through a hail of bullets and killing all his underlings? Was this some kind of sci-fi film? Brother Huoniu could clearly see Hao Jian eerily dodging bullets one after another, like a specter. It wasn''t until that underling was dead beyond dead that Hao Jian finally let go of his hand, wiped his bloodstained hand clean on the dead man''s clothes, then slowly walked towards Brother Huoniu. "Don''t¡­ don''t kill me! I can give you lots and lots of money!" Brother Huoniu panicked and knelt down to beg Hao Jian for mercy. The other man wasn''t afraid of bullets¡ªwhat could he use to fight him? The smile on Hao Jian''s face deepened, looking sinister. Seeing this smile, both Brother Huoniu and the young woman felt as if they were seeing a demon smiling back at them, their hearts pounding with fear. "You don''t want money? How about a position then? As long as I introduce you to my boss, with your skills, you''re guaranteed to be highly valued in the Dragon Tiger Gang!" Brother Huoniu offered another condition, his body trembling even more violently. He could tell that Hao Jian was different from how he had been at the bar¡ªthat now, he truly intended to kill him, especially since he had already in so many of his henchmen. Hao Jian remained silent, giving off an ominously quiet air. "Or do you want this woman? I''ll give her to you. You can do whatever you want with her." Brother Huoniu quickly knelt and stepped aside, pointing at the woman and said urgently. The woman, who was tied up, shuddered at his words, looking at Hao Jian with dread, afraid that he would ept Brother Huoniu''s offer. Just then, Hao Jian shook his head: "I don''t want anything, just your death." As his voice faded, he stepped forward, and with a stomp, a "crack" echoed! Brother Huoniu clutched his groin, howling in agony, his forehead bulging with veins, his face turning a ghastly green. His lower body was crushed to a pulp! "So fond of toying with women, huh? I''ll cripple your tool, so you won''t even be able to mess with female ghosts in theherworld!" Hao Jian said coldly. "You. You have such a vicious mind!" Venom covered Brother Huoniu''s face as Hao Jian tormented him before delivering the killing blow. "Whoosh!" Hao Jian''s leg swept out, whipping up a fierce gust, sending Brother Huoniu''s head flying off his shoulders. Brother Huoniu died with his eyes wide open, hatred for Hao Jian still etched on his lifeless face as it flew out the window andnded in the nearby grass, where several Dobermans promptly tore it to shreds. "Ah!" The young woman screamed at the sight of the headless body still spurting blood and uneasily eyed Hao Jian, terrified that he might kill her as well. Hao Jian nced at her indifferently, then stepped forward to snap the ropes binding her with a flick of his wrist before he took off his overcoat and threw it to her: "Wrap yourself in the clothes!" The young woman hesitated, then obediently draped the coat around herself, but asked somewhat timidly: "You... you''re not going to kill me?" "Do I have a grudge against you?" Hao Jian looked at her curiously. The young woman shook her head; it was her first time meeting Hao Jian¡ªhow could she possibly have a grudge against him? "There you go. If we don''t have a grudge, why would I kill you?" Hao Jian curled his lips. "..." "You don''t think I''m some murderer who thinks nothing of human life, do you?" Hao Jian said, clearly displeased. "Mhm." The young woman nodded her head somewhat ashamedly, admitting that she did indeed harbor that thought after witnessing Hao Jian''s fierce demeanor. She was not superstitious at all, but after seeing the way Hao Jian had behaved just moments ago, she couldn''t help but wonder if demons really did exist in this world. "What a joke, have you ever seen a killer as handsome as me?" The young woman was left speechless, staring dumbfounded. The man had transformed from a cold-blooded assassin to a goofball in an instant¡ªhad the change in character ever been so abrupt? "Wait here for me. I''m going to off Brother Huoniu''s boss, and then I''ll get you out of here," Hao Jian told the young woman, before moving toward the door. "What? You aren''t running away? There are dozens of armed thugs here, and more than a dozen hunting dogs. How can you possibly handle them all by yourself?" The young woman said anxiously, now hoping only that Hao Jian would take her and leave immediately, as she alone had no chance of escaping this trap. "Wait here for me." But Hao Jian seemed disinclined to exin; after