On a weekend evening close to Christmas, a golden Christmas tree stood in the lobby of the Sheraton Great Wall Hotel, with small light bulbs twinkling brightly and pine branches emitting a faint fragrance.
Fang Lang Qi-supported Qing Qing’s arm as the two walked into the hotel elevator. Just as the elevator doors were about to close, someone pressed the button from outside to open them again.
Fang Lang Qi looked out and quickly held the switch: “Hey, Xi Tang, come in quickly. You’re here so early?”
Xi Tang saw the two of them, smiled, and nodded: “Mm, good evening, Qing Qing. How is the mother-to-be feeling?”
Qing Qing, four months pregnant, said with a face full of smiles: “Very well. It’s rare to have a weekend. Why didn’t Zhou Zhou come with you?”
Xi Tang loosened her scarf slightly, revealing her delicate chin: “Didn’t he say he asked me to come first?”
Fang Lang Qi casually asked: “Who brought you here?”
Xi Tang said: “His driver.”
Fang Lang Qi nodded reassuringly, and the three walked toward the private room in the restaurant. The waiter bowed and opened the door: “Please enter.”
Fang Lang Qi walked in while peeking inside: “Well, old man, you’ve finally decided to show your face?”
Xi Tang followed behind the couple as they walked in. For a moment, she felt something wasn’t right, but when she looked up, it was too late to leave.
Facing them, Gao Ji Yi stood blocking the doorway with a gloomy face, and turned to push the door shut.
Xi Tang secretly steeled herself and raised her head to look at Gao Ji Yi’s face.
Fang Lang Qi, being quite alert, quickly put his arm around Gao Ji Yi’s shoulder: “Brother, today I’m absolutely on your side. If Zhou Zi doesn’t apologize to you and make amends today, I tell you, I won’t let it go. Qing Qing just felt a bit unwell, let’s not involve the lady in this.”
Fang Lang Qi spoke while giving his wife a meaningful look.
Gao Ji Yi reluctantly said: “Lang Qi, mind your own business. Take your wife and go far away.”
Fang Lang Qi hadn’t expected him to be so forceful.
Before Gao Ji Yi finished speaking, he had already pushed Fang Lang Qi away with one hand and facing Huang Xi Tang, raised his hand to deliver a slap.
Xi Tang moved to dodge, but in that instant, Fang Lang Qi reacted even faster than her. He practically lunged halfway over, grabbing Gao Ji Yi’s arm and forcibly restraining it. Both men used all their strength, and as they grappled, they lost balance and crashed toward the wall. Xi Tang quickly moved out of their way, only to feel a black shadow flash before her eyes as she was knocked against the door by them. Her left arm hit the wall, causing her to tremble with piercing pain.
She pushed open the door to run out.
Gao Ji Yi, with fire in his eyes, forcefully shook off Fang Lang Qi, reached out, and grabbed Xi Tang’s arm, dragging her forcibly inward. Fang Lang Qi rushed up again and held Gao Ji Yi’s hand: “Old Gao! What are you doing!”
Gao Ji Yi said nothing and ignored him, fiercely dragging the person in. The three became entangled together, and Fang Lang Qi quickly shouted to Qing Qing: “Wife, call Zhou Zi! Quickly!”
Zhao Ping Jin’s car was halfway along the East Third Ring Road.
The uniformed valet standing at the entrance of the hotel lobby stared wide-eyed as a black Audi swerved directly across from the opposite side of the road, crossing the line, honking, and stopping abruptly at the hotel entrance. Zhao Ping Jin pushed open the door and jumped out, throwing the keys to the hotel doorman, and sprinted toward the elevator. He rushed to the top floor’s private room and saw Huang Xi Tang entangled with two men.
Without a word, Zhao Ping Jin threw a punch at Gao Ji Yi. When it came to fighting, Zhao Ping Jin was a force to be feared in the Liberation Army compound. Gao Ji Yi couldn’t dodge in time and took the punch squarely, falling directly onto a chair.
Having unexpectedly taken a hit, Gao Ji Yi flushed with rage, his entire face turning red. He grabbed a chair from behind him and roared furiously: “Fuck you, Zhao Ping Jin, you have the nerve to hit me!”
Fang Lang Qi quickly restrained him, standing between the two: “Don’t fight, don’t fight! Hey, Qing Qing, go downstairs and have a cup of coffee first!”
Qing Qing, with her pregnant belly, stood in front of Xi Tang and loudly replied: “I won’t go!”
Gao Ji Yi held the chair but didn’t dare move.
Zhao Ping Jin took a deep breath, suppressing his temper, and said kindly: “It’s not her fault, Old Gao. This time I didn’t handle things properly. I apologize to you.”
Gao Ji Yi threw the chair to the ground with a loud bang and said sinisterly: “Zhou Zi, you don’t need to protect her anymore. I understand what’s going on. The guilty has a head, the debtor has a master. You were trying to help a brother, and I know clearly who was trying to harm me. Today, let me vent my anger.”
Zhao Ping Jin endured and said: “You know she’s my person. If you have any issues, come at me.”
Gao Ji Yi pushed him: “Get out of the way.”
Zhao Ping Jin anxiously said: “Gao Zi, no.”
