"Beauty, keep us company for a while?" The leader, with a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks, had lecherous eyes.
He wore a black armband.
It was clear they were there for a funeral, and the others were likely his subordinates. They had surrounded Xu Ling'er.
All of them wore anxious expressions, their faces grim.
It was no wonder. Xu Ling'er was petite and delicate, with a youthful face and a voluptuous figure, someone who instantly evoked pity.
Her features were far superior to the average person. In an era where everyone applied makeup to look like goddesses, her face was bare, yet she was no less captivating than any streamer.
Beauty was always the most eye-catching topic.
It was to the extent that this pointed-mouthed, yellow-haired man, who was attending a grave-sweeping, didn't even bother to remove his armband before harassing her.
"What do you want?" Xu Ling'er saw them, her beautiful eyes filled with urgency.
She was preparing to leave Yong'an.
Earlier, she had considered working at Li Chonglou's shop, but ultimately didn't decide to. In Yong'an, she only had her brother and Sister Liu Ping'er.
Now that her brother was dead and Sister Ping'er had joined the Falcon Special Forces, seeing her again was a distant prospect.
Even the water gun club had gone bankrupt. Her former brothers and sisters were either dead or injured, and the rest had gone their separate ways.
She was all alone.
She didn't want to stay in this place of sorrow and planned to go to Shangjing to clear her head and forge her own path.
Before leaving, she came to pay respects to her brother.
But unexpectedly, she was blocked and harassed by these thugs.
As she spoke, she reached into her bag to get her phone, intending to call the police.
The world was too chaotic now.
One could easily be in danger. Ever since her brother left, Xu Ling'er had told herself not to be naive or foolish, and to always seek the police when in trouble.
*Slap!*
As soon as her hand touched her bag, it was knocked away by a thug, who then snatched her bag.
"Give it back to me, you guys, give it back..." Xu Ling'er's eyes turned red with desperation, making her look even more pitiable.
"It's simple to get your bag back. Come with us, and not only will you get your bag, but we'll take you out. Bars, dance halls, KTV, whatever you choose, how about it?" The pointed-mouthed yellow-haired man said proudly, with no fear.
His eyes roamed over Xu Ling'er unrestrainedly.
It was as if he were looking at a delicious dish.
He licked his lips greedily, a perverted grin plastered on his face.
Xu Ling'er's scalp tingled, and her heart trembled. She shouted, "Give me back my bag! Someone help... I'm being robbed!"
Her shout immediately attracted the attention of many people.
However, people came and went in the cemetery, either having finished their mourning rituals and heading up the mountain for burial, or coming to pay respects.
Everyone was in a hurry, and who would bother to interfere?
Moreover, would stepping forward in this place not offend their ancestors?
Seeing that her shouting was useless, the pointed-mouthed yellow-haired man's smugness intensified: "Little beauty, don't be ungrateful."
"It's an honor for me to ask you to play. If you refuse a toast, you'll drink a forfeit. If you upset me, you'll face the consequences."
As he spoke, he reached out to stroke Xu Ling'er's chin.
*Slap!*
Xu Ling'er's eyes still held fear and timidity, but she unhesitatingly slapped away the yellow-haired man's hand.
Then she spat at the yellow-haired man: "Peh!"
Unfortunately, because she was petite and beautiful, even her fierce movements appeared incredibly cute.
This further ignited the bestial desires in the thugs' hearts.
The yellow-haired man's eyes blazed with lust. In broad daylight, he spread his arms and lunged to embrace Xu Ling'er.
Cornered and unable to dodge, Xu Ling'er's beautiful eyes welled up with tears.
A hint of desperation rose in her eyes.
She absolutely would not allow these hooligans to take advantage of her. Even if she couldn't defeat them, even if she died, she would fight to defend her dignity and purity.
Boundless grief and indignation surged within her. She grabbed the bronze hairpin she used to tie her hair, thinking bitterly, "Brother, I'm sorry... I might not be able to live well anymore."
This hairpin was bought for her by her brother, her only remaining memento.
Who would have thought that today she would have to use it for self-defense?
"Little bitch, still not knowing your place. With your little nose and little mouth, who are you trying to scare with a hairpin?" The yellow-haired man completely disregarded Xu Ling'er's desperate move. He gave a signal to his underlings.
Immediately, two of them grabbed Xu Ling'er's arms from behind.
They snatched the hairpin away on the spot.
Seeing that her last resort was gone, Xu Ling'er's tears could no longer be held back.
The yellow-haired man's large hand was already reaching directly for her proud, firm chest.
"Try to touch me and your hand will be broken!" At the critical moment, a cold, sharp voice boomed through the air.
As cold as ice, the thugs simultaneously felt a chill in their hearts, and goosebumps erupted all over their bodies.
Xu Ling'er turned her head at the sound, her tear-filled beautiful eyes brightening, tears and smiles mingling: "Brother Li... am I dreaming?"
Li Chonglou put down his phone and walked towards her step by step.
His slender frame stood as steady and majestic as Mount Tai.
He seemed to radiate golden light, dispelling the darkness in Xu Ling'er's heart.
It reminded her of the first time she saw him at the water gun club. Back then, she was innocent and carefree, unburdened.
She was managed by her brother, who disallowed this and that. It was Li Chonglou's appearance that opened another door in her heart.
It was also because of Li Chonglou that Liu Ping'er and she were able to survive.
In Xu Ling'er's heart, Li Chonglou had long since left an indelible mark.
Even when she couldn't see him, Li Chonglou's image would often surface in her heart, and she repeatedly asked herself if she had already fallen for this elder brother.
But she knew that Li Chonglou had a family and was surrounded by beautiful women, with Lin Weiwei being one of them.
She had wanted to work for Li Chonglou, but she couldn't suppress the sadness and envy in her heart. Unrequited love was the most painful, so she chose to leave Yong'an.
But she never expected him to find her here.
"Kid, who the hell do you think you are? Do you know that busybodies don't live long?" One of the thugs pointed at Li Chonglou and cursed angrily.
The others all had their hands on their waists. Judging by the outlines of their clothes, they likely carried daggers or similar weapons.
After the initial moment of fear, they became emboldened.
Especially the pointed-mouthed, monkey-cheeked yellow-haired man. He gave up embracing Xu Ling'er and turned to face Li Chonglou, who was walking towards him.
His eyes flashed with ferocity, his expression twisted, and he spewed unbearable curses: "Son of a bitch, someone dares to meddle in my business? You're really looking for death."
"My parents are dead, no one dares to control me anymore. You blind bastard."
"Make him kneel for me..."
*Bang!*
Before he could finish speaking, Li Chonglou suddenly accelerated, his body like a fired bullet, shooting forward.
With a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, he kicked the yellow-haired man in the stomach.
He didn't use his full strength in this kick, but rather applied technique.
After a muffled thud, the yellow-haired man, sliding past Xu Ling'er, was sent flying back three meters. He then bent his knees and fell to the ground with a thud.
His eyes widened like copper bells, his expression one of utter horror, and his face quickly turned pale as he clutched his stomach.
Seeing this, the others cried out and reached for their knives.
Unfortunately, Li Chonglou wouldn't give them the chance to attack. These young men were no different from three-year-old children in his eyes.
He slapped each of them across the face.
The crisp cracking sounds continued, like firecrackers.
"A bunch of trash!"
Amidst a chorus of groans, several people fell to the ground, their daggers all now in Li Chonglou's hands.
"Ling'er, I'm sorry for being late." Li Chonglou said with effortless ease, looking at Xu Ling'er with regret in his eyes.