This was actually a misunderstanding on her part. Ever since she mistakenly believed the actress in the Suzuki scandal photos was Ning Yao, she had regarded Ning Yao as Wang Zhuo's secret lover. While jealousy existed, she had to accept the reality of their relationship.

Consequently, when Ma Qiang disrespected Wang Zhuo, showed ill intentions toward Ning Yao, and even tampered with the toast, she became furious. Thus, Wang Zhuo's outburst greatly exhilarated her, and she immediately cleared a path for him.

She put herself in his shoes and thought that if she were Wang Zhuo, she would have confronted Ma Qiang too. Moreover, what Ning Yao was currently enduring might be what she would face in the future. Who wants a man who shirks responsibility? Someone who cowers when his woman is being bullied by another man?

So, without a second thought, Guan Yingying offered Wang Zhuo her most direct support. As for the Ma family in the capital, let them go to hell. Even if the sky falls tomorrow, they needed to deal with this clueless Ma Qiang first!

This was the difference between the hot-blooded impulse of youth and the steady control of anger in older age. Ning Yao was also angry, but she could endure and consider the consequences. Once Guan Yingying's fury was ignited, she absolutely couldn't hold back, casting consequences aside to vent her anger first!

Ma Qiang's seat was situated between An Qi's spot and an empty chair. With Guan Yingying moving, the distance between Wang Zhuo and him was at most two meters. Why say young masters are overbearing? Ma Qiang had weathered some storms; he remained seated, unmoving, but the bodyguard behind him stepped forward, placing himself between the two men.

Wang Zhuo smiled with an air of harmlessness, his eyes narrowing as he sized up the man, realizing this fellow, in his late twenties or early thirties, was skilled—certainly no worse than his cousin, Lu Weimin.

"Get past Old Wu first, then offer your opinion."

Ma Qiang sat back comfortably, picked up a pair of unopened bamboo chopsticks from the table, separated one, and deftly manipulated it between the fingers of his right hand.

Attacking the bodyguard? Wang Zhuo felt such an action would diminish his own status. Ma Qiang was, after all, just an arrogant young master relying on influence. In terms of skill, assets, or connections, which aspect did he surpass Wang Zhuo in?

But the man certainly had the poise and the setup for it. He had already deployed a bodyguard to stand in front, essentially bullying Wang Zhuo for lacking such personnel. So what?

Wang Zhuo hesitated for a single second. The private room was too small to swing his fists freely, and there were four women present; an accidental injury would be disastrous. Furthermore, a specially trained special forces operative was not like a common thug. Such a person strikes swiftly and fiercely. Although Wang Zhuo had the invincible cheat of X-ray vision assisting him, he couldn't be absolutely certain. At this range, where one move could decide the outcome, he might indeed capsize the boat.

This brief hesitation was enough for Ma Qiang to smirk: "Heard you're good at fighting. Why the hesitation? Scared?"

"Too cramped here to fight properly." Wang Zhuo glanced at him, pointed his thumb toward the window behind him, and asked the bodyguard, "Old Wu, care to try your hand outside?"

Old Wu just stared at him, silent. He detected the hidden aura and strength emanating from Wang Zhuo, realizing this might be a formidable opponent. At such close range, an unexpected strike like a sealed-eye punch or a kick to the groin could spell disaster, so he dared not be careless.

"Old Wu, go play with him!" Ma Qiang immediately commanded. "That's more like it. If you can use your fists, why bother arguing!"

Wang Zhuo glanced at him again, thinking, You enjoy your arrogance for now; we'll settle the score slowly later.

"It's closer this way," he gestured toward Old Wu with his head, turned, pulled the cord next to the window, and the roll-up screen suddenly shot up. Then, bracing one hand on the windowsill, he stepped lightly and leaped out gracefully.

"Ah?"

Ning Yao gasped. Although this was only the second floor, the lobby downstairs had a high ceiling. Calculating this, the window was at least six meters above the ground. Moreover, Wang Zhuo hadn't even glanced outside before jumping. What if the landing area held some danger? Wouldn't this jump result in injury?!

It wasn't just her; everyone else was startled. Even Old Wu hadn't expected Wang Zhuo to take such a swift and direct shortcut.

Ning Yao and Guan Yingying, closest to the window, quickly rose to look out. By then, Wang Zhuo was already standing by the flowerbed beneath the window, hands on his hips. No one knew where he had landed; there were no footprints in the flowerbed, nor had they heard any sound of his landing.

The two women breathed a sigh of relief and stood upright. Old Wu walked to the window, frowned as he looked down, then tapped the windowsill with one foot and leaped out like a great roc spreading its wings.

Wang Zhuo had used his X-ray vision to survey the terrain beforehand, controlling his angle upon jumping to land in the forty-centimeter gap between the wall base and the flowerbed. Old Wu, however, simply vaulted over the flowerbed and landed directly on the courtyard floor in front of it.

Wang Zhuo showed no pleasantries. As soon as Old Wu stabilized himself, Wang Zhuo stepped forward and unleashed a powerful kick.

Old Wu sneered faintly, simultaneously twisting his wrist as he sidestepped, intending to lock onto Wang Zhuo's right leg and execute an outer sweep. Ma Qiang’s order was "play a bit," not "practice a full session," so he understood he was permitted to let the opponent take a minor hit.

