Chapter 85: The Bait, Luring the Snake from Its Den

When the silver-gray Porsche unexpectedly stopped outside the crowd, every gaze turned toward it, filled with curiosity and confusion. But what happened next was even more astonishing.

The car door slowly opened, and a young man with gray-dyed hair stepped out, instantly causing a stir among the onlookers. Those well-versed in local affairs immediately recognized him—Zhou Shaofeng, the most notorious troublemaker of Kaiyuan County, famed for his unruly, flamboyant nature and disregard for convention.

His arrival rendered the tense atmosphere even more delicate. Zhou Shaofeng scanned the crowd, finally locking eyes on Li Chao. His expression grew reverent as he jogged over, as though approaching someone of utmost importance.

Standing before Li Chao, he spoke, “Brother Chao! I’ve brought you your car!” The words detonated like a bomb, sending the crowd into a frenzy of whispers and speculation.

No one could have imagined that the county’s infamous rogue would treat Li Chao with such deference, personally delivering a car to him. The reason behind this reverence sparked wild conjecture.

Li Chao watched Zhou Shaofeng with a faint smile. He showed neither surprise nor delight at Zhou Shaofeng’s arrival, as if he had anticipated it all along. He nodded gently, acknowledging the gesture.

In that moment, Li Chao became the focal point of the entire scene, every eye trained on him. Zhou Shaofeng stood beside him, utterly satisfied, as though he had fulfilled an important mission. He was well aware that his actions would stir gossip and suspicion, but he cared little. To Zhou Shaofeng, being of service to Chen Shan was a great honor and pride.

The crowd looked on, shocked and envious. Many had once dismissed Li Chao as ordinary or unimpressive, but now they were forced to reassess him. They began to realize he was not as simple or common as they had assumed.

Huang Xiaofan’s voice echoed through the crowd, brimming with disbelief and scorn. He pointed at Li Chao, as if exposing an absurd fraud, but Zhou Shaofeng’s response caught him off guard.

“Brother Chao, who’s this guy?” Zhou Shaofeng turned, eyeing Li Chao with a hint of amusement. For him, brawling was routine, and the arrogant fellow before him seemed just the right target to showcase his “abilities.”

Li Chao chuckled lightly, a trace of disdain in his gaze. “Just someone full of himself.” His answer was succinct and contemptuous. “If you think he needs a beating, go ahead!”

The trust in his words, and the implied dissatisfaction with Huang Xiaofan, was clear. Zhou Shaofeng’s lips curled into a wicked smile. He patted Li Chao’s shoulder, as if grateful for that trust.

Then he strode toward Huang Xiaofan, every step steady and powerful, like a beast poised to pounce.

“Hey, kid,” Zhou Shaofeng towered over Huang Xiaofan, “I hear you think this car’s fake? You think we’re putting on a show?”

His tone was laced with provocation, awaiting a retort. Huang Xiaofan, overwhelmed by Zhou Shaofeng’s aura, struggled for breath, but managed to say, “I-I was just talking…”

His voice trembled, fear evident. But Zhou Shaofeng had no intention of letting him off. With a sudden gesture, his underlings surrounded Huang Xiaofan, tightening the tension to the breaking point.

“In Kaiyuan County, no one dares question Brother Chao’s decisions.” Zhou Shaofeng said coldly, “If you’re asking for a beating, I’ll oblige.”

Before Huang Xiaofan could finish his boast, Zhou Shaofeng’s sudden punch cut him off, knocking him off balance and sending him stumbling backward. He had thought his mediocre fighting skills would be enough to intimidate Zhou Shaofeng, but he hadn’t expected such swift and ruthless action.

Seeing Huang Xiaofan falter so easily, Zhou Shaofeng’s disdain grew. His rogue’s temperament was on full display as his fists rained down on Huang Xiaofan, each accompanied by furious shouts:

“Dare to offend Brother Chao? You must have a death wish!”

Huang Xiaofan was stripped of all arrogance, crying out in pain as he tried in vain to shield his head. The crowd recoiled, none daring to intervene. Zhou Shaofeng continued his assault, his voice echoing throughout the scene.

