This huge reversal was too sudden! Too melodramatic! Too unbelievable! Qin Qing and everyone present nearly threw their backs out from the whiplash of such an unexpected twist.
Before this, they had imagined many different scenarios for Ye Xiu's one-man fight against Meng Shaoxiong's dozens of men. They had pictured Meng Shaoxiong's men beating Ye Xiu until he couldn't care for himself, Meng Shaoxiong crippling Ye Xiu's limbs, or even chopping off the hand Ye Xiu had used to strike Meng Zi'an.
No one had expected Meng Shaoxiong to lead dozens of his underlings, charge murderously at Ye Xiu, and then... break into a dance.
This plot had gone seriously off the rails!
But everyone quickly understood. The moment the murderous Meng Shaoxiong saw Ye Xiu's face, he had instantly transformed into the lead dancer.
Clearly, Meng Shaoxiong recognized Ye Xiu! And he was afraid of him!
Hiss!
Realizing this, everyone present drew a sharp, cold breath.
No wonder Ye Xiu dared to hit Meng Zi'an! No wonder he dared to tell Meng Zi'an to call Meng Shaoxiong over! No wonder he hadn't shown the slightest hint of fear from beginning to end!
So he had powerful backing all along!
But... what kind of backing did Ye Xiu have to frighten Meng Shaoxiong into such a pathetic state?
Lying on the ground, Meng Zi'an felt his mind about to shatter. He wasn't a fool; his father's actions made him realize that Ye Xiu was a titan that even his father couldn't afford to offend. This beating was for nothing!
The security guards who had resigned were now regretting it so much their guts were turning green. If only we'd known it would end like this, why the hell did we quit?!
As for Wang Hong, the man who had encouraged the guards to resign, he was now so terrified he could barely stand. I can't even imagine how Ye Xiu is going to deal with me later...
"Stop dancing!" Ye Xiu ordered.
By now, he had figured it out. Meng Shaoxiong must be one of the underlings recruited by Mo Luo. He's one of us!
"Yes, yes, yes!" Meng Shaoxiong hurriedly stopped, signaling his men to halt as well.
Ye Xiu delivered a fierce slap across Meng Shaoxiong's face and scoffed coldly, "Who gave you permission to use your power to bully others?"
Meng Shaoxiong's portly body spun around twice from the force of the blow before he collapsed. He didn't get up. Instead, he crawled frantically to Ye Xiu's feet, knelt, and began kowtowing desperately with loud THUDS, crying out, "I was wrong! I'll never do it again! Spare my life..."
Before receiving the call from Meng Zi'an, Meng Shaoxiong had just gotten a text from Mo Luo with Ye Xiu's photo. Huang Quan is finally back! I was just wondering when I'd have the honor of meeting the legendary Huang Quan! I never expected it to be so soon! But... damn it all, I'd rather have never met him!
Meng Shaoxiong was petrified. He had long heard that Huang Quan killed without batting an eye. If I infuriate Huang Quan because of Meng Zi'an, the entire Meng Family will be wiped out!
"Get up," Ye Xiu said expressionlessly. "If I ever find out you're causing trouble again, you know what I'll do."
"Yes, yes, I'll never dare again!" Meng Shaoxiong broke out in a cold sweat and hastily gave his assurance. He then scrambled to his feet and stood respectfully to the side.
The impact of this scene on everyone present was immense, leaving them with a surreal, dreamlike feeling. The notorious gangster investor, Meng Shaoxiong, was acting like a meek grandchild in front of Ye Xiu.
By now, however, people were beginning to guess at the truth. Ye Xiu's background was terrifying! So terrifying that it drove Meng Shaoxiong to despair.
The company executives who knew Ye Xiu's identity were overcome with curiosity. What exactly did Ye Xiu do abroad these past ten years? Why would Meng Shaoxiong of Jin Ye City be so scared of him right after he returned?
Ye Xiu walked over to Wang Hong. "Wang Hong?" he said coldly. "I wasn't beaten to death by Meng Shaoxiong. Are you disappointed?"
Wang Hong shuddered violently, then plopped to his knees at Ye Xiu's feet and began slapping his own face again and again. "It's my fault for being blind and failing to recognize a great man! Please, be the better person and let bygones be bygones! Just treat me like a fart and let me go..."
