“Coward!”
Jiang Xiaoyao scoffed dismissively.
She turned and walked into the bedroom.
“Fuck, I’m a coward?”
Ye Zixiao, who had sobered up, was provoked by his senior sister’s taunt, his temper flaring. He chased her into the bedroom, scooped her up, and tossed her onto the bed.
“Bastard, what are you doing?”
This time, it was Jiang Xiaoyao who was stunned.
This woman, born into a noble family and now immensely wealthy, was a celestial maiden untouched by worldly affairs. She had never been with a man, nor had she ever been touched. Yet, her strong inner self was incredibly pure.
“What am I doing? I’m doing it!”
Ye Zixiao lunged.
“Mmph, you little beast, get off me, don’t touch me… believe it or not, I’ll kill you.”
Jiang Xiaoyao instinctively pushed Ye Zixiao away.
“Already chickening out?”
Ye Zixiao hadn’t actually done anything.
He was propped up above her.
“You, I, get lost!”
Jiang Xiaoyao yelled, her face flushed red.
Downstairs.
The housekeeper Molly and the other servants all strained their ears, listening to the commotion upstairs. They could hardly believe it; Ye Zixiao seemed to be forcibly bullying Sect Master Jiang?!
“Incredible!”
Molly shook her head, utterly perplexed.
Upstairs.
Ye Zixiao had gotten up. He sat on the edge of the bed, lit a cigarette, and looked around the pink, fragrant bedroom. “I’m staying here tonight. I’ve got you locked down.”
“No!”
Jiang Xiaoyao sat up.
She adjusted her pajamas, her face red. “Senior sister was just teasing you, why did you take it seriously? You’re the Lin family’s son-in-law. You, you, you can’t do this to me.”
“Be my mistress!”
Ye Zixiao suddenly stared at Jiang Xiaoyao.
“Ah?”
Jiang Xiaoyao was taken aback, but quickly regained her composure. Smiling, she said, “The elders did mention that. I can be your mistress, but you have to have a wife first!”
“What the hell! Seriously?”
Ye Zixiao was once again stunned.
“Get out, get out!”
Jiang Xiaoyao suddenly changed her tune.
“Tch, not fun!”
Ye Zixiao actually got up and left.
Jiang Xiaoyao sat on the bed, her breathing gradually calming. Her emotions were incredibly complex. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. She understood that her junior brother was just playing, but why did she feel a sense of loss?
The next morning.
Ye Zixiao, with bruises on his face, was driven back to the Lin family by a Xiu Luo Sect car. The Lin family was no longer in chaos. Apart from the usual bodyguards, there were no extra personnel.
“Brother Xiao is back!”
“He stayed at Xiu Luo Sect overnight?”
“Damn, is the rumor true?”
“Good morning, Brother Xiao.”
The bodyguards first let out a sigh of relief, then stepped forward to greet him. In just two days, the country bumpkin Ye Zixiao had become the most admired idol of the Lin family bodyguards.
“Where’s my wife?”
Ye Zixiao asked lazily.
“In the tea room.”
Captain Adong replied respectfully.
“Adong, keep up the good work.”
Ye Zixiao, like the master of the house, patted Adong on the shoulder and strolled into the house, went upstairs, and entered the tea room that belonged solely to Lin Qingzhu.
Lin Qingzhu was wearing a white shirt.
And, it seemed, nothing below?!
Seeing Ye Zixiao enter, she first adjusted her shirt, then instinctively brushed her hair aside. Inadvertently, a scar on her cheek appeared, a testament to how brutal yesterday’s battle had been!
“Wife, did you miss me?”
Ye Zixiao swaggered and sat opposite her.
“Heh, the Lin family’s live-in son-in-law, staying out all night without even getting the marriage certificate. It seems I underestimated you. You’re not only a good fighter, but you’re also quite skilled with women!”
Lin Qingzhu said expressionlessly.
“What do you mean?”
Ye Zixiao poured himself a cup of tea.
