Seeing Luo Xiu's attitude, looking as if he were about to strike, Han Zhitao was somewhat surprised. He looked at Luo Xiu with a mocking expression and sneered, "Well, well, well, Xu Qianqing, look at this pretty boy you've found. He's got quite the temper."

However, he frowned when he tried to pull his hand back. Luo Xiu's grip was like a powerful iron clamp, locked firmly onto his wrist. No matter how much force he applied, he couldn't break free. Han Zhitao was taken aback.

Since waking up, his physique had drastically improved, and his strength was several times that of an ordinary person. This was why the Martial Association, where he had once been an ignored, minor member, now valued him so highly. Just this morning, he had met with the association's senior members, and they were all vying to take him as a disciple for focused training. It was because he had the Martial Association's backing that he dared to act so recklessly. He even felt he was someone special, believing his survival of a great disaster was a sign of future fortune. He thought his governor and conception vessels had been opened, making him one of heaven's favored.

"Son of a bitch, get your filthy hands off me!" Han Zhitao glared at Luo Xiu and roared.

Luo Xiu released his hand. Looking at him expressionlessly, he said coolly, "If you're still a man, treat her better."

"Heh," Han Zhitao scoffed with disdain. "I don't need some other man telling me how to treat my own wife."

Luo Xiu said, "You're overthinking things. Qianqing and I are just colleagues."

Beside them, Xu Qianqing clenched her teeth and glared at Han Zhitao. "You're only awake because Luo Xiu saved you! Without him, you'd still be lying in bed. How can you talk to him like that?"

"Pah!" Han Zhitao looked disgusted. "That pretty boy has that kind of ability? It was just dumb luck. A coincidence. Even without him, I would have woken up!"

Hearing this, Xu Qianqing laughed in fury. "Han Zhitao, I never realized how shameless you were."

"Me, shameless?" Han Zhitao also laughed with rage, pointing at Luo Xiu. "Did you ever think about how shameless *you* were when you were spreading your legs for this pretty boy?"

"You rotten whore, you've got some nerve calling me shameless? Xu Qianqing, let me tell you. If you want your money back, there's only one option: go sell yourself!"

"Han Zhitao, you beast!" Unable to take it anymore, Xu Qianqing stepped forward and slapped him across the face.

The slap turned Han Zhitao's head slightly. He smiled bizarrely, licking his lips. Suddenly, his gaze turned fierce, and he raised his hand to strike Xu Qianqing. But before his hand could land, Luo Xiu caught it firmly.

"Son of a bitch, this is none of your business! Get the hell out of my way!" Han Zhitao turned and glared at Luo Xiu. "I'll deal with you properly after I'm finished with her!"

Luo Xiu seemed to ignore him. He grabbed a fistful of Han Zhitao's hair and, with a force he couldn't resist, dragged him aside.

"You damned dog, I've put up with you for long enough." Luo Xiu yanked him to the ground before unleashing a flurry of kicks. "I gave you a chance, but you refused to take it!"

For a moment, only Han Zhitao's agonized screams filled the VIP room.

Seeing Han Zhitao covered in blood from Luo Xiu's inhumanly brutal beating, Xu Qianqing couldn't bear to watch any longer. She ran over and grabbed Luo Xiu's arm. "Luo Xiu, that's enough! Scum like him isn't worth it."

Having vented his anger, Luo Xiu took two steps back. Then, he suddenly kicked out again.

CRASH!

The glass of the VIP room's floor-to-ceiling window shattered. Han Zhitao was sent flying out, crashing into the first-floor lobby like a sandbag.

In the VIP room, Xu Qianqing stared with worry at the gaping hole in the window.

Luo Xiu took a deep breath and turned to her. "Sorry. Beating him up had nothing to do with you. I just couldn't stand the sight of him."

Biting her lower lip, Xu Qianqing's tears suddenly began to flow uncontrollably. She squatted on the floor, hugging her knees as she sobbed bitterly.

Luo Xiu watched her quietly, not stepping forward to comfort her. He knew she wasn't crying because Han Zhitao had been beaten, but because of the injustice she felt.

After crying for a long time, Xu Qianqing wiped her tears, slowly stood up, and asked, "Why haven't you contacted me these past few days? You didn't even reply to my messages."

Luo Xiu gave a faint smile. "I knew that scumbag was about to wake up, so I didn't want to disturb you. Even as friends, we need to maintain some distance. I don't want people gossiping about us."

Hearing this, Xu Qianqing's beautiful eyes trembled slightly. For some reason, she suddenly felt a deep sense of loss.

Luo Xiu smiled again. "But I didn't expect to be misunderstood anyway."

Xu Qianqing said, "He used to be a good person, you know. At least, he was very good to me. We met in school, in the same class. Back then, he would skip meals every month just to save money to pursue me…"

Luo Xiu raised a hand, interrupting her. "You don't need to tell me your story. People change. If you feel you can't live with him anymore, that he's no longer the person you loved, then you can choose to leave. Whatever you choose, you've done nothing to wrong him."

Xu Qianqing was quiet for a moment. Then she turned toward the VIP room's exit and smiled. "It's getting late. I should head home. You should go back soon, too."

Watching her retreating back, Luo Xiu said, "If you go back, you'll probably just end up fighting with him again. He might even hit you."

Xu Qianqing pursed her lips, her heart filled with helplessness. "What else can I do? He's my husband. For better or for worse, this was my choice."

Luo Xiu's tone grew heavy. "As long as I still consider you a friend and I'm willing to help, stop degrading yourself."

His words made Xu Qianqing's delicate body tremble. She stopped and turned to face Luo Xiu, her face streaked with tears. "Then what do you want me to do?"

Looking at her tear-streaked face, Luo Xiu suddenly felt a pang of sympathy. "You can live perfectly well on your own. A single person can be a home, too. If you waste your time and affection on that kind of scum, you won't move anyone in the end. He'll only get worse, and you'll only be debasing yourself."

"Qianqing, from my perspective as a friend, you're already pitiable. So, I hope you don't make yourself detestable. You can live entirely for yourself—carefree and happy. If you don't mind, you can stay at my place for a while. I have plenty of spare rooms."

"Thank you."

Luo Xiu smiled. "Don't be so quick to thank me. I'll be charging you rent."

Hearing this, Xu Qianqing was taken aback, a troubled look on her face. "But right now... I'm penniless. After what happened to the Lin Family, I lost my job, too."

Luo Xiu said, "I'll find you a job."

On an old street, under the dim yellow glow of the streetlights, a woman's electric scooter moved slowly along.

Xu Qianqing sat quietly on the back seat, her hands clutching the fabric of Luo Xiu's shirt at his waist. The tear tracks on her face had been dried by the wind.

Luo Xiu had deliberately chosen this quieter route home, wanting to let the breeze calm her down and give her time to think.

Time passed. After a long while, Luo Xiu rode the small electric scooter to the main gate of the Sea City Riviera Villa District. Just as he was about to enter, he suddenly slammed on the brakes.

Xu Qianqing bumped into his back. She raised a hand to her forehead and was about to ask what was wrong when she froze.

Looking up, she saw Lin Xiyue, carrying her handbag and wearing high heels, walking out from inside. She was headed toward a Bentley parked at the gate.

A handsome young man in a casual suit hurriedly got out of the car to greet her. "Miss Lin, my apologies for asking you out so late."

However, Lin Xiyue ignored him. She stood frozen in place, staring quietly at Luo Xiu and Xu Qianqing. The moment Luo Xiu saw her, she had seen him, too.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.