dropping that line, he went straight out the door. No sooner had he left the room, he saw a group of over a dozen people with a pack of Dobermans running towards him, clearly having heard the gunshots. "Who are you! Where''s Huoniu?" The leading Baldy was obviously the boss, his face covered in frightening scars as he barked at Hao Jian.N?v(el)B\\jnn At the same time, the pack of drooling Dobermans he was holding strained at their leashes, barking wildly at Hao Jian, eager to tear him to pieces. "Brother Huoniu? Dead," Hao Jian replied nonchntly. "Dead? How?" Baldy was stunned. Brother Huoniu had been killed at their own stronghold? Was that even possible? "I killed him," said Hao Jian with a slight smile. Hearing this, Baldy flinched, then red at Hao Jian with annoyance: "To dare kill a high-ranking member of the Dragon Tiger Gang in our own headquarters, kid, you''ve really got some guts, huh?" Chapter 122 Shouldnt you thank me? "Brother Huoniu is one of the top brass in your gang?" Hao Jian said with a smirk. "Then it seems the Dragon Tiger Gang reallycks talent. How about this¡ªI''ll introduce a talented individual to your gang." "What kind of talent?" Baldy demanded. "A man of courage and strategy, charming and dashing, carefree and unrestrained, adored by all, ady-killer whom people wee and cars stop for! That would be me!" Hao Jian said,ughing. "Are you fucking with me?" Baldy''s eyes suddenly turned vicious. "Messing with you? I''m quite serious in discussing this matter. You go back and have a good talk with your Gang Leader. If he is willing to step down gracefully, then I won''t kill him," Hao Jian said with a teasing tone. "Tear him to shreds!" In an instant, Baldy released the dozen or so Dobermans that charged towards Hao Jian. "Daring to run wild on Dragon Tiger Gang''s turf, you''re really asking for it." "My babies, kill him! He''s your dinner tonight!" The other mafia members also burst intoughter, believing that with so many Dobermans attacking at once, Hao Jian was certainly doomed. But at that moment, Hao Jian spat, stomped the ground fiercely, and roared at the attacking Dobermans: "Scram!" A wave of sound burst forth instantaneously, and the Dobermans immediately cried out in pain, fleeing in a disgraceful panic. "What?" Baldy and the others were dumbfounded, utterly unprepared for this turn of events. Beasts aren''t like humans; they have a perception of danger. When they sense danger, they tend to run away. Just now, they detected an extremely terrifying aura emanating from Hao Jian and subconsciously ssified him as a fierce beast like a lion or tiger, losing their will to fight immediately. "These dogs have already been scared off; now it''s your turn, you dogs," Hao Jian said contemptuously, looking at Baldy. "You''re asking for it!" Baldy drew his gun. "I''ll give you one chance: put away the gun, and I''ll pretend nothing happened. Otherwise, I will send you to meet your maker," Hao Jian said, the smile on his face growing more sinister. "Asking for it!" Baldy, subconsciously readying to pull the trigger, saw in that moment that Hao Jian''s figure vanished from where he stood. By then, Hao Jian had appeared beside him at some unknown moment, his voice soft yet menacing, "You people never learn to behave." Momentster, Hao Jian stood on thewn, with a dozen bodies lying around him haphazardly. Hao Jian was like someone bathed in blood, truly a blood-soaked figure. Looking at the bodies on the ground, he then picked up his phone and made a call: "I want to see you at the Dragon Tiger Gang''s headquarters within half an hour, or else you will bear the consequences!" Upon hearing the dial tone on the other end, Brother Spice Ginger was still in a daze! How did Hao Jian know his phone number? Why was he asking him to go to Fourth Gu''s territory? Could it be that he had joined forces with Fourth Gu to get rid of him? The Baldy who was killed was Brother Spice Ginger''s rival, Fourth Gu, who had always beenpeting with Spice Ginger for territory. And now, Hao Jian had asked him to go to Fourth Gu''s ce, which naturally made him anxious. "Boss, what''s wrong?" His underling, seeing his pale face as if he had seen a ghost, couldn''t help but ask. "To Fourth Gu''s headquarters," Spice Ginger sighed and finally decided to obey. "What? Boss, you''re not joking, are you?" Brother Spice Ginger''s underling was dumbfounded. Heading to Fourth Gu''s stronghold? Wasn''t that seeking death? With their enmity with Fourth Gu, wouldn''t Fourth Gu want to kill them all? "Do