"Zhou Hong, you're back," a man's voice called out as he entered.
It was Qin Mengxue's father, Qin Changhui. He hadn't returned to his company after leaving at noon and had come straight home.
Although Qin Changhui disliked Zhou Hong staying at their home, Zhou Hong was shamelessly persistent, forcing him to accept the situation.
For the past month, he, his wife, and their daughter had been arguing daily because of Zhou Hong.
"Mhm, Dad! I'm back," Zhou Hong replied openly, acting as if he belonged.
"Go wash up quickly, dinner will be soon," Qin Changhui said with a hint of resignation.
"Okay, hmm, where's my wife?" Zhou Hong asked, not seeing Qin Mengxue.
Qin Changhui was drinking tea in the courtyard. Hearing Zhou Hong say "my wife," he almost choked on his tea. Qin Changhui couldn't help but admire Zhou Hong's thick skin, which he felt even the city walls couldn't describe. Fortunately, his wife hadn't returned yet, or she would likely have scolded him again upon hearing Zhou Hong call Mengxue his wife.
"Well, Mengxue is probably still at university. She doesn't always stay at home; sometimes she stays at the dorm," Qin Changhui said.
Just then, something vibrated in Zhou Hong's pocket.
He pulled out his phone. Liu Hua had specifically taught him how to use it that afternoon.
On the screen, a call from someone named 'Qin Mengxue' appeared.
"Haha, Dad, Mengxue is calling me," Zhou Hong said, immediately answering.
"Hello, wife," Zhou Hong exclaimed sweetly.
On the other end of the line, Qin Mengxue heard Zhou Hong call her wife and felt a surge of anger and frustration. Her three best friends beside her shivered with goosebumps, disgusted but not vomiting.
"Zhou Hong, come to Huangting KTV right now. We're going out to sing tonight," Qin Mengxue said into the phone.
"Inviting me out to sing?" Zhou Hong was a little surprised. Had his 'treatment' of her at noon been effective? She even brought her husband along to sing?
"Sure, wife, but I can't find the place you're talking about," Zhou Hong said. He could only take a taxi from work to home; finding other places wasn't so easy.
"Wait for me at the community entrance. I'll come pick you up," Qin Mengxue said, hanging up immediately, not wanting to say another word.
Qin Changhui asked, looking somewhat puzzled, "Mengxue invited you to sing?"
"Yes, Dad, I'll go wait at the community entrance now. She'll drive over to pick me up," Zhou Hong said, happily turning and walking out of the villa.
Qin Changhui looked bewildered but didn't dwell on it.
Zhou Hong waited at the community entrance for over ten minutes before an Audi TT drove up. It was Qin Mengxue's car.
Qin Mengxue stopped by the roadside and saw Zhou Hong at the community entrance.
"Zhou Hong, you forced me to do this. You wait for me tonight," Qin Mengxue said to herself.
Qin Mengxue hoped that after her friend Xiao Jie's boyfriend beat up Zhou Hong tonight, Zhou Hong would leave voluntarily. If he left on his own, then her father wouldn't break his promise, and there would be nothing to say.
Zhou Hong immediately got into Qin Mengxue's car.
"Wife, our car is so luxurious," Zhou Hong said, stroking the high-quality leather seats with a smile.
"Ugh!" Qin Mengxue felt nauseous and cursed inwardly, *Who's your wife? I've never seen someone so shameless.*
However, to coax Zhou Hong into coming to the KTV, she had to endure it for now.
Soon, they arrived at the KTV.
Qin Mengxue led Zhou Hong directly to a luxurious private room.
Upon entering, they found three girls and a man with a small goatee sitting inside.
The three girls were Qin Mengxue's best friends: Qiao Xiaoyu, Jian Xiaojie, and An Ran. The man with the goatee was Jian Xiaojie's boyfriend, Zhu Dashan.
Zhu Dashan was not a university student; he was already working. He was currently training at a Muay Thai gym and was said to have achieved some success. His girlfriend had asked him for help today, and he was naturally very willing. For something like a toad trying to eat swan meat, even a stranger would intervene. No one wanted to see a beauty paired with a brute.
At this moment, the man named Zhu Dashan immediately walked towards Zhou Hong. He patted Zhou Hong's shoulder and then asked Qin Mengxue, "To what extent should I go?"
Qin Mengxue replied, "You decide. Xiao Jie has already told you the details."
"Understood."
Zhou Hong had just entered the room and hadn't fully comprehended the situation. He asked, looking confused, "What's going on?"
"Nothing, brother, let's go to the restroom outside to talk," Zhu Dashan said, putting his arm around Zhou Hong's shoulder and leading him out.
Zhou Hong, still bewildered, followed Zhu Dashan to the public restroom of the KTV.
Meanwhile, in the private room, Xiao Jie patted Qin Mengxue reassuringly, "Mengxue, it's okay. After tonight, you'll never see this person again. My boyfriend is a Muay Thai expert, he'll make that scumbag regret knowing you."
Qin Mengxue nodded happily.
Zhou Hong followed Zhu Dashan into the public restroom.
Zhou Hong thought Zhu Dashan had something important to tell him. However, Zhu Dashan suddenly threw a punch towards Zhou Hong's abdomen.
Unfortunately for Zhou Hong, it was like child's play.
Zhou Hong instantly grabbed Zhu Dashan's incoming fist.
Zhu Dashan was stunned when his fist was caught by Zhou Hong in an instant. He tried to pull his fist free, but Zhou Hong held it tightly, like a vise.
"Ah! How can this be?" Zhu Dashan was dumbfounded. How much strength did it take to grip his fist like that?
"Damn it, I thought you called me out to discuss something important. Turns out you just wanted to fight me," Zhou Hong said, furious, and kicked Zhu Dashan in the abdomen.
Zhu Dashan flew back several meters with a thud, his head spinning and his body convulsing. He felt as if he had just visited the gates of hell.
Zhou Hong then grabbed Zhu Dashan by the neck and lifted him up.
"You dare to lay a hand on me, you mere scoundrel?" Zhou Hong boomed in anger.
"Big brother, spare me, big brother, I was wrong, big brother," Zhu Dashan pleaded desperately, so scared he was about to wet himself.
Zhou Hong threw Zhu Dashan to the ground with a bang, almost dislocating his intestines. Zhou Hong angrily demanded, "Tell me, who sent you?"
"I'll tell you, I'll tell you! My girlfriend asked me to beat you. My girlfriend is best friends with your wife. They arranged to sing here tonight and brought you out. They wanted me to beat you up and make you leave Qin Mengxue's house. Otherwise, they'll beat you up every time they see you," Zhu Dashan confessed.
Zhou Hong sneered slightly, "This wasteful woman. I thought my 'treatment' at noon had worked. It seems I need to continue the treatment."