Lu Mingzhe also saw him immediately.
He had indeed left South City with Xiang Wan.
Judging by their demeanor, the two were good friends, perhaps even more intimate.
Thinking about the past year of his life, his heart-wrenching longing, and then seeing the person by Xiang Wan's side.
A towering rage surged into his mind.
He stared at Xiang Wan and strode over, intending to grab her and demand an explanation.
However, Tang Haichao stood up and blocked Xiang Wan.
Both men reeked of smoke and alcohol, their eyes glinting fiercely. Chests pressed against chests, they looked ready to fight at any moment, leaving their two disciples utterly bewildered.
Lu Mingzhe spoke first, "Move aside. I don't know you."
Tang Haichao offered a fake smile. "Mr. Lu, this is rather pointless."
Lu Mingzhe raised his voice. "Does it concern you? I told you to move aside!"
Tang Haichao still refused to budge. "You broke up, so you broke up. Xiang Wan doesn't owe you anything. As a man, you should have some decency, shouldn't you?"
"Mr. Lu, so many people are watching. I think it's better to maintain a shred of dignity."
Xiang Wan sat with her eyes downcast behind Tang Haichao, refusing to look at him.
It was as if she could no longer hear Lu Mingzhe's voice, and everything that had just happened outside was Lu Mingzhe's delusion.
Having a man like this protecting her, guarding her, willing to go to the ends of the earth for her, Lu Mingzhe tried to put himself in her shoes.
Indeed, Xiang Wan was quite lucky and happy.
But he couldn't be magnanimous enough to bless her.
The better Tang Haichao was, the more his heart ached with jealousy.
The thought that Tang Haichao had been by her side for a year in his place made him want to go mad!
If he didn't pull Xiang Wan into his arms soon, he would explode from frustration!
"You don't need to teach me how to be a man. This is between her and me. Move aside!"
Saying that, Lu Mingzhe reached out to push Tang Haichao. The disciples beside him, seeing their boss and master being provoked, rushed forward.
"Who the hell are you? We said we don't want to deal with you. Can't you understand maintaining some dignity?"
"Do you want to fight? Come on! Do you think we're afraid of you!"
By the time Xiang Wan heard the commotion and looked up, Lu Mingzhe was already brawling with her male disciple.
They were of similar height. The young disciple, fresh out of college, was like a fearless calf, full of brute strength. They fought fiercely, neither giving an inch.
Xiang Wan didn't want things to escalate like this and had to stand up to stop them.
"Stop fighting, both of you! Let go!"
No one listened to her. In fact, hearing her try to break up the fight only fueled Lu Mingzhe further.
With a "whoosh," he shoved the disciple away from him and kicked him in the stomach, sending him crashing against the wall with a "bang."
With so many people watching and his dignity publicly challenged, the disciple was furious.
As soon as he recovered, he lunged at Lu Mingzhe again.
They tumbled to the ground, rolling over and over, trading punches. The private room became utterly chaotic.
Xiang Wan tried to intervene, but the two were moving so wildly that she couldn't get close.
After a few more rolls, she cast a pleading look towards Tang Haichao.
Tang Haichao understood her meaning and knew that the fighting couldn't continue.
Although he really wanted to teach Lu Mingzhe a lesson, he walked over and pulled the disciple, who was gaining the upper hand, back.
The two were forced apart, and Lu Mingzhe's legs were freed.
Anger surged through him after taking a few punches from the disciple. Seizing the opportunity, he aimed a kick at the disciple's vital area.
At the critical moment, Xiang Wan saw his intention and rushed forward to shield them.
Lu Mingzhe, unable to retract his kick in time, landed it squarely on her back.
"Ah—"
Xiang Wan cried out in pain.
"Lu, are you even human? You hurt her!"
Tang Haichao dropped the disciple with a "thump" and roared as he charged at Lu Mingzhe, landing a punch on his left cheek with a "bang."
The force of the blow sent Lu Mingzhe staggering to the side. Still not satisfied, he raised his foot to kick him in the stomach again.
"Stop fighting! Are you both crazy? Don't hit anymore!"
Xiang Wan, enduring the pain, rushed forward and, disregarding everything, stood in front of Lu Mingzhe again.
"Stop, Tang Haichao, you can't hit him anymore!"
Tang Haichao hastily changed the direction of his kick, which was aimed at her face, causing him to stumble and fall.
He paid no mind to himself and immediately crawled over to Xiang Wan, asking if she was hurt and if she was in pain.
Seeing him panting, his face filled with concern as he held Xiang Wan's hand and fussed over her, Lu Mingzhe's face turned cold. Gritting his teeth, he straightened up, suddenly exerted force, grabbed Xiang Wan's arm, and yanked her towards him.
"You—"
Xiang Wan's back hit his chest, and she was held tightly in his embrace. She struggled a few times.
"Lu Mingzhe, don't forget your wife is waiting for you outside! Is it meaningful to be so unreasonable? Do you have to force me to turn against you?"
Tang Haichao couldn't stand seeing Xiang Wan held like that. Enraged, he was about to rush at Lu Mingzhe again.
Xiang Wan stopped him with her eyes. "No need to fight anymore. He's crazy, don't bother with him."
After speaking, she turned to look at Lu Mingzhe, her expression placid.
"Why are you holding me and not letting go? Do you think this is a feudal dynasty, and with your Lu family's status, I have to become your concubine?"
"Is this meaningful, Lu Mingzhe? You've broken up countless times, and I'm not the first. Don't act like I owe you something."
"Everything that needed to be said was said before I left. Lingering any longer will only make you lose face. I've already started a new life, please respect yourself."
Lu Mingzhe looked at Xiang Wan's beautiful, articulate mouth. Every word she spoke was unpleasant to his ears, like needles piercing his heart.
No wonder the women he broke up with used to cry and call him heartless. It turned out being broken up with felt this painful...
He wanted to be more composed, but his mind wouldn't cooperate.
Unconsciously, he wanted to emulate those women from before. He gripped Xiang Wan's hand and said through gritted teeth,
"What do you mean? What do you mean you've started a new life? I don't understand, explain it to me!"
He used a lot of force. Xiang Wan felt her wrist about to break. She endured the tears and tried to pull her hand away.
"You don't understand? Then I'll be more direct."
"Tang Haichao is my boyfriend. We've been living together for almost a year, and we're planning to get married soon."
"If you're willing to attend the wedding, you're welcome to bring your wife. If you're not, then get lost. I never want to see you again. Do you understand now?"
Just as he had guessed, Xiang Wan was with Tang Haichao.
They had been living together for almost a year, and they were getting married.
But, "Guoguo..."
Lu Mingzhe's beloved daughter. If they had been living together for almost a year, what about the child?
Hearing the name Guoguo, Xiang Wan was suddenly reminded of him accompanying her to her grandmother's hometown, and of them in the small bed in their hometown...
And when he learned she was pregnant, he had been as excited as a big child every day.
Unfortunately, it all couldn't go back.
No matter the reason for his speaking to her now, it couldn't change the fact that he was married and had completely betrayed her.