Chapter 5: The Barbecue Beauty

Watching Feng Zhixiao's retreating figure as he closed the door, Ye Chen allowed a faint smile to surface. Although Feng Zhixiao had not achieved anything remarkable, he lacked neither ambition nor diligence. Their dreams might differ, but the drive for self-improvement was the same—of this, Ye Chen was certain. For instance, some people aspired to attain both love and career success, while Feng Zhixiao’s ideal was to make a fortune and win beautiful women. In essence, the goals were not so different.

The corners of Ye Chen’s mouth lifted in amusement. He knew Feng Zhixiao was just one among the hundreds of millions in Celestial Empire, striving for the same things as everyone else—whether from humble origins or the upper echelons of society. Nearly everyone pursued the same aims.

After tidying up a bit, Ye Chen, exhausted by the morning’s battle with Yao Yue and the interview at Tianya Group, locked up and lay down to sleep. For now, Xinhai Community was the safest place in Jianghuai City—Yao Yue would never imagine he’d dare return here.

Ye Chen was always one to go with the flow, unperturbed even if the sky were to fall. He slept soundly until after six in the evening, waking groggy and dizzy.

“Overslept,” he muttered, shaking his head as he went to freshen up, slipped on some clothes, and prepared to go downstairs for a bite to eat. At this hour, he guessed Yao Yue must have left Jianghuai City, likely convinced that he had vanished as well.

Jianghuai City was a coastal place where even in the hottest summers, temperatures rarely soared. As night descended, the streets filled with clusters of street vendors—some grilling skewers, others selling trinkets.

The Xinhai Community was close to Jianghuai University, and near its entrance, the scene was lively: September had arrived, classes had begun, and both freshmen and returning students bustled about. It was the end of classes, and the atmosphere was electric.

“Hey, Adidas, genuine smuggled goods, want some?”
“Authentic Nike, guaranteed real!”
“Selling secondhand computers, ninety percent new, going cheap!”

Vendors peddling all sorts of wares vied for attention, some hawking barbecue, others touting their “smuggled” brand-name shoes. Together, they formed a vibrant and unique landscape at the university’s entrance.

Ye Chen made his way to the liveliest barbecue stall, found a vacant seat, and sat down. The stall was run by a mother and daughter; the place was small but their barbecue was far tastier than elsewhere, using only fresh ingredients—never serving expired or inferior products.

Having a jug of beer and a few skewered fish balls at this barbecue stand had become Ye Chen’s ritual over the past six months in Jianghuai. It wasn’t that the owner’s daughter was a rare beauty—though she was—but there was an inexplicable fondness he felt for this place.

“Brother Chen, you’re here!” A pure and lovely girl greeted him the moment he sat down.

“Mm.” Ye Chen nodded, offering a smile. “Don’t worry about me. Get on with your work.”

“No way!” She immediately set aside what she was doing and sat down beside him, grinning. “You’re my VIP guest! How could I neglect you? Tell me, what would you like today? My treat!”

“Oh?” Ye Chen was surprised, then laughed. “What’s this? Some good news, little one?”

“Hee hee, Brother Chen, take a guess!” She poured him a jug of beer, then sat opposite, propping her cheeks on her hands.

“Hm, let me think.” Ye Chen chuckled, eyeing her. “Could it be you found two yuan today and turned it in to the police, earning their praise?”

She burst into laughter, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She shot him a playful glare and said, “Brother Chen, you’re terrible, making fun of me!”

“Haha, or perhaps you’ve found a boyfriend you like?” Ye Chen teased.

“Hmph, not at all!” Liu Momo glared at him and announced, “I’m officially admitted to Jianghuai University. I’ve already registered!”

Ye Chen was taken aback, gazing at this endearing girl with a sudden pang of emotion. Ah, little one, why put yourself through this? Our fates crossed here and must end here as well. With her grades, Liu Momo could have entered any top university in the capital. But, infatuated with Ye Chen, she refused to leave, choosing instead to enroll in a local school despite her high scores. This moved Ye Chen deeply.

Yet, his gratitude was tinged with regret. Aside from being hunted, he always felt like drifting duckweed, tossed by the waves, unsure where he would end up. Jianghuai City was but a temporary stop; at any moment, he might leave—be it in a month or a year. Something always seemed to call to him from within—perhaps his origins, perhaps something else—ever entangling his thoughts.

“Brother Chen, what’s wrong?” Liu Momo waved a hand before Ye Chen’s eyes.

“It’s nothing.” Ye Chen shook his head, sighing. “Silly girl, with so many universities in the capital, why pick Jianghuai?”

“Because I couldn’t bear to leave you,” Liu Momo replied, cheeks flushing as she stuck out her tongue and quickly rose. “I’ll go get your barbecue!”

Watching the playful Liu Momo, Ye Chen was filled with silent guilt. He’d never imagined that a simple act of chivalry would win her heart so completely, a mystery he could never quite understand.

