"Ha! A dog that can keep accounts?" Ma Wendong laughed uproariously.

With a wave of his hand, the bodyguards behind him immediately moved forward, encircling Huang Quan.

Beside him, Cao Tingting clung to Ma Wendong’s arm, her expression one of utter disdain as she looked at Huang Quan. "How disgusting... I can’t believe I ever fancied such trash. Oh, by the way, I’ve already thrown out your junk. Don’t bother going upstairs—you’ll only dirty my floors."

Huang Quan’s rage boiled over into a cold laugh.

In just a few short hours, any fondness he once felt for the woman before him had vanished without a trace.

All that remained was a deep sense of sorrow and burning anger.

I devoted myself to you for all these years, and in the end, this is how you repay me!

Fine, then—let’s settle this score properly.

Noticing the smile on Huang Quan’s face, Cao Tingting hesitated for a moment. After all, she had been in a relationship with Huang Quan for many years and knew him well, but she had never seen such an expression on his face.

For reasons she couldn’t quite grasp, a faint sense of unease crept into her heart.

But that unease was quickly smothered by the long-standing contempt and disdain she held for him.

At the same time, Ma Wendong noticed the smile playing on Huang Quan’s lips. With a sneer, he pointed a finger at Huang Quan’s face. "Trash like you dares to laugh?"

Cao Tingting chimed in, "Darling, can you teach this trash another lesson? Just seeing him smile makes me sick."

Ma Wendong nodded, rolling up his sleeves as he approached Huang Quan. As he walked, he instructed his bodyguards, "Hold this kid down—I want to deal with him personally. Don’t let him escape."

Throughout it all, Huang Quan maintained his smile, regarding Ma Wendong as if he were an imbecile.

Unsettled by the look, Ma Wendong reached him and threw a punch with all his might. "Let’s see how long you can keep smiling!"

But then, his eyes widened in terror.

Ma Wendong felt as though his fist had collided with a cold, unyielding vise.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

He realized that Huang Quan’s hand was icy to the touch but possessed immense strength, gripping his fist with an unbreakable hold.

Huang Quan’s smile grew even more pronounced.

How did this guy suddenly become so strong? He wasn’t this powerful before...

Overcome with a mix of rage and fear, Ma Wendong tried to wrench his fist free, but to his horror, it felt as though it was caught in a steel trap, the pain searing through his bones.

"What are you all standing around for? Kill him... Ah..." Ma Wendong screamed in terror.

But before he could finish his sentence, there was a sickening crack. His wrist swelled grotesquely, and when he looked closer, he saw a shard of white bone protruding through his skin.

Ma Wendong’s face turned ashen, his lips drained of color, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He was too shocked to speak.

The two burly bodyguards exchanged glances before charging at Huang Quan, their fists aimed squarely at him.

Huang Quan took a half-step back, and with a swift pull and toss, Ma Wendong was sent flying through the air, his screams echoing as he soared toward a pile of trash.

Then, with precise timing, Huang Quan caught the fists of the two bodyguards. A light twist, and both of their wrists cracked audibly. Their hands went limp, swinging uselessly at their sides.

With a swift pull and a flick of his wrist, Huang Quan sent the two burly bodyguards flying through the air, their anguished screams echoing as they traced graceful arcs before crashing into the trash heap.

"Y-You… Huang… I’ll… kill… you!" Ma Wendong groaned in agony, forcing each word out through clenched teeth. He tried to push himself up, desperate for revenge, but the searing pain made it impossible for him even to crawl. His legs twitched helplessly.

Thud! Ma Wendong’s vision darkened as one of the bodyguards landed squarely on his head.

Thud! Another one followed.

Cao Tingting was stunned. This man… How could he be so strong? Is he really Huang Quan?

Terror-stricken, she looked up and locked eyes with Huang Quan, whose gaze was icy despite the smile on his lips. A shiver ran down her spine.

Knowing Huang Quan well, she immediately understood his intentions. Panic surged through her, and she retreated, shouting in desperation, "Huang Quan! You want to hit me? You want to hit a woman? Are you even a man?"

Her words made Huang Quan pause.

Cao Tingting’s heart leaped with hope. She cautiously glanced at Huang Quan, then at the struggling Ma Wendong in the trash heap. After a moment’s thought, she decided to placate the terrifying man before her.

She softened her tone, preparing to say something conciliatory, but before she could, Huang Quan spoke first.

Nodding earnestly, Huang Quan said, "You're right. I shouldn't hit a woman."

Cao Tingting’s heart soared: This man is so easy to manipulate!

And then she was airborne.

She crashed into the trash heap with a solid thud.

"I shouldn’t hit a woman," Huang Quan continued calmly, "but every good citizen knows you should throw trash where it belongs."

"How dare you treat me like this, Huang Quan! You're finished! Wendong is the son of the Ma family! You’ve got less than three days before you’re dead!"

Huang Quan didn’t bother responding. He walked over to Ma Wendong, who stared at him with a mixture of pain and terror. Reaching into Ma Wendong’s pocket, Huang Quan calmly took out his wallet and pulled three hundred yuan—just enough for a cheap set of sportswear. Then, without another word, he retrieved his belongings from the hallway and left.

He had no intention of letting this pair of scoundrels off so easily, but for now, he had more pressing matters to attend to—questions about the apartment in his mind that needed urgent answers.