Yang Chen finally got a clear look at the middle-aged woman's face and felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, though he couldn't quite recall where he had seen her before.
"Xiaoyi, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" Zhou Yu Cui noticed Qin Yi's pale expression and grew anxious.
Qin Yi shook her head, her eyes filled with worry as she glanced at the woman on the phone. "She's from the Zhang family—Zhang Guang's wife, Wang Luyao."
"The Zhang family? Wait, which Zhang family?" Zhou Yu Cui didn't immediately grasp the significance, but then the surname clicked, and she pressed, "You mean *that* Zhang family?"
"The Zhangs—a top-tier family in Jiangzhou. Her husband is Zhang Guang. Last time at the kindergarten gate, if it hadn't been for Brother-in-law, Zhang Guang would've hit me."
Hearing Qin Yi mention the kindergarten incident, Yang Chen finally recognized the woman.
Zhou Yu Cui's expression froze, her face filled with terror. "The Zhang family? What do we do now?"
The thought of her and Qin Yi having just beaten the woman sent a shudder through her legs. "Xiaoyi, what are we going to do?"
Qin Yi cast a deep glance at Yang Chen. The last time Zhang Guang had tried to slap her, Yang Chen had stepped in and even kicked Zhang Guang to the ground—followed by Ma Chao's timely arrival.
Beyond that, when she had treated Yang Chen to a meal at Beiyuanchun, both Su Chengwu and Luo Bin had acted with extreme deference in his presence.
She still didn't know exactly who Yang Chen was, but one thing was certain: the man before her was far more than he appeared.
"You damn bitch! How dare you hit me? Just wait—once my husband gets here, none of you will get away with this!" Wang Luyao finished her call and sneered, pointing at Zhou Yu Cui and Qin Yi with venom.
Now that Zhou Yu Cui knew the woman's identity, all her earlier bravado vanished, replaced by sheer panic.
"If you dare utter another filthy word, I won't mind teaching you some manners on behalf of your family," Yang Chen said coldly, his eyes narrowing.
"You useless trash! Don't drag us down with you!"
Zhou Yu Cui panicked and immediately turned to Wang Luyao, pleading, "Sister, what happened earlier was just a misunderstanding. Please, be the bigger person and let it go."
Dignity was the last thing on her mind now—she just wanted to apologize and escape the situation.
Wang Luyao smirked. "Oh, so now you're backing down after hearing I called for backup? Too late!"
Zhou Yu Cui glanced at the jade bracelet on her wrist, reluctance flashing in her eyes. But faced with the woman's status, she gritted her teeth and took it off, offering it with both hands. "Sister, since you liked this bracelet so much, please take it as a gift."
"Who the hell is your *sister*?"
Wang Luyao snatched the bracelet and scoffed. "And don't get it twisted—it's not that I *liked* your cheap bracelet. You ruined a far better one of mine, so this is just compensation."
Seeing Wang Luyao accept the bracelet, Zhou Yu Cui forced an ingratiating smile. "Now that you have the bracelet, can you let this matter go?"
"Dream on. The bracelet is just compensation, but your bitch of a daughter slapped me four times. I'll return the favor—eight slaps, four on each cheek—and *then* I'll let you off."
"What?!" Qin Yi's face paled.
If she really let this woman strike her that many times, wouldn't her face be ruined?
A cold glint flashed in Yang Chen's eyes. At first, he'd thought Zhou Yu Cui was the instigator, but now it was clear—this woman was a hundred times worse.
Zhou Yu Cui immediately grabbed Qin Yi's arm. "Xiaoyi, just let her hit you a few times. Once she's satisfied, she'll leave us alone."
"Mom, you want me to offer my face for her to slap?" Qin Yi stared in disbelief.
"Didn't you hear her? Only after she hits you will she let us go. Otherwise, once her people arrive, we're finished!" The thought of the woman's backup terrified Zhou Yu Cui.
"But I only hit her because she slapped *you* first! Why should I take the punishment? If we're keeping score, shouldn't she return that first slap to you?" Qin Yi argued through gritted teeth.
"Xiaoyi, don't drag us all down just because you're scared of a few slaps!" Zhou Yu Cui grew frantic, afraid that if Qin Yi delayed, Wang Luyao's reinforcements would arrive.
The crowd around them murmured disapprovingly.
"What kind of mother pushes her own daughter out to be beaten for her own mistakes?"
"This world never runs out of absurdity. How can a mother be so heartless?"
"That woman doesn't deserve to be a mother. If she were mine, I'd have disowned her long ago."
The whispers reached both Zhou Yu Cui and Qin Yi, but while Zhou Yu Cui ignored them, Qin Yi felt as though her heart were bleeding.
"So, your bitch of a daughter refuses to settle this privately? Fine. Then we'll wait for my husband to handle it. But mark my words—Zhang Guang has a terrible temper. If he steps in, don't blame me if things turn bloody." Wang Luyao crossed her arms, triumphant.
"Why are you still hesitating? Offer your face and let her hit you!" Zhou Yu Cui shoved Qin Yi in desperation.
Qin Yi staggered, barely catching herself. Tears welled in her reddened eyes as she gave Zhou Yu Cui a long, wounded look. "Fine. I'll do as you say."
She then turned to Wang Luyao, her voice laced with defiance. "Don't think the Zhang family is untouchable in Jiangzhou. A woman as arrogant as you will bring disaster to your family one day."
"You dare insult my family? I'll smash that pretty face of yours!" Wang Luyao raised her hand, ready to strike.
Qin Yi didn't flinch. To her, the betrayal by her own mother hurt far more than any physical blow.
Just as the slap was about to land, a figure stepped in front of her.
*Smack!*
Yang Chen caught Wang Luyao's wrist, his expression icy. "Who gave you the right to lay a hand on my sister?"
Hearing his familiar voice and seeing his broad back shielding her—along with those fiercely protective words—Qin Yi felt the last of her emotional walls crumble.
Especially when he called her *sister*—it shattered her completely. Tears streamed down her face.