Chapter 34: Yin Xiuzhu, do you have any idea how many fights Qi Mu has fought for you?

Qi Mu put away his phone, feeling a bright, sunny disposition in his heart.

Xu Xiaoming, with his keen eyes, noticed him and came over, saying, “Wow, Brother Mu, you’re looking sharp.”

Dashan was like a living earth turtle, but Mrs. Qiao’s taste was internationally recognized. With her exquisite touch, how could her precious son not look impressive?

Qi Mu held his head high and puffed out his chest. “You should know what my mom does for a living.”

Xu Xiaoming remarked, “But mainly, it’s because you have a good foundation and look handsome.”

Qi Mu wasn’t buying into his flattery and asked, “Where’s your dad?”

Xu Xiaoming pointed with his chin, “My dad didn’t come. My brother brought me here.”

Xu Xiaoming was a late child, sixteen or seventeen years younger than his brother. Now at fourteen, while his brother had already established himself at thirty and could shoulder half the responsibilities. It was precisely because of such an older brother that Xu Xiaoming could be carefree and do whatever he liked.

Qi Mu commented, “Your older brother looks a bit tired.” Although he didn’t speak much with Xu Shenyuan, having known Xiaoming for so long, he was quite familiar with his brother too.

Xu Xiaoming grumbled, “Who knows what he’s been up to? He had a big argument with my dad a few days ago, all because of some company issues.”

Qi Mu said, “You really don’t know how good you have it.”

Xu Xiaoming sighed, “Running a company? My dad has worked himself to the bone for half his life, and now it looks like my brother will follow in his footsteps.”

Qi Mu gave him a sidelong glance. “If it weren’t for your dad and your brother, would you have such a good life today?”

Xu Xiaoming huffed, “A salaried family can be quite happy too.”

Qi Mu wanted to argue but thought of Dashan, who worked late into the night, and Yin Zhenggong, who never came home, so he couldn’t find a good counter-argument.

Xu Xiaoming, who couldn’t stay gloomy for more than three seconds, added, “Damn your bamboo at home is really something, a world apart from what we see at school.”

Qi Mu pondered this statement and felt something was off. He could tolerate the “bamboo” part, but the first two words just felt so out of place.

Qi Mu stared at him. “Watch who you’re saying ‘damn’ to.”

Xu Xiaoming: “……”

Qi Mu punched him. Xu Xiaoming, an excellent actor, pretended to be grievously injured: “I was just using it as an exclamation! Not as a verb!”

Qi Mu was not pleased. “Exclamations aren’t allowed either.”

Xu Xiaoming protested, “I really didn’t mean it that way…”

Before he could finish, Qi Mu raised an eyebrow. Xu Xiaoming fell silent and zipped his lips, “Alright, alright, Master Yin is like a jade tree in the wind, beyond reproach.”

Qi Mu still felt a bit displeased and had a strong impulse to wash out this kid’s mouth.

Seeing the situation was turning sour, Xu Xiaoming quickly played the part of a docile quail.

Qi Mu decided to ignore him, as Yin Xiuzhu was approaching.

As the host of the event, the Yin family’s Yin Xiuzhu was naturally the center of attention. Wherever he went, people greeted him.

After a bit of waiting, Qi Mu saw that he finally managed to shake off the crowd and come over.

Yin Xiuzhu greeted him with a smile, which was different from the polite smiles he gave to others; this one was genuine as if he had pulled down the stars from the sky and sprinkled them into his dark eyes.

Qi Mu’s mood lifted instantly, and he completely forgot about Xu Xiaoming.
Yin Xiuzhu asked, “When did you arrive?”

Qi Mu replied, “Just a little while ago.”

Yin Xiuzhu leaned closer and said softly, “Here.”

“Huh?” Qi Mu extended his hand and felt a small box land in his palm. Looking down, he was pleasantly surprised. “Chocolate?”