I look like I''m joking?" Brother Spice Ginger snorted coldly, although he was also annoyed. He didn''t want to go either, but the problem was he had no choice. People like Hao Jian were not someone he could afford to provoke. Perhaps if he went, he might be able to beg Hao Jian to spare his life, and if all else failed, he would surrender all his territories to Fourth Gu. But if he didn''t go, once Hao Jian came knocking, he would be doomed for sure. He had no confidence in dealing with that kind of monster. "Maybe I should call some more people?" the underling asked. "No need, just prepare a few people for me," Brother Spice Ginger waved his hand dismissively, knowing that if Hao Jian wanted him dead, no amount of people would make a difference. Half an hourter, Brother Spice Ginger indeed appeared at Fourth Gu''s stronghold, only to find that no one was standing guard, and not a single figure was present at the entrance.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "This is really weird. Why isn''t there anyone on guard? Could this be a trap?" an underling said uneasily. Upon hearing this, Brother Spice Ginger also couldn''t help but be nervous. The atmosphere was too strange, and he feared that as soon as they entered the stronghold, a bunch of people with submachine guns would rush out and spray their car with bullets. Yet, Brother Spice Ginger still had someone drive the car in. After proceeding about ten meters, he saw a corpse, then a second, and a third. Brother Spice Ginger found that the entire stronghold was littered with dead bodies. Suddenly, Brother Spice Ginger realized something, his eyes emitting an extremely sharp light, and he urged his men, "Drive faster!" Before long, Brother Spice Ginger found Hao Jian on thewn, covered in blood. He hastily pushed the car door open and scrambled towards Hao Jian. Then, he saw Fourth Gu''s corpse lying at Hao Jian''s feet, with a head being stepped on under his boot. Brother Spice Ginger felt a chill throughout his body. Fourth Gu was dead? Killed by Hao Jian? "Mr. Hao Jian." Find your adventure at empire Brother Spice Ginger bowed his head low and respectfully bowed. "Brother Spice Ginger, I believe you''re quite familiar with who he is, right?" Hao Jian turned back to nce at Brother Spice Ginger, then kicked Fourth Gu''s head over to him. "Of course I''m familiar. He was the Gang Leader of the Dragon Tiger Gang, the sworn enemy of my Four Seas Gang." Brother Spice Ginger looked at Fourth Gu''s head, his scalp feeling as if it were exploding, yet he didn''t understand why Hao Jian brought this up. "Since I''ve taken care of your sworn enemy for you, don''t you think you owe me some gratitude?" Hao Jian said with a smile, looking at Brother Spice Ginger. Brother Spice Ginger shivered and said, "Whatever thanks Mr. Hao Jian requires, please do tell." "I want you to swallow the entire Dragon Tiger Gang for me!" Hao Jian''s gaze burned fiercely as he looked at Brother Spice Ginger. "That..." Brother Spice Ginger hesitated. The strength of the Dragon Tiger Gang was not far off from that of his own Four Seas Gang. How could he just swallow them up like that? "I''ve already killed the Gang Leader of the Dragon Tiger Gang, so now they will surely be headless dragons. If you don''t make a move now, are you waiting for them to appoint a new leader?" Hao Jian''s lips curled with a hint of cold amusement. Now was the test to see if Brother Spice Ginger had the guts. If Brother Spice Ginger was bold enough, then wealth and glory awaited; if not, then he should quietly await his undoing. Regardless, Hao Jian would not stand by and let the Dragon Tiger Gang continue to exist. If Brother Spice Ginger refused to work with him, he would seek out other gangs. By then, perhaps even Brother Spice Ginger''s Four Seas Gang would be swallowed up. "Fine, I''m in!" Brother Spice Ginger gritted his teeth and red, choosing to agree! He knew that fortune favors the bold, and if he eliminated the Dragon Tiger Gang, he could truly dominate the East City District. Chapter 123 We Are Not People from the Same World! "I just don''t understand why Mr. Hao Jian has to wipe out the Dragon Tiger Gang," Brother Spice Ginger said, somewhat puzzled. "Even if you have a feud with Fourth Gu, killing him should suffice. Why bother going to such lengths?" "Because I don''t like trouble," Hao Jian replied. "I know that after I kill Fourth Gu, his underlings will definitelye after me. And I''m aware of the tactics that you in the Mafia are ustomed to