Xue Jingdong was furious. He had already given Su Qingning so much face, but she had shown him none in return. Damn it, I'm the Eldest Young Master of the Xue Family in Jinhai City! My status is noble and revered. And Su Qingning is from a family that's nothing but a fallen house. What right does she have to disrespect me?

Su Qingning watched Xue Jingdong with a cold expression, her peach blossom-like eyes full of disgust. "Xue Jingdong, what do you want?"

"What do I want? I want to fuck you, of course!" Xue Jingdong sneered. "Su Qingning, if you know what's good for you, let me have some fun. Otherwise, don't blame me for getting rough!"

His expression was one of pure triumph, and Su Qingning began to tremble with rage. Although she'd known he was shameless before coming here, she realized she had still underestimated the depths of his depravity. "You're dreaming, Xue Jingdong!" she said, her voice as cold as a blade.

Her words made Xue Jingdong even more furious. "Fuck! I'm dreaming, am I? Fine! I'll have my men kill that beggar husband of yours right now! I know he's just outside!"

Su Qingning trembled violently as deep, profound fear filled her beautiful eyes. Lin Xiao really was outside, where so many bodyguards were waiting. She knew with chilling certainty that if Xue Jingdong gave the order, Lin Xiao wouldn't survive. And even if they killed Lin Xiao, Xue Jingdong wouldn't face any consequences. He was the Eldest Young Master of the Xue Family, after all. His towering background would make a murder investigation disappear without a trace.

A wave of panic washed over Su Qingning. I only brought him here for protection... I never thought I'd be the one to put him in harm's way. What do I do? Can I really just stand by and watch them kill him? Why is life so damn hard? Her heart grew heavy with despair.

Seeing her expression shift from defiance to panic, Xue Jingdong let out a triumphant, predatory grin. "Su Qingning, I never would've guessed that stinking beggar was your Achilles' heel. Damn, I don't know if he's lucky or you're just unlucky. But it doesn't matter. All I want is your body. Now, crawl over here, take off your pants, and let my buddies have a nice taste of that sexy mouth of yours!"

Su Qingning's face turned ashen with rage. The panic she felt moments ago was consumed by a burning humiliation. She knew Xue Jingdong was scum, but she'd never imagined he could utter something so vile. Just as she was about to speak, a calm, level voice sounded from behind her. "First, you will kneel and apologize to my wife."

Su Qingning shuddered and spun around to see Lin Xiao standing there. The moment she saw him, her eyes reddened. It was a raw feeling of grievance, like a bullied child finally seeing their parents arrive. She threw herself into his arms and began to sob uncontrollably.

Lin Xiao wrapped his arms around her waist, inhaling her alluring scent as he spoke softly, "Don't be afraid. I'm here now. No one in this world can bully you."

A warmth she had never known before instantly flooded her entire being, washing away the bitter grievance and replacing it with a profound sense of relief. Fresh tears streamed down her face, like pearls scattering from a broken string.

Just then, Xue Jingdong sneered, "Well, well, you stinking beggar. You sure know how to put on a show. But before you try to act tough, why don't you take a look at where you are, and more importantly, who I am?"

Lin Xiao ignored him completely. Su Qingning was still crying in his arms, and comforting her was his only priority. Dealing with this piece of trash can wait. It'll only take a moment.

"Wife, I know how wronged you feel," he murmured. "But don't worry. I'll make him pay for every bit of humiliation you suffered today. I'll make him pay double."

But Su Qingning shook her head. Pushing him away gently, she wiped her tears and said, "Lin Xiao, let's just go." She was genuinely terrified. She was afraid that in his anger, Lin Xiao would do something reckless, like attack Xue Jingdong. If that happened, the Xue Family would never let it go.

Lin Xiao was about to speak, but Xue Jingdong cut him off with a menacing chuckle. "Leaving? Did I say you could leave? Su Qingning, do you think this is your house, where you can come and go as you please? I have no idea how this stinking beggar got in, but since he's here, it's perfect. Now he gets to watch me 'do' you!"

Lin Xiao laughed. In the next instant, he moved like a flash of lightning, appearing before Xue Jingdong in a blur. His hand shot out, clamping around the man's neck like an iron pincer. Even the number one family in Jinhai City has to show me respect. A mere third-ranked family is less than nothing.

A suffocating sensation washed over him. Xue Jingdong thought he could see the Grim Reaper raising its scythe. The immense strength in Lin Xiao's grip felt like the hand of Death itself, choking the life from him. His eyes began to roll back in their sockets as his body trembled violently. An unprecedented terror seized his mind. He wanted to beg for mercy, but his throat was constricted so tightly that he couldn't make a sound.

Watching this, Su Qingning's scalp prickled with fear and she shuddered from head to toe. She was terrified. "Lin Xiao, stop! Stop right now!" she cried out urgently.

Of course, she wasn't worried about Xue Jingdong. In fact, a part of her wished he would just drop dead. The humiliation he'd subjected her to wasn't something she could easily forget. The real reason she cried out was that she knew if Lin Xiao actually killed Xue Jingdong, he wouldn't survive either. The Xue Family, with all their power and influence, would hunt him down and kill him. Su Qingning didn't want Lin Xiao to die; she wanted him to live safely.

"Wife, don't be afraid," Lin Xiao said calmly. "He's just a piece of garbage. Killing him is no big deal. In fact, not only him—"

Su Qingning frantically cut him off. "Husband, don't! Please, don't do anything foolish!" she pleaded. "We can't afford to offend him. We can just avoid him from now on. I've already made up my mind. If the bar can stay open, fine. If not, we'll let it go. And the Su Corporation… if we can get it back, great. If not, that's okay too!"

She had made her choice. At this moment, as long as Lin Xiao was safe, nothing else mattered.

Lin Xiao felt the raw fear in her voice. He turned and saw her pale, frantic face. His heart softened, and he released his grip on Xue Jingdong. However, he had already made up his mind. I'll have someone start dealing with the Xue Family later.

Like a beaten dog, Xue Jingdong collapsed to the floor, greedily gasping for fresh air. Seeing him released, Su Qingning finally breathed a sigh of relief, though her heart still pounded as she recalled the terrifying scene.

"Wife, let's go," Lin Xiao said.

Su Qingning nodded quickly, and the two of them turned to leave.

But Xue Jingdong's sinister voice snarled from the floor. "Hurt me and think you can just walk away? You must be dreaming! Stinking beggar, I'll let you in on a little secret: I was waiting for you today. You can come out now!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a dark shadow shot out from deeper within the building.

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