Chapter 17 The Transformation of My Sister-in-law

“Brother-in-law, about what happened this morning, should I explain things to my sister? If I hadn’t dirtied your things and insulted you, you wouldn’t have hit me,” Su Niannian said, her face full of guilt.

“That’s not necessary. I was wrong to raise my hand against you. Besides, saving you was only natural—you’re my sister-in-law. Don’t take it to heart,” Ye Feng replied, his expression earnest.

Standing nearby, Si Xu could no longer stand the awkwardness. He walked over to them, patted Ye Feng on the shoulder, and said, “Come on now, we’re all family here. Why all the apologies? It just makes us seem like strangers.”

To steer the conversation elsewhere, Si Xu walked up to the karaoke machine. “Who comes to KTV and doesn’t sing? Come on, let’s liven things up!” With that, he picked a lively song.

“You’re right, my friend. Pick ‘Friends’ for me,” Ye Feng said, picking up the microphone and looking at Si Xu.

“No problem.” After selecting the song, Si Xu mischievously turned off the accompaniment, eager to see Ye Feng embarrass himself.

When they were kids, the orphanage would have the children perform group songs to thank donors, and Ye Feng always refused, claiming he was tone-deaf.

But now, Ye Feng took up the microphone and started to sing with heartfelt emotion.

“Friends walk together for a lifetime,
Those days are gone,
One word, a lifetime…”

Contrary to expectations, Si Xu didn’t hear the off-key voice he’d anticipated. Instead, Ye Feng’s singing was so soulful it could make one swoon.

Seated on the sofa, Su Niannian gazed at Ye Feng, captivated by both his moving voice and his handsome profile, her face full of admiration.

At that moment, the door was suddenly kicked open. Wang Chao swaggered in, and the instant Su Niannian saw him, she jumped up in fright and hid behind Ye Feng.

Sensing trouble, Si Xu moved closer to Ye Feng as well.

“Su Niannian, since when do you need this loser to protect you?” Wang Chao sneered openly at Su Niannian hiding behind Ye Feng, as if he’d already forgotten he was the one who’d been beaten earlier.

With exaggerated deference, Wang Chao ushered in a man in a wheelchair, his face marked by a scar, followed by a group of thugs wielding clubs.

Seeing who led them, Su Niannian’s face turned pale with fear, and she tugged at Ye Feng’s sleeve, whispering, “Brother-in-law, that’s Biaozi, the most notorious gangster in Licheng. You can’t beat him. Maybe we should run.”

“Run? There’s no way out!” Wang Chao growled.

“Brother Biao, it’s this loser. If you help me get rid of him, you can do whatever you want with the woman behind him,” Wang Chao said, bowing and scraping.

“Oh? If you put it that way, I won’t be polite,” Biaozi leered at the mention of a woman.

Ye Feng recognized Biaozi as the man he’d taught a lesson at the barbecue stand before and sneered, “Looks like you need another reminder from me.”

Biaozi’s smile froze, and a shiver ran through him as he finally focused on Ye Feng’s face, stunned.

Wang Chao, however, didn’t notice Biaozi’s reaction.

“Who do you think you are, being so arrogant in front of Brother Biao? In this city, if Brother Biao says he’s second, no one dares claim first. Offend me, and you offend him. Soon you’ll be carried out on a stretcher!” Wang Chao threatened, gritting his teeth.

Si Xu, seeing that Wang Chao had brought Biaozi, actually felt relieved and shot Wang Chao an amused, almost schadenfreude-filled glance.

“Biaozi, your broken leg hasn’t healed, and you’re out again? Aren’t you afraid the other one might not be spared?” Si Xu smirked.

Ignoring the pain in his leg, Biaozi dropped to his knees before Ye Feng, about to beg for mercy, only for Wang Chao to help him up.

“Brother Biao, are you all right? How did you fall out of your wheelchair? Your leg is still hurt,” Wang Chao scolded the man pushing the wheelchair. “Can’t even push a wheelchair right? Watch yourself, or Brother Biao will cripple you!”

Smack! Biaozi slapped Wang Chao across the face, making him grimace in pain. “Brother Biao, why did you hit me?” Wang Chao asked, thoroughly shocked.

Si Xu couldn’t help but snort with laughter.

