Starting Check-in Reward: Tomson Riviera

Ye Ling appeared like a phantom, blocking Li Xin’s path.

"It’s you!?"

The moment Li Xin saw Ye Ling, his eyes narrowed.

He recognized Ye Ling!

"Long time no see."

The corner of Ye Ling’s mouth lifted as he slowly ambled over to stand before Li Xin.

"Ye Ling, what are you doing here? Are you trying to cause trouble for me over what happened back then?" Li Xin said, his eyes narrowing as he spoke in a cold voice.

A trace of disdain appeared in his eyes.

In truth, he deserved some of the credit for Ye Ling’s breakup with his ex. If he hadn’t constantly been fanning the flames, their fights wouldn’t have been nearly so vicious.

Of course, Ye Ling also knew the biggest problem was his first love. If she hadn’t always kept her options open with other guys, why would so many nobodies have kept trying their luck with her?

"What happened back then? Heh, that’s ancient history. If I were going to come after you for that, do you think I would’ve waited this long?"

Ye Ling shrugged, a faint smile on his face.

"Then what are you doing here!?"

Li Xin’s gaze remained dark.

’He’s probably here for me,’ he thought. After all, this was Tomson Riviera. There was no way Ye Ling could afford to live in a place like this!

’Even *I* can’t afford a place like this!’

"I really can’t be bothered with what happened back then. But now you’ve upset my girlfriend. So, what do you think I should do about that?"

Ye Ling had overheard enough of the conversation between Ning Ruoxi and Li Xin to get the gist: Li Xin had pulled some strings to get Ning Ruoxi’s manuscript rejected.

Then, he was threatening her with breach of contract to try and coerce her.

’And Ye Ling was supposed to just stand by and let that happen!?’

"Your girlfriend?"

At this, Li Xin frowned and glanced at Ning Ruoxi. "You mean..."

"What? Got a problem with that?"

Ye Ling smiled, walking to Ning Ruoxi’s side and wrapping an arm around her slender waist with practiced ease.

Ning Ruoxi hadn’t expected Ye Ling to suddenly appear. Seeing him stand up for her, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion.

Seeing that Ning Ruoxi didn’t struggle, a vein throbbed in Li Xin’s temple.

’So it’s true!’

It’s just...

’Why does every woman he sets his sights on get snatched away by Ye Ling!?’

’What gives him the right!?’

A bitter sense of injustice welled up inside Li Xin, and a vicious glint appeared in his eyes.

"Ye Ling, I never realized you were such a playboy. Did you break up with Kaiyue back then for her?" Li Xin said, letting out a long breath.

’What a two-faced bastard.’

Ye Ling sneered inwardly.

The words seemed casual, but they were designed to immediately label him a scumbag, even bringing up Lin Kaiyue, his first love.

It was his way of telling Ning Ruoxi that she was just a rebound.

’That she was being duped by this guy, Ye Ling!’

"It’s not your place to pass judgment on my boyfriend."

But before Ye Ling could say a word, Ning Ruoxi spoke, her voice ice-cold.

At that moment.

The hand Ye Ling had around Ning Ruoxi’s waist paused, and a flicker of emotion appeared in his eyes.

’Once upon a time, he had longed for this kind of unwavering support—for someone to take his side without needing a reason.’

’And now, it seemed... he had finally found it.’

A wave of gratification washed over Ye Ling, and much of the foul mood brought on by seeing Li Xin dissipated.

"Sigh, Ruoxi, why can’t you understand? I’m only doing this for your own good!" Li Xin continued his concerned act, trying to paint Ye Ling as some irredeemable scumbag.

"Are you just going to pretend I’m not here?"

A smirk played on Ye Ling’s lips as he looked at Li Xin.

The truth was, the only reason he hadn’t dealt with this guy back then was because he’d finally seen Lin Kaiyue for who she really was. Once he had, he couldn’t be bothered to waste his time on Li Xin.

’Let the bitch have her dog.’

"Ye Ling, how can you do this to Kaiyue?"

Li Xin was really laying it on thick, acting as if Ye Ling had been the one to use her and cast her aside.

"Don’t you know damn well what really happened back then?"

As Li Xin brought up the past yet again, a dangerous glint appeared in the depths of Ye Ling’s eyes.

He hated this feeling.

He had been the victim, but now the situation was being twisted to make him sick to his stomach. It felt like having an old scab torn off, only to have salt viciously rubbed into the raw wound.

Ye Ling released his hold on Ning Ruoxi’s waist and started walking toward Li Xin, one step at a time.

His eyes never left him.

Under that intense gaze, Li Xin inexplicably broke out in a cold sweat, feeling as if he were being stalked by a predator.

It was only when Ye Ling stood right in front of him that the instinct to run finally kicked in.

’Run!’

’Run now!’

There was something terrifyingly strange about Ye Ling right now. Just his stare was enough to make Li Xin feel like he’d taken a trip to death’s door and back.

However.

But would Ye Ling let him get away that easily?

"I was actually thinking of letting you off the hook. But you just had to keep pushing it, provoking me again and again until you finally pissed me off. Tell me, are you trying to die!?"

Ye Ling’s voice floated over calmly as his hand shot out and clamped down on Li Xin’s shoulder.

CRACK!

Ye Ling’s hand was like an iron vise. With just a slight squeeze, the distinct sound of a bone cracking echoed out from Li Xin’s shoulder.

"AAAH!"

Li Xin let out a bloodcurdling scream and instantly dropped to his knees.

"I really can’t stand guys like you."

As Ye Ling spoke, he lashed out with a kick.

BAM!

With a loud thud, Li Xin was sent flying backward.

"That kick was for Ruoxi. I suggest you watch yourself from now on."

Ye Ling said, giving him one last, indifferent glance.

"Argh!"

Li Xin felt as if every bone in his body had been shattered. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

That kick...

’That kick... was fucking brutal!’

Just then, a group of security guards, having heard the commotion, rushed over.

"What’s going on? What’s happening here!?"

Seeing the scene, the security captain in the lead demanded in a stern voice.

This was Tomson Riviera security, after all. Each guard was dressed in tactical gear, looking thoroughly professional and a far cry from the elderly gatekeepers you’d find at an ordinary apartment complex.

"Quick, arrest him! He assaulted me! I’m going to make sure he goes to jail!"

Seeing them, Li Xin immediately started shouting.

However.

What happened next left him completely dumbfounded.

The security captain completely ignored him and walked straight up to Ye Ling.

"Mr. Ye, are you alright?"