Chapter 26: Had Enough Hugs?

Instant noodles flew through the air, exploding with a bang.

Several men looked up in unison, their faces instantly darkening.

“What?! Send me the location.”

Xi Xingye, lying in the hospital bed, sat up abruptly.

While changing clothes, he cursed, “This crazy woman! Does she really think she’s invincible? Going alone to that garment factory to deal with those bastards!”

“Does she even realize what kind of people they are? Any one of them could snap her little arms off. What’s the point of showing off?”

“In the end, I still have to go save her. Women are such a hassle!”

By the time he finished speaking, he was already fully dressed.

That garment factory had a guy named Yan Shouwang—he was someone Xi Xingye had met before.

Back when Old Master Xi wanted him to take over Shen Yuan Company, Yan Shouwang had refused. He thought it was a hot potato—a tough nut to crack—and simply didn’t take it.

Who would’ve thought that Shen Qingci, for the sake of this unprofitable, worthless company, would work herself to this point!

Xi Xingye sent Xu Zijie the location along with a voice message.

“Xu Zijie, within ten minutes, send a few guys who can actually fight. The more, the better.”

“Bro, what are we doing?” Xu Zijie sounded excited. “Training in martial arts, right?!”

“Training my foot! Go save Shen Qingci!”

Night had fallen. A flashy pink Phantom sped down the highway, followed closely by luxury cars like Maybachs and Porsches. Their lights glittered, making them the most eye-catching convoy on the street.

Passersby turned, amazed: “Wow! Is that… a wedding convoy?!”

Xi Xingye’s pink Phantom pulled up steadily in front of the factory. The luxury cars lined up outside on the small road like a long dragon.

Xi Xingye got out, kicked open the gate, and sprinted westward.

He had been here once before. On the west side was a cold storage with no cameras and temperatures below -20°C. Worst case, they could lock someone in there.

“Charge!”

A dozen young masters and over twenty bodyguards followed, faces set like they were ready to die.

They arrived at the entrance of Factory No. 3.

“Brother Xi, there are people inside!” Xu Zijie waved a broomstick he had somehow grabbed, shouting.

In the silent night, the sound of wailing continued to echo.

Xi Xingye’s face darkened. He kicked the door.

Bang.

“Ahh!”

His leg went numb—the steel door didn’t budge an inch.

Clenching his teeth, he growled, “What are you looking at? Go pick the lock!”

The young masters scrambled, quickly finding all sorts of tools.

“Sister-in-law! We’re here to save you! Don’t be afraid!”

They shouted in unison, their momentum imposing.

But the voices grew weaker, and the final word “you” was especially lacking in conviction.

The gate swung open. Sunlight poured in. They finally saw what was happening inside.

The scene they expected—Shen Qingci being abused and humiliated—did not occur.

Instead…

“Help!”

A man’s agonized scream pierced the air.

Shen Qingci straddled Yan Shouwang, fists hammering down on him relentlessly.

Two fat, burly men lay sprawled beside him.

Blood streamed down Yan Shouwang’s head. Seeing Xi Xingye and the others, he scrambled toward them like he’d seen his savior, crying, “Save me! Save me!”

The young masters, who had been ready to rescue her with bravado, were stunned.

“Xi… Brother Xi…”

Though Xu Zijie knew Shen Qingci was fierce, he never expected her to be this ferocious.

“Do… do we still save him?” Xu Zijie asked in a trembling voice.

From the looks of it, she didn’t seem to need saving at all!

“Yes, save him!” Xi Xingye snapped back, kicking Yan Shouwang. “Save that guy! Not her!”

“Ohhh!”

The young masters struggled mightily but finally, with great effort, managed to pry Yan Shouwang from Shen Qingci’s grasp, just barely saving him from death.

Xu Zijie crouched, patting Yan Shouwang’s face: “Are you crazy? Brother Xi’s wife dares to mess with, and now the whole capital circle is terrified of Shen Qingci!”

“You guys… you’re really brave—daring to pluck hair off a tiger!”

