NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18:
Chapter 18: The Protagonist Goes Down the Mountain:
Wang Zhenxing pretended not to notice Lin Keqing’s curious gaze. Calmly, he took out his phone and dialed his lawyer.
An incident like this couldn’t simply be ignored, especially when so many people had gathered to watch. Some even recorded the scene on their phones.
When the lawyer arrived, Wang Zhenxing recounted everything that had happened.
“Mr. Wang, do you want them detained for half a month or sentenced to up to three years in prison?” the lawyer asked.
“Severe punishment. No leniency,” Wang Zhenxing replied firmly.
“Understood.” The lawyer nodded.
Once the authorities arrived, the lawyer handled everything. Clearly, the blame lay with the yellow-haired young man and his group, as they had initiated the violence.
The local authorities took the matter very seriously. After all, Wang Zhenxing was no ordinary citizen. As a well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist, he had a good reputation for being a conscientious business leader. The idea that such a respectable person had almost been assaulted on the street was unacceptable.
The officials even reported the matter to senior management, who ordered strict punishment. They also instructed an investigation into whether the young men had prior offenses. If any were found, those crimes would also be accounted for.
Meanwhile, the yellow-haired young man and his companions, who were being treated at the hospital, thought they had found a “golden opportunity.” They believed they could blackmail Wang Zhenxing for compensation and make a small fortune.
However, when they learned they were facing up to three years of imprisonment, their faces turned pale with fear.
…
The next day.
Wang Zhenxing arrived at the office as usual. His workload had significantly reduced now that Lin Keqing was making noticeable progress. She was diligent, focused, and already capable of handling much of the company’s work.
With Lin Keqing managing so many affairs, Wang Zhenxing now found himself with some spare time. Sitting at his desk, he pulled out a backup phone from his drawer and powered it on. This phone was specifically used for discreet matters.
Several unread messages appeared on the screen. They were from the tenants he had hired to disrupt Xu Yourou.
“Boss, I can’t do this anymore. I’ve been making noise for twelve days straight. Can we stop now? I’ll even take less for the final payment.”
“Boss, it’s been thirteen days already. Two days don’t make much difference, right?”
“Boss, I’ve been at it for fourteen days. I really can’t hold on anymore. The fields are fine, but even the cows are too exhausted to plow.”
Reading the messages, a playful smile appeared on Wang Zhenxing’s face. The couple had certainly earned their pay—enduring so long without quitting.
He had originally agreed to pay them for fifteen days, and there was only one day left. It was about time he went to check on Xu Yourou himself.
He quickly edited a message, requesting the man’s account number. Once he received it, he transferred 20,000 yuan from Feng Qianqian’s account—double the agreed amount of 10,000 yuan. The extra 10,000 was to ensure they forgot the matter entirely.
After completing the transaction, he destroyed the SIM card and tossed it into the trash can.
With that out of the way, he poured himself a cup of tea, sipped leisurely, and then called Xu Yourou.
“Is the sewer over there still clogged?” he asked as soon as she picked up.
“No, it’s still stuck. It’s been days now,” Xu Yourou replied with frustration.
“Did you call someone to take a look at it?”
“No. I tried fixing it myself, but it didn’t work,” she said helplessly.
“I’ll come over later today and take a look. I can’t make it until after work, though. Is evening convenient for you?”
“No problem. Come over for dinner then. What do you want to eat?”
“Anything is fine. Just buy whatever you like.”
“Alright, don’t be picky later!” she teased.
“Of course not. I trust your cooking.”
“Alright, see you later!”
Ending the call, Xu Yourou hurried out to buy groceries.
As she reached the ground floor of her building, she ran into the young couple living upstairs. The man looked pale and worn out, his sunken eyes betraying his exhaustion. By contrast, the woman beside him looked vibrant and full of energy, her face rosy.
A mix of envy and jealousy flickered across Xu Yourou’s heart. When they passed each other, she glanced at the groceries they carried—oysters, pork kidneys, and other nutrient-rich foods—obviously bought at the market.
…
In a small town near the train station…
“Boy, just wait here if you’ve got the guts!”
Several bruised and battered young men shouted as they limped away, throwing harsh words over their shoulders before fleeing.
The young man left standing watched them leave, amusement on his face. He tossed the phone in his hand playfully.
Having just come down from the mountains, he was on his way to Qingling City by train. However, there was one problem—he didn’t have any money.
Fortunately, fate had smiled on him. A group of thugs had tried to rob him, only for the tables to turn. Instead of stealing from him, they ended up being robbed themselves.
The young man dialed a familiar number, and after a few rings, the call connected. In the background, the sound of a busy vegetable market echoed.
“Hello?” a gentle, mature woman’s voice came through. The moment the boy heard her voice, warmth surged in his heart.
“Who are you looking for?” the woman asked again.
The young man opened his mouth, wanting to say so much, but he didn’t know where to start. This young man was none other than Qin Yi, who had just completed his studies and returned from the mountains.
“Mother…” he finally choked out, his voice full of emotion.
Beep.
Before he could say anything more, the call disconnected.
Staring at the phone, Qin Yi quickly redialed.
After several rings, the call connected again.
“Boss, how much are the oysters?” Qin Yi suddenly heard his mother’s voice speaking to a vendor. It was clear she was busy shopping for groceries.
Hearing her lively voice, Qin Yi felt a mix of relief and confusion. His mother didn’t even like oysters. Why was she buying them?
“Who are you looking for?” Xu Yourou asked again, unable to hear him clearly in the noisy market.
“Mom,” Qin Yi said softly, his emotions threatening to overwhelm him.
But the market was too loud, and before he could say more, the call was hung up again.
Looking at his phone, Qin Yi felt slightly downhearted. However, his mother’s cheerful tone reassured him. It seemed her life was going well, and Uncle Wang was taking good care of her.
“Mom sounds busy. I’ll call her again tonight,” Qin Yi thought to himself as he headed toward the station, determination shining in his eyes.