Chapter Thirty-Three: I’ll Give You a Chance

Chen Xiaohong’s mood instantly brightened upon hearing of the remarkable background behind Zhang Xu’s family. The Liu family was the foremost clan in Lancheng; if Zhang Xu’s family truly had forged a connection with them, it would be nothing short of meteoric. At this moment, Zhang Xu’s gaze landed on Lin Yi, and with a sense of superiority, he asked, “May I ask what you do, brother?”

Lin Yi replied expressionlessly, “I’m a private tutor.”

“A private tutor?” Zhang Xu was taken aback. He’d mistakenly considered Lin Yi a romantic rival and had come specifically to size him up, but now it seemed he’d been worrying over nothing.

Chen Xiaohong’s expression soured as well. How dare a mere tutor come to her door demanding the engagement be called off? She suspected the one million he’d mentioned was scraped together by selling everything he owned. Fortunately, she’d kept her wits about her; otherwise, she might have been fooled by this pair.

“If you don’t have money, why are you pretending?” Chen Xiaohong sneered. She then turned to Zhang Xu with renewed enthusiasm, even changing her address, “Son-in-law, you and Lu Lu should talk properly. Don’t leave tonight—stay and enjoy a good night together.”

Her meaning was unmistakable: regardless of Lu Lu’s wishes, once the deed was done, everything would be settled.

Zhang Xu, pleased, raised his brows at Lin Yi, then strode confidently over to Lu Lu. “Lu Lu, you’re becoming more beautiful every day,” he said.

The group of young men surrounding Zhang Xu began to jeer, “Hello, sister-in-law! Kiss him, quick!”

“Kiss your own head,” Lu Lu gritted her teeth, her disappointment in her family deepening. They didn’t even treat her as one of their own. They summoned her at will, made decisions without her consent.

Lu Lu looked to Lin Yi for help.

Lin Yi patted her shoulder; the gesture made Zhang Xu’s eyes flash coldly.

“Take your hand off her,” Zhang Xu said in a low voice.

“Get lost,” Lin Yi replied, sweeping him with a cold glance.

“Damn it, today I’ve run into a real troublemaker,” Zhang Xu cursed. This was his territory. There were many young nobles in Lancheng he couldn’t afford to offend, but Lin Yi wasn’t one of them.

The seven or eight young men who’d followed Zhang Xu regarded Lin Yi with equal disdain.

Lu Lu’s face changed, and she quickly chided, “Zhang Xu, what do you think you’re doing?”

“Lu Lu, this isn’t your concern. If someone touches my woman, breaking an arm is hardly excessive,” Zhang Xu said, raising his brows.

“Who’s your woman?” Lu Lu said with disgust.

“Your parents agreed to it, and we’re sleeping together tonight. You still claim you’re not?” Zhang Xu sneered. He’d intended to give Lu Lu some face, but seeing her defend another man so fiercely enraged him, and he wished he could take her right then.

“If they agreed, let them sleep with you,” Lu Lu retorted, having accepted that she was unwelcome in her own home and resolved to leave.

Zhang Xu’s face darkened further. His group of young men shouted, “Xu bro, just say the word and we’ll break his arm right now!”

“No, one arm isn’t enough—I want both,” Zhang Xu said with a vicious grin. A mere private tutor dared oppose him? It was like an old man seeking death by eating poison.

“Alright!” the group cheered. They had no other talents, but fighting was their specialty.

They surrounded Lin Yi and his companions. Chen Xiaohong observed coldly from the side; for her, it didn’t matter whether her daughter stayed or not, as long as the money was secured.

“Lin Yi,” Lu Lu instinctively clung to Lin Yi’s arm.

“It’s alright,” Lin Yi comforted her, then turned to Angel and asked, “Can you handle it?”

“One minute,” Angel replied with a gentle smile, stepping lightly toward Zhang Xu.

“Hey, beautiful, why are you hanging around a coward like him? All he can do is hide behind women,” Zhang Xu whistled, his gaze filled with lust.

A cold gleam flashed in Angel’s eyes. Without a word, she delivered a graceful spinning kick straight to Zhang Xu’s chest.

