Ye Qinghe’s low roar exploded like a thunderclap across the open space of this small area.
It shook everyone to their core with fear.
Before Ye Zhibai could even figure out what was happening, she felt a pair of delicate little hands wrap around her waist and pull her protectively behind them.
It was Yun’er.
She had rushed over right on Old Dad’s heels!
Not only that, Guang Yu clutched her tube of wasabi paste, her little face set in an adorably fierce scowl as she planted herself on Yun’er’s other side.
The two of them looked just like a pair of mighty guardian deities shielding Ye Zhibai!
One tall, one short, different species even—perfectly normal setup, right?
These girls could step back and watch for now.
Because this was a father’s moment to step up.
Ye Qinghe’s Iron Grip had the Permed-Hair Guy completely stunned!
Not from the suddenness of it, but from the pain!
Ye Qinghe was squeezing the guy’s wrist with such force that the bones creaked audibly.
Damn, that wasn’t a hand—it was a vise! How did it have so much strength?!
Even this fearless little thug let out a pathetic yelp for mercy.
“Ow!! Damn it, I was wrong, I was wrong! Ease up! My arm’s gonna break! Brother Xu, save me!!”
“Huh?”
The Purple-Haired Guy had no idea what was going on!
By now, Ye Qinghe’s massive frame had fully emerged.
He hadn’t circled around the bamboo—he had simply ignored the sturdy barrier of the bamboo grove, his face ashen as he strode straight through the stalks.
A face of cold iron!
At one meter eighty-five with a broad build, Ye Qinghe towered over the two punks like a tiger facing a pair of chicks.
With a fierce flick, Ye Qinghe hurled the Permed-Hair Guy’s wrist away.
The guy flew back like a kite with its string cut, crashing straight onto the sofa!
“Oof! Hiss… He’s hitting people!! Help!!”
The Permed-Hair Guy wasn’t stupid. He’d taken beatings on the street before, acting all pitiful like this.
The best way to protect himself in a moment like this was to yell for help at the top of his lungs and paint himself as the victim!
But this time…
He shouted several times, yet not a single diner in the restaurant so much as glanced their way.
They kept eating their meals and chatting away, as if this whole area was completely cut off from them.
In fact, the space here really was isolated.
Ye Zhibai happened to glance back and spotted a ring of eerie blue glow encircling the fingers of Guang Yu’s other hand—the one not holding the wasabi.
Little Fox brought her fingers to her lips and blew gently. The blue light scattered on the wind, and she grinned at Ye Zhibai, flashing a cheeky V-sign.
“Heh heh! I put up a Cognitive Isolation Barrier~ No one else can notice us. If you’re gonna fight, you gotta set up a proper ring, right? Saw it on TV!”
Nice one, Guang Yu!
Ye Zhibai’s biggest worry had been that if things really escalated, these punks might turn the tables and damage Old Dad’s reputation.
Guang Yu had accidentally hit the nail on the head and solved the biggest problem!
Ye Qinghe had no clue why no one was paying attention.
But the seasoned chairman of Ye Group had already run through several contingency plans in his head.
Now those plans…
Seemed unnecessary?
No matter.
Right now, Ye Qinghe just wanted to teach this punk a lesson, consequences be damned.
When the weathered lines on Ye Qinghe’s face hardened into seriousness, the innate pressure—honed by years of experience—became almost tangible.
He fixed his slightly hazy eyes on the yowling Permed-Hair Guy, a chilling glint flashing within them.
“You ill-bred brat… Filthy mouth. My daughter came here in good faith to reason with you two idiots, and you’ve got the nerve to spew that garbage? Empty heads?”
Ye Qinghe half-turned his head, and in an instant, his gaze softened as it landed on his daughter.
“Zhibai, tell me what happened.”
“Mm.”
Ye Zhibai explained everything calmly.
As she spoke, Ye Qinghe’s expression grew darker and darker.
But there was a flicker of relief too.
Zhibai had stood up for Lin Zihan…
In the past, it would have been unthinkable for Zhibai to stick her neck out for a friend like this.
Once Ye Zhibai finished, the quick-to-read-the-room Permed-Hair Guy cowered instantly!
He immediately bowed his head to Ye Qinghe. “Sorry! Uncle! I-I-I… I was just talking smack! I don’t have the guts for real!”
Ye Qinghe didn’t soften just because the guy backed down.
He merely glanced down at him imperiously.
And dropped a chilling warning.
“Kid, I’ve got your face memorized. If I hear you spouting nonsense like that again, I’ll rip off one of your arms. Got it?”
“G-Got it!”
The Permed-Hair Guy’s arm was still numb.
He knew full well this uncle was the real deal—probably connected—and he meant every word!
Well then… Ye Zhibai was starting to realize something.
The super cool side Yun’er sometimes showed? Definitely inherited from Old Dad’s genes!
The Ye family DNA was just that awesome!
Looks like this wrapped up pretty smoothly… These two knew when to quit.
Next, just have them apologize for trash-talking Lin Zihan, and they could settle it peacefully—
“Rat, I really misjudged you. We’re done as friends when we get back to school, you coward.”
Purple-Haired Guy!!
What the hell was wrong with this hotheaded punk’s youthful bravado?!
How was this iron-headed idiot so damn reckless?!
The Permed-Hair Guy had already surrendered, but the Purple-Haired Guy couldn’t stand his attitude.
He crossed one leg over the other, ripped open his pack of smokes, pulled out a cigarette, and stuck it in his mouth—like he owned the place and feared nothing.
Used to bullying everyone at school, that was his style.
But just as the Purple-Haired Guy went to light up and steel his nerves…
His lighter flew out of his hand!
Along with the cigarette in his mouth, smacked straight to the floor!
And with it came a stinging pain on his cheek.
He glanced sideways, his face burning.
Ye Qinghe’s handprint was stamped right there!
He’d been slapped across the face?!
Ye Qinghe had moved so fast with that slap. He dusted off his palm and said coldly,
“No smoking in the restaurant.”
“Fuck, old man, you trying to die?!”
It was on for real!!
Yun’er, time to back him up—
Ah!
What if the Permed-Hair Guy jumped back in? Then Old Dad would be up against two!
But Yun’er didn’t budge.
She even tugged Ye Zhibai farther from the fray, strolling casually.
As Ye Zhibai puzzled over it, a scream erupted behind her!
“Ah!!!”
She whipped around.
The Purple-Haired Guy was already pinned face-down on the ground, his arm twisted back at an unnatural angle by Old Dad’s smooth maneuver!
From the guy’s shocked, pain-contorted expression—and the Permed-Hair Guy’s terror, caught in the spillover of Ye Qinghe’s aura—
The fight was over.
And it had barely lasted a few breaths!
Yun’er sauntered back to their table, poured Ye Zhibai a cup of tea, and handed it over with a leisurely smile.
“Hm? Sister, you’re not worried Old Dad’s under pressure, are you? Hahaha… Don’t be. Our Old Dad was the national Sanda champion back in the day. Rumor has it he even served in the military before marrying Mama? Pfft… They say he once beat a bear to death with his bare hands. No need to fret about him, Sister. Though… with all this noise, how come no one’s called 120 yet? These guys won’t get beaten to death, will they? Eh, doesn’t matter if they do~ Have some tea, Sister. Ignore them.”
“……”
Don’t actually kill them!
Fine.
Looks like the family genes weren’t just cool.
They were ruthless too!
As the Purple-Haired Guy’s pained howls mixed with the Permed-Hair Guy’s near-screams of fright…
Ye Zhibai took a calm sip of tea.
Hang in there, punks.
At least… survive. (lol)
