Chapter 256: The Hapless Fatty

Walking through the bustling shopping mall, Xiang Ri was undeniably the focal point of countless male gazes. Naturally, these men bore no peculiar inclinations, nor did they harbor any romantic feelings for him. Their attention, however, was fueled by a singular reason—resentment. With fiery, envious eyes, they glared at the audacious young man, who strutted with a beauty on each arm and a spare following close behind. These women were, without exaggeration, rare and radiant beauties of a caliber seldom encountered even in a century.

One had short, cropped hair and wore a perfectly tailored men's suit, which, rather than diminishing her feminine allure, only accentuated her spirited elegance. Another, with long, flowing locks, exuded a classical charm. Compared to the first, she emanated a soft, soothing gentleness, like a spring breeze, captivating anyone who beheld her. The third, a bespectacled intellectual beauty, carried an air of cold sophistication that seemed to repel others from a great distance. Yet, it was precisely this aloofness that ignited in the hearts of onlookers a deep, primal desire to conquer her.

With such stunning companions at his side, it was little wonder that Xiang Ri became the object of burning jealousy among men. Many, accompanied by less-than-stellar partners—or lacking one altogether—could only seethe with envy, wishing they could take his place.

However, reality was not as the envious onlookers imagined, or so Xiang Ri believed. He was merely walking among the women, hardly embracing them as they assumed. Perhaps his proximity to them had caused a misunderstanding, but regardless, the undeniable closeness he shared with these beauties was an unalterable truth.

Despite being the center of attention, the group exhibited no awareness of the need for discretion. They continued to stroll leisurely, pausing now and then to inspect the boutique displays on either side, engaging in lighthearted chatter.

"Xiang Kui, is there anything you want to buy?" An Xin, noticing his lack of enthusiasm, suddenly asked.

"Me? Anything's fine," he replied dismissively, adding, "There's really nothing I need."

An Xin, displeased by his casual response, retorted, "Hey, Xiang Kui, are you really so begrudging about accompanying us three beauties on a shopping trip?"

"It's not that," he said with a helpless smile, though he knew her unreasonable tendencies well. Perhaps her imperious demeanor stemmed from years of playing the role of a leader, accustomed to issuing orders.

"I'm not talking about that!" she snapped, glaring at him. "You act as if you're unwilling to be here with us."

"Am I?" Xiang Ri feigned innocence.

Just as An Xin was about to lose her temper, Shi Qing gently tugged at her arm. "An An, maybe the teacher has something important to do. We—"

"Hmph! What could be more important?" An Xin interrupted, her disdain evident. She turned to Xiang Ri with narrowed eyes. "Don't tell me you're off to meet another woman, are you?"

"How could that be?" Xiang Ri inwardly marveled at her sharp instincts, but outwardly, he shrugged and said, "Maybe I'm just a little tired from playing basketball all morning and want to rest."

"Really?" Skepticism glinted in An Xin's eyes. She could have believed any other excuse, but the notion that he was tired from a basketball game was too far-fetched. Ever since the night of his accident, she had known his physique had transcended human limits. The idea of him feeling fatigued from a mere game was laughable.

His excuse only deepened her suspicions. Determined not to let him out of her sight, she resolved to keep him by her side.

Seeing her guarded expression, Xiang Ri wisely chose silence, wary of saying anything that might be misinterpreted. Satisfied that he had settled down, An Xin refrained from further questioning, content to bide her time. She decided that the truth could wait until they were alone later that evening. By then, she'd have him at her mercy, unable to escape her grasp. A small sacrifice, a subtle charm—surely, that would render him utterly smitten. Her mood brightened at the thought, and she turned her attention back to the surrounding shops.

"Wow—let's go there!" An Xin suddenly exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as though she had discovered a treasure. Without hesitation, she pulled the group toward her newfound destination.

Xiang Ri immediately noticed where An Xin was heading, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. "That's a women's lingerie store. Surely, I don't need to go in, right?"

Though his skin was thick enough for most situations, entering a women's lingerie store—essentially a no-go zone for men—was something he felt required serious reconsideration.

"No way!" Unfortunately for him, An Xin gave him no chance to argue, dragging him into the store without hesitation. Beside them, Shi Qing and the aloof beauty were already blushing, but after seeing An Xin enter, they hesitated only briefly before following her inside.

