"Xiao Qian, why are you walking so fast? I can hardly keep up with you. Don't walk so fast later," the man spoke not in standard Mandarin, but with a bit of an accent.

His obese body made him sweat more easily. It's unclear when he left the house, but at this moment, his white shirt was already soaked with sweat, making the fabric somewhat transparent, revealing his skin underneath.

The woman's first reaction upon seeing the man was to hold her breath and discreetly step aside, putting some distance between them. However, after a brief glance at Xu Ke, she became slightly more attentive to the man—a mere hint of it was enough to make the man grin like a happy child, his plump face beaming like a smiling Buddha.

The woman pouted pitifully at the man, her eyes instantly reddening, displaying a look of tears about to fall before she even spoke.

Initially, the man was happy with the woman's sudden closeness, but soon he panicked. "Xiao Qian, what's wrong? Who bullied you? I'll stand up for you, just don't cry, okay?" He nervously reached out to wipe the tears from the woman's cheeks, but she subtly avoided it.

"It's them. They threw away my ice cream. Do you know how long it took me to find this ice cream shop? They not only threw my ice cream away but also cursed at me. Didn't you say you'd protect me? Didn't you say you've made a name for yourself in Xizhou? You have to help me get back at them and vent my anger, or I'll ignore you forever." The woman stomped her foot, turning aside, showing only half her face to the man.

Her little act left the man's heart melting.

He quickly caught up with Xu Ke and the others, reaching out to pat Xu Ke's back. But having just been ambushed earlier, Xu Ke wasn't about to let that happen again, easily sidestepping the man's hand.

"What do you want?" Seeing an unfamiliar face, Xu Ke's impatience subsided slightly.

The man scrutinized Xu Ke and the other two, momentarily dazed upon seeing Lin Mengyao and Yu Xia, but quickly collected himself and refocused on Xu Ke.

"How long are you going to stare? If you have something to say, please be quick. It's too hot to stand here forever," Xu Ke said, glancing up at the blazing sun.

"I heard from Xiao Qian that you bullied her. Don't you have any shame, three of you ganging up on a young woman? Especially you, a grown man, bullying a young woman. Aren't you ashamed? Your skin is thicker than city walls. Apologize to the lady now and don't disgrace us men," the man said, attempting to grab Xu Ke, seemingly intending to drag him to apologize to the woman.

Xu Ke raised his hand, effortlessly dodging the man's reaching hand.

"Don't get physical. If you want to placate your woman, that's your business, but don't involve me," Xu Ke remarked, looking at the man with a half-amused expression.

"I don't know what she told you, but if you want to be deceived, that's your issue. Don't expect me to pay for your foolishness," Xu Ke added, unable to hold back.

"And you call yourself a man? How can you sow discord between people? Oh, I get it. You must have taken a fancy to Xiao Qian, right? You pissed her off just to grab her attention, and now you're saying all this just to stir things up between us so you can take advantage," the man exclaimed, a look of sudden realization on his face.

"No way, how can you be so shameless, having so many schemes as a man? Are you a sieve?" The man was shocked by his own conclusion, and his stare at Xu Ke became hostile, as if he were looking at a despicable third party.

This look and accusation left Xu Ke speechless. He had no intention of talking to someone so mentally deranged. Still, the man was intent on not letting Xu Ke leave.

"Why are you leaving? You haven't apologized to Xiao Qian yet. I promised her I'd stand up for her. I can't go back on my word. Come apologize to Xiao Qian with me," the man said, once again reaching out to pull Xu Ke, but Xu Ke sidestepped him again.

Xu Ke licked his back teeth, looking at the man with some disbelief. "Why are you as stubborn as an ox? Your promise to her is your business, not mine. I want to take my wife to find a cool spot to escape the heat, not waste time here with you. Stop bothering me," Xu Ke said, growing impatient.

"You have a wife?" The man was surprised to hear this, looking at Xu Ke in disbelief.

Because Xu Ke looked quite young, the man had assumed he was single. To find out Xu Ke was married astonished him. His gaze shifted between Lin Mengyao and Yu Xia, trying to determine which one was Xu Ke's wife, but both looked quite compatible with Xu Ke when standing separately; Yu Xia just seemed a bit young.

With a rough idea in mind, the man withdrew his gaze and looked at Xu Ke with less hostility, trying to negotiate: "Since you already have a wife, you should focus on living well with her and stop thinking about our Xiao Qian."

"If all you want to say is this, then let me assure you, I'm not interested in your Xiao Qian, not even a bit. I won't compete with you. If there's nothing else, stop blocking my way. We need to leave urgently." The sun overhead was growing more scorching, and the exposed skin on Xu Ke's body began to prick with pain.

"No, I can't. I promised Xiao Qian, and I can't let her down, or she'll be mad at me. How about this? If you agree to apologize to Xiao Qian, I'll give you ten thousand yuan, how about that?" the man suggested, an expression of slight pride on his face.

In the man's view, uttering a mere "I'm sorry" could bring a windfall. Why not? In his understanding, no one would refuse such an offer. Thus, when Xu Ke's decisive refusal reached him, the man was bewildered, his mind unable to process it.

"What did you say?" The man raised one eyebrow, surprised.

"I said I refuse. Keep that money for someone who needs it more," Xu Ke replied.

"I see, you're rejecting ten thousand because it's too little? How about this, for saying 'I'm sorry,' I'll give you thirty thousand, how about that?" The man held up three pudgy fingers adorned with gold rings towards Xu Ke, his chubby face demonstrating what it meant to feel the pinch.

In the man's mind, saying those three words would earn a fortune, valuable beyond belief. Surely, Xu Ke would agree this time, but once again he was refused.

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