The proprietor’s tone softened considerably. “Miss, look, no matter what, fighting in my establishment is wrong. You held up my entire day’s business yesterday. Do you truly look down on me, thinking you can just smash the place up again?”

Cheng Ying genuinely felt that sentiment; if they didn't smash it up again, she felt her own child had been wronged. “Why didn’t you call the police yesterday? Isn’t that what the police handle in situations like this? Saying it today seems a bit late. Fine, you held him, I won’t argue about that, but I ask you, what right did you have to freeze him? In this bitter cold, making a child stay here all night in just a sweater and a vest—are you deliberately trying to kill someone? Why are you so heartless? Do you have a grudge against our family?”

The proprietor swallowed hard. They had come for this very issue. He regretted his lack of proper handling. The proprietor just wanted to say, I run a restaurant, not a hotel.

Fatty Sun also swallowed. He wondered why the girl who came to pay off the debt was so confrontational here. Ah, this was where the anger lay; she was worried about Chi Wu.

The proprietor felt even more aggrieved. What ability do I have to cause someone’s death?

He glanced at the overcoat draped around Chi Wu, then at the coat covering the little girl huddled behind him, and felt like spitting blood. You think it’s showing off to take care of the young girl? What does that have to do with us?

The proprietor addressed Cheng Ying: “Little Miss, look, you are students. Regardless, I allowed you to compensate me for my losses, and I didn't immediately call the school to retrieve you and settle this—I was being polite. Otherwise, I wouldn't have let the young girl call you. Since you are here and the police aren't, that proves you don't want to involve them either. Let’s settle this quickly: pay the money, and you can go. Anyone who can open a restaurant in this area has some foundation; I won't let a young girl act so arrogantly. It’s infuriating.”

Cheng Ying felt much better after letting it out. She saw the proprietor was indeed a veteran businessman in the capital; he had some tricks up his sleeve. She admired his directness and how he focused on the main point.

Cheng Ying was equally direct, placing the net bag she held onto the table with a thud.

It was only then that the bystanders noticed what was inside the bag the young girl was carrying. They had seen money before—lots of it. Some people here had seen large sums, but seeing such a fortune carried around so casually was unheard of. Forgive them; they were still living in the early days of Reform and Opening Up, still striving for prosperity.

The proprietor froze. Was she seriously going to smash him with money? His restaurant, with its specifications and location, made a fortune daily! But to handle that sort of thing… no, he hadn't.

Cheng Ying raised an eyebrow. “We have the money. We can pay compensation, but we’ll pay half.”

That one sentence sealed it. Those petty thugs, failing to intimidate and unable to punish them, could at least get some money out of it. As for this place, she wouldn't come back later if necessary. Cheng Ying was unconcerned. As the saying goes, a capable person can find support anywhere.

The proprietor was somewhat intimidated by Cheng Ying’s aura. Which influential family’s young miss is this? I genuinely don't dare provoke her.

Chi Wu grew impatient. Seeing the proprietor staring at Cheng Ying made him even more restless. “Settle the bill.” Well, this was the sign of someone truly wealthy and powerful.

Fatty Sun sighed. I’m here to take the fall for these two kids.

Fatty Sun stepped forward. “Proprietor, the children have been here all night. Calculate your losses quickly and let them go. You don't want this escalating, do you? Besides, if they stay any longer, you’ll start calculating that time against us, and I won't like that.”

The proprietor readily agreed. “I have my own connections too. Just pay up.” “My shop was wrecked; renovations will take days. Daily turnover is over three thousand yuan. You cover my losses!”

Cheng Ying retorted, “Both groups cover it. If they won’t pay you, that’s your failure to collect, don’t count it against us.”

Looking at this arrogant girl who couldn’t even intimidate the thugs opposite her, the proprietor couldn't get a read on her. “Including renovation costs, I want twenty thousand from you two.”

Chi Wu raised an eyebrow. That wasn’t what was said yesterday, or he would have left immediately. He’d rather lose some money than let Yingzi go through this ordeal. Seeing Chi Wu raise his eyebrow, the proprietor flushed slightly. “Brother, you were drunk yesterday, and things got a bit rough. No one likes having their shop damaged, and I spoke harshly; it was all in the heat of the moment. Don’t take it to heart.”

Cheng Ying pulled a stack of bills from her bag. “I don’t mind. Fine, give me another twenty thousand yuan. Do you mind?” The implication was clear: Should I smash it up again? I’ll pay.

Fatty Sun felt that the reputation he’d built in the provincial capital was worthless. He’d never been this brazen.

Chi Wu thought that Yingzi truly cared for him, valuing his well-being over money, willing to spend so lavishly for him. His heart felt hot, and his head felt a bit feverish too—from being chilled.

Cheng Ying was extremely attentive to Chi Wu. Hearing his breathing become labored, she immediately placed a hand on his forehead. “He has a fever.” She then glared fiercely at the proprietor. It was obvious this was caused by the cold.

The proprietor quickly retracted the one thousand yuan demand. Half is half. When dealing with people outside, the key is knowing when to yield. He had tolerated the young girl’s sharp tongue. “Miss, I won’t argue with you over trifles. If you have money, don’t waste it so easily. Since your friend is sick, get him to the hospital quickly.” Can I thank this unlucky kid for getting a fever at this moment? These people are rich and idle; if she pulls out two more stacks and decides to play another round, how would I cope?

