Chapter 128: I Didn’t Say I Won’t Negotiate

If Lin Cuiping were to tell this story, she would definitely feel touched, because judging by the situation, Xie Yunshu must have held back when hitting her. But compared to Xie Yunshu and Yan, Aunt Li and her daughter looked much worse off—one had a face covered with slap marks, and the other’s scalp was nearly torn open…

Shen Subo, with his usual calm and unruffled expression, stood still for a few rare seconds, stunned for a moment, then lifted Xie Yunshu entirely off the other person and asked calmly, “How do you respond?”

Xie Yunshu hadn’t even finished hitting them—these two women were truly bullying her. Business was always about competition; if they were capable, even if their business was better than hers, she would admit it.

But losing the sale and then using their numbers and foul mouths to intimidate her? Did they really think Xie Yunshu was a pushover?

“Let me go!”

Before she could see who it was, Xie Yunshu snarled, ready to hit Shen Subo too.

But Shen Subo firmly grabbed her hand, his voice softening slightly: “Enough, stop fighting for now.”

Xie Yunshu finally calmed down. She turned her head, and Shen’s sharp-featured face came into view. Her pretty face instantly flushed… Damn it, she had just been thinking about the cafeteria contract, but now she’d been caught fighting by Shen. Would he think she was a shrew?

Though Lin Cuiping sometimes called her a shrew, Xie Yunshu never admitted it.

Chun Xing, seeing Shen Subo, cried with tear-streaked cheeks, sobbing, “Big brother, this woman beat up my mom! Look how hard she hit—she’s trying to kill her!”

Shen Subo loosened his grip on Xie Yunshu, his gaze passing over her messy hair, and asked again, “What exactly happened?”

Xie Yunshu pressed her lips: “They insulted and hit me—I was just defending myself.”

Chun Xing’s hair had been pulled out in clumps; her mouth hurt and tears kept falling. “We got hurt worse! Big brother, don’t listen to her nonsense! She sells boxed lunches outside and flirts with other men shamelessly. My mom just warned her once, but she started hitting us!”

Aunt Li wailed as well, “I’m an old woman and got beaten by a young girl! How am I supposed to live? Just because I also sell boxed lunches and took your business doesn’t mean she can lay hands on me! Comrade, aren’t you a staff member here? You should do something!”

Xie Yunshu shot them a cold look: “If you don’t want to live, go bang your head on a wall now. Keep spreading lies about me, and I’ll slap you ten more times, you old hag!”

Since Shen Subo saw the fight, she wouldn’t hold back or take insults silently anymore.

Aunt Li got up, looking at Shen Subo’s demeanor and outfit, she knew he wasn’t a migrant worker but someone in charge at the construction site. She put on a pitiful act, “Leader, she’s bullying an old woman! My daughter and I work hard to cook food to sell. It’s so cold outside, and my kid’s dad is sick at home, but she hit us without any reason! We’re poor and struggling to live…”

She looked badly beaten and crying hard, which on the surface seemed quite pitiful.

Shen Subo’s expression was indifferent: “I only saw the strong bullying the weak.”

Chun Xing widened her already not-big eyes, pointing to her still-sore scalp: “Look closely! We’re the ones who got beaten—she’s bullying the two of us!”

This man looked good—how could his eyes be so blind? Wasn’t she hurt enough?

Shen Subo glanced down at the still-frowning Xie Yunshu, then compared both sides carefully. After confirming she wasn’t at a disadvantage, he slowly said, “Don’t come selling boxed lunches tomorrow.”

Aunt Li got furious: “Who are you to stop us from selling boxed lunches? I’m going to report you to your workplace!”

Shen Subo glanced at Xie Yunshu: “I said it’s her.”

Mother and daughter immediately brightened up, forgetting their pain, grinning wickedly, “Did you hear? The leader said you can’t sell boxed lunches anymore! Hurry and pack your things and get lost! Tomorrow, only the two of us will sell! Tch, you better stop hitting on men!”

Xie Yunshu knew men always liked to pity the weak. Whether it was Lu Zhixing or now Shen Subo, the story was the same: no matter who started the fight or who was right or wrong, the one who looked more miserable got the sympathy.

Her stomach twisted with a mix of grievance and anger. Without holding back, she suddenly took a step forward and slapped Aunt Li hard across the face: “I’m hitting on your mom!”

This time Shen Subo didn’t stop her…

Aunt Li’s face was already red and swollen; being called out like a pig at slaughter, she jumped up angrily and tried to hit her, “How dare you hit me! No wonder they won’t let you sell lunches! I’ll beat you to death, you little bitch!”

Shen Subo blocked Aunt Li and pulled Xie Yunshu back, both annoyed and amused: “Not done yet?”

Then he coldly looked at the mother and daughter: “If you fight again, I’ll have the police come.”

Upon hearing that, Aunt Li immediately calmed down. This man must be the site leader. Since he said only she could sell boxed lunches tomorrow, the beating was worth it. From now on, only she would have the business.

The two hobbled away pushing their tricycle.

Xie Yunshu wiped the blood off her face and glared coldly at Shen Subo, pulling her arm free: “Let go of me, or I’ll hit you too!”

She was too fierce; her beautiful eyes blazed with anger, and though her face had scratches, she was still stunning. Even after the fight and knowing she might not be allowed to sell boxed lunches tomorrow, her eyes didn’t redden—she pushed Shen Subo hard: “Go away!”

If not for remembering how well he treated her before, she would’ve slapped him too! But who he helped was his choice; Shen Subo was not related to her. If there was no reason to side with her, she deserved it for being weak. She didn’t know how to act cute or show weakness.

Xie Yunshu clenched her jaw tightly and strode toward her motorized tricycle. The cafeteria contract was still uncertain, and now she couldn’t even sell boxed lunches…

Halfway walking away, she turned back, her eyes a little red: “So… you mean the project department won’t let me deliver boxed lunches anymore tomorrow?”

Shen Subo tidied her things on the motor tricycle, then sat on it: “Come back to my office first. If you don’t treat the wounds on your face, they’ll leave scars.”

Xie Yunshu pressed her chin into a straight line, forcing back tears: “No need to trouble you, Team Leader. I can handle it myself.”

Shen Subo’s voice softened: “So you’re not going to talk about the cafeteria contract anymore?”

Xie Yunshu put her hands behind her back, suppressing the anger and grievance his question stirred up, though feeling even more stifled: “I didn’t say I won’t talk.”