Among that group, the ringleader was none other than Ma Hua. Although he had just been beaten up by Yang Xiao, they didn't seem affected at all.
"Are they here to cause trouble? They followed us here," Wang Peng's first reaction was that these people had come looking for him and Yang Xiao.
"No, I think they're just here to eat barbecue," Yang Xiao said, watching their movements and knowing for sure they had not followed him and Wang Peng.
Indeed, after the group entered the barbecue restaurant, they immediately found a spot to sit down.
And they happened to sit right next to Zhu Li.
Seeing the demeanor of those men, and then looking at Zhu Li's condition, Yang Xiao immediately felt that something might happen.
Ma Hua was a complete scoundrel. The second he saw Zhu Li, his gaze changed instantly. He stared at Zhu Li intently, his eyes filled with conspiracy.
"Brother Hua, this woman is quite attractive! Do you want to give her a try?" One of the underlings immediately caught onto Ma Hua's intentions and spoke up.
Ma Hua didn't respond but just flashed a sinister smile.
"This chick seems to be here alone. Looks like she's been through a breakup," Ma Hua said in a low voice.
"Exactly, I think so too. Brother Hua, don't you always pity and cherish beauty? Shouldn't you take good care of her right now?"
At these words, the smile on Ma Hua's face grew even more perverse.
"You're right, kid. If I'm not good at anything else, I'm definitely good at pampering women."
Yang Xiao and Wang Peng were not far away, listening clearly to their conversation.
"Yang Xiao, Zhu Li might be in danger! Aren't you going to do something?" Wang Peng asked.
After all, Zhu Li was someone Yang Xiao had once loved deeply. Under such circumstances, Yang Xiao certainly wouldn't stand by and do nothing.
Yang Xiao didn't reply, his mind also hesitating. If he had seen Zhu Li being harassed by these people back then, he definitely wouldn't have been able to stand idly by.
But if he really intervened, how would he face Zhu Li then?
Therefore, Yang Xiao still felt he should wait and see. After all, this was a barbecue restaurant, a public place. Ma Hua and his gang wouldn't dare go too far.
As long as Zhu Li resisted and managed to get away in time, there shouldn't be any problem.
Having thought it through, Yang Xiao decided to wait and see how things unfolded.
On the other side, Zhu Li certainly noticed that something was amiss. But she didn't leave; she simply changed to another table, placing a distance between herself and Ma Hua's group.
"Brother Hua, why did that chick move away? Is it because you were too slow to make a move, and she's unhappy? Move quickly!" The underling beside Ma Hua kept egging him on.
"Since that's the case, of course, I've got to make a move quickly!"
Ma Hua said this as he stood up and walked toward Zhu Li.
He was all smiles as he approached, his cheeks wobbling with every step he took.
"Miss, are you alone? What's the matter, feeling lonely?" Ma Hua asked as he sat down beside Zhu Li.
"What's it to you? Get lost!" Zhu Li responded rudely.
"Ouch! Quite the fiery lady, aren't you? I like that," Ma Hua's interest intensified.
"Shameless!" Zhu Li cursed and got up, ready to leave.
But Ma Hua reached out and grabbed her hand, "Don't go, Miss. Have a drink with me. I'll take care of all your expenses tonight."
"Get lost." Zhu Li tried with all her might to shake off Ma Hua, but she was too weak to manage it.
Ma Hua's underlings laughed loudly at this scene.
"Brother Hua is awesome! Tonight we have a new sister-in-law."
"That's right, such a beautiful sister-in-law, Brother Hua, you're so lucky!"
"What are you guys mumbling about? Why aren't you saying hello to your sister-in-law already?"
"Right, right, right, hello sister-in-law!"
Seeing his men act like this made Ma Hua even more smug.
He tightened his grip and, in an instant, pulled Zhu Li into his arms.
"Miss, did you hear that? My brothers are all calling you sister-in-law! Aren't you going to show some appreciation? As my woman, I'll have you living the good life, eating the finest and spiciest."
"Slap!"
Zhu Li raised her hand and slapped Ma Hua across the face.
Then she struggled fiercely to break free from Ma Hua's hold.
That slap stunned Ma Hua for a moment, and his lackeys were also taken aback.
When the owner of the barbecue restaurant heard the commotion, she quickly came out to see what was happening.
"Dammit, giving you face and you don't want it, you even dare to hit me; looks like you're tired of living!" Ma Hua was furious, he got up and wanted to hit Zhu Li.
Seeing this, the restaurant owner hurriedly tried to mediate, "Sir, what's the matter here? Let's talk this through calmly."
"Get lost!" Ma Hua pushed the owner away with one hand.
His lackeys followed suit, quickly surrounding Zhu Li.
Zhu Li, standing in their midst, didn't panic, but her face was filled with anger.
"What do you think you're doing? Do you know who I am?" Zhu Li asked angrily.
"What are we doing? You dared to hit me; you must be sick of living, giving you face and you don't want it! I'll make sure you won't survive tonight. Brothers, do you like this woman? If you like her, tonight you can take turns having your fun," Ma Hua's face showed a fierce expression.
"Like her, of course we like! I'll be second in line."
"I'm the third."
Seeing this scene, Wang Peng couldn't help but get nervous, he hurriedly said to Yang Xiao, "Yang Xiao, aren't you going to make a move? If we wait any longer, it'll be too late."
Yang Xiao frowned slightly, if Ma Hua and his gang were targeting a strange woman, Yang Xiao would have intervened without hesitation.
But the current scene left him in a bit of a dilemma.
After a moment's thought, Yang Xiao said to Wang Peng, "You step up, draw Ma Hua and his men's attention, then let Zhu Li take the chance to slip away."
As long as Zhu Li managed to escape successfully, the rest would be easy to handle.
"Good plan, I'm on it," Wang Peng understood what Yang Xiao was thinking and agreed at once.
Just as Ma Hua and his men were about to lay hands on Zhu Li, Wang Peng stood out.
He shouted righteously, "Let the lady go!"
At those words, Ma Hua's men immediately turned their heads to look at Wang Peng.
"Dammit, it's you, kid! I haven't even settled the score with you, and here you are showing up on your own."
Zhu Li, seeing it was Wang Peng, was also stunned for a moment. She hadn't expected Wang Peng to be the one to come to her aid at such a critical moment.
"Wang Peng, you... you better leave, they're not to be trifled with," Zhu Li shouted, not wanting to drag Wang Peng into this.
"Don't worry about me, you go! They can't do a thing to me," Wang Peng said with a noble air.
"Dammit, still showing such deep affection in front of me? Neither of you is getting away! Someone, take them both down," Ma Hua ordered loudly.
"Yes!"
Ma Hua's lackeys responded and charged towards Wang Peng and Zhu Li.