Chapter Sixty-Six

While everyone’s attention was fixed on You Yige, Yi Xiaoyu quietly called the police. Yet even after hanging up, his heart was still pounding with anxiety, for he had no idea what might happen in the time before the officers arrived.

In fact, crawling backward to quietly retreat was still an option. But not knowing what might happen in the next second, Yi Xiaoyu dared not let his gaze stray from You Yige, his mind racing—if things reached a critical moment, he could dash out and at least buy some time.

At the same moment, Big Boss You was silently hoping Yi Xiaoyu would just leave.

The young man toyed with the gun in his hand, leering at You Yige. “Remember who I am?”

“I do,” replied Big Boss You seriously. “I thought you’d still be lying in the hospital.”

Yi Xiaoyu finally got a good look at the young man leading the group.

He was the son of the mayor of City V—a notorious wastrel, arrogant and lawless, who acted recklessly under the shelter of his father’s title. His father’s reputation, and thus his grip on the mayoral seat, was already crumbling, largely thanks to this good-for-nothing son.

Yi Xiaoyu could already guess why this group had come for You Yige.

Last year, You Yige had beaten this man badly enough to put him in the hospital.

Now, the man was here for vengeance.

Yi Xiaoyu grew even more nervous, eyes full of worry as he looked at You Yige’s back, then at the gun in the youth’s hand. His heart pounded all the harder.

The young man let out a sinister laugh and suddenly raised his gun at You Yige. You Yige’s pupils contracted sharply, his whole body tensed, ready to dodge.

Even if he couldn’t avoid it, at least he’d make sure the bullet didn’t hit any vital spot.

But at that critical moment, Yi Xiaoyu suddenly rose from the grass. “Stop!”

All eyes turned to Yi Xiaoyu. Several burly men rushed over, roughly dragging him out.

You Yige’s face changed abruptly as he stared at Yi Xiaoyu, fists clenching tightly at his sides.

The young man narrowed his eyes at Yi Xiaoyu, as if pondering something. After a few seconds, he sneered at You Yige. “Ah, almost forgot you didn’t come here alone. What now? Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

“A friend,” You Yige replied.

“A friend?” The young man raised an eyebrow. “A boyfriend?”

“Just a friend. Our business has nothing to do with him. Let him go.”

The young man didn’t answer, only smirked and strode toward Yi Xiaoyu.

He stopped in front of Yi Xiaoyu and suddenly kicked him in the abdomen. Yi Xiaoyu instinctively tried to dodge, but one of the other men gripped his shoulder, holding him in place.

The kick landed hard. Yi Xiaoyu groaned, dropping to his knees, hands clutching his stomach in agony.

“Damn it!”

Seeing Yi Xiaoyu being beaten, You Yige’s eyes blazed with fury. He rushed forward, but one of the burly men tried to block him. With a swift over-the-shoulder throw, You Yige slammed the man to the ground. But as he turned back to Yi Xiaoyu, his body froze.

A gun was pressed against Yi Xiaoyu’s head.

“Don’t think I won’t shoot!” The young man, clearly rattled by You Yige’s ferocity, glared in agitation. “Take one more step and I’ll blow this man’s brains out!”

Judging by You Yige’s reaction, the young man now realized these two were far more than mere friends.

Staring at the gun that could fire any second, You Yige’s face turned pale. He stepped back, waving his hands. “I’m not coming over, I’m not! Careful with that gun, I—ugh!”

Before he could finish, the man he’d just thrown down punched him hard, sending him staggering sideways. Barely steady, You Yige was then kicked in the ribs by another, finally collapsing to the ground.

He spat blood, trying to push himself up, but two men yanked his arms behind his back, twisting them cruelly.

The young man handed his gun to a companion, instructing him to keep it on Yi Xiaoyu, then walked over to You Yige.

“I’m going to pay you back for what you did to me,” he said, flexing his fists. “With interest!” He punched You Yige hard, adding, “If you resist, I’ll kill that man over there. You care about him, don’t you? He’s your boyfriend, right?”

You Yige said nothing, and the young man didn’t bother to talk further. He backed up, signaled his men, and five or six of them surged forward, raining punches and kicks on You Yige.

In the chaos, fists and feet thudded into flesh, and the sickening crackle of snapping bones could be heard.

“Stop! You lunatics!” Yi Xiaoyu was frantic, tears streaming down his face. “I’ve already called the police! They’ll be here any minute!”

At the word “police,” the young man’s face changed. He quickly searched Yi Xiaoyu and found his phone, pulling up the call log. Sure enough, a call to 911 had been placed seven minutes ago.

“Damn it!” he cursed, kicking Yi Xiaoyu again. “You actually called the cops! Fine! None of you are leaving here alive!”

He snatched the gun from his companion, aiming it at Yi Xiaoyu. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, You Yige, bloodied and barely conscious, crawled desperately from the melee and grabbed the young man’s ankle, yanking hard. The young man lost his balance and fell, dropping the gun.

He scrambled to retrieve it, but You Yige lunged forward, dragging the man’s leg and trying to reach the gun himself.

But he was too slow—the young man got there first.

Gun in hand, he aimed at You Yige. But You Yige’s reflexes were lightning-quick; he caught the man’s wrist and twisted it upward.

A shot rang out into the sky.

The two wrestled fiercely, the gun going off twice more. One bullet struck one of the young man’s own men in the arm, sending the onlookers recoiling in fear, none daring to come closer.

At that moment, police sirens wailed in the distance.

These thugs were nothing more than local hoodlums the young man had paid off earlier that day. Unwilling to confront the police, they scattered at once.

Big Boss You, battered and broken, clung desperately to the young man’s gun hand. His other arm, fractured in the beating, was useless. The young man, now with a free hand, landed blows on You Yige’s bloodied face.

Finally, the young man broke free, whirled, and aimed the gun at—Yi Xiaoyu.

You Yige didn’t think—he threw himself in front of the gun, mustering his last ounce of strength to punch the young man in the temple.

The gun fired just as his fist landed. The young man’s eyes rolled back and he collapsed, unconscious.

Looking down at the blood spreading across his chest, You Yige managed a weak smile. “What rotten luck.” With that, he collapsed to the ground.