"Alright," Da Ya said, pulling Li Xiaoxiao along as they headed out.
"Don't go yet, have another look," the shop owner said immediately, seeing Da Ya and Li Xiaoxiao about to leave. "Then make an offer."
"Sixty!" Da Ya said without a second thought, turning back.
"Sixty! Sixty is definitely not enough! At least a hundred!" the shop owner countered. "If not, you can go browse somewhere else!"
"A hundred it is," this price was close to Li Xiaoxiao's budget. As she nodded, she saw Da Ya raise her hand and say, "And throw in another pair of socks!"
"Alright, alright, really, I've never met such shrewd young ladies. These shoes are brand new!" the shop owner said helplessly.
Watching the shop owner wrap the shoes and put in a new pair of socks, Da Ya and Li Xiaoxiao secretly high-fived.
Li Xiaozhong, standing outside the shoe store, smiled helplessly when he saw this, shaking his head to himself.
Never mind, as long as they were happy.
Da Ya had new clothes, shoes, and socks. Li Xiaoxiao also bought a new jacket for Li Xiaozhong, and then the three of them went for a late-night snack.
After the snack, Da Ya suddenly suggested, "I want to… go to the place where you found me."
"Hmm?" Li Xiaoxiao was startled by Da Ya's words. "You want to go there?"
"Yes," Da Ya nodded. "Maybe I can remember something."
Not being able to remember anything was always troublesome. She wanted to know who she was.
"That's fine," Li Xiaoxiao said. "We'll pass by on the way home anyway. But if anyone shows up, you need to stick close to us. If it gets too much, just run. You've memorized our home address anyway."
"Okay," Da Ya agreed, showing a faint smile.
At the same time, Miao Tong, who had been browsing the city of Z with his tablet for a long time, felt a bit hungry and decided to grab something to eat before continuing his search.
Earlier, at the Xia family's dinner, everyone had been concerned about his injury, which made him quite awkward and unable to eat much.
As he considered what to eat, his father Miao called again to inquire about his progress.
"No news yet," Miao Tong replied. "The Tang family is too cunning. Tang Jiaming always wears a human skin mask, and very few people have actually seen her true face."
"Indeed, probably because they've committed so many evils and fear retribution," Miao Father said. "I'll send you some photos. See if the figures match."
"Alright, send them over," Miao Tong agreed, settling down at a small food stall and ordering some grilled seafood skewers and mini wontons.
While waiting for his food, Miao Tong stared at his tablet, waiting for his father to send the photos.
Occasionally, a sea breeze blew by, carrying the smell of the sea and feeling quite cold.
Miao Tong shivered. The mini wontons arrived, and as he took a bite of the hot soup, his mouth pulled at his sore corner from opening it too wide, causing him to gasp.
Before he could take a second bite, he heard a "ding."
His father's photos had arrived.
Miao Tong immediately tapped his tablet to receive the photos, using two fingers to zoom in on the screen. He felt the quality of the candid shots was quite decent.
The figure was clear, though the face was fake and of little reference value. But the figure itself…
Miao Tong looked at the tablet screen while stirring the mini wontons in his bowl with a spoon. He took a breath and smelled a foul, medicinal odor mixed with the salty sea breeze.
"I never expected to run into a Tang family dog here. It's ruining my appetite," Miao Tong frowned, glancing in the direction opposite the food stall, rolling his eyes inwardly.
Then, as if remembering something, he raised his tablet and compared a photo with one of the three people opposite the food stall.
After comparing them several times, Miao Tong's eyes widened: "Tang Jiaming!"
It truly was a case of finding what you weren't looking for!
Miao Tong jumped up, ready to pursue, when a large hand landed on his shoulder.
Miao Tong tutted, "I'll pay later!" and tried to shake off the hand on his shoulder to continue.
But the next second, Miao Tong's face was met with a solid punch. This sudden blow stunned Miao Tong.
Immediately after, a plastic chair was smashed onto his back. The chair broke with a crack.
Miao Tong only managed to protect his head before feeling a sharp pain in his back. Fragments of the plastic chair scratched his cheek, causing a stinging sensation.
Then, the table at the food stall was also pushed over, and the entire bowl of hot wontons spilled onto Miao Tong's shoulders, scalding him. He gasped, unable to tell which part of his body hurt more.
Seeing a foot about to kick his abdomen, Miao Tong quickly braced himself with his hands and flipped over to dodge.
After evading the kick, Miao Tong twisted and scrambled to his feet, his face contorted with rage.
Did they really think he was easy to bully?
Damn it!
Meanwhile, not far from the food stall, three private cars were parked by the roadside. Beside one of the black cars, Song Junhan, dressed in a dark suit, was leaning down with a fawning expression, looking at the person inside the slightly open car window. He said with a shallow smile, "Is beating him up enough?
If the young master wants to teach him a lesson, breaking one of his legs is also an option."
"No need, beating him up is enough," Nie Qingkong said, retracting his gaze. "The rest is up to you."
He had said it before.
See that bastard once, beat him once.
"Yes!" Upon receiving Nie Qingkong's order, Song Junhan's eyes lit up. He felt entrusted with an important task and saw an opportunity to impress.
Nie Qingkong lazily withdrew his gaze and ordered, "Let's drive."
"Yes," the driver replied, starting the car.
Watching the car Nie Qingkong was in drive away, Song Junhan straightened his back.
Gou Wen had given him such a good opportunity; he had to perform well.
With that thought, Song Junhan walked directly towards the wobbling food stall, his eyes fierce.
Miao Tong was also enraged at this point. The punch he received from Xia Qingyu's classmate earlier could be attributed to a misunderstanding; he wouldn't stoop to the level of ordinary students.
But these people were clearly looking for trouble and intended to beat him, so he wouldn't hold back.
He, Miao Tong, didn't bully ordinary people, but that didn't mean he would allow ordinary citizens to bully him!
His body's蠱毒 (gǔdú - poison, often associated with mystical cultivation in Chinese literature) was not to be trifled with!
"Make one more move, and you'll bear the consequences!" Miao Tong warned in a chilling tone.
"What if I make a move? We'll cripple you today! What can you do?" Song Junhan said coldly as he pushed through the crowd. "Brat, you're unlucky enough to get beaten to death today!"
Hearing Song Junhan's words, Miao Tong's eyes darkened further. With a flick of his wrist, black纹路 (wénlù - patterns) spread across the heel of his palm.
In what seemed like an instant, the people closest to him one by one fell backward.
Before Song Junhan could react, he felt his knees weaken and his body go limp. His mind went blank.
What had just happened?