When Xia Xiaolan gave the order, Ge Jian, who had been eager to act, proceeded without hesitation.

His punches were powerful enough to bruise flesh through leather, capable of breaking bones without tools. Remembering how those men had stomped on Xia Xiaolan, he lifted his foot and broke each of their hands one by one with precise stomps. Their screams were muffled by their gags, and though they had been barely conscious before, the pain now jolted them awake.

Xia Xiaolan showed no sympathy as she sat in the shade on the chair Ge Jian had brought for her.

This was what they called an eye for an eye, but it wasn’t enough yet!

She didn’t know any of these men, and they had no prior grievances. Their attack must have been orchestrated by someone else.

After breaking four pairs of hands, the remaining man surely understood what fear meant as his companions writhed in pain on the ground. Ge Jian grabbed the unharmed one, who had already turned to mush from fear. These weren’t good people – they took money to do others’ dirty work, shouting threats when they had the upper hand but cowering when the tables turned.

They had claimed they could handle any job for the right price.

But they hadn’t expected to meet someone who could take on five at once, nor a young woman like Xia Xiaolan who could order hands broken without flinching – this had a profound psychological impact on these thugs.

“Alright, question him.”

Ge Jian yanked up the man’s head. “Answer poorly, and you’re next to get your hands broken. Unlike the others who lost one hand, you’ll lose both – that’s the price for disappointing Miss Xia’s kindness!”

After removing his gag, the man gasped for air.

“Water… I need water…”

It was July, and after being in the sun for hours, their thirst was unbearable.

Ge Jian gripped his neck. “Answer Miss Xia’s questions honestly.”

His throat burned like fire, his head spinning from the heat, and his companions’ hands were twisted at unnatural angles – truly broken.

The thug’s vision was blurry, and even squinting he could barely make out Xia Xiaolan sitting there.

Such a pretty student, but so ruthless. The most despicable part was their employer, who had described her as just an ordinary high school girl with no background or support, someone who could only accept her misfortune if something happened!

One thousand yuan, two hundred each, just to stage an ‘accident’ and attack during the chaos.

It was a lowbrow tactic they’d used before. The plan seemed perfect, but they hadn’t expected this high school girl… wouldn’t just suffer in silence!

“Someone… someone paid us to teach you a lesson… one thousand yuan to break your hands, with extra payment for permanent disability.”

One thousand yuan!

In her previous life, Xia Xiaolan’s last merger deal was worth over 100 million yuan, signed with her right hand.

Now reborn in a different body, was her right-hand worth any less?

In her past life, she worked for companies.

In this life, she believed she could sign business contracts worth 100 million or more for herself! Yet these people had nearly destroyed her right hand for a mere thousand yuan.

Xia Xiaolan laughed coldly. “Can you identify who paid you?”

The thug saw her plastered arm and nodded with difficulty.

He understood why they’d kept him alive – to find their employer. He knew there would be consequences either way, but not cooperating meant immediate suffering. Even knowing it was like drinking poison to quench his thirst, he just wanted some water!

Though he didn’t know the employer’s name, he remembered their appearance.

When Xia Xiaolan heard the description, it seemed familiar, though she’d need to see the person to be certain.

The thug explained they were supposed to receive the remaining payment after the job was done, meeting in an alley behind an elementary school in the south of the provincial city. The location was perfect for shady business – deserted at night!

Since they didn’t know when they’d succeed, the meeting time wasn’t fixed. However, they’d tie a red strip of cloth to the utility pole at the alley entrance as a signal. This meant a 9 PM meeting that night.

The plan was quite meticulous.

They could report this to the police now, and have them stake out the location – whoever showed up for the meeting would be the mastermind.

Would that be sufficient punishment?

The anger still burned hot in Xia Xiaolan’s heart, and this solution wasn’t enough. She only had a bone fracture – though it affected her writing, it was technically a minor injury. The sentencing might not be severe.

Two years in prison before release – that wouldn’t satisfy Xia Xiaolan’s anger!

She didn’t want to suppress this frustration; she needed to vent it to avoid feeling stifled.

“You’re still not being honest. I don’t believe you’d accept half payment without checking the employer’s background. What if they refused to pay the rest? Where would you find them?”

The thug stammered, unable to fabricate a convincing excuse.

This high school girl wasn’t just ruthless – she was sharp!

The employer feared the thugs would take the money without doing the job, hence the half payment.

The thugs feared they wouldn’t get the remaining payment after completing the task. Neither party trusted the other. Xia Changzheng thought he was being clever by hiring people in the south instead of his usual north side, leaving no trace. The thugs weren’t stupid – they had to know something about Xia Changzheng before accepting the “job.”

Xia Changzheng was just a small vendor from the north side who’d been there for two months – he wouldn’t vanish overnight. This was why the thugs had accepted the job.

They figured anyone who could have a grudge against a small vendor wouldn’t be from any powerful family, so they dared to act!

Ge Jian was about to break this man’s hands when Xia Xiaolan stopped him:

“Keep him intact, we’ll need him tonight!”

Only Xia Changzheng could be behind this, no one else.

After questioning them, Xia Xiaolan went to eat. Madam Huang had heard the commotion earlier but hadn’t dared to look. She knew Xia Xiaolan was sensible – surely she hadn’t killed anyone back there?

Those men deserved a beating for what they did to Xia Xiaolan!

“Come, come, are you hungry? Let’s eat.”

Noodles were difficult with chopsticks, but she could use a spoon in her left hand for rice with toppings.

Xia Xiaolan invited Ge Jian to eat too. He kept his head down: “Miss Xia, once this is handled, I’ll return to Yang City.”

With his employer injured, Ge Jian felt ashamed to continue as a bodyguard. He had embarrassed the Bai Family Martial Arts School and let down Li Dongliang’s kindness.

Perhaps he was better suited to carrying heavy loads.

“There’s no rush to return to Yang City. I’m going there after my college entrance exam too. Ge Jian, this time others caught us off guard – the fault isn’t entirely yours, but you will face a salary deduction. Do you accept this consequence?”

Just a salary deduction?

Ge Jian looked up – Miss Xia was willing to keep him!

He nodded vigorously without even asking how much would be deducted.

He didn’t want to lose this job. Following Miss Xia, he had learned so much, being influenced gradually and imperceptibly.

…

In the night, Xia Changzheng crept along the wall into the alley.

He was thinking he wouldn’t pay the remaining 500 yuan without seeing Xia Xiaolan’s injuries… suddenly, a flashlight beam hit his face, someone rushed out and tackled him to the ground, smashing his arm with a large metal object – excruciating pain! Xia Changzheng felt his bones shatter, and his flesh tear, and everything went black as he lost consciousness.