Chapter 29: A Young Girl’s Heart

Zhou Yuansheng was a man of character. Without hesitation, he knelt before Yang Fan and knocked his head three times on the ground with a resounding thud.

“I, Zhou Yuansheng, failed to recognize true greatness and brought this upon myself by offending Mr. Yang,” he apologized, then picked up the blood-stained machete lying on the floor.

Taking a deep breath, he swung the blade and brought it down upon his left arm.

At the sight, Zhang Qingya and Mo Chenxi both turned away, unable to watch, and covered their eyes.

A pained howl tore from Zhou Yuansheng’s throat as blood streamed from his arm. The blade had not severed the limb in one stroke, so the agony he endured was unimaginable.

Yang Fan watched Zhou Yuansheng in silence, his eyes devoid of pity.

Gritting his teeth, Zhou Yuansheng’s trembling hand lifted the blade again and struck down at his arm once more.

At last, the arm was severed.

Clutching the bloody stump, Zhou Yuansheng let out a guttural roar, his face twisted in pain and drenched in sweat.

Fighting through the searing pain, he looked up at Yang Fan and said, “Thank you for sparing my life.”

Yang Fan cast him a glance, then turned to Zhang Qingya and Mo Chenxi. “All right, come with me.”

With that, he strode out.

As Yang Fan emerged, the members of the Black Tiger Society parted to make way for him.

Zhang Qingya and Mo Chenxi exchanged a glance, then followed Yang Fan out.

Liu Meimei and the others hurried after them.

None of them had expected Yang Fan to possess such astonishing strength, forcing even the leader of the Black Tiger Society to cower before him.

This time, their escape from disaster was entirely thanks to Yang Fan’s presence.

Watching Yang Fan’s departing figure, Huang Ma finally breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his brow.

In Yang Fan’s presence, Huang Ma couldn’t understand why he felt such overwhelming pressure, coupled with a deep sense of fear.

“Cousin, you’re lucky to have escaped with your life this time,” Huang Ma said to Zhou Yuansheng. “Pick up your arm and get to the hospital so they can reattach it.”

That Zhou Yuansheng had managed to survive an encounter with Yang Fan was nothing short of miraculous, in Huang Ma’s eyes.

To him, Yang Fan was a butcher who killed without batting an eye.

Recalling the gruesome scene of his former boss’s death still sent chills down Huang Ma’s spine.

“Cousin, who is he, really?” Zhou Yuansheng finally voiced the doubt in his heart.

Anyone who could inspire such fear in his cousin had to be someone extraordinary.

“I don’t know who he really is,” Huang Ma said, his face pale with terror, “but one thing’s certain: he’s a bringer of calamity we cannot afford to provoke. Remember, the only reason I could take over as boss is because he killed Gao Hong.”

Learning that Gao Hong had been killed by Yang Fan shocked Zhou Yuansheng and left him feeling fortunate.

He had heard about Gao Hong’s murder as well.

Back then, he had been horrified by the brutality at the crime scene.

Gao Hong had been surrounded by many bodyguards and carried a gun at all times.

That Yang Fan could kill all of them spoke volumes of his ruthless efficiency.

Huang Ma ordered his men to clean up the scene and had Zhou Yuansheng taken to the hospital.

Leaving the Emperor’s Nightclub, he waited by the entrance for a car.

Zhang Qingya and Mo Chenxi stood beside Yang Fan.

It was only at his side that they felt safe.

“Qingya, let me give you a ride home,” Gao Yang approached and offered.

“No need. I can’t afford to ride in your car,” Zhang Qingya replied coldly.

She was utterly disappointed in Gao Yang.

Stung by her icy demeanor, Gao Yang said nothing more, got in his car, and drove away.

“Meimei, get in. I’ll take you home,” Zhou Yuan tried to coax Liu Meimei.

“Get lost! Just seeing you makes me sick,” Liu Meimei snapped, shaking off his hand in fury. “Zhou Yuan, we’re done. Don’t ever look for me again.”

The sight of such a spineless man filled Liu Meimei with disgust.

Thinking back to Zhou Yuan’s behavior at the Emperor’s Nightclub, her anger surged anew.

Her boyfriend had been too cowardly to save her, even suggesting she spend the night with those men.

How could she possibly stay with a man like that?

She had originally intended to give him her first time tonight, but after everything that had happened, she was secretly relieved.

She now saw Zhou Yuan’s true colors.

Zhou Yuan looked miserable, but said nothing. He knew Liu Meimei was determined to break up with him.

Since there was no hope of reconciliation, he stopped trying.

A taxi pulled up, and Yang Fan flagged it down.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you home,” he said to Zhang Qingya.

“Okay,” she replied, getting in.

“Brother Yang Fan, could you take me home too?” Mo Chenxi looked at him with tearful eyes, her expression pleading and pitiful.

The ordeal had left her still shaken.

Seeing her adorable face, Yang Fan chuckled. “All right, get in.”

Mo Chenxi broke into a sweet smile and happily climbed in.

As for Liu Meimei, she hailed her own cab.

Following the directions, the driver took Mo Chenxi home first, since she lived closer.

After about ten minutes, the car stopped at Huiyuan Community.

Yang Fan was surprised to discover that Mo Chenxi lived in the same neighborhood as him.

“We’re here. Why aren’t you getting out?” he asked, puzzled.

Mo Chenxi’s cheeks flushed as she gazed at him. “Brother Yang Fan, what’s your phone number?”

Yang Fan shook his head. “I don’t have a phone.”

He preferred to keep his distance from others to avoid unnecessary trouble.

“You’re lying. How could you not have a phone?” Mo Chenxi pouted in protest.

In this day and age, what young man didn’t have a phone? She couldn’t believe it.

“I really don’t,” Yang Fan replied, spreading his hands. “If you don’t believe me, you can search me.”

Studying him for a moment, Mo Chenxi decided he wasn’t lying.

On impulse, she darted forward and planted a quick kiss on his cheek, then ran out of the car, blushing furiously.

Yang Fan was stunned, caught completely off guard by her sudden kiss.

Zhang Qingya, for reasons she couldn’t explain, felt a pang of discomfort watching Mo Chenxi kiss Yang Fan.

“Driver, Huiyuan Community,” Yang Fan then instructed.

The driver started the car and headed toward Huiyuan Community.

Inside, Yang Fan sat quietly, eyes closed, resting.

Zhang Qingya, unsure what to say, kept silent as well.

Before long, the car arrived at Huiyuan Community.

Yang Fan and Zhang Qingya got out.

He escorted her to her door and was about to leave.

Having ensured her safe return, he had fulfilled his promise.

As for his relationship with Zhang Mei, Yang Fan had no intention of getting further involved.

“Wait a moment,” Zhang Qingya called out as he turned to go.

“What is it?” Yang Fan asked, puzzled.

Blushing, Zhang Qingya hesitated, unsure how to express what was on her mind.