Zhang Yang hadn't expected that this so-called couple's challenge.
Would be a competition to see who could hold their girlfriend the longest.
"Since we're already up here, why not just participate?" Zhang Yang chuckled.
Actually.
He quite enjoyed this kind of challenge.
Han Xiyao rolled her eyes. Just as she was about to object.
The host suddenly shouted.
"Since everyone understands the rules, the competition officially begins!"
With a beep.
The host blew his whistle.
The male partners of the participating couples immediately lifted their girlfriends.
Zhang Yang was not to be outdone.
Amidst Han Xiyao's surprised cry, he scooped her up by the waist.
"Ah, Zhang Yang, why are you..." Han Xiyao panicked.
"Shh, don't wiggle your hips. If you're shy, bury your face in my chest. That way, no one will see you," Zhang Yang quickly said.
Han Xiyao was speechless at Zhang Yang's forceful approach.
But at this point, she could only let him have his way.
She quickly buried her head in Zhang Yang's chest.
Zhang Yang, holding Han Xiyao, wore a smile.
This couple's challenge had no time limit.
Whoever lasted the longest was the winner.
There were no first or second prizes, only the first place winner would take home the two-meter-tall plush doll.
After about a minute.
One couple couldn't hold on any longer.
However.
It wasn't the boyfriend's fault, given that his girlfriend looked like a heavy-duty tank.
Zhang Yang even felt a bit of sympathy for the guy.
His girlfriend's thigh was as thick as Han Xiyao's waist.
"How can you be so useless? You can't even hold on for this long!" the girlfriend complained.
"And you have the nerve to say that? With your 250-pound frame, what am I supposed to do?" the boyfriend retorted, shrinking his neck, feeling wronged.
"..."
The couple started arguing on stage, making the audience erupt in laughter.
In the process, two other participating couples, distracted by the commotion, also burst into laughter.
They lost their grip on their girlfriends and were eliminated.
As time went by.
The couples still holding on were gradually eliminated.
Only two couples remained.
One was Zhang Yang, and the other was a muscular man.
However.
Compared to Zhang Yang's relaxed demeanor, even enjoying himself.
The muscular man was clearly under immense pressure.
His face was flushed red, clearly from overexertion, and his stamina was almost depleted.
After all.
Holding someone for over ten minutes continuously was quite taxing.
"This kid looks so thin, how can he have so much strength to last this long?" the muscular man grumbled.
After thinking for a moment.
He strained to hold his girlfriend and moved closer to Zhang Yang.
"Hey, kid, if you can't hold on, give up. Be careful not to pull a muscle."
Initially, the muscular man was polite.
Zhang Yang glanced at him and chuckled, "I can still manage. If you can't hold on, you can give up."
Seeing Zhang Yang's relaxed expression, the muscular man became even more annoyed.
He felt that if the competition continued, he would surely lose.
He quickly said in a deep voice, "You punk, don't be ungrateful! My girlfriend wants that doll. If you know what's good for you, admit defeat, or you'll regret it!"
Zhang Yang's gaze turned cold. Recalling the look of fondness in Han Xiyao's eyes when she saw the plush doll earlier, he refused.
"My girlfriend likes this doll very much too, so I can't give it to you."
Zhang Yang's unwavering stance infuriated the muscular man, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.
"You refuse a toast and insist on a penalty. You just wait."
With that said.
The muscular man suddenly moved behind Zhang Yang.
Without a word, he swiftly kicked towards Zhang Yang's inner knee joint.
Seeing this.
The audience below was startled. If Zhang Yang was hit, he would surely lose his balance.
However.
The muscular man's subtle move did not escape Zhang Yang's notice.
Zhang Yang stood his ground and, just as the muscular man was about to kick him, he suddenly sidestepped to avoid the blow.
The muscular man, having put too much force into his kick, couldn't stop himself and stumbled forward.
With a thud.
It was the muscular man who ended up kneeling on the ground.
What's more, in his carelessness, he even flung his girlfriend out of his arms.
Now.
Only Zhang Yang remained.
The host walked onto the stage and announced.
"Let's congratulate this couple for holding on until the end and becoming the winners of our Couple's Challenge!"
At the same time.
Applause erupted from the audience below.
"That was really close. I saw that muscular guy playing dirty, how despicable."
"Yeah, that muscular guy is disgusting. Luckily, he didn't succeed."
"Haha, that's what you call karma. One knelt down, and the other was thrown out."
"..."
While the audience cheered for Zhang Yang, they also continued to mock the muscular man.
The muscular man was filled with shame and glared fiercely at Zhang Yang, shouting.
"You punk, you better wait! This isn't over."
With that said.
He tucked his tail between his legs and sheepishly left with his girlfriend.
Zhang Yang then put Han Xiyao down.
