Volume One, Chapter 12: Afraid You Won't Dare to Accept It

The scene before them left Lin Xia stunned. Not only her, but Li Yuqin and Tan Qiutong also stared in disbelief, their eyes wide as they took in the sight. The dozen or so burly men were all sprawled on the ground, groaning in agony, their faces twisted in pain.

No one had expected that Xu Qing, whom they had long regarded as a good-for-nothing, would be standing there completely unscathed, his back straight, radiating an indescribable aura of dominance. In that instant, a question arose in the hearts of all three women: Could this "useless" man actually fight? And so effectively at that?

Why, then, had he never once fought back in the past three years? Even when faced with trouble, he had always swallowed his pride and endured, never resisting, let alone striking anyone. Was this man truly the Xu Qing they had known for three years—the one they had always dismissed as a loser?

The most astonished of them all was Tan Qiutong, Xu Qing’s ex-wife. Her heart trembled with shock. Although she had never personally mistreated Xu Qing during their marriage, she recalled how he had never once retaliated when her mother and brother had bullied him. She had previously assumed he didn't fight back because he was no match for her brother, but recalling that night at the Sakura Bar, she realized that wasn't the case at all. Xu Qing had refrained from acting only out of consideration for her. Even after their divorce, he had shown restraint, honoring their past relationship. Otherwise, a single slap could have cost her brother his life.

A pang of regret flickered in Tan Qiutong’s heart. She suddenly understood how deep Xu Qing’s love for her had been—deep enough for him to endure three years of humiliation, allowing others to call him a parasite without ever taking offense. But it was too late for regrets now; she had lost the love that once belonged solely to her. This man would never turn back for her, nor would he ever lower his head to her again.

Xu Qing cast a cold glance at her, then pulled a dagger from his clothes and threw it before the groaning men. "Whoever hit my mother, cut off the hand you used! If you don't do it yourself, I will do it for you, and it won't just be a hand!"

Hearing this, Li Yuqin looked up at him, her eyes moist. Her husband, Lin Zhengye, was too busy with business to be by her side, and even knowing she was being bullied, his stance was always for her to endure given the other party's influence. Yet, this son-in-law whom she had despised and looked down upon was now shielding her, willing to break others' limbs because they had struck her. How could she not be moved?

The burly men were terrified; the man before them felt like a living king of hell. They scrambled to their feet, casting pleading looks at Tan Qiutong.

Tan Qiutong took a deep breath to steady herself, her expression icy. "Debts must be paid. If you can't come up with the money, then prepare for prison!" She had seen Xu Qing’s combat prowess, but no matter how strong he was, he remained a penniless loser with no status—none of it mattered. Moreover, by wounding these men, not only would Lin Xia go to jail for failing to pay the debt, but Xu Qing would be dragged down with her.

Xu Qing turned his gaze back to her, but there was no trace of love left—only the indifference one might show a stranger. "The money, I will give you," he said, tossing a bank card at her. "I just fear you won't dare to take it."

Tan Qiutong arched an eyebrow, finding him ridiculous. "Do you think I'm that easily fooled?" She didn't believe for a second there was money on that card. Lin Xia and Li Yuqin looked at Xu Qing with confusion, wondering what he was up to.

Just then, Tan Qiutong’s phone rang. It was the project manager of the Tan Group. She frowned and answered, "Manager Wang, what is it?" She was already annoyed by the current situation.

"Ms. Tan, it’s bad!" Manager Wang said urgently. "I don't know what's going on with the Wen family, but they suddenly sent us a legal notice. They insist the project must be completed today, or they will sue us. We need a batch of building materials immediately; please have someone procure them at once."

"Manager Wang," Tan Qiutong replied testily, "you should be talking to the procurement department."

"Ms. Tan, the thing is... the suppliers are refusing to provide us with materials, and the reason is unclear," Wang said sheepishly.

Tan Qiutong’s heart sank. She simply replied, "I understand. I will find a way. Try to hold off the Wen family."

She hung up. Though she didn't want to beg the Lin family—whom they had always treated as charity cases—for business, it seemed they were the only ones who could supply the materials now. She looked at Lin Xia and commanded, "Our cooperation continues. I need a batch of building materials."

Lin Xia was confused but pleased by the prospect of business. Just as she was about to agree, Xu Qing stepped in. "The compensation hasn't been settled yet; why should we supply you? Shouldn't someone begging for help have the right attitude?"

Tan Qiutong had just brought people to smash up the Lin family's material factory, and now that she was in trouble, she still expected them to supply her with an air of superiority? Not likely!

Li Yuqin and Lin Xia looked at Xu Qing. His attitude made them wonder: he had said the money was there if she dared to take it, and immediately after, the Tan Group ran into trouble. Could this be Xu Qing's doing? They quickly dismissed the thought as absurd. Xu Qing was a "useless" man; how could he have the power to make the Tan Group's suppliers cut them off? It had to be a coincidence—though a remarkably strange one.

Tan Qiutong remained cold, though her complexion had paled. "You can refuse to cooperate, but then you must pay the refund for the returned goods." The Lin family’s business relied on the scraps the Tan Group threw them; they had very little profit and certainly couldn't afford a refund.

"Why don't you have someone check the balance on the card first?" Xu Qing suggested.

Tan Qiutong froze. She hadn't expected such confidence, and a sense of foreboding washed over her. Yet, she couldn't fathom how he could have obtained such a large sum of money. Wasn't he supposed to be broke?