Gu Yan rolled her eyes at him and leaned against Qu Xiao’s shoulder. “What else could a woman want from a man besides making babies?”
Liang Yan spat out the noodles in his mouth. Was this even something a normal person would say?
His spray directly victimized Liang Yueran who sat across from him. She jumped up immediately, “Ah! Brother, what are you doing? I just bought this outfit today!”
Qu Xiao turned to look at Gu Yan’s mischievous grin and reached out to ruffle her hair. This girl’s wicked temper hadn’t changed at all.
Liang Yan wiped his mouth, put his bowl and chopsticks directly on the coffee table, and stared at Gu Yan.
Gu Yan waved her hand at him, “Relax, no need to be so guarded against me. I just suddenly came to my senses and recognized who’s worth trusting, so don’t worry. I’ll give you a nephew next year.”
Seeing Liang Yan and Liang Yueran looking utterly shocked, Qu Xiao tapped her forehead, “Alright, stop messing around. Go upstairs and rest first. I still have matters to attend to.”
Gu Yan directly grabbed his hand, “You’re afraid you won’t be able to control yourself again, so you’re making excuses not to sleep with me. Don’t worry, I won’t tease you tonight. We’ll just sleep innocently.”
Qu Xiao couldn’t help but massage his forehead. Her words made him sound like he was only driven by primal instincts.
“I really have business to attend to. I need to check out the Underground City your brother just mentioned.”
Gu Yan looked at him with concern. She didn’t know if Qu Xiao would still have his hands crippled by an ambush now that Liang Yan had returned.
She still couldn’t help holding his hand, “Can’t you not go? Can’t others go instead?”
Qu Xiao shook his head, “They follow me because I never let them die in vain. There’s no reason to make them take the risk.”
Gu Yan kept watching him, still unwilling to let him go.
After some thought, she took off the peace knot she had worn since childhood from her neck. “My grandmother bought this when I was born. She had it blessed at the temple. It can protect your safety. Wear it.”
Watching Gu Yan standing before him and putting the peace knot around his neck, Qu Xiao felt warmth spread through his heart.
He reached out and held her hand, “Okay.”
Qu Xiao stood up and turned to look at Liang Yan, “Wait here for me first. I’ll be back after handling some matters.”
Liang Yan wiped his mouth and stood up, “I’ll go with you.”
Knowing his temperament, Qu Xiao didn’t say anything more, simply asking Yu Yang to gather people to accompany them.
As soon as Qu Xiao stepped out the door, Gu Yan chased after him.
When he turned back, he saw Gu Yan coming out with his overcoat, “Take your coat. It’s too cold outside.”
Qu Xiao took the coat from her hand and ruffled her hair, “Go back inside quickly. I’ll return in at most two hours.”
Gu Yan nodded and didn’t go back inside until his car had driven away.
Once inside, she immediately pulled Liang Yueran upstairs.
Liang Yueran looked completely bewildered, “Gu Yan, what’s wrong with you? Let me go!”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to beat you up. I just want to talk to you about something.”
Liang Yueran grumbled complaints as she followed Gu Yan into the room.
In the car.
After learning their destination and mission, Liang Yan looked at Qu Xiao who was resting with his eyes closed and couldn’t help asking, “Brother, don’t you think Gu Yan is acting strange? How did she suddenly become so fond of you? I think there’s something fishy going on.”
Qu Xiao felt the cool sensation from the peace buckle around his neck. He opened his eyes and looked at him, “A Yan, I’ve registered the marriage with her. From now on, she’s your sister-in-law.”
Liang Yan snorted, turning his head to gaze out the window. “She’s caused you so much suffering. I’ll never call her sister-in-law.”
Qu Xiao didn’t press the topic further and instead asked, “When you were handling that matter, did anyone around you try to persuade you otherwise?”
Liang Yan frowned in thought before nodding. “A few did. They felt it was unfair.”
Qu Xiao nodded. It seemed the problem still lay on his side, yet he couldn’t figure out who had turned disloyal.
Soon, the car stopped at the entrance of Nantang Underground City.
Qu Xiao and Liang Yan got out. Yu Yang handed a gun to Qu Xiao along with some bullets.
Noticing Liang Yan only wore a shirt, Qu Xiao passed him his overcoat. “Put this on. Did you bring your gun?”
Liang Yan took the coat and nodded. “Yes.”
Qu Xiao glanced back at the fifty or sixty men behind him, his voice carrying natural authority. “Same rules as always. Your lives come first when necessary. I don’t want any of you taking bullets for me.”
“Yes, sir!”
Though they agreed, they all knew clearly: their lives were given by Qu Xiao.
Most of them had followed Qu Xiao since they were eleven or twelve, surviving by licking blood off blades alongside him.
So when the moment called for it, they wouldn’t hesitate to shield him with their bodies.
Qu Xiao entered the Underground City with only Liang Yan, Yu Yang, and four or five bodyguards, leaving the rest to guard the exits.
The Underground City’s boss, seeing Qu Xiao’s unfamiliar face and branded clothing, assumed he was another wealthy lamb to be fleeced. He immediately approached with an ingratiating smile.
“What can I do for you, sir?”
Qu Xiao scanned the Underground City. Everything appeared normal, just like any ordinary underground establishment.
Yu Yang stepped forward, eyeing the sharp-featured man. “My master is a friend of the two young masters of the Gu family. He heard you have places here where money comes fast and wanted to try his luck.”
Hearing he was a friend of Gu Tingyan and Gu Tingli, the man’s suspicions vanished.
“So you’re a friend of the young Gus! Of course, of course. Though we do require an entrance fee here.”
Seeing Yu Yang’s expression darken, he quickly added, “It’s mainly to keep out troublemakers and scammers who might ruin the fun for everyone. Mostly we’re worried about cops.”
Yu Yang pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket and tossed it over. “My master isn’t particularly patient. You’d better hurry.”
The man caught the money, confirmed it was substantial, and eagerly led the way. “Right this way, gentlemen.”
Following him through an emergency passage, they reached a wall. The man made a phone call, and soon a hidden door appeared.
Upon entering, they were met with hazy smoke, noisy chatter, and even people sitting off to the side smoking questionable substances.
Some scantily clad women were dancing provocatively.
Qu Xiao’s voice dropped, piercingly cold. “Who’s backing this operation?”
The man, already counting his future profits, completely missed the murderous tone in Qu Xiao’s voice.
“You’ve probably heard of Master Qu, right? We’re his men, and this is his turf.”
Before he could finish speaking, Liang Yan kicked him to the ground. “Bullshit! A blind fool like you couldn’t possibly be my brother’s man. You’re not even worthy of shining his shoes.”