The man swept his gaze over their numbers, figuring he could take them out quickly before anyone else in the venue noticed what was happening.
Just as Shen Xiaoxing was about to make his next move, a flippant male voice sounded beside him.
"Oh, a whole bunch of you ganging up on someone, huh?"
The men turned to see Zhou Wang lounging against the bar, with Zhou Mingyue standing unsteadily next to him.
"Who are you? How dare you meddle in our business?!"
Zhou Wang set down his glass, smacked his lips, and cast a lazy look their way. "Zhou Wang."
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
"Zhou Wang? The real Zhou Wang? The infamous second-generation rich kid of Shen City?"
"No way! Zhou Wang hasn't been back in years."
"Didn't he get his leg broken playing hero saving a damsel?"
Zhou Wang silently glanced down at his own legs. Why the hell did everyone have to focus on his legs? He'd made a name for himself in Shen City all these years, and not a shred of good reputation to show for it!
"Who cares if he's Zhou Wang or not? Even if Zhou Wang's old man showed up today, it wouldn't matter!" The ringleader, dressed to the nines, shouted, "He dared to steal our girl, boys—beat him to a pulp!"
While they were distracted by Zhou Wang, Shen Xiaoxing scooped up the woman and bolted through the crowd. Zhou Wang, seeing the thugs charging at him, shoved Zhou Mingyue into the arms of Huo Jinyan, who had come over to watch the commotion.
Han Chong couldn't go inside—showing up with Shen Xiaoxing would be too conspicuous. He leaned against the car, and as he looked up, he saw Shen Xiaoxing striding out with An Ruo in his arms, his long legs moving with fierce purpose.
"Young master, should we leave now?"
Shen Xiaoxing placed the girl into the car, pulled off his mask, and sat down, gently rubbing her flushed little face with his large hand.
Han Chong was about to start the engine when the man suddenly stopped him.
He stared deeply at the bar's dazzling, flickering sign, his eyes dark and thoughtful. After a few seconds of silence, he said in a low voice, "Take her back first."
With that, before Han Chong could respond, the man put his mask back on and got out of the car.
In that brief moment, the lecherous men had already started brawling with Zhou Wang.
As far as Shen Xiaoxing remembered, Zhou Wang was never one to lose a fight—after all, he was a kingpin in Shen City's underworld, and fighting was second nature to him.
But that didn't mean he could take on over twenty young guys alone.
Shen Xiaoxing didn't exactly dislike Zhou Wang, though when they first met, the guy had a foul mouth, and they'd never gotten along over the years.
Still, Zhou Wang had spoken up just now and ended up in the crosshairs because of him. No matter what, Shen Xiaoxing had to come back and help.
Huo Jinyan was a pushover—the least combat-ready of the bunch—so he was only fit to look after the drunk Zhou Mingyue.
Sheng Nanzhou had some basic fighting skills, but they were outnumbered. He got beaten black and blue within minutes of joining the fray, and if he hadn't yelled out in pain, Shen Xiaoxing wouldn't have even recognized him.
Shen Xiaoxing spun around and kicked a man about to ambush Zhou Wang. The two of them fought back-to-back with some unspoken默契, taking down the group in no time. Panting, they glanced at each other.
Zhou Wang had promised Jiang Li he wouldn't fight, but he couldn't just stand by and watch his "brother" get pummeled by so many people. He was loyal, and it wasn't like he couldn't handle it.
But...
Back in their school days, Zhou Wang knew Shen Xiaoxing could hold his own for a round or two, but he lacked real combat experience. A few times, Shen Xiaoxing had been knocked down and refused to admit defeat.
He never expected that in just a few years, Shen Xiaoxing's fighting ability had skyrocketed. The series of moves he'd just executed—both in strength and speed—left Zhou Wang genuinely impressed.
Reluctantly, he offered a grudging compliment in a flat tone: "Not bad. Way better than in college."
In Zhou Wang's mind, Shen Xiaoxing had always been a pretty face with no real substance—a decorative pillow!
Aside from his looks, what did he have that was better than Zhou Wang?
Shen Xiaoxing handed his business card to the bar owner, who recognized him and nodded obsequiously, jotting down his instructions to clean up the scene.
The men they'd beaten weren't seriously injured—neither he nor Zhou Wang had gone all out. At most, they'd be in the hospital for ten days or half a month.
Hearing Zhou Wang's sour remark, Shen Xiaoxing let out a silent, cold laugh, ignored him, and walked out of the bar with one hand in his pocket.
...
Stepping outside, he saw the girl who should have been taken away by Han Chong in the car, now barefoot on the asphalt, crying and throwing a tantrum.
"Drink... I want more..." An Ruo dodged Han Chong while swaying unsteadily, as if still lost in the bar's dance music.
"Young madam, please be careful—" Han Chong held her high heels in one hand, looking troubled as he stayed close.
Shen Xiaoxing was already fuming. A young girl like her, dressed like that, going to a bar to drink late at night—if he'd been a second later, those dogs would have devoured her!
He walked over with a dark expression, grabbed her slender wrist, and said sternly, "Get back in the car. Don't move!"
An Ruo, usually too restrained, had completely let loose under the influence of alcohol, shaking him off like a willful child.
"I don't know you..."
Shen Xiaoxing gritted his teeth. "You don't even recognize your husband?!"
Remembering how she'd not only denied knowing him in the bar but had called him a pervert and told them to beat him up, Shen Xiaoxing grew angrier and yet almost wanted to laugh.
This little girl—was she sent by heaven to torment him!
An Ruo squinted at him. With the mask on and her drunken haze, how could she tell who he was?
"You're not!"
Shen Xiaoxing laughed in spite of his anger. "See if I'm not!"
He pulled off the mask, revealing his strikingly handsome face, gripped her shoulders, and leaned in, his voice low: "Take a good look."
An Ruo furrowed her delicate brows, studying the tall man before her. Her vision was blurry, and she narrowed her shimmering eyes. Suddenly, her expression changed, and she covered her mouth, rushing to the roadside to vomit.
Shen Xiaoxing: "..."
Han Chong handed over bottled water and tissues. The man patted her back gently, forcing down his rage, and coaxed softly, "Rinse your mouth."
An Ruo's stomach churned painfully. She'd forgotten she had a stomach condition when she drank, and now a sharp ache hit her. Hearing the man's voice, she obediently opened her mouth.
He fed her a sip of water and reminded her in a low voice to rinse.
Meanwhile, Zhou Wang, his face cold, grabbed Zhou Mingyue's arm and dragged her out.
Zhou Mingyue had had too much to drink. Yanked out roughly, she kept shouting for more booze and nearly face-planted on the steps.
Seeing her clamoring to go back in, Zhou Wang was furious. "Zhou Mingyue, I'm warning you—behave, or I'll beat you, got it?!"
If it weren't for this mess of hers, he'd be in bed with Jiang Li by now!
His phone buzzed in his pocket. Zhou Wang pinned Zhou Mingyue down with one hand and pulled it out, seeing "Baby" flashing on the screen.
His grim face softened instantly as he swiped to answer, a smile tugging at his lips. "Baby, why aren't you asleep yet?"
"Yeah, got held up with something on the way. Might be late tonight."
"No. Just catching up with some old friends... I haven't been drinking."
"Alright, I'll do whatever Teacher Jiang says." Zhou Wang kept Zhou Mingyue in check with one hand, the tall, burly man shyly whining, "No, I have to get back tonight. It's fine, I'm not tired..." He grinned wickedly. "Teacher Jiang is the one who's really worn out."