48: Chapter 48 Enemies meet on a narrow road; since your mouth is so foul, let me help you clean it up.

"Chanyue" Seafood Hot Pot, on the top floor of Vientiane City.

This was one of the most expensive hot pot restaurants in Jiangcheng. The soup base alone cost three figures, and the waiters were dressed more professionally than flight attendants.

Qin Ya walked into the lobby, arm-in-arm with Su Muyang, drawing glances from many. With her JK pleated skirt and twin tails, she looked as youthful as if she had stepped out of a manga. Su Muyang, despite wearing a simple T-shirt and cargo pants, had a cold, imposing aura—the kind that forbade strangers from approaching—that had emerged after he washed away his previous decadence.

"Two, please come this way." The waiter led them to a window seat with a view.

As soon as they sat down, Qin Ya started tapping away on the tablet: "Two orders of Australian M9 Wagyu beef, sashimi for the geoduck, and this East Star Grouper, live-killed..."

Su Muyang leaned back against the leather sofa, watching the river view outside the window without a word.

In the past, whenever he passed by this place, even looking up at the sign felt like a luxury. Now, sitting here and looking at the four-figure prices on the menu, he felt completely calm.

The black card in his pocket gave him unprecedented confidence.

"Teacher Su, is this enough? If not, we can order more." Qin Ya handed him the tablet with a grin.

"It's enough. It would be a waste if we can't finish it." Su Muyang replied indifferently.

Just then, a sharp female voice suddenly rang out in the aisle, filled with undisguised surprise and mockery.

"Yo, isn't this Su Muyang?"

Su Muyang's hand, holding the water glass, paused. He would recognize this voice even if it were reduced to ashes.

He slowly turned his head.

In the aisle, Qian Li was standing there, arm-in-arm with Wang Hao. She was wearing a white tight-fitting dress today, still carrying that Chanel Hobo bag, looking as if she wanted to hold it up to her chest for everyone to see.

Beside her, Wang Hao was wearing a floral shirt with a thick gold chain around his neck. His face was flushed red, clearly from having drunk quite a bit, and he was squinting at Su Muyang with the look one might give trash.

"What bad luck, running into a beggar while trying to eat." Wang Hao burped, his voice loud enough that guests at nearby tables frowned.

Su Muyang ignored him, calmly withdrawing his gaze and taking a sip of his lemon water.

This dismissive attitude completely infuriated Qian Li.

Especially when she saw Qin Ya sitting opposite Su Muyang, the jealousy welled up inside her instantly.

Qin Ya was too young, her skin so tender it could almost be pinched to extract water. Although her JK uniform looked like a student outfit, Qian Li knew her brands; she recognized at a glance that the watch on Qin Ya's wrist was a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. This single watch could buy ten of her Chanel bags.

How is this possible?

This poor wretch had just been dumped by her, and now he had hooked up with a rich girl of this caliber?

"Heh, so that's how you have money to eat in a place like this." Qian Li let go of Wang Hao, took two steps over in her high heels, crossed her arms, and said in a snide tone, "So you've latched onto a rich woman. Su Muyang, you're something else. You used to act so high and mighty, but it turns out you're just a gigolo?"

Qin Ya was in the middle of picking up some edamame to eat. Hearing this, she slammed her chopsticks onto the table with a loud clack.

"Hey, lady, who are you? Did you forget to brush your teeth before coming out?" Qin Ya rolled her eyes, her combat effectiveness instantly maxed out. "Your mouth is so foul, it's ruining my meat."

"Who are you calling a lady?!" Qian Li was so angry the powder on her face was about to fall off. "Little girl, I advise you to open your eyes. This man is dirt poor; even the money for hotel rooms used to be paid by me. Be careful not to get swindled of your money and virtue by him!"

"None of your business!" Qin Ya stood up, her imperious attitude flaring up. "This young lady is happy to spend money on him. I have money to burn, so what? It's better than some cheap goods who would sell themselves for a bag!"

This sentence hit exactly on Qian Li's sore spot.

"You little brat..." Qian Li raised her hand, ready to rush over.

Wang Hao grabbed Qian Li, but not to break up the fight—he wanted to show off.

He looked Su Muyang up and down, emboldened by the alcohol, his sense of superiority exploding. He had no idea about Su Muyang's current background; in his eyes, he was still that poor student handing out flyers.

"Alright, Lili, why get angry with a person like this." Wang Hao pulled a stack of red bills from his wallet, probably one or two thousand yuan, and tossed them directly onto Su Muyang's table.

Slap!

The bills scattered, some falling into the hot pot broth, splashing a few drops of red oil.