Seeing this, the people from the Qin Corporation felt a great sense of satisfaction.
Ye Xiu kicked Wang Hong to the ground, stepped on his face, and said icily, "I can understand you siding with Meng Zi'an against me without knowing the full story, since you don't know me.
"I can also understand you choosing to resign when faced with pressure from Meng Shaoxiong, fearing it would affect your family.
"But inciting all the security guards to resign with you and egging Meng Shaoxiong on to have me killed? That really pisses me off."
Hearing Ye Xiu's words, the color drained from Wang Hong's face. He wanted to beg for mercy, but Ye Xiu's foot was pressing down on his mouth.
Ye Xiu kicked Wang Hong over to Meng Shaoxiong's feet. "Meng Shaoxiong," he said, "Wang Hong's legs are broken, and he has trouble walking. I find him quite pitiful. Buy a wheelchair and give it to him for me."
Then, he took Qin Qing's hand and left the Qin Corporation.
His words, however, left everyone completely bewildered. Wang Hong's legs were perfectly fine. How were they broken?
In an instant, everyone understood.
Hiss! The crowd drew a sharp breath. Ye Xiu was truly ruthless!
"No, please, no..." Realizing what Ye Xiu meant, a terrified Wang Hong rolled over and knelt before Meng Shaoxiong, howling for mercy.
"Buddy, don't be ungrateful," Meng Shaoxiong said. "He's only taking your two legs. You should count your lucky stars!"
Although the employees of the Qin Corporation felt a chill run down their spines, they were secretly thrilled. A person like Wang Hong deserved such retribution.
***
Ye Xiu and Qin Qing arrived at the Qin Corporation's parking lot. After they got in the car, Ye Xiu said to Qin Qing, who had been silent the entire way, "I know you have a lot of questions. Go ahead and ask. I won't hide anything from you."
Leaning back in her seat, Qin Qing said lazily, "Revenge is a man's business. I'm not interested in what you did abroad for ten years. Right now, I just want to get married quickly and be a wealthy housewife. I've been so tired these past few years."
Looking at Qin Qing's delicate profile, Ye Xiu said, "It's been ten years. I'm no longer the Ye Xiu you once knew..."
"You had a sex change?" Qin Qing bolted upright, staring at Ye Xiu in shock.
Ye Xiu: "???"
What a bizarre train of thought.
Qin Qing then looked at him seriously and said, "You're trying to say that since we haven't seen each other in ten years, we've both changed, and the person you are now might not be the Ye Xiu I used to love, is that it?"
Without waiting for a reply, she continued, "Even though we haven't seen or spoken to each other in ten years, my heart has never changed. It doesn't matter what you've become. Even if you're disfigured, disabled, or have turned into the most evil of demons, I will still love you.
"You are my dream. My life's dream is to marry you."
As she spoke, Qin Qing produced a Dagger from who-knows-where. "If you dare say you don't love me or don't want to marry me, I will stab you to death and then kill myself."
A chill ran down Ye Xiu's spine. How did this escalate to pulling out a knife?
"Drive. We're going to my house to steal the household registration book," Qin Qing commanded, pressing the Dagger against Ye Xiu's kidney.
Ye Xiu quickly started the car, muttering, "We're just getting married. Do you have to act like a bandit kidnapping her groom?"
"You *are* my captive groom," Qin Qing said with a bandit's swagger.
The corners of Ye Xiu's mouth twitched. He suddenly realized something. The married life I've been dreaming of might be completely different from how I imagined it.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the Qin Family home.
"Haha, no one's home!" Qin Qing was ecstatic to see that her parents were out.
"Hurry and get the household registration book," Ye Xiu urged, feeling incredibly tense. "If your parents come back, we won't be able to leave."
In all these years, even when facing every War God on the War God Ranking, he had never been this nervous. Right now, his heart was pounding in his throat.
"Okay!"
Qin Qing dashed upstairs and returned moments later, holding the household registration book. "Got it! Let's go get our marriage license!"
Ye Xiu let out a sigh of relief. Stealing something for the first time in my life is much easier than I thought.
The two ran gleefully out of the villa. They had just reached the main gate, ready to open it, when... the gate swung open