MGG - 20

Chapter 20: Wild

In the afternoon, Qin Xiao and his group were set to return to City B. Unlike Guo Mingyan, Qin Xiao held half of the Qin Corporation in his hands.

He had spent the entire night dreaming of sensual and intoxicating scenes from Xilin.

Waking up with a parched throat left him in a foul mood.

A group of men waited for him to start lunch, planning to eat and then head back. They were in a private room on the second floor, while the rest of the crew was in the main hall on the first floor.

When Qin Xiao descended, the group teased him, still remembering the beautiful woman he had cradled in his arms last night.

Duan Qiyu chuckled, “Who was that beauty Brother Qin held last night? He even abandoned his horse and gear.”

Someone chimed in, “I caught a glimpse—she was stunning, and quite young too, right?”

Qin Xiao’s lips tightened, his gaze turning icy. Wherever his eyes landed, it felt like a knife had been plunged into someone’s heart.

These men, who shared some camaraderie with him, quickly shut their mouths. They couldn’t figure out what they had said wrong. Normally, when discussing such topics, Qin Xiao would sit idly by, smoking a cigarette with a faint smirk, completely unfazed.

But this time, no one dared to joke around.

Only one person walked straight into trouble.

Chu Zhen didn’t have as much wealth as Qin Xiao, but his family wielded significant power. His grandfather had been a renowned marshal, and his family still had members in the military department. At thirty years old, Chu Zhen was also a prominent figure in their circle.

What irked Chu Zhen the most was seeing everyone cower before Qin Xiao.

“A mere mistress—why is Young Master Qin so petty? Why not bring her out for us all to enjoy?”

He raised an eyebrow suggestively, deliberately emphasizing the word “enjoy” in a lewd manner.

In Chu Zhen’s private circle, sharing women among friends was common. Disdainful of Qin Xiao’s aloofness, he naturally harbored resentment toward him.

The moment Chu Zhen spoke, Guo Mingyan’s face turned pale, his heart racing. He sensed impending disaster.

Guo Mingyan had grown up alongside Qin Xiao. Though somewhat dim-witted, he was highly sensitive to Qin Xiao’s reactions. He immediately rushed over to restrain Qin Xiao. “Brother Qin, calm down! Chu Zhen’s just being obnoxious.”

But his scrawny frame couldn’t hold back Qin Xiao, who had been unruly since childhood.

By the time Guo Mingyan caught up, Qin Xiao had already bloodied Chu Zhen’s lip.

Punch after punch, Qin Xiao battered him mercilessly, as if intent on killing him. “Enjoy? I’ll play with you—let’s see how many lives you’ve got to spare!”

Chu Zhen, pinned down under Qin Xiao’s assault, initially felt pain, then frustration. Summoning his fighting spirit, he grabbed a wine bottle from the table corner and smashed it over Qin Xiao’s head with a loud crash.

Blood streamed down the side of Qin Xiao’s forehead, but instead of calming him, it only fueled his rage. His eyes turned cold and dark. Ignoring his wound, he grabbed Chu Zhen by the hair and slammed his head against the wall.

The onlookers watched in horror, unable to pull him away. Qin Xiao seemed determined to kill before stopping.

Even Guo Mingyan, a man, was on the verge of tears. Damn it, how do we stop him? Has Brother Qin gone mad?

The commotion upstairs was deafening. Chairs scraped across the floor, followed by the sound of shattering bottles and plates.

Su Ling, still holding her bowl, paused at the noise and instinctively glanced upward.

Staff members hurried upstairs.

Others, hearing the racket, began speculating about what had happened among the elite circle.

Su Ling calmly picked up a piece of eggplant with her chopsticks and continued eating slowly and obediently.

Wan Baibai found it amusing. “Aren’t you curious about what’s happening upstairs?”

Su Ling ate slower than others due to her small throat, which couldn’t handle large bites. She focused on finishing her meal quickly so no one would have to wait for her. She shook her head. “Not curious.” After all, it couldn’t possibly involve her.

No sooner had she thought that than Guo Mingyan sheepishly appeared at the elevator, hesitantly approaching Wan Baibai and signaling with a gesture.

Highly intelligent, Wan Baibai instantly understood what he meant. She raised an eyebrow and signaled “five” with her hand.

Guo Mingyan nearly choked. Five million yuan? Fine, fine. First, save the situation.

Wan Baibai thought to herself: Five million? You idiot, it’s fifty million.

But seeing him nod, Wan Baibai pulled Su Ling up. “Let’s go to the restroom.”

Su Ling wasn’t used to going to the restroom with other girls. Yun Bu and she always went alone. But she knew that many other girls seemed to have this peculiar “habit.”

She put down her chopsticks and obediently accompanied Wan Baibai to the restroom.

There, she saw a visibly anxious Guo Mingyan.

Su Ling: “….” She had a bad feeling about this—and her premonitions were usually accurate.

Guo Mingyan pleaded, “Su Ling, can you go take a look? Brother Qin’s head is split open, and he’s still bleeding profusely.” As for Chu Zhen, he was barely clinging to life.

Startled, she recalled the events of the previous night and shook her head. “I’m not going.”

Guo Mingyan hadn’t expected her to be so “heartless.” In a panic, he begged, “Please, two lives are at stake!”