Cheng Ying snorted. If not for Wu Zi feeling unwell, she would have dragged this out longer. In any case, she had already decided: she would never patronize this establishment again.

Fatty Sun knew his niece well; this money was hers, and she didn't need to answer to anyone at home.

Cheng Ying stood up, taking Chi Wu with her, refusing to waste words on this group of bastards. When they weren't on her turf, fighting was a disadvantage. She couldn't let this insult slide. Cheng Ying was pragmatic.

Unfortunately, the thugs opposite her didn't feel the same way. Although the girl’s presence was intimidating, the contents of the bag in her hand were even more tempting. “What’s this? The girl just leaves? How do we settle the medical expenses for our brothers?”

Cheng Ying chuckled. “I thought you guys had some standards and wouldn’t dare cross the line, but seeing this little bit of money, you couldn’t keep your composure. Looks like you haven’t made it big yet, have you? What, are you going to rob us?” The meaning was perfectly clear: unless you come over and steal it, I won't give you a single cent.

The fat on Fatty Sun’s face trembled continuously. This was really going to come down to a physical fight! His friends weren't reliable; why hadn't they arrived yet? And these guys opposite lacked judgment.

Chi Wu adopted a fighting stance nearby. “It’s fine, a good fight will make us sweat, and the cold will go away.”

Sun Qingfang stood by, sticking close to Cheng Ying. She felt Cheng Ying was causing trouble; since they had money, why not just pay them off and settle things?

The little girl tugged at Chi Wu. “They have more people.”

Chi Wu waved his hand, pushing her aside. “Get out of the way, meddlesome!”

Cheng Ying took offense at Sun Qingfang’s clothing. The girl didn't prioritize correctly; why was she wearing such thick clothes and insisting on wearing Wu Zi’s coat? At a critical moment, both of them needed to stay warm; what was the point of playing coy?

At this crucial moment, Cheng Ying's face darkened, and she said the harshest thing she had said since meeting the little girl: “When you go out, don't your grown-ups prepare clothes for you? Is that your stepmother?”

The little girl’s eyes reddened, and she just looked at Chi Wu, filled with grievance.

Chi Wu looked at Cheng Ying, then at Qingfang’s coat. Compared to enduring the harsh elements, Cheng Ying cared more about the reason for his cold than giving away stacks of money. Chi Wu felt dizzy. “I don’t know when this coat got onto her.”

Cheng Ying scolded him sharply, “I told you to dress warmly, don't you have a brain? Even when chasing a girl, you have to know the right time and do the right thing.”

Chi Wu denied it. “I wasn’t chasing her.” That’s the crucial part.

Fatty Sun found this deflection excellent. “We can discuss the right time later. Right now, we need to deal with this situation.”

Cheng Ying looked at the thugs. “Are you robbing or not? If not, we’re leaving.”

The proprietor felt today was truly an eye-opener. These thugs had definitely run into someone tough. It was already bright daylight, and commuters were passing by. If they tried to rob them now in front of everyone with a bag full of cash, they genuinely lacked the audacity.

Fortunately, Fatty Sun’s contact arrived then, which managed to break the tense standoff.

Cheng Ying looked at Fatty Sun’s well-dressed contact and had only one thought: this friend was truly capable. As soon as Fatty Sun started speaking with him, the thugs quieted down, and even the proprietor came over to bow and scrape.

Cheng Ying raised an eyebrow. Fatty Sun actually had some connections.

Fatty Sun said, “Younger brother, if you had arrived a little later, I’d be seeing you from a hospital bed.”

The newcomer was young, in his early thirties, and well-built—a good physique compared to Fatty Sun. He was much more pleasant to look at than Fatty Sun. “Surely not to that extent. I’ve been watching for quite a while; even your strong dragon was suppressing our local snake.”

Fatty Sun said, “That’s because I had confidence, knowing I had you backing me up. Otherwise, I’d have bolted long ago.”

Cheng Ying looked at Fatty Sun with disdain. They were both involved in the underworld, so why had he devolved into this? Looking at his sycophantic demeanor, he was bringing shame upon them.

The newcomer’s eyes swept over Cheng Ying and Chi Wu; he didn't even spare the others a glance. Fatty Sun understood immediately, pulling his two troublesome 'children' forward. “This is my niece; this is the nephew who causes trouble.”

Although Cheng Ying and Chi Wu hadn't encountered such a formal situation, they had seen enough of the world to know how to speak appropriately for the occasion. The two children did not seem timid, which genuinely gave Fatty Sun some face, so he introduced them with a touch of enthusiasm.

Cheng Ying hesitated internally: should she approach them like they do in Young and Dangerous and pay respects to the Big Brother?

Chi Wu stepped forward first. “Hello.” His manner was much classier than Fatty Sun’s fawning.

Cheng Ying stopped overthinking. Calling him ‘Big Brother’ would imply she needed to swear a blood oath. She followed Chi Wu’s lead, being polite but respectful. Not knowing what title to use, she decided to get straight to the point—just like their objective.