Chapter 10: Surrounded by Scoundrels, I Walk Alone

The moon rose above the dark branches, and as promised, Ling Xiao arrived at a renowned restaurant in Jiangnan. Mu Yiren was already waiting by the entrance.

Tonight, she seemed to be in high spirits. Draped in a pale violet gown that flowed gracefully, she was a vision of beauty. The dress, with its slender straps, revealed her smooth, delicate shoulders, exuding the aura of a goddess. Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, elegant and refined, with a celestial charm beyond words.

Seeing Ling Xiao approach, she smiled and stepped forward to greet him.

“A gentleman shouldn’t be late when a lady invites him to dinner, you know,” she teased.

Ling Xiao offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry, something came up and I was delayed.”

“I’m just joking. Come, I’ve already ordered.”

Ling Xiao nodded and followed Mu Yiren into the restaurant.

The dishes Mu Yiren had chosen were rather expensive, and the wine was excellent—it was clear she had carefully prepared for this meal.

“So, what made you suddenly decide to invite me to dinner tonight?” Ling Xiao asked.

Mu Yiren gave a mysterious smile. “Take a guess.”

Ling Xiao’s gaze shifted slightly. “Did you close a business deal?”

Mu Yiren was momentarily surprised, then let out a long sigh and gave a bitter smile.

“As expected, I knew it must be because of you.”

She poured Ling Xiao a glass of wine and said, “All day, I couldn’t figure out why Omega, who had previously refused to work with us, suddenly agreed not only to cooperate but also to invest a large sum. At first, I thought it was my father’s spirit watching over me, but that felt too fanciful. Thinking it through, it seemed the turning point was when they saw your business card.”

She paused, then continued, “I had someone look into it—the characters on that card are crafted from real gold! Someone who has their name cast in gold on a business card is hardly ordinary.”

She looked at Ling Xiao with a complex expression. “Who... are you, really?”

Ling Xiao lifted his glass, took a sip, and answered calmly, “It’s dangerous for a woman to be curious about a man.”

Mu Yiren smiled gently. “Do you think I’d fall for you just because you helped me? You needn’t worry—I already have a husband.”

“Oh?” Ling Xiao’s brows drew together slightly. “Miss Mu, you’re so young, and you already have a husband?”

“That’s right! He’s my childhood friend,” she said, and then her smile turned bitter. “If he hadn’t disappeared, he’d be about your age now.”

“Disappeared? Is someone whose fate is uncertain really worth waiting for?” Ling Xiao asked.

Mu Yiren looked out the window, sipped her wine, and her face was resolute. “He’s worth it! I’ll wait for him to return and marry me.”

Ling Xiao’s lips curved into a faint smile as he raised his glass to her. “With your devotion, he won’t let you down. I hope you find him soon.”

They clinked glasses.

“Thank you. When the time comes, I hope you’ll attend my wedding,” Mu Yiren said.

“I certainly will,” Ling Xiao replied.

After the wine was drunk, a few more guests entered the restaurant. Their faces stirred a memory in Ling Xiao’s mind.

Once inside, the newcomers noticed Ling Xiao and Mu Yiren and immediately approached.

“What a coincidence—isn’t that Yiren?” one called out.

“Zhao Qiang, Song Yuxin... What brings you all here for dinner?” Mu Yiren asked.

“We’ve all finished the college entrance exams, did pretty well, so we decided to celebrate together. Didn’t expect to run into you. By the way, who’s this handsome guy? Is he your boyfriend?”

Mu Yiren was taken aback, then hurriedly shook her head. “Ling Xiao is my only boyfriend. This gentleman is a friend.”

At the mention of Ling Xiao, the group’s expressions soured, showing clear irritation.

“Yiren, why are you still hung up on that loser?” one scoffed.

“Yeah, Yiren, the Ling family is ruined, Ling Xiao was beaten so badly his legs were broken, who knows if he’s dead or alive!” another sneered.

Mu Yiren’s brows arched sharply. “Enough! I won’t tolerate anyone maligning Ling Xiao!”

Instead of stopping, the group grew even more aggressive.

“Why bother, Yiren? With your looks, the men lining up to pursue you could stretch from here to Beijing! Why cling to Ling Xiao?”

“Not to mention, Ling Xiao might have been eaten by wolves in the mountains, bones and all! Even if he survived, he’s a cripple, probably begging under some bridge now. Waiting for him is just wasting your youth.”

“Shut up!” Mu Yiren was furious now. She stood, raised her hand, and slapped Zhao Qiang hard across the face.

Humiliated in front of everyone, Zhao Qiang’s expression turned cold and vicious.

“You bitch, I try to give you advice, and you hit me? You’re asking for trouble!” he snarled, raising his hand to strike back.

Zhao Qiang was sturdy and strong—if his slap landed, Mu Yiren’s delicate face would surely swell.

As the blow was about to fall, a slender, powerful hand appeared out of nowhere, gripping Zhao Qiang’s wrist firmly.

Zhao Qiang was stunned, then glared menacingly. “Brat, this is none of your business. Stay out of it, or I’ll kill you!”

Ling Xiao’s face remained indifferent. “She’s my friend. If you hit her, where’s my dignity?”

“Dignity? Who the hell do you think you are? Listen, I’m the heir to Jiangzhou Zhao Group. If you cross me, I’ll make sure you can’t survive in Jiangzhou!”

“Oh?” Ling Xiao tilted his head. “You might not know, but I’m very... curious.”

With that, he applied a little pressure. Accompanied by a crisp ‘crack’, Zhao Qiang’s wrist was broken on the spot.

“Aaaaah—!” Zhao Qiang clutched his arm, screaming in agony. “My arm, my arm is broken!”

The others were stunned by the brutality. To break someone’s arm bare-handed—Ling Xiao’s methods were truly terrifying.

But these days, brute strength alone doesn’t rule the world.

“You dared to strike Zhao Qiang—we won’t let you get away with it! My father’s a department head, Song Yuxin’s father is deputy chief of the city police. You’d better kneel and apologize to Zhao Qiang, cover all his medical expenses, or you’ll be done for!”

Ling Xiao calmly picked up a napkin and wiped his hands. “No need to flaunt your fathers’ power here. Tomorrow at noon, I’ll be dining on the eleventh floor of Jiangbei Grand Hotel. If you want trouble, come find me.”

He nodded slightly to Mu Yiren, smiling. “Thank you for dinner, Miss Mu. Next time, I’ll invite you. Farewell.”

With that, he left without another word, leaving behind a crowd consumed by anger yet too intimidated to act.

“That damned bastard, how dare he be so arrogant?”

“Damn it! He hit our classmate—we can’t let this slide. Tomorrow, let’s bring some muscle and confront him. I don’t believe he’ll get away with it!”

“Exactly! We’ll make sure he pays, let him see what happens when you cross us!”