Chapter – 02
The Young Man Grabbed Her Arm
Li Yang’s thoughts were still wandering when Chen Hongfeng spoke up timidly beside her:
“Yangyang, do we need to pay your father’s medical expenses? I have some money savedālet him take it all, as long as he doesn’t cause trouble for Jiang Yan.”
Li Yang snapped back to reality and said, “Aunt Chen, don’t worry about this. I’ll take you and Jiang Yan home first, then I’ll go talk to him.”
The young man, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke: “I’ll go with you.”
His voice was clear and cold, carrying an undeniable authority.
Li Yang was startled. This kid has such a strong presence.
She said gently, “You’re just a child. You don’t need to worry about these things. Don’t worryāfrom now on, you and Aunt Chen are safe.”
Jiang Yan’s eyes were frosty, his expression still ice-cold. “I’m not a child.”
“I’m the one who hit him. I should be there too.”
“…”
Li Yang glanced at Chen Hongfeng, hoping she would persuade Jiang Yan, but to her surprise, Chen Hongfeng said, “Alright, but when you go, listen to Yangyang. Whatever you do, don’t start a fight again.”
Jiang Yan gave a cold, indifferent nod.
Since Chen Hongfeng had agreed, Li Yang didn’t say anything more. After dropping Chen Hongfeng off at her home, she went to the hospital with Jiang Yan.
As soon as she walked into Li Guobang’s hospital room, Li Yang was taken aback.
Chen Hongfeng had said that Jiang Yan had only hit Li Guobang once with the ashtray.
But Li Guobang, lying in the hospital bed, was wrapped from head to toe like a mummy, his swollen face a patchwork of colors.
…What kind of ashtray could do that much damage?
Li Yang stole a glance at Jiang Yan, both shocked and exasperated.
Li Guobang was 1.85 meters tall and powerfully built. Even in his fifties, he still kept up with his fitness routine and looked only around forty.
No wonder Chen Hongfeng had been so smitten.
And yet this skinny Jiang Yan had beaten him to a pulp?
Given Li Guobang’s vindictive nature, this wasn’t going to end easily.
Li Yang stepped forward and said flatly, “Dad.”
“I’m here on behalf of Jiang Yan and Aunt Chen to discuss compensation with you.”
Li Guobang forced his eyes open. When he saw Jiang Yan standing behind Li Yang, a flicker of fear suddenly passed through his gaze.
Li Yang assumed he was just scared from being beaten by Jiang Yan. She didn’t think much of it and continued.
“You threw the first punch at Aunt Chen. To be fair, you’re not exactly in the right eitherāAunt Chen could still get a medical examination to document her injuries.”
Li Yang bluffed with a perfectly straight face. “Both sides are at fault here. Aunt Chen will cover your medical expenses, but we’ll call it even on everything else.”
She had expected Li Guobang to make things difficult.
To her surprise, Li Guobang’s lips trembled as he squeezed out a hoarse reply: “Fine! Let’s do it that way!”
Now it was Li Yang’s turn to be shocked.
She knew Li Guobang was like a leechāonce he got his hooks into you, he’d suck you dry even if it killed you.
He’d been beaten to this state, and yet he agreed to her terms so easily?
Li Yang didn’t trust him. She shook her phone. “You better mean thatāI’ve been recording this whole conversation.”
Li Guobang closed his eyes and said weakly, “I mean it, I mean it. Just go away, both of you.”
He seemed genuinely terrified of Jiang Yan.
Li Yang hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly. In a daze, she left the room and went to check with the doctor.
Li Guobang’s arm and thigh were both fractured, and he’d also broken two ribs.
Hospitalization and treatment costs came to about ten thousand yuan or so.
That wasn’t a huge amount, so Li Yang felt relieved and said to Jiang Yan, “Well then, let’s head back.”
She felt a bit awkward around Jiang Yan.
Even though she was seven years older than him.
Jiang Yan gave a noncommittal “Mm” and said flatly, “I need to use the restroom. You go wait for me in the parking lot.”
Watching Li Yang’s figure disappear down the escalator, Jiang Yan curled his lips slightly, turned around, and went back upstairsāback into Li Guobang’s hospital room.
