Chapter 28: An Old Acquaintance

“Hu Ming? Zhao Min?”
The two figures approaching arm in arm were immediately recognized by Xiao Ye.
Standing before him were none other than his university classmates.
Xiao Ye had never held much affection for these two.
“Haha, Xiao Ye, who would have thought I’d run into you here? What an honor!”
“I heard you were kicked out of the Xiao family. Is it true?”
With mocking smiles, Hu Ming and Zhao Min strode over to Xiao Ye.
Xiao Ye frowned. He knew that during his five-year absence, rumors about him had become absurd.
“Hmm? Is this... Qin Xue’er?”
All of a sudden, Zhao Min’s gaze shifted to Qin Xue’er, and her words made Qin Xue’er’s body tremble.
“Xue’er, why are you wearing a mask?”
Zhao Min’s light laugh froze the expression on Qin Xue’er’s face.
Xiao Ye’s face darkened, and he was about to stand up.
It was clear these two had come with hostility toward Qin Xue’er, relentlessly testing her limits.
“Xiao Ye.”
Suddenly, Qin Xue’er spoke, causing Xiao Ye to halt.
She looked at him and managed a smile.
“It’s all right. Don’t worry.”
Those few words only made Xiao Ye’s heart ache more.
“If you have nothing else, don’t interrupt our meal.”
Suppressing his anger, Xiao Ye said coldly.
“Hehe, don’t be like that. It’s a class reunion. Let’s have a good chat.”
Hu Ming and Zhao Min ignored him, pulled over two chairs, and sat down by Xiao Ye.
Zhao Min even took out her phone, aiming it at Qin Xue’er’s face.
“Xue’er, you were the class beauty back then. That stunning face, everyone loved it!”
“It’s been so long since we’ve seen you. I’ll take a photo for our old classmates, let them see you!”
With a seemingly eager smile, Zhao Min leaned in with her phone, as if oblivious to Qin Xue’er’s ordeal.
As if that wasn’t enough, she reached out to remove Qin Xue’er’s mask.
“Come on, let everyone see the real you!”
Once upon a time, Zhao Min was hailed as a top beauty, but after meeting Qin Xue’er, she was overshadowed, like a leaf beside a flower.
She knew Qin Xue’er’s story, and recalling the past, she now sought to reclaim her sense of superiority at Qin Xue’er’s expense.

Qin Xue’er’s expression turned panicked as she clung desperately to her mask, her only shield.
“Oh come on, don’t be so stingy! Take off your mask and let everyone see what you look like!”
“We’re all old classmates, do you really think we’d hurt you?”
With an innocent smile, Hu Ming shifted his gaze to Xiao Ye.
Suppressing his fury, Xiao Ye stood protectively before Qin Xue’er.
His eyes were cold and dark; Qin Xue’er didn’t want him to act, so he held back.
But with their repeated provocations, he was reaching the limits of his patience.
“I’ll give you both a chance—leave now.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
Hu Ming and Zhao Min, hearing Xiao Ye’s words, showed no fear, laughing even louder.
“Xiao, don’t think I don’t know—the Xiao family has fallen. You still imagine you’re the young master?”
“You think you can threaten me? Keep dreaming!”
Hu Ming and Zhao Min felt no fear; they didn’t know Xiao Ye’s true identity.
With the Xiao family’s decline, they saw no reason to treat him with respect.
Suddenly, Hu Ming snapped his fingers, and several burly bodyguards entered from outside the restaurant.
“Take these two and restrain them. Remove the mask from that woman’s face!”
Sitting in his chair, Hu Ming ordered the bodyguards.
At once, the tall guards surrounded Qin Xue’er, reaching for her mask.
In that instant, Xiao Ye threw a punch, knocking the lead bodyguard to the ground!
With a crash, the man—at least six foot three—was sent flying into a table behind him.
The restaurant erupted in shouts as patrons fled in panic.
Hu Ming and Zhao Min were stunned in place!
“What gives you the right to hit people!”
Zhao Min shouted at Xiao Ye, but in the next moment, a crisp slap rang out!
A vivid red imprint appeared on Zhao Min’s face.
Cupping her face, she stared in shock; then tears welled in her eyes as she turned to Hu Ming.
“Hu Ming, he actually hit me! He hit me!”
“Xiao Ye, are you crazy? How dare you lay a hand on my people!”
Hu Ming roared, waving his arm and ordering the bodyguards to attack Xiao Ye.
But in an instant, the guards were sent flying, crashing to the floor with agonized screams.
Hu Ming and Zhao Min hadn’t even seen how Xiao Ye moved; their men were already down!
Now, looking at Xiao Ye, Hu Ming’s mouth hung open, unable to utter a single word.

“Apologize to Xue’er!”
Xiao Ye’s cold voice rang out as he picked up a chopstick and shot it at Hu Ming’s knee.
The next moment, Hu Ming’s knee was pierced, and he cried out in agony!
“My leg!”
With a thud, Hu Ming knelt before Xiao Ye.
“Xiao Ye, you bastard! You’ll die a miserable death!”
Hu Ming cursed, but Xiao Ye ignored him, turning to Zhao Min.
At that glance, Zhao Min trembled uncontrollably.
“What are you going to do…”
She hadn’t finished speaking when Xiao Ye raised his hand and slapped her across the face.
The blow sent Zhao Min sprawling, her face quickly swelling and bruised.
“I said, kneel and apologize.”
Xiao Ye’s icy words left Hu Ming and Zhao Min kneeling on the floor, unable to move.
“You’re dead, Xiao Ye! How dare you treat me like this!”
Despite their furious curses, Xiao Ye’s expression remained unchanged as he strode toward them.
“Wait, Xiao Ye, what are you going to do!”
Hu Ming cried out, but Xiao Ye grabbed him and threw him toward Zhao Min.
“If you dare hit me again, I’ll have someone deal with you!” Zhao Min shouted, clutching her face.
But before she could finish, Xiao Ye slapped her again.
Her face was now unrecognizable.
“My face!”
Zhao Min screamed hysterically; her once-proud beauty had vanished completely.
“Apologize!”
A look of disdain flashed across Xiao Ye’s face. His mercilessness terrified Hu Ming and Zhao Min into silence.
They feared that saying a single word would bring another beating.
“I’m giving you a chance. Apologize to Xue’er, and you can leave.”
“What?”
Hu Ming was furious—who had ever dared threaten him all these years?
But as he looked up to retort, he met Xiao Ye’s chilling gaze.