Chapter Thirty-Five: The Exquisite Mother and Daughter (Part One)

When Qin Luo was nearly exhausted, he fantasized about being rescued by a squad of policemen in green uniforms, riding in speeding patrol cars. He guessed the beginning, but not the end.

What started as a bloody incident caused by an 'irrelevant woman' changed dramatically with the intervention of military guards. The Golden Palm was cleared out, all guests waived their bills for the night and left. The police came and went. The owner, Wang Kai, arrived but was detained.

Qin Luo felt everything had happened as if in a dream, and Wang Jiujiu’s classmates shared the sentiment. Despite being in the same class as her for so long, none had ever known about her extraordinary background.

They could not believe that a girl who lived in a dormitory with four to a room, ate the terrible fried noodles in the school cafeteria, and carried two kettles herself to fetch water could possibly be the daughter of a high-ranking official.

What made them even angrier was that she took the bus when she went out, without a military car to escort her.

Yet, a group of soldiers guarded Wang Jiujiu with fierce vigilance, and her classmates had to suppress their excitement, not daring to approach—even Xiao Hua, usually closest to her, didn't dare say a word.

Wang Jiujiu found the atmosphere awkward, so she turned to the bespectacled man and said, “Have your people take these thugs away. Do what needs to be done.”

The man nodded, whispered a few words to a soldier, and soon the group escorted the docile, unresisting hooligans out.

Those pretending to be dead—Tao Ran, and the half-conscious Li Qingyang—were dragged away too. How they would be dealt with was not their concern; someone else would handle it all.

Wang Jiujiu said to Li Meng, “Li Meng, there are still things to take care of here. Take everyone back first.”

“Alright,” Li Meng agreed and led the reluctant students away.

“I’ll arrange the cars, I’ll arrange the cars!” Wang Kai, the owner of Golden Palm, a man in his forties with gold-rimmed glasses and an air of scholarly elegance, was now sweating anxiously, eager to please.

“No need, we’ll take a taxi,” Li Meng declined bluntly. Now he understood why the club’s bodyguards hadn’t intervened when they were getting beaten. He certainly had no reason to be polite to Wang Kai.

“Haha, of course, of course. Li Ming, arrange our cars to take these university students home. They’re all talented people—haha—I like making young friends.” Wang Kai kept signaling to his security manager, Li Ming, standing nearby.

He decided that as soon as this was over, he would replace this fool. The man had told him the other side had no background—did they look like people without connections?

“But we don’t want to be friends with someone like you,” Li Meng replied sarcastically. “Let’s go. I’ll pay for the taxis tonight.”

“Let’s go, Meng is being generous today!” The crowd cheered, flocking around Li Meng as they left Golden Palm.

Wang Kai could only smile awkwardly, powerless. The staff, witnessing their once lofty boss grovel, must have felt a mix of emotions.

Wang Jiujiu beckoned to Gao Shen, pointing to Qin Luo: “Let me introduce a friend—Qin Luo.”

A sharp glint flashed in Gao Shen’s eyes behind his glasses as he sized up Qin Luo and joked, “Boyfriend?”

He knew Wang Jiujiu was proud and had a unique background, and her beauty made her the flower of their compound. Many of their group secretly admired her, treating her like a princess. She hadn’t introduced any other classmates but singled out this young man for a special introduction; it was only natural he’d think so.

Wang Jiujiu kicked him and scolded, “What are you saying? He’s my teacher.”

Yet, in her heart, she felt a little sweet, thinking Gao Shen was actually quite decent—maybe she’d be nicer to him in the future.

“Hehe, so he’s a teacher. My apologies!” Gao Shen hurriedly shook Qin Luo’s hand.

“Thanks for coming tonight,” Qin Luo smiled. Though he didn’t know much about modern military ranks, they must be quite impressive.

“Don’t mention it. Lucky we got here early—if anything happened to our princess, I’d tear this place apart. The kids from our compound don’t take this kind of bullying,” Gao Shen laughed, and no one doubted his sincerity.

“Compound?” Qin Luo asked.

“You didn’t know?” Gao Shen looked at Qin Luo in surprise. Was Wang Jiujiu really so restrained, keeping her identity a secret? That wasn’t like her.

When they were younger, the boys noticed her beauty and would tease her. She’d threaten them fiercely, “My father is so-and-so—if you bully me, I’ll have him execute you.” Heaven knows, these boys were just beginning to feel affection, teasing her to get her attention.

But facing the threat of execution for their mischief—how easy was that? For a long time, the boys from the compound would avoid Wang Jiujiu. As they grew older, their relationships improved. They all knew they came from the same place, and if they didn’t stick together, others would bully them.

Such shared background became the foundation for their mutual support in society.

“I didn’t know—but now I know a bit,” Qin Luo smiled and shook his head. Wang Jiujiu’s identity had truly shocked him.

“Hehe, being her teacher must be stressful. She’s not exactly easy to handle.”

