Chapter 170 Threat

The place Liu Mingyu pointed out was the same restaurant where Yang Chen had taken her for the first time, where later she would come alone and encounter Li Jingjing's family and Jiang Shuo. After making a call to Wang Ma at home, Yang Chen drove together with Liu Mingyu to this locally renowned Chinese restaurant.

Once they entered the corner of the main hall and sat down after ordering their dishes, they naturally started chatting. However, not long after, Liu Mingyu, who was laughing and chatting, suddenly showed a trace of unrest on her face, and swiftly stood up from her seat with a "swoosh" sound, her gaze fixed towards the entrance of the restaurant.

"Mingyu, what's wrong?" Yang Chen turned back in confusion to where Liu Mingyu was looking.

When he saw the person walking towards them, Yang Chen felt a sense of familiarity at first. After a moment's thought, he remembered it was Wang Yue, the female PR from another company whom he and Liu Mingyu had encountered during their first visit to this restaurant, the one Yang Chen had playfully called "Songdao Feng."

Wang Yue wasn't dressed in professional attire this time. Instead, she wore a light pink floral dress and white high heels, her petite and delicate figure complementing her rosy cheeks and alluring red lips, exuding a charming feminine charm.

She wasn't accompanied by the two male companions as before but was instead gently linked arm in arm with a tall man, appearing blissful and content. The man was dressed in a well-tailored Armani suit, the smooth lines and delicate light patterns highlighting his inherently masculine charm.

His sturdy physique, coupled with his fair skin and sharp features, stood out prominently as he walked alongside Wang Yue, drawing the attention of numerous diners in the restaurant.

Yang Chen didn't understand why Liu Mingyu reacted so intensely. Even though they saw Wang Yue, their competitor from the same industry, last time Liu Mingyu had calmly exchanged words with her, showing no signs of panic. But at this moment, as Liu Mingyu gazed at the approaching couple, her once composed face now alternated between pale and flushed, her breathing unusually short.

At this moment, Wang Yue and the man who had approached finally noticed Liu Mingyu standing there.

Because she had just taken on the role of the head of the PR department, Liu Mingyu's attire was much more restrained than before, wearing a somewhat outdated black suit with loose cotton trousers and low-heeled sandals. But with her exceptionally beautiful face, it was still easy to recognize her distinctive elegance.

In the instant when the man and Liu Mingyu made eye contact, he seemed stunned for a moment too. But then, he quickly regained his composure and continued to approach with a smile.

Seeing Liu Mingyu, Wang Yue immediately glared at her as if she had encountered an archenemy, "Oh, it's Minister Liu, who just took office. You're really persistent, aren't you?"

Liu Mingyu remained silent, her eyes already reddening, tears glistening as she looked at the man beside Wang Yue. Noticing Liu Mingyu's unusual behavior and following her gaze to the man next to her, Wang Yue immediately laughed smugly, "Looks like Minister Liu is quite interested in my boyfriend. How about it? Isn't my Qiqi handsome? Well, it's not surprising. After all these years, Minister Liu, selling herself here and there, probably hasn't found a boyfriend yet. What kind of man would want you? Really pitiful…"

Liu Mingyu ignored her, her eyes fixed on the man beside Wang Yue. She asked, "Qi Kai, when did you come back?"

The man named Qi Kai smiled easily, "Actually, I retired more than a year ago. I was working in another province, serving as a department manager at a company. I returned to Zhonghai two months ago to be a director at the local branch."

"More than a year ago..." Liu Mingyu shook her head slightly. "Why? Why didn't I know anything?"

"What do you want to know? Why should you know?" Qi Kai found it amusing and raised an eyebrow. "Even though we were pretty close in college, it's not like I had to report everything to you."

Seeing that Qi Kai knew Liu Mingyu, Wang Yue immediately pouted and said to him, "Qiqi, why are you talking to this vixen? I don't want you reminiscing with her!"

Qi Kai smirked wickedly, lightly tapping Wang Yue's sharp chin with his finger. "Vixen? You're the sly fox. She's just an old classmate. What are you jealous about?"

"Stop it," Wang Yue said, shaking Qi Kai's hand coquettishly, her face full of shyness, resembling an innocent young girl.

Liu Mingyu bit her thin lips, took a deep breath, and laughed bitterly, "An old classmate? Who was it that, when getting on the train back then, said they would wait for him and promised to return to live with me forever? Qi Kai, you really disappoint me."

Sitting nearby, Yang Chen finally understood. So this man was Liu Mingyu's boyfriend, the one she had been waiting for who was a soldier. But now it seemed he had played her!

Qi Kai frowned and said, "Liu Mingyu, we were young and naive in college, and said things without thinking. Did you take it as gospel truth? Those things don't count. I can't believe you haven't found a man to keep you company all these years. Nowadays, it's normal for a beautiful woman to have three or four lovers. Don't cry in front of me; I've seen it all before. It won't work on me."

Liu Mingyu's face turned red with anger. She gritted her teeth and spat out, "You… you're shameless! Despicable!"

