Xiao Zihan left Yan Mei's place in the late night. Despite her lack of objection to him staying, he chose to leave as he had classes to attend in the morning. Even though Yan Mei insisted that two people sleeping together didn't necessarily imply anything else, he decided it was better to leave. Facing someone as alluring as Yan Mei, he couldn't afford to let his guard down, as he might lose control.

As for how Yan Mei guessed that he knew Xiao He, it was because she had connections in the underworld and was well aware of its workings. In these times, it's challenging for hotel managers to have a good life without some ties to the underworld. When Xiao Zihan questioned why Yan Mei chose to approach him, dressed so provocatively to test his reactions, Yan Mei candidly explained. This revelation infuriated Xiao Zihan. How dare she dress like that with the intention of enticing him to become her toy boy and kept lover? Xiao Zihan didn't hold back and promptly gave Yan Mei a spanking on her round and tender buttocks. A man had to display his manliness.

Yan Mei, with tears in her eyes, promised she wouldn't think that way again. Only then did Xiao Zihan stop. Later, when Xiao Zihan married both Xiao He and Yan Mei, the two sisters, during casual conversations, inadvertently revealed their embarrassing stories, both involving being spanked by Xiao Zihan. They concluded that to become Xiao Zihan's wife, passing through the buttock-spanking ordeal was a prerequisite.

After returning home, Xiao Zihan, troubled by his thoughts, fell asleep in a daze.

Early the next morning, Xing Ao appeared, accompanied by a woman named Dong Qing. This was the same woman Xiao Zihan and Xing Ao had seen at the sports department, Dong Qing.

Xing Ao, with a big smile on his face, was elated. After many days of effort, he had finally won the heart of a beautiful woman.

Xing Ao introduced Dong Qing to Xiao Zihan, "This is my brother, Xiao Zihan. Brother Han, you've met her before at the sports department meeting. Xiao Qing, call Brother Han."

Blushing, Dong Qing lowered her head and shyly greeted, "Brother Han, hello."

Xiao Zihan chuckled, "Call me Big Brother Xiao; don't listen to Ao's nonsense."

"No, no," Xing Ao protested, "Rules are rules. As my wife, you should address him respectfully as 'Brother Han.' Brother Han, this is my wife, Dong Qing."

Just as Xiao Zihan was about to greet Dong Qing, he noticed Xing Ao grimacing in pain. Glancing, he saw a delicate hand pinching Xing Ao's waist.

After their playful banter, Xing Ao and Dong Qing finally stopped. Xing Ao complained, "You should have pinched back; doing it here makes me lose face."

Xiao Zihan laughed and said, "Enough, Ao. What's up with you two? Playing around like this, so carefree. I can't do that."

Curious, Xing Ao asked, "What's wrong, Brother Han? Why so melancholic?"

Xiao Zihan sighed and shared everything that had happened in the past few days.

Xing Ao, after hearing the story, exclaimed, "Wow, Brother Han, such a great opportunity. Two super beauties—one rich, one with 'power.' I suggest you go talk to them as soon as possible and settle the marriage. Once you make it big, I'll benefit too."

Xiao Zihan frowned, his gaze falling on Dong Qing.

Dong Qing spoke, "I think Brother Han should take it slow. Give it a few more days, understand each other better, and then decide. Right now, the time Brother Han has spent with them is too short. Although Brother Han took Ah He's virginity, I don't think she minds that. What she's concerned about is dragging Brother Han into trouble."

Xiao Zihan nodded in agreement with Dong Qing's sensible suggestion.

In the afternoon, the weather was clear with no wind or dust, perfect for an outing in the countryside. The three of them didn't take a car; instead, they rode bicycles, as they had plenty of time. They chatted and laughed while cycling on the road. Xiaozihan happened to notice an abandoned factory in the distance and, on a whim, insisted on going inside to take a look.

Xingao complained, "Boss, what's so interesting about a rundown factory? Let's move on quickly." However, Xiaozihan ignored him and rode straight towards the factory. Despite his complaints, Xingao reluctantly turned his bike and followed Xiaozihan, with Dong Qing trailing behind.