He took the plush doll from the host and presented it to Han Xiyao.
"Xiyao, we won. This doll is for you," Zhang Yang said with a confident smile.
At this moment.
Han Xiyao hadn't quite recovered. Her cheeks were still flushed red.
However.
Seeing the plush doll Zhang Yang offered, she happily accepted it.
"Zhang Yang, thank you so much~" Han Xiyao smiled sweetly.
"No need to be so formal with me," Zhang Yang shook his head, uttering the words that Han Xiyao was now familiar with.
After participating in the couple's challenge, it was already past nine o'clock in the evening.
However.
It was summer, and people didn't go to bed that early.
The night market of Wulihaisha was still very lively.
The couple's challenge had left Zhang Yang feeling a bit parched.
He quickly took Han Xiyao's hand and headed towards a cold drink shop.
Han Xiyao, holding the plush doll, felt as if she had forgotten something.
For the first time, she didn't object to Zhang Yang holding her hand.
Even later.
When Han Xiyao came to her senses, she comforted herself.
"We've already been held for so long, so holding hands is fine."
Sitting in a pavilion outside the cold drink shop, Han Xiyao took a sip of her drink and said with a smile.
"Zhang Yang, I had a great time tonight. Thank you~"
"I'm really sorry, I was supposed to treat you tonight, but it seems I'm even happier than you."
Zhang Yang smiled slightly, "I had a great time tonight too."
Suddenly.
Han Xiyao let out a soft "Oh," and pointed to a spot not far ahead.
"Oh, aren't those Li Dabai and Gao Xiaohei? They're here too."
Zhang Yang followed Han Xiyao's gaze.
Upon looking, he realized it was indeed those two guys.
Mainly.
Their distinguishing features were too obvious.
One was so dark he was almost invisible.
The other was so fair he was noticeable even at night.
Moreover.
At this moment, they were accompanied by two beautiful young women.
"Wulihaisha is a great place for dates. It's normal for them to be here."
Zhang Yang chuckled, "It's just that I'm surprised that silly Gao Xiaohei knows how to pick up girls."
To this.
Han Xiyao heartily agreed.
However, she soon felt a different emotion.
It seemed that her situation with Zhang Yang tonight was also similar to a date between couples.
Swish~
As she thought about it.
Han Xiyao's face suddenly turned red.
This left Zhang Yang a bit puzzled.
However, Han Xiyao's shy expression was quite attractive.
It was a completely different charm from her decisive CEO demeanor at the company.
"Brothers, we found them! It's them! Over by the big doll!"
Suddenly!
A shout broke the pleasant atmosphere between Zhang Yang and Han Xiyao.
It was the muscular man from earlier.
And he wasn't alone; he was accompanied by quite a few people.
Judging by their appearance.
They were here to get revenge on Zhang Yang.
Soon.
The muscular man led a group of young men with dragons and tigers painted on them, surrounding Zhang Yang!
"You punk, you were quite arrogant earlier, showing me no respect!"
"You made me lose face in front of so many people, and my girlfriend is breaking up with me!"
Zhang Yang glanced at the muscular man, his brow furrowing.
"Since I'm in a good mood, scram!"
"Oh, you don't know what's going on, do you? Can't you see I'm here to cause trouble for you!"
The muscular man was furious. "You made me look foolish in front of my girlfriend earlier, so I'll make you..."
Mid-sentence.
The muscular man caught sight of Han Xiyao opposite Zhang Yang and involuntarily swallowed.
During the competition earlier.
Han Xiyao had buried her face in Zhang Yang's chest, and the muscular man hadn't thought much of her appearance.
But now, seeing her, he was truly stunned.
Beautiful.
Too beautiful.
Impossibly beautiful.
Instantly.
The muscular man changed his mind, his gaze becoming lecherous.
"Now, you get lost immediately, and let your girlfriend spend the night with me. Then, this matter will be settled!"
"Otherwise, the clubs in the hands of my brothers behind me will be blind!"
The muscular man was smug.
He felt like a blessing in disguise.
Han Xiyao's expression turned grim, clearly displeased with these thugs.
Zhang Yang was even more so.
He directly stood up from his seat and slapped the muscular man away.
Crack~
"I offered you a way out, but you insisted on being beaten?"
The muscular man, having been slapped, lost two of his molars.
"You... you dare to hit me!" the muscular man exclaimed in shock.
"Brothers, attack him! Let him know the power of our Fengyun Society!"
After rallying his companions, the muscular man quickly got up from the ground and charged at Zhang Yang with clenched fists.
However.
The outcome was, as expected, no different.
All the people the muscular man brought were sent flying by Zhang Yang.
They lay strewn about on the ground, groaning in pain.
The muscular man fared the worst. His once sturdy face was now disfigured by Zhang Yang.
It would likely be difficult for him to find a partner in the future.