He knew his status allowed him to act with impunity, and people like Huang Xiaofan were nothing but ants to be crushed at will.

“Practiced, have you?” Zhou Shaofeng sneered, casting a cold smile at Huang Xiaofan. His eyes were filled with contempt and mockery, as if Huang Xiaofan’s claim of “having trained” was a joke.

“Are you going to fight back?” Zhou Shaofeng taunted, his voice tinged with amusement. He knew Huang Xiaofan was utterly powerless to resist, but the humiliation was a pleasure for him.

Bruised and battered, Huang Xiaofan clung to his head, begging for mercy, with not a shred of defiance left. He could only curse his luck for crossing paths with a villain like Zhou Shaofeng.

Satisfied, Zhou Shaofeng nodded and declared, “It was Zhou Shaofeng who beat you. If you’re not satisfied, bring your people and find me! I’ll be ready anytime!”

His tone brimmed with confidence and arrogance, as if he owned Kaiyuan County.

The mention of “Zhou Shaofeng” stunned Huang Xiaofan, extinguishing any thoughts of retaliation. The Zhou family’s reputation was formidable—no one wanted to provoke them lightly. He had long heard of Zhou Shaofeng’s ruthless methods and knew he was not someone to be trifled with.

“A young master reduced to a lackey for a village doctor?” Huang Xiaofan muttered inwardly, unable to comprehend why someone of Zhou Shaofeng’s status would serve Li Chao so willingly.

Zhou Shaofeng seemed to read his thoughts but offered no explanation. He simply returned to Li Chao, respectfully handing over the car keys. “Brother Chao, here are the keys. From now on, the car is yours. It’s not registered yet, but the dealership will handle it and contact you soon. Are you satisfied?”

Li Chao accepted the keys with a grateful nod. “You’ve gone to great lengths, Young Master Zhou.”

His tone was warm and appreciative. He understood Zhou Shaofeng’s generosity and loyalty. Despite their special relationship, Zhou Shaofeng’s dedication still pleased him.

The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only Li Chao, Zhou Shaofeng, and a few bystanders. The sudden conflict had shocked and unsettled many, but in the end, Li Chao emerged victorious.

Zhou Shaofeng had once again proved his strength and loyalty, becoming Li Chao’s indispensable right hand.

Waving dismissively, Zhou Shaofeng interrupted the crowd’s speculation. He spoke earnestly, “Forget titles—Zhou Shaofeng is now just Brother Chao’s little brother. If Brother Chao needs anything, just call me, and I’ll be there.”

His words radiated respect and commitment, a stark contrast to his earlier swagger. The onlookers were stunned, hardly able to believe their eyes. The once-feared rogue now treated a village doctor with such reverence—it was a complete reversal of their expectations.

Standing nearby, Xiangxue’s complexion shifted from pale to red, then to green. She had hoped to find an opportunity in this farce to mock Li Chao and Liu Dan, but now realized she was the real fool.

From diamond ring to luxury car, to Zhou Shaofeng’s changed attitude, everything attested to Li Chao’s exceptional status. Regret flooded her heart; she knew she had missed a rare chance.

Feigning composure, she forced a smile and tried to approach Li Chao. “Brother Chao, I…”

But before she could finish, Li Chao cut her off with a cold, “Get out.”

His gaze was unwavering and merciless. He saw through Xiangxue’s sudden shift, but had no interest at all. To him, opportunists like Xiangxue weren’t worth his time or energy.

The chill radiating from Li Chao seemed to freeze the air. Terrified, Xiangxue fled, afraid she would become the next target.

Huang Xiaofan, equally frightened, tried to slip away unnoticed. But Li Chao’s words hit him like a bolt from the blue, draining him of all strength.

He had thought he could easily rid himself of Liu Dan, keep his assets, and enjoy life with his mistress. Now he faced the threat of his property being fairly divided.

“A fair split of assets? That’ll ruin me!” Huang Xiaofan wailed inwardly. He knew all too well how outrageous his treatment of Liu Dan had been, and that his hastily drafted divorce agreement had no legal standing.

