Li Hao was having a terrible day. His martial arts studio was on the brink of bankruptcy, and his girlfriend of three years had just dumped him for a richer guy. To make matters worse, he had just gotten into a fight with a group of thugs who were trying to extort protection money from his studio.
As he walked down the street, nursing his bruises and feeling sorry for himself, he noticed a commotion near the luxury shopping district. A sleek black sedan had pulled up, and a group of suited men were surrounding a stunning young woman.
Li Hao's instincts kicked in as he watched the scene unfold. The woman was clearly in trouble, and the men surrounding her looked like they meant business. Without hesitation, Li Hao sprinted towards the group, his martial arts training taking over.
"Hey, back off!" Li Hao shouted, approaching the group.
The suited men turned to face him, sneering at his dusty workout clothes and worn-out sneakers. "Mind your own business, punk," one of them sneered.
Li Hao smiled, cracking his knuckles. "I'm making it my business. Leave her alone."
With a swift kick, Li Hao sent the first thug flying into a nearby trash can. The others quickly followed, each one dispatched with ease. The woman watched in stunned silence as Li Hao took down her would-be attackers.
When the last thug fell to the ground, Li Hao turned to the woman and bowed. "Are you okay?"
The woman's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing. "Thank you," she said curtly, her voice like ice.
Li Hao straightened, taken aback by her frosty demeanor. "No problem. Who were those guys?"
The woman's gaze flickered, and for a moment, Li Hao saw a glimmer of something else in her eyes – worry, perhaps, or fear. "Just some business rivals," she said smoothly. "I can handle it."
Li Hao raised an eyebrow. "You're pretty calm about it, considering."
The woman smiled, a cold, calculating smile. "I'm used to dealing with scum like that. But I suppose I owe you one, Mr...?"
"Li Hao," he said, feeling a strange sense of connection to this enigmatic woman.
"Well, Mr. Li Hao, my name is Xu Qing. And I think we're going to get along just fine."
As they parted ways, Li Hao couldn't shake the feeling that he had just stepped into something much bigger – and more dangerous – than he had ever imagined.