Li Yang's brow furrowed slightly. Sensing someone approaching, he said without turning his head, "I advise you to mind your manners when you're out and about. Leave immediately."
"Oh, this kid's getting impatient!" The burly men swaggered over, glancing at Li Yang's face and chuckling, "Pretty boy, you're not enough for your woman. How about letting us help you out?"
"Hahaha! Kid, get lost. Your girlfriend is just going to have a meal and a drink with us brothers. Don't go looking for trouble and embarrass yourself."
"You've misunderstood. I'm not his girlfriend. Please don't make things difficult for him," Du Qiuyu quickly said, not wanting Li Yang to suffer because of her.
What was wrong with public security these days, to have such scoundrels appearing!
One of the men chuckled, "Beauty, you're getting anxious too. Such devotion between a man and a woman. It makes me even more excited. I must make this kid watch as you accompany us for a meal and drinks!"
"You'll be happy about that, won't you?"
As he spoke, he reached out to grab Li Yang's head.
His palm was unusually large, capable of encompassing a person's head with one hand.
However, his speed was still too slow, and his demeanor too arrogant.
Before his hand could touch a single strand of Li Yang's hair, Li Yang's hand suddenly appeared in his line of sight, seizing his hand.
With a bang!
Li Yang slammed his hand onto the dining table, making the entire table tremble.
"Ah!" the burly man cried out, "My hand!"
"Damn it, you little punk, you're asking for death!" The other burly men were startled, then roared in anger, clenching their fists and smashing them towards Li Yang's forehead.
Du Qiuyu's face turned pale, and she exclaimed, "Be careful!"
"Don't panic."
Li Yang's lips curled into a smile. Without turning his head, his arm moved, sending the man who had attacked him flying.
With a thud, all the burly men were sent crashing to the ground, groaning in pain. "Oww!"
"It hurts, it hurts so much!"
"Damn it, this kid knows sorcery!"
"We've hit a steel plate!"
"M-Mister, spare us! We had a bit too much to drink and weren't thinking straight. We didn't mean to provoke you!" someone pleaded hastily.
Li Yang didn't even glance at them, remaining seated on his stool, and said coldly, "Are you going to leave or not?"
"Yes, yes, we're leaving right away!" These men scrambled towards the door and fled.
Some customers cried out in delight, applauding and praising Li Yang, "Little brother, you're amazing!"
"Handsome guy, great moves!"
"Awesome, my man! How did you do that? It was like a martial arts movie, so cool!"
"Thank you all for your praise," Li Yang smiled at the crowd, then turned to Du Qiuyu and said, "Miss Du, you can sit down now."
"Ah?"
Du Qiuyu finally reacted. She had stood up in her panic, and her cheeks flushed as she slowly sat down.
Her heart was far from calm, "Boss Li, you are truly impressive."
"Just a few minor characters. They haven't seen my true abilities yet," Li Yang said with a smile, picking up some food for her. "I'm sorry I startled you. Eat more to calm your nerves."
"Thank you, Boss Li," Du Qiuyu replied gratefully. As she ate, her beautiful eyes sparkled, and she stole glances at Li Yang from time to time.
The more she looked, the more handsome he seemed.
She thought to herself, if I really had a boyfriend like Boss Li, perhaps my family wouldn't be bullied so much and be so helpless.
After the meal, she eagerly reached for the bill. "Let me pay."
"Miss Du, didn't we agree to split it?" Li Yang asked in surprise.
Du Qiuyu said with a blush, "You protected me just now, Boss Li. I should treat you to a meal. It's just that the cost here isn't high, I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all," Li Yang shook his head.
The owner chuckled and said, "You two young people are truly interesting. Not a couple, but more than a couple. No, more steadfast than some couples."
"If you ask me, when it comes to being a boyfriend, facing a situation like that, half of them would leave. And of those who stay, half would be able to stop it. But someone who can resolve it so smoothly, effortlessly, and handsomely like you, there's probably only you."
"Haha, you flatter me, boss." Li Yang couldn't help but laugh. They say merchants' words are as sweet as honey; he now understood the saying.
Seeing him pleased, the owner smilingly took out two cards and handed them over. "There's a 'Qingyi Hotel' across the street, owned by my friend. Take these cards, and you'll get a fifteen percent discount."
"Oh!" Du Qiuyu's pretty face immediately turned crimson. The jade hand that received the card trembled involuntarily a few times, almost dropping the card.
But thinking of something, she clutched the card tighter, her ears still red.
Li Yang couldn't help but feel a bit awkward and said with a wry smile, "Boss, your business is too widespread."
"Hehe, it's not my business, it's a friend's. I should support my friends, right?" the restaurant owner said with a smile, winking at him.
Li Yang was unsure whether to laugh or cry. "Miss Du, let's go."
"Go, go where?" Du Qiuyu's body trembled. She lowered her head, blushing, and was at a loss.
Fearing she would misunderstand, Li Yang quickly explained, "To my shop."
"There are so many people in the shop, wouldn't that be inappropriate?" Du Qiuyu said shyly.
Li Yang blinked. What did she mean by 'so many people in the shop'?
Before he could react, Du Qiuyu suddenly realized, "Ah, no, that's not what I meant, Boss Li, please don't misunderstand. Let's hurry back to the shop. My colleagues should have brought the equipment."
Saying that, she hurried out of the restaurant in a fluster.
What the heck!
If Li Yang couldn't figure it out now, he'd be as intelligent as a pig, and that pig would easily outsmart him!
"Alas, you missed a great opportunity," the restaurant owner sighed. Young people these days were still so pure. It truly made him, a restaurant and hotel owner, worry endlessly.
Li Yang also regretted his slow reaction, but saying anything more now would likely earn him anger rather than shyness from Du Qiuyu.
Once an opportunity is missed, one cannot force it.
Shaking his head, Li Yang chased after her. "Miss Du, wait for me."
Upon returning to the shop, Du Qiuyu's colleagues had indeed arrived.
Du Qiuyu said with a blush, "Boss Li, please check the equipment models to see if they match the order form."
"No need, I'll leave it all to you," Li Yang said.
Du Qiuyu nodded, not daring to speak to him again. She picked up the order form and checked everything carefully before having the equipment installed.
However, whenever she caught a glimpse of Li Yang's profile resting with his eyes closed on the sofa chair, her heart couldn't help but pound, and her cheeks flushed.
This made her colleagues wonder, "Miss Du, are you feeling unwell?"