Chapter 122: Treating Bruises and Injuries

Jiang City is a remote, third-tier town. By ten o'clock at night, most of the shops on the street had already shuttered. The dark sky was devoid of stars, and only a few dilapidated streetlamps cast a dim, orange glow upon the road.

Two long, distorted shadows stretched across the wall, looking unsettling in the gloom.

"Stop right there!" a highly arrogant voice rang out from behind.

"I said, stop right there, you bastards!"

The two men slowed and turned around. One was dressed in a floral shirt and black shorts, his hair dyed a striking yellow. The other wore a white casual outfit, his black hair cropped short; he looked refined and strikingly handsome.

The red-haired man rested a wooden club on his shoulder, and a lackey stepped forward to light his cigarette.

Dongfang Cheng ran a hand through his yellow hair, bumped the man in white with his elbow, and chuckled under his breath.

"Brother Gu, who do you think is more stylish between me and him?"

A hint of amusement flickered in Gu Ting’s eyes as he glanced at the red-haired man. His thin lips parted slightly. "Six of one, half a dozen of the other."

Dongfang Cheng: ...

I was waiting for a compliment!

Seeing the two whispering to each other, the red-haired man’s face darkened. Did they think the dozen or so men behind him were invisible?

"Damn it! If you know what's good for you, hand over the money!" The red-haired man spat his cigarette onto the ground, looking menacing. These two outsiders looked wealthy—they were fat sheep.

"Hahaha..." Dongfang Cheng laughed. A robbery?

The red-haired man felt his anger flare. Looking down on him? Then he’d beat them until they called him daddy!

"Damn it! Boys, beat them until their own parents wouldn't recognize them!"

Dongfang Cheng pressed his tongue against his cheek. "Brother Gu, shall we take them on?"

Gu Ting’s lips curled in mockery, and just as he was about to move, a clear, pleasant voice echoed from behind them.

"So noisy."

Dongfang Cheng’s eyes lit up. Judging by the voice, she was undoubtedly a beauty!

Under the streetlight, a girl and a boy walked slowly toward them. The girl had exquisite, delicate features and a face the size of a palm. She wore a simple white T-shirt and denim shorts, revealing beautiful, slender legs. She walked with a confident gait, her long hair streaming behind her shoulders. Her expression was cold and detached, like a fairy fallen to the mortal world.

The boy behind her was a head shorter, with refined features but a flicker of ferocity in his brow.

"Whoa! That chick is hot!" The red-haired man and his crew stared, their eyes glazing over.

Gu Ting frowned. These people were utterly filthy.

"Miss, this...?" Before Dongfang Cheng could finish, the girl had already lunged forward.

"My sister isn't doing this to save you; you're just too loud," the boy said, appearing beside Dongfang Cheng. He glanced at Dongfang Cheng and rolled his eyes—gaudy and flamboyant.

Gu Ting’s gaze remained fixed on the girl. Her movements were clean and decisive, without a hint of hesitation. Every strike hit the soft spots of her opponents. Within moments, the thugs were sprawling on the ground, groaning in pain.

"Get lost." The girl shook out her wrists, her eyes sharp.

The red-haired man didn't dare linger; he scrambled away as fast as he could.

"Zhong Yi, let's go." She glanced in the boy's direction, her eyes meeting Gu Ting’s.

This man had been staring at her from the very beginning. She found it slightly annoying.

Zhong Yi flashed a wide grin and trotted over.

"Little fairy, thank you," Dongfang Cheng followed.

Shen Qing glanced at him—the yellow hair was flamboyant, and his peach-blossom eyes were narrow, currently squinting in a way that made him look like a total playboy.

"No need."

"How about we add each other on WeChat?" Dongfang Cheng blocked their path, his smile gentle and polite.

"No."

"Then let me walk you home," Dongfang Cheng persisted.

Zhong Yi glanced at him as if he were looking at an idiot. With his sister’s combat prowess, did she need an escort?

