Chapter Forty-One: The Frenzy of Yu Wei

To Qin Yang, Yang Yaxin was the girl who left the deepest impression on him. The unpleasantness of their last encounter hadn’t tarnished her image in his mind; this was a pragmatic world, and having once struggled at the very bottom himself, Qin Yang understood better than anyone the helpless choices people made when they had no other way out. Empathy allowed him to see through her actions, and though she had indeed failed to stand by him in terms of loyalty, her subsequent apology had been enough for him to let it go.

Yang Yaxin, dressed simply, took a seat beside Qin Yang and ordered a beer.

The bar exuded an air of elegance. There was none of the usual noisy bustle, nor the idle flirtations between men and women. Most patrons sat quietly, either swaying gracefully in the dance area or whispering in low voices with a few friends at a table. There was no sense of intrusion, and the two were left undisturbed. Qin Yang glanced at Yang Yaxin, noticing the slight pallor in her cheeks. “Why are you here alone?” he asked.

“Lonely as ever,” she replied, borrowing his own words from before. They exchanged a smile.

Lifting her glass to clink softly against his, Yang Yaxin said, “I saw you outside just now, you looked troubled, so I came over to see if there was anything I could help with.”

Qin Yang smiled, “My problems are mine alone to solve. There’s nothing you can do, I’m afraid.”

“Really?” She shrugged. “What kind of trouble?”

“I’m being forced into an arranged marriage,” Qin Yang said, rubbing his brow, his irritation apparent at the mere mention of it. “And the bride-to-be seems to have a problem with me. Or rather, she finds me intolerable.”

Yang Yaxin burst out laughing. “I can’t believe this! If she dislikes you so much, why agree to the marriage?”

“Who knows?” Qin Yang replied offhandedly. Most likely Liu Yan was just as unwilling as he was, but the elders had made the decision, leaving her no room to resist. He forced a bitter smile. “It’s absurd—what era are we living in that arranged marriages are still a thing? It baffles me. Ugh, let’s drink.”

He took a long swig, then asked, “I heard the company was acquired in the end. How are you holding up?”

“I’m doing just fine,” Yang Yaxin replied, shaking her head with a smile. “Actually, my father was in favor of selling. He knew we couldn’t hold out any longer, and though it pained him to hand over a lifetime of hard work, I’ve come to realize I was just being stubborn before. Letting go isn’t so bad. At least now my father doesn’t have to work himself to exhaustion every day and can finally enjoy life at home. I’m thinking of finding a job, and if possible, maybe even going back to the company.”

“Don’t bother,” Qin Yang waved the idea away. “It’s someone else’s company now—the atmosphere won’t be the same. You’d be better off starting somewhere new.”

“But isn’t the saying that you should get back up where you fell?” Yang Yaxin replied with a chuckle.

Qin Yang considered this. “You’re not a turtle, are you?”

“Go to hell,” she shot him a look, but the sorrow in her brows slowly faded, replaced by a genuine happiness. “Arranged marriages are tricky business. If you’re not careful, you’ll break your parents’ hearts. You should talk things through with them—calmly. I’m sure they’ll understand how you feel.”

“Very funny,” Qin Yang replied with a bitter smile. Talk things through calmly with his parents? Wasn’t that just asking for trouble? What could he say—he’d been too busy with work? But Wang Zhibing had reported his “achievements” to them in such a way that he hardly dared show his face in their circle. Claiming he wanted to pursue romantic freedom was even less convincing. Everyone knew that Young Master Qin’s views on love were notoriously liberal. And then there was Liu Yan, who somehow had managed to make herself appear as the perfect daughter-in-law in the eyes of his parents—such opportunities didn’t come twice. Would they really let such a good match slip away so easily?

“Can’t talk sense into them?” Yang Yaxin frowned.

Qin Yang nodded helplessly.

She laughed. “Then why not just go for it—make a fait accompli. Rent a girlfriend to take home for New Year’s. I just watched a movie like that—‘Roommate Lover,’ starring Fan Bingbing.”

“Rent a girlfriend for New Year’s?” Qin Yang narrowed his eyes. But who could he ask? Gao Xiaolan was out of the question. Han Dongxue? There was still some bitterness there. Sun Qi? Best not—she’d probably tear him limb from limb. Liu Molan? Not ideal—she was his boss, after all. As for the other women he remembered, most were just acquaintances, unlikely to play the part convincingly. After all, not every street had a “Miss Fan.” After a moment’s thought, Qin Yang’s gaze settled on Yang Yaxin.

Beautiful, kind, capable, with plenty of experience from Yang’s Jewelry, and an elegant temperament to match. She might not have an overpowering aura, but she was certainly a gentle beauty. Wasn’t she just the right choice?

“Don’t look at me—I’d give us away for sure,” Yang Yaxin protested, shaking her head. “I can’t lie to save my life.”

