Chapter 133: Clash of Wills

"Xia Yu, you actually dare to show up!"

Seeing Xia Yu, Liang Zichao stood up from his chair, his eyes blazing with fury as if he wanted to devour him whole.

Lin An followed suit, grinding his teeth, "You bastard! Today, I’m going to make you regret everything you’ve done."

"Oh? And why wouldn't I dare to come?"

Xia Yu looked at the pair with an air of indifference, stopping ten meters away from them. The bodyguards surrounding them stared at him like predators. Had it been anyone else, they would likely have been trembling in fear, but Xia Yu remained calm, showing no signs of nervousness.

Lin Yuxin’s lips trembled with agitation; this was completely different from what she had imagined. She had expected Xia Yu to be kneeling on the ground, weeping and begging for her mercy.

"Xia Yu, where do you get the nerve? Let me tell you the truth: you aren't leaving this place today!" Lin Yuxin shrieked hysterically. "Get on your knees and beg for forgiveness right now! Maybe then we’ll show some mercy."

"Oh, apologize? Did I do anything wrong?"

Xia Yu looked at his ex-wife. After all, they had been married, and he had felt a shred of sympathy for her miscarriage. But seeing her current face, that lingering sympathy vanished entirely.

"You harmed my great-grandson! You deserve to die! And you still think you’ve done nothing wrong?" Old Master Liang slammed the table and stood up, glaring at him with a powerful, oppressive aura.

"That's right, Xia Yu! You god-forsaken piece of trash!" Li Guihua added, equally furious. "It's one thing that you’re a failure yourself, but you can’t stand to see my daughter living a good life, can you? How could you be so heartless as to murder my grandson?!"

Xia Yu wore a mocking smile. "I will reiterate: Lin Yuxin lost her footing and fell. She grabbed me, and I simply pulled my hand away. Furthermore, even if I had done it on purpose, why should I apologize? When she was my wife, she was secretly with this idiot Liang Zichao—did she ever apologize to me? No. On the contrary, they used it to humiliate me countless times. If we’re settling scores, who really owes whom?"

His words left the crowd speechless. Lin Yuxin trembled with rage. "Kill him! Husband, kill this bastard for me! I want him dead! Let him die!"

"Wife, calm down. Your health hasn't recovered yet. Don't make yourself sick over this," Liang Zichao said, rushing to comfort her in a panic. The others, seeing her losing control, also stepped forward to console her.

"Young man, I truly don't know where you get your confidence," Old Master Liang said coldly. "Do you think killing you right now would be anything but effortless? Do you really believe that finding the Xiao family as your backing will save your miserable life? Let me tell you: even the Xiao family can't save you today. Seize him!"

As Old Master Liang gave the order, the dozens of bodyguards surrounding them charged forward.

"Old Master Liang, you certainly have a big mouth. I’d like to see who dares to touch my little brother!"

Just as the bodyguards lunged, a resonant voice boomed from behind. The crowd froze, and the bodyguards came to a halt. Qin Peng emerged from the crowd, accompanied by a dozen of his own men.

"Isn't that Boss Qin?"
"What's going on? Why is he here?"

Soon, people recognized Qin Peng, especially those from the Liang family. Qin Peng was a figure within their own social circle, having reached a significant height of status and influence. As a primary agent for many luxury brands and a leading tycoon in the fashion industry, he had earned a fortune over the years.

"Boss Qin, what are you doing here? Who is your 'little brother'?" Old Master Liang narrowed his eyes. The others watched, stunned, unable to believe he had come for Xia Yu.

Qin Peng stopped beside Xia Yu, and the expressions of the onlookers began to sour.

"Xia Yu is my little brother. I heard that your two families were teaming up to give him trouble, so I naturally had to come and see for myself," Qin Peng said, a smirk playing on his lips. "Old Master Liang, do me a favor and let this matter go."

"What?!"

The crowd was shocked, staring at Xia Yu in disbelief. How could it be? Why would a figure as significant as Qin Peng go to such lengths to protect him? He was just a lucky piece of trash—why help him? Even Lin Yuqing was stunned; she had thought Xia Yu only knew Xiao Jun, not that he was acquainted with a tycoon like Qin Peng, let alone that Qin Peng would come to his rescue. What kind of relationship was this?

Liang Zichao roared in anger, "Get lost! Boss Qin, I respect you as a man of status, but if you dare to interfere in today's business, don't blame the Liang family for being impolite. Do you really think your strength is a match for our Liang family?"

Qin Peng’s face darkened, but he said firmly, "Young Master Liang, the Qin family may not compare to the Liang family, one of the three great houses, but even so, I will stand by Xia Yu and face whatever comes together!"

"You..."

The crowd’s faces turned even uglier. Why was Qin Peng so determined? Was a "good-for-nothing" like Xia Yu really worth starting a war with the Liang family over?

"Fine, Qin Peng. You’ve brought this trouble upon yourself," Liang Zichao gritted out.

"If Old Qin isn't enough to challenge your Liang family, what if you add me to the mix?"

Another voice cut through the air, followed by the sound of footsteps approaching. The crowd turned to look and were stunned once more: Huang Hai.

Yes, the man who had arrived was the catering tycoon Huang Hai. His influence was on par with Qin Peng’s, and he was a leading figure in his own domain.

Liang Zichao stood frozen, trembling. "Boss Huang, are you here to protect Xia Yu as well?!"

"That's right. Today, I stand with Xia Yu. Anyone who dares to touch him is an enemy of mine," Huang Hai declared with a domineering air.

The crowd gasped, especially the Lin family. The Xiao family hadn't even said anything yet, so why were these tycoons jumping out to support Xia Yu? Did they really have such a deep friendship with him?

Lin Yuqing stood as if petrified, staring at Xia Yu with a strange, searching gaze. Was he hiding something else from her? She suddenly realized she couldn't see through this man. Perhaps her previous understanding of him had been a complete illusion. Why did things that defied logic always happen around him?

Xia Yu’s lips curled into a slight, mocking smile as he watched Liang Zichao and Lin Yuxin. Lin Yuxin was so agitated she felt like she might cough up blood; she was the one suffering the most. Had the trashy husband she discarded actually become someone powerful?

Either Huang Hai or Qin Peng alone would be enough to make the Liang family take notice. But together, they exerted immense pressure. Even if the Liang family won, the cost would be devastating. Liang Zichao couldn't make the call and looked to his grandfather.

Old Master Lin remained silent, also pinning his hopes on Old Master Liang. After all, the Lin family's strength was nowhere near that of these two tycoons. Furthermore, Old Master Lin suddenly had a foreboding feeling. *After all, he was introduced to the Lin family by 'those people.' Could the person they introduced really be just an ordinary man—a failure?*

Old Master Liang’s face was grim as he spoke with authority, "Do you truly wish to make an enemy of the Liang family?"