His anxious expression didn’t seem fake. After a moment of silence, Su Ling nodded. Initially reluctant, she suddenly remembered the year she broke her leg. Qin Xiao, despite his arrogance and terrible temper, had knelt before her to put on her socks, his eyes gentle.

She didn’t hate him as much as she imagined—she simply didn’t love him.

By the time they arrived upstairs, the situation had been somewhat contained. Qin Xiao stood with his back to them, a cold smirk lingering on his lips as he kicked the barely conscious Chu Zhen on the ground.

Damn it, in his twenty-seven years of life, he had never lost a fight.

Su Ling leaned against the doorway, taking one look inside and was shocked. “Qin Xiao?”

The man’s back stiffened slightly. Frowning, he turned his head. Only then did Su Ling see the deep gash on his forehead. Blood trickled down his brow and jawline, making him look fearsome.

Her heart quivered. While she had heard about Qin Xiao’s infamous temper, she hadn’t personally witnessed it until now, giving her a clear understanding of it.

Qin Xiao cursed inwardly. He must have looked terrifying, and he wondered how much she had seen. Wiping the blood from his forehead, he snapped, “What are you doing here?” His tone was harsh.

Unsure how to respond, Su Ling asked, “Should I go back downstairs?”

Qin Xiao chuckled bitterly. “Come here and dress my wound.”

Having witnessed Qin Xiao’s earlier ferocity, the group of men quickly called an ambulance to take Chu Zhen away. Only Guo Mingyan, Wan Baibai, Qin Xiao, and Su Ling remained.

Wan Baibai realized that the public relations issue wouldn’t resolve easily. Qin Xiao helping Su Ling was a good sign. She quietly told Guo Mingyan, “Let’s settle the bill.”

Fifty million yuan—a huge profit. Guo Mingyan might have to dip into his private stash to cover it. Feeling pleased, Wan Baibai closed the door behind her.

Hesitant, Su Ling watched as the man sat down and rummaged through the medical kit left by the staff. Having been no saint during his school days, he was adept at treating wounds. “Come here and disinfect this with a cotton swab.”

Seeing the gruesome wound, Su Ling silently approached to clean the blood.

Her touch was light, carrying a cool sensation. It brushed against his forehead, causing him to curve his lips slightly. “What are you doing? It hurts like hell.”

He lied, but Su Ling believed him. Startled, she softened her tone. “Did I touch your wound?”

He hummed in response.

She quickly apologized, “Then I’ll be gentler.”

Amused, he added, “And slower.”

Su Ling had learned a bit of medicine from her grandmother and understood the compassion of a healer. After cleaning the blood, she stared at the wound, which was as long as half a finger, and felt apprehensive. “You should really go to the hospital.”

Qin Xiao dismissed it casually. “Just bandage it for now.”

Though Su Ling found it painful to watch, she proceeded to wrap the bandage around his head. He sat while she stood, her movements making it feel as though she were nestled in his embrace. Beyond the metallic scent of blood, he caught the faint fragrance of her presence. Silently, he inhaled deeply for a while.

Su Ling asked, “Why did you hit him?”

He smiled. “What do you think?”

She couldn’t guess. But his earlier demeanor had been truly terrifying.

Qin Xiao said nonchalantly, “I didn’t like him.” Seeing her startled eyes, he teased, “Didn’t like him, thought I’d kill him.”

Afraid of him, Su Ling took a step back.

He chuckled, grabbing her arm. “Are you afraid of me?”

Her voice trembled. “N-no… I’m not.” Her expression clearly betrayed her fear.

He clicked his tongue. “Don’t be afraid of me. Even if I die, I won’t touch you, alright?” How could he bear to? While he hadn’t dared to touch her, Chu Zhen had dared to insult her.

With laughter in his eyes, he made death sound trivial. Su Ling lowered her head, her lashes shielding her emotions. “It’s done. You should still see a doctor.”

Qin Xiao might have been shameless, but Su Ling wasn’t. Still troubled by the events in Xilin, she wanted to leave once her task was complete.

Qin Xiao glanced at her feet. Even in the heat, her canvas shoes were tightly laced. He felt restless.

His fingers twitched slightly. “I’ll give you a gift to thank you.”

Su Ling replied, “I don’t want it.”

She had already opened the door when the man circled behind her, pressing the handle down. “If you don’t accept it, you’re not leaving.”

She was exasperated by his domineering behavior.

But there was nothing she could do. Reluctantly, she conceded in a pitiful tone, “Then I’ll take it.”

Her forced compliance quickened his heartbeat, and he smirked. “Wait for it—I’ll send it over in a couple of days.”

Su Ling thought to herself that he didn’t know whether she’d keep it or not. If she didn’t want it, she could always throw it away later.

“Open the door.”

Qin Xiao chuckled. “Oh, so fierce? If I don’t let you go, will you believe me?”

She felt wronged. Where was she fierce?

His eyes twinkled with amusement. He wanted to say: Su Ling, that pleading tone from last night was nice. Say it again, and I’ll open the door for you.

But knowing how embarrassed she would be, Qin Xiao opened the door and let her out. She fled quickly, unwilling to spend another second with him.

The wound on his forehead throbbed painfully, and his heart felt tugged in all directions. His emotions were beyond his control.

He touched his chest.

That heart was restless, beating even wilder than when he had beaten Chu Zhen.