"Su Muyang, take the money and get lost with your little rich girl." Wang Hao pointed to the door, his nose in the air. "I've taken a liking to this spot. Don't push your luck. It was your good fortune that I didn't finish you off last time. Today, I'm in a good mood, so I don't want to get physical."

Su Muyang looked at the oil-stained bills on the table, then looked up at Wang Hao's arrogant face.

In that instant, the smell of blood from that night at the food stall seemed to rise up his throat again.

Endure?

Screw enduring!

Su Muyang stood up abruptly, moving as fast as a cheetah. Without a word, he grabbed the heavy ceramic plate from the table, swung his arm, and smashed it directly onto Wang Hao's face.

Crack!!!

This crisp sound was a hundred times louder than the sound of the money being thrown earlier.

The ceramic plate shattered.

"Ah—!" Wang Hao screamed, covering his face as he stumbled back a few steps, blood flowing out between his fingers.

"You think you're something, huh?" Su Muyang stepped over the chair, grabbed Wang Hao by the collar of his floral shirt, and slammed his knee hard into his stomach.

Wang Hao doubled over in pain like a shrimp, nearly vomiting the food and drink he had just consumed.

"You have money, right? You want me to get lost, right?"

Su Muyang's eyes were red as he punched Wang Hao in the eye socket.

Bang!

"This punch is for the idiot Su Muyang from before!"

Bang!

Another punch, smashing into Wang Hao's nose bridge.

"This punch is for the three years of youth that were fed to the dogs!"

Wang Hao was stunned. He never expected this usually timid poor student to be so ruthless and fearless when fighting. He wanted to fight back, but Su Muyang gave him no chance. He pressed him against the nearby service station, grabbed a bottle of freshly opened red wine, and was about to smash it over his head.

"Ah! Murder!" Qian Li screamed and rushed over, trying to claw at Su Muyang's face.

"Get lost!"

Before Su Muyang could even act, Qin Ya, who had been unable to hold back, had already intervened.

She grabbed Qian Li's long hair and pulled it back hard.

"I've been wanting to hit you for a while!" Qin Ya was also a tough character. Although she wasn't very strong, she was agile. She kicked Qian Li in the shin, and while Qian Li was bent over in pain, she backhanded her across the face.

Slap!

This slap was crisp and satisfying.

"That's for your foul mouth! That's for bullying Teacher Su!"

The entire hot pot restaurant descended into chaos.

Diners screamed and scrambled to avoid the fight, waiters were too scared to step forward, and the manager was frantically shouting for security over the walkie-talkie.

A few minutes later, sirens sounded downstairs.

Several police officers rushed into the restaurant and separated the four people who were tangled up in a fight.

Wang Hao was covered in blood, moaning on the floor. Qian Li's hair was a mess, a bright red palm print on her face, and she was crying so hard her makeup was ruined.

Su Muyang was panting, his T-shirt collar ripped, his knuckles covered in blood, but his eyes were terrifyingly bright. He didn't run, nor did he resist, allowing the police officers to put handcuffs on him.

"Take them away! Take them all away!" The lead officer shouted with a dark face.

...

In the police car.

Su Muyang and Qin Ya were shoved into the back row, separated by a wire mesh.

Compared to Qian Li in the front row, who was crying and complaining about how she would "sue them to death," the atmosphere in the back row was eerily quiet.

Su Muyang leaned against the backrest, watching the streetscape receding outside the window, his mood surprisingly calm. After this fight, the pent-up frustration he had felt for so long was finally vented.

Even if he had to go to jail, he accepted it.

"Teacher Su..."

A weak voice came from the side.

Su Muyang turned his head.

Qin Ya's hair was disheveled, one of her originally exquisite twin tails had come undone, and there was a bruise on the corner of her mouth. But her big eyes were staring fixedly at Su Muyang, shining with a light bordering on worship.

Like a little fan girl seeing her idol.

"You were... so cool just now." Qin Ya lowered her voice, her little face flushed with excitement. "Especially when you smashed that plate down, you were like a War God possessed! That was so satisfying!"

Su Muyang looked at her helplessly. "We're about to go to the station, and you can still laugh?"

"What's there to be afraid of!" Qin Ya scoffed nonchalantly, leaning closer to him. "I just texted my dad. Even though he's a miser, even if I poke a hole in the sky, he has to come and fix it. Besides..."

She looked at the injury on Su Muyang's hand, her expression suddenly turning gentle.

"This is our 'battle honor,' it was worth it."

Su Muyang was stunned for a moment, then the corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile.

Yeah, it was worth it.

Just wonder, if that cheapskate old man finds out about this, will he cut off his black card?

Thinking of this, Su Muyang shook his head self-deprecatingly.

Let him.

At worst, he'd go back to delivering food.

Anyway, the feeling of stepping on scum like this was something money couldn't buy.