“It’s all over outside, saying our Lin family’s son-in-law is Jiang Xiaoyao’s kept man. Heh, what an honor. I, Lin Qingzhu, am truly blessed!”
“Are you jealous?”
“I…”
“You are jealous.”
“Bullshit!”
“Wife, don’t worry. Since I’ve entered this house, I’m destined to be your husband. The women outside are all just for show. As for men, we just need to release our desires.”
Ye Zixiao taunted shamelessly.
“You’re really good at bragging!”
Lin Qingzhu, for some reason, was genuinely angry.
“What did I do now?”
“Ye Zixiao, I’m willing to believe that you really are Jiang Xiaoyao’s kept man, but you need to know your place. A man, for money, enduring hardship and abuse, is nothing to be ashamed of.”
Jiang Xiaoyao looked at Ye Zixiao’s face.
It was clear that she was subtly referring to the injuries on his face.
Ye Zixiao subconsciously touched his face and suddenly realized, could his cheap wife be mistaking him for a gigolo? Was he going to Xiu Luo Sect just to be abused?
“Damn!”
Ye Zixiao saw no point in arguing further.
“Ye Zixiao, I don’t care about your private life. We don’t have any feelings for each other anyway. But I want to tell you, Jiang Xiaoyao might not be able to suppress this matter. The Ma family has powerful figures behind them.”
“Continue.”
“The incident and public opinion were suppressed by the General Administration. Ostensibly, this is to help us, but in reality, it also helps the Ma family and Black Tiger Hall. It’s giving them an opportunity to counterattack.”
“I understand!”
Ye Zixiao drank his tea and burst into laughter, saying, “As long as I, Ye Zixiao, am alive, no one can touch the Lin family. Whoever wants to mess around in Beihai, if they push me, I’ll attack this city.”
“Heh, impressive!”
Lin Qingzhu gave him a thumbs-up with a bitter smile. She absolutely did not believe Ye Zixiao’s words.
Just as the Lin family was secretly rejoicing yet trembling with unease, the Niu and Ma families quietly held their funerals. On the night of the funeral’s conclusion, Ma Sanchun summoned his youngest daughter.
“Dad, is something wrong?”
Ma Ya’ai, in her early twenties, wearing a spaghetti strap bodycon dress, swaggered in provocatively. Her attire was vibrant, showing no sign of grief for her deceased brother.
“What are you wearing?”
Ma Sanchun’s eyebrows shot up.
“What? What’s wrong with this? I have a party later and won’t be back tonight. Dad, what do you need? Tell me quickly, I’m in a hurry to leave.”
“How are things between you and Young Master Qin?”
“Pretty good.”
“How far have things progressed?”
“Dad, are you annoying or what?”
“Xiao Ai, no matter what means you use, you must win over Young Master Qin as soon as possible. Only when the Qin family is willing to intervene can our Ma family make a comeback. Do you understand?”
“Oh, I got it.”
Ma Ya’ai turned and left, still swaying.
Ma Sanchun sighed, his expression suddenly turning cold. He lit a cigarette, picked up his phone, and dialed a number, saying steadily, “Brother Bao, want to do some business?!”
“What business?”
Brother Bao sounded very calm.
“Niu Chong is dead, and I’ve taken over all of Niu’s businesses. Now I have about five hundred children and more than two hundred girls. I don’t want money, I’ll give them to you.”
“That generous?”
“I just need you to do one thing.”
“Tell me?”
While Ma Sanchun was plotting with Brother Bao, his beloved daughter Ma Ya’ai had already gotten into a flashy sports car with a blond driver. The car’s expensive engine roared as it sped towards Qianjiao Entertainment City.
“Damn, why is she so late?”
“Xiao Ai, you’re looking quite slutty today!”
“Let’s go, Young Master Qin has already arrived.”
A group of young masters gathered, chatting and laughing as they entered the entertainment city together. A manager immediately greeted them with a smile and led these children from wealthy families to the third floor.
Third floor.
The best spot for viewing the stage.
In the vast seating area, only one person was sitting.
Behind him, a row of bodyguards stood at attention.