Suddenly, Gao Ji Yi smiled, his face still full of rage, making the smile appear particularly ferocious: “Zhou Zhou, look at yourself and your achievements. Just for such a woman, you’re willing to throw away our brotherhood of so many years. Half a lifetime has passed, consider whether it’s worth it. Not to mention, you know I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for how many years. If I get promoted, what harm does it do to you? Over these years, the various conveniences I’ve provided you, haven’t they been enough?”
Old Gao was truly hurt this time. Zhao Ping Jin, such a proud person, now lowered his head: “Gao Zi, your kindness to me, I remember in my heart.”
Gao Ji Yi clenched his teeth and directly pointed to the door: “Open this door, go downstairs, don’t interfere with me, and we’ll consider this matter settled.”
Zhao Ping Jin said: “No.”
Seeing no way out, Gao Ji Yi couldn’t help but angrily shout: “Get out of the way!”
Zhao Ping Jin blocked him.
Gao Ji Yi, breathing heavily, glared fiercely at Zhao Ping Jin, only to see Zhao Ping Jin with a slightly apologetic look, yet still not moving, firmly blocking in front of Huang Xi Tang.
Gao Ji Yi stood in place for a few seconds, staring at Zhao Ping Jin with wide eyes. The room fell into a deadlocked silence.
Xi Tang, protected behind Zhao Ping Jin, was almost invisible when suddenly she spoke: “Enough.”
Everyone in the room immediately shifted their attention.
Xi Tang appeared particularly calm. She pushed Zhao Ping Jin aside and walked directly into the corridor, then turned and looked up. A small red dot flickered from the surveillance camera in the corner.
She stood at the door, looking at Gao Ji Yi and said: “I did this. Why I did it, you also know very well.”
She enunciated each word with particular clarity: “Director Gao, we can talk about this. If you touch me again—” Xi Tang waved the phone in her hand: “I will immediately call the police and my agent.”
Gao Ji Yi turned and stared at her maliciously, staring and staring until suddenly he took a breath, his legs wobbled, and he staggered. Fang Lang Qi seized the opportunity to grab him, and the two sat down on the chairs.
Gao Ji Yi looked around the room. Fang Lang Qi was supporting his arm, Ou Yang Qing Qing was watching him as if facing a great enemy, and Zhao Ping Jin was blocking his path. The next moment, Gao Ji Yi suddenly threw his head back and laughed loudly, laughing uncontrollably, laughing in a frenzied manner. Fang Lang Qi called out with some concern: “Hey, Old Gao…”
Gao Ji Yi laughed wildly while grabbing his coat to put on. He raised his hand over Zhao Ping Jin’s shoulder and cupped his hands toward Xi Tang at the door: “Huang Xi Tang, you’re so grand, I admire you! I can’t touch you, I admit defeat! Madam Huang—Madam Huang—listen carefully! I’ll tell you one thing today! Don’t be too arrogant! Even though today Zhao Zhou Zhou is protecting you and everyone respects you a bit more, when the day comes that he dumps you, I tell you, in this Beijing city, you don’t know how many people want to deal with you!”
Xi Tang’s limbs convulsed momentarily.
Zhao Ping Jin saw from the corner of his eye that she swayed and looked like she might fall. His feet moved slightly, but unexpectedly, Huang Xi Tang steadied herself again, her face still wearing that indifferent expression.
Gao Ji Yi pointed at Zhao Ping Jin and said: “Zhao Ping Jin, we’ve been brothers since we were in the womb, for so many years. Fine, you protect her like a precious calf. You sent Shen Min away, and I can’t find him to settle accounts, that’s just as well. But for the sake of a heartless woman, to treat a brother like this, you have some nerve! This woman is just a calamity! One by one, brothers turn against each other, you’ll eventually be ruined by her!”
Gao Ji Yi pushed away Fang Lang Qi and walked out unsteadily. Holding the door handle, he looked back at Zhao Ping Jin. His face had completely changed, and he said with a smile: “Not to mention today, when Xiao Jiang arrives in a while, you three enjoy a reunion dinner! The way she treats you, with your high rank, you’re still gloriously cuckolded!”
Zhao Ping Jin suddenly clenched his teeth, veins standing out on his smooth forehead, his lips trembling slightly.
Gao Ji Yi laughed loudly, pointed his finger at Xi Tang opposite him, kicked the door, and walked away with satisfaction.
Huang Xi Tang leaned against the wall, like a porcelain doll placed on a glass window, left with only a wooden face.
Zhao Ping Jin took her and left first.
Xi Tang waited for Zhao Ping Jin to bring the car around in the hotel lobby. After standing for a while, she suddenly saw a shadow flash past the elevator corner. Her right hand suddenly trembled violently, her heart pounding incessantly.
She immediately pulled up her scarf to cover her face, held her breath, and looked up carefully, but no longer saw that black figure.
At that moment, a black car flashed its lights at the entrance, as if bearing that person’s impatient demeanor. Xi Tang hurriedly walked out.
Zhao Ping Jin didn’t say a word all the way, his face pale, yet frozen into an indifferent and calm state like ice and rock. It was as if he hadn’t heard a single word of what Gao Ji Yi had said earlier.