One Punch Was Enough

Zhang Yang sneered. It wasn't his place to say any of this, but he wasn't angry. He would use the chance to see what kind of opponent he was dealing with.

"Xu Mingxian, right?" Zhang Yang said with a grin.

Zhang Yang knew Xu Mingxian. Over the thousand years he had lived through, Xu Mingxian had been one of his "clients," and Zhang Yang had gathered information on him.

Xu Mingxian was an expert in unorthodox methods. He had cornered nearly every data-falsification service on the E-commerce Platform, manufacturing hype for others at a profit.

As online businesses rose, demand for the trade soared. Xu Mingxian's company had grown from one man with one computer to more than two hundred people and two hundred computers, all kept exceptionally busy. That alone showed how prosperous online commerce had become.

"Well, look at that... Even a good-for-nothing has started paying attention to the outside world. You actually know me. Then again, of course you do. I'm a leader in this industry." Xu Mingxian laughed.

It was laughable, pitiful, and deplorable. Some people took pride in what they ought to be ashamed of, utterly blind to whether society was advancing or sliding backward.

Enemies usually saw red when they met.

But Zhang Yang wasn't about to lose his head.

"Good-for-nothing, what did you come back for? Who the hell runs back to his wife's family and hides the moment something happens? You're useless. Have you no shame?" Yang Su mocked Zhang Yang in front of their guest.

"Zhang Yang, this has dragged on long enough. You should get divorced. It would be better for both you and Dongxue, wouldn't it?" Cheng Hai seemed free of anger and spoke to Zhang Yang calmly.

"I won't get divorced, and neither will Dongxue." Zhang Yang straightened his chest as he made his declaration to Cheng Hai and Yang Su.

Then, ignoring their expressions, he turned to Xu Mingxian, who was sprawled on the sofa. "And you can get out."

Zhang Yang had been holding back his anger all along. If Cheng Hai and Yang Su hadn't been there, and if they hadn't been at home, he might already have beaten Xu Mingxian. Since when did an outsider get to tell the Cheng Family what to do?

Besides, Xu Mingxian had come to steal his wife.

"Good-for-nothing, show my guest some respect. You're the one who should get out of the Cheng Family." Zhang Yang's firm refusal infuriated Yang Su.

Yang Su had to keep pressing Zhang Yang until he gave in and signed the divorce papers. Otherwise, the matter would drag on. By the time the court process ended and the divorce went through, Cheng Company would be finished.

In the past, Zhang Yang would have backed down. Today, he couldn't.

"What the hell are you? Would anyone with ability become a live-in son-in-law? Do you have a company of your own? Status? Money?"

"You have none of those. You're useless, too. After all these years of marriage, you haven't even managed to get Dongxue pregnant. If you're impotent and broke, stop standing in someone else's way."

"Now the Cheng Family is in trouble. They need five million to stay afloat. Do you have it? If you could come up with it, why would I be here? Why would Auntie Yang have asked me for help?"

Brimming with superiority, Xu Mingxian went on and on, flaunting his advantages to make Zhang Yang seem worthless.

Zhang Yang said nothing, only glared at Xu Mingxian. It had no effect. Xu Mingxian clearly thought Zhang Yang's anger was nothing more than a powerless man's bluster.

"Life is hard enough without dragging someone else down. You can't make Dongxue happy, so you have to divorce her. Let her be free to marry me."

Thoroughly pleased with himself, Xu Mingxian rose and walked over to Cheng Dongxue.

“Xiao Xue, divorce this good-for-nothing and marry me. I'll give you a Porsche sports car right away. I'll make you happy.”

Xu Mingxian perhaps knew Cheng Dongxue's wishes were crucial, so he turned his attention to her, trying to tempt her with a luxury car.

"Impossible. Dongxue won't be swayed by your flashy car. She's not greedy for money." As Lin Xiaofei spoke, she shot Yang Su a pointed glance.

“Zhang Yang...”

Lin Xiaofei touched Zhang Yang's arm and felt the strength in it. Whether in bed or in a fight, he was formidable. Someone like Xu Mingxian couldn't withstand him. She was afraid Zhang Yang would lose his temper and kill this Ximen Qing with one punch.

"Leave her. You're poor, so I can give you some money. Five hundred thousand..."

Xu Mingxian raised a hand and spread his five fingers.

Zhang Yang sneered.

"One million. Don't get greedy. With a million, you could go back to the countryside and live like a wealthy farmer."

Xu Mingxian kept trying to buy him off. One million was a great deal of money, but how could it tempt Zhang Yang?

"Two million. Leave Dongxue right now, and I'll write the check immediately. That's my final offer."

"You—"

Xu Mingxian switched to holding up two fingers, but the amount they represented had changed. Cheng Dongxue grew anxious. As far as she could remember, Zhang Yang had never seen that kind of money. Two million might sway him.

Worse still, Xu Mingxian was treating Cheng Dongxue like an object right in front of her, putting a price on her and making a bid.

"Two million? Good. That'll be enough to pay for your medicine!"

Zhang Yang suddenly forced the words through clenched teeth.

Smack...

Crash—

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Yang suddenly threw a punch straight into Xu Mingxian's abdomen. It sent him crashing into the coffee table, shattering the glass and scattering tea and fruit across the floor.

Xu Mingxian's face twisted in agony. With one hand clutching his stomach and the other braced against the floor, he struggled to rise but couldn't.

“Zhang Yang...”

Cheng Dongxue and Lin Xiaofei cried out in unison. What they had feared had happened after all. They hadn't stopped him.

"Good-for-nothing—"

Yang Su was stunned, but her habitual catchphrase came out without thinking. She hurried over to help Xu Mingxian.

"You... You're finished—"

Zhang Yang had used less than thirty percent of his strength, afraid he might kill this man whose body had been ravaged by drink and debauchery. The blow had caused pain and would leave a bruise, but it hadn't damaged his internal organs.

"You have three minutes. Call whoever you want. After that, I'll personally see you out. I guarantee a vehicle will come to pick you up."

Zhang Yang said coldly.

Once Cheng Dongxue and Lin Xiaofei saw Cheng Hai and Yang Su help Xu Mingxian up, and that he was clearly not seriously hurt, they finally breathed easier.

"Zhang Yang, why were you so impulsive?" Lin Xiaofei was even more worried about his strength. It would be far too easy for him to kill someone. Fortunately, he had held back instead of striking to kill.

“You heard him. Get out, or an ambulance will come to pick you up.” Cheng Dongxue felt a flicker of comfort. Zhang Yang would do anything for her.

They had to persuade Xu Mingxian to leave. Zhang Yang meant what he said. If he struck again, the medical bills might really come to two million, and Xu Mingxian would need an ambulance to take him away.

"You..."

Clutching his stomach, Xu Mingxian shook off Cheng Hai and Yang Su.

“Deal with this good-for... and Cheng Dongxue, too. If she marries me, I'll let this go. If she doesn't, you'll be in trouble. None of you will have an easy time.”

Xu Mingxian gritted his teeth against the pain as he forced out the threat.

"..." Zhang Yang straightened and took a step forward. Lin Xiaofei immediately moved in front of him and held him back. Otherwise, there would be bloodshed again.