Now, confronted with Li Chao’s firmness and Zhou Shaofeng’s formidable background, he felt utterly hopeless. His vision darkened, his legs gave way, and he collapsed unconscious to the ground.

The crowd watched with mixed emotions—some sympathetic, some mocking, others gloating.

Li Chao looked at the fallen Chen Desong without a trace of emotion. He knew this was the bitter fruit Huang Xiaofan had sown, and it was simply time to reap it.

He nodded to Zhou Shaofeng, signaling him to handle the aftermath, then left the scene with Liu Dan.

Li Chao didn’t dwell on the turmoil. He believed all evil would eventually face its consequences.

Returning to the car, he felt a surge of relief—thankful he had obtained his driver’s license in advance, or he could only gaze at the luxury vehicle with regret.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, Li Chao was initially nervous, but Zhou Shaofeng’s careful guidance soon had him comfortable behind the wheel. Male intuition for handling machinery proved remarkably reliable; Li Chao quickly mastered the vehicle, savoring the thrill of driving the Porsche.

After practice, Liu Dan, holding the dazzling diamond ring, was filled with hesitation and unease. The ring was too valuable for her to accept casually. She approached Li Chao cautiously, expressing her gratitude and her wish to return the ring.

Li Chao laughed heartily, tore the tag from the ring, and tossed it aside. Then he said earnestly, “There’s no reason to take back a gift. Keep it—it’s to celebrate your regained freedom and the start of your new life.”

Liu Dan’s eyes grew moist at his words. She understood the sincerity and blessing behind the gift, not just its material worth. In the end, she accepted the ring, her heart overflowing with gratitude and warmth.

Li Chao, too, felt satisfied and pleased that he could support Liu Dan in such a way.

“At least no one will say you lack jewelry now,” Li Chao added, his thoughtful words bringing a tidal wave of emotion to Liu Dan, tears streaming down her cheeks.

They were tears of happiness, gratitude, and joy intertwined. She knew the ring was more than an ornament—it was Li Chao’s heartfelt wish and steadfast support for her future.

Afterward, Li Chao and Zhou Shaofeng briefly discussed arrangements, ensuring Zhou Shaofeng would help Liu Dan handle the divorce proceedings. Li Chao himself, filled with anticipation, drove his new Porsche toward Jiangnan Spring Restaurant.

The luxury car offered not only comfort but drew envious glances along the way, allowing Li Chao to fully appreciate the truth of the saying, “A man’s car is his reputation.”

Upon arrival, Li Chao was led by the lobby manager to the reserved private room on the third floor.

Pushing open the door, he found Liu Lele and Ye Wuji sitting comfortably on the sofa, engaged in warm conversation.

“Brother Ye, Sister Liu, I ran into some trouble on the way and was delayed a bit. Hope I didn’t keep you waiting?” Li Chao apologized as he entered, his face full of sincere regret.

He knew how important these friends were to him, and was grateful for their patience and understanding. In such a moment of warmth, any waiting seemed trivial.

“Not at all!” Ye Wuji smiled, waving off the concern and gesturing for Li Chao to take a seat.

Liu Lele thoughtfully poured him a cup of tea, then looked to Ye Wuji, as if asking who should start the conversation.

After a moment’s thought, Ye Wuji said, “This is your family matter. You should explain.”

Liu Lele nodded and began to detail the information she had recently gathered, along with her analysis and speculation.

Li Chao listened intently, his brow furrowed. After a moment’s reflection, he asked, “Do you think Wang Lan is the one who hired the assassin?”

His question revealed his inner doubts and unease.

Liu Lele arched her brows and shook her head. “It’s only a theory at this point—no concrete evidence. But the news of my return to Huaxi City, including the exact time and route, was only shared with my father and her. If there’s another attack, our suspicion may well be confirmed.”

Li Chao understood immediately. He realized this was likely a carefully constructed trap, using himself and Liu Lele as bait to draw out the real culprit.

He picked up his teacup, sipped lightly, replayed the harrowing events of that night in his mind, and then said slowly, “It’s a clever plan—protects our safety while letting us follow the trail to the real murderer.”