Perhaps because it was the weekend, the mall was especially crowded, and as the largest lingerie boutique in the area, the store naturally attracted many customers. Most were women, though a few men could be spotted among them. However, judging by their awkward expressions, it was clear they had been dragged in by their domineering girlfriends. 

After all, men who sneaked in alone to ogle women wouldn't wear such embarrassed looks. In fact, true lechers would never come to a lingerie store to peep—such places made their intentions far too obvious, leaving them exposed and vulnerable. Instead, they'd rather loiter on the streets all day than risk being labeled as perverts with unusual proclivities.

Seeing a few equally unlucky fellows sharing his predicament, Xiang Ri began to relax. At least he didn't want to appear as flustered as those visibly uncomfortable men, who seemed to scream their guilt with every uneasy glance.

"Xiang Kui, how about this one?" Just as Xiang Ri was steadying his mindset, An Xin suddenly appeared beside him, holding up a small red piece of lingerie that barely covered the essentials.

"Not bad, it suits you perfectly. If you want to buy it, I certainly wouldn't object," he said nonchalantly, though inwardly he was filled with anticipation. After all, An Xin's usual attire was far too conservative—always the same plain white lingerie that tightly enveloped her, leaving nothing to chance. For a man yearning for passion in private moments, this lack of spontaneity was hardly ideal.

However, he had clearly misunderstood her intentions. With a sharp glare, An Xin pointed to the blushing Shi Qing, who stood not far away. "It's not for me; it's for Qing Qing!"

"Oh, for Xiao Qing? That's fine too," Xiang Ri sighed inwardly, disappointed. It turned out the lingerie was for his student. Why couldn't An Xin pick out something for herself for once?

Though his expression betrayed no disappointment, An Xin seemed to sense his thoughts from his tone. Blushing slightly, she murmured, "Are you hoping I'd buy something like this too?"

Before he could respond, she darted away, leaving him stunned.

"…" Xiang Ri's eyes widened. Was this really An Xin? Since when did she learn how to tease like this? He couldn't help but doubt his own perception, but the seductive look she had given him before leaving lingered vividly in his mind. That little vixen was definitely trying to tempt him—of this, Xiang Ri was now utterly convinced.

His gaze shifted again, and he noticed the aloof beauty carefully selecting lingerie. Interestingly, she seemed to gravitate exclusively toward purple pieces, hinting at a special fondness for the color.

Just as he was about to avert his gaze, he saw another woman, also shopping for lingerie, brush past the aloof beauty. Almost immediately, the latter bent down slightly, a pained expression crossing her face. The woman who had bumped into her didn't even glance back, continuing on as though nothing had happened.

Damn it, Xiang Ri cursed inwardly, quickly making his way over. "Are you alright?" he asked, though he hadn't noticed any specific action from the woman to indicate what had happened.

"I'm fine," the aloof beauty said, standing up straight with her usual composed expression. Only when her eyes followed the retreating figure of the other woman did a faint frown crease her brow. 

Following her gaze, Xiang Ri saw the culprit and instinctively took a step forward, ready to confront her on the aloof beauty's behalf. But a cool voice stopped him in his tracks. "It's unnecessary."

"Huh?" He paused and turned back to look at her. She shook her head slightly, and he had no choice but to let it go.

Ever since learning about the aloof beauty's past, Xiang Ri's impression of her had changed dramatically. He understood now that any woman who had endured her experiences would naturally harbor deep resentment toward men. What had once been a negative perception had transformed into genuine sympathy and compassion. And now, seeing her choose not to confront someone who had stepped on her foot, he realized she wasn't as cold-hearted as she seemed.

"Thank you," she said softly, quickly averting her gaze when their eyes met.

"Uh… I didn't really do anything to help," Xiang Ri replied, slightly embarrassed. Yet the situation left him with an odd feeling. Such moments, akin to clichéd scenes in cheesy dramas, were the last thing he'd ever expected to encounter in real life.

Typically, in those Hong Kong and Taiwanese dramas, the male and female leads start as sworn enemies, only to reconcile due to some unforeseen event. 

One day, the male lead encounters the female lead with an injured foot. Playing the quintessential gallant hero, he carries her home on his back. Moved by his selfless effort, the female lead begins to feel a growing affection for him. If this moment were to be captured in a close-up, her starry-eyed gaze at his silhouette would almost sparkle with admiration.

