“I don’t care who your dad is!” Gao Zhou was fuming, his rationality nearly consumed by anger.

The twins, seemingly used to such confrontations, smirked. “Our dad is Mo Yanrui. If you have any sense, you’d take her home and forget this ever happened.”

Mo Yanrui.

Having worked for Yu Jinxiao for so long, how could Gao Zhou not know who that was?

Mo Yanrui was one of the top figures in Jiangcheng and had even collaborated with Yu Jinxiao before. While their collaborations were smooth enough, Mo Yanrui was known for being a smiling tiger—outwardly friendly, but ruthless behind the scenes. He appeared easygoing, but once offended, he would certainly hold a grudge, using various underhanded methods to retaliate.

And Gao Zhou? He was just an assistant to Yu Jinxiao.

Even though he knew he had no standing to confront their powerful family, looking at Yu Yuanyuan’s pitiful, dirty appearance, there was no way he could just let it go.

“You don’t look like someone who lives around here,” one of the twins sneered. “You’re better off not getting yourself into trouble.”

Their words were a clear warning for Gao Zhou not to meddle, or he’d only bring misfortune upon himself.

“You…” Gao Zhou was so furious he nearly exploded.

How could he face Yuanyuan later if he couldn’t stand up for her now?

“Uncle Gao, did you find Yuanyuan?” Yu Mingze and Yu Mingxi arrived after hearing the commotion.

When they saw the state Yuanyuan was in—filthy and disheveled—they were both shocked, fearing she had been injured.

After checking her carefully and confirming there wasn’t even a scratch, Yu Mingxi’s expression darkened noticeably.

“What happened?” he asked calmly, but under the soft evening light, his usual gentleness was replaced by an icy anger.

His normally warm eyes were now cold and intimidating.

“You bullied Yuanyuan?” Yu Mingxi, who was about the same age as the twins, stepped forward, his demeanor shifting into one of command, ready for a confrontation. Yu Mingze stood by with arms crossed, supporting his brother’s stance, bolstering his presence.

Even Gao Zhou, subconsciously swept up in the moment, mirrored their posture from the other side.

It felt as if the twins were no longer in control. Yu Mingxi, with his calm authority, seemed to take charge of the situation, exuding a powerful aura that drew everyone’s attention.

The twins exchanged uneasy glances, feigning innocence. “Bully? No way! We were just playing with the cat, and she came over, made a mess, and got herself dirty. It’s not our fault.”

“Oh, really?” Yu Mingxi smiled—a smile that was unfamiliar to everyone present. It was the first time he exuded such a dominant presence.

Though slender and seemingly non-threatening, Yu Mingxi now carried an overwhelming sense of strength.

Gao Zhou, who had known the young master for years, had never seen this side of him. Apparently, Yu Mingxi wasn’t weak—he simply hadn’t been pushed far enough to show his true strength before.

The twins had, for the first time in their lives, lit the fuse on Yu Mingxi’s dormant temper.

“There’s a security camera at this angle, pointing directly at the lawn,” Yu Mingxi said calmly, raising his hand. “We can check the footage to see if you were playing with the cat or abusing it. And whether you bullied my sister will also be clear once we review the tape. Shall we go review the surveillance footage together?”

The twins froze, panic flashing across their faces as they fiddled nervously with the hems of their shirts.

Usually, just mentioning their father’s name was enough to make people back off.

Today, however, things seemed different.

“I said, my father is Mo Yanrui!” one of the twins repeated, as if hoping the name would still work its magic.

But Yu Mingxi remained unfazed, his gaze locked on them. “We’re trying to figure out the truth here. What does your father have to do with this? Or are you saying that even if you’re in the wrong, your father would blindly defend you, ignoring right and wrong, and cover up your mistakes?”