When Li Guobang saw Jiang Yan, terror immediately flooded his eyes. “Y-you’re back? IāI didn’t give Li Yang a hard time just now!”
He was truly scared to death.
Yesterday, he’d thought Jiang Yan was going to beat him to death.
He never expected this scrawny little teenager to be able to shatter his ribs with a single punch.
And the fierce, bloodthirsty gleam in Jiang Yan’s eyes at that momentāhe would never forget it!
This wasn’t some ordinary kid.
He was a lunatic!
Watching Jiang Yan approach step by step with that half-smile on his face, Li Guobang was so terrified he started screaming.
“I don’t want the medical fees anymore! Forget it, alright?!”
Jiang Yan looked down at him, smiling, but his eyes were cold as if he were looking at a corpse.
He reached out his hand, and under Li Guobang’s horrified gaze, snapped his already-casted leg once again!
“AHā”
Li Guobang had barely let out half a scream when Jiang Yan grabbed a pillow and pressed it hard over his face.
He held it there until Li Guobang could no longer make a sound and his face had turned purple, only then did Jiang Yan toss the pillow aside.
He leisurely examined his pale, slender hands, his expression indifferent.
As if the person who had just broken Li Guobang’s bones and nearly suffocated him wasn’t him at all.
He curled the corner of his mouth:
“Uncle Li, that’s not really in character for you.”
Li Guobang’s throat made a rasping sound. “W-what do you mean?”
A cold light flickered in Jiang Yan’s eyes. “Call Li Yang. Tell her that besides medical expenses, you also want two hundred thousand in compensation for emotional distress. If Chen Hongfeng won’t pay, you’ll take legal action.”
Li Guobang stared at Jiang Yan in utter bewilderment. Was this kid crazy?
Who volunteers to blackmail themselves?
Seeing Li Guobang gawking at him stupidly, Jiang Yan frowned in disgust.
“Did you hear me clearly? Or do you want all your bones broken again?”
Li Guobang immediately began trembling all over.
He would never forget the way Jiang Yan had smiled while snapping his fingers, one by one, with the practiced skill of an experienced serial killer.
He quickly said, “I’ll call! Oh, I mean, I’ll make the call…”
He tried to reach for his phone, but the movement sent searing pain through his entire body.
“My fingers are broken!” he whined miserably.
Jiang Yan gave him a cold look, picked up the phone from the bedside table, and dialed Li Yang’s number directly.
Li Yang’s voice came through. “Hello? Dad, something else?”
Li Guobang panted nervously. “Li Yang, I’ve changed my mind! Letting them off that easily is too good for them. Besides the medical fees, I want two hundred thousand in emotional damages!”
“If Chen Hongfeng won’t pay, she can wait for the lawsuit!”
Before Li Yang on the other end could say anything, Jiang Yan had already hung up.
After saying his piece, Li Guobang came to his senses a little. He rolled his eyes and mustered up the courage to ask: “Y-you’re actually going to pay me two hundred thousand?”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a flurry of heavy slaps landed on his faceāsmack, smack, smackāmore than a dozen times.
Jiang Yan calmly withdrew his hand and sneered, “Ugly as you are, you sure have some pretty fantasies.”
He turned to leave, then paused as if remembering something. He glanced back with a cold warning: “Stay away from Li Yang. If I find out you’ve been causing her trouble, I’ll kill you.”
Li Guobang was shocked, furious, and utterly confused. He had no idea why Jiang Yan was so erratic. All he could do was watch helplessly as he walked away.
When Jiang Yan arrived at the underground parking lot and found Li Yang, her fair, radiant face was indeed burning with barely contained anger.
He opened the car door, got into the passenger seat, and looked at her. “What’s wrong?”
Li Yang said through gritted teeth, “My dad changed his mind. He wants two hundred thousand in compensation.”
“I wonder which of his no-good friends put him up to it!”
Jiang Yan lowered his gaze and smiled quietly. “Mm, I see. Let’s go home first.”
Li Yang bit her lip. “No, I need to go back up there and reason with him!”
She was about to push open the car door when Jiang Yan’s pale, slender hand suddenly grabbed her arm.
The young man’s hand was cold.
Li Yang froze again.
