"Hey, hey?! I’m warning you—don’t mess with me! This has nothing to do with you!"

The nouveau riche man panicked and instinctively stepped back, visibly shaken by Lao Biao’s thug-in-a-suit aura.

Beside him, the seductive woman suddenly cooed and clung to his arm. "President Ma, you *promised* it was mine… Why not just toss this brat some cash and tell him to scram?"

Her words sparked a flicker of courage in him. Earlier, Qin Cheng’s refined attire and Lao Biao’s imposing presence had raised doubts—but her coquettish act reignited his bluster. *Can’t lose face!*

He puffed out his belly, tilted his chin up, and sneered past Lao Biao—at Qin Cheng behind him. "Kid, this ain’t your business. Move. Now."

"Handsome! Save me!"

The single-ponytail girl trembled, tugging Qin Cheng’s sleeve. Her wide, tearful eyes and petite frame radiated helpless vulnerability.

Lao Biao stood firm, blocking the man’s path while watching his young master. *Master’s usually explosive—even someone like Si Weimao got knocked out on a whim. So why the silence?*

The crowd had quietly thinned; staff were ushering people away. Just as the nouveau riche man, dignity fraying, tried to sidestep Lao Biao toward the girl—Qin Cheng finally spoke.

Not to him.

He turned to the girl with a sun-warmed smile brimming with gentle promise.

Her eyes lit up. *He’s so handsome! I’m saved!* she thought.

"Who gave you permission to use me as a human shield?"

"Th-thank you… huh?"

She froze, blinking up at him in confusion.

"I asked," Qin Cheng repeated, pinching her chin with one hand while pulling her flush against him. Their eyes locked. A chillingly gentle smile played on his lips. "Who allowed you to use me?"

A dangerous glint flickered in his dark eyes.

"Mmm… I… mmm…"

She tried to squirm free—but his grip was iron. Her lips were puckered tight, words muffled. Only wide, innocent, pleading eyes remained.

*This isn’t the script?! Shouldn’t the hero save me?! That’s how dramas go!!!*

Fu Hou wailed inwardly, utterly dejected.

*(It’s not the dramas’ fault… you just stumbled upon the villain.)*

"Tch. If it’s none of your business, step aside! This brat stole my bag—taking back my property isn’t wrong, is it?" the man grumbled, trying again to bypass Lao Biao. Blocked. *Master hasn’t given the word.*

"Damn it! Looking for trouble? Think I can’t make you disappear in Pinghai City?"

*Here we go,* Lao Biao thought dryly. *Textbook doomed-villain monologue.* He stayed stone-faced, barely suppressing a smirk.

"The hell?! You think I’m bluffing? I’m tight with Young Master Qin Cheng—the Azure Cloud Group heir! You got a death wish? One call and you’re finished!"

Face flushed, the man blustered like a cornered clown. Lao Biao watched, amused.

From afar, Qin Cheng’s expression darkened.

"Mmm… doomed… *sob*… sorry… please…" Fu Hou mumbled, lips aching from the pout. Seeing the man’s fury, panic surged. Qin Cheng’s grip even pinched a hint of her baby-fat double chin.

"And who," Qin Cheng asked coldly, "is this 'Young Master Qin'?"

"Young Master Qin! The *big-shot* one! Massive backing—he practically owns Pinghai City—"

"Pfft…"

Lao Biao snorted.

"What’s so funny?!"

"Ahem… just remembered something happy."

"What happy thing?!"

"I’m Young Master Qin Cheng’s bodyguard. Of Azure Cloud Group."

"I’M NOT JOKING!!!"

"Yep, yep… hhhhhh."

"You’ve mocked me this whole time!! I’ve had enough!!"