From a distance, the factory didn't look impressive, but up close, it appeared quite magnificent due to its size and unusual spaciousness. Xiaozihan felt a sense of openness in his chest. The rise and fall of all things in the world are inevitable processes, and the joys and sorrows of life always complement each other. Living in this world, one must find ways to make oneself happier and then share that happiness with others. Joy is better when shared.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

As Xiaozihan immersed himself in his thoughts, a deep and commanding voice echoed from inside the factory, disrupting his reverie. Xiaozihan gestured to silence Xingao and Dong Qing, but it was too late. A rough voice from inside said, "Friends outside, since you're here, could you come in for a chat?"

Although the voice was coarse, it still sounded civilized. Xiaozihan's expression darkened slightly as he took a few steps forward and pushed open the iron gate of the factory. Upon opening the gate, he felt a damp air rushing towards him, indicating the long abandonment of the factory.

The interior of the factory was dim, with a few small windows high up, making it difficult for sunlight to illuminate the space. It only brightened considerably when Xiaozihan opened the gate. Inside, there were five people, divided into two groups, creating a four-against-one situation. Upon Xiaozihan's entrance, none of them diverted their attention, and all stared intently at each other.

The one slightly ahead of the other three was a tall and robust man, standing close to two meters tall. His towering height naturally exuded a powerful aura. Ignoring Xiaozihan's arrival, he spoke in a coarse voice, "Yue Feiyang, do you know how many brothers we lost just to capture you?"

Yue Feiyang was the lone individual, and since he was the only one whose face Xiaozihan could see, he paid special attention to him. Yue Feiyang had thin, long eyes, a well-defined nose, and extremely fair skin. At first glance, he seemed handsome, but there was no sign of weakness associated with a delicate appearance. From the gleam in his slender eyes, Xiaozihan could almost be certain that this person possessed considerable intelligence and strategic acumen. Observing how he faced four opponents with a calm smile, Yue Feiyang also appeared courageous and composed. Xiaozihan was quite impressed with him.

Yue Feiyang replied, "Shang Zixiong, everyone understands the situation. I am innocent; this is just Zhang Dao using the excuse of killing two birds with one stone. We've worked together for three years; you know what kind of person I am. As for those brothers, I had no choice. I don't kill, but if I don't, they kill me. What should I do?"

Shang Zixiong showed a trace of guilt on his face and smiled bitterly, saying, "I can't control the situation, but Zhang Boss has given the order, and I have to follow it. I can only say sorry, brother."

Yue Feiyang laughed heartily, "Just for that sentence, I will forever respect you as a brother. But let me advise you, following Zhang Dao won't lead to a good end."

Shang Zixiong was a bit agitated but remained calm, "Enough talk. Let's settle it with our hands. If I win, you come back with me, and I'll plead with Zhang Boss for you. If you win, you can leave, and I'll take responsibility for this matter."

Yue Feiyang looked appreciatively at Shang Zixiong for his loyalty. However, the odds were not in Yue Feiyang's favor if he fought Shang Zixiong. He felt bitter inside, realizing that he might not survive this encounter.

At this moment, Xiaozihan, who had been standing on the side for some time, suddenly spoke up. With a hearty laugh, he addressed Shang Zixiong, "My friend, look at him, all clean and tidy, like a girl. How can he be your match in a fight? How about this, I'll fight for him. What do you think?" He then signaled to Yue Feiyang not to act recklessly.

Shang Zixiong hadn't paid much attention to Xiaozihan from the beginning, considering him just a passerby. Unexpectedly, this person had voluntarily stepped into the situation.

He scrutinized Xiaozihan, who was tall and handsome, with bright eyes and a somewhat lazy demeanor. Overall, he appeared outstanding, but it was hard to tell if he was a skilled fighter. However, the saying "don't judge a book by its cover" had been around for a reason, so he remained cautious.

In a deep voice, he asked, "Are you here to pick a fight, brother?"