"You're dead! How dare you challenge our Fengyun Society! If you have the guts, don't run!"
With that said.
The muscular man pulled out his phone and called the Fengyun Society boss in charge of Wulihaisha for help.
Fengyun Society?
Zhang Yang sneered.
"Are the people from Fengyun Society that formidable? Then I'd like to see for myself."
Saying that.
Zhang Yang calmly sat back down, completely unfazed by the muscular man's threat.
"Zhang Yang, let's leave first. Don't bother with these hooligans."
Han Xiyao frowned and took out her phone. "How about I call the patrol division to come over?"
Zhang Yang shook his head and smiled confidently.
"No need. Even if we call the patrol division, there won't be enough time."
"Let's just wait here for the Fengyun Society people to arrive. I'd like to see what they'll do."
"Earlier, this muscular man dared to set his sights on you, so how could I let him off so easily?"
Zhang Yang said this casually, but his domineering protectiveness was evident.
This kind of possessive protection and possessiveness.
Immediately caused ripples in Han Xiyao's heart.
After about ten minutes.
Two men in suits and ties walked over with grim expressions.
Behind them, there were about forty to fifty people.
Each of them was not empty-handed, holding various kinds of weapons.
"Who! Who dares to cause trouble in the area under my jurisdiction!"
One of the leading men in a suit shouted.
The muscular man's heart leaped with joy upon seeing the newcomers!
Not only had their boss arrived,
But even the boss's boss, Brother Mangzi, had come.
Instantly.
The muscular man scrambled on all fours to his boss and tearfully recounted the story with embellishments.
"Boss, it's this guy. He's causing trouble in Wulihaisha, relying on his skills."
"I already warned him, but he completely ignored me and even beat us all up."
"He even... even said that even if you, boss, came, you'd have to be polite to him, or he'd beat you up too."
"Bah, he beat my men and expects me to be polite to him? I'd like to see who he is!" the muscular man's boss roared in anger.
He pushed the muscular man aside and angrily strode towards Zhang Yang.
Seeing this.
The muscular man was filled with excitement!
Zhang Yang's fate would surely be miserable.
Then...
The woman beside him would be his.
However, dreams are good, but reality is often cruel.
The next moment.
The muscular man was dumbfounded!
He hadn't expected his embellished story to actually come true.
His boss, and Brother Mangzi.
Were actually being polite to Zhang Yang, just as he had said.
Even.
They slightly bent down, as if subservient.
What!
What was going on?
The muscular man slapped his own cheek.
After confirming he wasn't dreaming, he quickly stepped forward.
"Boss, why are you being polite to him? Hurry up and deal with him, take revenge for our injured brothers!" the muscular man urged.
Slap!
"You bastard, how dare you trick me!"
The muscular man immediately received a slap, his head spinning.
Before he could even react to what was happening, he was subdued by the Fengyun Society brothers.
Mangzi also looked at the muscular man coldly, his tone very displeased.
"Throw him into the sea to soak for a night. If he doesn't die, it's his good fortune."
What?
The muscular man felt as if struck by lightning, struggling and shouting.
"Boss, Brother Mangzi! What are you doing? He's the one who beat our Fengyun Society brothers."
"You're not punishing him, but throwing me into the sea!"
Mangzi's expression was grim, and he delivered a kick to the muscular man's chest.
"Let alone that Doctor Zhang beat Fengyun Society brothers, even if he killed them, it would be our fault!"
"Because he is the savior of Third Master!"
"You dog, you almost made Fengyun Society look ungrateful!"
"What are you guys waiting for? Hurry up and throw him into the sea!"
Mangzi was very angry.
They operated in the martial world, worshipping Guan Erye, and valued righteousness above all else!
"Wh-what? He's Third Master's savior!" the muscular man exclaimed in shock.
But, the next moment.
He didn't even have a chance to beg for mercy before he was taken away.
After dealing with the muscular man, Mangzi turned to Zhang Yang and said respectfully.
"Doctor Zhang, my subordinates were reckless and offended you. Please don't take it to heart."
Zhang Yang waved his hand.
"I'm quite satisfied with how you handled it, but I didn't expect your Fengyun Society to be involved in this kind of business."
Mangzi's face showed a hint of embarrassment.
"Please forgive my lack of grace, Doctor Zhang. Protecting the merchants and vendors here was actually Fengyun Society's earliest business."
"However, the fees we charge are reasonable. Later, as Fengyun Society grew stronger, we wanted to give this up."
"But the merchants were afraid that if we left, other hooligan forces would come."
"So, they begged us to stay."
Hearing this.
Zhang Yang finally understood.
It seemed that the Fengyun Society was involved in the grey industry.
In that case...
Zhang Yang thought of something. "Mangzi, I have something I need your help to investigate."