Yin Xiuzhu’s eyes were full of smiles. “This kind is the best… There are so many kids today that all the good ones have been picked clean.”

Since it was a family banquet, there were naturally plenty of treats for the children, but they wouldn’t just have one kind. The kids, being sharp-eyed, would quickly figure out which ones were the best and pick them all clean.

Qi Mu arrived not too early and, being unfamiliar with the crowd, had been staying on the periphery. However, Yin Xiuzhu had thoughtfully saved some treats for him.

Qi Mu was pleased but said, “I’m not lacking any, and aren’t you tired of holding onto this?”

Thinking about the young man chatting and laughing in the crowd while hiding a box of chocolate, Qi Mu found it amusing.

Yin Xiuzhu replied, “No, it’s just a pity I didn’t grab more.”

Qi Mu winked. “It’s fine. You must have a stockpile in your house. I’ll come over another day to have some.”

Yin Xiuzhu smiled. “Alright, I’ll be waiting for you this weekend.”

At this moment, Xu Xiaoming, who had yet to leave, couldn’t help but chime in, “Um…”

Qi Mu still had a grudge against him and responded, “Hmm?”

Xu Xiaoming, looking pitiful, said, “It’s bad enough I didn’t get any chocolate, but you don’t need to treat me like I’m invisible! This treatment is a bit too much. I’m also a little baby who wants someone to sneak me some treats!”

Qi Mu & Yin Xiuzhu: “……”

Cough, they had indeed forgotten about Xu Xiaoming.

Yin Xiuzhu couldn’t stay for too long and said a few words before leaving.

As soon as he was gone, Xu Xiaoming moved in closer, his eyes fixed on the chocolate in Qi Mu’s hand.

Qi Mu looked at him and asked, “Do you want some?”

Usually, Xu Xiaoming wouldn’t bother with a piece of chocolate, but at this moment he was craving it and nodded vigorously. “Yes, I want some!”

He expected that Qi Mu would give him a piece, as it was a small box, so there should be at least five or six pieces inside.

To his surprise, Qi Mu firmly held onto the box and said, “Nope.”

Xu Xiaoming: “???” What’s this? Is this a fake Brother Mu? Your dad is rich beyond measure, and your family’s wealth could fill the sea, and yet you can’t even spare a piece of chocolate for your brother!

Xu Xiaoming was heartbroken. He no longer wanted to follow Tyrant Qi and sadly turned away, heading towards Fatty Fang to cry.

Qi Mu, on the other hand, was in high spirits and felt no guilt at all. What a joke—Xu Xiaoming, who didn’t even appreciate chocolate, was not worth wasting it on!

Afterward, Yin Xiuzhu didn’t find another opportunity to meet with Qi Mu. Instead, Qi Dashan took Qi Mu to meet Yin Zhenggong. The two sides exchanged pleasantries and chatted casually. It was Qi Mu’s first time facing Yin Xiuzhu in such a setting, and he found it quite amusing, his little tiger teeth flashing with excitement, unable to be hidden.

As the adult mingling began, Qi Mu, feeling bored, sneaked out.
He initially intended to look for Xu Xiaoming—but the guy had disappeared.

After reaching the fountain and still not spotting Xu Xiaoming, Qi Mu wondered where this rascal had wandered off to. He felt a bit cold—truly cold, not scared of ghosts! So, Qi Mu decided to head back inside.

Just as he was turning to go back, he sensed something unusual.

Some people have naturally sharp senses—whether it’s hearing, vision, or touch—and combined with a “battle-hardened” intuition, Qi Mu had a premonition whenever someone was trying to provoke him.

Without even turning his head, he sidestepped and avoided a punch coming straight at him.

Qi Mu was well-trained, having sparred with Dashan since he was four or five years old, and later studied under a master to practice boxing. Over the years, apart from that one kidnapping incident where he mysteriously fell asleep, he hadn’t faced any real defeat.

