Chapter 0046: What Can You Do to Me?

The evening breeze stirred, carrying a heavy scent of blood in the air. Ah Hu was gone, and all of Long San’s men had fled.

The next day, the news reported that Long San had been killed by an enemy. There were no further details.

"Hey, girl across the street, look over here..."

That morning, just as Zhang Xiaofan was leaving the hotel and heading toward Lin Group, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen—it was a call from Ouyang Xue.

“Hello, Sister Xue,” Zhang Xiaofan answered with a cheeky grin. Last night’s violence had left no trace on him.

“Zhang Xiaofan, are you really not planning to go back to school?” Ouyang Xue’s voice was full of concern. “The college entrance exams are coming up soon. Don’t you want to go to university?”

“There’s no need. School doesn’t mean anything to me,” Zhang Xiaofan replied.

For some reason, Ouyang Xue felt a pang of disappointment. She wasn’t sure if it was because she was losing a student or for some other reason.

After a pause, she said, “Very well, I respect your choice. I know you’re not an ordinary person.”

“Heh, thank you for your concern, teacher. If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now. I’m on my way to work.” Zhang Xiaofan chuckled. Leaving school meant there would be no more connection between him and Ouyang Xue.

“Work?” Ouyang Xue was puzzled.

“Yeah, I’m working as a bodyguard—one hundred thousand a month. Not bad, right?” Zhang Xiaofan laughed.

Ouyang Xue thought about it. Wasn’t the point of going to a good school, getting into a prestigious university, to land a good job after graduation? Every profession is just a way to make a living. A monthly salary of a hundred thousand was already very high in Jinghai City. Besides, Zhang Xiaofan was skilled and had a close relationship with Old Master Ye. There really was no reason for him to stay in school.

“All right then. And thank you for last time. With Old Master Ye’s help, our Ouyang family weathered the crisis,” Ouyang Xue said.

“No need for thanks. I’ll hang up now, goodbye.”

With that, Zhang Xiaofan ended the call. By now, he had already reached the entrance of Lin Group.

At that moment, a crowd had gathered. Police officers were among them.

“Officer, you must arrest whoever did this. Look at what they’ve done to my son!” As he approached, Zhang Xiaofan saw a middle-aged man who bore some resemblance to Zhao Kai. When he heard his words, he immediately understood—the father had come to seek justice for his son.

So, after beating the son, now the father had turned up.

“Vice Mayor Zhao, why don’t we talk in my office? There are a lot of people watching,” Lin Siyu stood at the door, speaking politely though she was inwardly anxious. Her mischievous cousin had insisted on a contest between Zhang Xiaofan and Zhao Kai, and now the vice mayor’s father had come to make a scene—it was a terrible look for the company.

“No. I want everyone to judge for themselves. My son was beaten—there’s nothing more to say. Hand over the one responsible,” Zhao De demanded relentlessly.

Just thinking of his son lying in the hospital made his heart ache. He had never laid a finger on the boy, and now he’d had three ribs broken.

“Mr. Zhao, he really isn’t in the company. If he were, I’d call him out right away,” Lin Siyu explained. “And yesterday, everyone in our company saw what happened. Your son challenged our employee to a match—it was all an accident.”

“An accident? An accident that landed my son in the hospital?” Zhao De’s face darkened, showing no sign of backing down. “Officer, go in and arrest him.”

“President Lin, if you won’t hand him over, we’ll have to search for him ourselves. I hope you’ll cooperate,” said a police officer standing next to Zhao De.

This officer was Wang Ming, a squad leader from Jinghai City’s Public Security Bureau.

Zhao De was the vice mayor—how could Wang Ming refuse him? But he also knew Lin Siyu’s background; her grandfather was a military commander. Both sides were too powerful to offend. All he could do was follow procedure.

“Officer, he truly isn’t in the company,” Lin Siyu repeated, her patience waning. “If you have a warrant, you can search. If not, Lin Group isn’t a place just anyone can walk into.”

“This—” Wang Ming hesitated, clearly troubled.

“President Lin, are you trying to use your status to pressure me? Is your employee beating up my son somehow justified?” Zhao De’s tone turned cold.

At that moment, Zhang Xiaofan spoke.

“So what if she’s using her status? I’m right here. What do you plan to do about it?”

With those words, Zhang Xiaofan stepped forward. “Your son was incompetent, yet insisted on challenging me. Now you’re here to settle the score for him?”

Zhao De looked at this young man, a hint of roguishness at the corner of his mouth. He found it hard to believe his son—a Taekwondo 8th dan—could be beaten so badly by someone who looked so thin and frail.

If only he knew that this very youth standing before him had killed Long San, he could scarcely imagine his own reaction. Yet the deaths of Long San and dozens at Moonlight KTV had been suppressed. Not even someone of Zhao De’s rank had the clearance to know the truth.

This kid is outrageously arrogant...

“Captain Wang, arrest him!” Zhao De barked, pointing at Zhang Xiaofan.

“Young man, you’re suspected of intentional assault. Come with us,” Wang Ming said, stepping forward and taking out a pair of handcuffs.

“A formal match counts as intentional assault? If I’d been injured, would you arrest his son as well?” Zhang Xiaofan looked at the policeman, then pointed at Zhao De.

He had a point. For a moment, Wang Ming couldn’t respond, and could only say stiffly, “Whatever the case, you injured someone. Come to the station. After we investigate, if it wasn’t intentional, you’ll be released.”

