An Qian watched Jin Qiaoqiao walk upstairs to fetch her instrument and asked Shi Lei with a smile, "Shi Lei, isn't Jin Qiaoqiao very beautiful?"
Qin Shi Lei replied with a calm expression, "She's alright, but nowhere near as beautiful as you, my wife."
"Tsk," An Qian said disbelievingly, "She's an international superstar, and she's never had a scandal. Don't you have any thoughts about her?"
Qin Shi Lei answered resolutely, "Not at all. Besides the three of you, other women are just phantoms in my eyes."
"Hmph, you know what's good for you," An Qian said, then turned serious, "Looking at the Jin family's demeanor, I suspect they have ulterior motives."
Qin Shi Lei shrugged, "We'll just wait and see. We don't owe them anything anyway."
As they were talking, Jin Qiaoqiao came down carrying a pipa. She curtsied to both of them and began to play a melodious tune.
Although Qin Shi Lei was now a City Lord, he had never before enjoyed the treatment of a world-renowned star performing a solo for him. It was quite an experience.
Drinking tea, eating pastries, and listening to music, it felt as if the apocalypse had long passed.
Just as Qin Shi Lei and An Qian were savoring this beautiful moment, the villa's main door was rudely kicked open.
A young man in his twenties, quite handsome, swaggered in.
Jin Qiaoqiao first apologized to Qin Shi Lei and An Qian, "Mr. Qin, I'm truly sorry, but I must excuse myself for a moment."
With that, she walked up to the young man and reprimanded him coldly, "Peng Tiancheng, get out. If you have something to say, let's discuss it outside."
Peng Tiancheng reached out to caress Jin Qiaoqiao's cheek and teased, "I think it's fine right here. Why go outside?"
Jin Qiaoqiao dodged his right hand and said coldly, "I'm entertaining honored guests. Get out immediately. If you displease them, none of you will be able to bear the consequences."
"Pfft!" Peng Tiancheng sneered, "Are there any guests in Bei'an City that I, Peng Tiancheng, cannot afford to offend?"
"The Number One Leader? Or the sect master of the Heavenly Demon Sect? Or the president of the True Martial Association?"
After he spoke, he looked at Qin Shi Lei and the others, who were sitting with their backs to him on the sofa. He immediately noticed An Qian's graceful silhouette.
He said somewhat frivolously, "That back view is quite appealing. Let me see if she's a 'back view killer'."
With that, he prepared to walk forward and get a look at An Qian's face.
Jin Qiaoqiao stepped forward again, blocking his path, and angrily shouted, "Get out! This is the Jin family's residence, not a place for you to run wild."
Peng Tiancheng's face turned cold, and he snorted, "The Jin family, quite the signboard. Today is my final deadline for you. Are you going to marry me or not?"
Jin Qiaoqiao replied with a resolute expression, "Dream on if you think I'll marry you."
It must be said that Peng Tiancheng was quite handsome, and his strength had reached Silver Three-star. His father was the leader of one of Bei'an City's top powers, the Soaring Rainbow Gang.
Marrying such a young master would have been considered a good match.
However, Peng Tiancheng was notorious for his lust. Before the apocalypse, he was a dissolute wanderer, and after the apocalypse, he had taken advantage of his strength to ruin countless women.
Such a lecherous man, given Jin Qiaoqiao's character, would never marry him, even if all the men in the world died.
Moreover, the reason he wanted to marry Jin Qiaoqiao was not just to possess her, but also to gain control of the Azure Lightning Gang's influence.
His intentions were clearly to gain both wealth and a wife.
Peng Tiancheng's face hardened, and he lunged to grab Jin Qiaoqiao by the neck.
Jin Qiaoqiao's cultivation was only Silver One-star. Under his full assault, she had no time to react before he had her by the throat.
"You will marry me whether you like it or not."
"Cough, cough," Jin Qiaoqiao gasped, struggling, "Let go of me!"
Although she had Silver One-star cultivation, it was artificially boosted by her father using crystal cores, and her combat skills were very poor.
Despite her desperate struggles, she couldn't shake Peng Tiancheng's right hand at all.
Even so, she did not cry out to Qin Shi Lei for help.
Qin Shi Lei, sitting at the tea table, had understood shortly after Peng Tiancheng entered why Jin Hongye, upon discovering his arrival in Bei'an City, had immediately invited him back in such a humble manner.
The Jin family was clearly under pressure from a powerful force and sought his protection.
Qin Shi Lei had initially been displeased, thinking the Jin family wanted to use him to eliminate their enemies. He and An Qian calmly continued to drink their tea, ignoring the quarrel.
However, when he heard Jin Qiaoqiao being subdued and not asking him for help, he felt a slight shift in his perception.
He then spoke up, "If you want to argue, do it outside. Don't disturb our tea time."
"Hah!" Peng Tiancheng mocked, "Such big talk. Let me see if your abilities are as impressive as your words."
With that, he released Jin Qiaoqiao, clenched his fist, and swung it towards the back of Qin Shi Lei's head.
"Mr. Qin, be careful!" Jin Qiaoqiao shouted, simultaneously drawing her long sword and lunging at Peng Tiancheng.
"You'll fall first."
Peng Tiancheng turned and punched Jin Qiaoqiao, sending her crashing to the ground.
"You really intend to attack me? Don't regret it later?"
Qin Shi Lei picked up his teacup and took a leisurely sip.
"There is nothing in this world that Peng Tiancheng regrets," Peng Tiancheng said, once again charging towards the sofa with a clenched fist.
Qin Shi Lei suddenly stood up and faced him, smiling, "Really?"
Seeing the man who had suddenly appeared before him, a familiar name suddenly flashed in Peng Tiancheng's mind.
He quickly stopped in his tracks, asking in disbelief, "You are Qin Shi Lei?"
Qin Shi Lei did not answer, instead retorting, "Why has your fist stopped?"
Peng Tiancheng hastily retracted his forward-thrusting fist and examined Qin Shi Lei again more carefully.
A chill instantly crept up from the bottom of his heart, and his face turned pale.
"Damn it, why is this Qin fellow suddenly at the Jin family's residence?"
Looking at Qin Shi Lei's half-smiling face, Peng Tiancheng's voice trembled as he said, "City Lord Qin, I was unaware of your presence here. I apologize for my earlier offenses and hope City Lord Qin can forgive me."
"Didn't you want to test my strength? Why aren't you attacking now?"
Qin Shi Lei said with a smile.
He thought to himself, "This feeling of merely showing up and scaring the other party into submission is quite nice."
Peng Tiancheng immediately fell to his knees, begging for mercy, "This lowly one had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai and offended City Lord Qin. I hope City Lord Qin will spare me this time."
"Get out!" Qin Shi Lei said sternly with a cold snort.
Peng Tiancheng lowered his head and shamefully scurried out of the Jin family's residence.
Watching Peng Tiancheng's subservient demeanor, Jin Qiaoqiao felt particularly gratified.
She thought to herself that her serving others like a maid earlier had not been in vain.