Naturally, their relationship deepens from there. Though they face inevitable trials and tribulations, the story ultimately concludes with the lovers united.

However, these musings were but fleeting fantasies in Xiang Ri's mind. While he had entertained such whimsical notions, he was well aware of their impossibility. Even if he fancied himself as the male lead carrying the heroine, the reality of their circumstances made such a scenario laughable.

In this bustling commercial district, anyone could easily hail a cab to return home in comfort—there was no need to rely on his unyielding back. Moreover, it was impossible to ignore the presence of Miss An and his apprentice, Shi Qing.

To be honest, Xiang Ri harbored a tinge of guilt toward the icy beauty. Back when he was oblivious to her disdain for men and the reasons behind it, he had said some hurtful things. Reflecting on it now, even someone as thick-skinned as him couldn't help but feel a pang of remorse.

With a sudden impulse to make amends, and seizing the rare chance of being alone with her, Xiang Ri blurted out without much thought, "Pick anything you like—I'll buy it for you."

At this, he faltered mid-sentence, a wave of awkwardness washing over him. He suddenly remembered that they were in a women's lingerie store and realized they weren't nearly close enough for such a gesture. In fact, they weren't even casual friends. Offering to buy her lingerie of all things felt absurdly inappropriate.

It was a ridiculous overstep. Although she had once remarked that she'd agree to be his girlfriend if he helped her confront the man who deceived her, Xiang Ri never seriously entertained such a fantasy.

The icy beauty's face reddened slightly as she seemed to grasp his meaning. She looked as though she wanted to say something but struggled to find the words.

Before the tension could thicken, a voice suddenly chimed in: "Can I pick something too?"

Turning around, Xiang Ri found Miss An and Shi Qing standing nearby. It was unclear when they had arrived, but it was certain they had overheard his earlier offer.

Caught off guard, Xiang Ri could only offer a sheepish smile, especially under the peculiar gaze of Miss An. Resigned, he decided to throw caution to the wind. "Fine, fine! Choose whatever you want. Whatever you pick, I'll pay for it. Satisfied?"

"Is that a promise?" Miss An replied with a mischievous grin. Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Shi Qing and the icy beauty by their arms and declared, "Since someone is feeling so generous, let's not be polite. Let's just take the whole store, shall we?"

Xiang Ri could only manage a wry smile at this audacious suggestion. Take the whole store? Wasn't that a bit much?

Though he had the means to pay for it, such an act would surely make him a laughingstock. Besides, gifting someone a lingerie store was hardly romantic. It wasn't diamonds or jewelry, after all.

As he was about to dissuade Miss An from her outrageous idea, his phone rang unexpectedly.

The women immediately paused, their eyes collectively darting toward him. Xiang Ri's heart skipped a beat. He silently prayed it wasn't a call from one of his female acquaintances, which would undoubtedly invite suspicion.

Fortunately, the caller ID displayed the name of one of his underlings. Relieved, Xiang Ri answered, "Hey, Monkey, what's up?"

Deliberately keeping the phone slightly away from his ear, he allowed the women to eavesdrop. But the news on the other end wiped away any trace of levity.

"Boss, Fatty's been hurt. He's in the hospital."

Xiang Ri's expression instantly darkened. "What? Which hospital? What happened?"

He spoke loudly enough for the women to catch the gist. Their faces turned anxious, sensing the gravity of the situation.

After learning the hospital's location, Xiang Ri hung up and said sternly, "Stay here. I need to go. Don't wait for me."

Without another word, he turned and rushed out of the store.

The women hurried after him, but by the time they reached the entrance, he was already gone. Miss An, the most visibly distressed, turned to Shi Qing. "Did you catch which hospital?"

Shi Qing shook her head. Though equally worried, she understood Xiang Ri's temperament better than anyone. His actions made it clear he didn't want them involved.

"What about you, Wen Wen?" Miss An directed her question to the icy beauty.

"I didn't either," the woman replied, her tone calm but tinged with complexity. After a pause, she added softly, "Don't worry. He'll be fine."

Her words were accompanied by a fleeting, enigmatic warmth in her gaze.

At the Ninth People's Hospital, when Xiang Ri arrived at the ward Monkey mentioned over the phone, he was immediately stopped by two police officers standing guard at the door. Xiang Ri, now entirely unconcerned about why officers were stationed there, was about to barge in when the door conveniently swung open.

