Chapter 102: This Time, We're Probably Doomed

Chen Hong was both terrified and heartbroken, her eyes nearly washed clean by the flood of tears.

By now, she had figured out that it wasn't sulfuric acid, but ordinary kitchen vinegar. Yet, that realization only made her rage boil over. If that brat had actually dared to throw sulfuric acid, he would be a ruthless character, and she might have been intimidated. But to pull a stunt like this? If he wasn't brain-damaged, what was he? Chen Hong made up her mind: she wouldn't stop until she had tormented him to the point of collapse.

Even Chen Haodong caught some collateral damage, cursed by Chen Hong in her internal monologue: He pretended to be magnanimous and sensible, but was he implying that she was an unreasonable, petty person? You dog, do you really think I can’t survive without you?

It wasn't like you were anything special just because you were handsome and steady with a bit of style. Her list of admirers included plenty of men wealthier and more doting than him; they just weren't as handsome or masculine.

The more she thought, the angrier she became. Chen Hong dialed Chen Haodong’s number and snapped, "You call yourself masculine? I’ve realized your masculinity is a fake. We’re through. It’s over, no discussion—you couldn't even handle a tiny little matter!"

Chen Haodong was bewildered. "What’s wrong? How am I not masculine? At least explain yourself! It’s ridiculous to call and curse at me out of nowhere. I didn’t provoke you—are you out of your mind?"

"You’re the one out of your mind! We’re broken up, so there’s nothing left to say. You didn't even dare to teach that dead migrant worker a lesson, and now he’s gone and thrown sulfuric acid at me!" Chen Hong cried, feeling aggrieved.

On the other end, Chen Haodong’s expression shifted. "What!"

"No, it was vinegar. But that’s not all—there was pepper powder... and a banana peel, and then I tripped." Chen Hong ranted quickly.

Chen Haodong furrowed his brows. To be honest, Chen Hong was a provocative person; seeing how she handled this incident with a mere child, he knew exactly what had happened. *If I were Wang Xiaoai’s brother and faced this situation, I would have done the exact same thing. It’s a warning.*

But precisely because it sounded like a warning, it felt like she had crossed the line. It carried a heavy threat. Standing in Chen Haodong’s position, he still felt protective of Chen Hong, which left him quite displeased.

After weighing his options, Chen Haodong said, "Alright, Hong, stop making a scene. You don't need to worry about this anymore. Wang Xiaoai is just a child; things between kids are just that—don't blow it out of proportion, and don't get her expelled. But I will look into this matter of you being splashed with vinegar."

"Oh, oh, don't you want to sleep with me? Back to pretending you're a big man now?" Chen Hong retorted.

Chen Haodong felt a splitting headache. "Are you really sick in the head? Just tell me what you want me to do to make you happy!"

"Your attitude is wrong, you yelled at me, and you don't know how to cherish a lady. Go to hell, we’re finished. It’s not like I have to rely on you to deal with that brat." Chen Hong hung up the phone.

*Fuck!*

Driving down the road, Chen Haodong slammed his phone into the car console.

He was livid. This demon of a woman was a walking disaster; how could he, a dignified hero, be played like this? But he couldn't exactly go and beat her.

In the end, he had no choice but to vent his frustration on that neurotic man. Chen Haodong muttered to himself, "You little turtle, you better hope I don't catch you. Quite the achievement, attacking a teacher with pepper powder, and yet I’m the one who ends up taking the heat."

...

The next morning, as soon as Ma arrived at Haihao Tower, a tall, burly man with long hair draped an arm over his shoulder and steered him toward the underground parking garage. "Kid, come with me, let's talk about life."

Ma figured he was done for this time. A wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him; he decided to play it steady for now.

Once caught, there was little to say. He had heard of "Big Brother Dong" from the Haidong District before.

In a secluded corner, away from the cameras, Chen Haodong let him go and said coldly, "Tell me, how should I deal with you?"

"Uh, well..." Ma felt the question was excessive.

"Speak!"

As Chen Haodong roared, he kicked a nearby pillar. The impact was intense, and Ma felt a chill in his chest. If that kick had landed on him, it wouldn't just be a case of being laid out; he would be crippled.

Just then, a woman’s voice rang out: "Let that man go!"

