Chapter 26 Qian Xiaoxia

In the end, Ye Tian did not accept Zhou Manyun’s confession. He merely found an excuse and, after dinner, awkwardly fled the Zhou household.

Yet Zhou Manyun seemed undeterred by setbacks and grew even bolder. Before he left, she brazenly claimed she would bring Zhou Xiaoxiao along, and the two sisters would pursue him together.

Her approach was certainly fierce and unrestrained.

To avoid further awkwardness, Ye Tian decided to call for a Zhou family servant to escort him back to Tianhua Hotel.

Upon returning to the hotel, he renewed his room for another month, then decisively lay down in the soft bedding and enjoyed a restful night.

However, at dawn the next morning, before the sun had risen, Ye Tian was roused by the sound of the hotel’s landline.

A gentle, sweet female voice came through the receiver: “Ye Tian, I need your help with something.”

It was Li Muqing.

“Go ahead,” he replied.

“My mother is forcing me into a blind date with some annoying playboy. I can't refuse her. Could you come and help me get through it?”

“No problem. Where are you? I’ll be right there.”

Following Li Muqing’s directions, Ye Tian turned left upon leaving the hotel, hailed a taxi, and set out.

Upon arrival, he found only Li Muqing waiting by the roadside.

Today, she wore an off-shoulder white dress, her silky hair cascading over her smooth, fragrant shoulders. Apart from a pair of simple earrings and a single purse, she wore no other accessories.

She appeared pure and elegant, possessing an ethereal beauty—like moonlight unadorned, luminous in its simplicity.

Standing on the street like this, she attracted countless admiring glances from passersby. Even Ye Tian found himself momentarily entranced.

“Why are you just standing there, silly?” she said with a shy smile, stepping forward to wrap her arm around his.

“Come on, let’s go shopping first!”

“Isn’t this supposed to be a blind date?” Ye Tian asked, scratching his nose in embarrassment.

He’d received elite education from the Ye family since childhood, and before marriage, he was never allowed to touch girls—not even to hold hands. During his five years on the mountain, he hadn’t interacted with women at all, except for his seventh master.

Li Muqing’s overtly affectionate gesture left him a bit at a loss.

“Oh, you’re going to help me deal with my blind date. I can’t show up without a proper outfit!” Li Muqing said with a playful smile, insisting as she pulled him toward the mall.

“One million eight hundred eighty thousand?”

Not long after, Ye Tian stood in front of a mirror, wearing a crisp, tailored suit with his hair tied back in a ponytail, dazed.

The light gray suit complemented his tall frame, accentuating his refined jawline and features, drawing the admiring gaze of every girl who passed by.

Yet every would-be admirer was quickly chased away by Li Muqing’s sharp glance.

“No, it’s still too expensive,” Ye Tian said, blowing a stray lock of hair from his face with a frown.

“Oh, it’s so rare to find a suit that fits this well without custom tailoring!” Li Muqing pouted, tugging his hand and swaying it eagerly. “Come on, buy it, please~”

“I said it’s too expensive. It’s too extravagant,” Ye Tian replied sternly.

After all, Li Muqing’s money didn’t fall from the sky. He was only here to help, and accepting a gift worth nearly two million from a girl seemed shameless.

“Buy it, just buy it!” Li Muqing’s pretty face showed stubborn resolve. She turned to the sales associate and said, “No need to try anything else, just this one. Please wrap it up for me.”

“Sir, are you sure you want this suit?” the saleswoman asked again, unable to contain her excitement.

The two had debated for so long, and now they’d finally made up their minds. The saleswoman was overjoyed.

This suit was designed by a foreign master and given as a gift to the mall’s major shareholder. Later, after a falling out, the shareholder decided to sell it.

One million eight hundred eighty thousand! With a seven percent commission, she’d earn over ten thousand in one go—a windfall for any ordinary person.

“Of course—” Li Muqing began.

“Wait!” Before she could finish, a flamboyantly dressed woman strode over, rudely grabbing the saleswoman’s hand and snatching the suit away.

“I want this suit,” the woman declared, raising her chin arrogantly and casting Ye Tian and Li Muqing a disdainful glance. “You two can pick out something else.”

So brazen!

What’s more, as she spoke, more than twenty bodyguards in black suits lined up behind her, imposing and impressive.

“But this lady has already decided to buy—”

“Shut up!” the woman snapped. “Don’t push your luck!”

Without another word, she stepped forward and slapped the saleswoman hard across the face.

“Do you know who I am? Have you heard of Qian Wanbao? I’m her granddaughter!”

“How much is this suit? I’ll pay fifty percent more. Is that acceptable?”

The saleswoman was stunned by the slap and wanted to retaliate, but when she heard the name Qian Wanbao’s granddaughter, her anger dissipated.

Qian Wanbao’s granddaughter...

That infamous wild child of Central Capital, back from overseas after three years?

Not someone to provoke.

The saleswoman immediately shot Ye Tian a look that said, “You’re on your own,” then quickly slipped away.

After all, Qian Wanbao’s granddaughter—Qian Xiaoxia—had a notorious reputation. From officials to the middle class to ordinary folks, there was no one she wouldn’t dare offend.

Many in Central Capital had suffered her slaps, only to have her make amends with money afterward.

Her style was simple: “I’m rich and fierce; I’ll hit whoever I want. If I can’t, I’ll compensate!”

When word spread that Qian Xiaoxia was back, everyone in the suit store quickly dispersed.

“This woman’s insane,” Li Muqing muttered, frowning at Qian Xiaoxia’s overbearing manner.

She knew of this madwoman’s reputation, but since they’d never met, the other didn’t recognize her.

“What did you say?” Qian Xiaoxia’s expression darkened, hearing herself insulted. “Say that again if you dare!”

“I said you’re insane. All you do is show off. If money’s so great, why not use it to get your head checked?” Li Muqing’s temper flared, firing off a barrage of insults that left Qian Xiaoxia’s face alternating between green and red.

Who did she think she was? Just because her grandfather was rich, did that make her special?

She wasn’t Qian Wanbao herself. Even he wouldn’t be so arrogant.

Good grief...

Ye Tian was speechless.

Who could have guessed that the girl who was usually gentle and refined could unleash such scathing invective?

“You’re asking for trouble!” Qian Xiaoxia screamed, livid. No one had ever dared insult her like this.

She shrieked, swinging her hand in a vicious slap toward Li Muqing’s cheek.

But before her hand could reach the girl’s face, it was struck away with a sharp smack.

“Tired of living, daring to lay a hand on someone in front of me?”

Ye Tian’s face was cold as he stepped forward.

“Smack!”