Chapter 3: The Gentleman Rogue

The tension between the group lingered heavily in the air. Zhang Yong, for his part, was a ruthless character—his ear dangling loosely, yet he stubbornly remained where he stood, his head hastily bandaged, glaring venomously at Ye Cheng.

Ye Cheng, however, seemed unconcerned. He lifted his head, gazing calmly toward the distant intersection.

In the midst of this suffocating standoff, Ye Mengxue, cradled in his arms, unexpectedly broke the silence.

"Um... could you please set me down, sir?"

"Alright," Ye Cheng replied.

Seeing that his sister had failed to recognize him, Ye Cheng refrained from any overt display of affection. After so many years apart, such a reunion could not be rushed. He gently set Ye Mengxue down and returned his gaze forward.

"Sir, you’re a good man, but... you should leave quickly. Wang Yongsheng is not someone you can afford to cross."

"Hmm?" Ye Cheng looked at her, surprised by the tremor in her voice.

His sister’s expression was earnest—there was no trace of deceit.

"Don’t you know what will happen to you if you’re taken away?" Ye Mengxue gave a bitter smile and nodded.

"I know. But this matter has nothing to do with you."

She reached into her cheap little purse.

"I have some money. Not much, but it’s all I can offer to repay your kindness."

She pulled out her hand, clutching two wrinkled one-hundred-yuan bills.

Ye Cheng’s eyes grew moist. He could only imagine what kind of hardships his sister had endured over the years.

Steadying himself, Ye Cheng managed to keep his voice level.

"No need. Instead, tell me—who exactly is this Wang Yongsheng?"

Ye Mengxue could only sigh, realizing the man had no intention of leaving.

"Wang Yongsheng is the local despot of Linjiang District. His father’s a real estate developer—no one in Linjiang dares provoke him. Wang himself has been involved in the underworld for years, with connections to various factions. Ordinary people like us simply can’t stand against them."

As she spoke, resignation appeared on her face—a bitter smile of acceptance at her fate. She could see the end that awaited her, yet she was powerless to change it.

"Perhaps this is for the best. At least I’ll have money to treat my parents’ illnesses."

"Our parents are ill?" Ye Cheng’s eyes sharpened. He was about to ask more when, suddenly, the glare of two massive headlights swept over them.

A pitch-black Land Rover screeched to a halt, blocking the group’s way. Seven or eight burly men in black suits and sunglasses disembarked, each with slicked-back hair, standing in formation on either side of the vehicle.

"Boss Wang, you’re here!" Zhang Yong’s face lit up as if he’d seen his savior. Ignoring the pain in his ear, he hurried to the car, bowing and scraping, a stark contrast to the thug he’d been moments before.

"So, I hear someone’s trying to take the woman I’ve set my sights on?" a man in a white suit stepped out of the car.

Ye Cheng’s brow furrowed. He’d expected this man to resemble Zhang Yong, but to his surprise...

He actually looked quite normal.

Dressed neatly, with gold-rimmed glasses and a carefully parted hairstyle, he looked every inch the refined scion, worlds apart from thugs like Zhang Yong.

"That’s him, Boss Wang! This punk tried to snatch a woman on my turf—the very one I was preparing for you tonight!"

As Zhang Yong made his accusation, Wang Yongsheng narrowed his eyes, sizing up Ye Cheng.

A beggar? It can’t be that simple.

What beggar in Linjiang wouldn’t know who I am?

He smiled and approached Ye Cheng, extending his right hand, undeterred by his bodyguards.

"Greetings, young man. I am Wang Yongsheng of Linjiang Group."

"Mm." Ye Cheng did not extend his hand, merely offering a bemused smile in response.

Wang Yongsheng felt uneasy under that gaze, but for the sake of politeness, he withdrew his hand with a forced smile.

"If you prefer not to reveal your name, I won’t press you. You don’t seem a fool, so let’s be frank."

"The woman with you tonight—I intend to have her. I’ll give each of you a hundred thousand yuan as compensation. What do you say?"

Wang Yongsheng was supremely confident.

A hundred thousand yuan was petty cash to him, but to most people—especially these two at the bottom of society—it was a fortune.

Who could resist the lure of money, especially when the price was merely a pretty, dispensable woman?

"First, it’s not that I’m withholding my name—it’s that you’re not worthy to know it."

"Second, I’ll give you two choices."

"One, apologize to this lady right now and show some sincerity, and I’ll let this matter drop."

"Two, all of you stay here tonight—I have no objection to the numbers."

Silence. A deathly, suffocating silence.

Wang Yongsheng, Zhang Yong, the bodyguards—even Ye Mengxue behind him—every pair of eyes widened in disbelief.

Did he... just say I should apologize to this woman?

"Zhang Yong, did I hear wrong? Did this kid just say I should apologize?" Wang Yongsheng burst out laughing, as if the notion amused him greatly.

But cold sweat seeped down Zhang Yong’s back. He knew the young master was truly angry.

Zhang Yong, for all his bluster, was merely a petty thug; his revenge would amount to a beating at most. But to provoke Wang Yongsheng’s wrath...

At best, you’d be left paralyzed; at worst, your whole family would be doomed!

Whatever dirty deeds Zhang Yong had committed over the years had always been at Wang Yongsheng’s behest. In the eyes of outsiders, Zhang Yong was the villain, but in truth, Wang Yongsheng was the real serpent. Over the years, the number of people who’d died by his hand was at least eighty—if not a hundred—a true tyrant of Linjiang.

This kid was already a dead man.

The pleasure of coming vengeance welled up inside Zhang Yong, and he seized the opportunity to stoke the fire.

"Boss Wang, this kid even said he’d take on as many as you send!"

"Is that so~" Wang Yongsheng’s smile broadened. He beckoned an elderly man from behind him.

"Master Zhao, would you do me the favor of entertaining this young man? It’s a dull night, after all—a little amusement can’t hurt."

"Be gentle—don’t kill him outright. We wouldn’t want to frighten the delicate young lady with a bloody scene."

His eyes brimmed with mockery. To him, this beggar was already a dead man.

Me, Wang Yongsheng, apologize to you? Are you out of your mind?

Who do you think you are?

Ye Cheng remained silent, his gaze hawkishly fixed on the bodyguard.

"Heh, let this old man see what sort of wild boasts you can back up," the elderly Zhao chuckled, striding purposefully forward. His frame was so slight that Ye Cheng had scarcely noticed him before.

Ye Cheng watched the old man intently. Something in that gaze unsettled Zhao, and he slowed his steps.

This boy... why is there such a murderous aura in his eyes?