Emerging was a familiar face—Xiao Wu, the young officer he knew well. The sight of Xiang Ri brightened Xiao Wu's expression, and after reprimanding the two officers for their oversight, he apologized to Xiang Ri, explaining that they were new and hadn't recognized him. Only then did Xiao Wu lead him into the ward.

"Boss," Monkey greeted immediately upon seeing his leader.

"Mm," Xiang Ri nodded, his gaze shifting toward the hospital bed. "How's Fatty?" He asked, scanning the figure lying there, wrapped head to toe in bandages like a mummy, with only a pale face visible. Despite the evident discomfort, Fatty's eyes were wide open.

When Fatty noticed Xiang Ri looking at him, he managed a strained smile. "Boss, I'm fine," he rasped, his voice hoarse from blood loss.

"You brat, as long as you're fine." Xiang Ri let out a sigh of relief. The frantic urgency of Monkey's call had made him fear the worst. 

"Boss, I wouldn't exactly call this fine. Can't you see I'm wrapped up like a mummy?" Fatty quipped, his humor intact despite his predicament.

Xiari scoffed, "If you've got the energy to crack jokes, you're definitely fine." But his expression quickly turned serious. "What happened?"

Monkey hesitated, glancing at the officer nearby before remaining silent. Xiao Wu, perceptive as ever, picked up on the tension. Sensing the conversation required privacy, he tactfully excused himself and left the room.

Only then did Monkey speak. "Boss, Fatty was attacked. Someone went at him with knives."

Xiari's eyes narrowed, a sharp glint flashing in them. "Who?"

Monkey hesitated again, this time looking toward Fatty. "Fatty, you tell him."

"Quit passing the buck!" Xiang Ri growled, but eventually turned to Fatty. "Alright, out with it. What happened?"

Fatty grimaced. "Boss, I don't know who it was."

"What do you mean you don't know?" Xiang Ri's patience frayed. "Then how did you end up like this?"

Fatty hurried to explain, fearing his boss's growing anger. "It happened last night, Boss. I was leaving a bar and taking a shortcut through an alley. Suddenly, a group of guys came out of nowhere and started swinging knives at me. If I hadn't shielded my head with my arms, and if a group of students hadn't happened to pass by, I'd be dead. But it was too dark to see their faces."

"So, they were aiming to kill you?" Xiang Ri's expression darkened further. He had initially thought it might have been an intimidation attempt, but now it was clear these men intended to end Fatty's life.

"Are you sure your injuries aren't serious?" Xiang Ri pressed.

"I'll live. Just a couple of months in bed," Fatty replied, though his tone betrayed discomfort. He glanced at Monkey, shooting him a warning look.

Xiang Ri noticed this exchange immediately. "What aren't you two telling me?"

Unable to hold back, Monkey suddenly burst out laughing. "Boss, you won't believe this—Fatty's extra padding saved his life. If he wasn't so… well-padded, it could've been much worse."

"Shut up!" Xiang Ri shot him a middle finger, but even he couldn't suppress a chuckle at the absurdity. The tension eased momentarily as they all shared a laugh—except for Fatty, who looked utterly miserable at being the butt of the joke.

Once the mirth died down, Xiang Ri turned serious again. "Fatty, why didn't you call me when it happened?"

"Boss, I couldn't even move," Fatty replied, still looking dejected.

"And you, Monkey? You weren't hurt, were you?" Xiang Ri glared at him.

"I only found out just before you did," Monkey explained with a helpless shrug.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Xiang Ri frowned.

Monkey elaborated, "Those students took Fatty to the hospital. The hospital staff noticed his injuries were knife wounds and called the police. The cops sealed the incident off right away. I only heard about it because Xiao Wu gave me a heads-up."

Finally, Xiang Ri pieced it together. The hospital, recognizing the severity of the attack, had reported it to the authorities, who promptly took over the investigation, hoping to catch the culprits off-guard. But with Fatty unable to identify his attackers, the police were left without leads. 

Still, Xiang Ri wasn't about to let it go. "Are you sure you didn't see anything? Anything at all?" he asked Fatty again.

Fatty shook his head. "Nothing, Boss."

Xiang Ri switched tactics. "Alright, have you two offended anyone recently?"

Fatty's injury couldn't have been random—there had to be a reason, and Xiang Ri was determined to find out.

"Perhaps not?" Fatty pondered for a moment, his uncertainty evident.

