Chapter 32

Xiao Bing looked at Ye Tianming, who had a puzzled expression, and smiled, saying, "You are filial, care for your younger sister, and are a man who is outwardly polite but inwardly strong. People like you are now very rare."

"Because of these reasons?"

Xiao Bing nodded and said, "From one perspective, I like to make friends with people like you."

Ye Tianming's expression softened a bit, but he still said, "If it's from the angle of making friends, I would also be willing to have you as a friend. But if it involves my sister..."

Xiao Bing smiled and said, "The more important reason is your sister. I can't just stand by and do nothing when my girlfriend's father is in trouble; that's not how a relationship should be. So, even if you hadn't come to me, I would have planned to help. I've already arranged to meet Old Zhang for dinner tonight, and I intended to bring up the matter during the meal."

Ye Tianming said, "Thank you for your willingness to help. Regardless of whether Old Zhang decides to help, I represent my entire family in expressing our gratitude. But about my sister..."

Ye Zi suddenly interrupted firmly, "He is my boyfriend, big brother. Whether you agree or not, Brother Bing is my boyfriend."

Xiao Bing did not stop Ye Zi from speaking and was not at all worried about her going against her family, because he knew that Ye Zi loved freedom. Since she didn't want to be a caged bird, everything would start from now.

Ye Tianming frowned and said, "Little sister, how much do you know about him? Where was he born? What is his family background? Who are his parents? Was he really a soldier before? What did he do before coming to Jiangcheng? Do you really understand all these things about him? Has he been honest with you?"

Ye Zi said, "Of course I understand. Even if I don't, I will still be Brother Bing's girlfriend. I care about the present and the future, not the past."

"Little sister, you are still too young..."

"Am I still too young? Do I not understand...?" Ye Zi said, her emotions rising, "Big brother, I know you and sister love me, but for other things, I can follow your advice, but not for this. I am an adult, I have my own thoughts, and I don't need you to plan my future for me."

The determination and stubbornness in Ye Zi's eyes seemed to tell Ye Tianming that no one could stop her from doing what she wanted, and no one could force her to do what she didn't want.

Ye Tianming hesitated for a moment and finally closed his mouth. He had always loved Ye Zi, and he understood her character better than anyone. If you didn't touch her principles, she was easy to talk to, but if you touched her sensitive spots, she wouldn't compromise with anyone.

Just like when the old man married his stepmother, Ye Tianming only expressed his dissatisfaction in private, while Ye Zi directly had a falling out with her strong-willed father over this matter and rarely spoke to him, showing how stubborn she was.

Ye Tianming sighed and looked at Xiao Bing. Xiao Bing suddenly smiled and said, "Young Master Ye, this is between me and your sister. I won't listen to your opinions. Whether we are together or not is a decision only Ye Zi and I can make. No matter how you try to persuade me or threaten me, it won't affect me at all. I will only consider Ye Zi's thoughts, and no one else can influence me in the slightest."

Ye Tianming finally began to understand how difficult Xiao Bing was to deal with. Xiao Bing had been so easy to talk to before, almost making him forget that even his sister had once been at a loss against this man. Ye Tianming sighed and gave up the idea of stopping them but still reminded him, "You might be right, but Brother Bing, I thank you for helping to save my father. If you have any other intentions towards my sister and hurt her, you will be my enemy, and I, Ye Tianming, will never forgive you."

Xiao Bing smiled and said, "I will remember that."

Seeing that his brother was no longer trying to stop them, Ye Zi smiled and said, "Alright, big brother, stop overthinking it. Is my sister some naive girl? Brother Bing, let's ignore him; he's just being paranoid."

Ye Tianming sat down again and smiled bitterly, "They say girls are more inclined to outsiders. You've just started dating, and you're already helping outsiders."

Ye Zi smiled and said, "I help the right, not the family. I have to go to school after eating, so I won't talk to you anymore."

Ye Tianming ordered another bowl of rice and then said calmly to Xiao Bing, "Brother Bing, you've already arranged to meet Old Zhang tonight. Do you need me to show up?"

Xiao Bing smiled and said, "Old Zhang has a peculiar personality. I think it's better if I talk to him alone. He should give me some face."

"Alright," Ye Tianming said with a bitter smile, "I find it harder and harder to understand you. Your identity is so mysterious that even someone like Old Zhang, a towering figure in the medical field, gives you face. I really don't know who you are."

Xiao Bing smiled and asked, "If I say that Old Zhang and I are just ageless friends by chance, would you believe me?"

Ye Tianming shook his head, "I believe and don't believe. Let's not talk about this. I apologize for my earlier impulsiveness and raise a glass to you."

Xiao Bing smiled and said, "As an older brother, it's understandable. I can understand."

The two of them continued to eat and chat. It was clear that Ye Tianming still had some concerns, but he was a gentleman. On one hand, Ye Zi was too determined, and on the other hand, Xiao Bing might become a benefactor to his family. He couldn't interfere too much and could only observe carefully.

