Chapter 70: Down That Whole Bottle!
Chapter 70: Down That Whole Bottle!
Tang Chen was fantasizing about how truly awesome acquiring a giant bottle of Enhancement Potion would be when the car pulled up outside the school. It was the weekend, so no students were in class. Otherwise, seeing Tang Chen arrive in such a flashy car would have surely caused another commotion.
After all, since the confession incident on the sports ground, Tang Chen had become a school celebrity.
While still in the car, Tang Chen spotted the petite figure standing outside the gates, looking around. He quickly stopped the car, sprinted over, and called out, “Yang Mi!”
Yang Mi turned, saw the man she’d been waiting for running towards her, and instantly cried out happily, “Tang Chen!” She then hurried towards him on light feet.
Right there, Tang Chen and Yang Mi clung tightly to each other, embracing like long-lost movie lovers. Yang Mi buried her head in Tang Chen’s chest. Her eyes were red – clearly, she’d been crying for a long time.
“Honey, did you cry? Don’t cry, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have left you all alone.” Tang Chen felt terrible seeing his pitiful girlfriend like this. He held Yang Mi tight, his large hand rubbing her back comfortingly.
Yang Mi sniffled a couple of times, her cute little nose twitching, before she spoke. “Tang Chen, I’m done crying. It wasn’t your fault. It was my mom, she said such harsh things! I was terrified. I thought you never wanted to see me again!”
Yang Mi really had been scared stiff. Tang Chen wouldn’t even answer her calls. She wanted to go find him but realized she had no idea where he usually hung out. In desperation, she came to the school, hoping she might run into him there.
If that last call attempt hadn’t gone through, Yang Mi genuinely wouldn’t have known where else to look for him.
The more Yang Mi said this, the worse Tang Chen felt. He hugged her tightly and gave her little head a gentle kiss. “It’s fine. It’s fine. Your husband was just being stubborn. So what if your mother-in-law doesn’t agree right now? I’m marrying you anyway. Then I’ll just carry my grandchild right over to her. Once something’s done, she can’t refuse!”
“You’re awful!” Yang Mi burst out laughing, her face flushed crimson as she pushed against him half-heartedly in mock annoyance. A tender soul like Yang Mi probably couldn’t say anything more than that.
Her shy reprimand reignited that pent-up desire Lu Xiaoqing had stirred up earlier. Tang Chen’s throat felt dry. Just as he thought about taking Yang Mi home to ‘do something’, his phone rang again, at the most inconvenient moment.
“Damn it!” Tang Chen cursed under his breath. He pulled out his phone and saw it was Fang Wenxin calling. He quickly answered, a hint of annoyance in his voice. “Fang Wenxin! What big thing makes you dare to disturb your Young Master?”
Fang Wenxin sounded worried on the other end. “Young Master Tang, where are you? There’s a bit of trouble at the society. I need to talk to you.”
Tang Chen said “Oh?” and asked in return, “Okay, then where are you now?”
Fang Wenxin replied, “We’re at the Royal Club right now. Can you come over?”
Tang Chen made an affirmative sound. “You wait there for me. I’m coming over immediately.” He hung up.
Yang Mi looked at him curiously. “Tang Chen, what’s happening?”
Tang Chen didn’t hide it. “Fang Wenxin said there’s some trouble at the Zhongmen Society, needs me to go sort it out. Want to come with?”
Yang Mi quickly nodded, then looped her arm through his and smiled. “Now that I’ve moved out of home, wherever you go, I go.”
Tang Chen affectionately ruffled her hair, helped her into the car, and they left. Outside the Royal Club, a young man rushed over, addressing him as “Young Master Tang.” He said Sent Fang Wenxin had told him to wait outside.
Tang Chen was fairly satisfied with Fang Wenxin’s preparation. Arm around Yang Mi, he walked inside. Outside a private room, he pushed the door open. About thirteen or fourteen people sat inside.
Fang Wenxin stood up the moment he heard the sound. The other underlings followed suit, calling out in unison, “Young Master Tang! Sister-in-law!”
Tang Chen nodded, pleased. Yang Mi was a bit shy about being called “Sister-in-law,” though she didn’t object. After all, everyone knew she was Tang Chen’s girl now.
Fang Wenxin bowed towards Tang Chen. “Young Master Tang! Sister-in-law!” he said, pulling out two chairs.