However, Monkey suddenly interjected, "Fatty, do you think it could be him?"

"Who?" Xiang Ri asked urgently, pulling Monkey closer.

"Tian Hu," Monkey responded, though startled by the sudden grip, he showed no sign of panic, recognizing the gravity of the situation.

"Tian Hu?" A dangerous gleam flickered in Xiang Ri's eyes. "How do you know it was him?"

Monkey, aware of the long-standing feud between Xiang Ri and the "White Tiger Clan," was unruffled and continued, "A few days ago, Tian Hu came into the bar. He didn't cause any trouble, but before he left, he said something..."

"Something like 'Those who walk the night too long are bound to meet a ghost'?" Xiang Ri interjected, his voice sharp.

Monkey froze in surprise. Could it be that his boss had some sort of foresight? "Boss, how did you know?"

"Hmph!" Xiang Ri sneered, a cold smile curling his lips. He was now certain—Tian Hu was behind this.

Xiang Ri knew his former subordinate's habits all too well. He was confident because he understood that whenever Tian Hu planned to harm someone, he always uttered this peculiar phrase beforehand.

After a brief pause, Xiang Ri inquired, "But how did he end up in the East District? Doesn't he fear the Flying Rat might take down his base?"

"Boss, there's something you may not know," Monkey looked at him cautiously. "The White Tiger Clan has already clashed with the Flying Rat. The Flying Rat suffered a crushing defeat and has been completely driven out of the South City. Now, the White Tiger Clan reigns alone. However, Boss, the White Tiger Clan has changed its name—it's now called the Tian Hu Gang."

"Oh? They won?" Xiang Ri didn't mind the name change—he had no intention of reclaiming the White Tiger Clan anyway.

Yet something didn't sit right with him. According to his expectations, the conflict should have resulted in both sides suffering heavy losses, paving the way for a shadowy force to emerge, wipe out both gangs, and take control of the South City's turf.

But the reality seemed different. Why? Could it be that the mysterious force behind the scenes didn't want to take direct control of the South City? Was it due to complications? Xiang Ri turned his gaze to Monkey. "Monkey, do you know if any other forces have intervened?"

Monkey, uncertain, replied, "I'm not sure if it's true, but yesterday I overheard Wolf Brother mentioning something about a large gang called the Pan Long Gang getting involved."

"Pan Long Gang?" Xiang Ri couldn't help but feel a sense of irony. He seemed destined to cross paths with this wretched gang at every turn.

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. Could the Pan Long Gang be the hidden force that had been scheming to undermine him? But as soon as the thought emerged, Xiang Ri swiftly dismissed it.

He was certain that the Pan Long Gang was not the mysterious force behind everything. As he had suspected, if they were the ones pulling the strings, they would not have come out to support the White Tiger Clan. Instead, they would have watched as both the White Tiger Clan and Flying Rat destroyed each other, thus maximizing their own gains. Otherwise, all their previous efforts would be in vain.

Moreover, Xiang Ri was confident in his conclusion for other reasons.

If it were a truly covert force, they wouldn't have gained notoriety so early, especially with the police already on their trail.

Xiang Ri recalled the first time he heard the name Pan Long Gang—it had come from the mouth of a female police officer, accompanied by a boisterous male celebrity named Li, who, it was rumored, had ties to the gang. However, Li's ambitions had been his downfall, as he had been outmaneuvered by Xiang Ri, with his reputation in tatters.

Xiang Ri also had a more personal experience with the Pan Long Gang when he had once intervened to save a couple of young girls. Based on the demeanor of their thugs, it was clear that they lacked the discipline and cohesion of a well-organized gang. This confirmed for Xiang Ri that the Pan Long Gang was not the hidden force in question.

At this point, Xiang Ri almost couldn't suppress a smile. It was evident that the shadowy force had not anticipated that, just as they were about to succeed, another faction had already set its sights on South District. Their lack of preparation had caused everything they had worked for to unravel.

But none of this concerned Xiang Ri. To him, it was all just infighting among dogs—who won or lost mattered little.

There was, however, one matter he could not ignore: Tian Hu. He had not yet settled the old scores with him, yet that rogue had dared to stir trouble for Xiang Ri? It was clear—it was time to teach him a lesson.

With that thought in mind, Xiang Ri beckoned Monkey over. "Monkey, how would you feel about taking a trip to South City?"