As Liu Shishi watched Zhen Wei's persistent advances despite her repeated rejections, she began to feel annoyed.
Just as she was about to firmly refuse him, a voice from behind Zhen Wei cut in, "She's already said she has a boyfriend, and you're still pestering her. Aren't you lacking in manly character?"
Turning around, Zhen Wei saw a tall, handsome, and sun-kissed man parting the crowd and walking towards him.
Hearing himself publicly accused of lacking manly character, Zhen Wei's expression immediately soured.
"This doesn't concern you. Get lost!" Zhen Wei deliberately lowered his voice, suppressing his rage. If Liu Shishi weren't there, he would have unleashed a torrent of curses. Zhen Wei had been doted upon his entire life, always getting his way and never facing hardship. To be rejected by his dream girl and then ridiculed by a stranger was infuriating.
"Who is this young man? He's so bold, daring to disrupt a rich young master's pursuit?"
"Alas, he probably fancies the beauty too and wants to play the hero. But does he have the guts for it?"
"I bet the young master is already hating him in his heart and will turn on him any second."
"The young man is too impulsive."
The onlookers, instead of appreciating the intervention, thought the newcomer was just asking for trouble.
While the crowd murmured, the man who had spoken didn't retreat. Instead, he walked directly to Liu Shishi's side, facing Zhen Wei.
"Damn it! Are you disrespecting me?" Zhen Wei pointed at the man, gritting his teeth. "Fine! Today, I'll make sure you regret this!"
He turned and beckoned to his bodyguards, who had been standing nearby.
Soon, several burly men charged forward menacingly. They had been with Zhen Wei for a long time and understood his temper well, having resolved numerous disputes for him in the past. Seeing Zhen Wei's signal, they understood immediately and surrounded the man opposite Zhen Wei.
"What do you think you're doing?" Liu Shishi interjected immediately.
Consumed by fury, Zhen Wei no longer cared about maintaining his facade of a courteous young master in front of Liu Shishi. He pointed at the man beside Liu Shishi and yelled, "Damn it! Beat him until he begs for mercy!"
At his command, the burly men pounced like hungry wolves.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang bang bang!
However, what happened next stunned everyone present, including Zhen Wei. The scene they had envisioned – the burly men forcing the surrounded man to his knees – did not materialize. With a single kick, the man sent all of Zhen Wei's subordinates flying, his movements fluid and astonishing.
"It seems your subordinates aren't much. Now, are you planning to fight me yourself?"
The man who had parted the crowd was Du Fei. Seeing his girlfriend being harassed, Du Fei couldn't stand by. When he stepped forward, the man didn't back down but instead sent his bodyguards after him. Du Fei had dealt with a few minor thugs effortlessly. He then walked up to Zhen Wei and confronted him.
Zhen Wei felt a flicker of fear but, under the public gaze, forced himself to remain composed. He sneered at Du Fei, "What? I don't believe you'd dare lay a hand on me? Do you know my father is..."
Slap!
Before Zhen Wei could finish, a resounding slap echoed.
"Damn it, I'll kill you..."
Slap!
Another loud slap followed.
Slap, slap, slap.
Without giving Zhen Wei a chance to speak, Du Fei delivered several more slaps. Zhen Wei's vision swam, his ears buzzed, and he could no longer stand, collapsing to the ground.
After finishing, Du Fei returned to Liu Shishi's side. As Liu Shishi was about to speak, looking at Zhen Wei on the ground, Du Fei preempted her. "Don't worry, I didn't use much force. I just wanted to teach him a lesson and stop him from bullying others with his influence." If Du Fei had truly exerted himself, he wouldn't have needed so many slaps; one could have been enough to subdue Zhen Wei.
Liu Shishi trusted Du Fei implicitly. They no longer glanced at the fallen Zhen Wei and walked away hand in hand. Liu Shishi had initially planned to discuss business with her secretary over lunch, but with Du Fei's arrival, she quickly gave a few instructions to her secretary and returned to Du Fei's side.
"What do you want to eat?" Du Fei asked Liu Shishi.
"Nothing in particular. Were you upset just now?" Liu Shishi glanced at Du Fei. Although she knew him well, she understood that no man enjoyed seeing his girlfriend publicly confessed to.
Du Fei stopped, turned to Liu Shishi, and said, "My girlfriend is so outstanding, it's natural for many to be tempted. But I believe you have a boyfriend as wonderful as me, so you wouldn't waver. I have great confidence in myself."
"Tsk, you're shameless!" Liu Shishi, who had been a little worried about Du Fei's mood, couldn't help but playfully chide him. They walked into a nearby restaurant, chatting and laughing.
Once seated and presented with the menu, Du Fei casually chose a recommended signature dish, while Liu Shishi opted for vegetarian.
"How has work been? Busy lately?" Du Fei asked, looking at Liu Shishi. He felt a pang of guilt. Most couples wanted to spend every moment together after becoming official, but Du Fei was often away for days. Sitting opposite Liu Shishi, he felt a sense of remorse.
Liu Shishi, however, didn't dwell on it. She replied with a smile, "It's been alright. Most company affairs are gradually falling into place. Plus, our products are truly the best, so they've become an instant hit..." When talking about the company, Liu Shishi's face lit up with a smile. After so much effort, seeing the dawn of success was bound to be exciting for anyone.
Liu Shishi happily recounted the company's progress to Du Fei, who listened attentively. Their conversation continued until the server brought their ordered dishes. Liu Shishi smiled sheepishly, and then they happily began to eat together.