Xiaozihan chuckled, "Certainly not, certainly not. I just feel a connection with this brother, and I consider myself somewhat skilled, so I came out to spar with him."

A person behind Shang Zixiong said, "Big Brother Xiong, this guy is clearly looking for trouble. You don't need to bother; we'll take care of him."

Shang Zixiong waved his hand, focusing on this unexpected challenger. He respected each of his opponents.

Xiaozihan closed his eyes, developing a favorable impression of this person named Shang Zixiong. He seemed steady, showing no hint of arrogance. In terms of ability, he appeared to be on par with the renowned Bridge Three, known for stability. Xiaozihan, relying on intuition, was certain that Shang Zixiong was undoubtedly a formidable opponent. Excitement at encountering a worthy adversary surged within him. How long would it take to defeat him without using his legs?

With these thoughts, Xiaozihan opened his eyes wide, radiating a brilliant light, immediately adopting a serious and focused demeanor.

After a prolonged exchange of auras, both of them moved simultaneously.

Xiaozihan threw lightning-fast punches with both hands, targeting Shang Zixiong's chest and abdomen. Shang Zixiong countered with rapid punches aimed at Xiaozihan's head and chest.

A loud "bang" echoed as Shang Zixiong took a step back. He was inferior to Xiaozihan in both the speed of striking and agility in evading, so Xiaozihan's fist struck his chest. In return, Shang Zixiong's punch barely grazed Xiaozihan.

Feeling the pain in his solid chest, Shang Zixiong's expression grew more serious.

Xiaozihan chuckled lightly and unleashed another punch, this time aiming directly for Shang Zixiong's jaw. Shang Zixiong dodged to the side, but unexpectedly, Xiaozihan halted his punch midway. Instead, he executed a backswing, using his elbow to strike Shang Zixiong's temple.

Shang Zixiong hadn't anticipated that Xiaozihan could control the force to such an extent. Caught off guard, he could only raise his arm for defense. When Xiaozihan's elbow hit his arm, it caused immense pain. Stepping back with a grimace, he vigorously shook his arm to alleviate the pain.

Yue Feiyang and Shang Zixiong's three subordinates wore expressions of disbelief. Shang Zixiong, who had never encountered such a situation in one-on-one or one-on-two fights, appeared severely battered after just two face-offs. Who was this person, and why was he so formidable? All of them started to view Xiaozihan with a different perspective.

Remaining composed, Xiaozihan stared at Shang Zixiong and said, "Come on, show me your true strength. Your legs seem quite powerful. Why abandon them?"

Shang Zixiong felt a surge of anger but had to face reality. The person in front of him was an unexpectedly formidable opponent he had never encountered before. He had to go all out. Shang Zixiong's legs were indeed powerful and agile, using both punches and kicks, making it more challenging for Xiaozihan, who relied solely on his fists. However, Xiaozihan's control over force was simply too strong. Often, a fierce and powerful punch would suddenly change direction midway, finding another target. Shang Zixiong was frequently on the defensive, getting hit everywhere. Finally, after a prolonged struggle, Shang Zixiong, struck by a powerful blow to the abdomen from Xiaozihan, fell to the ground, hands clutching his stomach in pain, unable to get up.

Xiaozihan also took some hits, feeling pain all over his body. However, his resistance to physical attacks was exceptionally strong, having endured countless heavy blows from childhood to adulthood. Moreover, his strength and speed were beyond Shang Zixiong's comparison. Although he was in pain, it wasn't much for him. However, he clearly felt that three years without practice had caused a decline in his various abilities. He realized he needed to be more diligent in the future.

The fierce battle that was about to take place was averted due to Xiaozihan's unexpected intervention. Shang Zixiong left regretfully with his three subordinates. Before leaving, he cast a deep look at Xiaozihan, expressing a mix of admiration and unwillingness. But more than anything, it was admiration.

Watching the departing figure of this brave man, Xiaozihan couldn't help but worry about his future. How would he explain things to Zhang Dao?