using: kidnapping, threatening. I''m not afraid of them, but I don''t want the people around me to be troubled by them. That''s why I want them to disappear forever. Do you understand?" Even though Hao Jian had already killed everyone here, there are no walls in the world that arepletely imprable! The most terrifying thing about the Mafia is their informationwork. They might not be able to trace it to him now, but sooner orter, they would. Hao Jian couldn''t take that risk. Upon hearing this, Brother Spice Ginger was stunned, hesitating with a conflicted expression. After pondering for more than a minute, he finally seemed to make up his mind: "Mr. Hao Jian, I have an inappropriate request to make." Hao Jian frowned: "Speak." "I want to follow you," Brother Spice Ginger said, bowing his head heavily, yet his expression was resolute. "Oh? Why?" Hao Jian looked at Brother Spice Ginger with interest, curious to know what would make him willing to give up the position of Gang Leader. "Because on you, I see something that normal people don''t have," Brother Spice Ginger said with a wry smile. "I never believed in the so-called King''s Aura until I met you. You have a quality that makes people involuntarily want to submit." "Actually, I hesitated just now. After all, I am the leader of a gang; I''m the biggest figure within it. But I realized that while I can bully ordinary people around, I am no different from an ant in front of someone like you. I don''t want to continue like this. I want to follow you, have you lead us to the peak, to truly reign supreme! I know I can''t do it, but you can!" Brother Spice Ginger''s gaze was fixed on Hao Jian with determination. A man who ughters dozens of armed Mafia members is someone capable of sweeping through all gangs if he were in the Mafia. Brother Spice Ginger wasn''t foolish; he knew that if he worked alone, he''d just be a local hegemon, but if he followed Hao Jian, he might be a meritorious minister before the Emperor of the Huaxia underworld. Find more chapters on empire Whenpared, the importance of these options was clear at a nce. Hao Jian chuckled: "You''re a smart one." Brother Spice Ginger''s eyes lit up¡ªcould it be that Hao Jian was considering his proposal? "But I''m not interested in that right now. Let''s finish the task I''ve given you first, then we can talk," Hao Jian said with a slight smile. All he wanted now was to live a normal life; he had no interest in the position of Gang Leader. Moreover, in the real world, many may bully a few, but in the underworld, that tactic doesn''t work. In the underworld, there are true masters who can kill hundreds in an instant. Brother Spice Ginger''s proposal was meaningless to him and could even be a burden. "Alright then." Brother Spice Ginger said somewhat disappointedly, nodding his head. He knew it wouldn''t be easy to get Hao Jian to ept him; after all, he was of no use to Hao Jian at this point. Hao Jian said no more and turned back into Brother Huoniu''s room. "Let''s go," he said to the young woman. "And them?" she asked, meekly, not daring to move. "They''re all dead." "Dead, all of them? You killed them?" the young wife was shocked. Had Hao Jian really killed dozens of people and over ten dogs by himself? "Are you leaving or not?" Hao Jian asked impatiently. "I''m going, I''m going. No need to be fierce." The young wife, barefooted, followed behind Hao Jian, exiting from another side. As they were leaving, they encountered the pack of Dobermans. Just when the young wife thought they would pounce, she saw them hanging their heads low, looking at Hao Jian with fear, as if begging for mercy. "What''s wrong with them?" the young wife asked, staring at the Dobermans. "I don''t know," Hao Jian replied expressionlessly. "Oh," the young wife pursed her lips but watching Hao Jian''s retreating figure, her eyes filled with an indescribable emotion. What kind of man was this guy, really? To avoid a simr situation from happening again, Hao Jian proposed to drop the young wife off at her doorstep, but at that moment, she suddenly didn''t want to get out of the car. "Um, my name is Su Xinya, what''s your name?" Su Xinya asked Hao Jian. "I don''t want to know who you are, nor will I tell you who I am. We''re not from the same world, and there shouldn''t be any interactions between us. So you''d better go back, wash up and get some sleep, and stop asking so many questions," Hao Jian said, ncing at Su Xinya with a hint of coolness. Su Xinya bit her lip, but still persisted: "But I should return your clothes, right? How about you leave me a contact so I can send them back to youter?" "There''s no need, consider the clothes a gift to you," Hao Jian said, without giving her any chance. He knew what Su Xinya was thinking, so he had to nip her idea in the bud before she could act on it. "Oh," Su Xinya gave a wistful smile, opened the car door, and got out. Hao Jian didn''t pause at all, he simply started the car and drove off in a cloud of dust.