Trying to ambush him? Too inexperienced! In the blink of an eye, Qi Mu spun around and retaliated with a punch. His stance was precise, and his punch was solid, delivering a solid blow that gave the attacker a black eye.

“Damn it!” the attacker cursed, retreating in pain.

Qi Mu, recognizing that the voice did not belong to someone familiar, was puzzled about who was targeting him. But when he looked up, he saw a familiar face.

Wang Zhuo.

The middle school student who had to transfer schools after being beaten up by him in the first year.

Qi Mu narrowed his eyes: “Wang Zhuo, what do you mean by that?”

Wang Zhuo loathed him with a seething anger. He had never endured such humiliation in his life—being beaten up by a first-year student and left looking for his teeth. Just thinking about it filled him with hatred for Qi Mu!

The incident had caused quite a stir. Unable to accept it, Wang Zhuo pressured his father to put pressure on the school to expel Qi Mu. But Wang Zhuo didn’t expect to hit a brick wall.

The school contacted Qi Dashan, who was known for his generosity and had donated a teaching building without hesitation. The school dared not casually expel his son.

The school suggested that Qi Dashan and Wang Ruanlin resolve the matter privately, making a big issue into a small one and then resolving it entirely. After understanding the situation, Qi Dashan said, “Let the kids handle their own issues. We adults shouldn’t get involved. Right, Mr. Wang?”

Wang Ruanlin’s mouth twitched. He had no idea his son had gotten into trouble with Qi Dashan’s son. Qi Dashan was notoriously reckless and would confront anyone when provoked. Not only Wang Ruanlin but even his brother-in-law Yin Zhenggong had to give him some leeway.

Wang Ruanlin could only respond, “Yes, we’ll leave the kids’ matters to them.”

Wang Zhuo was stunned. Used to his family’s wealth and power, and his mother’s connections, he had never faced such a setback. He went to his mother to cry, and his father told him, “Do you still have the face to cry? If you can’t handle it, transfer to a different school!”

Wang Zhuo was indignant and still wanted to get back at Qi Mu, but every attempt ended with him being beaten black and blue. Whenever he was beaten up and went to report to the teacher, the teacher would helplessly say, “Just stop provoking him.”

Wang Zhuo felt extremely frustrated. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t handle Qi Mu. In the end, his father, embarrassed by the situation, arranged for him to transfer schools.

Qi Mu’s formidable reputation at school was largely due to Wang Zhuo’s efforts.

Wang Zhuo thought he would never see Qi Mu again, but unexpectedly, today, he came face-to-face with him.

His mother was Yin Zhenggong’s cousin. Although they weren’t blood relatives, they had grown up together, and their relationship was as close as that of real siblings. Wang Ruanlin, leveraging the Yin family’s influence, had done quite well in recent years, which is why Wang Zhuo felt bold and arrogant.

He used to bully even Yin Xiuzhu mercilessly, so he didn’t care much about others.

Seeing Qi Mu today, Wang Zhuo thought this was his territory and planned to teach Qi Mu a good lesson.

With people following him, Wang Zhuo waved his hand and said, “Beat him up, beat him to death. I’ll take the responsibility if anything happens!”

Now in high school, Wang Zhuo had made connections with some rough characters, and his demeanor was even more aggressive. The people following him had no choice but to obey; their fathers relied on Wang Ruanlin, so they were just Wang Zhuo’s lackeys. Even though they didn’t know who Qi Mu was, they had no choice but to follow Wang Zhuo’s orders. Besides, Wang Zhuo had a lot of influence with the Yin family, so even if something went wrong, he could handle it.

With their minds set, they charged forward.

If there were four adults, Qi Mu might have some reservations. But these four little brats, he didn’t take them seriously at all.

Qi Mu said, “Wang Zhuo, you really are a coward.” With that, he tossed aside his jacket and swung his fist forward.

These days, young guys have all taken some sort of interest classes—taekwondo, judo, martial arts. They all know a bit, but flashy moves can’t compare to Qi Mu.