“Well, if you won’t help, I don’t know who else could.” Turning away, Qin Yang leaned against the bar and gazed at the darkened street outside. “Forget it. This needs more thought. I’m not in a rush. It’s getting late—let me walk you home.”

“Alright.”

They stepped out of the bar, and the chill hit them immediately. Yang Yaxin shivered at the sudden drop in temperature and pulled her coat tighter. Qin Yang took off his own jacket and draped it over her shoulders. “My car’s parked a bit far. Keep this on and don’t catch cold.”

“You’re wearing too little yourself…” Yang Yaxin protested, seeing that he was only in a shirt, and tried to hand back the jacket. But Qin Yang had already strode ahead. Yang Yaxin smiled sweetly, quickening her pace to catch up. They hadn’t made it to the parking lot when seven or eight figures emerged from the shadows. Qin Yang, having already noticed them, showed no sign of alarm. He pulled the nervous Yang Yaxin behind him.

“Hey, kid, remember me?” A cocky young man stepped forward. Qin Yang sneered in recognition. “Yu Wei? Looks like you didn’t learn your lesson last time. Still got the guts to come looking for trouble?”

Yu Wei’s eyes glinted with undying anger and cruelty. When he spotted Yang Yaxin behind Qin Yang, he licked his lips. “Yang Yaxin, you really don’t know what’s good for you. You’re so devoted to this pretty boy, but your family’s company is gone. What are you still pretending to be above it all for?”

“You’re shameless, Yu Wei,” Yang Yaxin retorted, her face flushed with anger.

“Me, shameless? What about you, you filthy—!” Yu Wei spat, grinding his teeth.

Before he could finish, Qin Yang was on him in a flash, striking like a gust of wind. His slap landed with such force that Yu Wei crashed to the ground, his left cheek instantly blooming red, blood welling up in the moonlight. Howling in pain, Yu Wei shouted, “Get him!”

Qin Yang gave them no chance. He kicked out, following up with a punch as he stepped forward. His opponent had no time to react before he was knocked down, blood spraying from his mouth. Qin Yang moved with seamless, unadorned efficiency—a raw, brutal brawl, without any of the flair of staged martial arts.

Han Mufeng’s training had clearly paid off, and these thugs were far less formidable than the ones who had kidnapped Liu Molan before. Within minutes, all seven or eight of them were sprawled groaning on the ground. Yu Wei, meanwhile, cowered nearby, trembling, speechless with fear.

The most laughable part was that Yu Wei’s so-called friends immediately scattered, abandoning him to his fate. Qin Yang let them go, only holding onto one who was too injured to flee.

“Yu Wei, what am I supposed to say to you?” Qin Yang looked at the almost tearful young man and shook his head with a wry smile. “If you’d just remembered your lesson from last time, wouldn’t things be easier? Why come looking for trouble again—are you tired of living?”

“Please, spare me! I won’t do it again, I swear!” Yu Wei groveled, shaking uncontrollably.

“Let it go, Qin Yang,” Yang Yaxin said softly, seeing that Yu Wei was already badly hurt. “He’s had enough.”

“Alright.”

Qin Yang had no wish to stoop to his level. He was about to lead Yang Yaxin away when suddenly a gunshot split the night. He started violently, spinning around without thinking and shielding Yang Yaxin behind him. Yu Wei was kneeling on the ground, gun in hand, aiming straight at them. Instantly, Qin Yang’s expression turned icy.

“Kneel! Get down right now, or the next bullet won’t hit the ground!” Yu Wei snarled, blood streaming down his face, creating a grotesque mask.

Qin Yang, unfazed, replied in a low voice, “And if I don’t? Are you really going to kill me? Do you know what will happen to your family if you do?”

“Kneel!” Yu Wei roared, deaf to reason.

“Don’t provoke him,” Yang Yaxin whispered, frightened. “He’s not in his right mind.”

“I’ll count to three. When I say three, you squat down,” Qin Yang murmured, keeping his eyes on Yu Wei as he slowly bent his knees. Yu Wei’s face twisted into a hideous grin.

“One… two… three!”

As soon as he uttered “three,” Yang Yaxin dropped down. Qin Yang, meanwhile, sprang forward. Though not faster than a speeding bullet, his reflexes were quicker than Yu Wei’s finger on the trigger. Zigzagging in an S-shaped path, he was on Yu Wei in an instant, landing a punch in his armpit. Yu Wei yelped in pain, his body instantly paralyzed, the gun dropping to the ground. Qin Yang kicked it aside and delivered another blow, the force so great that Yu Wei spat blood and was sent flying.

At that moment, two police officers came running down the avenue. Witnessing Qin Yang knock Yu Wei to the ground, they immediately drew their weapons and shouted, “Hands on your head! Don’t move!”