This was a high-end mall, one of the best in Changjing City, where most merchandise commanded a steep price. No one had expected a brawl to break out here.

The fat man lay on the ground, groaning, while Mi Xue clung tightly to Zhang Yang, preventing the man from suffering an even worse fate.

“I’m warning you, if you dare harass my girlfriend again, I’ll slap you until you die!”

Zhang Yang didn't struggle against Mi Xue's grip, afraid of hurting her, but he still glared fiercely at the man on the floor.

He knew the fat man could hear him. As a doctor, Zhang Yang was perfectly aware of how to inflict maximum pain without causing unconsciousness—a fact that proved just how enraged he was. The last time some petty thugs bothered him, he had knocked them out instantly, denying them the chance to suffer on the spot.

The mall security guards rushed over, surrounding Zhang Yang in a group, but none dared to move. Zhang Yang looked utterly ferocious, and his hands were still stained with blood.

“Zhang Yang, stop!”

Mi Xue tugged at him again, finally pulling him aside.

“Mi Xue, I’m fine. This scoundrel deserved the beating. If anyone else dares to eye you like that, I’ll beat them the same way!”

Zhang Yang shook his head, his tone softening considerably when addressing Mi Xue.

Mi Xue nodded vigorously. Today, she had once again witnessed Zhang Yang's violent side, yet her heart swelled with sweet warmth. She understood completely that his ferocity was entirely for her sake. It proved how much he cared. What more could she ask for when her beloved treated her this way?

“You few, grab him! I’m calling the police now!”

A man resembling a head guard pointed at Zhang Yang, clutching a walkie-talkie. Several guards finally converged, but before they could touch Zhang Yang, his fierce gaze made them instinctively recoil a step.

Zhang Yang had only just vented his anger, and his aura was still unstable. He possessed internal martial energy; even a slight emanation of this energy was enough to intimidate ordinary people.

“Don’t touch me. I’ll go myself,” Zhang Yang said quietly. The fat man was still howling on the ground, and Zhang Yang briefly felt he hadn't hit him hard enough—perhaps a few more broken bones, keeping him bedridden for months, would ensure he never had the chance to deceive young girls again.

Zhang Yang, holding Mi Xue’s arm, followed the security guards to the security office. At least five guards watched him nervously. None of them had anticipated such ruthlessness from this young man; the expanse of blood on the floor was particularly jarring. This was precisely why they hadn't dared to use force against him; thankfully, Zhang Yang was cooperative enough not to make their jobs harder.

“Zhang Yang, what should we do? Should we call Young Master Su?”

Mi Xue held onto Zhang Yang’s arm even tighter, a flicker of fear now present—fear for him. The fat man was badly injured, and if things escalated, Zhang Yang could face jail time, especially since many people witnessed the assault. The only person she could think of who had the clout and connections to help was Young Master Su.

“No need, this isn't something he needs to be troubled with. I have a way,” Zhang Yang shook his head, pulling out his phone from his canvas bag. After a moment’s thought, he scrolled to Liu Xiaotang’s pager number and dialed directly. In his previous life, he could have pulled strings directly at the provincial department level, but not this time. The only person he knew currently connected to the Public Security system was Elder Liu’s son, Liu Xiaotang.

A local Changjing phone number replied almost instantly.

“Hello, this is Liu Xiaotang!” Liu Xiaotang’s voice came through, tinged with a hint of seriousness.

“Brother Liu, it’s Zhang Yang!”

Once connected, Zhang Yang’s tone immediately became calm. Listening to his voice, no one would guess he had just disciplined someone so severely.

“Zhang Yang, you’re quite something, even getting a mobile phone now? What can I do for you?”

Hearing it was Zhang Yang, Liu Xiaotang’s voice instantly became more animated, which helped settle Zhang Yang’s nerves further. While his relationship with Elder Liu was good, he wasn't close to Liu Xiaotang. Calling on him now would likely mean incurring another favor owed.

“It’s like this, I’ve run into a bit of minor trouble,” Zhang Yang explained softly, keeping it concise. He recounted the entire incident briefly.

