Chapter 94: Spreading Rumors
After finalizing the arrangements, Lai Hou and Wang Zhen Dong went their separate ways to carry out their tasks. Meanwhile, Chen Xue Wen took Li Tie Zhu back to the hotel.
Once inside, Chen Xue Wen retrieved a box from under the bed. Inside were custom-made items he had specially ordered. He pulled out a yellow cowhide jacket—a durable piece made from bull leather, tough enough to withstand cuts from a blade. He wore a thin autumn undershirt before layering the jacket over it. Additionally, he reinforced key areas of his body with strips of cowhide and other protective materials. This was the same preparation he had taken when he stormed Zhou Hao’s house, only this time, with more time and resources at his disposal, he had improved upon it.
After securing his own defenses, he handed a similar yellow cowhide jacket to Li Tie Zhu. Tonight, Tie Zhu would accompany him to the banquet.
Despite Li Tie Zhu’s simple-minded nature, his combat prowess was formidable. If the situation escalated into a desperate fight, having Tie Zhu by his side would be invaluable.
Once Li Tie Zhu was dressed and ready, Chen Xue Wen patted his shoulder and instructed, “Tie Zhu, follow my orders tonight. If I start running, just follow me. Don’t think about anything else.”
Li Tie Zhu nodded firmly. “Understood!”
Satisfied, Chen Xue Wen leaned back on the bed, closing his eyes to conserve energy as he waited for nightfall.
At that moment, outside Hu Qian Qian’s residential complex, a group of elderly men and women were engaged in their usual gossip. A short and scrawny man, wearing a face-covering hat, casually joined their conversation. After a while, the discussion shifted to Hu Qian Qian.
The affair between Hu Qian Qian and He Fei had long become the talk of the neighborhood. For these elderly folks, nothing was more entertaining than discussing the downfall of a respectable university girl who had been tainted by a street thug.
Excitedly, they gossiped about how inseparable the pair had been, how shameless their actions were, and how disgraceful it was for an educated girl to act in such a way. They spoke as if they had witnessed it all firsthand.
Finally, one old man, Old Feng, grew impatient. “Enough! What kind of nonsense are you all spewing?”
“That thug is already in prison! He has nothing to do with Old Hu’s daughter anymore. Stop wagging your tongues like that!”
A nearby elderly woman scoffed, “Oh, come on, Old Feng! Just because you’re close with the Hu family doesn’t mean you can silence us.”
“We’re just stating the facts. Who’s gossiping?”
Others in the group voiced their agreement, unwilling to be dismissed so easily.
Just then, the scrawny man sneered, “Hmph, so what if that thug is locked up? Hu Qian Qian is still hopelessly devoted to him!”
His words exploded like a bomb among the crowd.
Old Feng immediately jumped up. “Hey! You can’t just make baseless accusations!”
“Hu Qian Qian is a good girl! She already cut ties with that thug long ago!”
The scrawny man chuckled darkly. “Is that so?”
“Well, what I heard was something else entirely…”
Intrigued, the old folks leaned in, eager for more details.
The man then shared the story of how Hu Qian Qian had hired Brother Tong to gamble at Chen Xue Wen’s establishment, leading to a loss of over 1.6 million yuan. He finished his tale with a venomous smirk. “In my opinion, she’s just a dog that can’t stop eating its own filth!”
“That thug ruined so many girls’ lives, and she’s still hell-bent on avenging him.”
“She’s not worthy of anyone’s sympathy!”
The gossiping elders gasped in shock, their chatter now focused solely on condemning Hu Qian Qian.
Meanwhile, Old Feng’s face turned pale. “This… how could something like this happen?”
“Old Hu probably doesn’t even know yet!”
“I have to tell him!”
Grabbing his stool, Old Feng rushed off in the direction of Hu’s house.
As soon as he left, the scrawny man slipped away as well. Turning a corner, he removed his face-covering hat, revealing his true identity—Lai Hou.
Similar scenes played out across Peaceful City. Li Er Yong and Wang Zhen Dong were also hard at work spreading rumors.
Li Er Yong altered the story slightly, claiming that Chen Xue Wen had bribed Wang Kai to deceive Hu Qian Qian, tricking her into the scheme.
Wang Zhen Dong, on the other hand, spun another version, stating that Snake had been the mastermind, using Wang Kai to manipulate Hu Qian Qian into falling for the trap.
Three different versions of the story—each designed to muddle the truth and sow confusion. Regardless of which tale gained traction, one fact remained: Hu Qian Qian was at the heart of the scandal. These rumors would inevitably reach her parents. And given their status in Peaceful City, they wouldn’t sit idly by once they learned what had happened.
This was a tactic Chen Xue Wen had learned from Heart Technique—when the situation turns against you, muddy the waters further. The more chaotic things became, the more forces would be drawn in, creating opportunities to turn the tide.
Meanwhile, at Chen Ji Grand Restaurant, Snake had already arrived, instructing his men to lay in ambush throughout the venue. Just as Chen Xue Wen had anticipated, Snake planned to eliminate him that very night.
Standing beside him was Leopard, his expression dark with fury. The humiliation he had suffered earlier at Chen Xue Wen’s hands—being forced to pay 18,000 yuan—had made him the laughingstock of his peers. His rage burned hotter than ever.
Grinding his teeth, Leopard spoke in a low, vicious tone. “Brother Snake, I’ve followed you for years, and I’ve never asked for much.”
“But tonight, I have one request.”
Snake glanced at him. “What is it?”
Leopard’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent. “Tonight, let me be the one to kill Chen Xue Wen.”
Snake smirked. “Oh? That’s all?”
“No problem. You personally lead the men guarding the exits.”
“When I smash my glass, that’s your cue.”
“But listen up—if you fail to kill him, don’t bother showing your face to me again.”
Leopard took a deep breath, his grip tightening around the long blade at his waist. He had spent the entire afternoon having it sharpened for this moment.
“Brother Snake, just watch.”
“Tonight, I’ll carve him up myself.”
At exactly 6 PM, Chen Xue Wen received a message from Lai Hou:
“Hu Qian Qian’s parents are home. They’ve broken a bunch of stuff. Looks like they’re furious!”
Seeing the message, Chen Xue Wen grinned. He knew his plan was now in full motion.
Standing up, he put on his jacket and called out, “Tie Zhu, let’s go.”
“To Chen Ji Grand Restaurant!”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation