Cheng Ying pursed her lips, genuinely displeased. Why on earth was the unlucky kid learning gentlemanly manners?

It was practically courting death. If you were freezing, it wouldn't be me worrying, or my grandmother—what difference could a female classmate possibly make?

Cheng Ying glared at the padded cotton jacket on the girl, wanting to rip it right off. Covered up so tightly, are you proofing dough? Why aren't you boiling hot yourself?

After all, she was over thirty; they shouldn't stoop to argue with an immature child. Cheng Ying currently felt like she was looking at a daughter-in-law trying to steal her son away.

It was infuriating. No wonder mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law could never coexist peacefully.

Chi Wu noticed Cheng Ying’s mood shifting and quickly distanced himself. No one understood Cheng Ying’s thought process better than he did.

What others did was irrelevant to them. He opened his mouth, “It was hot during the meal, so I took the jacket off. When I wanted to put it back on, I don’t know who covered the girl with it. I certainly couldn't just go over and snatch it back, could I?”

He sounded thoroughly aggrieved.

Cheng Ying felt this wasn't the time to lecture a child. “Boss! Waiter! Get us food, send up hot water!”

She was just redirecting her fire elsewhere.

Chi Wu put on his overcoat; it was much warmer, especially since it still held Cheng Ying's body heat. He drew it tighter. “You haven't eaten yet. Why didn't you grab some breakfast outside?”

Cheng Ying thought to herself, Did I look like I was in the mood for breakfast outside? “Aren’t you eating?”

Saying that, the two found a place to sit. The restaurant was large, and even with a dozen kids asleep, finding seats wasn't difficult.

The students nearby started rousing the group of children.

The fat man who had opened the door earlier glared at them with a look of cold contempt that made Cheng Ying want to douse him with hot water.

Sun Fatty: “What’s the matter? Isn’t this a restaurant? Are you not serving customers? Or do you not sell food here?”

This man’s imposing stance was even more assertive than Cheng Ying’s; he must have practiced it specifically.

The fat man snorted and turned back inside.

Sun Fatty frowned.

Cheng Ying looked around at the others. “So many of you came out for the competition?”

She asked this while looking at the listless, drooping children.

Chi Wu felt a pang of unease, thinking he had caused trouble just by showing up. He preferred being the hero who arrived on a shining steed to rescue people. Letting a woman defend him felt good for his ego, but losing face in the process was embarrassing. “Those ones we clashed with...”

Cheng Ying looked over; they were being treated well, constantly attended by hot water, and even had an electric stove warming them nearby.

Cheng Ying nodded. This was the other side of the fight. “I didn’t realize you knew how to get into a group brawl.”

The key point was that he lost. The other side clearly looked dominant. Why couldn't this kid understand that a wise man doesn't pick a fight when the odds are against him? Why couldn't he assess the situation? He would have to be taught from the ground up again. Going out and suffering a loss was not acceptable.

Chi Wu remained silent, looking as if he had committed a serious error.

Cheng Ying felt she couldn't crush the boy’s spirit right now. While stirring up trouble wasn't good, being afraid to defend oneself was worse; it would be terrible if he went out later and got bullied without fighting back. “Hmm, not bad. Look at how tall and imposing the other side is. It’s good you didn’t lose out completely.”

That was meant as comfort.

Chi Wu looked up at Cheng Ying; he realized she was praising him.

The people on the other side woke up and saw a country girl in a floral padded jacket casually discussing her understanding of group fighting.

“Hey, girlie, that’s because we were being merciful. We were holding back for them,” one of the opposing thugs drawled.

As a mature woman, Cheng Ying genuinely disliked this group of hoodlums. They looked like petty gangsters, not even real local ruffians. These kinds of people preyed on the weak, and there was truly no need for courtesy.

Their attitude was arrogant, their demeanor brazen—she had essentially channeled the aura of Old Mrs. Chi. “That’s because you’re afraid of footing the bill, right? How about this, come over, and we can discuss how you plan to compensate us. We can’t have two groups fighting; maybe one side can just pay?”

The thugs swaggered over. “What’s up, little girl? You want our brothers to chip in for damages? We dare to pay, but do they dare to ask for it?”

Cheng Ying spoke precisely to their weak points. “You’re being detained right now, and you still have the nerve to say that? If they didn't have some connections, and if you actually had some real skill, you wouldn't have been detained.”

Chi Wu felt this wasn't about solving the problem; it was about stirring up more trouble. “They aren't good people; they’re familiar with the boss.”

He positioned himself next to Cheng Ying, ready to shield her in case she got hurt. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to face Yingzi. In the village, a man who couldn't protect the girl he admired was considered utterly spineless.

Cheng Ying: “That makes things even simpler. The shop is bullying the customers, colluding with local thugs to illegally detain guests. I reported this when we arrived.”

This was an absolute bluff.

The few children nearby immediately wilted. If the police were called, how would their competition go? What about their studies?

Qing Fang, the girl, had been silent for a long time, but now she panicked. “We can’t call the police! How will the teacher handle this?”

Cheng Ying ignored her. How I handle it is my business. She turned to Chi Wu. “Do you care?”

Chi Wu: “With my grades, something like this won’t get me expelled. As for the competition, once the scores are out, nothing else matters. Everything else is superficial.”

He truly didn't care. They were on completely different paths.

