Chapter 43

“Tongtong, those two really have no manners—hit so hard! Be gentle, Tongtong.”

The pretty boy beside Ma Qitong groaned in pain.

“Serves you right—who told you to be so mouthy and call someone a poor bastard? Now you’ve been beaten.”

Ma Qitong applied medicine while muttering impatiently.

If he hadn’t insulted someone for no reason, would anyone have beaten him?

The pretty boy was heartbroken—he’d thought those two looked like honest folks or losers.

He’d bullied plenty like them before; he could insult them however he wanted and they’d never dare retaliate.

Plus, his car was broken and he couldn’t leave, and his fiancée was already disgusted with him—he was already furious.

Just then he saw two people walking over who looked easy to pick on, so he decided to curse at them to vent his anger.

But the moment he spat out “poor bastard,” the good-natured man slapped him across the face.

The blow sent stars spinning before his eyes; before he could recover, the sleazy-looking man kicked him in the stomach and sent him flying two meters away.

He’d vomited up last night’s dinner from that kick, but clearly the two weren’t done—they beat him for a full hour.

When they finally left, his legs had gone numb—he’d broken them.

After they left, Zhang Chu’an excitedly said to Guo Jing:

“Guo Jing, I’ve never realized how satisfying it is to beat someone up—and even better, we don’t have to face legal consequences for beating him like this.”

Would that pretty boy dare report this to the police? What a joke—a drug dealer’s son going to the police station? That’s asking for death.

Guo Jing nodded in agreement: “I think when Nie Huaishang and the others arrive, things will be easier—after all, that pretty boy should be much more obedient now.”

“Tongtong, I told you not to drive yourself—you wouldn’t listen. Now the car’s broken and my leg’s broken.”

The pretty boy, seeing Ma Qitong still struggling to fix the car, began wailing in agony.

Ma Qitong, already frustrated after hours of futile repairs, couldn’t take his screaming anymore:

“If you keep crying like that, I’ll just leave you here.”

Hearing her, the pretty boy instantly stopped sobbing and begged:

“Don’t leave me, Tongtong—I promise I won’t bother you anymore, please don’t abandon me!”

His leg was broken—he couldn’t walk. If Ma Qitong left him here, in this remote wilderness, he might get dragged off by wolves by nightfall.

Ma Qitong had only said it in passing—she’d never truly abandon him.

So she kept focusing on repairing the car, though her skills were useless. The two of them could only hope she’d somehow fix it by accident.

“Brother, why are you sitting on the ground? It’s so cold.”

Nie Huaishang, walking over from afar, asked curiously.

The pretty boy wanted to cry—he wanted to sit on the ground, but his legs had been broken.

Nie Huaishang and Zhang Xiaofan, seeing his expression, were nearly bursting with laughter.

They’d already heard the pretty boy had been mouthy and ended up with his legs broken by Zhang Chu’an and the others.

That’s why they’d specifically asked why he was sitting—watching his helpless, tearful face was pure joy.

Ma Qitong, impatiently, said: “Ignore him—he got his legs broken because he was mouthy.”

Hearing her, the two couldn’t hold back—they burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny? Do you think I won’t kill you both when I get out? You believe me?”

The pretty boy threatened them, furious and humiliated.

Hearing this, Nie Huaishang looked at him with a faint smile.

“You don’t believe me?”

The pretty boy asked nervously.

“I believe you. Of course I believe you. Since you’ll kill me after you get out, I might as well kill you now.”

Nie Huaishang finished speaking, his face darkening as he slowly drew a dagger from his belt and stepped toward the pretty boy.

“Don’t kill me! I have money! If you spare me, I’ll give you plenty!”

Terrified that Nie Huaishang meant to kill him, the pretty boy wet himself and begged desperately.

“You might indeed be rich—but how can I be sure you’ll spare me? Money’s great, but only if you’re alive to spend it.”

Nie Huaishang tapped the dagger lightly against the pretty boy’s cheek and whispered.

Today’s script was different. Normally, when I boasted and insulted others, they all bowed and begged for forgiveness.

Every time I threatened to kill someone, they’d immediately kneel and apologize—why is today different?

First, two poor bastards I insulted broke my legs.

Now a loser is threatening to kill me because of my threats.

And this place? Remote wilderness—no one to hear me cry out to heaven or earth.

“Heh, just kidding with you—why so scared? Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. But you really need to change your attitude—you’ll get hurt otherwise.”

Nie Huaishang stood up, patted his shoulder, and spoke softly to comfort him.

Seeing this, Ma Qitong sighed in relief—after all, if Nie Huaishang killed the pretty boy, he might kill her too.

Nie Huaishang glanced at the car and asked Ma Qitong, still shaken:

“Miss, I can see you won’t fix this anytime soon—let me help you repair it.”

“Really? That’s wonderful!”

Ma Qitong agreed without hesitation, overjoyed.

Nie Huaishang quickly got to work, focused on the repair. Ma Qitong watched him quietly, noticing the man was quite handsome.

And when he threatened the pretty boy, his aura was as formidable as her father’s and her third brother’s.

Zhang Xiaofan, watching all this, sent a message in the group chat.

Zhang Xiaofan: “Congratulations, Huaishang—you’ve gained a little fangirl.”

Guo Jing: “Has Ma Qitong fallen for Huaishang?”

Nie Huaishang: “Xiaofan, don’t scare me!”

Nie Huaishang quickly turned to look at Ma Qitong—her eyes were filled with affection.

His heart sank halfway—he’d just acted like a monster, so why wasn’t she afraid? Why did she like him?

Nie Huaishang finished repairing the car in a flash and moved to leave with Zhang Xiaofan, but Ma Qitong blocked their way:

“It’s almost dark—are you going to walk? Get in my car—we’re heading to the county town together.”

“That doesn’t seem right.”

Zhang Xiaofan said sarcastically.

“What’s wrong with it? Get in.”

Ma Qitong said cheerfully.

As in the original plot, Nie Huaishang took Xiao Zhuang’s place and drove.

Along the way, Ma Qitong enthusiastically chatted with Nie Huaishang.

Nie Huaishang drove with a blank expression, responding to her mechanically.

Meanwhile, Zhang Chu’an and Guo Jing were frantically @ing Zhang Xiaofan in the group chat.

After all, Nie Huaishang had just won over Ma Qitong—they couldn’t distract him now.