Conflict

With Gu Yanxi's words, the entire barbecue restaurant instantly fell silent.

A moment later, the group at the next table slammed their hands on the table and glared at Gu Yanxi with fierce, menacing eyes.

"You filthy bitch! Who are you being snarky at?"

They had intended to stir up trouble all along, wanting to attract Gu Yanxi's attention and using vulgar language to achieve their goal.

In Chen Zixuan's eyes, this was no doubt an extremely childish and degrading act.

Who made it so their factory didn't have a beautiful girl like Gu Yanxi?

Chen Zixuan raised his head and looked at the four of them with calm eyes, showing no fear whatsoever.

Just like the tattooed blond, the other three had brightly colored hair, wore sweat-soaked T-shirts and shorts, and were glaring at him with arrogant, provocative faces.

Although Chen Zixuan didn't want trouble, it didn't mean he was timid or afraid.

Heh, after lying low for so long, people really had begun to underestimate him.

Just four people, and they wanted to cause him trouble?

Did they really think that the infamous Chen lunatic, who would risk his life in a fight back in Chen Family Village Junior High, was already dead?

While sneering to himself, Chen Zixuan assessed the four street punks. It took him less than two seconds to reach a conclusion.

Blondie was skinny but had well-developed forearm muscles and some varicose veins, clearly accustomed to heavy manual labor—he looked like the toughest of the four.

The green-haired one had a slight anterior pelvic tilt and a curved cervical spine, probably from working on an assembly line, his head always lowered, which made him a bit hunched.

Not much of a fighter—one punch would take him down.

As for the remaining two, although they tried to look ferocious, their bodies were a touch stiff.

It was obvious they were nervous but excited—rookies, more show than substance, and would fall apart in a real fight.

At this point, the leading blond saw that Chen Zixuan wasn't the least bit afraid and was even smiling, and couldn't help but shout, "What the hell are you laughing at?! Got the guts to come out and have a go?"

Blondie might have been dumb, but not completely braindead.

If he broke stuff in the shop, he wouldn't be able to pay for it with his measly wages.

Chen Zixuan didn't answer, instead shifting his gaze to Gu Yanxi.

The girl looked a little scared, biting her lip tightly.

After being a good girl for so many years, she had never encountered anything like this.

"Do you want me to fight?"

Chen Zixuan asked softly.

"You promised me... you wouldn't fight anyone anymore..."

Gu Yanxi's eyes reddened a bit.

Even after being insulted, she hadn't forgotten the promise Chen Zixuan made to her half a year ago.

That time, due to a dispute over a stall location, Chen Zixuan had clashed with a dozen small vendors.

Though he barely won, it was a pyrrhic victory.

One of the vendors had cracked his head open with a scale weight, leaving him with a mild concussion.

In this city, he had neither relatives nor friends—Gu Yanxi had been the one to rush him to the hospital through the rain.

The scene of the girl's bloodstained hands, sobbing quietly in the hospital corridor, was something Chen Zixuan would probably never forget for the rest of his life.

"They can insult me, but not you."

Chen Zixuan shook his head lightly.

"Then you have to promise me... this will be the last time."

Gu Yanxi knew this whole thing started because of her. She hesitated for a moment but reluctantly agreed.

Chen Zixuan smiled and reassured her softly, "Don't worry, with these guys, even if I fought them one-handed I'd be fine."

Upon hearing this, blondie's expression immediately changed, and he snarled, "We're being nice to you, huh? You're still putting on an act when you're about to die? Come outside if you dare and say that!"

His buddies cracked their knuckles and started walking toward Chen Zixuan.

Chen Zixuan stood up, took Gu Yanxi by the hand, and headed for the door with her.

Her hand looked as if it had been carefully cared for, silky smooth and delicate, soft and boneless to the touch.

It felt especially good; Chen Zixuan couldn't help but give it an extra squeeze or two.

"Be serious..."

Gu Yanxi's pretty face flushed as she feigned annoyance.

When they reached the counter, Chen Zixuan didn't forget to settle the bill first, so he could make a quick exit later.

The four street punks, however, had no such sense.

They swaggered out of the barbecue restaurant, arms around each other, grinning and laughing, no doubt proud of another free meal.

"You little brat, we'll be waiting for you outside. If you've got balls, hurry up. Don't let us wait too long," blondie called out as he left.

"Should I call the police for you?"

As Chen Zixuan was paying, the cashier hesitated, holding her phone. Clearly conflicted, she spoke up.

She had a good impression of this handsome boy in front of her, especially since he was responsible enough to pay the bill, unlike those punks who had run up a few hundred yuan and walked out without paying.

That bill would eventually fall on her, after all.

"No need, thank you."

Chen Zixuan smiled and scanned his code to pay.

At that moment, he suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, how much did they spend? I'll pay for them too."

"Oh, there's no need for that—you've paid your own bill, that's enough."

The cashier widened her eyes and waved her hands hurriedly.

Although that would save her from being punished, she still didn't want this boy to waste his money for those scumbags.

"It's fine—just think of it as paying their medical bills in advance."

The smile on Chen Zixuan's face disappeared, replaced with a blank expression.

In the end, under Chen Zixuan's insistence, he settled the bill for all four of them.

After leaving the barbecue restaurant, Chen Zixuan immediately spotted the four troublemakers, hanging around nearby, thoroughly relaxed, each with a cigarette in hand.

They saw Chen Zixuan as well and started moving toward him.

He looked around and noticed a parking lot nearby with surveillance cameras, so he provocatively beckoned to the four of them and walked with Gu Yanxi toward the parking lot.

"Picking places, aren't you, little punk?"

Blondie strolled over, sneering.

"If we're going to fight, just get on with it. We're in a hurry to get home,"

Chen Zixuan said, his face devoid of any expression.

He'd chosen this place with good reason—cameras meant even if they called the police later, he could clear himself of blame.

Blondie, incensed to the point of laughter, squawked, "It's not too late to beg for mercy now. You wasted so much of our time; shouldn't you give us some compensation? Don't you have two million? Hand over a million—not too much to ask, right?"

The green-haired punk cackled and added, "Heh, and have your little girlfriend come sing with us at KTV all night. Then we'll let you go. Otherwise, I'm afraid you might be crippled for good tonight."

The other two joined in the laughter, making Chen Zixuan feel utterly disgusted.

Nevertheless, he smiled, "How scary. But what if I say no?"

"Then you're looking for death. Guys, let's teach him a lesson!"

With that, the four of them closed in on Chen Zixuan with cold smiles.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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