However, underground boxing had no such restrictions.
The crowd came to see passion, to witness intense collisions.
At the sight of blood, everyone grew excited, wildly energized, endlessly shouting the names of the fighters in the ring.
Shen Qi truly didn’t enjoy this kind of setting.
Liu Yi sighed with emotion as well, saying, “Suddenly I’m so grateful I’m a legitimate boxer and haven’t sunk to this level. Here, fighters are just slaves, stripped of all dignity.”
Shen Qi nodded. “Yeah. But everyone walks their own path and has to take responsibility for themselves. No matter why they chose this road, it still stirs a sense of pity.”
The fighter He Yining had casually bet on was knocked flat by his opponent, lying on the ground unable to get up.
The surrounding crowd only cared that their money had gone down the drain, with no one asking whether that person was alive or dead.
Many people hurled objects onto the stage to vent their anger and frustration.
The scene instantly turned chaotic.
Shen Qi felt a tightness in her chest.
Liu Yi crossed her arms, also a bit indignant. “No wonder this is only underground boxing. It completely disregards human life and dignity.”
He Yining said flatly, “There’s no helping it. That’s the rule here. If you want to play in this place, you have to follow its rules.”
Liu Yi replied, “True. When your arm can’t twist the thigh, you just have to endure. These people don’t qualify to fight on the international stage, so they can only burn out their lives here. Just like Xiao Qi said, everyone has the right to choose their way of life. But once you choose, you have to be responsible for that choice.”
He Yining glanced back at Wen Yibo and Fan Sheng Fan Li.
Fan Li touched his ear, nodded at He Yining, and said in a low voice, “They’ve started moving over there. We should pull out.”
He Yining gave a slight nod, then turned to Shen Qi and Liu Yi. “Forget it, watching a match like this is just for show, no need to get upset over it. Xiao Qi, since you don’t like this kind of scene, let’s go somewhere else.”
Shen Qi did feel quite uncomfortable, so she nodded, but she still respected Liu Yi’s opinion. “Xiao Yi, do you want to keep watching?”
Liu Yi smiled openly. “I just came to see what underground boxing is like. My coach used to go on about it, but I’d never seen it. Now that I have, I finally get what he meant. Since I’ve seen it, there’s nothing to hold onto. Besides, I’m not a gambler.”
Since Liu Yi said that, Shen Qi didn’t hesitate any longer and followed He Yining and the others as they turned and left the fervent room.
Once outside, the noise from inside still rang in their ears.
As He Yining walked out the door, someone immediately came over to escort them away.
In passing, the person whispered in He Yining’s ear, “The route has been arranged for you. This place will probably be cleared out in about half an hour.”
He Yining gave an almost imperceptible nod, got into the car, and quickly drove away with the others, leaving all that clamor behind.
“The night’s so nice, how about we grab some food?” Fan Sheng stepped on the gas and pulled up, calling out to Shen Qi in the passenger seat. “Xiao Qi, there’s a wild rabbit place nearby that’s supposedly really popular. Want to give it a try?”
Shen Qi hadn’t felt hungry before, but Fan Sheng’s mention made her realize she actually was a bit peckish.
On the way back, Liu Yi snatched the keys to Wen Yibo’s car, floored the accelerator, and shouted, “I’m starving, I’m starving! I need meat!”
Since Liu Yi said that, Shen Qi naturally had no objections.
Everyone immediately shifted gears to a late-night meal.
It was a small, unremarkable shop on the main road not far from that hill.
Despite its size, quite a few luxury cars were parked along the roadside.
They were probably either heading up the hill to play or coming down after having their fun to grab a bite.
Business was absolutely booming.
To Shen Qi’s surprise, as soon as she got out of the car, she saw Xiao Chun and Xiao Xia standing by the roadside with beaming smiles, waiting.
“President, the room is ready,” Xiao Chun said cheerfully. “It’s by the roadside.”
He Yining nodded. “Let’s go in.”
As soon as they sat down, people started bringing out the late-night snacks one after another, clearly pre-ordered so they could eat right away without waiting.
Liu Yi had a big appetite and got hungry fast.
So when the food arrived, she was the one eating most enthusiastically.
Wen Yibo was about to mock Liu Yi’s appetite, but then he thought back to his two experiences of being thrown over her shoulder and swallowed his words in frustration.
Shen Qi felt fine, just eating along with Liu Yi.
Whenever Liu Yi found something tasty, she’d share a portion with Shen Qi, so even just tasting, Shen Qi ended up eating quite a bit.
Several cars sped past outside.
They were moving too fast to make out the license plates.
He Yining quickly glanced up, a faint smile curling at his lips as he said softly to the others, “The net is closing. How much we can grab depends on who’s fastest.”
“Who are we taking down this time?” Wen Yibo couldn’t help asking. “Did you make a move early?”