"Let's go together; we can protect... each other," Gu Ting said, stepping up to stand beside Shen Qing. He looked down slightly, noticing the thick shadow cast by the girl’s eyelashes against her nose bridge.

Dongfang Cheng was stunned, looking at Gu Ting in disbelief. He was actually taking the initiative to talk to a girl? Had the iron tree finally blossomed?

Shen Qing shifted her gaze. The man beside her wore a plain white tracksuit and a new pair of DL sneakers. His skin was pale, and his features were handsome without being effeminate.

"Suit yourself." Shen Qing lifted her eyes, reached out to tug on Zhong Yi’s sleeve, and before anyone could react, she had already taken a step forward.

"Are you from Jiang City?" Dongfang Cheng asked.

"Yeah," Zhong Yi nodded.

"Brother Gu and I are here for a visit. Do you have any recommendations?"

"No."

Dongfang Cheng: ...

He let out a dry laugh. "Hahaha, the kid is quite cold."

Gu Ting walked to Shen Qing’s left. As he drew closer, he could smell a faint fragrance coming from her.

"Something the matter?" Shen Qing looked at her sleeve, which was almost brushing against Gu Ting, her brow furrowing with slight disdain.

Gu Ting caught her micro-expression, his gaze stalling for a second.

"How about adding each other on WeChat? We're new here, and things can be inconvenient." He added the last half of the sentence after a brief pause.

Dongfang Cheng gasped. Was this really the Gu Ting he knew, who was an expert in every vice?

Zhong Yi scoffed. That was a pathetic excuse to get a WeChat!

Shen Qing glanced at him and ignored him.

Perhaps the man’s gaze was too intense; Shen Qing grew impatient. She pulled a bulky phone from her denim shorts pocket. It was an unrecognizable brand, but her hands were beautiful, with clear knuckles and slender fingers.

"I'll scan you, just stop following me." As soon as Shen Qing finished speaking, Gu Ting held out his QR code, his eyes brimming with a smile.

Shen Qing twitched her lip—he was fast.

"Add me too," Dongfang Cheng said, pulling out his phone.

"Sis, let's go." Zhong Yi took the phone from Shen Qing and pulled her ahead.

Dongfang Cheng: ...

That brat did that on purpose!

Gu Ting tapped 'accept.' The other party’s profile picture was a yellow Chinese rural dog, baring its teeth at the camera.

"Brother Gu, give me the little fairy’s WeChat ID," Dongfang Cheng said, clinging to him with a grin.

"I earned this myself. Why should I give it to you?"

"You've changed, doggie. Boo-hoo..."

"Get lost!"

*

The August sun was scorching, making people feel dizzy.

"Sis, the bus is here."

Zhong Yi watched the bus pull up, fished out some change, paid for two, and found a window seat.

As soon as they sat down, Shen Qing opened a game, while Zhong Yi took a palm-sized book from his bag. Shen Qing glanced at it but said nothing.

They rode the bus for half the morning before reaching the Jiang City High-Speed Railway Station. Zhong Yi picked up the two tickets with their IDs, and after a hurried lunch, they arrived in Fan City by six in the evening.

As they exited the platform, Shen Qing saw the sign held by the Yu family.

"Miss?" The middle-aged man looked at Shen Qing’s beautiful face, unsure. She didn't look like the master at all.

"Yes," Shen Qing nodded.

Confirming her identity, the butler, He Zhong, breathed a sigh of relief.

"Greetings, Miss. I am the butler sent by the master to pick you up. He has a social engagement tonight and couldn't make it."

"It's fine. Let's go." Shen Qing didn't care whether Yu Fei came or not.

"And your luggage?" He Zhong looked at Shen Qing, who didn't even have a bag, and only then noticed the boy following behind her.

"No luggage. This is my neighbor, Zhong Yi," Shen Qing introduced him briefly.

He Zhong was stunned. A neighbor followed her all the way to Fan City? But he kept a kind smile on his face. "Miss, please follow me."

He Zhong led them to a black sedan. He opened the back door for Shen Qing, but since Zhong Yi was a young man, he directed him to the front passenger seat.