C16 Who Dares to Hurt My Woman?

Ye Chen nodded, signaling his understanding.

Had he not been reborn, he would never have grasped the heartache and darkness that plague a large family.

Given his current standing, he wasn't even worthy of treating Su Xueqing's father, much less meeting him.

The sadness etched in Su Xueqing's furrowed brows was evident to Ye Chen.

Her distress weighed on him. "Xueqing, don't worry, I will definitely heal your father," he assured her.

With a year's time ahead, he was confident he could rise to a status on par with Su Xueqing's father.

"Alright, then let's hope your uncle makes a swift recovery."

"Thank you!"

The rest of the night passed without a word.

Come dawn, Ye Chen was jolted awake by an insistent knocking at the door.

"Ye Chen, open up quickly. I know you're in there!"

Trouble.

His landlord was here for the rent.

Ye Chen managed a wry smile.

He was behind on two months' rent for the top-floor apartment he was leasing.

With no other option, he opened the door to find a heavily made-up woman storming in.

She demanded, "Ye Chen, when are you paying the rent? It's been two months. Are you planning to dodge it?"

Ye Chen hastened to explain, "Lan, just give me three more days. I'll pay the rent then, and I'll even add an extra month's rent as compensation. How does that sound?"

Ye Chen had racked his brain for ways to make money.

As someone who had returned from the future, he was privy to countless moneymaking opportunities.

But without capital, it wasn't until he read some books the previous day that he figured out a viable plan.

However, before he could act on it, Lan was already pressing him for the rent.

Her eyes gleamed at the prospect. An extra month's rent was a welcome bonus.

"Really? You just need three days?"

"Cross my heart," Ye Chen affirmed with a nod.

"Fine, I'll give you three more days."

Lan added, "Now, get moving. You don't want to be late for school."

"Goodbye, Lan!"

Shaking his head, Ye Chen headed off to school.

But as soon as he reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw a flurry of clothes and personal belongings being tossed out of his apartment.

Lan pressed against the window and yelled with a snarl, "You're planning to make up for a month's rent? You're such a pauper, you can't even pay five hundred bucks a month without falling two months behind. If I believed you, I'd be a fool!"

"Just get out. Consider those two months' rent as if I've thrown it to the dogs. My luck must be cursed to have ended up with a tenant like you."

"You're such a hopeless case, it's a wonder you haven't been run over by a car. Don't even dream of turning your life around, you're nothing but trash!"

Ye Chen's face turned a steely shade of grey.

But he didn't lose his temper or argue back; he knew he was indeed behind on the rent.

He quietly began to pack his clothes.

Just then, a soft voice reached his ears.

"Do you need my help?"

Ye Chen looked up to see a woman in a white dress standing before him, a gentle smile on her face and eyes that sparkled like stars, as luminous and pure as moonlight.

It was Wei Qianning, the woman he had helped just two days prior.

Ye Chen was taken aback.

"No, I should handle this sort of heavy lifting myself."

"That won't do. Let me help you."

Wei Qianning knelt down and carefully picked up Ye Chen's clothes one by one, neatly organizing them.

Her presence left a trail of sweet fragrance in the air.

The scent was invigorating, setting hearts aflutter.

Lan, watching from above, was quite astonished.

Ye Chen was notoriously impoverished, and she had never seen a girl with him before.

And this girl was not just any girl; she was strikingly beautiful with a remarkable presence. Clearly, she was no ordinary person, and that Porsche parked nearby must belong to her.

"Hmph, Ye Chen, you have such wealthy friends but can't manage to pay the rent? I'll make sure you learn your lesson."

She first called her husband, then stormed down the stairs in a rage.

"Ye Chen, pay up now, or don't blame me for calling the cops on you."

Upon seeing Lan, Wei Qianning's demeanor turned icy.

She couldn't forgive someone who dared to insult the man who had saved her life.

"What's the rent? I'll pay it off for him."

Lan chuckled to herself. That was exactly what she had in mind.

After a brief moment of contemplation, she stated, "He's behind on rent for two months, at five hundred dollars a month. With the late fees for breach of contract, it all adds up to two thousand dollars."

Ye Chen furrowed his brows and retorted icily, "That's extortion. I have a five hundred dollar security deposit with you, which I haven't claimed. That should cover the breach of contract fee. How can you have the gall to demand such an outrageous sum?"

"Quit your yapping. If you don't cough up the cash, I'm calling the cops to haul you away."

"Fine, it's just two thousand dollars."

Wei Qianning pulled out a wad of cash from her purse, which seemed to be in the ballpark of four to five thousand dollars.

"Is this enough?"

Without a second thought, Wei Qianning flung the money right into Lan's face.

Lan's face flushed with the impact, but the sight of the money calmed her fury, though she had no intention of returning the surplus.

"Now that you've taken the money, isn't it time we discuss the matter of you insulting Ye Chen?"

Wei Qianning stood with her hands on her hips, a stark contrast to her previous demure demeanor.

"Insult him? That's just the way he is..."

Wei Qianning swiftly delivered a slap to Lan's cheek.

"Say that one more time?"

"You dare to strike me?" Lan was incredulous.

"What if I do? You had the nerve to insult Ye Chen. Do you think I can't make you vanish from Jianghai?"

Wei Qianning gestured dismissively, and a sleek black Mercedes-Benz rolled up behind her. Several imposing men in black suits stepped out.

"Miss, what do you need?"

"Beat her until she apologizes!"

The men in black didn't hesitate and began their assault, showing no leniency despite Lan being a woman. After several blows, Lan's head was bloody.

She continued to wail, yet her defiance remained. "Apologize to that pauper Ye Chen? Not a chance. Just you wait until my husband arrives. I'll make sure none of you have a place to be buried."

"Oh, you think you can threaten me? There aren't many in Jianghai who would dare. I'll wait right here. If I don't make your boyfriend kneel, then I'll take your last name."

Domineering.

Mighty.

Ye Chen couldn't help but glance sideways. Wei Qianning, with her refined and elegant demeanor, radiated intelligence and grace. Yet, beneath that exterior, she was unexpectedly fierce.

Even he, a man, felt humbled by her strength.

"Ye Chen, do you feel better now?"

Wei Qianning turned to him, her expression transforming into one of tenderness as she spoke to Ye Chen.

"Uh..."

Ye Chen gave a wry smile. He hadn't intended to seek revenge on Lan. After all, with his skills in martial arts, not just one Lan, but even ten wouldn't stand a chance against him.

"Let's just let this go."

"No way. She insulted you, which means she insulted me. I have to make them pay."

Wei Qianning brandished her tiny fist, looking utterly adorable.

She was a far cry from the formidable presence she had just been.

They say a woman's heart is inscrutable, and her face ever-changing. Ye Chen had come to understand this all too well.

Before long, several Land Rovers pulled up at the entrance of the community.

A man with a menacing aura stepped out.

"I'm Yan De. Who the hell dares to harm my woman?"