?”Haha, Brother Ming!”

“!!!”

Zhang Ming nearly jumped out of his seat in surprise as Zhang Wei casually approached and leaned against the car’s open window, greeting him with a mischievous grin.

“You—what are you doing lurking around here?!” Zhang Ming blurted, his voice tense with suspicion.

“And why are you tailing us? Are you stalking Wenxi?” His accusation carried a sharp edge, his protective instincts flaring up.

“Stay away from my fiancée, you bastard!”

Zhang Ming’s pulse raced; he had always suspected Zhang Wei of mischief, but seeing him here now, a stone’s throw from where Wenxi was, confirmed his worst fears.

Zhang Ming didn’t want this notorious playboy anywhere near his beloved Wenxi.

The thought alone was enough to ignite his fury. 𝗳r𝐞𝐞w𝐞bn𝚘ve𝚕.co𝐦

Yet, Zhang Wei seemed entirely amused by the confrontation, his smile broadening as he observed Zhang Ming’s growing agitation.

To Zhang Wei, the scene was almost comical, as if he could see the green hat already resting on Zhang Ming’s head.

“Brother Ming,” Zhang Wei began, his tone mockingly solemn, “the time has come for you to really step up as a brother. So, what’s it going to be? Will you step out on your own, or do I need to help you?”

Zhang Wei’s hand rested on the car door, a calm challenge in his eyes as he waited for Zhang Ming’s response.

Inside, he enjoyed the drama, fully prepared to escalate the situation should Zhang Ming choose defiance.

Zhang Ming clenched his fists, his thoughts racing. ‘How dare he show up here, mocking me? Does he not see the line he’s crossing?’ His anger simmered, a volatile mix of protectiveness and pride.

“Get out, Zhang Wei. This is neither the time nor the place for your games,” Zhang Ming snapped back, finally mustering the resolve to confront the intruder face-to-face.

His voice was a low growl, a clear signal that he wasn’t backing down easily.

Zhang Wei smirked, “Games? The only game I see is the one your woman is playing with your life.”

“You!!!!”

Zhang Ming’s face turned a deep crimson, a tumultuous mix of rage and humiliation swirling within him. He swiftly unclipped his seatbelt, a definitive sign that he was poised to escalate the confrontation. “Enough of your nonsense. Get away from my car, or I swear—”

Whoosh!

Before Zhang Ming could complete his threat, Zhang Wei swiftly grabbed his collar. “Next time, don’t forget to bring a green hat.”

Bam!

Before Zhang Ming could even react, Zhang Wei had forcefully ejected him from the car, sending him tumbling against the cold, hard tiles of the hotel lobby.

“Idiot.” Zhang Wei scoffed, observing Zhang Ming disheveled and sprawled on the floor. “Tsk-Tsk, pay your respects to your ancestors properly, Brother Ming, or you’ll never be forgiven for your sins!” He chuckled maliciously before slipping into the driver’s seat and gunning the engine.

Vroom!

The engine roared defiantly as Zhang Wei sped away, leaving Zhang Ming to gather himself off the ground. Teeth clenched in fury, Zhang Ming screamed after the retreating car, “STAY AWAY FROM WENXI! THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING, ZHANG WEI!”

______

Qingyun City, M-block, Galaxy Apartment building!

Night had fallen by 9:00 pm, casting deep shadows around the towering apartment building where Anna stood alone.

The area was sparsely lit, occasional lights casting intermittent glows that flickered like distant stars.

Anna, with her distinct blonde hair and dark sunglasses, cut a striking figure.

She was clad in a sharply tailored black suit paired with a crisp white shirt underneath, exuding an air of cool detachment.

Puff…

In her hand, a cheap cigarette smoldered, the smoke forming a barrier that kept curious onlookers at bay despite her eye-

catching appearance.

She was stationed next to a black Rolls Royce, the luxury car designated for Xiong Mei.

The vehicle was parked blatantly illegally, yet no passerby dared challenge her; the locals knew better.

They understood that the entire top floor penthouse was owned by a wealthy individual, and it was generally accepted that it was better not to provoke the affluent.

In this city, the poor could be burdened endlessly—cheated, scammed, harassed without reprieve.

But to cross the wealthy?

That was to court death!

As Anna mused over these unspoken rules of survival and privilege, a rueful, half-hearted chuckle escaped her lips. “The lives of these people are truly unique,” she murmured, her voice tinged with a mix of amusement and bitterness.

“Cough… Cough—!”

She coughed slightly accidentally choking on the smoke, her attention snapping to the present when a black sports car screeched to a halt directly in front of her.

“Who dares trespass in the boss’s territory now!?” she thought, her eyebrow arching behind her sunglasses.

But as the figure stepped out of the vehicle, her posture instantly stiffened, and she snapped to attention, throwing up a crisp salute.

“Master Zhang!”

“Anna? What are you doing outside, and where is Meimei?” Zhang Wei’s gaze swept the area, pausing when he noticed the cigarette still burning between her fingers, which she had awkwardly used to salute.

He reached out and plucked the cigarette from her grasp, highlighting her lapse with a sharp gesture that left her slightly embarrassed.

“Ah! Sorry about that, I was just—”

She began, only to be cut off abruptly by Zhang Wei, “Enough with the nonsense, just answer me and explain the situation.” His voice was stern as he leaned against the car, taking a drag from the stolen cigarette with an air of nonchalance.

‘It tastes so terrible…’ He grimaced inwardly, yet he continued smoking regardless.

Anna responded, maintaining her composure, “It’s as I explained on the phone—nothing too serious. No suicidal actions as of now, but I’m not sure how much longer Miss can keep this up.”

Zhang Wei nodded, his eyes probing, “Why are you outside?” He noted that despite the circumstances, she was still impeccably dressed.

Anna gave a bitter smile, “She kicked me out of the house for contacting you.”

“Oh, let’s go and meet her then. Is she up on the top floor?” Zhang Wei’s eyebrow arched inquisitively as he flicked the cigarette butt away, grinding it out with the heel of his shoe.

Anna nodded, a flicker of resolve crossing her face, “Yes, I’ll escort you, Master Zhang.” She still held the spare keys—though she hadn’t dared to use them without permission.

But now that the big boss was here, what was there to fear?