Granny Wang had gone out to buy groceries; otherwise, Fang Zhiyi would have definitely taken action against her.
"My grandma said it! I'm only twelve—killing someone isn’t a crime for me!" Wang Xiaoqiang, seeing the crowd growing and Fang Zhiyi not making a move, grew increasingly bold. "Stop yelling like that, or I’ll chop you up with a kitchen knife!"
Fang Zhiyi glanced at Father Li, who had now positioned himself behind him, and said to Little Hei, "This is where the true value of your ability lies."
Little Hei understood immediately. Father Li froze for a couple of seconds, then glared at Wang Xiaoqiang with bloodshot eyes—the boy who was still clutching his daughter and hurling threats.
"A worthless girl... Ow!" Father Li punched Wang Xiaoqiang square in the face, then pulled Li Tiantian behind him before raining down blows on the boy.
He had never been in a fight before, but as a father—one who had already lost a daughter once—he had to unleash his fury.
"Xiaoqiang!" The mother of Wang Xiaoqiang finally sprang into action after her son was beaten, but the next moment, Fang Zhiyi kicked her in the back of the knee. "Try anything, and I’ll end you."
Wang Xiaoqiang lay curled on the ground, covering his head motionless. Exhausted, Father Li turned and hugged the terrified Li Tiantian, sobbing uncontrollably.
"What in the world is going on here?" Granny Wang returned, carrying a bag of wilted vegetables, only to see her son and daughter-in-law kneeling downstairs. Fang Zhiyi turned his head and sneered, "What’s wrong? I beat up your grandson, your son, and your daughter-in-law. You want a turn too?"
Granny Wang was stunned. She looked up and saw Li Tiantian being carried downstairs by her parents, while a bruised and battered Wang Xiaoqiang struggled to his feet, shouting recklessly, "Hit me, and I’ll burn all of you alive! Every last one of you will die!" He pointed at everyone gathered below.
The onlookers paled.
Granny Wang shrieked and bolted upstairs.
Someone called the police, and Old Yu arrived first. Fang Zhiyi handed over the full recording of the incident. After exchanging a glance with Old Yu, Fang Zhiyi took full responsibility: "I was the one who hit them. Can’t a man stand up for what’s right?"
Old Yu sighed inwardly—how could you have beaten them up from downstairs while filming?—but he played along. "You’re coming with me. And you lot too!" He motioned for the Wang family to follow.
Father Li stepped forward, but Fang Zhiyi shook his head slightly, glancing at Li Tiantian hiding behind him.
Father Li froze, watching as Fang Zhiyi was taken away.
But this time, perhaps because Wang Xiaoqiang’s threats had alarmed everyone, people began speaking up for Fang Zhiyi—one, then two, then three.
If only they had stepped forward back then, the fate of Li Tiantian’s family wouldn’t have turned out this way.
Fang Zhiyi strolled into the police station like it was home. He was placed in solitary confinement, much to the Wang family’s satisfaction—after all, no matter how tough he acted, he was still a criminal here.
What they didn’t know was that Fang Zhiyi, in his cell, was happily devouring a boxed meal and sipping tea, even offering critiques between bites.
Section Chief Zhang watched him wolf down the food. "I don’t get you. You’ve climbed the ranks, yet you still eat like you’re starving?"
"Starving? More like drowning in paperwork! Balancing the books, keeping my men in line, dealing with those bastards, and that boss of ours..." He pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.
"The loan company’s records show shady money trails. My guess? Well, you know."
Section Chief Zhang took the paper, frowning as he studied it.
"That guy’s slick—he’s covered his tracks. Don’t think I’ve been slacking on reporting either. I suspect there’s a mole around me. But today’s setup was perfect—getting arrested gives me a legit reason to report to you. Clever, huh?"
The two discussed matters for a while.
When Fang Zhiyi was released, the Wang family protested loudly. But Fang Zhiyi pointed at them and sneered, "Lock me up for a day, and I’ll camp outside your door for a day. Lock me up for ten, and I’ll break your grandson’s legs!"
Granny Wang fell silent, and Old Yu only gave a half-hearted order for Fang Zhiyi to shut up.
Fang Zhiyi and the Wang family returned to the neighborhood one after the other. Granny Wang, fuming at the gawking crowd, barely got a few curses out before Mother Li—usually so gentle—grabbed her by the collar and slapped her twice across the face!
Granny Wang stood dumbfounded.
"You—"
Fang Zhiyi, lounging on the stairs, drawled, "I did it. Anyone see otherwise?"
Two of his lackeys, still freeloading at the Gao Family, chimed in, "We’ll testify—Brother Fang beat her."
Neighbors outside echoed, "Yeah, we saw it too."
Mother Li shot Fang Zhiyi a grateful look before jabbing a finger at Granny Wang. "If that little bastard of yours ever comes near my daughter again, I’ll slaughter your whole family!"
Fang Zhiyi stood and clapped. "And I’ll take the blame for it."
Granny Wang didn’t know who to lash out at. Fang Zhiyi leaned in with a chilling grin, his gaze locked onto Wang Xiaoqiang like a vengeful ghost.
Wang Xiaoqiang screamed and bolted for home, Granny Wang scrambling after him, shouting, "You’ll pay for this!"
"I’ll be waiting. Remember—every time I get locked up, your grandson loses a limb. First the right leg, then the left, then the left arm... uh..."
One of his lackeys piped up, "Fourth time’s the right arm."
Fang Zhiyi shot him a glare. "No kidding. You hoping I go back in, huh?"
Father Li and Mother Li brought Li Tiantian over to thank Fang Zhiyi. If not for his intervention, Li Tiantian might not have survived.
The couple stared at Fang Zhiyi intently, as if trying to unravel his secrets.
Fang Zhiyi waved them off. "Don’t look at me like that. I just got a second chance, that’s all..."
He headed upstairs, his two lackeys trailing behind, pestering him. "Boss, what’d you get? Show us!"
Fang Zhiyi decided then and there—once this was over, he’d send these idiots back to school.
With this incident, Li Tiantian would be watched closely by her family, and Wang Xiaoqiang had lost his power to cause trouble.
But Fang Zhiyi wasn’t done with him.
Three days later, Wang Xiaoqiang, mostly recovered, ventured out for fun—Granny Wang’s nagging at home was unbearable. As he reached the bike shed, he spotted Fang Zhiyi, who flashed him a grin.
Wang Xiaoqiang’s heart raced. He glanced around—no one else was there. But there was a security camera above Fang Zhiyi, the only one in the complex.
He relaxed slightly. If Fang Zhiyi hit him on camera, Granny Wang would sue him into oblivion!
But then—Fang Zhiyi hurled a stone upward. The camera jerked sideways, knocked out of position.
And then, Fang Zhiyi pulled out a metal plate.
Wang Xiaoqiang’s mind went blank.