Ma’s luck was truly incredible. Zhang Jing happened to arrive early that morning and parked in that very corner. She hadn't gone up yet because it was too early for work, so she was sitting in her car listening to music.

The "female thug" had just happened to witness a long-haired man bullying a weakling. Zhang Jing opened her door, got out, and walked over briskly.

"Get lost, this is none of your business!" Chen Haodong didn't even look, shouting impatiently.

He glanced back and realized it was a strikingly cool woman. *Sweat.* As someone who ran in Haidong District, he certainly knew Zhang Jing, and he felt a sudden flash of embarrassment.

But there was no time to back down. Zhang Jing closed the distance in two strides and threw a heavy punch.

Chen Haodong instinctively blocked it, but his entire arm went numb.

"Hey, hey, Officer Zhang, listen to me."

"Block, huh? Go ahead and block!"

*Whack, whack!*

Zhang Jing landed two more highly technical punches. Chen Haodong thought she must have gone mad.

His arm was tingling, and he didn't dare let her land another clean hit, so he was forced to retreat while defending himself.

Chen Haodong said urgently, "Just listen to my explanation! If you keep this up, I’m going to report you for harming an innocent citizen."

Zhang Jing wasn't acting on impulse this time; she was trying to seize the initiative. She stopped.

Of course, she couldn't afford to provoke Chen Haodong. This guy had a very complicated background, and she could never raid his venues. Since there were no established rules of engagement for him, and he hadn't committed a capital offense, she couldn't touch him, or it would cause more trouble than it was worth.

Zhang Jing was quite tactically minded. She used her status and her reputation for being impulsive to take a stand. If Ma wasn't deeply entangled with him, Chen Haodong wouldn't keep biting.

Zhang Jing didn't know what kind of trouble Ma had caused this time, but she hoped it was minor. This guy really was a magnet for trouble.

Having finished her mental calculation, Zhang Jing looked at Chen Haodong and asked, "Speak. What were you planning to do to him?"

Chen Haodong spread his hands. "Nothing! I was just talking to him and kicked a pillar. You’re not building security, yet you chase me down and land all these punches? Does that make sense?"

As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeve to show a patch of bruised, purple skin.

Zhang Jing felt a slight flush of embarrassment. *Sweat.* Legally speaking, he had only kicked the pillar and left a footprint; she couldn't exactly charge him with vandalism.

"What is your business? What do you need to talk about?" Zhang Jing asked again.

Chen Haodong hesitated for a moment, then waved his hands repeatedly. "It’s nothing, nothing. Since you’ve seen us, it’s fine."

Seeing that Zhang Jing didn't believe him, Chen Haodong said awkwardly, "I swear it’s a minor matter. Just a civil dispute. My sister was injured at school by his sister, and I came to find him so we could negotiate compensation as guardians."

If that was the case, it was a minor matter. Zhang Jing nodded slightly and dropped the issue.

Chen Haodong handed Ma a business card and pointed at his nose. "Call me later. My sister was hospitalized for a day and had a bunch of exams; the costs were over three thousand. You’re lucky you ran into me—if it were someone else, this wouldn't have been settled for thirty thousand."

Seeing Zhang Jing nod slightly, implying that the gangster was telling the truth, Ma took the card.

"Uh, alright." Ma felt the request was reasonable and took the card.

Just then, an understated Volvo drove into the parking lot. Yu Chengmin saw three people gathered there, parked specifically to take a look, and saw Ma, Chen Haodong, and Zhang Jing.

Yu Chengmin didn't say a word and continued to look for a parking space.

Ma didn't care, and neither did Zhang Jing, but Chen Haodong’s expression shifted slightly, looking worried.

Ma said, "I have cash on me, I can pay you now..."

Chen Haodong waved him off impatiently. "Don't bother with the small talk, it’s a minor issue. As long as you acknowledge it, the payment isn't the point."

Ma didn't think too much of it; as long as his mouth hadn't been smashed in, he counted it as a win. *Jingjing is pretty impressive,* he thought.

After Chen Haodong walked away, looking anxious, Ma asked, "Officer Zhang, why did you come looking for me?"

Zhang Jing replied, "I was passing by and intended to take you to the station to mediate the situation regarding the compensation for the robber."