Chapter 0024: Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

"Sixth Bro, got time for lunch?" Zhou Yunkang stepped in, his face beaming with a deferential smile—a stark contrast to his attitude before yesterday.

You don't hit a smiling face. Chen Liuhe rolled his eyes irritably, wiped the drool from his mouth, and drawled, "Well, well, if it isn't Big Shot Zhou! What breeze blew you into my little temple?"

"No, no, don't call me that! If Sixth Bro doesn't mind, just call me Yunkang or Little Zhou. 'Big Shot Zhou'—please, don't use that anymore. It'd be the death of me," Zhou Yunkang said hastily. Even Zhang Yongfu spoke highly of Chen Liuhe, and after hearing about last night's chaos in the private room, how could he dare strut around in front of this guy? This was a legit badass.

Chen Liuhe chuckled at Zhou Yunkang's humility, giving him a sidelong glance with a playful edge. "Big Shot Zhou, what game are you playing? Zhang Yongfu send you to stall me, or to rope me in?"

Zhou Yunkang met his gaze openly, smiling. "Neither. I've always admired people with real skills. This is just my honest respect for you, Sixth Bro."

Chen Liuhe made a mock shiver. "Save the sweet talk. Why aren't you with Qin Ruohan? What're you doing here?"

Zhou Yunkang didn't mind the cold reception, his smile unwavering. "Just signed the contract with Boss Qin. From now on, we're kinda colleagues, right? Paying a visit to Sixth Bro's turf feels only proper."

Chen Liuhe gave him a surprised look, studying him closely as if seeing him for the first time. He realized he might've misjudged Zhou Yunkang. This guy wasn't the shallow fool he'd seemed.

A faint, intrigued smile curled Chen Liuhe's lips as he sized him up, waiting for more. After a pause, Zhou Yunkang said, "Sixth Bro, haven't had lunch yet, huh? How about I treat you? Call it an apology for being a jerk the other night."

Chen Liuhe's grin widened. "Lunch? With who? Zhang Yongfu?"

Zhou Yunkang shook his head. "No Zhang Yongfu—just me and you."

Chen Liuhe eyed him for a moment before nodding slightly. Free food? With his nature, he'd never turn it down. Plus, he was genuinely curious about Zhou Yunkang's angle. Was it really just a simple meal?

No Qin Ruohan, no Zhang Yongfu—just Chen Liuhe and Zhou Yunkang. The spot was Zhou Yunkang's pick: a small farmhouse far from the city, serving wild game.

Zhou Yunkang was all hospitality from start to finish. They booked a spacious private room, and before the food arrived, he excused himself briefly.

Left alone, Chen Liuhe lit a cigarette, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. Zhou Yunkang was different today—no trace of the impulsive hothead he remembered. The guy seemed to have gained some depth overnight.

Not that Chen Liuhe cared too much. It wasn't arrogance or overconfidence—just that someone like Zhou Yunkang trying to pull something clever on him seemed laughably out of his league.

Bang! As Chen Liuhe lounged, the door suddenly crashed open. Seven or eight burly men wielding machetes stormed in like a swarm.

"Chop him dead!" No chit-chat, no questions—they charged straight at Chen Liuhe, blades raised.

His composure was downright chilling. Facing this ambush, he didn't flinch, steady as a rock, his expression barely shifting.

Just a slight quirk of his thick brows.

Tilting his head, he dodged a slashing machete grazing his cheek. His wrist shot out, grabbing the attacker's forearm and twisting hard. A crack sounded as the man howled, his arm snapped by Chen Liuhe's grip.

Flipping his palm, Chen Liuhe caught the falling machete mid-air and swung it in a vicious arc.

A sharp clang pierced the air as another thug's blade was knocked flying, his hand torn open and bleeding from the sheer force.

Chen Liuhe twirled the machete, striking the man's neck with the flat of the blade. The flesh caved in, blood gushing out.

That was just the back of the blade. With the edge, the guy's head would've been lopped off.