Looking up at her, Ye Chen noted how she had grown even more beautiful. Though he couldn’t see her delicate features from the side, her blushing cheeks and the graceful line of her neck were striking. She wore a cute cartoon t-shirt, light-colored cropped pants with the season’s popular corn-tassel cut, and plain white sneakers.

Her simple outfit did nothing to conceal her radiance. Most male patrons came for her, and though she hadn’t even started at Jianghuai University, rumors of the “Barbecue Beauty” enrolling had already swept the campus, causing quite a stir. Both new and returning students were abuzz, and her photos had been posted on the university forum, drawing crowds to her family’s stall.

“Brother Chen, your order’s ready—the usual!” Liu Momo, tall and graceful, set two plates before him and sat down. “Grilled lamb, tiger-skin green peppers, and fish meatballs. Enjoy!”

“Thank you, Momo.” Ye Chen picked up a fish ball—delicious as always. Among all the barbecue stalls, none used ingredients as pure as hers; the others served either expired or inferior goods.

“No need to thank me. I haven’t even properly thanked you yet!” Liu Momo’s crescent eyes gleamed as she propped her chin, watching Ye Chen eat. “If you hadn’t saved me last time, there’d be no Liu Momo in this world!”

“Momo, you really don’t need to keep that in your heart,” Ye Chen said. “Even if it hadn’t been you, I’d have helped anyone.”

“I know!” she nodded. “That’s why I like you. If you only saved pretty girls, I wouldn’t like you so much.”

Suddenly, the sound of metal clashing rang out, followed by Liu Momo’s mother’s panicked cry.

“Mom!” Liu Momo instinctively rushed over.

A few local punks, hair dyed yellow, ears and noses pierced, brandishing metal machetes, were banging on the barbecue grill.

“Hey, pay up for protection!” the leader barked arrogantly, swinging his blade and knocking all the skewers onto the ground. A stray fish ball rolled to Ye Chen’s feet.

“But… didn’t we pay just a few days ago?” Liu Momo’s mother stammered, terrified.

“You ate a few days ago, so you don’t eat today?” the thug snarled. “Pay up, or pack up and leave!”

Ye Chen watched coldly. Even the underworld had its rules—once protection was paid, demanding more was unacceptable. His gaze swept the other barbecue stall owners, who looked on in silence, and he quickly understood what was happening.

“We’ll pay, we’ll pay!” Liu Momo’s mother conceded, hoping to avoid trouble. “How much?”

“Five thousand!” the yellow-haired thug sneered.

“What? Wasn’t it three hundred before?”

“That was before! Prices have gone up—CPI’s soaring, pork’s twenty-five a pound, ten bucks used to feed a family, now a hundred’s not enough for one! How can I charge the old rate and still feed my boys?”

“Can’t you take less?” she pleaded.

“No way!” The thug raised his blade and hacked at the grill, leaving it half-destroyed.

“Mom, let’s call the police!” Liu Momo shielded her mother, glaring at them.

The punks, seeing Liu Momo, were instantly dazzled. No wonder this stall was so popular—a beauty as their brand! If only Fat Liu next door had thought of that, he wouldn’t have had to pay two thousand just to have this stall driven away from the university gate.

“Hey, little sister…” The thug reached for Liu Momo’s chest.

Snap!

A figure flashed past, and the thug let out a wail of agony—Ye Chen had finally intervened. Unwilling to get involved at first, he wouldn’t tolerate anyone harassing Momo. Over the past six months, he’d come to see her as a little sister.

“Who sent you?” Ye Chen’s voice was icy.

“Who the hell are you?” The punks brandished their blades, threatening, “We’ll chop you up and feed you to the dogs!”

“You know, you’re the first to speak to me like that,” Ye Chen said, eyes narrowing to slits that flashed with murderous intent. “But I wonder if you’ll dare say it again when I’m done.”

A cold, sharp aura radiated from him, making the thugs tremble with fear. Only their numbers kept them standing; otherwise, they’d have fled already.

“Who do you think you are, the boss of the Yanlong Gang?” they cursed.

“I’ll give you one last chance—who sent you?” Ye Chen’s tone was frigid.

“Brothers, get him!” The leader, sweating, had only one thought: take this guy down and get out of here.

They advanced, encircling Ye Chen.

“Kill!” the leader yelled, and they swung their blades. The surrounding crowd watched in horror—broad daylight, and they dared attack someone!

Liu Momo was dialing the police.

Ye Chen smiled, his figure flickering with astonishing speed. He struck the first attacker with a powerful kick.

The man howled in pain—Ye Chen hadn’t held back, snapping the man’s ribs and leaving him convulsing on the ground.

The others, alarmed, realized he wasn’t to be underestimated and closed in, determined to finish quickly.

“Die!” the yellow-haired thug lunged from behind.

Ye Chen snorted, swinging a backward kick that landed squarely between the man’s legs.

A crisp crack—the man gasped, eyes rolling back as he clutched himself, unable to utter a sound.

And so, the chaos at the barbecue stall unfolded beneath the night’s neon glow.