Chapter 17

Inside the private room, colorful lights flickered overhead. Xu Yichen was at the center, surrounded by a crowd of men and women.

“Brother Chen, what’s the event tonight?”

“Celebrating the fact that we only have half a month left of summer vacation.”

Everyone frowned, their faces full of resistance.

“Don’t bring up the one thing I don’t want to think about—I never realized how two months could just fly by like that.”

“Back when we were in school, time dragged on forever. Now it’s gone in the blink of an eye. Finally, I get what they mean by ‘time flies like an arrow, the sun and moon like a shuttle.’”

A girl sneaked a glance at Xie Huai, who rarely showed up and sat in the corner, then quickly looked away as if she hadn’t seen anything. Blushing, she asked, “Where’s Sister Qian? Why isn’t she here?”

Xu Yichen checked the time. Fang Qian had just messaged that they were nearby, but ten minutes had passed and she still hadn’t arrived.

“She should be here soon. She brought a new friend with her, so be nice when they get here—don’t scare them off.”

Someone asked, “Is that the one who just joined the group today?”

Xu Yichen nodded but didn’t say who it was, keeping Qi Xu’s identity a secret.

Jiang Zimu called Fang Qian but got no answer.

He turned to Xie Huai and said, “Huai, she’s not answering. I want to call Qi—”

He paused, looking troubled. “This phone doesn’t have his contact info.”

Usually, Qi Xu carried his personal phone, but since it was charging on the nightstand, he had just grabbed this phone used for recording and drawing.

Xie Huai pulled out his phone. “I’ll call him.”

Jiang Zimu spoke frankly, “Didn’t you say yesterday you didn’t add him to your contacts?”

Xie Huai said calmly, “The phone number is 11 digits. I can remember it after just hearing it once.”

Jiang Zimu couldn’t help but sigh, thinking, so this is how a science whiz’s mind works.

Without hesitation, Xie Huai pressed the 11-digit number and dialed.

The call connected, but the other side didn’t answer for a long time. Xie Huai’s expression visibly darkened.

Just before the call was about to hang up automatically, someone picked up.

“Qi Xu.”

There was no response on the other end, only the sound of glass breaking.

Xie Huai said sternly, “Xu Yichen, mute your phone.”

Xu Yichen quickly turned off the music and looked nervously at Xie Huai.

More noise followed — disorderly shouting, filthy curses, the sound of shoes scraping the ground, and heavy, rapid breathing.

“Back alley behind the bar.”

Xie Huai frowned hearing Qi Xu’s voice, then a sharp “Be careful” came through — the call dropped.

It was Fang Qian’s voice.

Xie Huai gripped his phone, stood up, and said to Xu Yichen, “Get Lao Gao and the others here immediately.”

Lao Gao was Xie Huai’s personal bodyguard who hadn’t come along today because it was a private event.

Xu Yichen sensed something was wrong and hurried after him, anxiously asking, “Did something happen?”

“Back alley behind the bar,” Xie Huai answered briefly, quickening his pace.

In the alley, Fang Qian held a stun baton, a slight look of excitement on her face.

“This gift from Xu Yichen finally gets to be useful.”

Qi Xu watched her silently, a trace of respect in his eyes.

Six men stood blocking the alleyway, their bodies blocking the light from the eaves.

The leader, a tattooed man wearing a gold chain, sneered at the stun baton in Fang Qian’s hand.

“This thing’s worth a couple hundred at least if you hit me with it. What good’s it gonna do?”

One of his men chimed in, “Our boss’s got a soft spot for ladies. If you wanna protect yourself, just stay out of our way.”

Their target was Qi Xu. Fang Qian exchanged a glance with him — everything was understood without words.

Clearly, these guys only recognized Qi Xu and didn’t know Fang Qian. Someone probably showed them a photo and they were just the hired muscle.

The tattooed man eyed Qi Xu up and down, thinking he looked weak and pampered — a single punch would knock him out, so why bother sending so many?

He made a hand signal to his men, his greasy eyes roaming over Fang Qian’s fair face.

“Don’t mess up that pretty face of yours. I’m gonna enjoy this later…”

Before he could finish, Qi Xu grabbed an empty beer bottle from a nearby trash can and swung it hard against the man’s head.

The man didn’t even have time to scream before the bottle shattered on him.

That was the signal.

Fang Qian charged forward in her high heels.

“I’m a black belt in empty-hand combat. You better enjoy this!”

Qi Xu hadn’t stopped her when she delivered a sharp side kick with her stiletto to one of the henchmen’s heads.