Tang Chen sat down, Yang Mi beside him. Tang Chen addressed Fang Wenxin. “Fang Wenxin, you demanded I come out here so urgently. What’s the big deal?”
Fang Wenxin replied respectfully, “Young Master Tang, please wait a moment. There’s one brother, he went to the restroom.”
“Who? Making your Young Master wait? What a huge ego!” Tang Chen frowned with annoyance. Making me wait? Then I will see what big shot you really are!
Just then, the door opened again. A broad-shouldered, powerfully built guy walked in. Tang Chen glanced back and instantly spoke coldly, “Yu Tianyi! What are you doing here?”
That was right. This big guy was Yu Tianyi – the one Tang Chen had hospitalized for quite a long time using his Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms!
Yu Tianyi’s face twisted with complex emotions. This was the very man who had struck him down in front of his own Judo Club, landing him in the hospital for over a month, thoroughly humiliated, and causing his entire academy to turn their backs on him.
Fang Wenxin quickly explained. “Young Master Tang, please don’t be mad. Yu Tianyi … he’s one of us now.”
Tang Chen’s mouth twitched. He looked utterly bewildered. “Fang Wenxin, you damn fool! What game are you playing? Just a month ago, you asked Your Young Master to take care of this idiot! Now you dare tell me he’s ‘one of us’? Are you messing with me?!”
Fang Wenxin sounded panicked. “No, Young Master Tang! Listen! Honestly, there wasn’t that much bad blood between me and Yu Tianyi. It was more… healthy competition! Last time I asked you to step in, he was mouthing off to me! I just wanted him taught a lesson! That’s really all it was. He holds no real grudge! Now he truly is a brother of the Zhongmen Society!”
Fang Wenxin finished speaking nervously, his eyes fixed on Tang Chen, clearly terrified his actions had angered the Young Master.
Tang Chen said “Oh,” his anger surprisingly absent. He looked at Yu Tianyi. “Is what Fang Wenxin said true? Are you really serious about joining me?”
Yu Tianyi dropped heavily to his knees, speaking with conviction. “Yes, Young Master Tang. I won’t hide it. I, Yu Tianyi, respect strength more than anything. I want to follow you.”
Tang Chen chuckled. He picked up a small bottle of Erguotou from the table. “When Fang Wenxin wanted to join me, my requirement was for him to kneel. For you, it’s simple: down this whole bottle!” He slammed the bottle down.
The whole bottle of Erguotou?! Yang Mi froze. Even Fang Wenxin and the others around them were shocked. This was pure cruelty. Anyone drinking that straight down could blow a hole in their stomach!
Feeling sympathy, Yang Mi urged softly, “Tang Chen, let it go. Don’t make him drink so much! Something bad could happen!”
Tang Chen didn’t answer. He just kept looking at Yu Tianyi, waiting. Fang Wenxin, also reluctant, tentatively suggested, “Young Master Tang… a whole bottle… that’s a lot… perhaps a glass instead…?”
Tang Chen raised his eyes, giving Fang Wenxin a sidelong look. His voice turned icy. “Fang Wenxin, the Young Master doesn’t need lessons from you on how to act! If I say he drinks it, he drinks it! Otherwise, he can get the hell out!”
Tang Chen was playing it smart internally. Nowadays, even blood brothers keep secrets. Think I’ll just trust you if you say you want to follow me? Who knows if you’ll stab me in the back later?
So Tang Chen was testing. Testing Yu Tianyi’s loyalty. Was he honestly submitting? A forced, unwilling submission, just swallowing his pride? That was the most annoying thing – Tang Chen absolutely couldn’t stand a disloyal thorn at his side!
Fang Wenxin shuddered under Tang Chen’s glare. A cold sweat broke out on his back. Young Master Tang’s gaze was still razor sharp! He couldn’t meet it. He swiftly apologized, “Sorry, Young Master Tang! My mistake for speaking out of turn!” He quickly sat back down, flashing Yu Tianyi a helpless, apologetic glance – Sorry buddy, can’t help you!
Tang Chen raised an eyebrow. He picked up the bottle of Erguotou and thrust it towards Yu Tianyi. “Drink. Or don’t!”
Yu Tianyi gritted his teeth! He snatched the bottle out of Tang Chen’s hand. His voice was resolute. “I’LL DRINK IT!” With no hesitation, he popped the cap and tipped it straight down his throat!