A gun? Was that a gun?

He actually has a gun?

The middle-aged man, who had been so arrogant and boastful just a moment ago, froze solid, his limbs turning to ice. His greasy face instantly became ashen and bloodless.

CLANG! CLANG!

The men behind him dropped their bats and clubs to the ground, their faces stricken with terror.

"Go on. How do you want to negotiate this?" Yang Hu sneered, tapping the man's forehead with the barrel of the gun.

The middle-aged man trembled violently, cold sweat beading on his brow. Damn you, Wang Qu! What kind of terrifying person have I provoked?

"A misunderstanding! A complete misunderstanding! I—I came to deliver the money!" the man stammered, hastily pulling out a bank card and offering it with trembling hands.

The card held far more than eighty thousand, but he couldn't worry about that now. Could he really expect them to give back the extra money? He wouldn't dare ask even if he had a hundred times more courage!

Yang Hu took the bank card and bared his teeth. "You give me the card but no PIN. What are you trying to pull?"

"I forgot, I forgot..." The middle-aged man's face was chalk-white as he quickly rattled off the PIN.

"Get lost!"

"Yes, yes! I'm going right now!" As if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders, the middle-aged man scurried away as fast as he had arrived.

Wang Qu was speechless.

Having been hit hard, Xu Ben, who had been about to cry for help, obediently lay back down, shut his eyes tight, held his breath, and remained perfectly still.

...

After leaving Zheng Qiang's home, Chen Yang and Yang Hu went their separate ways.

That evening, the Qi Family Patriarch was celebrating his birthday, and the grand gift prepared for him needed careful planning. It had to be delivered to the venue at the most opportune moment. To that end, Yang Hu still had some work to do.

Chen Yang drove home alone.

The sun was shining brightly, yet Chen Yang's heart felt gloomy and heavy.

Twenty years had passed. Zheng Qiang, once known as the toughest and most passionate guy around, had been worn down by life into his current state. Lin Ruolan, the girl everyone had seen as a budding beauty, was now unrecognizable.

It wasn't quite heartache or disappointment, but he couldn't help but lament that society was a great crucible, one with the magical power to grind even steel plates into cotton candy. As the saying goes, all happy people are alike, but every unhappy person is unhappy in their own way.

Once you enter this world, you must witness all walks of life, eventually becoming just another face in the crowd. No one can remain detached.

Chen Yang took two deep breaths, clearing his mind of such thoughts.

By the time he arrived home, it was already past lunch.

Qin Qiu, having been busy all morning, was taking a nap on a lounge chair in the sunny courtyard. It was a rare moment of leisure for the woman who was always completely absorbed in her work.

Chen Yang lightened his footsteps, walked over to her, and gently pulled her small blanket a little higher.

Her exquisite figure, her fair neck, and her orchid-like fragrance were all enough to make his mouth water.

The torment of having a juicy piece of meat dangling right in front of his mouth—one the law allowed him to eat, but for some reason, he couldn't—was an agony that likely only Chen Yang himself could understand.

"Where have you been?" Qin Qiu's eyes snapped open, watching him warily.

Chen Yang jumped, startled. He patted his chest and said, "I went to the orphanage to play with the kids for a while."

"It seems you really like children?" She knew Chen Yang often visited the orphanage and that he had a good heart, but wasn't it also just because he was idle?

Chen Yang's eyes lit up. "Of course, I do! Honey, why don't we have one?"

"In your dreams!" Qin Qiu shot him an annoyed look. "Get lost!"

This guy's nerve is really growing. How dare he make such a request of me?

"Honey, let's talk about this calmly. Having children is something we'll do sooner or later, so why not do it sooner?" Unwilling to give up, Chen Yang pulled a chair over, sat down beside Qin Qiu, and said earnestly, "You know that once a woman passes thirty, the risks of childbirth increase quite a bit. I'm just thinking of you!"

His tone was calm and his reasoning sound.

Dark lines etched themselves onto Qin Qiu's forehead as she said coldly, "Shut up! As if I would ever have a child with you. Besides, do you really think I don't know you're just thinking about that filthy stuff?"

"Using having a baby as an excuse! Chen Yang, have you no shame?"

Chen Yang was left speechless.

"Now, get lost!"

Chen Yang's skin was so thick that even when exposed, he remained perfectly composed, simply muttering that it was a misunderstanding before turning to leave.

However, Luo Sulan was standing at the door with her hands on her hips. "Didn't I tell you to make lunch?" she said coldly. "You're getting more and more audacious, aren't you? Daring to ignore what I say?"

Chen Yang gave a hollow laugh. "Ah, my apologies, I forgot! Have you eaten? If not, I'll go make you something right now!"

"Hmph!"

Luo Sulan sneered, "A useless good-for-nothing, spending all his time at the orphanage. Is it because you can only find a sense of self-worth in front of those kids?"

"It must feel pretty good hearing all those little ones call you 'Uncle,' doesn't it?"

"If you were actually capable, you'd be out making money! Be like that big boss who builds orphanages all over the country. Donate a few of your own! Then it wouldn't just be the children; the whole of society would be grateful to you!"

Spittle flew from Luo Sulan's lips as her attitude grew more domineering. She ground her teeth. "Now that's what I call real capability! And you? What are you? If I were you, I wouldn't have the face to even leave the house! I'd have bashed my head against a wall and died long ago!"

"You have no skills whatsoever, just a mountain of bad habits! You're the most useless of the useless!"

Chen Yang was utterly speechless. It was just one meal. Did she really have to make such a big deal out of it?

But he didn't let it bother him. Dismissing her words as if she were just farting, he decided against going inside. Instead, he pulled over another lounge chair and settled in comfortably beside Qin Qiu.

"You..." Luo Sulan was furious. Had she really just talked until her mouth was dry for nothing? Had this guy not heard a single word?

Qin Qiu, who had been about to interject, couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

This guy's skin really was getting thicker. How could such harsh words have no effect on him? Anyone else would have probably crumbled long ago.

Qin Mo rushed out of the house like a gust of wind, wrapped in a cashmere coat. She kept her head slightly bowed. "It's my classmate's birthday today. I might be back late!"

"Xiaomo, what's been going on with you lately? Why are you out every night?" Luo Sulan asked.

But Qin Mo was already running off without a look back.

As soon as she was out the main gate, Qin Mo quickly shucked off her coat, revealing a sexy camisole and an ultra-short skirt. Tossing back her hair, she revealed a face painted with heavy, smoky makeup.

Though only in her early twenties, the girl had already blossomed into a graceful beauty, with a stunning figure and face.

She fluffed her hair once more and then sprinted off, vanishing in an instant.

"Oh, right! Speaking of birthdays, isn't today the Qi Family Patriarch's celebration? If only I could get an invitation..." Luo Sulan sighed, a wistful, dreamy look on her face.

In Lingjin City, if you could just get connected with one of the major families, achieving success and wealth would be a simple matter.

At this thought, she shot Chen Yang a cold, disdainful glare. This damn good-for-nothing had a chance to get on good terms with the Jin Family, but he completely wasted it! A loser is a loser. Even when opportunity knocked, there was no way to help him.

Chen Yang, his eyes closed and his hands laced behind his head, wore an expression full of scorn.

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