“Shut the hell up, or I’ll cripple you myself!” Wang Chao shouted at Si Xu, furious.

Biaozi dropped to his knees again and crawled to Ye Feng, pleading, “Brother Feng, why didn’t you tell me you’d be here? I could’ve come to greet you.”

The sight of Biaozi begging on the floor left Wang Chao, Su Niannian, and the others utterly dumbfounded. How could the infamous Biaozi be groveling at the feet of a so-called good-for-nothing?

“I heard someone was planning to carry me out?” Ye Feng said disdainfully, kicking Biaozi aside.

“Brother Feng, I swear, if I’d known it was you, I wouldn’t have dared even with a hundred lives. It was all him—he offered me fifty thousand if I dealt with you, plus his girlfriend. I was tempted for a moment,” Biaozi stammered, glancing awkwardly at Wang Chao.

Wang Chao cursed Biaozi in his heart: “Bastard, that’s not what you said when I gave you the money!” But he dared not say it aloud.

“So, what do you think should happen now?” Ye Feng cracked his knuckles ominously.

A flicker of fear crossed Biaozi’s face. The pain in his leg was a constant reminder not to cross this man. The doctor had said his ankle was badly fractured after one kick; who knew what damage a punch would do?

Biaozi turned to Wang Chao. “Get him!” he ordered.

The other thugs closed in on Wang Chao, who collapsed in terror. “Brother Biao, you can’t do this—I’m Wang Xian’s son!” he cried.

“I don’t care—beat him!” Biaozi’s hatred for the man who had almost dragged him down was clear.

The thugs showed no mercy, and Wang Chao screamed in pain.

“Enough. Any more and you’ll kill him. Get out,” Ye Feng said coldly.

“Yes, Brother Feng, we’ll leave right away.” Ignoring his own pain, Biaozi had his men drag the unconscious Wang Chao away.

Behind Ye Feng, Su Niannian’s mind swirled with questions: “When did he become so powerful? How could the notorious Biaozi kneel and beg him for mercy? Who is he, really?”

Suddenly, the shrill ring of a phone broke her thoughts. Si Xu apologized and answered.

“What? You’re in the hospital?”

“What happened? I’ll be right there. Wait for me.”

Si Xu turned to Ye Feng and Su Niannian, worry etched on his face. “My girlfriend’s sick. I need to go to the hospital. I’ll leave you two here.”

Ye Feng called to him as he turned to go. “Si Xu, I’ll go with you. I’m not in the mood to stay here anyway.” He looked at Su Niannian. “You head home. Be careful.”

“All right.” Su Niannian watched as the two gradually disappeared from view.

They hailed a taxi and sped toward the hospital.

…

At Wealthy Family Hospital.

Ye Feng and Si Xu hurried up to the third-floor ward and approached the nurse’s station.

“Excuse me, which room is Shen Meng in?” Si Xu asked, breathless.

“One moment, please.” The nurse checked her computer. “Shen Meng is in room 312.”

“Thank you.” The two immediately ran toward room 312.

At the corner, Ye Feng spotted a familiar figure. “Si Xu, isn’t that Zhou Qian?”

“It is,” Si Xu called out down the corridor, “Zhou Qian!”

She turned, her eyes red and face worn. “What are you doing here?”

“My girlfriend is sick and hospitalized. I came to see her. What about you?” Si Xu replied.

“I…” Zhou Qian began, but Si Xu interrupted, “Ah, we’ll talk later—I’m too worried about Mengmeng. Catch up with you soon.” With that, he hurried off.

Ye Feng remained, watching Zhou Qian in silence.

She looked at him with guilt. “Ye Feng, about what happened at the Phyllis Western Restaurant that day—I’m sorry.”

“What good is an apology now? Why didn’t you speak up then and clear things up for Manman? Do you know because of you, Manman almost…” Ye Feng trailed off, unable to finish the thought. He didn’t even dare imagine what might have happened had he arrived a few minutes later.

“I know what I did was unforgivable. I’m truly sorry, Ye Feng,” Zhou Qian said, tears glistening in her eyes.

“Zhou Qian, why are you still out here chatting? Come see the old man, he might not last much longer,” a nurse called from the doorway.

“What did you say?” Panic flashed across Zhou Qian’s face as she turned and ran into the ward.