Seeing Wang Hu finally recognize him, Ye Qian gave a slight smile and said, "Just call me Er Ge (Second Brother)."
Back when they were kids, Wang Hu and Ye Qian both lived in the same slum area. Like Ye Qian, Wang Hu dropped out of school at a young age and followed a gang leader, but he didn't have much luck. His boss not only abused him often but also never stood up for him. One time, after getting beaten up by his boss for failing to steal any money, Ye Qian saw him and scolded him fiercely, saying, "I told you not to follow him. You see what's happened now. No way, I must avenge you."
Back then, Wang Hu was not as bold as he is now. He was very timid as a child. After hearing Ye Qian's words, he hurriedly said, "Second Brother, no, he has so many people, we can't beat him."
Ye Qian scoffed and said, "He can't carry his goons around 24/7, can he? Don't worry, he will pay back what he owes you, with interest." And Ye Qian did what he said. From that day forward, he shadowed Wang Hu's boss 24/7, looking for an opportunity to get revenge.
One night, after Wang Hu's boss left a bar, Ye Qian rushed him and stabbed him fiercely eight times. Although the boss was ultimately saved, he became crippled from that day on, and aside from Wang Hu, nobody knew who was responsible. From then on, Wang Hu followed Ye Qian until Ye Qian had to flee.
"Second Brother!" Wang Hu called out, hugging Ye Qian. His voice was a bit hoarse, and he couldn't help but tear up.
Ye Qian just smiled and patted his shoulder, "Now you're a big boss yourself, and here you are crying, aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"
"Let them laugh. I don't care," Wang Hu said, holding Ye Qian tightly, a wealth of emotions unsaid.
Ouyang Tianming and others were slightly stunned, clearly not expecting Ye Qian and Wang Hu to be so close, and seeing their warm interaction made it apparent they shared a deep bond. Ouyang Tianming had hoped to use Wang Hu to deal with Ye Qian, but things had not gone as planned, which inevitably frustrated him. Yet, he couldn't help but reconsider Ye Qian's actual background—someone deeply connected with the underworld and yet so skilled in combat couldn't just be a simple security guard.
Lin Rourou, witnessing Wang Hu's emotional display, also felt her eyes moisten slightly. In this cold world, such brotherly affection was indeed rare.
"Second Brother, when did you get back? Why didn't you look for me?" Wang Hu asked as he released Ye Qian.
"I've only been back a few days, didn't get the chance yet," Ye Qian replied.
"I don't care, you can't leave tonight. I'm treating, and we're not going home until we're drunk," Wang Hu declared.
Ye Qian turned to look at Lin Rourou, about to refuse, but she spoke up, "Sounds good, can I bring family too?"
Wang Hu, momentarily taken aback, then laughed heartily, "Of course, of course. If Second Sister-in-law wants to come, then it's even better. That way, if Second Brother gets too drunk, he won't have to kneel on durian shells when he gets home."
"Am I that fierce?" Lin Rourou said with a feigned scowl, yet her face radiated happiness, much to Ouyang Tianming's annoyance.
Turning to Ouyang Tianming, Wang Hu said, "Ouyang Sir, I won't judge who's right or wrong today. Ye Qian is my brother, his affairs are my affairs. I'll compensate for the medical expenses for the brothers, but if you feel uneasy about it, you can come at me, and I'll be ready."
Ouyang Tianming snorted coldly, "Do you think you can handle what's coming?"
Wang Hu confidently retorted, "Ouyang Sir, don't push people too hard. Even a cornered dog will jump the wall. If things escalate, I'm not afraid of you. Walk too much at night, and you're bound to encounter ghosts."
"Fine, we'll see," Ouyang Tianming grunted and stood up. He had always been calculating rather than impulsive, and this incident was a blow to his prestige. He couldn't let it slide without regaining his face as one of SH city's four masters.
Stepping up to Ye Qian, Ouyang Tianming's expression shifted as he leaned in and whispered, "The women I desire never escape me. I'll make you beg me to take your girlfriend. Remember this."
Ye Qian simply smiled and replied, "You might want to give your mom a heads-up when you get home, just in case next time you beg me to visit her, she isn't prepared and ends up like a dead fish. That'd be really boring."
Ouyang Tianming's face darkened ominously, and with a cold huff, he walked out of the bar, followed by his lackeys struggling to get up and catch up.
Once Ouyang Tianming and his group had left, Wang Hu warmly pulled Ye Qian back to sit down, "Second Brother, where have you been all these years? You don't know how much I've missed you. Remember when we were kids? Every time you sneaked a peek at Widow Wang bathing, it was me who kept watch. Those were good times. Now that you're back, we can stand side by side again."
Wang Hu's blunt talk about the past made Ye Qian laugh awkwardly as he glanced at Lin Rourou, "Just youthful curiosity, heh!"
Lin Rourou glared at Ye Qian and said, "I never would have guessed."
She wasn't really angry; which boy hadn't been impetuous or curious about the opposite sex in his youth? Those were just old tales.
Realizing his slip, Wang Hu chuckled awkwardly, "Second Sister-in-law is a woman of great spirit and tolerance. Don't worry, Second Brother."
"Heroine of great spirit and tolerance," Lin Rourou couldn't really accept such praise, but Wang Hu's flattery, especially the repeated "Second Sister-in-law," warmed her heart immensely.