Qi Kai snorted coldly in annoyance and said, "Liu Mingyu, even though we're old classmates, you should be mindful of your words in public. You have to take responsibility for them. There's nothing between us. Back in college, we were just a bit close. At most, I held your hand. We never even kissed, let alone touched your body. You expect me to hold you in my heart and wait for so many years to come back and marry you? You're being too naive!"

"Exactly, exactly," Wang Yue, who had already understood the situation, eagerly continued to mock Liu Mingyu. "I wondered what kind of relationship you had with my Qiqi. Just holding hands, and you still want my Qiqi to like you? Liu Mingyu, you have no shame! Qiqi loves only me now. You, old woman, should just get lost!"

Liu Mingyu, with tears in her eyes, sneered coldly, "Qi Kai, you really have a good eye. It's my fault for being blind and seeing the wrong person. But it seems your eyesight isn't that great either, falling for someone like Wang Yue, who's been with everyone. It's karma for betraying me!"

"Liu Mingyu! Who are you calling that? Who's 'been with everyone'?!" Wang Yue shouted angrily.

Qi Kai stopped Wang Yue's outburst. "Hey, baby, why are you getting angry? Didn't you see that Liu Mingyu also brought her lover?" Qi Kai pointed at Yang Chen, who had been sitting quietly all this time, and smirked. "Liu Mingyu, your taste isn't that great either. You even let a country bumpkin like him have you. Seems like you've had your fair share of men over the years. I heard you're a minister now. It must not have been easy for you. I'd advise you to be more careful in the future. If you catch something, I won't have any extra money to lend you for treatment. After all, my career is still on the rise. Take care of yourself; that's a friendly warning from an old classmate."

"Hahahaha," Wang Yue burst into laughter. "Qiqi, you said it so well. I love you so much!"

With that, Wang Yue jumped up and kissed Qi Kai on the cheek, looking at him with an alluring gaze full of intoxication.

Qi Kai glanced provocatively at Liu Mingyu and Yang Chen, and with a smirk, he said, "Let me tell you, Liu Mingyu, now that I'm back in Zhonghai, I plan to settle and grow here. Don't go spreading your nonsense about me. I never made you any promises, nor did I ask for any from you. All those fabricated things of yours have no evidence and are probably just your delusions. You'd better behave yourself, or don't blame me for being rude."

After finishing his warning, he gave Liu Mingyu a stern look and started to leave with Wang Yue.

"Wait," said Yang Chen, who had been sitting quietly but now stood up, clearly displeased, and called out to Qi Kai.

Qi Kai turned around, his smile arrogant, and asked, "What? Are you going to stand up for your woman? Play the hero?"

Yang Chen glanced at Liu Mingyu, who was sitting nearby, silent and despondent, and sighed. He then said to Qi Kai, "The matter between you and Mingyu is none of my business. But since you said Mingyu is my woman, I need to clarify that she's not. Mingyu and I are just friends, nothing more. And just now, your words insulted me, which counts as a personal attack. You need to apologize to me sincerely right now."

"Apologize?" Qi Kai responded as if he had heard the funniest joke. He chuckled, "Kid, do you even know what kind of soldier I was in the military?"

"What?"

"A field soldier, in the special forces, specializing in capturing criminals. I've killed quite a few people too," Qi Kai said menacingly.

Yang Chen shook his head. "That has nothing to do with me. I'm just asking if you will apologize or not."

"Apologize? I didn't say anything wrong, so why should I apologize? I won't apologize. What can you do about it?"

"You should apologize. I don't want to make a scene and disturb everyone's meal here," Yang Chen said, glancing around at the onlookers.

Qi Kai snorted. "Your words are just like farting to me! I'm telling you, if you dare to put on that attitude in front of me and demand an apology again, I'll knock you out right here and now."

4o

Before Qi Kai could finish his sentence, Yang Chen suddenly stepped forward, moving so quickly it was as if he left a blur behind. Qi Kai only saw a flash before he felt a massive force grabbing his arm, lifting him off the ground and hurling him through the air!

"Boom—"

"Crash, clang..."

Qi Kai's tall, muscular frame, over 1.8 meters tall, was abruptly thrown in an arc through the air, flipping over Yang Chen's shoulder and crashing violently onto a table behind Yang Chen! The table shattered under the force, splitting in two, with all the dishes, food, and drinks spilling onto the floor, splattering onto Qi Kai's expensive Armani suit.

The restaurant erupted in screams as the customers witnessed the scene. Many quickly backed away from their seats, keeping their distance to see what was happening.

As for Liu Mingyu and Wang Yue, the two women stood dumbfounded, unable to believe that in just an instant, the previously smug and boastful Qi Kai had been overthrown and slammed to the ground by Yang Chen!

Yang Chen stepped forward and planted his foot firmly on Qi Kai's chest. Lying on the ground, covered in food and drink, Qi Kai looked pathetic. He coughed due to the impact, his mind dazed and unclear.

"I told you to apologize. When I pay to have a meal, I just want to enjoy it in peace, understand? But not only did you refuse to apologize, you had to boast about being a special forces soldier and threaten to take me down. Take down who? I hate it when people threaten me!"

As Yang Chen finished speaking, he applied a bit more pressure with his foot on Qi Kai's chest.

"Urgh—"

A mouthful of blood spurted from Qi Kai's mouth, staining the once white shirt on his chest a deep red!