148: Potential

Chen Shimei slammed his phone onto the sofa. That bitch Zhong Lili clearly had her eyes on Chen Li's money, which was why she was so determined to cut ties with him.

He paced around the room, gnashing his teeth, growing angrier the more he thought about it.

This time, he deliberately spread word that he was going to make things difficult for Chen Li and the others, and he even specifically had someone relay the message to Zhong Hao.

His intention was clear: if these few people were scared and didn't dare to attend the gathering, their reputation would be ruined.

Chen Li and the others would be so intimidated by Chen Shimei's words that they wouldn't even dare to show their faces.

By then, they would become genuine cowards and spineless wimps in the eyes of all their classmates.

With that reputation spreading, he wondered how they would ever be able to hold their heads high again.

Let Zhong Lili see how useless the man she chose was—after all, Zhong Lili hated spineless cowards the most.

But if they actually dared to come... Chen Shimei sneered, then he had already prepared a backup plan.

In the territory of GaoCheng County, Chen Shimei had been around for so many years and knew quite a few gang leaders.

Today, upon learning that Chen Li and the others actually dared to attend the gathering, he immediately flew into a rage—these guys clearly didn't take his threats seriously.

“It seems if I don't give you a taste of your own medicine, you'll really think Chen Shimei is a pushover,” he muttered to himself, his eyes sinister.

He picked up his phone again and dialed a number saved as 'Huo Tou'.

“Brother Huo Tou, it's me, Shimei.”

A hoarse voice came from the other end of the phone: “Shimei, what's up?”

“I'd like to ask Brother Huo Tou for a favor, to deal with a classmate for me, tomorrow night at The Beach...”

Chen Shimei repeated the specific time and place, finally emphasizing: “He's just an ordinary student, no background.”

Brother Huo Tou exhaled a puff of smoke on the other end of the phone: “That's a small matter, but the brothers are coming a long way, so travel expenses and hard work fees should be compensated, right?”

Chen Shimei was prepared: “Of course, I'll give ten thousand, for the brothers to have some tea.”

Brother Huo Tou scoffed: “Prices are rising fast these days, let's make it fifteen thousand. Good tea isn't cheap nowadays.”

Chen Shimei gritted his teeth: “Alright, fifteen thousand it is. That student is called Chen Li, and this is how you'll do it...”

He lowered his voice, detailing every aspect of the plan.

After hanging up, a cold smile appeared on Chen Shimei's face.

He walked to the window, gazing at the familiar streetscape of the county town, a surge of triumphant control rising within him.

Chen Li, Chen Li, do you think being richer than me makes you great?

In the territory of Gao Cheng County, you still can't compare to Chen Shimei in terms of connections.

Thinking of the good show about to unfold, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curved upwards.

Huo Tou's gang would give Chen Li a thorough beating, making him lose face in front of all his classmates.

Once Chen Li was almost beaten senseless, he would then step in, righteously mediating the situation.

By then, in everyone's eyes, Chen Shimei would be the gentleman who repaid evil with good.

He could almost see Zhong Lili's adoring gaze, and all his classmates would praise his magnanimity and willingness to let bygones be bygones.

This perfect plan put him in a great mood; the fifteen thousand was well spent.

He sneered, muttering to himself: “Just you wait, Chen Li, tomorrow night, you'll get what's coming to you...” The pale golden morning sun spilled into the courtyard, bringing a gentle warmth.

In the spacious courtyard, Chen Li was concentrating on practicing his boxing, his punches swift, his side kicks fierce. Every movement was fluid and powerful, carving clean arcs in the morning light.

This had become his unshakable habit.

Every morning after waking up, he would practice in the courtyard for an hour.

Each time he finished a set of punches, not only did he not feel tired, but he felt completely refreshed, as if every cell had been awakened, leaving him energetic all day.

In the kitchen, Liu Nansheng was preparing breakfast, but couldn't help but glance through the window at the figure in the courtyard.

The eggs sizzled in the pan, but she often found herself lost in watching him.

She found Chen Li's boxing practice especially captivating; that sense of focus and power made her unable to look away.

“My man is good at everything,” she thought sweetly, a smile unconsciously curving her lips.

Recalling the wild scenes from the night before, with bedsheets changed again and again, two red clouds immediately flew to her cheeks.

Chen Li's vigor in that aspect made her both love and fear him.

Each time, he would lead her to experience that extreme pleasure, like a roller coaster ride, leaving her utterly intoxicated.

But as a girl, she simply couldn't keep up with his boundless energy, always having to cling to him and beg for mercy to make him stop.

Seeing Chen Li always stopping considerately even when he hadn't fully indulged, she always felt a little guilty.

With Chen Li's physique and stamina, she presumed he would surely have more than just her as a woman in the future.

She had already figured it out; she didn't aspire to have Chen Li all to herself.

As long as she could hold onto her own little corner in the Villa in the city and in this home, that would be enough.

If he had other women by his side later, she could accept it.

As long as he still thought of her, occasionally came to accompany her, and gave her some tenderness, she would be content.

She truly loved him, and thus couldn't bear to see him suppress his desires every night before sleeping.

On several nights, after their passionate encounters, she would nestle against his sweaty chest, listening to his still-unsettled breathing,

and softly say: “If you're really uncomfortable... you can find others.”

Each time Chen Li heard this, he would only pull her closer into his embrace, laugh softly, and say nothing.

Liu Nansheng placed the fried eggs onto a plate and glanced out the window again.

In the morning light, Chen Li had just finished his movements, fine beads of sweat on his forehead, looking as if he glowed in the sun.

She sighed softly, a sigh filled with sweetness, yet also a hint of unspeakable melancholy.

“Chen Li, breakfast is ready,” Liu Nansheng collected her thoughts and called out towards the courtyard.

After showering, Chen Li stood before the mirror, his gaze falling upon his physique.

His muscle definition was becoming increasingly clear; overall, he didn't look bulky, but very well-proportioned.

He instinctively clenched his fists, feeling the abundant power surging through his arms.

This visibly rapid progress even surprised himself.

The results others achieved by sweating profusely for half a day in the gym, he could easily surpass with just one hour of morning exercise each day.

It seemed the system not only granted initial martial prowess but also a continuous evolutionary potential, keeping his body in an optimal growth state at all times.

The table was laden with the breakfast Liu Nansheng had meticulously prepared—pan-fried steak, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, golden fried eggs, a green vegetable dish,

a large bowl of seafood noodles, and steaming hot milk. The rich aroma made his stomach rumble uncontrollably.

Since he started the system training, his appetite had noticeably increased.

Now he specifically asked Liu Nansheng to prepare more for each meal, otherwise, he wouldn't be full.

“Eat slowly, no one's going to snatch it from you.”

Liu Nansheng rested her chin on her hand, watching Chen Li devour his food, her eyes full of tenderness.

She found Chen Li particularly focused when eating, like a big boy, and this made him seem especially adorable to her.

“Oh, by the way, He Min and two other sisters said they'd come over to our place to play in a bit. Tonight, we'll eat at the restaurant you booked for the gathering.”

Chen Li swallowed his food: “Great, then you can all come with us to the barbecue. The more people, the livelier it is.”