Chapter 122 - Chapter 122: The Ice Beauty’s Smile

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Chapter 122: The Ice Beauty's Smile

"Pa!" Yang Fei suddenly picked up the book and knocked Zhang Yang on the head. "I'm talking to you, why are you spacing out?"

Zhang Yang instantly snapped back to reality and hurriedly looked away. Yang Fei glared at him fiercely, pulled her neckline together, tossed the book aside, and said, "You got five wrong. What did I tell you before?"

"Expelled!"

"Expelled what?" Yang Fei said angrily. For some reason, a faint blush crept across her flawless face—warm, pleasant, but strange. She shot Zhang Yang another glare and scolded, "You've always done poorly because you're never focused. Always looking where you shouldn't…"

As soon as she said that, she realized how wrong it sounded. What did she mean by 'always'? And 'looking where you shouldn't'? That was basically admitting she knew he'd been staring at her chest! Damn it… wasn't she supposed to act like she hadn't noticed? This bastard!

"Let's start class!" Yang Fei put the book down again and said impatiently.

"Ah, teacher, you're not expelling me?" Zhang Yang asked playfully.

"Sure, don't bother coming tomorrow then." Yang Fei's temper flared at his cheeky attitude.

"Ah, no way! I haven't passed my CET-4 yet! Didn't you say none of your students ever failed it?"

Yang Fei was speechless, glaring at Zhang Yang. "Alright, alright. Since you were busy with that rehabilitation center today, I'll let it go this time. But don't push your luck."

"Thank you, teacher. I'll treat you to dinner next time."

"Save it for yourself." Yang Fei shot him a glance, picked up her book. "Class."

She hesitated, then put the book down again, walked to the wardrobe, took out a trench coat, buttoned it up tightly, and sat back down.

Clearly, she realized how inappropriate her outfit had been.

After class, Zhang Yang packed his things, walked to the door, then turned back, took out a small box, handed it to Yang Fei, and bolted out of the room.

"Hey…" Yang Fei looked down—it was a box of Delfi truffle chocolates.

She closed the door, weighed the chocolates in her hand, and a rare smile slowly appeared at the corner of her lips. This brat… guess teaching you wasn't a waste after all!

Sitting in his car, Zhang Yang got a call from Xu Danlu saying she'd be late and asked him to pick her up later. He also sent the same message to Qiao Xier and Gao Qi, saying he'd be home late. Soon, he got two replies.

Qiao Xier told him to be careful and call her if anything happened. Zhang Yang chuckled—she always saw him as that troublemaker who needed her protection.

As for Gao Qi's message, Zhang Yang resisted opening it. He first tried to guess what that girl would say. He knew she always replied with something fierce.

After a moment of thought, he gave up—he honestly couldn't guess what she'd say this time.

When he finally opened it, there were only six words: "Remember to use a condom!"

That woman… Zhang Yang shook his head helplessly and stepped on the gas toward Qianshui Street.

After a whole week of drizzling rain, the sun finally came out today, drying the ground completely. But the wind was still strong, biting cold against his face.

Zhang Yang pulled his black coat tighter and, under the wary gazes of a few local thugs, calmly walked into Night Dance Billiard Club.

Chen Tianxiong was already waiting. When he saw Zhang Yang, he immediately came forward. "It's cold out here. Let's go inside—it's warmer."

This was Zhang Yang's first time seeing Chen Tianxiong's bedroom. Usually, when a man or woman invited someone into their bedroom, it meant one of two things: if it was a woman, she was interested; if it was a man, it meant he saw you as a brother—or had his eyes on your ass…

Clearly, he saw Zhang Yang as a brother.

His room was clean and simple: a hardwood bed with a perfectly folded blanket like a tofu block, a tea table, a wardrobe, a TV, and a desktop computer—nothing else. Judging by that, he was definitely from the military.

Sure enough, on the wall by the bed, Zhang Yang saw several photos of him in uniform. The dates showed they were four years old. His rank was sergeant first class—he must've served quite a while.

"Please sit!" Chen Tianxiong pulled two wooden stools from under the bed, placing one in front of Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang could hardly imagine that a man who ruled over Qianshui Street and even the entire Yuetian District lived so plainly.

"Heh, sorry it's so modest." Chen Tianxiong said with a small smile as he poured Zhang Yang a cup of hot water and sat down himself.

"Brother Xiong, you were in the army, right?" Zhang Yang asked knowingly.

Chen Tianxiong took out a green iron mug, poured himself some boiling water, and nodded. "Eight years."

"Special forces, right?"

Chen Tianxiong stayed silent for a moment before lightly nodding. "That's all in the past now."

Behind that square, resolute face, there was a faint trace of pain in his eyes. Zhang Yang knew there must be a story behind why he'd gone down this path—but it wasn't his place to ask.

Zhang Yang took a sip of water, set the cup down, and said directly, "About what I mentioned on the phone earlier—have you thought it over?"

"Thank you for giving me this opportunity." Chen Tianxiong raised his cup to clink with Zhang Yang's. "From now on, whatever you need, I'll do my best."

Hearing that, Zhang Yang finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled faintly. "Thanks, Brother Xiong."

Chen Tianxiong scratched his head, embarrassed. "I should be the one thanking you."

He hesitated, then asked, "What about my men…"

He had nearly a hundred underlings, with over a dozen close followers. He couldn't just abandon them.

Zhang Yang trusted Chen Tianxiong himself, but he wasn't sure about his men.

Thinking for a moment, Zhang Yang asked, "What do you think, Brother Xiong?"

Chen Tianxiong hesitated before answering, "I've already thought about it. Those willing to follow me, I'll bring. Those who don't, I won't force. I just don't know if your company can take in that many."

"How many?"

"About twenty or so. They're decent in skill—not as good as you, but capable."

Zhang Yang smiled. "Twenty's fine. Once the company grows, even a hundred or so security staff won't be enough. But I expect them to change their ways completely once they join Nuwa. If I find any illegal behavior, then…"

"Don't worry. If they dare mess around, I'll deal with them myself before you even have to."

"Good. That's all I needed to hear." Zhang Yang nodded. Though he knew it wouldn't be easy turning gangsters into proper security staff, he believed in Chen Tianxiong's ability. "Since we're here, let's talk about compensation."

Chen Tianxiong waved his hand. "I don't care about myself—it's my brothers. As long as they can make a living, that's enough. Most of them come from poor families. If they can live honestly, none of them want to stay in the underworld."

Zhang Yang smiled. "Don't worry, Brother Xiong. Nuwa Company won't shortchange anyone. Regular employees start at ten thousand. As for you, I'll give you a monthly salary of one hundred thousand, with year-end bonuses. How's that sound?"

Chen Tianxiong froze. "Starting salary ten thousand?"

"Yeah."

"That… that's too much! It doesn't need to be that high—three or four thousand would be enough." Zhang Yang's offer far exceeded his expectations. That pay was way better than the life of a thug.