When Li Qianfan stated his three demands, Yao Dongping’s vision momentarily went black.
Apologizing to Tang Xiaoni was nothing. It was merely a matter of bowing and uttering a mumbled "sorry."
But asking him to book the entire venue for the night— The place was packed with two thousand people. How much money would that cost him?
What was even more unacceptable to Yao Dongping was that Li Qianfan nonchalantly revealed that the business cooperation with International Ruixue for importing Luminary, which the Yao family had worked so hard to secure, would now be taken over by the Si Jiu Li family!
"How is this possible!?" Yao Dongping looked up abruptly, roaring at Li Qianfan.
*Slap.* Li Qianfan answered Yao Dongping’s roar with another fierce slap, just as before. However, this time, before Yao Dongping could even spin around, Li Qianfan grabbed his left hand and placed it on the bar counter. Li Qianfan then said, with a pleasant tone, to the bartender, "Miss, another thirty bottles of beer, large ones."
Just moments ago, Li Qianfan had ordered thirty large bottles of beer. Then, Mr. Luo Ben’s entire left arm had been smashed into a flat strip by Li Qianfan. Now, this…
Yao Dongping, who had just received a heavy slap but hadn't lost any teeth, heard Li Qianfan’s words and was filled with dread. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "I agree! I agree! I’ll agree to all the conditions you’ve proposed!"
Just as the bartender was about to move the drinks, Yao Dongping finally remembered a saying: it’s wise to avoid conflict when possible. He had to protect his left arm first and then deal with other matters!
"You stubborn dog who refuses a toast and insists on a beating," Li Qianfan muttered softly, releasing Yao Dongping. Yao Dongping quickly walked to Tang Xiaoni, bowed ninety degrees, and said, "I apologize!"
The stunned Tang Xiaoni didn't react. Tang Wenyuan, however, was beaming. He wanted to say something, but he didn't dare. Tang Wenyuan knew very well that everything Li Qianfan was doing was for Tang Xiaoni.
Next, Yao Dongping announced loudly, "Tonight, I’m booking the entire venue. All expenses will be on my tab. Please, enjoy yourselves."
*Wow—* Everyone in the venue applauded, praising Yao Dongping's generosity. Yao Dongping looked at Li Qianfan. Li Qianfan waved his hand, signaling that he could leave. Yao Dongping suppressed his resentment (mainly fear) deep in his heart and ordered two bodyguards to carry the respectable Mr. Luo Ben and flee the Mingyuan Disco as quickly as possible.
"You, come here," Li Qianfan looked at Murong Mingyuan, his tone cold. The consumers, who were celebrating their chance to party freely tonight, realized what was happening when they saw Li Qianfan’s actions. They immediately held their breath, their eyes wide. Murong Mingyuan stumbled forward and slowly walked to Li Qianfan. She instinctively removed the butterfly mask from her face, revealing a face with a protruding cross pattern that looked exceptionally terrifying. Li Qianfan raised his hand and delivered a heavy slap to that face. Murong Mingyuan flew backward— Blood trickled from her mouth, but her teeth remained intact. After falling to the ground, she immediately flipped over and knelt, using her knees as feet, crawling to Li Qianfan's feet.
Li Qianfan looked down at her and asked in a calm tone, "Do you know why I hit you?"
"I know," Murong Mingyuan replied hoarsely, "Because when foreigners were bullying our compatriots in my establishment, not only did I not step forward, but I also allowed him to act with impunity due to my many concerns."
"You ungrateful dog," Li Qianfan kicked her again, knocking her to the ground. "If you weren't somewhat useful, I would have crippled one of your hands tonight!"
Murong Mingyuan dared not say another word. She simply flipped over, got up again, and knelt at Li Qianfan's feet, her forehead touching the ground, trembling all over.
There were so many people present. A deathly silence fell. If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, who would have believed that the Night Asura, who had recently made a name for himself in the Si Jiu underworld, was nothing more than a dog slave to Li Qianfan, to be beaten and scolded at will?
"Miss, give me a knife," Li Qianfan turned back and said to the bartender. A knife? What did he want a knife for? As many people shivered, they saw Murong Mingyuan hug Li Qianfan's leg and cry out, "Master, I know I was wrong! Please, spare me!"
Li Qianfan ignored her and took a fruit knife from the bartender. He directly threw it to Li Santiao. Li Santiao caught it, his face pale. Li Qianfan looked at the three of them and said slowly, "One little finger each. Cut it off yourselves."
Punishment. It was still punishment!!
"When a foreign scumbag bullies our people in our own country!" Li Qianfan couldn't hold back anymore. He slammed his palm on the bar counter, roaring at the three men, "You stood by and watched like cold-blooded observers! Even if you have the face to live, I'm damn ashamed for you!"
