Chapter 23: She Cares About Me—She Really Loves Me, Right?

Laser lights crisscrossed the dance floor. As Xi Xingye entered the club, he immediately spotted that familiar figure from afar.

She was still wearing the blouse from that morning, though now it was tucked into tight jeans. From her waist to her hips, the curves flowed seamlessly into long, straight legs with astonishing proportions. Coupled with her unique aura, she quickly drew the attention of several drunken men nearby.

“Hey, beautiful, want to have a drink together?”

A greasy man with a gold ring on his finger smiled, his eyes squinting to mere slits as he leered up and down at Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci, unaware of what he wanted, kept glancing around and paid him no attention.

Seeing this, the man slowly reached out, wrapping an arm around her waist. “Don’t ignore me!”

Xi Xingye cursed under his breath, “Damn it!” and strode forward, long legs eating up the distance.

On the way, he even grabbed a beer bottle from the table next to them.

“Bro! Bro!” Xu Zijie quickly intervened, snatching the bottle back.

“No harm done, seriously!”

Xi Xingye, furious, continued forward. Xu Zijie quickly called a few brothers over.

“There’s an idiot trying to hit on our sister-in-law. Xi Bro is about to teach him a lesson—come quickly!”

He hung up and rushed to catch up with Xi Xingye.

With two sharp punches, Xi Xingye directly struck the greasy man in the eye socket.

“Who—”

The man’s eyes went black, but he tried to open them and curse. When he saw who was standing in front of him, he went completely silent.

Who the hell dares curse now?

This was the notorious Big Boss of Beijing—Xi Xingye!

“Scram!” Xi Xingye said, a single word.

The greasy man instantly curled into a ball and rolled away as fast as he could.

Shen Qingci glanced at him, then turned to Xi Xingye.

Xi Xingye took a deep breath and scolded her, “Are you blind or deaf? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?”

“Weren’t you so strong before? A slap on my face and I can spin three times!”

“That guy was about to make a move on you! And you just stood there—are you an idiot?”

He was so angry he spoke in a rush, chest rising and falling heavily.

Shen Qingci wasn’t angry; she just asked, “Why are you so worked up?”

Xi Xingye paused, his temper instantly deflating.

Right—why was he so worked up?

He moved his mouth but finally snorted coldly, denying it: “Which of my eyes shows that I’m worked up?”

As if afraid Shen Qingci would linger on this topic, Xi Xingye added, “Weren’t you looking for someone? Give me the name—I’ll help you find them.”

He clasped his hands behind his back and grinned.

Ouch… that fat guy’s meat was so thick! Painful!

Then he turned to Shen Qingci and lifted her chin: “What? Don’t believe I can find them? Not to brag, but in a club like this, I can find anyone in minutes! Everyone in Beijing knows this is Xi Xingye’s territory…”

“Shen Lan, my brother,” Shen Qingci interrupted his boasting, amused.

His tongue could probably spew out eight hundred words a minute.

Xi Xingye frowned thoughtfully.

Shen Lan? The guy in boxers he chased and scolded on the wedding day?

He didn’t remember much about this Shen Lan.

But since Shen Qingci wanted to find him, Xi Xingye reluctantly agreed to help, thinking that later she’d remember this favor and stop always scolding him, throwing tantrums, or threatening the household rules…

After a brief inquiry in the club, it only took three or four minutes for his men to locate Shen Lan.

“Master Xi, we’ve found him.”

Bound almost entirely, Shen Lan was brought before Xi Xingye and Shen Qingci.

Xi Xingye kicked the men aside: “I asked you to find him, not tie him up!”

After all, this was Shen Qingci’s younger brother. Bringing him over tied up like this was ridiculous!

Shen Qingci didn’t mind the small detail; she even praised, “I looked for him for a long time and couldn’t find him—only you could do it.”

Xi Xingye raised an eyebrow, suddenly standing straighter.

“Of course! I said this is my territory—if a dragon came here, it’d have to wash dishes for three days!”

With one foot on the glass coffee table, Xi Xingye’s arrogant aura dominated the surrounding three tables.

The brothers who had just arrived: “What? Really? Xi Bro, you really mean it? Back when she killed the chicken, you weren’t like this…”

By now, Shen Lan was so drunk he didn’t recognize anyone.

“Come with me,” Shen Qingci took Shen Lan from the attendant.

The young man struggled with surprising strength, shaking Shen Qingci off: “I’m not going!”

“I won’t go…”

He squatted in a corner, murmuring to himself, “I’ll rely on my own hands and efforts. I won’t rely on anyone… I won’t rely on the Shen family… I’m not stupid…”

Shen Shirou’s words in the office echoed in his ears.

If it weren’t for him, his mother wouldn’t have died.

Why was he so stupid? Only now did he realize what had really happened!

He had mistakenly trusted a villain, seeing Shen Shirou as a good sister…

Clutching his bare head, Shen Lan looked utterly defeated; his cap was long gone.

Xi Xingye looked down at Shen Lan: “Rely on yourself? Fine, then stay here as a waiter. This place is perfect for self-reliance.”

Shen Lan suddenly looked up: “Who… who are you? What gives you the right to control me?”

“I’m your brother-in-law! What gives me the right? You tell me!” Xi Xingye blurted.

As soon as he spoke, he realized something was off.

Shen Qingci also looked over.

“Temporarily…” Xi Xingye added quickly.

Shen Lan, already drunk and unconscious, collapsed on the floor, sprawled out, not hearing a word Xi Xingye just said.

“Should I have someone carry him back to the Shen residence?” Xi Xingye asked Shen Qingci.

She nodded.

Earlier, when Shen Lan had run out, Shen Qingci had noticed his emotional breakdown and hadn’t felt safe leaving him alone.

As long as he was safe, it didn’t matter who sent him back.

They took a couple of steps, and Shen Qingci paused, looking at Xi Xingye.

Feeling her gaze, Xi Xingye tensed.

This woman—was she about to pick a fight again?

Clearing his throat, Xi Xingye said, “What are you looking at? It’s only 10:30, not curfew yet!”

“Smoke less; it smells strong,” Shen Qingci said, averting her gaze and walking on.

Smoke less?

Smoke less??

Xi Xingye looked at Xu Zijie, confirming with him: “Just now… was she caring about me?”