Zhang Xiaofan knew they were determined to bring him in. With the vice mayor present, the officer was bound to take his side.

But the police officer had a point: they were only asking him to come in for questioning, not declaring him guilty. Zhang Xiaofan had nothing more to say.

Still, the idea of being led away left a bitter taste in his mouth. He’d already made his stand—if he backed down now, he’d be slapping himself in the face.

No, absolutely not.

But what could he do? Beat up a police officer? That was certainly unreasonable. After all, he was a reasonable man.

It seemed he had no choice but to make a call.

He took out his phone and said to Wang Ming, “Let me make a call.”

As he spoke, he dialed a number and waited for the connection.

In front of Zhao De and Wang Ming, he said, “Hello? I’m at the entrance of Lin Group. The police are trying to arrest me. Please handle it.”

Zhang Xiaofan’s voice wasn’t loud, but Zhao De and Wang Ming heard every word. Zhao De nearly laughed aloud.

Was this kid serious? The vice mayor stood before him, and he was calling for backup? Did he think Zhao De was just a decoration?

He was putting on quite a show—full marks for acting.

Wang Ming also found it amusing. In Jinghai, unless you could get the mayor himself, no one could smooth over this situation today.

Clearly, in Wang Ming’s eyes, Zhang Xiaofan was just stalling for time.

What good would a few minutes do? In the end, he’d still have to come quietly. Even if he was a good fighter, would he dare strike an officer? That would only add assaulting an officer to his charges.

“All right. Someone will call you soon,” Zhang Xiaofan said as he hung up, smiling at Wang Ming.

“Enough with the games. Come with me,” Wang Ming insisted.

“I suggest you wait a few more minutes. Otherwise, you’ll find it hard to deal with the consequences,” Zhang Xiaofan warned, a confident smile playing on his lips.

“Heh… I’d like to see what kind of trouble you can stir up,” Zhao De sneered coldly.

“Don’t worry. Whatever trouble I cause, you certainly won’t be able to handle it,” Zhang Xiaofan replied with a smile.

Just then, Zhao De’s phone rang. His expression turned skeptical—who would be calling at a time like this?

He glanced at his phone, and his face instantly darkened. He answered in a respectful tone, “Why are you calling me?”

“Are you at the entrance of Lin Group?” a deep, commanding voice asked from the other end.

“Yes,” Zhao De replied, glancing at Zhang Xiaofan. Could it be that this kid had really called in a powerful figure?

“You may leave now. And from now on, do not cause him any more trouble.”

The voice on the line was steady, authoritative. Zhao De was stunned for a moment before responding, “Yes, sir…”

The call ended. Zhao De looked at Zhang Xiaofan again, his mind racing—just who was this young man?

“Well? Are you still going to take me away?” Zhang Xiaofan asked with a smile.

“Who are you?” Zhao De asked, almost involuntarily.

“Heh, you don’t need to know. All you need to understand is that you can’t do anything to me. Now please leave—I have to get to work,” Zhang Xiaofan said, still smiling.

Wang Ming was baffled. From Zhao De’s reaction, it seemed Zhang Xiaofan had indeed called in someone extraordinary.

Judging by Zhao De’s tone, this person was no ordinary figure.

“Fine, you win…” Zhao De felt as though he’d been slapped in the face. He turned and left in frustration. When that person gave an order, even he dared not disobey.

Seeing this, Wang Ming realized Zhang Xiaofan truly had powerful backing. Even Zhao De left in a huff—what was the point of a mere squad leader sticking around?

He counted himself lucky he hadn’t tried to use force. Otherwise, he might have ended up swallowing his broken teeth.

Still, that didn’t mean he was willing to let this go so easily.

On the way back, he made a call, his face grim. “I want you to teach someone a lesson.”

“I’ve told you before, I don’t get involved in mundane disputes,” an icy voice replied.

“If you handle this for me, I’ll give you a five-hundred-year-old ginseng,” Zhao De offered, though it pained him. Even if it wasn’t wild, it was still precious.

“Fine. Send me the address and the person’s details,” the voice agreed.

Watching Zhao De slink away, Lin Siyu was astonished. Just who had Zhang Xiaofan called?

She knew he came from that place, but as for his specific identity, she was completely in the dark. She’d asked her grandfather, but he’d told her nothing—not even a hint.

Now, he was her bodyguard, and Lin Siyu truly didn’t know whether to feel happy or troubled. She was glad to have such a powerful protector, but with someone like him around, she seemed to lose all authority.

Not to mention, she had to put up with his constant teasing.

“Time to get to work, Miss Lin!” At that moment, Zhang Xiaofan wrapped an arm around her waist, his trademark smile returning.

“Oh… all right.” Lin Siyu nodded out of habit, then realized what was happening. “Take your filthy hand off me!”

Zhang Xiaofan just laughed. He’d gotten away with it—time to make his escape!

There weren’t many people at the entrance anyway; most had already been sent off to work by Lin Siyu. Since yesterday, hardly anyone at the company even recognized Zhang Xiaofan. Only a few knew he was Lin Sixue’s supposed boyfriend—a decoy.

Once inside Lin Siyu’s office, no matter how shamelessly Zhang Xiaofan acted, she ignored him. He had no choice but to go wander around the office.

Lin Siyu was only too glad for some peace and quiet, though she did warn Zhang Xiaofan not to cause any trouble.