Chapter 118: Much Better

Jiang City was a tiny little place, barely worth ranking on the map. At ten at night, most of the shops along the street had already closed. The pitch-black sky held not a single star, and only a few aging streetlamps cast a dim orange glow over the road.

Two figures were stretched long by the light, bent across the wall in a way that looked almost eerie.

“Stop right there!” a brazen voice rang out from behind.

“I said stop, damn it!”

The two men slowly turned around. One wore a floral shirt and black shorts, with dyed blond hair. The other was dressed in a plain white leisure suit, with short black hair, refined and elegant, handsome in a clean, understated way.

The red-haired thug rested a wooden club on his shoulder, while one of his lackeys stepped forward and lit a cigarette for him.

Dongfang Cheng touched his dyed hair and bumped the white-clad man beside him with his elbow, laughing under his breath.

“Brother Gu, if you compared me to him, who’d be more fashionable?”

A flicker of amusement passed through Gu Ting’s eyes. Looking at the redhead across from them, he parted his thin lips and said, “Hard to say.”

Dongfang Cheng: ...

He was still waiting for praise!

The redhead saw the two of them whispering to each other and his face darkened. Did they think his dozen or so brothers weren’t even there?

“Damn it! If you know what’s good for you, leave the money!” The redhead spat his cigarette to the ground, his expression vicious. These two outsiders looked well-off enough—fat sheep indeed.

“Hahahaha...” Dongfang Cheng laughed. Robbery?

The redhead’s anger flared. Looking down on him?

Then he’d beat them until they were crying for daddy!

“Damn it! Brothers, beat them so hard their own mothers won’t recognize them!”

Dongfang Cheng pressed his tongue against his cheek. “Brother Gu, we do this together?”

Gu Ting’s lips curved with mockery, just about to move when a clear and pleasant voice sounded from behind.

“So noisy.”

Dongfang Cheng’s eyes lit up. From that voice alone, it had to be a beauty!

Under the streetlamp, a young man and woman came walking over. The girl had exquisite features, a small delicate face, a plain white T-shirt, and denim shorts that revealed a pair of long, lovely legs. She walked with purpose, her long hair streaming behind her, her gaze cool and distant, like a celestial maiden who had descended to earth.

The boy behind her was a head shorter, with neat features and a streak of sharpness between his brows.

“Damn, that girl’s hot!” The redhead and his men stared straight-eyed.

Gu Ting frowned. These people were filthy.

“Little sister, this...?” Dongfang Cheng had barely finished before the girl had already rushed forward.

“My sister isn’t helping you. You were just too loud here.” No one knew when the boy had appeared beside Dongfang Cheng.

He glanced at Dongfang Cheng and rolled his eyes. Flashy and gaudy—what a poser.

Gu Ting’s gaze fell on the girl. Her movements were crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation. Every punch landed squarely on a weak spot. In just a few moves, the thugs were already sprawled in all directions on the ground.

“Get lost.” The girl flexed her wrist, her eyes sharp.

The redhead did not dare linger for even a second and fled in a tumble.

“Zhong Yi, let’s go.” She glanced toward where the boy stood, and her eyes met Gu Ting’s.

This man had been staring at her from the very beginning. She did not like it much.

Zhong Yi broke into a wide grin and hurried over.

“Little fairy, thanks a lot.”

Dongfang Cheng also followed after them.

The yellow-haired girl—no, the yellow-haired youth—looked at him. Those peach-blossom eyes were narrow and long, now slightly narrowed, making him look every bit like a scoundrel.

“No need to thank me.”

“How about adding me on WeChat?” Dongfang Cheng blocked their way with a warm, polite smile.

“No.”

“Then let me take you home.”

“Not happening.”

Gu Ting stepped forward and stood beside her. He lowered his head slightly and saw the shadow of her lashes falling across the bridge of her nose.

“How about we add each other? We just got here, and there are bound to be inconveniences.” He paused for a beat before adding the latter half.

Dongfang Cheng was stunned. This was Gu Ting, the man who excelled at drinking, gambling, and everything in between?

Zhong Yi snorted. What a clumsy excuse for asking for a WeChat account.

Shen Qing glanced at Gu Ting and did not respond.

Perhaps it was because the man’s gaze was too scorching; by the way, she had long since grown annoyed at being stared at.

She took a thick phone from the pocket of her denim shorts. It was impossible to tell what brand it was. Her hands were beautiful—clear knuckles, long slender fingers.

“I’ll scan you. Don’t follow me.”

As soon as she spoke, Gu Ting handed over his QR code, eyes smiling.

Shen Qing gave a faint snort. Fast enough.

“Add me too, will you?” Dongfang Cheng also pulled out his phone and opened WeChat.

“Sis, hurry up and go.” Zhong Yi took Shen Qing’s phone for her and tugged her forward.

Dongfang Cheng: ...

That brat was doing it on purpose!

Gu Ting accepted the friend request. The other party’s avatar was a yellow native village dog, baring its teeth at the camera.

“Brother Gu, give me the little fairy’s WeChat, won’t you?” Dongfang Cheng pressed up beside him with a grin.

“I got it myself through skill. Why should I give it to you?”

“You’ve changed, doggie... sniffle sniffle...”

“Get lost!”

*

The August sun was vicious, baking everyone into a daze.

“Sis, the bus is here.”

Zhong Yi watched the bus pull up, fished out some change, paid for both of them, and boarded to find a seat by the window.

As soon as they sat down, Shen Qing opened a game. Zhong Yi took a palm-sized book from his backpack. Shen Qing glanced at it but said nothing.

The two of them spent most of the morning on the road before reaching Jiang City High-Speed Rail Station. Zhong Yi used their ID cards to collect two tickets, they hastily ate lunch, and only arrived in Fancheng at six in the evening.

As soon as they left the platform, Shen Qing spotted the sign held by the Yu family.

“Miss?” The middle-aged man looked at Shen Qing’s beautiful face, uncertain for a moment. She did not resemble the master at all.

“Yes.” Shen Qing nodded.

Once her identity was confirmed, the butler, He Zhong, let out a breath of relief.

“Hello, Miss. I am the butler sent by the master to pick you up. He has social obligations tonight and cannot get away.”

“It’s fine. Let’s go.” Whether Yu Fei came or not did not matter to Shen Qing.

“Your luggage?” He Zhong looked at Shen Qing, who did not even have a bag on her, and only then noticed the boy following behind her.

“No luggage. This is our neighbor, Zhong Yi.” Shen Qing gave a brief introduction to Zhong Yi’s identity.

He Zhong was taken aback. A neighbor had come all the way to Fancheng too?

Still, he kept a kindly smile on his face. “Miss, this way, please.”

He Zhong led the two of them to a black sedan, opened the back door for Shen Qing, and, since Zhong Yi was male and not particularly young either, had him sit in the front passenger seat.