"What are you doing? Get out of my way right now, don't block my path. I'm in a bad mood today, so you better watch out before I teach you a lesson." Qi Tianxiang's brows were tightly furrowed as he glared angrily and shouted threats at the two bodyguards in front of him.
The two bodyguards, however, stood as steady as iron towers, showing no intention of moving an inch.
It should be known that Qi Tianxiang himself was tall and burly, but facing these two bodyguards, his imposing aura was completely suppressed.
How strange!
He was clearly the master here, so how could he be intimidated by his own bodyguards!
Without a word of nonsense, the two bodyguards exchanged a glance and quickly, with tacit understanding, divided their tasks.
They each threw a punch simultaneously, landing squarely on Qi Tianxiang's cheeks—a face that could still be called handsome despite him entering middle age.
Caught off guard, Qi Tianxiang staggered from the blow and hastily reached up to cover his mouth and nose.
"You're rebelling against the heavens, how dare you hit me..."
He had just wanted to hurl a few curses, but before he could finish, the two bodyguards ruthlessly delivered another two punches to his face.
This time, Qi Tianxiang was hit so hard he fell flat on his back.
Subsequently, Qi Tianxiang was dragged by the two bodyguards to a hidden corner outside the old mansion.
Before long, the sounds of punches, kicks, and intermittent screams echoed from the corner.
...
In the Qi family's study.
Qi Huan was playing Go with Grandpa Qi.
Grandpa Qi stared at the Go board where he was currently at a disadvantage, frowning slightly. "How did things go at Xiao Li's side today?"
Qi Huan smiled faintly and said, "Little Li'er has taken down the Jiang family."
Hearing this news, Grandpa Qi gave an approving "Mhm," and after careful consideration, placed his white piece. "That girl Xiao Li is much more reliable than Jiang Yangxu's family. If I were Jiang Zhendong, I would also rather hand the Jiang family over to Xiao Li."
If he hadn't interacted with Xiao Li himself, he wouldn't have believed that a girl in her early twenties truly had the ability to manage a wealthy and prominent family.
"But no matter what, Xiao Li is still just a young girl. In the future, you should cover for her more."
Qi Huan, however, said, "I think, with Little Li'er's abilities, she doesn't need me to cover for her at all."
Grandpa Qi raised his eyes and glanced at his grandson. "Very well, you know the girl better."
Qi Huan picked up a black piece. "However, Little Li'er has offended the people of the Long family."
Grandpa Qi's hand paused just as he was about to grab a piece. Then he said, "It's fine. I've long wanted to suppress the Long family's arrogance. Over the years, the Long family has constantly competed with our Qi family for resources. I'm old, and I have no way to stop their expansion and attacks, so it's all up to you now."
"Don't worry, Grandpa. Just leave the Long family to me." After waiting for Grandpa Qi to place his piece, Qi Huan placed his black piece with almost no hesitation.
Grandpa Qi looked at the board.
The outcome was already set.
He had no choice but to toss back the piece he had just picked up.
At this moment—
Qi Tianxiang's noisy clamoring came from outside the study.
"Don't stop me, I need to see the old man!"
Grandpa Qi made a move to stand up, and the waiting butler immediately bent down to help him up. "Huan'er, the Qi family will be handed over to you from now on. I know you won't disappoint me."
The third branch's Qi Feixiong had courage and boldness, but he wanted to fight violence with violence, walking the same old path the Long family had taken in the past.
If that path were still viable today, the Long family wouldn't be trying to wash themselves clean.
As for the fourth branch's Qi Feifan, he was calculating and shrewd, and could be considered patient. He might be fine in terms of personnel management, but his view of the big picture was too narrow.
The reason he didn't announce his grandson Qi Huan as the heir according to his previous plan, but instead chose to wait three months—making it look to outsiders like he was giving up on Qi Huan as the heir—was actually because he intended to make the other descendants of the Qi family concede wholeheartedly. He wanted them to see exactly how they would be defeated by someone they considered a useless cripple.