Cheng Ying only looked at Chi Wu; the others didn't concern her. She found the little girl Qing Fang extremely irritating—a child even more selfish than she was. There was no way she would let such a girl become a sister-in-law.

She nodded, satisfied with Chi Wu’s answer. “That settles it then.”

Sun Fatty, seeing Cheng Ying take out money, thought she was there to be fleeced. It turned out his niece was this fierce; he thought she had come specifically to lose money.

Just then, the Boss arrived, driving a car, looking rather imposing. He had overheard part of the conversation at the door. “Oh, little girl, you aren't afraid of escalating things, are you? Do you think we are?”

Cheng Ying: “Then let’s call the police. Right at the capital’s doorstep, if you have a problem, you call the police. You illegally detain people without cause, what gives you the right? As for the fighting, is that your son causing trouble?”

Cheng Ying’s tone was harsh. If this weren’t his turf, she would have asked, Is your mother the one fighting that you’re defending her so fiercely? This was already giving the Boss a measure of respect.

The Boss’s face darkened. He glanced at the faces of the thugs opposite him, which were even worse. They had made a scene yesterday. The police were trouble they couldn't afford to provoke, especially since thugs in the capital usually had powerful backing. But what about his losses? He couldn't just swallow the cost himself.

That meant he had to press this student. If they paid up, it would be settled. But the damage from the fight was significant—several private rooms were ruined, not to mention the entire night’s revenue.

The money Chi Wu had seemed slightly insufficient.

Chi Wu was pragmatic; suffering a small loss on someone else’s ground was fine. But the money wasn’t enough. Asking people for more money would be too humiliating. He simply refused to pay more, playing dumb. “This is all we have. Whatever is short, you ask the group opposite you for it.” That was how Chi Wu forcefully ended the matter.

But the little girl couldn't handle the intimidation. Qing Fang called someone she knew—the most foolish and wealthiest person available—to ask for help.

When Chi Wu saw Cheng Ying arrive, rushing through the night, the feeling of the woman he admired coming for him despite the late hour made him completely forgive Qing Fang for interfering. His heart soared. It was a feeling that couldn't be bought, regardless of the cost—something even his established Chi family couldn't acquire. Thus, Chi Wu was momentarily lost in the moment.

The thugs were incensed. Since rising to prominence, no one had dared to insult him to his face by calling him someone’s 'son.' He was staying here for a night only out of respect for the Boss. He should be treated with the best food and drink. If he wasn't satisfied, they would just smash the place up and refuse to pay. What could the others do?

Seeing the group of thugs bearing down with menacing looks, the crowd of children wilted.

Chi Wu puffed out his chest and stood in front of Cheng Ying. If he dared to fight last night over some unknown trivial matter, then today, he would certainly fight to protect Yingzi.

Cheng Ying was completely disgusted by these petty hoodlums. Today, she would just throw money around—be a nouveau riche for once—just to vent this anger. Never mind Sun Fatty being there; even if it were just Chi Wu and her, they wouldn't fear these wretches. Besides, she had asked before coming in; Sun Fatty’s friend should have some standing.

Sun Fatty was slick. Once his own people arrived, everything would be fine, but before they got here, they couldn't afford to be taken advantage of. “Niece, you came out with your uncle. Let’s resolve this through normal channels, okay? If something happened to you, how would I explain it to the old lady?”

Cheng Ying spoke mockingly. “Hmph. If someone capable were here, they wouldn’t still be stuck here. You managed to get released from the station; surely the people you know are more high-ranking than these few.”

She was blaming Sun Fatty's friend for not being effective enough to get Chi Wu out earlier so he wouldn't have to freeze here.

Sun Fatty rubbed his nose. How is this girl so formidable?

Cheng Ying tossed the bag she was holding onto the table. “Paying compensation is fine; we have plenty of money. Today, I’m prepared to spend this much!”

That declaration exuded unmatched dominance. Chi Wu felt there was no one more dashing than Cheng Ying.

Sun Fatty was on the verge of tears. “Auntie, the key point is your combat strength isn't enough! Counting us, there are only three of us. It’s better not to pick a fight when you’re at a disadvantage, do you understand?”

Chi Wu raised an eyebrow—Afraid of trouble?

Cheng Ying raised an eyebrow—completely unfazed.

In Sun Fatty’s eyes, the angles at which the two raised their eyebrows were perfectly matched, as if practiced.

Cheng Ying: “We don’t need you. It’s just a few small fries. (Wuzi) and I are enough. It’s like swimming. I’ve braved great rivers and monstrous waves; am I afraid of a few people dog-paddling in a swimming pool?”

That remark was quite cutting, but her sheer momentum stunned the Boss. What is her background? She’s more ruthless than the thugs.

The thugs heard this and were about to charge, shouting challenges to fight, but the Boss quickly stopped them. Business was good these days, but it depended on the location. In this area, striking one brick might hit the relative of a Crown Prince. You had to know which clouds carried rain, which people you couldn't afford to offend.

This girl—looking like a country bumpkin in her floral padded jacket, work cloth trousers, and padded cotton shoes—somehow projected the imposing presence of a city mayor's daughter. How could he run a business under these circumstances?

Crucially, the things the girl threw on the table enhanced her aura. Most people didn't have that. If those thugs possessed the scent of cheap hooliganism, the young girl radiated the spirit of a bandit queen.

ps: Seeking shareholder dividends. RP.

For more novels, visit storyread.net.