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Watching the car disappear into the distance, Su Xinya clenched her fists. After standing in the wind for a few minutes, realizing that Hao Jian really wasn''ting back, she unwillingly turned and walked back inside. When Hao Jian got home, it was nearing dawn. To avoid letting Shu Ya see him in a wretched state, he specifically stopped at a hotel to shower and change into clean clothes beforeing back. But as soon as he opened the door, he saw Shu Ya asleep on the sofa, curled up and resembling a little cat. Clearly, she had been waiting for himst night and had identally fallen asleep while doing so. Feeling moved and guilty, Hao Jian walked over and nudged Shu Ya: "My dear wife, go back to the room and sleep." Shu Ya opened her bleary eyes and seeing Hao Jian return, she immediately perked up, pointing at him and cursing: "You son of a bitch, where have you been messing around again? Coming back at dawn, why don''t you just die out there?" What the heck, this sounds like an old married couple''s bickering, but we aren''t even married yet, are we? Hao Jian touched his nose, somewhat amused and at a loss for words: "I was celebrating a friend''s birthday yesterday, and I identally stayed out toote." Shu Ya let out a hoarseugh: "With disaster looming, you still have the mood to hang out with your fair-weather friends?" "Disaster looming? What happened?" Hao Jian was taken aback. Chapter 124 Need Your Help! "What''s up? Do I have to ask you about this? You''ve only been at thepany for a few days, and you''ve already managed to offend several departments. Did you know they''re joining forces to impeach you?" Shu Ya was very angry, this damned guy, always causing trouble for her. "Come on, what''s the big deal? Just brush them off with a few words, and everything will be fine, right? They wouldn''t dare to contradict you, would they?" Hao Jian didn''t understand why Shu Ya was making such a big fuss. It wasn''t the first time, after all. Was it really necessary? "You make it sound so simple, but this time Su Qin and her lover, the major shareholder, are pressuring me to fire you, or they''ll withdraw their investment immediately! Thepany is about to go public, and if he pulls out now, all our previous efforts will have been in vain." "Damn, that means Su Qin must be really good in bed to make the major shareholder do so much for her," Hao Jian said, grinning cheekily. "Are you still in the mood to joke? Do you realize that the major shareholder has specially called a meeting about this tomorrow? If I can''t persuade them, I''ll have no choice but to fire you," Shu Ya said angrily. "Then fire me, if they won''t keep me here, there are other ces that will." Hao Jian shrugged his shoulders, appearing unconcerned. It was just a job, after all; if he lost it, he would just find another. "But if you''re not at thepany, wouldn''t our ns fall apart?" "How could that be? I can just peacefully stay at home as a kept man. If anyone asks, you can just say you keep me around because you''re infatuated with my good looks," Hao Jian said unashamedly, chuckling. Shu Ya gritted her teeth and said, "Keep dreaming. If you get fired, I''ll send you to work as aborer in the branch office!" "Damn, is that harsh?" Hao Jian was astounded, as that would mean doing hardbor. "You''d better pray," she said. Explore new worlds at empire Shu Ya snorted and returned to her room, then mmed the door with a loud ''bang''. "This damn guy, I''m so worried about him, but he''s still in the mood to joke? If he gets fired, he deserves it!" Back in the living room, Hao Jian touched his nose and then picked up his phone, smirking ominously, "Thinking of firing me? Easier said than done." "Hello, it''s me. I need a favor tomorrow." ... The next day, Hao Jian and Shu Ya went to work together. Hao Jian looked as carefree as ever, but Shu Ya appeared deeply distracted. Seeing this, Hao Jian was somewhat moved; he knew she was worried about keeping his job. As soon as Hao Jian drove into the parking lot, Xiao Qiang quickly approached and knocked on Shu Ya''s car window: "President, they''re all waiting for you in the conference room." "Are they that eager?" Shu Ya scoffed, then turned to look at Hao Jian beside her, falling back into confusion. "Don''t worry, you go up first. I''ll be there in a bit," Hao Jian said with a smile, signaling it was no big deal. Shu Ya nodded her head slightly, then pushed open the car door and stepped out.