As she spoke, she deliberately covered her mouth and nose with a look of disgust.
Chen Xiao frowned. "You have bad breath. Stay away from me."
"You..." Su Yingxue glared at Chen Xiao. "Say that again if you dare!"
Chen Xiao's frown deepened. "You also have some nasty infection. The stench is overpowering."
These words completely shattered Su Yingxue's composure. She lunged at Chen Xiao, nails outstretched like claws.
SMACK!
Chen Xiao showed no mercy, slapping her hard across the face.
I could have gotten the Jade Pendant easily by just annulling the engagement, but this woman had to make everything so difficult!
A fire ignited in his heart, and he landed another ferocious slap!
"Ah!" Su Yingxue crumpled to the ground, clutching her face. It was already red and swollen, and she looked utterly wretched.
Everyone was stunned. They couldn't believe Chen Xiao had dared to strike her!
Even Luo Qingli's beautiful eyes flickered with a hint of surprise.
One of Su Yingxue's high heels had snapped. She limped to her feet and sobbed into Qin Zihao's ear, "Young Master Qin, you have to stand up for me!"
Qin Zihao's face turned grim. I've always considered Luo Qingli my private possession, a prize I've yet to claim. And this bastard beat me to it?
"Cripple him and drag him out of here!"
At his command, several burly men immediately surrounded Chen Xiao, pulling out collapsible batons from their belts to strike at him.
"Is this pathetic crew all you have?"
Chen Xiao snatched a collapsible baton and effortlessly deflected a blow. The man holding it was sent stumbling into his companion, and the two of them went flying, tangled together.
Taking the baton, Chen Xiao advanced on the remaining men with a powerful, intimidating gait.
A series of agonized screams rang out.
Without exception, every one of the large men was left sprawled on the ground, howling in pain.
Striding with that same powerful gait, Chen Xiao stepped over their bodies and approached Qin Zihao.
Qin Zihao's eyelid twitched violently. He tugged at his collar. "Kid, you've got some nerve. You think you can—"
Before he could finish, Chen Xiao's hand clamped around his neck like an iron vise and lifted him off his feet.
The breath was choked out of him. Qin Zihao's mouth gaped open as he fought for air, but the collapsible baton was suddenly shoved inside and brutally twisted...
"MMMPH!" Qin Zihao whimpered as blood streamed from his lips.
The moment Chen Xiao let go, he let out a scream like a pig being slaughtered and spat out a mouthful of bloody, broken teeth.
The hall fell into a deathly silence.
"Get lost." Chen Xiao tossed the baton onto Qin Zihao's head, knocking him unconscious.
"Young Master Qin! Young Master Qin!" Su Yingxue shrieked, her face drained of color.
The other thugs scrambled to their feet, hastily propping up the bloodied Qin Zihao and making a disgraceful retreat.
It was several long seconds before the people in the Luo Family's main hall snapped back to their senses.
The sheer ruthlessness of Chen Xiao's actions had shaken them all.
Most importantly, Chen Xiao had just beaten up the young master of the Qin Family, one of Yuncheng City's Four Great Families!
"You're insane! Now the Luo Family is facing a disaster!" Luo Jianghe collapsed onto the sofa. "You're going to get us all killed!"
Li Sufang gritted her teeth. "Luo Qingli, look at the kind of person you've brought home! Cut all ties with him and tell him to get lost! Then you'll go to Young Master Qin and beg for his forgiveness. Maybe then there's a chance for us to survive!"
"Get out of the Luo Family, now!"
Luo Qingli looked at Luo Jianghe and his wife and said calmly, "I've already registered our marriage. He's my legal husband."
Her words struck the couple like a bolt of lightning.
"Have you lost your mind?!"
"It's over! It's all over! That man is going to be the death of the Luo Family..."
The two of them wailed dramatically, their faces as pale as death.
"Enough!" Finally, Old Master Luo spoke up. "All this wailing and fussing is a disgrace! The Luo Family is not so fragile that a few jabs from the Qin Family will destroy us. You two are an embarrassment!
"We were bullied in our own home, yet all you can think about is how to appease that dog. What Little Xiao did today was right! He avenged an old grudge for me!"
Old Master Luo had built his fortune from nothing. He had seen his share of storms.
He gave Chen Xiao a meaningful look. "Little Xiao, from now on, you're family. We'll all have dinner together tonight. Aunt Mei, tell the staff to prepare a family feast!"
And just like that, Chen Xiao's position as the son-in-law of the Luo Family was cemented.
At the dinner table, Luo Jianghe and Li Sufang still regarded Chen Xiao with open hostility. When they learned he had barely gone to school and possessed no useful skills, their remarks grew even more sarcastic.
In this day and age, a man couldn't even survive without brains or a valuable skill, let alone be worthy of being their son-in-law!
Their daughter was the top CEO in Yuncheng City, an untouchable ice queen and the dream girl of countless men. How could such a perfect flower be planted in a pile of cow dung?
They were so frustrated they could have coughed up blood.
Throughout it all, Luo Qingli simply ate with elegance, occasionally firing back a sharp retort on Chen Xiao's behalf.
Chen Xiao, however, completely ignored them. He wolfed down his food, clearing the table like a storm passing through.
After dinner, Luo Chenggong chuckled. "Little Xiao, you two just got married and have only just met. You should spend tonight getting to know each other better. Get some rest."
A faint blush appeared on Luo Qingli's cheeks. "Come upstairs with me."
Inside Luo Qingli's room, a pleasant, faint, yet comforting fragrance filled the air. The decor was simple. Lying on the quilt were several pieces of her underwear, which she hadn't put away.
Chen Xiao blurted out, "Are those... cartoon characters?"
Luo Qingli's face burned. She hastily snatched up the underwear and, feigning composure, ordered, "Go take a shower!"
By the time Chen Xiao returned from his shower, Luo Qingli had already finished hers.
She wore a silk nightgown as thin as a cicada's wing. Her long hair cascaded down her back, lending her an air of lazy sensuality. Her long, pale legs were almost fully exposed. Their snowy-white skin was so dazzling it irresistibly drew one's gaze upward...
Chen Xiao couldn't help but stare.
"Have you seen enough?" Luo Qingli asked, raising her limpid eyes.
Chen Xiao feigned nonchalance. "I've already seen everything there is to see. What's the big deal?"
Luo Qingli's expression turned to ice.
Playing tough, are we? We'll see how long he can keep that up!
CLICK! Luo Qingli switched off all the lights in the room. "Let's get some sleep. We have important business tomorrow."
Chen Xiao shrugged. "Where do I sleep?"
"Choose for yourself," a cold voice replied from the darkness.
Chen Xiao couldn't be bothered to argue. Sleep on the floor? Not a chance in hell!
He dove straight into the bed.
To his surprise, the space under the covers was incredibly warm. As he shifted, a fragrant scent filled his nostrils, accompanied by the feeling of hot breath against his skin. His own body temperature began to rise...
Suddenly, a soft hand began to explore his body...
Chen Xiao immediately went rigid, arching his back. "What are you doing?"
"Warming up."
The sensation grew more intense, and he was instantly aroused. His voice trembled slightly. "I thought you said we had important business tomorrow."
Luo Qingli suddenly moved closer, her voice a low whisper by his ear. "Our wedding night... consummating the marriage... doesn't that count as important business?"