"Young Master, we were wrong," Li Santiao and the other two knelt in unison and kowtowed forcefully. Then, Li Santiao was the first to swing the knife, severing his left little finger with a fierce cut. He didn't make a sound. His contorted face was filled with guilt for failing Li Qianfan's trust, but there was no resentment. Three bloody fingers lay on the ground. The venue remained silent.
Li Qianfan then waved his hand, signaling them to get up. He looked at Tang Wenyuan again, "Tang Wenyuan, come here."
"Ah?" Tang Wenyuan flinched in fear and hastily covered his face with his hands. He thought Li Qianfan was going to slap him. Li Qianfan frowned, turned around, walked towards the stairs with his hands behind his back, and said, "You and Xiaoni Tang, come over. I have something to ask you."
*Phew.* Tang Wenyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly linked arms with his sister and cautiously followed. When Li Qianfan reached the second floor, he turned and looked down at the dark sea of heads below, smiling, "Everyone, drink well, have fun, and party to your heart's content. Don't save any money for Young Master Yao."
*Wow!* Thank you, Young Master Li!! The crowd below thanked Li Qianfan in unison. Even though Yao Dongping was paying, the feeling of everyone thanking him was simply wonderful. Li Qianfan felt that he should do more things like this in the future to live up to his title as the world’s number one prodigal son.
In Murong Mingyuan's office, Li Qianfan sat grandly on the executive chair, and the loud, explosive music from outside suddenly boomed. "Young Master Li, have a smoke." Tang Wenyuan, bowing and with a face full of flattery, offered Li Qianfan a cigarette and lit it. Tang Xiaoni, however, stood there, gazing at him dotingly.
"Why did you bring Xiaoni Tang to a place like this?" Li Qianfan asked Tang Wenyuan, exhaling a puff of smoke and frowning. "Is this a place she can casually come to? Tonight, if I hadn't happened to come by, even if your Tang family could resolve this matter, it would have left Xiaoni Tang with a lifelong humiliating shadow."
He was right. Although the Si Jiu Tang family was considered a first-class noble family, the Yao family, which had always been at odds with the Tang family, would use the opportunity of Dongtu's urgent need for International Ruixue to humiliate the Tang family greatly. It could even ruin Tang Xiaoni's lifelong happiness. Tang Wenyuan gave a bitter smile. Tang Xiaoni suddenly said, "Brother Qianfan, I was the one who pestered my brother to come here. Today is my birthday."
Today was Tang Xiaoni's 21st birthday. It was normal for a girl who never went clubbing to invite a few friends to a disco for a wild time on her birthday. Fearing that Tang Xiaoni might encounter trouble here, Tang Wenyuan, as the elder brother, volunteered to accompany them. Who would have thought they would encounter this? Li Qianfan suddenly realized.
"Brother Qianfan, when I was blowing out the candles on my birthday cake, I made a wish," Tang Xiaoni looked at Li Qianfan and said softly, "I wished that on my birthday, I could see you. This wish, ever since you left Si Jiu at the age of eight, I've made it every year on my birthday. I wished the same thing. But for so many years, only this year's birthday wish has come true." Li Qianfan was stunned— He blurted out, "Xiaoni Tang, why are you still as foolish as you were when you were little?"
Tang Xiaoni pursed her lips, lowered her head, "Actually, I made another wish today."
What wish? Can we stop talking about it? Li Qianfan looked at Tang Wenyuan. This time, Tang Wenyuan was smart and interjected, "Young Master Li, I heard your newlywed wife, Su Ziyu, went to Longxu?"
Tang Xiaoni, who was about to mention her other wish, trembled slightly. It was truly heartbreaking— "Yes, yes," Li Qianfan nodded, "My grandmother took her. She'll probably be staying there for some time."
*Ahem.* Tang Wenyuan coughed and asked, "Young Master Li, I know you're still very busy. How about Tang Xiaoni and I leave first? When you're done, we can have another drink." Li Qianfan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at Murong Mingyuan, who was standing with her head lowered behind the door, and nodded, "Alright. Take your time, I won't see you out."
"Please stay!" Tang Wenyuan said, linking Tang Xiaoni's arm and pulling her out of the office with a tug. As the door closed, Tang Xiaoni raised her hand and covered her mouth.
"Alas," Tang Wenyuan sighed and leaned close to Tang Xiaoni's ear, answering loudly, "Ni Tang! Forget those beautiful memories from childhood!"
"But on the day he left Si Jiu—" Tang Xiaoni looked up, tears streaming down her face as she cried, "He said he would come back and marry me!"