Chen Liuhe's move stunned the room—ferocious and brutal. In under ten seconds, all seven or eight machete-wielding thugs were down, some wounded, some crippled.

His control was terrifyingly precise—enough to disable them, hurt them bad, but never kill.

Clang. He tossed the machete aside, glancing casually toward the door. Spotting Zhou Yunkang outside, his lips curved into a thick smirk. He raised a hand and beckoned with a finger.

Zhou Yunkang swallowed hard, struggling to mask his shock. Taking a deep breath, he didn't run—instead, he obediently stepped into the room.

Before Chen Liuhe could demand answers, Zhou Yunkang spoke candidly. "Sixth Bro, I hired them. I set this up. I'll take the blame—but please forgive me. I had to know how strong you really are."

Pausing, he met Chen Liuhe's eyes. "Hearing's one thing, seeing's another. This was the only way to put my mind at ease. Staging this? I had no choice."

Chen Liuhe's smile was radiant. Ignoring the explanation, he beckoned Zhou Yunkang closer, still three meters away and too scared to move.

"Sixth Bro…" Zhou Yunkang's face paled. Chen Liuhe's smile was disarming, almost innocent, but it sent a shiver down his spine.

Seeing no reaction, Zhou Yunkang hesitated for two seconds, then gritted his teeth and shuffled forward.

When he got within a meter, before he could steady himself, Chen Liuhe's hand lashed out.

The slap rang loud and clear through the room. Zhou Yunkang stumbled, nearly falling, a vivid red handprint blooming on his cheek, swelling fast.

Shaking his dazed head, he didn't resist. Wiping blood from his mouth, he kept his eyes on Chen Liuhe.

Chen Liuhe stepped forward and slapped him again.

Smack! This time, Zhou Yunkang hit the floor, half his face torn and bleeding from the force.

He struggled up, only for Chen Liuhe to knock him down with another identical slap. Three rounds later, Zhou Yunkang's face was a bloody, swollen mess, puffed up like a steamed bun.

Finally, Chen Liuhe kicked him, sending him flying five or six meters into the wall.

Zhou Yunkang's frail frame couldn't take such punishment. Clutching his stomach, he curled up on the floor, dry-heaving.

"S-Sixth… Bro, you cooled off yet?" he forced out, voice strained.

Chen Liuhe lit a cigarette, calm as ever. "Be glad you didn't fight back, or you'd be a corpse right now."

"I knew I'd have to pay for this before I did it. I wouldn't fight back—wouldn't dare," Zhou Yunkang said after a moment, his speech clearing as the pain eased.

Chen Liuhe smirked coldly. "Now I'm curious—what's driving you to pull this stunt with such balls and bravado?"

"Sixth Bro, let's move somewhere else and talk this out," Zhou Yunkang said, struggling to his feet.

"If you don't give me a damn good explanation today, you'll still die ugly," Chen Liuhe said breezily, not sparing the wrecked room a glance as he walked out.

Zhou Yunkang dragged his battered body after him, gritting through the pain. He'd orchestrated this mess—he'd handle the cleanup.

In a new room, no food ordered, Zhou Yunkang locked the door and sat across from Chen Liuhe. After a silent half-minute, organizing his thoughts, he spoke. "Sixth Bro, I want to team up with you."

"Team up?" Chen Liuhe's face was all cold amusement. "You think you're worthy? What could we even team up for?"

Zhou Yunkang gritted his teeth. "Take down Zhang Yongfu. Put me in charge of the Black Dragon Gang!"

Chen Liuhe blinked, then burst into laughter—no surprise, just pure amusement. When someone acts out of character, something big's brewing. Zhou Yunkang was a textbook case. Even if he hadn't spilled it, Chen Liuhe had already guessed most of it.

Sizing him up, Chen Liuhe sneered, "Guess I underestimated you. You didn't just fool me—you fooled everyone, even Zhang Yongfu. Who'd have thought a guy pegged as a greedy, lustful nobody would have such ambition and cunning?"