Chapter 12: More Blind Fools Looking for Trouble

The driver who had committed the assault soon scurried away, carrying the crippled Liu Long on his back, not daring to meet Guan Sheng’s eyes for even a second.

Once they had departed, Li Yuyan hurriedly pulled Guan Sheng back into the corporate headquarters. Leading him into her office, she slammed the door shut and marched up to him, her expression one of indignant reproach.

Guan Sheng stood with his hands behind his back, walked over to her executive chair, and sat down nonchalantly.

"If you intend to scold me, save your breath," he said. "I have already been as considerate as I could be. I kept my word—I merely crippled that man; I did not take his life."

Li Yuyan’s delicate brows trembled as she replied, "That is not what I wanted to talk about."

"Then what is it?" Guan Sheng asked coldly.

Li Yuyan spoke with earnest intensity: "If something like this happens again, please do not make decisions on your own. Consult with me first. I am not an unreasonable person, nor am I one to sacrifice my principles for profit. I will stand up for my own people, including you. In the future, if someone is being bullied, can you refrain from using force and come to me first?"

She loathed men like Liu Long, of course, but she knew Guan Sheng possessed immense strength and acted without restraint because of his prowess. However, understanding that there was always someone greater, she was acutely aware that Jiangcheng was a place where hidden talents and powerful figures abounded; the as-yet-unseen Young Master Qi alone was a formidable threat. She did not want Guan Sheng to draw unnecessary attention to himself.

Upon hearing this, Guan Sheng smiled. "Interesting. Are you saying you intend to protect me?"

Li Yuyan’s face flushed; why did those words sound so strange coming from him? She looked out the window, crossing her arms over her chest. "Don't misunderstand. I simply don't want you to cause a scene."

Guan Sheng tilted his head. "Have you fallen for me?"

Li Yuyan’s soul seemed to shudder. "No... absolutely not! Don't get the wrong idea. Just because you took my first time doesn't mean I am bound to love you. We have no emotional attachment, and I do not view you as my husband. Even if you are my husband in name, I will never admit it in front of others."

Guan Sheng nodded, his expression as cold as iron. "You are right. But I am capable of protecting myself; I do not need your protection. A man does not need to be protected by a woman."

Li Yuyan stomped her foot in frustration. "You... why won't you listen to me?"

"Why should I?" Guan Sheng countered.

"Because I am your wife," she blurted out.

Guan Sheng paused. "Doesn't that mean you consider me your husband?"

*Whoosh!*

Li Yuyan was stunned. She had gone in circles only to walk right into Guan Sheng’s trap. Flustered and angry, she snapped, "I'm done talking to you! Stay here by yourself!"

"In any case," she added, "next time someone troubles you or you get into a dispute, you must call me immediately." With that, she left the office.

She had barely reached the doorway when the door was pushed open with a loud *bang*. A woman dressed in a long white gown, possessing delicate features but sharp, triangular eyes, stood before her, looking at her with utter disdain.

Li Yuyan’s expression shifted. "Li Yuxue? What are you doing here?"

The woman was none other than the eldest daughter of the Li family’s main branch, Li Yuxue. She shoved past Li Yuyan, clutching her handbag as she strode in, followed closely by Zhao Dongqiang. Zhao, having just emerged from the infirmary, looked ghastly; wrapped in bandages and hobbling with every step, he looked as ridiculous as an old, crippled dog.

Zhao Dongqiang pointed a finger at Guan Sheng. "Miss, it was him! He tried to kill me with a knife! And just now, Young Master Xu called to tell me that this Guan Sheng crippled his men, causing the one-billion-dollar donation to fall through. If this man remains in the group, he is a disaster. He absolutely must be purged!"

Li Yuyan realized the gravity of the situation. She had expected the main branch to make trouble after Liu Long was hauled away, but she had not imagined that Zhao Dongqiang would be the one to snitch.

"Zhao Dongqiang," Li Yuyan said coldly, "my branch has treated you well. How could you become a lackey for the main branch?"

Zhao Dongqiang shrugged. "A wise bird chooses the tree it perches on; a wise minister chooses the master he serves. You should understand that, Miss."

Li Yuxue chimed in impatiently, "Li Yuyan, have you lost your mind after all these years? Are you implying that this group belongs only to your branch and not the Li family?"

"That’s not what I meant," Li Yuyan said, feeling a surge of anger.

"Then what did you mean?" Li Yuxue sneered. "This is the Li family’s group; my branch has every right to oversee and manage it. If Zhao Dongqiang hadn't notified me, I never would have imagined you’d bring such a disaster into the company. Attempting murder with a knife, crippling Young Master Xu’s men, infuriating the Xu family, and ruining the group's prospects—any one of these charges is grounds for termination!"

Guan Sheng, still seated in the executive chair, cast a glance at Li Yuxue. Before he could speak, Zhao Dongqiang barked at him, "You! What kind of trash are you? Do you think you have the right to sit in that chair? Get up, now!"

Guan Sheng looked at him. "Do you want to be crippled?"

Zhao Dongqiang flinched, instinctively hiding behind Li Yuxue. "Miss, this kid is a lunatic!"

Li Yuxue shouted at Li Yuyan, "This is the person you brought in? I order you to fire him immediately. What right does someone like him have to stay in our family's group? Or is he some gigolo you’ve taken as a pet?"

"Shut your mouth," Li Yuyan retorted. "It is not for you to dictate who this group hires."

"Don't think that just because Grandfather dotes on you and handed you the management of this group, you can do whatever you please," Li Yuxue mocked. "Let me remind you: Young Master Qi will be coming down from the mountains soon to marry you. If the outside world finds out you’re messing around with some stray dog, you’d better watch out for Grandfather’s family discipline. If you don't deal with this Guan Sheng today and word reaches Grandfather, let’s see how you explain yourself."

Li Yuyan hesitated, thinking of her grandfather’s strict, iron-fisted military discipline.

Seizing the moment, Zhao Dongqiang barked like a cur emboldened by its master, "What are you staring at? Get lost! I’ve seen plenty like you—relying on a handsome face and a bit of boxing skill to get a wealthy woman to keep you." Recalling the humiliation he suffered in the security department, he grew even more arrogant. "You dog, keep acting up and you'll lose your life!"

At those words, Guan Sheng’s gaze turned icy. He rose slowly and moved with a blur of motion.

"No!" Li Yuyan realized what was happening, but it was too late to stop him.

Guan Sheng vaulted over the desk, appearing instantly before Li Yuxue.

"What do you think you're doing?" Li Yuxue shrieked in terror.

Guan Sheng’s answer was simple. He shoved her aside with one hand and grabbed Zhao Dongqiang, executing a seamless shoulder throw. With a thunderous *thud*, Zhao Dongqiang slammed into the floor, a rib snapping instantly in his chest. He tried to scramble up, but Guan Sheng pinned his head to the floor with his foot.

Zhao Dongqiang’s eyes widened in sheer terror. Looking up, he saw the familiar, half-arm-length blade pointed directly at his chest.

"If you want to die, just say so," Guan Sheng said, his voice devoid of emotion. "Stop yapping like a dog. Tell me, how do you want to die? A slit to the throat? Or a blade through the heart?"