Upon hearing the landlord's words, Ling Feng couldn't help but feel skeptical and shot a glance at him.
"Thanks, but I'll pass. If they're tough enough, they can come find me for protection money themselves!"
A couple of small-time thugs think they can shake me down? Even if I were to pay them off, once they get a taste, they'll keep coming back for more. It's just a vicious cycle.
And what if the landlord is in cahoots with those punks, trying to pressure me into paying up?
"Listen, kid, even the strongest dragon can't overpower a local snake!" the landlord said pointedly before walking away.
Ling Feng just chuckled, unfazed. Those guys would definitely try to hit me again since I didn't pay.
He went to the electronics market and bought a set of mini surveillance equipment, installing tiny cameras in various corners of the shop.
Later that evening, as he picked up Zheng Miaoyi, Ling Feng mentioned this to her, only to find she wasn't really paying attention.
"Hey, what's up? You seem distracted. Is something bothering you?" he asked, concerned.
"It's nothing, just tired, I guess," she replied with a shake of her head, showing no interest in chatting.
Ling Feng found it odd, but just then, Zheng Miaoyi's phone rang. She glanced at it and then set it down.
The phone kept ringing, but she didn't answer.
"Is it that same call from last night?" Ling Feng asked, recalling how she'd ignored the phone then too, even turning it off.
The ringing continued, again and again.
"Who's calling? If there's something going on, just tell me!" he finally pressed.
Sighing, Zheng Miaoyi explained.
"It's a friend of my mom's. His son used to have a crush on me, but I turned him down, so he backed off. Now he's trying to get back in touch since he's made some money."
"Don't worry, I believe you!" Ling Feng reassured her. He hadn't expected her to open up like that, so there was no reason not to trust her.
After a bit, Zheng Miaoyi's phone rang again.
"Answer it! I can talk to him," he offered, thinking it was the same caller.
"It's my mom!" Zheng Miaoyi said, surprised to see her mother Ge Yiyue's name on the screen.
She pressed answer and switched to speaker.
"Hey, Miaoyi, are you off work yet?" her mom asked right away.
"Yeah, I'm on my way home!" she replied honestly.
"Is Ling Feng with you?" Ge Yiyue inquired.
"Yeah, why?" Zheng Miaoyi wondered why her mother was asking.
"Well, can you find a way to send Ling Feng away for a bit? Just until I'm done with a visitor," her mom said.
"Why?" Zheng Miaoyi frowned, feeling uneasy.
"Because Li Zheng is here, and I don't want to upset him!"
Zheng Miaoyi's anger flared up instantly. She couldn't believe her mom would not only invite Li Zheng over but also want to send Ling Feng away.
In a huff, she hung up.
"Looks like Mom really cares about me!" Ling Feng remarked, having overheard everything with a wry smile.
Zheng Miaoyi scoffed. "You're coming with me, and just act like you don't know anything!"
Ling Feng chuckled as he pulled the car over. "Oh, that won't work."
"What are you doing?" Zheng Miaoyi asked, thinking he was upset and refusing to go back.
"Just wait here for a sec; I need to grab something!" He jumped out and headed into a nearby herbal medicine shop.
Less than five minutes later, he emerged with a large bag.
"What's with the traditional medicine?" Zheng Miaoyi asked, eyeing the packages inside.
"You'll see when we get home!" he said with a mysterious smile, driving them back.
When they reached home, Zheng Miaoyi hesitated for a moment before making an unexpected decision.
Her cheeks flushed, and she tightly linked her arm with Ling Feng's, resting her head on his shoulder.
Together, they walked into the house, looking quite affectionate.
"What on earth?!" Ge Yiyue exclaimed upon seeing them, her face twisting in anger.
"Li Zheng is here, and you two are acting like this?!"
Zheng Miaoyi kept her cool, still holding on to Ling Feng's arm as if she was about to hang on for dear life.
"What's the problem? We're legally married. Isn't this perfectly normal?"
"Y-you…" Ge Yiyue stammered, realizing Zheng Miaoyi was intentionally pushing her buttons, leaving her speechless.
"Long time no see, Miaoyi! How have you been?" Li Zheng, dressed in a sharp suit with slicked-back hair, stepped forward with an air of a successful businessman.
"I'm great! I have a loving husband who cooks for me and picks me up from work every day. Life couldn't be better!" Zheng Miaoyi replied with a bright smile, beaming at Li Zheng.
Li Zheng's expression darkened slightly, but he maintained a polite smile as he stepped closer.
"Hello, I'm Li Zheng," he said, extending his right hand toward Ling Feng, showing all the courtesy he could muster.
Ling Feng smiled and shook his hand lightly. "Ling Feng."
Though Li Zheng appeared courteous, Ling Feng caught the underlying hostility in his eyes.
"Ling Feng, since you're back, why don't you help serve the food?" Ge Yiyue instructed.
"Don't worry, Aunt Ge. I can do it! After all, we cooked together," Li Zheng interjected, dashing toward the kitchen.
He even made a point of flaunting his own cooking skills.
Ling Feng chuckled; having someone eager to help wasn't so bad. Plus, it let him and Zheng Miaoyi enjoy some closeness.
Once in the kitchen, Li Zheng's smile dropped coldly.
"What's a worthless live-in son-in-law like you going to do against me?"
He had already done his homework before coming.
That guy, Ling Feng, was just a live-in son-in-law, a lazy one at that, with no job.
Ge Yiyue had no fondness for Ling Feng, and Zheng Miaoyi hadn't even shared a bed with him in three years; she was still a virgin.
Li Zheng could see through all of Zheng Miaoyi's facade.
"Zheng Miaoyi, you're not getting away from me!" he sneered, his desire only intensifying.