After dinner, Ye Tianming paid the bill, and they all left the hotel. The hotel manager accompanied them with a smile, walking them to the entrance. Xiao Bing's hair stood on end, a reaction he had whenever he was in extreme danger, having executed dangerous missions for years.

Xiao Bing shouted and managed to grab Ye Zi and Ye Tianming, pulling them back just in time.

A bullet whizzed by, landing exactly where they had been standing, embedding itself in the ground.

Ye Tianming's two bodyguards hadn't even reacted when one of them was shot in the head, and the other was just reaching for his gun when a bullet hit him. However, this bodyguard reacted quickly, dodging several bullets, using his hand to support himself, and performing a side flip to return to the hotel lobby.

Xiao Bing glanced at him, noting his strength, which seemed to have reached the Bone Tempering stage, though still some distance from the Mingjing stage.

The bodyguard returned to Ye Tianming's side, slightly out of breath, with blood flowing from his shoulder. He hadn't completely avoided the bullet, which had grazed his shoulder.

He looked around and said, "Young Master, call for more people from home. The attacker is a professional killer, and we don't know how many there are. I'm afraid I can't protect you alone."

Ye Tianming nodded, took out his phone, and looked at his dead subordinate lying in a pool of blood, saying sadly, "Poor Da Ming."

The bodyguard said, "Don't think too much about it. Your and Miss Ye's safety is the most important."

Ye Tianming started to dial the phone, and the bodyguard looked at Xiao Bing, pleading, "Mr. Xiao, you can call me Li Long. You were the first to spot the killer, so your skills must be better than mine. I beg you to protect Young Master and Miss Ye. I'm afraid there might be an insider in the hotel."

Xiao Bing was about to agree when he suddenly pushed Ye Tianming down, then grabbed Ye Zi and rolled to the ground. The area they rolled over was stained with blood. When he pushed Ye Tianming, he had missed the best chance to dodge, so despite avoiding the vital areas, he was still hit in the back.

Xiao Bing rolled several times and hid in a corner. A cold, beautiful woman in leather clothes and boots jumped down from upstairs, aiming her gun at Xiao Bing and firing continuously, but Xiao Bing dodged all the shots. When he hid Ye Zi in a safe corner, she lost her line of sight and aimed at Ye Tianming.

The woman's face was cold and emotionless. Just as she was about to pull the trigger, Li Long suddenly appeared beside her, punching her arm. The female killer, caught off guard, grunted in pain, dropped her gun, and was kicked in the stomach, flying backward and falling to the ground.

The hotel was in chaos, with guests fleeing in all directions.

Li Long chased after the woman, who jumped up and kicked him in the air. Li Long blocked with his arm, and a white flash appeared, cutting a deep, bone-deep wound on his arm. A sharp blade was revealed on the tip of her boot, and a dagger appeared in her hand. The wound on Li Long's arm was caused by the sharp blade on her boot.

The woman played with the dagger and laughed coldly, "Do you think I only know how to use a gun? The master of guns is behind you."

Li Long looked behind him and was suddenly kicked in the head by the woman. The sharp edge of her boot cut through his throat.

A young man with white hair, dressed in leather, walked in from outside, holding two guns, with a proud look on his face but a hint of annoyance in his voice, "I, Li Wu the Fast Gun, wasted so many bullets on a few people. I'll definitely be laughed at when I get back."

Li Long's throat was cut, and he lay in a pool of blood, his body convulsing. Hearing the name "Li Wu the Fast Gun," he opened his mouth and struggled to say, "Li Wu the Fast Gun... They are from the Ghost Nest... Xiao Bing... Save... Save the young master and the young lady..."

He died before getting an answer, a loyal guard to the end.

Ye Zi, who had been protected by Xiao Bing, covered her mouth and sobbed. Suddenly, she stood up to rush out, but Xiao Bing stopped her. Ye Zi shouted, "I have to save my brother."

Xiao Bing stood up, stepped out of the darkness, and said calmly but firmly, "I'll go."

Ye Zi bit her lip until it bled. She didn't want Xiao Bing to take the risk, but she didn't want her brother to die. As she struggled, Xiao Bing turned and looked at her, smiling confidently, "Stay here and wait for me. I'll come back alive."

Seeing Xiao Bing's confident smile, Ye Zi was instantly infected. Her heart, which had been in turmoil, began to calm down. She nodded forcefully, her eyes filled with tears and determination, "I believe in you, because if anything happens to you, I won't live on!"

Xiao Bing was taken aback, and Ye Zi continued in a gentle but determined tone, "You wouldn't let me die, would you?"

Their eyes met, and Xiao Bing's heart was touched again. He smiled and said, "No, I wouldn't."

Xiao Bing turned and walked toward the center of the hall, cracking his knuckles and stretching his neck, grinning, "Come on, my girlfriend wants me to come back alive, so two out of three, you two are going to die!"

Xiao Bing smiled, his eyes cold and resolute.