In contrast to He Maozhe’s smug satisfaction, Rong Jiang stormed out in a rage, slamming the door behind him. If he didn’t step out to vent, he feared the pent-up anger inside him would explode.
Rong Jiang had a delicate, pretty face—almost effeminate—compared to the equally refined Shen Mufan. His features were softer, more feminine, and his frame was slightly smaller, which was precisely why He Maozhe had chosen him to seduce Yi Jian Hanguang—Rong Haisheng, that narcissistic, chauvinistic, and terminally arrogant man who was obsessed with looks.
Shen Mufan, on the other hand, had a fragile, melancholic beauty, as if he rarely saw sunlight. Yet, in reality, he was tall and slender, and with a little grooming, he could easily pass as a cold, aloof male idol.
Right now, however, Rong Jiang’s face was flushed with anger, like a virtuous woman who had been harassed, adding an extra layer of allure to his appearance. But the suppressed fury in his eyes was growing increasingly intense. The mounting pressure from multiple fronts, combined with He Maozhe’s underhanded schemes, had left him mentally exhausted. Physically, he still had energy, but his spirit was utterly drained.
Yet, it seemed fate itself was conspiring against him. Just as he stepped out to clear his mind, his good looks and seemingly easy-to-bully demeanor caught the attention of a few thugs, who cornered him in a dim, deserted alley with no surveillance.
“Hey kid, we’re a bit short on cash. Mind lending us some? Don’t worry, we’re men of our word. Hand it over, and we’ll have your back from now on.”
Rong Jiang sneered. “Have my back? Ha! Robbing me in broad daylight and calling it ‘having my back’? How exactly do you plan to do that?” Neither He Maozhe nor that old man could be dealt with by a bunch of lowlifes like them. The audacity to make such a claim was downright laughable.
His attitude provoked them. One of the thugs pulled out a steel pipe, waving it threateningly, his eyes glinting with malice. “Oh, tough guy, huh? We were gonna go easy on you since you’re so pretty, but if you’re asking for it, we won’t hold back!”
The leader motioned with his hand. “Get him!”
Rong Jiang immediately fell into a fighting stance. *Perfect*, he thought. *I’ve been itching for a fight. Since they’re offering themselves up as punching bags, I won’t hold back either.*
The thugs hadn’t expected Rong Jiang—who looked as delicate and pretty as a girl—to fight like a demon. After one of them had his pipe wrested away and his arm twisted, the situation quickly reversed. What started as a group beating turned into Rong Jiang thrashing them single-handedly.
Nearby, a man and a woman watched the scene unfold. The tall, burly man was stunned, his expression shifting slightly as he observed Rong Jiang’s ruthless efficiency. *This aura, this brutality… Why does it feel so familiar?*
He glanced at Rong Jiang, who was now the one dishing out the beatings, then at the woman beside him—who was watching with keen interest—and fell into deep thought. *Is this what they call… the resemblance between legends?*
The woman—who was undeniably stunning—was thoroughly entertained, silently critiquing both Rong Jiang’s and the thugs’ fighting skills.
The thugs were nothing special, just your average street punks. But that pretty boy? He had real talent. Though his style was unrefined, lacking formal training, his natural aptitude was undeniable.
*Hmm. A promising candidate.* The woman—unofficially dubbed “Big Sis” by her companion—concluded with a nod.
Once the thugs were thoroughly beaten, Rong Jiang’s sharp, wolf-like gaze turned toward the onlookers, his posture defensive, as if suspecting they were accomplices.
The man quickly raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, don’t get the wrong idea! We’re not with them! Seriously!”
Rong Jiang studied them for a moment before relaxing slightly. “Yeah, I can tell. So, what do you want?”
Their attire alone set them apart from the thugs. The man and woman were dressed impeccably, their watches and bags clearly expensive and genuine. No way they were associated with street trash.
Relieved by the calmer atmosphere, the man introduced himself. “I’m Zhan Yunfei, and this is my… uh, *sister*,” he corrected hastily after receiving a kick from the woman. “Liu Di’er. We were on our way to meet friends for dinner when we saw those guys following you. Thought we’d check if you needed help. But, well…” He rubbed his head sheepishly. “Looks like you had it handled.”
Rong Jiang’s wariness faded further. “I’m Rong Jiang. Thanks for the thought. Since you’ve got plans, and I’ve got things to do, I’ll take my leave.”
Liu Di’er nodded gracefully. Tall and elegant, she exuded an air of cool detachment—a true ice queen. “Take care. Maybe we’ll meet again.”
With that, the three parted ways.
Having vented some of his frustration, Rong Jiang left the groaning thugs behind without a second thought. But his mind was still a whirlwind of schemes—He Maozhe, Rong Haisheng, that old bastard—each weighing heavily on him. He longed to beat them all senseless, but reality offered no such opportunity.
“Tch. The more I think, the angrier I get,” he muttered.
Meanwhile, Liu Di’er and Zhan Yunfei headed to the residence of their friend, Xie Jinghong, for a hotpot gathering.
Having officially started dating Shen Mufan and gradually moving in together, Xie Jinghong wanted to introduce his boyfriend to his inner circle. It was a way to integrate Shen Mufan into his social network and make their relationship public among friends.
Thanks to Xie Jinghong’s care and companionship, Shen Mufan’s social anxiety had improved significantly. At least now, hosting a small hotpot dinner with his boyfriend’s friends in their own home wasn’t an issue.
Yes, hotpot. Despite their wealthy backgrounds, they were all down-to-earth people.
On the way, Liu Di’er smirked, sending a shiver down Zhan Yunfei’s spine. He subtly inched away, wary of her unpredictable temper.
Their striking looks—her, a regal beauty; him, a ruggedly handsome giant—drew envious glances from passersby, who assumed they were a perfect couple. Reality, however, was far from it.
One was a violent, eccentric powerhouse; the other, a goofball.
Noticing her smirk, Zhan Yunfei leaned in cautiously. “Boss… what’re you planning for that Rong Jiang guy?”
Liu Di’er swiftly kicked him. “Who said I’m planning anything? Do I look like a bully to you?”
“Pfft, of course not! You’re the epitome of kindness—*ouch!*” He yelped as she narrowed her eyes.
Rolling hers, she ignored his antics. “I just think he’s interesting. Self-taught but skilled. Lots of potential. Maybe I’ll take him under my wing.”
“Oh?” Zhan Yunfei struck a cool pose, oblivious to the fluttering hearts of nearby girls. “I thought you were considering him as a boyfriend. I mean, he’s strong. Dating him would give you a sparring partner on demand.”
“Not a bad idea.” She eyed him suspiciously. “But you’re not scheming something else, are you?”
Zhan Yunfei put on an innocent face. “Me? Never! I wouldn’t dare!”
“Hmm~” She dragged out the syllable, studying him before dropping the subject.
“Enough chatter. Let’s hurry. If we’re late, those gluttons won’t leave us any food.”
With that, she strode ahead, long legs eating up the distance. Zhan Yunfei trailed behind, relieved she’d moved on—for now.
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