“I understand. Don't worry about this; I’ll arrange someone for you right away!” Liu Xiaotang’s response was swift, surprising Zhang Yang, though it was certainly a favorable outcome.

“Where is the murderer of Young Master Hu?”

The door to the security office was suddenly kicked open, and three uniformed police officers rushed in, one shouting loudly. Two security guards immediately pointed toward Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang frowned slightly. These officers looked aggressive, and calling the beaten man "Young Master Hu" suggested potential complications. Even so, Zhang Yang wasn't afraid; if these officers tried anything unruly, he was prepared to fight them all. The Zhang Yang of his past life feared nothing and had plenty of brawls under his belt. Having been given a second chance in this life as a student, his temper had significantly mellowed.

“It’s you. Cuff him!”

The lead officer glanced at Zhang Yang and immediately ordered the officer beside him, glaring viciously at Zhang Yang.

Mi Xue clutched Zhang Yang’s arm even tighter, her face etched with worry. After all, she was just a young girl and had an instinctive fear of the police.

“Without asking a single question, you’re just going to handcuff someone?”

Zhang Yang’s tone was level, but the phone call remained active on speaker mode. He already knew Liu Xiaotang’s rank within the Public Security Bureau; these newcomers were likely mere local patrol officers, leagues below the Municipal Criminal Investigation Captain.

“I handle the investigation my way, you don’t need to teach me! Go cuff him now!” the lead officer snapped, as the officer next to him hesitated after the initial order. That officer hadn't moved because he had clearly been captivated by Mi Xue's stunning beauty. After the lead officer’s second shout, he produced handcuffs and quickly moved toward Zhang Yang.

“I am Liu Xiaotang, Captain of the Municipal Criminal Investigation Team. Which precinct are you from?” a voice suddenly boomed from Zhang Yang’s phone. The officer approaching with the cuffs jerked violently, staring disbelievingly at Zhang Yang’s hand—or rather, at the phone in it.

The lead officer also froze. He had met Liu Xiaotang before and recognized the voice immediately. The Municipal Criminal Investigation Brigade ranked significantly higher than their local precinct, which in turn outranked their station house—several tiers above them. Not only they, but even their station chief would greet Liu Xiaotang with a respectful salute. Furthermore, Liu Xiaotang’s reputation was legendary within the system: cold, iron-willed, and wielding authority in the municipal bureau almost equivalent to a deputy director, despite his rank as a captain.

“Zhang Yang, hand the phone to your supervisor and have him speak with me!” Liu Xiaotang’s voice commanded. Zhang Yang understood instantly, nodded, switched off the speaker, and handed the phone to the officer who had been moving to cuff him. Liu Xiaotang clearly intended to handle this internally, which was why Zhang Yang muted the speaker. On the other end, Liu Xiaotang nodded in satisfaction when the sudden silence indicated Zhang Yang had complied.

The officer dared not speak. He took the phone, then passed it to the lead officer. The lead officer stepped aside, speaking quietly into the receiver, nodding intermittently. Several minutes passed before he finally hung up and handed it back to Zhang Yang with deference. He had met Liu Xiaotang, heard his voice, and knew it was the real deal; few would dare impersonate a Criminal Investigation Captain.

“Mr. Zhang, apologies. It was a misunderstanding!” The lead officer looked terribly awkward and fidgety, inwardly cursing Young Master Hu.

“Since it’s a misunderstanding, let’s clarify. Who exactly is this Young Master Hu you mentioned?” Zhang Yang wasn't planning on holding a grudge against the officers, as they hadn't actually laid a hand on him. What he needed now was the identity of the beaten man.

“Young Master Hu is the boss of the Jiamei Advertising Company,” the lead officer admitted, a fresh wave of embarrassment washing over him.

