Li Se took Qiao Weiwei to eat, not at any high-class restaurant, but at a small eatery next to his university. Although the restaurant wasn't large, it had a large flow of customers. After ordering, they waited a full half hour for the dishes to arrive.
"Huh, aren't you Li Se?" the middle-aged woman delivering the food exclaimed with surprise upon seeing Li Se.
"Auntie Wang, long time no see," Li Se replied with a smile.
"It has been a long time, hasn't it? Almost two years?" Auntie Wang mused.
"Yes." Li Se nodded, feeling a pang of how quickly time passed. He remembered often coming here to eat with Zhang Yunyun when he was in college.
"Bringing a new girlfriend?" Auntie Wang asked, eyeing Qiao Weiwei with a chuckle. "She's so beautiful, and with that figure, she looks easy to take care of!"
Qiao Weiwei's face immediately flushed red at the remark.
"Auntie Wang, this is Qiao Weiwei. You can call her Weiwei," Li Se introduced.
"Yes, yes, yes." Auntie Wang nodded. They didn't chat for long, as the restaurant was crowded. After setting down the food, she left.
A moment later, a middle-aged man with dark skin, a face full of wrinkles, and some oil stains walked over. Upon seeing Li Se, he chuckled, "Uncle Wang always thought you had potential, and now you've found such a beautiful girlfriend!"
"Of course. Uncle Wang, my standards are very high," Li Se laughed.
Qiao Weiwei felt utterly embarrassed again, wishing she could bury her head in the table.
"When are you planning to get married? Make sure to send Uncle Wang an invitation," Uncle Wang said.
"Sure!" Li Se nodded.
"Then Uncle Wang won't disturb you two lovebirds' meal." Uncle Wang glanced at Qiao Weiwei one last time before turning to leave.
"Who's your lovebird?" Qiao Weiwei said stubbornly.
"What, you're shy?" Li Se teased.
"Let's eat!" Qiao Weiwei huffed and buried her head in her food. She then realized the food was truly delicious. Despite that, she ate very gracefully, maintaining an excellent image. Many around them couldn't help but steal glances.
"Li Se, are your family members not in Qingyun City?" Qiao Weiwei asked curiously.
"Mm, they're in my hometown. Why, are you planning to meet my parents?" Li Se chuckled.
Qiao Weiwei gritted her teeth and said, "You just love to tease me, don't you?"
"Haha!" Li Se couldn't help but laugh.
"Time to pay protection fees!"
Just then, several ruffian-looking individuals entered the eatery. The leader, a young man, shouted.
"Brother Chen, didn't you just collect last time?" Uncle Wang said with a troubled expression. Despite the good business, his restaurant's profit margins were actually quite low, primarily because the prices were very reasonable.
"That was for the previous days. This is for today. Hurry up, the protection fee this time is ten thousand!" Brother Chen said impatiently.
"I... I don't even earn that much in a month," Uncle Wang said bitterly.
"Don't earn that much?" Brother Chen glanced around the packed restaurant and sneered, "With so many customers, you say you don't earn that much? Who are you fooling? Hand over the protection fee quickly!"
Although there were many people in the restaurant, everyone just focused on their food, not daring to provoke Brother Chen. He was the boss in this area, and no one dared to offend him. Most shop owners in this vicinity had to pay him protection fees.
"I really don't have that much... Brother Chen, how about a little less?" Uncle Wang asked, trying to negotiate.
*Bang!*
Brother Chen casually overturned a table of food in front of him. "Less? Do you think I'm negotiating with you when I ask for protection fees? I said you have to pay ten thousand, so you have to pay ten thousand. If you don't pay this protection fee, I can't guarantee you'll be able to do business here peacefully!"
The people in the restaurant were startled by this scene. Forgetting their food, many fled the restaurant, leaving only Li Se and Qiao Weiwei.
Upon witnessing this, Li Se's expression turned grim. He couldn't believe that in this day and age, people still dared to extort protection fees!
*Slap!*
Just then, Brother Chen slapped Uncle Wang, sending him staggering to the side.
"Uncle Wang, are you alright?" Li Se rushed to help him up.
"I... I'm fine, Li Se. You should take your girlfriend and leave first," Uncle Wang said.
"Kid, listen to him and get lost quickly," Brother Chen said with a half-smile.
"Do you believe we'll call the police?" Qiao Weiwei said angrily.
"Well, well, a beauty!" Brother Chen's mouth watered upon seeing Qiao Weiwei. He truly didn't expect to meet such a stunner in this small eatery. Her demeanor was exceptional. At that moment, he even thought that if he could have his way with such a beauty, he wouldn't mind losing ten years of his life.
"Beautiful lady, want to follow Brother Chen? Brother Chen will take you..." Brother Chen walked up to Qiao Weiwei and reached out to pinch her cheek.
*Bang!*
Before he could touch her, Li Se slapped his hand away and said calmly, "Please don't touch my woman with your dirty hands!"
"Damn it, I'll touch her, what are you going to do about it?" Brother Chen said angrily and reached out again.
Li Se kicked him, and with a loud bang, Brother Chen was sent flying out of the eatery.
"Brother Chen?"
"Brother Chen!!"
The other ruffians' faces changed dramatically, and they immediately ran out of the restaurant to help Brother Chen up.
"Damn it, kill him for me!" Brother Chen roared.
"Don't be rash, don't be rash. Ten thousand protection fee, I'll get it together right away..." Uncle Wang tried to intervene, worried about Li Se getting hurt.
"Get lost!" Brother Chen snapped.
The ruffians continued to charge at Li Se.
"Uncle Wang, don't worry, I don't even consider these thugs a threat." Li Se patted Uncle Wang's shoulder, then grabbed a chair and swung it horizontally.
*Bang bang...*
With one swing, he sent two of the thugs flying.
Simultaneously, Li Se delivered a flying kick. Before the remaining thugs could react, they were all kicked away, falling to the ground and crying out in pain.
Brother Chen's eyes widened. Although he didn't bring many men, they weren't someone one person could handle. He was truly stunned on the spot.
"Well fought!"
Someone cheered.
"Kid, you just wait for me! Don't you dare leave!" Brother Chen pointed at Li Se and said fiercely.
"Okay, I'll wait here for you!" Li Se was not afraid at all.
Brother Chen and his ruffians helped each other up and left.
"Li Se, you should leave quickly. This Brother Chen has many subordinates, and he'll surely bring dozens of people here later!" Uncle Wang urged.
Auntie Wang added, "Yes, Li Se, take your girlfriend and leave quickly. If not, we'll just pay more money later."
"If I leave, they will surely vent their anger on you. Don't worry, I know someone in the police station." Li Se felt he had to help Uncle Wang and Auntie Wang completely clear out this trash, otherwise, he wouldn't be at ease leaving.
He pulled out his phone and directly called Tian Anming...