The tattooed leader, bleeding and furious, glared at Qi Xu and snarled, “Get him!”

The men pulled out knives from their waists, the cold steel flashing in Qi Xu’s eyes.

Qi Xu frowned, grabbed Fang Qian, and started running deeper into the alley.

His phone vibrated in his pocket.

He shoved Fang Qian into a small side passage and blocked the only entrance himself.

Breathing heavily, he answered the phone with a hoarse voice.

“Back alley behind the bar.”

The thugs were close behind. One lunged at Qi Xu with a fruit knife.

Fang Qian gasped, “Watch out!”

The phone dropped to the ground. Qi Xu quickly grabbed the stun baton from Fang Qian’s hand and expertly swung it aside, sidestepping the man’s knife. He raised his hand and fiercely struck the thug’s waist with the baton, then skillfully disarmed him.

The shocked thug went limp all over, collapsing like a popped balloon.

Fang Qian had just taken down another one. The tattooed leader, his face covered in blood and supported by a henchman, staggered forward. Seeing another of his men down so fast, only two remained standing.

Qi Xu crouched to pick up a knife from the ground, then looked up at the tattooed man with cold, menacing eyes. “Playing for keeps? That’s a bit much. Wasn’t your boss just supposed to teach me a lesson? If someone dies, that’s self-defense on my part—no charges. But for you…”

He suddenly smiled, dragging the knife across the fallen thug’s face, making fresh blood run down.

From those amber eyes, the tattooed man saw ruthless cruelty—and an inexplicable excitement. A shiver of fear ran through him as his blood seemed to reverse flow to his head.

“Crazy bastard.”

His henchman, holding him up, was spooked by the scene, his voice trembling, “Boss… what do we do?”

“You can’t take the money and not do the job.” The tattooed man shoved the man forward, “No knives.”

The three men dropped their weapons, and Qi Xu tossed his knife aside as well.

When Xie Huai and the others arrived at the back alley behind the bar, the ground was littered with bodies twisted in all directions. Leaning against the wall sat Qi Xu, one knee bent, a cigarette between his lips ready to be lit.

He kicked the ground and said, “Lighter.”

The tattooed man nervously fumbled in his pocket and handed over a cheap knockoff Zippo lighter.

The roles of victim and assailant flipped in an instant.

Just as Qi Xu was about to light the cigarette, a sharply boned hand snatched it from his mouth, grabbed his chin, and tilted his head back.

Under the dim light, a pair of cold, unfathomable eyes rose, looking indifferently at the person in front of him.

Those behind him saw the fresh blood on the corner of Qi Xu’s mouth and a bruise on his forehead. Compared to the battered bodies on the ground, he had only minor injuries.

The hand on his chin tightened involuntarily. Qi Xu frowned slightly and turned his head to break free.

Xu Yichen ran in, asking, “Fang Qian?”

Fang Qian’s voice came from the alley, “Come here, help me up.”

Xu Yichen’s face went pale. He hurried forward to check her thoroughly, then breathed a sigh of relief when he found she had only sprained her ankle.

Fang Qian came out and immediately asked Qi Xu, “How are you?”

Xu Yichen supported her and said, “Ah Huai is with him.”

Lao Gao and the others cleared the scene, carrying away the injured. Qi Xu didn’t move, not even raising his eyes. His long lashes drooped, hiding his expression.

Without warning, Xu Yichen squatted down in front of Fang Qian. “Get on.”

Fang Qian’s foot hurt badly, sharp stabbing pain. She didn’t hesitate and climbed onto Xu Yichen’s back.

Jiang Zimu buzzed around anxiously like a headless fly in front of Qi Xu and Fang Qian.

A car was waiting at the alley entrance with the door open, ready to take them to the hospital.

After the injured were cleared away, Xie Huai noticed the knives pressed under some bodies. His eyes turned cold.

“Was this hand-to-hand or a full-on fight?”

Qi Xu’s voice was hoarse. “If it were a full fight, no hospital—straight to the crematorium.”

Xie Huai stared at him. Seeing Qi Xu was still teasing back, it seemed he wasn’t seriously hurt.

Fang Qian was already in the car. Xu Yichen stood outside, anxiously watching the two still chatting calmly at the scene.

Qi Xu’s hand was weak. He leaned on the wall and slowly stood. His knuckles were scraped raw. On the more seriously injured hand, blood dripped down the back.

Xie Huai frowned deeply and stepped forward. “Want me to carry you?”