She wore high heels.

A sickening crack sounded, and Zhang Xu was sent flying, landing heavily on the ground.

The move was executed so swiftly that neither Zhang Xu nor his companions had time to react.

Lying on the ground, Zhang Xu spat blood, his face twisted with rage. He shouted at his stunned followers, “What are you staring at? Grab that woman—I’ll make her pay!”

The group snapped out of their trance, their minds conjuring images of the beautiful mixed-blood woman subdued on the ground, which made their blood boil with excitement.

With wild shouts, they rushed at Angel.

Angel glanced at them dismissively. No matter how many thugs there were, they were still just thugs.

Bang, bang, bang.

Angel’s legs were long and every movement elegant. In less than ten seconds, all the young men were sprawled on the ground, groaning.

“Angel, you’re amazing!” Lu Lu exclaimed joyfully. She’d been worried, but never imagined the beautiful Angel could be so formidable.

Angel smiled gracefully and returned to Lin Yi’s side.

Zhang Xu’s scalp tingled as he rubbed his aching chest and stubbornly said, “Kid, all you can do is hide behind women.”

Lin Yi ignored him and said, “I’ll give you a chance—bring out all your connections.”

“Haha, kid, do you know who’s backing me? The Liu family, Lancheng’s top clan. Crushing you is easier than squashing an ant,” Zhang Xu scoffed.

He’d barely finished speaking when Angel strode over and slapped him hard.

“Too much nonsense,” Angel said with disdain, wiping her palm with a wet wipe.

Zhang Xu’s face alternated between pale and livid. This time he wised up, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number.

...

After a day of fermenting news, the entire Jiang Province was in turmoil.

The Song family, previously ranked first among family powers, had been relegated to second place, replaced by the Wang family, which had never before appeared on the scene.

The most shocking development was the sudden disappearance of the Tong family, one of Jiang Province’s top ten powers.

The other nine major forces had remained utterly silent, as if everything had been orchestrated in advance.

For a time, all the small and medium powers throughout Jiang Province sensed an impending storm.

Lancheng, Bai Ren Hall Chinese Medicine Shop.

Liu Qianqian, clad in a white dress adorned with peach blossoms, her skin as delicate as tofu, sat upright at the counter calculating accounts.

Just then, a figure rushed in—it was Xiao Shan, one of the shop’s salespeople.

“Boss, how can you be so calm? The Wang family has become Jiang Province’s top clan!” Xiao Shan said, panting.

“I know,” Liu Qianqian glanced up at him.

“But aren’t you worried? I heard the Wang family has swallowed the Tong family whole. There’s some old animosity between us—I’m worried…” Xiao Shan said uneasily.

The Liu family was Lancheng’s top clan. Years ago, the Wang family competed with them but lost by a hair, missing the chance to become number one.

Since then, the Liu family had prospered thanks to their status as the city’s foremost clan.

If the Wang family bore a grudge, the Liu family would be in real trouble now.

“What’s there to worry about? The Wang family only rose to the top because they’ve attached themselves to someone powerful,” Liu Qianqian’s eyes shone with intelligence.

“That’s true,” Xiao Shan scratched his head; that was undeniable, but he didn’t understand why his boss made a point of mentioning it.

Seeing his confusion, Liu Qianqian chuckled softly. “Xiao Shan, do you know who that powerful figure is?”

Xiao Shan hurriedly asked, “Boss, do you have some idea?”

“That’s right. Do you remember the man who came here last time to buy three hundred-year-old medicinal herbs?” Liu Qianqian put down her pen.

“I remember,” Xiao Shan nodded. Suddenly, it dawned on him, his eyes filled with surprise. “Boss, are you saying that man is the Wang family’s benefactor?”

“Almost certainly,” Liu Qianqian replied.

Although the Wang family and other Jiang Province powers had erased all traces of Lin Yi, she’d deduced the answer from certain details.

“Should we pay him a visit?” Xiao Shan ventured.

“Of course, but we must choose the right moment,” Liu Qianqian said, returning to her accounts.

At that moment, Xiao Shan’s phone rang in his pocket. He glanced at the number—it was Zhang Xu.