Chen Mingxing recoiled, stumbling backward as the violent image of Chen Xiao stabbing Bai Lang at the hospital flashed through his mind. He stammered, "What... what do you want?"
Chen Xiao, enduring the pain throughout his body, pressed forward, his blood-stained mouth speaking in a chilling tone, "Of course, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!"
Chen Mingyue, anxious and furious, stomped her feet, clutching her reddened neck where Chen Xiao had grabbed her. "Brother, why are you afraid of that bastard surnamed Chen? He's just the good-for-nothing you've bullied since you were little!"
Yang Pinru sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Chen Xiao, put down the stool. Why bother? The old lady is lying in the back room. With her in charge, you wouldn't dare lay a hand on my son even if you had ten times the courage."
Chen Xiao ignored them, quickly cornering Chen Mingxing against the wall.
Chen Xingwu, realizing the gravity of the situation, gritted his teeth and threatened, "Chen Xiao, as your uncle, I order you to kneel and apologize immediately, and hand over the deed to Jishitang. Otherwise, you'll face the consequences!"
Chen Xiao spun around, retorting furiously, "Who the hell do you think you are, an uncle?"
With that, he resentfully raised the long stool and brought it down on Chen Mingxing's head.
"Bang—"
Chen Mingxing, utterly defenseless, fell to the ground, blood gushing from his head, barely clinging to life. The scene fell into a deathly silence.
"Mom—"
Yang Pinru was the first to react to the shock. She cried out and rushed to the fallen Chen Mingxing, "Son! Are you okay? Waaah..."
Chen Xiao stepped forward, placing his foot on Chen Mingxing's neck, and swept his cold gaze over everyone. "I'm taking my mother. Does anyone have any objections?"
No one dared to breathe, and they all shook their heads fearfully. Wang Haoran, in particular, trembled and hid behind Chen Mingyue.
Just as Chen Xiao managed to get Chen Qing onto the spacious, bright red sports car on the stretcher, two burly men in black suits quickly entered the courtyard.
Wang Haoran recognized them instantly and froze. "Brother Long, Brother Hu, aren't you Young Master Zheng's personal bodyguards? You're always with him. How do you have time to be here?"
"Do you even need to ask? Young Master Zheng's bodyguards are here to catch a car thief!"
Chen Mingyue, as if grasping a lifeline, excitedly pointed at Chen Xiao. "Brothers, Young Master Zheng's car was stolen by that bastard. They caught him red-handed. Please don't let him escape!"
Noticing the bodyguards' imposing physiques and muscular builds, the injured Chen Xiao couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
But he stood his ground, his tone firm. "I don't know any Young Master Zheng, and I didn't steal his car!"
emboldened by the presence of the bodyguards, Wang Haoran shed his timid demeanor and sneered, "The luxury car you're driving was just bought by Young Master Zheng not long ago. You still dare to deny stealing it? You're truly..."
The bodyguard named Zhang Long frowned impatiently and interrupted Wang Haoran. "Enough nonsense. Who is Chen Xiao?"
Chen Xingwu became even more convinced that Chen Xiao was a car thief. He pointed at Chen Xiao and accused, "It's him! Not only did he steal the car, but he also pocketed my family's deed and injured my precious son. His crimes are unforgivable..."
Before Chen Xingwu could finish, the two bodyguards bowed slightly towards Chen Xiao. The bodyguard named Zhao Hu spoke politely, "Mr. Chen Xiao, Miss Youen sent us to help you. Please tell us if you need anything."
Wang Haoran and Chen Mingyue's family exchanged dumbfounded glances.
Chen Mingyue looked at Wang Haoran in disbelief, unwilling to accept it. "Miss Youen? You mean Deputy Director Zheng's precious daughter, Zheng Youen? I heard even Zheng Youzhi is subservient to her. Why would that bastard surnamed Chen know her?"
"Does Miss Youen need your permission to be friends with anyone?"
Wang Haoran glared at Chen Mingyue, then forced a fawning smile and apologized to Chen Xiao. "Xiao... Brother Xiao, I'm truly... truly sorry. I... I didn't know you were Miss Youen's friend..."
"Slap!"
Chen Xiao slapped Wang Haoran hard across the face, his expression filled with disgust. "Does 'I didn't know' give you the right to falsely accuse me of being a car thief? Also, your bald head and wrinkled face suggest you're almost fifty. Do you think I'd recognize someone like you as a subordinate?"
"..."
Chen Xingwu, who was two years younger than Wang Haoran, was speechless, his face ashen.
"Ah—"
Chen Mingyue, enraged, lunged at Chen Xiao, screaming, "You bastard surnamed Chen, how dare you scold and humiliate my boyfriend?"
Chen Xiao remained unfazed, sneering, "Boyfriend? He's old enough to be your father."