The truth was, Young Master Hu was a local hoodlum with a history of fraud and deceit. He had served three years in prison, but upon release, he hadn't reformed. Instead, he became more audacious, learning to cover his tracks when cheating others, leaving no evidence for victims seeking retribution later. He had indeed managed to fleece several major targets, reportedly accumulating a fortune before transitioning into seemingly legitimate business. However, his legitimate ventures failed to take off, and he relied on scams, opening an advertising company to lure models—not for genuine training, but to fleece them of money and sex. Typically, the girls he lured signed contracts and were technically employed as models, and since the monetary and physical exchanges were supposedly consensual, victims found no recourse even if they realized the deception later. Today, he had been mesmerized by Mi Xue’s beauty and tried to lure her away. He had encountered girls with boyfriends before, usually dismissing them with a few sharp words, but encountering someone like Zhang Yang was a first. Today, he had simply run into bad luck.

Listening to the lead officer stammering, Zhang Yang didn't press further. The officer’s expression confirmed his suspicions: his guess was correct. In this day and age, there were plenty of schemers like this using such tricks on young women, but Hu had the misfortune of running into Zhang Yang. Moreover, judging by the officer’s unnatural demeanor, there was likely some unsavory connection between them.

“Mr. Zhang, perhaps we should head to the station to take a deposition?” Seeing Zhang Yang cease his questioning, the lead officer finally exhaled a small sigh of relief.

Zhang Yang’s suspicions were correct; these officers did have ties to Young Master Hu. Hu had defrauded so many people that complaints were inevitable, forcing the station house to intervene. Each time, Hu would offer considerable 'gifts,' ensuring the officers were well-compensated. Coupled with the victims’ lack of hard evidence, the police were happy to grant him favors, leading to familiarity and friendship. This station’s jurisdiction covered this vital commercial hub, so when the report came in about Young Master Hu being beaten, they rushed over, initially intending to vent Hu’s anger and perhaps collect a small benefit. That idea was now utterly extinguished; any benefit Hu could offer paled in comparison to the pressure exerted by the Municipal Criminal Investigation Captain.

The police station wasn't far, and Zhang Yang cooperated fully, providing his statement. After recording his deposition and leaving his contact information and address, they allowed him to leave. Young Master Hu had already been sent to the hospital; Zhang Yang’s assault had caused significant damage. As for the case, the station house favored an amicable settlement, but Zhang Yang refused. Since the man was clearly involved in shady dealings, Zhang Yang intended to expose him completely. He was generous to his friends but utterly merciless to his enemies. This Young Master Hu was different; he had dared to target Mi Xue, the first woman he had ever truly loved across both his lifetimes.

“Zhang Yang, this is all my fault!”

Leaving the station, the sky had darkened. Mi Xue linked her arm with Zhang Yang’s and murmured softly, “It’s all my fault.”

“What’s wrong with you? It only proves how exceptional you are, to be targeted just walking outside!” Zhang Yang laughed, shaking his head. Mi Xue nodded shyly; she loved hearing him praise her—no girl disliked praise from the one they cared for.

“Are you hungry? Let’s get something to eat. That Korean place nearby—we can go for the oxtail soup!” Zhang Yang smiled again. There was an excellent Korean restaurant nearby whose oxtail soup was Mi Xue’s absolute favorite, a detail he remembered vividly from their previous visits.

Mi Xue instantly agreed; the oxtail soup was her passion. The restaurant wasn't far, so they decided against taking a taxi. Zhang Yang’s car was still in the mall parking lot; after dinner, they could catch a movie before heading home. They hadn't come out for a rare outing just to let a disgusting man ruin their date.

After walking only a few steps, Zhang Yang frowned. He sensed people following them, and more than one. He glanced back subtly, catching sight of four or five shadowy figures who seemed to be deliberately keeping their distance, perhaps afraid he would notice them.

“What is it?” Mi Xue asked immediately, noticing Zhang Yang’s change in demeanor. Zhang Yang shook his head, draped an arm over her shoulder, and they continued forward. He wasn't concerned about a few shadows at this moment. If they were after him, they would receive a harsh lesson. He hadn't fully dissipated the anger from dealing with the fat man; anyone provoking him now was asking for trouble.

First chapter!