Chapter 112: Master Above All!

At this moment, Cheng Youyou suddenly lost her composure.

Something about this was wrong.

Cheng Youyou had a reason for choosing to call Cheng Yushui. Her third brother, Cheng Yushui, had always been a man who prioritized the big picture. Although she had always harbored an instinctive resistance toward his arrogance, she knew him well enough to believe he would help with this matter.

Yet, the call had been abruptly disconnected.

Cheng Youyou’s expression grew grave. Hu Jianshe, noticing the look on her face, pondered for a moment. Seeming to guess what had happened, he gave a cold, mocking laugh. "Well, Ms. Cheng? Didn't I tell you? Even your own family knows exactly what kind of temper I, Hu Jianshe, have. Forget it, Ms. Cheng, you’d better not get involved in this mess."

Hu Jianshe lit a cigarette and added with a half-smile, "To put it bluntly, if you were the one in trouble, your family would step in immediately. Or rather, I couldn't possibly hold you accountable. But... for a mere male friend of yours? Do you really think the Cheng family would care? I suspect that if I break this kid today, your family might even thank me for getting rid of an annoying fly for them!"

Smart. This man was very smart.

Cheng Youyou realized it in an instant. She had felt something was off earlier. Even if Hu Jianshe was a ruthless man, she was still a daughter of the Cheng family. Hu Jianshe wasn't stupid; he wouldn't offend the Cheng family just for the sake of reputation. Therefore, he had known from the very beginning that the person he was targeting was not a member of the Cheng family at all.

Connecting this to the way her third brother, Cheng Yushui, had hung up on her, she sensed that Hu Jianshe's analysis was spot on. If he beat up Ling Qiu today, he wouldn't be hated by the Cheng family; on the contrary, it might even be seen as a way to curry favor with them. Anyone with eyes knew she was nothing more than a bargaining chip for the family's strategic marriages. Why would they ever allow her to be so close to a poor boy?

A wave of sorrow washed over her. It was true—everyone in the province knew she was just a tool for the Cheng family's alliances. Even this man, Hu Jianshe, treated her with a lack of respect that he would never dare show if she were a male member of the Cheng family.

"No!" Cheng Youyou gritted her teeth. "No matter what, you cannot touch Ling Qiu today! Unless you take me down first!" She then struck a Taekwondo stance.

***

Seeing this, Ling Qiu suddenly remembered—he had almost forgotten that Cheng Youyou knew a thing or two about fighting; after all, she was the vice-president of the school’s Taekwondo club.

"Ms. Cheng, you are a member of the Cheng family. I respect you too much to ever lay a hand on you," Hu Jianshe said, waving his hand. "Someone, escort the young lady out."

He glanced coldly at Ling Qiu. "Kid, you’re certainly keeping your cool. Don't think that just because you tricked a Cheng girl with sweet talk, you can act lawlessly. Let me tell you, in the eyes of the Cheng family, you’re nothing but trash. I’m doing them a favor by teaching you a lesson today."

*Clang!*

He suddenly produced a golden dagger and drove it deep into the wooden table with a dull thud. Hu Jianshe smiled sinisterly. "If you don't want to suffer,乖乖 (behave) and leave three of your fingers behind. Then, I'll call it even."

*Bang!*

Just as Ling Qiu was about to move, a loud crash erupted from downstairs! It sounded like the rolling metal shutter being smashed open from the outside. Immediately after, a chaotic sound of footsteps approached the floor.

"Huh?" Hu Jianshe’s expression tightened. "What’s going on? You lot, go check it out!"

His lackeys rushed out, but they were immediately kicked back inside. They tumbled to the floor in a heap. Hu Jianshe was stunned. "What the hell? Has the world gone mad? What’s wrong with everyone today? Do they have a death wish, causing trouble on my turf? It seems I haven't shown my hand in a while; these young punks have forgotten how terrifying I can be!"

Hu Jianshe yanked the golden dagger from the table and stood up, his face twisted with malice. But just as he was about to step out the door, a tall, thin figure in a crisp suit appeared.

"Hu Jianshe, it’s been a long time. Your courage has certainly grown."

The voice was cold and detached, carrying an inherent, commanding pressure. Hu Jianshe froze at the sight of the newcomer. In an instant, his ferocious aura vanished completely.

"Cheng... Third Young Master Cheng?!"

It was true. The man in the sharp suit was none other than Cheng Yushui, the third of the five Cheng brothers.

"Third Brother?!" Cheng Youyou felt a sudden surge of joy. To be honest, this was the first time she had ever felt the presence of "family." Growing up, she had always been treated as a useless bargaining chip or a decorative vase, leading her to instinctively resist everyone in her family—including Cheng Yushui, though he had at least never mocked her to her face.

Now, she found it hard to believe that for the first time, she felt cared for by her own kin. It was the first time in her life she didn't find the Cheng family so detestable. Even more shocking was that when Cheng Yushui looked at her, the usual coldness was gone, replaced by a smile.

"Little sister, I’m sorry. Third brother is late."

Cheng Youyou’s heart skipped a beat, and her nose stung. She nearly broke down in tears. Was this really the cold, arrogant Third Brother she knew?

Meanwhile, Ling Qiu, who had remained still, smiled slightly. He lit a cigarette and watched the scene with leisurely interest. Seeing Cheng Yushui’s attitude, he understood—the "lesson" from last night had clearly taken effect.

Cheng Yushui glanced subconsciously at Ling Qiu. But he looked away instantly, his eyes filled with a trace of something like fear. He turned his gaze back to Hu Jianshe, his expression turning icy. "Hu Jianshe, you’ve locked my sister in this restaurant and surrounded her with your men. What? Is your life too long?"