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Su Qin''s lover, named Zhou Zixiong, was thepany''s secondrgest shareholder. Like most entrepreneurs, he sported a protruding belly and a bald head, dressed in a suit, yet still managed to look respectable. At that moment, Zhou Zixiong and Su Qin sat together, their expressions full of impatience, with Zhou Zixiong even holding a cigar in his mouth, looking quite dashing but also very arrogant. When Shu Ya entered and saw Zhou Zixiong like this, she immediately frowned. It was a strict rule that no smoking was allowed in the meeting room. Zhou Zixiong must have been aware of this, and yet he chose to ignore it, clearly intending to challenge her authority. Shu Ya sat in the chairman''s seat and smiled, "To call a high-level meeting just over a driver seems a bit too much, doesn''t it?" Zhou Zixiong flicked the ash from his cigar and chuckled sinisterly, "Hehe¡­ it indeed seems too much, but only if this driver hadn''t significantly disrupted the internal operations of thepany. Otherwise, it''s a different matter entirely." "Yes, President! Vice Chairman Zhou has a point. Hao Jian has been loafing around thepany every day, harassing female colleagues and hooking up with male colleagues, turning ourpany into a mess. Such a man is a scourge; if we let him continue to stay in thepany, I''m afraid the wholepany will be in chaos," Su Qin hurriedly chimed in. "I agree, my security department has been thrown into chaos by him already. Those guards no longer listen to mymands," Foreman Liang said bitterly. "I also support firing him. Last time, Hao Jian even blocked me from essing the warehouse and was extremely arrogant about it," Sun Minghui also spoke up. These three were the most eager to see Hao Jian ousted from thepany because all three had suffered under him and could do nothing about it. They had always been the ones bullying others, but ever since Hao Jian had arrived, they had only been bullied. Moreover, since Shu Ya did not discipline him, they had no choice but to resort to this strategy. Zhou Zixiong was there today to support Su Qin. Who in thepany didn''t know that Su Qin was his woman? A mere driver had bullied his woman, and he could not just let that stand. Shu Ya''s brow furrowed deeply, realizing that the situation was indeed very serious. "Shu Ya, make a decision. He''s just a driver. Firing him won''t make any difference to ourpany," Zhou Zixiong pressed directly. "You said it yourself, he''s just a driver. Then why must you make things difficult for him?" Shu Ya retorted with a coldugh, watching Zhou Zixiong. "Hey, it''s not just me who''s making things difficult for him. You must have heard what the three directors just said. There''s no need to mention what sort of person that kid is. How can we keep such a morally deficient employee in thepany?" Zhou Zixiong yed the old fox, skillfully employing Tai Chi to shift the responsibility onto Su Qin and the others. Shu Ya silently cursed Zhou Zixiong for his cunning, thinking that if he hadn''t called this meeting, how much trouble could these directors really have stirred up? "He''s my rtive. Could you give him some face?" Shu Ya asked sternly. The shareholders looked at each other, feeling that this matter was trivial and decided to give Shu Ya the face she requested. After all, it was just a driver, and it wouldn''t really impact thepany significantly. However, Zhou Zixiong wasn''t ready to let Hao Jian off the hook and said slowly: "Shu Ya, you can''t say it like that. I think you understand the irritation caused by a grain of sand in a shoe. Although it may not affect the fundamentals, it will ultimately make people ufortable. Moreover, a small issue can easily grow into a bigger one! What if someone sees this driver acting so carelessly and decides to imitate him without facing any repercussions? What if someone uses you of favoritism? Wouldn''t your authority as the president be undermined?" Hearing this, the shareholders felt it made sense and began nodding their heads in agreement. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!