Yan Shouwang whimpered. He had no idea… this woman was cunning; she let them bring her to the cold storage and only attacked once they were out of sight of cameras!

“Why are you crying?” Shen Qingci grabbed a brick and approached. “Weren’t you going to sow your seeds in me and let me experience heavenly pleasure? Hah! Now you’re going with me!”

She kicked forward.

“Sister-in-law! Stop! If you hit him again, it’ll be over!” Xu Zijie tried to drag her away.

But before he could fully pull her back, a flying kick came from the side.

“Damn!” Xi Xingye stomped on Yan Shouwang’s face.

“Bro!!!!” Xu Zijie shrieked, reaching out to stop him.

“Try farting two more times from your mouth, see what happens!” Xi Xingye cursed, charging forward. Xu Zijie couldn’t stop him.

Finally, both men pulled apart, leaving Yan Shouwang battered, only able to gasp.

It was Shen Qingci who restrained Xi Xingye at the last moment, preventing further harm.

“Enough.” Her cold voice silenced him immediately.

She had control, leaving only injuries but never targeting vital areas.

At worst, a medical report would call the injuries minor.

Xi Xingye glared at the direction Yan Shouwang was being taken, speechless for a long moment.

“Had enough hugs?” Shen Qingci’s voice rang out again.

Xi Xingye froze, then looked down—and realized his arm was pressed against Shen Qingci’s…

He quickly withdrew and stepped back, feeling a burning heat in that spot.

Damn…

No wonder it felt so soft.

A faint blush crossed his face. He stiffened his neck and said, “Don’t get me wrong. I just acted because he looked like he wanted to live too long, and I can’t stand idiots like him.”

Shen Qingci glanced at him. “Oh.”

“What do you mean ‘oh’?” Xi Xingye pressed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I understand,” she replied, stepping aside and heading toward Yan Shouwang. “This guy’s no ordinary person. We need to interrogate him.”

Inside the factory, Yan Shouwang was held tightly by Xi Xingye’s men.

Shen Qingci stepped forward, pulling a phone from his pocket.

“Call the person behind you.”

Yan Shouwang shook his head weakly: “Even if I call… he’s using a voice changer. You can’t tell anything.”

Shen Qingci slammed the phone onto his face.

“If you can’t tell, then get him out! Tell him the guy’s already caught and we want to meet the employer. Call!”

Concise and direct, she raised her fist again.

Terrified, Yan Shouwang scrambled to his feet and dialed immediately. Two seconds later, the call was connected.

Unbelievable! He had no choice but to make the call.

After several rings, someone finally answered. Yan Shouwang glanced at Shen Qingci and said one line:

“7 p.m. tomorrow night, at our factory’s No. 3 warehouse. Payment and handover at the same time.”

“Otherwise, we’ll release the person.”

There was silence on the other end for a long time. Finally, a voice replied: “Fine.”

Still disguised and impossible to discern gender.

Everything settled, Shen Qingci rode Xi Xingye’s pink Phantom back home.

The lights were on, and there were two extra pairs of shoes in the entryway.

Shen Qingci frowned, looking at Zhang Jie, who came to greet them.

Before she could speak, Zhang Jie explained:

“It’s Old Master Xi. He came over tonight, worried you two would argue, so he’s staying at home.”

Shen Qingci nodded, acknowledging it.

After changing shoes, she went to the kitchen, poured herself a cup of fresh milk.

“Do you want some?” she asked, holding the cup out.

“No,” Xi Xingye refused outright.

Having just escaped from the hospital and run around all day, he was exhausted—milk was the last thing on his mind.

He went upstairs, intending to slip into the guest room.

Before his hand reached the doorknob, Old Master Xi appeared from the adjacent room.

“So you’re back?” he greeted Xi Xingye first.

Xi Xingye stepped past him and headed straight for the room.

“Wait! You’re… going to sleep in the guest room?” Old Master Xi grabbed Xi Xingye by the collar, pulling him back.

Xi Xingye froze!

He nearly forgot—they couldn’t let Old Master Xi know they were sleeping separately!