“It was fine before. Now…maybe a bit more pressure,” Qin Luo admitted. Even a sage, facing royalty, would have to bow three times and kowtow nine. Having such a figure in his class—who knew if it was a blessing or a curse?

Perhaps, from now on, he shouldn’t scold her so fiercely. At least, he shouldn’t accuse her of murder anymore.

“Four Eyes, shut up!” Wang Jiujiu snapped, waving her arms. That idiot actually spoke ill of her in front of her beloved Teacher Qin—too hateful.

“Hehe, just kidding, just kidding! Our princess has always been beautiful, noble, kind, and pure,” Gao Shen hurriedly changed his tune.

Wang Jiujiu rolled her eyes at him, then turned to Qin Luo and said, “Teacher Qin, how are you feeling? Let me help you sit over there for a while.”

“Yes, yes, let’s sit. Everyone should sit. Standing won’t solve anything,” Wang Kai finally found an opportunity to speak, quickly instructing the staff to arrange things.

Soon, the corner café in Golden Palm’s lobby was tidied up. Wine, coffee, fruit, and pastries were laid out in abundance, filling several tables.

Qin Luo, Wang Jiujiu, and Gao Shen moved over, with Wang Kai hovering nearby, endlessly apologizing and assuring them that anything they needed would be provided.

“Is there something we need to do here?” Qin Luo asked Wang Jiujiu.

Wang Jiujiu smiled bitterly, “My mother is on her way. She’ll be here soon.”

“Oh, then we should wait,” Qin Luo nodded. With something so serious happening to her daughter, what parent wouldn’t come?

As they spoke, Wang Jiujiu saw a stylishly dressed woman enter, striding with an air of pride.

“Zhang Yiyi, over here,” Wang Jiujiu called, waving.

Zhang Yiyi jumped in surprise, nearly stumbling in her high heels. Seeing her daughter, her composure vanished; she rushed over, handbag in tow.

The woman had fair skin and sweet features. Like her daughter, she had large eyes, curled lashes, and wavy hair cascading over her shoulders—very fashionable and impossible to guess her age, though she looked as vibrant as a young maiden.

She wasn’t as tall as Wang Jiujiu but was more mature and voluptuous. Her alluring figure and full, enticing curves were impossible to ignore.

She was a classic example of the youthful beauty who would never age.

“She’s your mother?” Qin Luo asked, astonished. He didn’t notice Gao Shen quietly slipping away to the table opposite.

“I wish she wasn’t,” Wang Jiujiu muttered.

“Isn’t it great? A mother-daughter pair of beauties,” Qin Luo complimented.

But as soon as he finished, Qin Luo realized he’d made a grave mistake.

The woman approached, pointing at Wang Jiujiu and scolding, “You little brat! Always causing trouble for your mother! You think it’s easy being your mom? You’re a student—why aren’t you studying? What are you doing in a place like this? Is this where you belong?”

“The first time I came to a place like this, who brought me?” Wang Jiujiu retorted.

“—And you dare talk back? Wait till we get home, I’ll deal with you!” The woman rushed over, grabbing Wang Jiujiu, touching her face and body. “Are you missing anything?”

“No, but where are you touching?” Wang Jiujiu brushed her mother’s hand away. To grope her in public—too much!

“I gave birth to you; what’s wrong with touching? As long as you’re okay. I even told your father—if he didn’t send someone to rescue you soon, you’d lose your virtue. Eh, he didn’t send anyone? Where’s Gao Shen? I called him!”

“Auntie, I’m here,” Gao Shen stood up awkwardly from the corner.

“Don’t call me auntie—call me elder sister,” Zhang Yiyi snapped.

“—”

“Alright, alright, you’re no longer needed. Disappear, please.” Seeing his discomfort, Zhang Yiyi waved him off. She scanned the surroundings, “Who molested you? Drag him out for me.”

“Did I tell you someone molested me?” Wang Jiujiu asked, puzzled.

“No, but you’re so pretty—if something happened in a place like this, it must’ve been some thug trying to take advantage,” Zhang Yiyi said as if it were obvious.

“Madam, this is all a misunderstanding,” Wang Kai, now understanding her identity, hurried over to ingratiate himself.

“Who is he? That teacher you’re crushing on? He’s a bit old, isn’t he?” Zhang Yiyi whispered to her daughter.

“No, he’s the owner of this KTV. A bad man,” Wang Jiujiu replied painfully.

Zhang Yiyi was furious, pointing at Wang Kai, “What are you? Do I know you? After bullying my daughter, you come to curry favor with me—do you think we’re fools? Do I look like a fool to you?”

“No, not at all,” Wang Kai shook his head.

“Obviously not. Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? My daughter called for help—do you think she’d frame you?”

“And stop claiming it’s a misunderstanding. It’s laughable. When we try to reason with you, you act like a thug. Now we act like thugs, and you want to reason with us. What kind of person are you? Even as a thug, have some backbone—if you’re a thug once, stay a thug for life. Don’t switch sides so easily.”

Qin Luo finally understood why Wang Jiujiu didn’t want to admit this was her mother. If it were him, he wouldn’t dare admit it either.