He Yining didn’t answer, but Fan Sheng and Fan Li smiled and said, “Yi Ning never acts without purpose. We just need to follow him and pick up the scraps! Who cares who’s being taken down?”
Wen Yibo nodded. “True.”
Shen Qi looked up at them. “What are you all talking about?”
The four men exchanged knowing smiles but said nothing.
Liu Yi, chomping on a rabbit leg, said, “Who cares what they’re on about? They’re all just scheming businessmen, nothing but calculations. Here, Xiao Qi, this wild rabbit is really good. Take this leg. Let them play their mysterious games while we eat ours!”
Shen Qi took the rabbit leg Liu Yi handed her and placed it on her plate, then said to them, “We’re leaving M City tomorrow. This meal tonight is like a farewell dinner. How about a toast to celebrate?”
“Sure,” Fan Sheng and Fan Li said with smiles. “We love how straightforward Xiao Qi is!”
That night, Shen Qi felt that He Yining, Wen Yibo, and the Fan brothers all seemed preoccupied, their eyes flickering and fingers constantly sending commands.
But Shen Qi didn’t bother asking or prying. She happily ate her fill and then followed them back to downtown M City.
He Yining booked a room for Shen Qi and Liu Yi, telling them to rest well without worrying about missing their flight—he’d arrange for someone to take them to the airport.
After all, He Yining and the others still had to preside over the final designer competition.
So Shen Qi and Liu Yi happily slept until noon, packed up quickly, and Xiao Chun personally drove them to the airport.
As they were about to board, Xiao Chun said to Shen Qi, “Second Young Madam, the President asked me to pass along a message. He said, ‘I’ve got everything covered.’”
Shen Qi’s eyes flickered, then softened, and she nodded gently. “I understand.”
Just as she was about to step onto the plane, Shen Qi instinctively looked back.
A familiar figure leaned against a pillar in the distance.
He had come after all.
A fine, layered ripple of sweetness spread through Shen Qi’s heart.
He said he would never betray her.
He said he had chosen her.
He said he had everything under control.
He Yining, thank you for loving me so much.
Liu Yi was practically buzzing with excitement about taking Shen Qi home.
From anyone else’s perspective, she looked like an eager young man bringing his bride home.
But…
Liu Yi was a genuine, unadulterated woman!
And her sexual orientation was perfectly normal!
“Xiao Qi, let me tell you, my mom loves girls like you the most! If she buys you clothes, shoes, or bags, don’t you dare refuse,” Liu Yi started rattling off, throwing her own mom under the bus as soon as they boarded the plane. “And if she turns your room into a princess suite, don’t you dare complain. Yep, that’s my mom’s terrible, no, her daughter-ruining taste!”
Shen Qi buckled her seatbelt and looked at Liu Yi in confusion. “I don’t see the problem. Isn’t that what most mothers do?”
“Ha! You call that not a problem? Oh my god!” Liu Yi groaned in pain. “My mom once threw out all my clothes and filled my closet with princess dresses! Can you imagine? On my fifteenth birthday, I invited a bunch of classmates over. I took a shower, and when I came out, all my clothes were gone! My classmates were all waiting downstairs! I had no choice but to put on a princess dress from the closet and go down. Picture the look on their faces!”
Whether it was Liu Yi’s vivid description or not, Shen Qi only had to imagine Liu Yi in a princess dress for a second before she burst out laughing.
It was just too vivid.
Liu Yi rambled on and on, the gist being that whatever Xu Yuxi bought, Shen Qi just had to accept it.
The two chatted all the way to their destination, P City.
As soon as they got off the plane, Shen Qi saw a tall, svelte woman with flawless makeup, wearing sunglasses and exuding an icy, goddess-like aura, her thick, wavy hair cascading down.
Standing there, she was a sight to behold.
Countless people around were fixated on her.
Liu Yi dragged her suitcase with one hand and covered her face with the other. “My mom’s over forty and still pretending to be an unmarried, single beauty! This cruel world—no comparison, no harm!”
“Pfft.” Shen Qi burst out laughing. “Is that any way to talk about your own mom?”
“Don’t believe me? You’ll see soon enough!” Liu Yi said helplessly.
“What do you mean?” Shen Qi asked curiously.
“My dad’s here too. We’ll probably have dinner together tonight, the four of us,” Liu Yi said in a low voice. “Don’t be too surprised when it happens.”
Before Shen Qi could ask further, Xu Yunxi spotted them.
With Liu Yi’s height, she stood out like a crane among chickens.
“Xiao Yi, Xiao Qi!” Xu Yunxi took off her sunglasses and waved at them with all the charm in the world.
Shen Qi had just raised her hand to wave back when several men rushed over to Xu Yunxi, asking for photos and autographs!
Shen Qi’s hand froze mid-air.
Liu Yi gave her a sympathetic look. “See? No comparison, no harm?”