Outside the study, the bruised and swollen Qi Tianxiang saw the old man walking out and immediately complained, "Dad... Qi Huan is rebellious and unfilial, he actually had someone beat me up..."
His words stopped short when he saw Qi Huan following out behind Grandpa Qi.
"Oh? Huan'er, why did you hit your dad?" Grandpa Qi asked perfunctorily.
Qi Huan feigned a troubled look. "Today, an old fortune-teller said that if my dad entered the house with his left foot first today, it would affect the Qi family's fortunes for a period of time. The only way to break the curse was to give him a severe beating. Since my men beat him, he must have entered with his left foot first."
Qi Tianxiang glared with red, swollen eyes. "Bullshit..."
"Shut up!" Grandpa Qi cast a cold glance at Qi Tianxiang, who was using a stick as a crutch. "If that's really the case, Huan'er just beating you is getting off lightly. If you still want to live, go to the hospital yourself! Don't come making a racket in front of me! Otherwise, I wouldn't mind sending you straight to a psychiatric hospital to recuperate!"
Qi Tianxiang choked on his words, not daring to complain anymore, and could only watch helplessly as the old man went downstairs.
After the old man went downstairs, Qi Tianxiang glared angrily at Qi Huan and suppressed his voice, "A son beating his father, aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning!"
Qi Huan glanced at the bruised, swollen, and limping Qi Tianxiang, and ordered, "Cheng Jing, have George, the psychologist Qi Tianxiang hired for me from abroad before, help him relieve his mood, so he doesn't die from pent-up frustration."
Cheng Jing nodded. "Yes, Young Master."
Hearing this, Qi Tianxiang exploded with rage. He raised the wooden stick he was leaning on and was about to smash it over Qi Huan's head. "Qi Huan, I'll fucking..."
But just as he raised the stick, he lost his balance and fell, tumbling directly down the stairs to the first floor.
Qi Tianxiang felt dizzy and his vision blurred. After a long while, he managed to open his eyes with difficulty. Touching his head, he found it was bleeding from the impact.
Cheng Jing adjusted the wheelchair to stair-descending mode and pushed Qi Huan down the stairs.
"I'm bleeding, it hurts... quick, Huan'er, quickly call someone to take me to the hospital."
Qi Huan merely looked down at the miserable Qi Tianxiang lying on the floor, ignored him, and headed straight for the dining room.
Terrified that he might actually die here, Qi Tianxiang mustered all his strength to crawl toward the bodyguards guarding the door. "Take... take me to the hospital..."
After saying that, he passed out.
...
After eating dinner with Grandpa Qi, Qi Huan returned to his room, took out his phone, and sent a message to Jiang Youli.
[Did you get Old Mr. Luo home safely?]
Not long after, a reply came.
[We arrived, getting ready to eat dinner!]
A moment later, another photo was sent over.
It was a selfie of Jiang Youli. Behind her was Old Mr. Luo busy in the kitchen, along with an old woman. Next to the large iron pot on the stove with curling smoke, a little green snake was staring at the pot.
The old woman must be Old Mr. Luo's wife.
Qi Huan opened the image, zoomed in, and carefully examined Jiang Youli's face.
Her hair glowed under the warm orange light, her eyebrows were playfully arched, and her eyes were slightly narrowed with a smile.
After taking in every detail of her face, Qi Huan long-pressed to save the photo before finally replying.
[Then go eat first, we can video call later.]
[Okay!]
Qi Huan put down his phone and wheeled himself into the bathroom.
After his shower, Qi Huan came out drying his hair with one hand while picking up his phone with the other to start a video call.
A moment later, the call connected.
Looking at the lively face that appeared on his phone screen, Qi Huan's gaze softened.
"Huanhuan, you look so tempting right now!"
Jiang Youli's opening remark was as bold as ever.
Qi Huan glanced at his own reflection in the small screen in the top right corner. His fine, dark hair was still damp with mist, and his cheeks, having just been steamed by the heat, had a slight rosy flush over their usual paleness.
His bathrobe hung loosely, faintly revealing the muscles of his chest.
