chapter 22
Gu Qingning glanced sideways, disinterested, then withdrew her gaze and went back to her game.
The owner of the internet café was a burly middle-aged man with a broad smile that made him seem simple and honest.
He quickly strode forward and blocked the group of thugs who had barged in.
His eyes fell on the man leading them—a gaudy flower shirt, ripped jeans, and a flashy “killer-matte” hairstyle. The guy oozed sleaze, looking every bit a street punk.
But the boss wasn’t afraid. Still smiling, he stepped up.
“Brother, I’m just running a small business here. We’ve got customers around—how about we talk somewhere private?”
“We’re looking for someone. Once we find him, we’ll leave.” The man’s tone was impatient.
“Find him.”
“Yes.”
The lackeys behind him spread out, roughly flipping chairs and even checking under every table.
The noise and chaos frightened the customers—no one wanted to stick around to “watch the show” and risk getting dragged into trouble with a gang.
Business was ruined, and the boss was furious yet helpless.
He sighed. When he turned his head, he was surprised to see that someone in the corner still hadn’t left.
Were young people these days really that brave?
From under the table beside her came a faint rustle. Gu Qingning glanced down.
In the dim light, she saw a man of about thirty. A scabbed scar ran across his cheek, still streaked with blood. His mouth and arms were also covered with fresh wounds.
Their eyes met. The man’s face was pale, and he shook his head slightly, signaling her to stay quiet.
Gu Qingning tilted her head and calmly looked away.
Bang, bang, bang—
A row of chairs clattered to the ground, making a ruckus.
“Hey, get up! Don’t sit there in the way!”
A thick stench of smoke and alcohol wafted toward her. Gu Qingning narrowed her cool eyes, her tone edged with impatience.
“Scram.”
The blond thug exploded in rage. Tossing away his cigarette butt, he cursed and raised a hand to grab her.
“You little punk, you’ve got a death wish! I’ll teach you a—”
Before he could finish, a keyboard came smashing down on his head.
Fast. Hard. Precise.
The noise in the café vanished, leaving an eerie silence.
The blond staggered, clutching his dizzy head, eyes flashing with fury as he stared at the tall, slim figure before him.
A cap shaded most of her face. Loose black casual clothes concealed her shape, making her look like a lanky young man.
“Kid,” he snarled, “you’re leaving here on a stretcher.”
He grabbed a chair and charged like a mad dog.
Gu Qingning didn’t even flinch. The café owner, watching from the side, broke out in cold sweat for her.
But just when everyone thought Gu Qingning was done for—things flipped in an instant.
As the chair came down, she pivoted sharply and swung another keyboard straight at the thug’s back.
Bang!
The force was brutal enough to make everyone wince.
The blond coughed blood and collapsed.
Unluckily for him, from his angle on the floor, he caught sight of the man hiding under the table.
Gritting his teeth through the pain, he shouted, “Brother Hai! He’s here!”
The scarred man’s face changed. Not good.
Catching sight of the tall, slim figure, he scrambled out, rolling and crawling for his life.
“Brother Hai” —the man in the flower shirt—squinted darkly when he saw him.
“Grab him!” he ordered.
Gu Qingning glanced at the man who had fallen at her feet, then calmly stepped aside.
She wasn’t a saint. She didn’t play hero. Whoever liked saving people could go do it.
The scarred man froze, then lowered his voice in desperation.
“Please, save me! I’ll repay you—I swear it.”
Looking down at him, Gu Qingning’s face was cool and distant.
“Not in the mood. Go find someone else to repay.”
He stiffened, despair flickering in his eyes.
Was he really going to die here today?
No—he refused.
He looked up again, pleading, “Please, save me just this once! If you do, I’ll serve you from now on. My life will be yours.”
The thugs surrounded them both.
Brother Hai walked over, eyes cold and vicious.
“Neither of you are leaving here today.”
His gaze shifted to Gu Qingning.
“You working with him?”
“No,” she replied coolly. “Move. Your fight has nothing to do with me.”
Brother Hai sneered.
“You hurt my man. You think you’re walking out?”
A soft laugh escaped her.
Hands in her pockets, her eyes glinted with icy menace.
“Do you want to end up like your buddy?”
“Brother Hai, quit talking to this brat!” the blond barked, limping toward them. “Catch them both and drag them back—we’ll deal with them nice and slow.”
Gu Qingning ignored him, her low voice husky and edged with warning.
“Last chance. Move—or not?”
Brother Hai smirked and stepped back.
“Get them both. Alive or dead—I don’t care.”
Before he even finished, the circle of thugs lunged forward, waving knives and clubs.
“Damn it.”
Gu Qingning cursed under her breath. She couldn’t even play a game in peace.
As the weapons closed in, she spun, her long leg sweeping out in a powerful kick that sent three men flying.
Her pale hand brushed the floor—when it lifted, a gleaming dagger appeared in her grip.
She didn’t bother wasting time. She went straight for the man in the flower shirt.
Take out the leader first.
The air chilled with killing intent.
Meeting her eyes—dark and cold as a frozen lake—Brother Hai felt a shiver run through his spine.
Danger screamed through him, but too late. A sting flared at his neck; his whole body went rigid.
Once again, the scene flipped—everyone stood frozen in disbelief.
How had “he” gotten behind him?
Gu Qingning pressed the blade to his neck, her voice calm but cutting.
“This knife doesn’t have eyes. Move, and the one leaving on a stretcher will be you.”
Brother Hai had been through his share of fights, and he quickly forced himself to calm down.
Through the corner of his eye, he glared at the “young man” holding him hostage.
“Who the hell are you?” he growled.
Gu Qingning’s lips curled slightly.
“If you don’t know when to back off,” she said slowly, “then I’m the one here to take your life. Understand?”
As she spoke, her wrist flicked—the blade pressed deeper.
A thin red line appeared on his neck, tiny drops of blood seeping out.
Brother Hai winced, brow twitching. Then he exhaled sharply.
Finally, he opened his eyes and barked to his men,
“Move. Let them go.”
Gu Qingning glanced at the scarred man still restrained nearby.
“Him too.”
“No way,” Brother Hai shot back immediately. “Didn’t you just say you weren’t together? You can go—but he stays.”
Too lazy to argue, Gu Qingning tilted the dagger closer.
“Let him go—or not?”
She wasn’t helping for free. She’d already fought—she might as well get something out of it
