In the restaurant,
At the elegant, long dining table,
Cheng Jinyan's father - the first gang leader Cheng Sheng - sat at the main seat.
Qiao Ying and Cheng Jinyan sat together.
Huo Jingyue sat alone on the other side.
Although they had met last night, Master Cheng was not one to smile or get angry easily, but was quite amiable to them. However, Huo Jingyue, who was dining with Master Cheng, was still intimidated by Master Cheng's powerful oppressive aura.
Just the identity of this gang leader was frightening enough.
Especially since she liked his son, Huo Jingyue felt even more like an ugly daughter-in-law meeting her in-laws, and was very nervous.
In contrast, Qiao Ying was completely at ease, unaffected by this aura at all. She ate and drank as she wished.
Huo Jingyue secretly admired Qiao Ying's psychological strength. She thought that even if she had met Master Cheng countless times and they were not strangers, she would still be in awe of such an elder.
However, Huo Jingyue did not know that this was also Qiao Ying's first time meeting Cheng Jinyan's father.
Cheng Jinyan brought over a plate of sliced steak and placed it in front of Qiao Ying.
He asked, "Would you like some red wine to go with it?"
Huo Jingyue looked at the sliced steak, feeling extremely envious.
"Today I feel more like having Chinese food," Qiao Ying pushed the steak towards Huo Jingyue and said, "Teacher Huo, please have a taste."
Huo Jingyue was so grateful she could almost cry. She wished she could hug and kiss Qiao Ying, but had to maintain her composure on the surface.
"I'm afraid that would not be proper," she said.
Cheng Jinyan said, "Teacher Huo has been kind enough to take care of us these past two days. It is just a plate of steak. As long as Teacher Huo does not mind my poor slicing skills..."
Huo Jingyue exclaimed joyfully, "How could that be!"
Cheng Jinyan did not say anything more. He continued slicing another steak.
As he sliced, he lowered his voice and gossiped to Qiao Ying, "Has there been any progress between you and Qin Hanyue these few months?"
Qiao Ying replied, "What are you expecting?"
Cheng Jinyan said, "He has ulterior motives towards you, and you are clearly aware yet do not resist him. I cannot believe nothing has developed between you two."
Qiao Ying: "..."
Cheng Jinyan: "Just earlier, with your car accident causing turmoil nationwide, your classmates unanimously believed it was Qin Hanyue who found hackers to resolve it for you. Given the relationship between you two that the whole school knows about, he should mentally prepare to get past Ye Si."
Qiao Ying: "Deserved to be captured for having the leisure to read news while being hunted down."
Master Cheng, who was speaking with Huo Jingyue at the main seat, twitched his ears.
As a martial artist, his hearing was naturally astounding.
Qiao Ying maintained her expression as she picked up the coffee in front of her and took a sip, demonstrating to Master Cheng what it meant to remain calm even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of you: "Mind your own damn business."
Cheng Jinyan had to hold back his laughter. The movements aggravated his wounds, which throbbed with pain. He tried his best not to look at his father's reaction.
Master Cheng said to his son, "No talking during meals. Save your words until after you've eaten."
Cheng Jinyan suppressed his laughter. "Yes, Father."
After the meal, Cheng Jinyan had wanted to take Qiao Ying around to tour the Cheng residence. Although Qiao Ying had been here before, that was years ago.
However, his father called him upstairs to the reception hall.
For such a formal and serious occasion,
Master Cheng instead asked about his personal affairs, "You're not young anymore either. Tell me, which of these two young ladies do you prefer?"
Just as Cheng Jinyan was about to explain, seeing his father's solemn expression, he pondered briefly and curiously asked his father in return, "Who do you prefer, Father?"
Master Cheng stated directly, "The younger one has spirit. She is not intimidated and is more suitable for our family."
Cheng Jinyan rubbed the back of his neck. "Ye Si would have to kill me with his sword."
In Ye Si's eyes, no one could match Qiao Ying.
Even he, Ye Si's good brother, would be wishing for the moon if he harbored such thoughts.
Master Cheng contemplated briefly before commanding, "Snatch her over."
Cheng Jinyan laughed helplessly. "You're thinking too much, Father. Little Ying and I are not what you imagine. We are sworn brothers and sisters, family to each other. If you like her, I can ask if she is willing to be your goddaughter."
Master Cheng scolded in frustration, "Good-for-nothing."
He asked again, "What about that Miss Huo then?"
Cheng Jinyan replied, "I've only met Teacher Huo twice. We are not familiar."
Master Cheng said, "She could not contact you and came looking for you at your law firm. Finding out you were missing, she rushed over here to ask about you, and even went with you to South America to find you. She saved your life."
Cheng Jinyan: "I will thank her appropriately for her kindness, but surely you can't expect me to marry her out of gratitude?"
Master Cheng humphed. "Taking advantage of people's kindness yet acting coy."
Huo Jingyue pulled Qiao Ying along to tour the Cheng residence.
"Qiao, have you been to Lawyer Cheng's home before?"
"Mm."
"Is Master Cheng like that towards everyone?"
"I didn't see him the last time I came to the Chengs'."
Upon hearing this, Huo Jingyue admired her even more. "Your psychological resilience is truly incredible. To be honest, I'm a little afraid of Lawyer Cheng's father."
Qiao Ying did not understand what she was afraid of.
Everyone was just human, what was there to fear?
Huo Jingyue sighed, feeling melancholy. "Qiao, is my being so proactive improper? Do men generally not like girls who fawn over them?"
Qiao Ying thought of Qin Hanyue who was even more aggressive than Huo Jingyue, and earnestly answered her question, "I think it's good."
Huo Jingyue's mood instantly brightened and she was full of fighting spirit again. "You're right. Taking initiative leads to more opportunities."
"Oh, that's right, how come we haven't seen Lawyer Cheng's mother?" Huo Jingyue asked curiously.
"She passed away."
Upon hearing this, Huo Jingyue immediately stopped the topic and turned to ask Qiao Ying about Cheng Jinyan instead, curious about how they met and became so close.
"We met through a lawsuit," Qiao Ying replied vaguely. Matters concerning her previous life that involved murder and arson were not topics she could speak honestly about in just a couple sentences.
Huo Jingyue felt the more truthful the story, the more far-fetched it actually was.
After leaving his father, Cheng Jinyan did not go look for Qiao Ying but headed to another place instead.
All the way downstairs to the basement.
Seeing Cheng Jinyan, the guard at the door respectfully called out, "Young Master."
Cheng Jinyan said, "Open the door."
Inside the room filled with torture devices, Wuma Liya was tied to a chair with her hands behind her back. She looked at Cheng Jinyan as he entered.
Cheng Jinyan met Wuma Liya's murderous gaze.
"How is it? Does an empty stomach feel good?"
Cheng Jinyan carried a plate in his hand. On the plate was a bun.
Wuma Liya ignored him.
Cheng Jinyan picked up the bun from the plate. He crouched down in front of her with a smile in his eyes. "As long as you beg me, beg me nicely, and I'm happy, then I'll reward you."
These were the exact words Wuma Liya had said to him before.
Now they were being returned verbatim.
