Chapter 141: Money in the Account

Jiang City is a remote, third-rate town. By ten o’clock at night, most shops on the street have already shuttered. The pitch-black sky is devoid of stars, and the only light comes from a few dilapidated streetlamps casting a dim, orange glow.

Two figures stretch out long, distorted shadows against the wall, appearing somewhat eerie.

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

"I’m talking to you! I said stop!"

Two men slowly turn around. One is wearing a floral shirt and black shorts, his hair dyed a vibrant yellow. The other is dressed in a white casual outfit with short, black hair; he looks refined and strikingly handsome.

The redhead, a wooden club resting on his shoulder, signals a lackey to light his cigarette.

Dongfang Cheng runs a hand through his yellow hair, nudges the man in white, and chuckles under his breath. "Brother Gu, who do you think is more stylish—him or me?"

Gu Ting’s eyes flash with amusement as he glances at the redhead, his thin lips parting slightly. "Six of one, half a dozen of the other."

Dongfang Cheng: ...

I was waiting for a compliment!

The redhead, observing the whispering pair, darkens his expression. Do they think his dozen or so brothers don't exist?

"Damn it! If you know what’s good for you, hand over the money!" The redhead spits his cigarette onto the ground, looking menacing. These two outsiders look well-off; they are definitely fat sheep.

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

The redhead feels a surge of fury. Looking down on him, are they? Then he’ll beat them until they call him daddy!

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

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

A mocking smirk plays on Gu Ting’s lips. Just as he is about to move, a clear, melodious voice rings out from behind.

"So noisy."

Dongfang Cheng’s eyes light up. Judging by the voice, it’s undoubtedly a beauty!

Under the streetlamp, a boy and a girl walk over slowly. The girl has exquisite features, with a small, delicate face. She wears a simple white T-shirt and denim shorts, revealing beautiful, slender legs. She walks with a sense of purpose, her long hair flowing behind her shoulders. Her expression is cold and aloof, like a fairy fallen into the mortal realm.

The boy behind her is a head shorter, with refined features but a faint trace of hostility in his brow.

"Whoa! This babe is hot!" The redhead and his crew stare, eyes wide.

Gu Ting frowns; these people are filthy.

"Little sister, this is...?" Before Dongfang Cheng can finish, the girl has already lunged forward.

"My sister isn't doing this to save you guys; you’re just too noisy," the boy says, having appeared beside Dongfang Cheng. He glances at Dongfang Cheng and rolls his eyes—flashy and flamboyant.

Gu Ting’s gaze falls on the girl. Her movements are clean and decisive, without a hint of hesitation. Every strike lands on the thugs' weak points. In a few moments, the hoodlums are scattered and groveling on the ground.

"Get lost." The girl flexes her wrists, her gaze sharp.

The redhead doesn't dare linger, scrambling away as fast as he can.

"Zhong Yi, let's go." She glances toward where the boy was standing and her eyes meet Gu Ting’s. This man has been staring at her from the very beginning; she finds it rather annoying.

Zhong Yi flashes a huge grin and trots over.

"Little fairy, thank you!" Dongfang Cheng follows suit.

Shen Qing glances at him. His yellow hair is flashy, and his peach-blossom eyes are long and narrow; currently, they are slightly squinted, making him look exactly like a heartbreaker.

"No need to thank me."

"Can I add you on WeChat?" Dongfang Cheng blocks their path, his smile gentle and polite.

"No."

"Then let me walk you home." Dongfang Cheng is persistent.

Zhong Yi shoots him a look as if he were an idiot. With his sister’s combat skills, why would she need an escort?

"Let’s go together; we can protect... each other," Gu Ting says, stepping up beside Shen Qing. He tilts his head slightly, noticing the long shadows cast by the girl's eyelashes onto her nose.

Dongfang Cheng is surprised, looking at Gu Ting in disbelief. He’s taking the initiative to talk to a girl? Is the iron tree finally blooming?

Shen Qing shifts her gaze. The man beside her is wearing a plain white tracksuit and a new pair of DL sneakers. His skin is fair, and his features are handsome without being effeminate.

"Suit yourself." Shen Qing lifts her eyes, tugs on Zhong Yi’s sleeve, and before anyone can react, she has already taken a step forward.

"Are you two from Jiang City?" Dongfang Cheng asks.

"Yes," Zhong Yi nods.

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

"No."

Dongfang Cheng: ...

He lets out an awkward laugh. "Hahaha, you kids are quite cold."

Gu Ting walks on Shen Qing’s left side, close enough to catch the faint scent lingering on her.

"Something up?" Shen Qing notices her sleeve is about to brush against Gu Ting and frowns with a hint of disdain.

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

"How about adding me on WeChat? We’re new here, so things are a bit inconvenient." He adds the second half of the sentence after a brief pause.

Dongfang Cheng is stunned. Is this really Gu Ting, the man who knows everything about drinking, gambling, and partying?

Zhong Yi sneers internally; that’s a pathetic excuse to get a WeChat!

Shen Qing ignores him.

Perhaps the man’s gaze is too intense; she grows impatient. She pulls a thick, unbranded phone from her denim pocket. Her hands are beautiful, with well-defined knuckles and long, slender fingers.

"I’ll scan you, just stop following me." As soon as Shen Qing finishes speaking, Gu Ting holds out his QR code, his eyes crinkling with a smile.

Shen Qing twitches her lips—he’s fast.

"Add me too!" Dongfang Cheng pulls out his phone and opens WeChat.

"Sister, let’s go." Zhong Yi takes the phone for her and pulls her ahead.

Dongfang Cheng: ...

That brat is definitely doing it on purpose!

Gu Ting accepts the friend request. The other person’s profile picture is a yellow Chinese rural dog, baring its teeth at the camera.

"Brother Gu, give me the little fairy’s WeChat ID," Dongfang Cheng begs with a grin.

"I got this through my own efforts. Why should I give it to you?"

"You’ve changed, doggie. *Sob sob*..."

"Get lost!"

*

The August sun is scorching, making people feel dizzy.

"Sister, the bus is here."

Zhong Yi watches the bus pull over, fishes out some change, pays for two, and finds a window seat. Once seated, Shen Qing opens a game, and Zhong Yi pulls a palm-sized book from his bag. Shen Qing glances at it but says nothing.

It takes them half the morning to reach the Jiang City high-speed railway station. Zhong Yi collects their tickets, they grab a hasty lunch, and they arrive in Fan City by six in the evening.

As they exit the platform, Shen Qing spots a sign held by the Yu family.

"Miss?" The middle-aged man looks at Shen Qing’s beautiful face, feeling unsure. She doesn’t look like the master of the house at all.

"Yes." Shen Qing nods.

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

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

"It’s fine, let’s go." Shen Qing doesn't care whether Yu Fei comes or not.

"And your luggage?" He Zhong looks at Shen Qing, who isn't carrying a single bag, and only then notices the boy behind her.

"No luggage. This is Zhong Yi, a neighbor." Shen Qing introduces him briefly.

He Zhong is stunned. A neighbor followed her all the way to Fan City? But he maintains a kindly smile. "Miss, please follow me."

He leads them to a black sedan, opens the back door for Shen Qing, and since Zhong Yi is a young man, he directs him to the front passenger seat.