Chapter 2: Who Stands Fierce, Driven by Wrath?

Chapter 2: For Whom Does He Rage?

Qi Hong's eyes narrowed suddenly. Although the aura radiating from Chu Fei vanished as quickly as it appeared, ebbing away without a trace the moment she turned back, she was certain she hadn’t imagined it.

This man was anything but ordinary.

Qi Hong quickly composed herself and said with a light laugh, “Don’t do anything rash. I’ll go take a look.”

She strode briskly toward the commotion.

Chu Fei narrowed his eyes, watching her retreating figure, but said nothing.

“What’s going on?” Qi Hong hurried to the bar entrance, her brows knitting together involuntarily. In just those few moments, chaos had erupted—stools overturned, liquor spilled everywhere, and two well-meaning waiters who’d tried to intervene were now sprawled on the floor, beaten.

The scene was violent.

In addition to the burly man forcefully gripping the girl’s arm, another equally intimidating brute stood close by, leering at the onlookers with a twisted grin.

“Hong Jie, help me—!” The girl seized by the arm called out desperately the moment she saw Qi Hong, her eyes frantic and her struggles futile against the man’s iron grip.

“Help you? No one can help you tonight! You took my money and stood me up—if I don’t teach you a lesson, how will you walk these streets again?” the thug sneered, his face contorted with malice.

“No, it’s not true, I didn’t—” The girl shook her head vigorously, terror brightening her eyes.

“Sir, perhaps there’s been some misunderstanding?” Qi Hong frowned at the two men. “I’m the manager here. Could you do me this favor and let her go? We can talk things through calmly.”

“Do you a favor?” The brute’s eyes gleamed, a lecherous smirk spreading across his face. Compared to the innocent girl, this mature, alluring woman was far more enticing. He grinned wickedly. “Sure, I’ll let her go—if you spend the night with me instead. How about it?”

“What did you say?” Qi Hong’s expression turned icy.

“I said, sleep with me and I’ll let her go…” As he spoke, the man reached out as though to grope Qi Hong’s face, eager to feel the softness of her skin.

Slap!

Qi Hong brushed away his filthy hand and retorted coldly, “Do you know who I am? If you dare talk like that, aren’t you afraid you won’t leave this city alive?” In that instant, she was like a rose cloaked in frost, beautiful yet bristling with thorns.

The man paused, then burst into raucous laughter. “Who are you? That’s a laugh. You think I don’t know who you are, Qi Hong? An upstart who slept her way to the top, acting all high and mighty? Either you spend the night with us and tonight’s incident is forgotten, or get lost and stay out of our way!”

No sooner had he finished than the brute swung his arm.

Crack!

He slapped Qi Hong clean across the face, without a hint of mercy.

Her fair, delicate cheek instantly flushed and swelled.

“You—” Qi Hong stared at him in shock, but she forced herself to remain calm, her gaze growing even colder.

Meanwhile, the entire bar had fallen silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Every eye was fixed on the scene, with whispers flitting through the crowd.

At that moment, a deep voice sounded from not far away.

“Say what you just said again, if you dare.”

As the voice rang out, Chu Fei’s unimposing figure emerged from the crowd, striding toward the brute. His gaze was steely, and a murderous air radiated from him.

“Who the hell are you? None of your business—get lost!” The brute scowled, not even looking at Chu Fei, his eyes still glued provocatively to Qi Hong’s face.

“If you’ve got the guts, repeat what you just said.” Chu Fei’s voice was low and cold as he stepped up to the brute.

“Get lost, unless you’ve got a death wish!” The brute snarled, launching a kick at Chu Fei.

But he was far too slow.

Bang!

A thunderous crash echoed through the bar. In the next instant, the brute was sent flying from the entrance like a severed kite, landing a full ten meters away.

It happened so quickly that hardly anyone saw Chu Fei deliver the kick.

Not only fast, but devastating.

“Ah—!” The girl who’d been gripped by the brute screamed as she was nearly thrown aside by his body. Just then, a strong, steady hand caught her by the waist, pulling her back to safety.

“Th-thank you, thank you so much—” The girl, still trembling, looked up at Chu Fei, her face white as a sheet, offering breathless thanks.

Chu Fei didn’t even spare her a glance. Releasing his hold, he turned toward the other brute.

Rage flickered across the second man’s face as he prepared to charge, but before he could, a low voice called from behind him.

“Fourth, don’t move.”

A scholarly-looking middle-aged man stepped out from the crowd, staring at Chu Fei with a mixture of shock and uncertainty for a long moment before his expression changed. He hesitated, then blurted out, “Are you Chu—”

“You know me?” Chu Fei eyed the man, his gaze narrowing.

