Zhou Gangyi, Li Changhe, and Liu Liwei walked in and were immediately stunned.
Huang Heng, who was leading them, had no idea what was happening. He scanned the room and noticed two people he recognized: the popular Xiao Wang and Qin Dou.
Qin Dou, who had just interrupted him, turned his head to glance at Huang Heng. Just as he was about to mock him, Zhou Gangyi reacted first and said loudly:
"Lin'er, we just found out you were eating here too, so I came over to say hello."
Meanwhile, Li Changhe was desperately tugging at Huang Heng's clothes, terrified he might say something fatal.
Upon seeing Zhou Gangyi and his companions, everyone lost their temper.
Regardless of anyone else, Zhou Gangyi was at least one of their own.
Huang Heng wasn't stupid. Zhou Gangyi's hurried explanation, coupled with Li Changhe tearing at his clothes from behind, made him understand immediately. Remaining silent was the best course of action.
"Damn... anticlimactic. I thought it was some unobservant guy looking for trouble, but it's just you guys," the popular Xiao Wang grumbled.
He knew that his chance to "slap someone" today was gone the moment Zhou Gangyi appeared.
"Zhou Gangyi, why don't you sit down and eat with us?" Xia Lin called out to Zhou Gangyi.
Except for one stranger, Xia Lin had met the other two before.
"Lin'er, long time no see. You're getting more beautiful," Li Changhe said with a fawning smile, his obsequiousness practically painted on his face.
"Lin'er, see? It's not just me saying it," Zheng Qingya quickly added, seeing Li Changhe's reaction.
"Uh... okay," Xia Lin nodded happily.
She figured it must be due to her cultivation progress, which had caused some changes.
Seeing this, Yu Wei brought four more chairs from inside the private room, and they all sat down to eat together.
"Lin'er, didn't you go to Modu Film City? Why are you eating here?" Zhou Gangyi was still apprehensive, knowing that offending this "little ancestor" was worse than offending anyone else.
Fortunately, he had reacted quickly and prevented Huang Heng from clashing with them.
If a conflict had broken out, Zhou Gangyi would have immediately subdued Huang Heng to clear himself.
It was an easy choice between a fellow young master like himself and a formidable woman.
After a long meal, Zhou Gangyi left with Xia Lin and her group, leaving a bewildered Huang Heng behind.
"You two, explain to me what's going on. I'm about to go crazy," Huang Heng asked Li Changhe and Liu Liwei.
This inexplicable situation was truly uncomfortable.
"If Gangyi hadn't reacted so quickly, your face would be swollen by now," Liu Liwei said with a disdainful smirk.
"Are you kidding me?" Huang Heng questioned Liu Liwei.
Li Changhe glanced at Liu Liwei's face, the stinging sensation on his own palm still fresh, as if the slap had happened just yesterday.
"Liu Liwei is right. Zhou Gangyi reacted quickly and saved you. Otherwise, you'd still be kneeling on the ground, and I would have slapped you myself."
This was the first time Li Changhe and Liu Liwei were on the same side.
Huang Heng fell silent. If Liu Liwei had said this, he might not have taken it seriously, but coming from Li Changhe, he had to give it careful consideration.
Seeing Huang Heng's silence, Li Changhe spoke up, "You've always wanted to know why we came to Modu, right? I'll tell you the real reason now."
"Speak," Huang Heng said, looking at Li Changhe.
"What I told you during the day: to be a lapdog, Xia Lin's lapdog," Li Changhe said with emphasis.
"The girl from just now?" Huang Heng asked, raising his voice.
Liu Liwei looked at them strangely, finally understanding why they were in Modu. They had come to be lapdogs. No wonder. He was truly envious.
"Yes," Li Changhe nodded slightly.
"Why?" Huang Heng shouted.
As a dignified man of seven feet, how could he be a lapdog to a woman? He absolutely refused.
"Heh... no reason. If you don't want to go, give me your spot," Liu Liwei said with a cold laugh.
"Alright, you go then. I'm not going," Huang Heng quickly agreed.
"Idiot. If it were that simple, do you think I wouldn't want to go? Your grandfather probably made arrangements with him."
Liu Liwei genuinely wanted to go, but this wasn't something that could be easily transferred. What right did he have?
He knew clearly in his heart that he lacked the qualifications to be a lapdog, even if he wanted to.
"Forget it, I can't get through to you. If you dare not go, your grandfather will break your legs himself," Li Changhe waved his hand, indicating he wouldn't say more.
Huang Heng glumly drank a glass of milk, smacked his lips, and found it tasteless.
Just then, Li Changhe's phone rang. His expression changed upon seeing the caller ID, and he quickly gestured for silence, saying softly, "It's my grandfather."
"Grandpa, it's Changhe," Li Changhe said respectfully into the phone.
"Changhe, contact Zhou Gangyi tomorrow. Your grandfather has made arrangements for you. Go to the villa tomorrow to find Xia Feng and learn from him from now on. During this period of learning, you will obey him unconditionally. Even if he beats you to death, we won't interfere," Elder Li revealed the good news to his grandson Li Changhe. Li Changhe was overjoyed.
After waiting for days, he finally received good news.
He nodded eagerly, "Grandpa, don't worry, I know what to do."
"Good. What about that Huang Heng kid?" Elder Li confirmed, then asked about Huang Heng.
"He's with me," Li Changhe replied.
"Have him take the phone," Elder Li instructed.
"Okay." Li Changhe handed the phone to Huang Heng.
Huang Heng dared not delay. He took the phone and respectfully called, "Grandpa Li."
"I'm with your grandfather. He wants to speak with you," Elder Li said. A moment later, after some muffled voices, the line cleared, and Elder Huang's voice, resonant as a bell, called out, "Huang Heng."
"Grandpa, I'm listening," Huang Heng said, sitting up straight.
"Starting tomorrow, you will be sent to study under Xia Feng. Do not inquire about who Xia Feng is. He is someone whom even your grandfather respects. Once you are with him, you will obey all his commands. Life and death are matters of fate, and I will not interfere. If you disobey, he has the right to kill you on the spot," Elder Huang, like Elder Li, gave Huang Heng a stern warning, essentially conveying that disobedience would be met with death without consequence.
Huang Heng gasped, a chill running down his spine. Was he really going to be a lapdog?
But what did this have to do with that Xia Lin?
Huang Heng dared not disobey his grandfather and repeatedly responded, "Understood, Grandpa."
"Alright, go find Zhou Gangyi for arrangements tomorrow," Elder Huang said and hung up.
Huang Heng held the phone, speechless for a long time. Had his grandfather sold him out?
The three men had different expressions. Huang Heng's dejected face showed his reluctance, Liu Liwei's face was full of envy, while Li Changhe was grinning so widely his teeth were almost falling out.