Dominating the park at one, ruling the kindergarten at three, and continuing to dominate all the way—how could an interesting class compare to a man like that?

Did they really think Tyrant Qi was just for show? Qi Dashan was always a practical scholar—either he didn’t learn at all or he learned the real deal.

Seeing four or five boys beaten back, afraid to approach, Wang Zhuo angrily shouted, “You useless trash!” He then grabbed a nearby wooden stick and charged at Qi Mu.

Qi Mu raised his hand to block, glaring at him. “Wang Zhuo, you really never learn.” As his words fell, Qi Mu’s left fist landed squarely on Wang Zhuo’s nose, causing blood to gush out.

Wang Zhuo was stunned that he, with all his people, couldn’t handle a second-year middle school student. He was furious and nearly insane. “You hit me, Qi Mu! How dare you hit me!”

“What about hitting you?” Qi Mu slapped him again. “Didn’t you think about getting beaten when you provoked me?”

Wang Zhuo, in pain, spat out curses, “Fuck your mother, your mother…”

Qi Mu couldn’t stand such foul language. His eyes darkened, and instead of slapping, he started throwing punches.

“…Brother Zhuo, what’s going on?”

Hearing someone, Wang Zhuo quickly said, “Fang Junqi, come over here. If you take this guy down, I’ll go talk to my dad and ask him to guarantee your family!”

Qi Mu froze, his fist hovering in mid-air.

The newcomer was indeed Fang Junqi. Since Qi Mu and Wang Zhuo were in the shadows and Qi Mu was facing away, Fang Junqi could only see Wang Zhuo’s swollen face.

Fang Junqi walked straight over, each step echoing loudly in the night.
Qi Mu stopped and didn’t turn around.

The commotion had already attracted the attention of the security guards in the garden. Experienced as they were, they knew not to interfere directly with such children’s quarrels and instead went to find the parents.

A large group of people arrived, led by Yin Zhenggong.

Yin Xiuzhu followed behind him. Normally calm and composed, his expression froze upon seeing Tyrant Qi, his mouth pressed into a line, and his eyes darkened.

Seeing the adults had arrived, Wang Zhuo immediately started to complain, “Uncle, how could we invite such a person as a guest? He’s really too much. Xiao Fei merely bumped into him, and he beat him up. When I tried to intervene, he even hit me. He’s like a madman!”

Wang Zhuo was a master at playing the victim.

Seeing the situation suddenly change, it was indeed difficult to determine what had actually happened. There were originally four or five people involved in the fight, but most had slipped away. Only Xiao Fei and Wang Zhuo remained, both injured on the ground, while Qi Mu stood unharmed with a wooden stick lying beside him.

Wang Zhuo, seizing the advantage, added, “Fang Junqi saw everything. You can ask him.” He took a deep breath, genuinely in pain.

Everyone’s eyes turned to Fang Junqi, but he avoided looking at either Wang Zhuo or Qi Mu. Calmly, he said, “I arrived just now and didn’t see anything.”

At these words, Wang Zhuo narrowed his eyes, his gaze filled with threat.
Fang Junqi continued, “Although I didn’t see it, there are surveillance cameras here. We can check the footage to find out what happened.”

Wang Zhuo was shocked, and Qi Mu’s lips curled into a smirk. He silently mouthed to Wang Zhuo, “Coward, no brains.”

Wang Zhuo was so enraged he nearly lunged at Qi Mu!

Wang Ruanlin arrived soon after. Seeing the situation, he guessed the likely outcome. Checking the surveillance footage would be disastrous for them! He tried to mediate, saying, “Kids are just playing around and don’t know their limits, so…”

Qi Dashan said, “Mr. Wang is right. Children can be reckless, and it’s best to check the surveillance footage to avoid further complications.”

Wang Ruanlin was left speechless by this.

