174: Chapter 174 Beasts and Gentlemen

Under the covers, Wang Fugui was sleeping soundly.

He felt as if he had returned to the winters of his childhood in his rural hometown; heavy snow fell outside while he lay on a warm earthen kang. Suddenly, a frozen kitten burrowed into his arms, its body icy cold and shivering incessantly.

He instinctively tightened his arms, wanting to use his own body heat to warm the poor little thing.

But the sensation from his arms wasn't that of a furry cat, but a soft and cold body. That body trembled violently, like the last lonely leaf in the autumn wind.

Wang Fugui woke up instantly.

He opened his eyes, and under the dim light, he saw Lin Xiaocao huddled in his arms like a frightened child. Her small face was buried in his chest, her shoulders twitching as she gripped his clothes tightly.

He could clearly feel Little Grass's body trembling, and it was shaking so violently that it seemed to be a fear originating from the depths of her soul.

"Little Grass, what's wrong?" His voice was somewhat raspy, carrying the lethargy of someone who had just woken up.

Lin Xiaocao didn't answer; she only buried her head deeper and held him tighter.

Wang Fugui frowned and looked toward the door. Chen Yun was standing there with a solemn expression, making a shushing gesture at him.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Outside the door, that unhurried knocking sounded again—three times, as precise as if measured with a ruler.

Wang Fugui understood; it was the person outside who had frightened Little Grass.

A surge of nameless anger flared up from the bottom of his heart. Who the hell dared to bully his sister?

Feeling Little Grass trembling in his arms, his protective instinct instantly exploded. He gently patted her back, then carefully moved her behind him, using his mountain-like, broad body to shield her completely.

Having done all this, he threw off the quilt and got out of bed shirtless.

He wasn't wearing a shirt; his bronze skin gleamed with a healthy luster under the light, and the explosive muscle lines of his upper body were filled with a sense of primal power. He didn't even think about putting on clothes, walking to the door with large strides while bare-chested.

Chen Yun wanted to stop him, but was halted by a single look from him.

That gaze lacked its usual honesty and docility, replaced by the coldness and violence of a beast whose territory had been invaded.

*Clatter—*

Wang Fugui unlatched the bolt and yanked the door open.

Outside, the gray-haired butler, Uncle Fu, was about to knock for the fourth time when the door suddenly swung open. A scorching wave of heat, mixed with sweat and male hormones, rushed toward him.

Uncle Fu was a veteran who had seen countless grand scenes and had long ago mastered the ability to remain unfazed even if Mount Tai collapsed before him. Yet, the moment Wang Fugui opened the door, a crack appeared in his normally tranquil state of mind.

The man before him was too tall, too sturdy.

He was like a wall—a breathing wall constructed of pure muscle and power—instantly filling the entire doorway. His bare upper body, under the dim hallway lights, gave off an intense sense of visual oppression.

But what truly made Uncle Fu's heart chill wasn't the man's physique, but the aura he emitted.

It wasn't the aura of an ordinary person; it was the kind of aura... only a top-tier predator possessed. It was full of aggression and wildness, as if he would bare his fangs and tear any intruder to pieces the next second.

The four black-clad bodyguards behind Uncle Fu were all experts retired from special forces. They had blood on their hands and possessed extremely strong psychological resilience. However, upon feeling this "masculine oppression" rushing at them, their bodies instinctively made the most honest reaction.

Almost simultaneously, the four of them uncontrollably took half a step back.

They felt their breathing become difficult, their legs grew weak, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on their palms. This was a pressure from the very top of the biological chain, a fear etched into their genes that was impossible to resist with willpower alone.

They felt as if they were facing not a human, but a lethally enraged brown bear that had just been startled awake from its slumber.

Uncle Fu's pupils contracted slightly. He suppressed the tremor in his heart and maintained a facade of composure. He glanced behind Wang Fugui at the figure shivering under the covers and understood.

It seemed the Eldest Miss had been captivated by this "savage."

He cleared his throat, flashed an impeccable, butler-like smile, took out a beautifully crafted gold-stamped business card from his breast pocket, and handed it over.

"Hello, sir. We mean no harm. My name is Fu An, and I am the butler of the Lin family."

Wang Fugui didn't look at the business card at all. His eyes were fixed on Uncle Fu, like a beast protecting its young, staring at a jackal trying to approach.

"Get out."

One word—simple, direct, and devoid of any emotion.

The smile on Uncle Fu's face stiffened for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. In his entire life, he had never been spoken to in such a tone.

Ignoring Wang Fugui's rudeness, he looked past him toward Lin Xiaocao. His voice rose slightly, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Eldest Miss, you've had your fun. It's time to go home. The Old Master's health hasn't been very good lately."

He didn't lift a finger, nor did he even say a harsh word, but every word was like a hammer pounding heavily on Lin Xiaocao's heart.

The words "go home" made Lin Xiaocao shiver even more violently under the covers.

Feeling the movement behind him, the fire of anger in Wang Fugui's eyes burned even brighter. He took a step forward, and the invisible pressure instantly surged.

The faces of the four bodyguards behind Uncle Fu changed drastically, and one of them even instinctively reached for his lower back.

"Don't move!" Uncle Fu barked, stopping his subordinate's action. He knew that if they started a fight, no one would leave this hallway in one piece today. The man before him was an unreasonable monster.

Uncle Fu withdrew his business card, took a deep look at Wang Fugui, and then at the well-protected figure behind him, before finally choosing to back down.

"We will be back."

With that, he bowed slightly and, accompanied by the four cold-faced bodyguards, turned and walked steadily down the stairs.

Only when their footsteps had completely faded did the terrifying aura surrounding Wang Fugui slowly recede.

He turned around, closed the door, and walked to the bedside.

"Little Grass, it's okay. I'm here." He reached out his large hand, wanting to pat her head.

Only then did Lin Xiaocao poke her head out from the covers, her small face pale, her eyes red and swollen with tear stains. Looking at Wang Fugui, she burst into tears with a "waa," throwing herself into his arms and crying as if her heart were breaking.