C3 He Didn't Believe It!

Outside the hotel, Lin Xiaoyue, freshly released by Qin Dongfang, swung her hand up to strike his face.

But as her hand lifted, her wrist was swiftly caught. "You're trying to hit me?"

Lin Xiaoyue struggled to free herself, only to realize she was utterly powerless.

Flushed with embarrassment, she could do nothing but grit her teeth and angrily lash out at Qin Dongfang. "You jerk! Who do you think you are? Let go of me this instant!"

Qin Dongfang, unfazed by her tirade, simply smiled and released her. "I'm here to help you."

Lin Xiaoyue scoffed. "You? And just how do you plan to help me? Do you have any idea who you just struck? He has the power to obliterate Lin's Group and the entire Lin family with just one word! And you, clueless as you are, dare to spout such nonsense to me?"

Qin Dongfang remained serene, his tone earnest. "My name is Qin Dongfang. You might want to check with Bingfeng."

At the mention of Bingfeng, Lin Xiaoyue's demeanor shifted. She was well aware of who Bingfeng was—the bodyguard assigned to her by her father's company. But this pale-faced man before her, paler even than herself, a bodyguard too?

She couldn't hide her skepticism, her voice dripping with contempt. "You? Protect me?"

Qin Dongfang simply nodded. "I can resolve this forced marriage situation for you by summer."

Lin Xiaoyue's snort was dismissive. "And how do you propose to do that? By having me marry you?"

Qin Dongfang paused, caught off guard. "I can have this issue resolved within two days."

Lin Xiaoyue regarded him as if he were delusional. "The Xia family is the leading powerhouse in C City. You plan to take them on? No offense, but if you could actually handle the Xia family's issue, I'd marry you myself."

Clearly, Lin Xiaoyue didn't believe a word.

"Director Lin! Are you okay?" Before Qin Dongfang could respond, Lin Xiaoyue's assistant arrived with a team of bodyguards in tow.

"I'm fine! This man just got me out of a tight spot. Give him ten thousand yuan for his trouble," Lin Xiaoyue called out, then turned on her heel and walked away.

Watching her drive away, Qin Dongfang could only shake his head in resignation. Turning to his assistant, who was scrambling to find money, he wondered silently about the need for it.

By the time the assistant produced the cash, the person in question had vanished. Under the shade of a roadside tree, Qin Dongfang pulled out his phone and made a call. "This is Qin Dongfang. I've arranged a new banquet for Lin Xiaoyue, President of the Lin's Group in C City, at the Grand Banquet Hotel."

No sooner had Qin Dongfang ended the call than a fleet of cars screeched to a halt before him. A moment later, a swarm of men in black burst from the vehicles, encircling him.

A short distance away, a car window slid down, revealing an icy countenance. The ringleader of the group surrounding Qin Dongfang rushed over and reported with deference, "Second Young Master, this is the troublemaker from the hotel."

The young man with the frosty expression replied without warmth, "If you're certain it's him, then spare me the details. Break his legs and deliver him to Young Master Xia for his reward."

Without further ado, the man turned and ordered the encircling crowd, "Break this punk's legs and take him to Young Master Xia!"

At his command, the mob around Qin Dongfang erupted into action, closing in menacingly.

The young man with the cold demeanor rolled up his window, reclined in his seat, and shut his eyes, indifferent to the impending violence.

Lee Erxi, the premier broker in C City's business circles, would never miss a chance to curry favor with the city's elite. Learning that someone had disrupted Lin Xiaoyue's event and incurred the wrath of Xia Xianfeng, the foremost of the Four Young Masters of C City, he had swiftly mobilized his forces.

He had stumbled upon a golden opportunity. Winning Young Master Xia's favor could catapult him to new heights.

After a brief pause, during which no cries for mercy were heard, Lee Erxi opened his eyes in bewilderment. "What's the holdup? Why haven't you made your move yet..."

As Lee Erxi's gaze fell upon Qin Dongfang, who had at some point leaned casually against the car door, his pupils constricted sharply. The words he'd been about to utter were choked back, unspoken.

His eyes widened with shock and panic at the sight of his fallen men scattered outside the vehicle. "Kid! I'm the Lee family's young master from C City. You dare mess with me?"

From his elevated position, Qin Dongfang looked down at Lee Erxi, whose bravado was clearly a thin veneer over his timidity. "The Lee family of C City is supposed to be impressive? Follow me again, and you'll face the consequences!"

It wasn't until Qin Dongfang had vanished from view that Lee Erxi, unable to contain himself, swallowed hard and shakily wiped the cold sweat from his brow.

The intensity of that man's gaze had struck a deep chord of fear and disquiet in him. Lee Erxi was certain—if Qin Dongfang had wanted them dead, not one of them would have been spared.

"Hey! Anyone from the Lee family seen a pretty boy around?" A figure abruptly materialized beside the car, startling Lee Erxi.

Recognizing the newcomer as one of Xia Xianfeng's underlings, Lee Erxi let out a silent breath of relief. His own crew might not have been a match, but that didn't mean the Xia family's fighters couldn't handle the situation.

Gathering his wits, Lee Erxi quickly pointed in the direction Qin Dongfang had gone. "He just beat up my guys and headed that way!"

The man sneered, calling him useless, and then led his group in a swift pursuit.

"Freeze!"

"Kid, see if you can run now!"

The shouts from behind caused Qin Dongfang to furrow his brow.

Annoyed, he turned to face the dozens of men charging at him with clubs in hand. A flicker of lethal intent crossed his eyes.

If they wouldn't learn their lesson, he'd have to instill it the hard way.

Before the mob could close in, Qin Dongfang propelled himself forward with a forceful stomp, launching like a projectile.

"Thud! Thud! Thud..."

In under ten seconds, the once menacing crowd lay defeated on the ground.

Some cradled their arms, others clutched their legs, all crying out in pain with a chorus of groans and moans.

"Ah! My arm, it's broken! It's broken!"

"And my leg..."

Qin Dongfang withdrew his hand, remaining serene, his breathing steady and unchanged. He cast a cold glance at the man groaning before him and said icily, "Go tell your Lee family's young master that if there's a next time, the consequences will be far worse than a broken arm or leg."

As he walked away, leaving that chilling warning behind, the Xia family's enforcers sprawled on the ground came to a realization. It wasn't that the Lee family's men were incompetent; it was that this man's power was freakishly overwhelming.

What normal person could do what he did?

Not only had he fractured their limbs in mere moments, but he hadn't even broken a sweat.

Clearly, this man was a master.

The ringleader, cradling his fractured arm, grimaced and ordered, "Quick, inform Young Master Xia that this kid might be a martial artist. We're no match for him!"

A sleek, understated luxury sedan rolled by Qin Dongfang and came to a halt ahead. The car door swung open, and a crisply dressed middle-aged man stepped out. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of Qin Dongfang, and though uncertain, he inquired respectfully, "Pardon the intrusion, but might I ask if you are Mr. Qin?"

Qin Dongfang gave him a glance. "You're the head of the South Group's branch here in C City?"

Upon the question, the middle-aged man bowed deeply, replying with deference, "Zhang Guoyuan, manager of the South Group's C City branch, at your service, Ultimate Lord."

Qin Dongfang nodded. "You're quite prompt. There's no need for formalities like 'Ultimate Lord' in the mundane world."

Zhang Guoyuan immediately responded, "Per the directives of our headquarters, the C City branch will comply with all your instructions."