“No, I don’t. My mistake.” The man shook his head hastily, a hint of unease flashing in his eyes. He forced a smile. “Sorry, my friends had too much to drink and got out of hand. We’ll take our leave now. Uh, here’s compensation for the damages.” He pulled out his wallet, emptied all the cash onto the bar without another glance, and quickly left.

The other brute was momentarily stunned, then cast Chu Fei a long, uncertain look before following after his companion.

Did that man know him?

Chu Fei gazed thoughtfully toward the door.

A minor incident that had flared up so suddenly ended just as quickly. Before most patrons had even processed what had happened, it was already over. Chu Fei returned to his corner, drinking, smoking, lost in thought, as if nothing had occurred.

As manager, Qi Hong comforted the girl for a while, then said a few words to lighten the atmosphere before heading back upstairs. Soon the bar was lively again, as though nothing had happened.

People mind their own business.

In this increasingly selfish society, people only care about what concerns themselves. Occasionally, a few glances drifted in Chu Fei’s direction, especially from fashionable women and lonely housewives, their eyes lingering on him. Unbeknownst to Chu Fei, his previously inconspicuous presence had now become the target of many women’s curiosity and desire, all because of that one domineering kick. If not for that, someone would have already come over to strike up a conversation.

But this stalemate wouldn’t last long.

If Qi Hong hadn’t appeared again—

As Chu Fei raised his second can of beer, Qi Hong’s alluring voice sounded beside him.

“The way those women are looking at you, like wolves eyeing their prey—if you so much as beckon, someone would throw themselves at you, even if it meant a night or two. Doesn’t that tempt you at all?”

Chu Fei turned to find Qi Hong had changed out of her professional attire and into a fitted one-piece dress that revealed snowy shoulders and flawless legs, her figure even more enticing. The swelling on her delicate face was barely discernible beneath skillful makeup.

Ignoring her flirtatious question, Chu Fei smiled, “Hong Jie, dressed like this, who are you planning to seduce?”

“Can I seduce you?” Qi Hong laughed coquettishly, slipping naturally into the seat beside him, her enchanting gaze settling on his face.

Chu Fei smiled.

“Thank you for earlier. If not for you, I’d have no idea how to deal with that mess,” Qi Hong said sincerely, meeting his eyes.

“Those two weren’t as tough as they acted. They wouldn’t have dared do anything to you,” Chu Fei replied with a dismissive shake of his head.

“I know. But this isn’t over.” A cold glint flickered in Qi Hong’s eyes.

Chu Fei felt a chill. They say a woman never forgets a grudge—how true.

Then Qi Hong’s beautiful eyes settled on him again. “If it hadn’t been that girl Xiaoman in trouble, would you have stepped in?”

“No,” Chu Fei replied, knowing full well the answer would sting.

“I knew it.” Qi Hong pouted. To outsiders, that domineering kick had seemed for her sake, but only she knew the truth. If it hadn’t been Xiaoman, Chu Fei wouldn’t have interfered. Now that she had confirmation, the knowledge still left a bitter taste—her first time being so thoroughly overlooked.

She gazed at Chu Fei for a long moment, suddenly feeling a twinge of frustration. He had just raged for a beauty’s sake, but alas, that beauty was not her.

Suddenly, she blurted, “So you think I’m less attractive than that little Xiaoman?”

“How would I know how attractive you are? I haven’t tasted you yet,” Chu Fei replied innocently, his eyes drifting unashamedly to her chest.

“Get lost!” Qi Hong cursed through gritted teeth, her tone full of charm. But Chu Fei’s eyes were already elsewhere—watching a group of police officers push through the door.

“We received a report of a fight here. Who’s in charge?” one officer bellowed, drawing the attention of the entire bar.

“I’m the manager. How can I help you?” Qi Hong sighed, quickly stepping forward.

“You’re the person in charge?” the lead officer asked, fixing a stern gaze on her.

“Yes,” Qi Hong nodded.

Click.

A cold steel cuff snapped around her wrist.

Qi Hong was stunned, and so was Chu Fei watching from afar. But before he could react, a fiery figure appeared before him—the same fierce young woman who’d threatened to gouge out his eyes earlier. She pressed a black pistol to his forehead.

“Don’t resist, unless you want an accident,” she snapped. “I’m a cop!” Her tone was brash and unyielding.

Chu Fei was speechless.

He didn’t doubt she was a police officer; in fact, he’d long suspected something was off about those four girls. Who goes clubbing with such regularity, like clocking in at work?

What frustrated Chu Fei, though, was that she was clearly new to the force. Pulling a gun in a bar—how reckless could she be?