Unexpectedly, Wang Zhuo's kick seemed heavy but was actually feigned. As Old Wu tried to clamp down on his lower leg, Wang Zhuo's foot suddenly pressed down onto the ground. Then, with a sudden lunge, Wang Zhuo closed the distance entirely.

Old Wu's lower hand reached down for Wang Zhuo's foot, inevitably putting his body in a low stance. As Wang Zhuo pressed in, he unleashed a straight punch. This punch generated a whistling gust of wind. If it had landed solidly, not only Old Wu, but even an American heavyweight champion with superior durability, would have lost several teeth and ended up flat on his back!

Old Wu's heart clenched. He hurriedly raised his left arm to block while simultaneously trying to lean back, hoping to parry the punch and neutralize any potential follow-up attack. Only then did he realize he had underestimated his opponent; without carelessly attempting to grab the man's ankle, he wouldn't be in this passive situation.

His raised left arm did not receive the heavy impact he anticipated; he only felt a gust of wind brush past.

Bad news!

Old Wu knew he had fallen for another feint. Just as he tried to exert force with his feet to break free, he felt a massive force trip and hook his heel. Immediately following, Wang Zhuo slammed his elbow into Old Wu's chest, sending the man flying backward horizontally, leveraging Wang Zhuo's impact force and his own momentum.

CRASH!

He slammed headfirst into a Mazda sedan parked not far behind him. The rear windshield developed a large, radial crack. His upper body landed sprawled across the Mazda's trunk, and he blacked out.

Upstairs, Ma Qiang, who had been confidently observing Old Wu's movements, strolled to the window to look out, catching the exact moment Wang Zhuo pushed Old Wu away after closing the distance.

After the bang, Old Wu slid off the Mazda, his head lolling. Wang Zhuo didn't spare a glance for his defeated opponent, calmly shook his sleeve, and started walking back inside.

Ma Qiang was stunned. Old Wu was a master from the military, capable of fending off seven or eight strong men simultaneously, unflinching even against hardened thugs wielding machetes or iron bars. And he was taken down by Wang Zhuo just like that?

Guan Yingying beside him cried out "Good!" with a crisp sound, enthusiastically giving Wang Zhuo a thumbs-up gesture out the window. Ma Qiang’s rage boiled over, and he slapped out toward Guan Yingying.

SMACK!

The hand did not land on Guan Yingying's face as intended; instead, it was firmly grasped at the wrist by An Qi.

Guan Yingying was startled. After Old Wu went downstairs, Jiao Yuanbo and Hai Jun had pulled the dining table aside, creating an open space by the window for viewing the fight. But Ma Qiang hadn't moved to watch, so Guan Yingying had become too engrossed in the excitement to notice when he approached her.

Seeing Ma Qiang's enraged expression and An Qi's defensive posture against him, Guan Yingying instantly knew what had happened. A wave of anger washed over her. She snatched a wine glass from the table and flung it toward Ma Qiang's face.

This splash was knocked away by Hai Jun, who had rushed forward upon sensing trouble.

"Hmph!"

Ma Qiang violently shook off An Qi's grip, pulled his arm free, and swung to slap An Qi. But An Qi swung her arm, blocking it!

An Qi had graduated from the Police Academy, experienced hard knocks, and even worked dangerous plainclothes anti-pickpocketing jobs after starting her career. Dealing with a young master who only ordered his subordinates to fight was not beyond her capability.

But Ma Qiang was infuriated! He was already humiliated by Wang Zhuo's quick defeat of Old Wu, and now being repeatedly obstructed by a woman ignited a fierce, wicked fire. Baring his teeth, he lifted his leg to kick An Qi!

The space was narrow, and An Qi was anxious due to Ma Qiang's status. She never expected such a despicable move from this powerful figure. In her surprise and panic, she only managed a slight evasive maneuver before being struck squarely in the lower abdomen, sending her crashing backward onto the floor.

THUD!

As she fell, her arm pressed against the dining table, causing the removable tabletop to flip over. The dishes, glasses, bowls, food, and soup from the entire table cascaded down, soaking her completely in a state of utter wretchedness!

"...Your mother!"

SLAP!

A clear, sharp slap echoed through the room, even resonating down the entire corridor outside the door. It turned out that An Qi, seeing her elder sister kicked down, had rushed up and slapped Ma Qiang across the face. She then grabbed his hair with both hands, forcefully pulling his head down, and raised her foot to viciously kick his face!

Jiao Yuanbo was dumbfounded. Hai Jun was stunned. Guan Yingying and Ning Yao were equally shocked. Even the fallen An Qi’s eyes widened. An Qi’s classic, powerful curse was delivered with a surprisingly crisp and pleasant tone. Coupled with the resounding slap and the subsequent fierce attack, she looked exactly like a professional, ferocious brawler!

Hai Jun had grabbed Guan Yingying's wrists, thinking he had stabilized the situation, but he hadn't anticipated an even fierier and more ferocious person emerging. Jiao Yuanbo saw the scene spiral out of control and immediately grabbed a chair, intending to swing it at An Qi’s back.

Ning Yao stood by the window, utterly helpless; fighting was something she hadn't engaged in since two decades ago. Just as she saw Jiao Yuanbo raise the chair and cried out in alarm, a strong hand suddenly reached out from behind her and forcefully pushed her aside.

"Wang Zhuo?!"

The movie star's eyes snapped wide open. She truly couldn't fathom how this person had managed to get up here!

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