Yin Zhenggong, knowing Wang Zhuo’s temperament and suspecting he was the instigator, realized that Qi Dashan’s intervention meant he wanted to protect his son. He glared at Wang Zhuo. “Apologize immediately. You’re seventeen or eighteen—do you still have the face to bully a child?”

Wang Zhuo was caught off guard and didn’t know how to respond.

Wang Ruanlin slapped him across the face. “You’re a disgrace. It’s the indulgence from the past that’s made you this way!”

Wang Zhuo, stunned and incredulous, stammered, “Dad, I…”

Wang Ruanlin, fearing further embarrassment, slapped him again.

Qi Mu didn’t even glance at Wang Zhuo. He walked over to Yin Zhenggong and said, “I’m sorry for causing trouble for Uncle Yin.” Turning to his father, he added, “Dad, I want to go home now.”

These two sentences perfectly conveyed both his grievance and his graciousness, making a stark contrast to Wang Zhuo’s attitude.

Yin Zhenggong quickly responded, “Go change your clothes.” He then looked at Yin Xiuzhu. “Take Qi Mu upstairs to get cleaned up.”

Yin Xiuzhu lowered his gaze, hiding his earlier harshness. “Alright.”

Qi Mu, keen not to escalate the situation with Yin Xiuzhu, agreed without hesitation.

After those two left, the crowd dispersed. Yin Zhenggong gave Wang Ruanlin a meaningful look, and Wang Ruanlin apologized profusely to Qi Dashan for the entire evening.

Qi Dashan wasn’t actually angry. He understood the situation well. He knew his son’s abilities and was confident that Qi Mu wouldn’t suffer any real loss. Wang Zhuo was simply looking for trouble.

However, since Qi Mu had been wronged, as a father, Qi Dashan naturally had to seek justice for him.

Putting aside the adult matters, Qi Mu, once the crowd had dispersed, said to Yin Xiuzhu, “It’s nothing. I’ve never lost a fight before.”

Yin Xiuzhu clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms. “I’m sorry.”

Qi Mu’s heart softened immensely. He said, “What does it have to do with you? Don’t take everything onto yourself.”

Yin Xiuzhu suddenly turned his head, his eyes icy and overcast with dark clouds. “In my house, in front of me, within my reach, you were wronged!” His anger was directed at Wang Zhuo, but even more so at himself, at his own inadequacy!

Qi Mu was startled by his expression, his movements flustered. “I—I wasn’t wronged,” he stammered. When had he ever been wronged?

Yin Xiuzhu abruptly grasped his shoulders, his thin lips quivering, his demeanor terrifying.

Qi Mu’s heart tightened, and he quickly said, “Yin Xiuzhu, I…”

“Damn it!” Xu Xiaoming shouted as he ran over, looking Qi Mu up and down. “Brother Mu, are you okay? That bastard Wang Zhuo actually ambushed you!”

His appearance broke the strange atmosphere that had settled earlier. Qi Mu glanced at Yin Xiuzhu and saw that he had calmed down a bit.

Xu Xiaoming was so furious his teeth were grinding. He said to Yin Xiuzhu, “Your cousin is a real piece of work. During the New Year, he was spreading rumors about you at school, and Qi Mu caught him and gave him a beating. Since then, he’s been like a flea, bouncing around endlessly!”

It was too late for Qi Mu to interrupt. “Xu Xiaoming, shut up!”

Xu Xiaoming said this intentionally. He continued, “Yin Xiuzhu, you took a year off from school, and you don’t even know how many fights Brother Mu has been in for you!”

Yin Xiuzhu was stunned. The dark rage and obsession that had surged in him were suddenly suppressed.

He looked at Qi Mu, his eyes reddening. “…What’s going on?”

Qi Mu slapped his forehead in frustration. “Xu Xiaoming, can’t you control your big mouth?”

Xu Xiaoming, unable to contain himself, puffed out his chest and looked like a little rooster. “What’s the big deal? Shouldn’t Yin Xiuzhu know about this?”