Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

Zhao Dong smiled at Lin Qingyun. "Honey, don't be fooled by some people. They may look presentable and act all refined, but they're full of wicked schemes behind your back. You have to be careful."

Lin Qingyun seemed to realize something. She gave Ning Zifeng a deep, surprised look. Could Ning Zifeng be behind tonight's incident?

Ning Zifeng's face was ashen as he gritted his teeth at Zhao Dong. "Mr. Zhao, what are you implying?"

With a cigarette dangling from his lips, Zhao Dong grinned. "I'm not implying anything, President Ning. It's everyone's first time meeting tonight, so please forgive us if the hospitality wasn't up to par. I'm a straightforward guy, and I like making friends. But if someone decides to plot against me, Zhao Dong, behind my back, I might forgive them the first time. The second time, I will make them pay the price."

Ning Zifeng swallowed hard, his gaze flickering away. "Mr. Zhao, I really don't understand what you mean."

"It doesn't matter if you don't understand, President Ning. As long as you heard what I said," Zhao Dong replied.

With that, he withdrew his hand, stood up, and returned to Lin Qingyun's side. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he smiled. "Honey, we should be heading back. It's getting late, and we still haven't gotten around to making a baby tonight."

Lin Qingyun's expression froze, her face instantly flushing crimson.

Across from them, Ning Zifeng looked as if his lungs would explode with rage. A cold, sinister light flashed in his eyes, but his face remained fixed in a gentlemanly, refined smile. He soon rose to his feet and smiled at Lin Qingyun. "President Lin, I have some business to attend to, so I'll take my leave. Let's get together another day. I'll host next time and invite some local entrepreneurs from East Sea. We can have a proper chat."

Before Lin Qingyun could reply, Zhao Dong cut in casually, "Don't trouble yourself, President Ning. My wife is trying to get pregnant and needs her rest. Attending banquets isn't suitable for her right now."

Ning Zifeng's face darkened. He shot a speechless glance at Lin Qingyun before forcing a smile and turning to leave.

Once Ning Zifeng was gone, Lin Qingyun glared at Zhao Dong, annoyed and embarrassed. "Zhao Dong, what was that nonsense you were spouting? Trying to get pregnant and making babies! Who wants to do that with you?"

Beside her, Zhao Dong just grinned and said nothing.

Lin Qingyun didn't linger either. She turned and walked out of the bar, with Yang Sixue following close behind. Zhao Dong trailed after the two women. Just as he was about to leave, he glanced back over his shoulder and shot a cold look at Qiu Lan on the upper floor.

At that same moment, Qiu Yan's gaze met his, her proud, phoenix-like eyes holding a hint of chill.

Zhao Dong narrowed his eyes, offered a cold smile, and turned to leave.

All pretenses were dropped with that woman tonight. If she's really backed by the Chen Family, then it seems I've just made another enemy. No wonder they say a beautiful woman is a source of disaster... I really don't want to provoke anyone, but I can't seem to stop others from provoking me. I could tell tonight's events were orchestrated by Ning Zifeng. For a moment there, I even felt the urge to kill him. But he's just an ordinary person in the end, so I restrained myself. Offending the Chen Family tonight is the real problem, and then there's the Xiao Family from the Provincial City... I wonder what's going on with Xiao Hongtian. It's been a month or two without a single piece of news. Has he decided to let me off the hook? That seems unlikely. He sent Wei Wu to kill me before, which means he still wants me dead. But why hasn't he come to East Sea yet? I have no idea. Still, a thread of worry lingered in my heart. I have a gut feeling that Xiao Hongtian either won't come at all... or if he does, it will lead to a fight to the death between us. I'm not certain I would survive an encounter with him. Forget it. I chose the path of cultivation. As a cultivator, life-and-death battles are things I must face. No matter what difficulties and dangers lie ahead, I have to give it my all! Whether I live or die, I will never retreat!

Lin Qingyun and Yang Sixue got into the back of the car, and Zhao Dong took the driver's seat. The two women began whispering to each other, and Zhao Dong's ears twitched. He had a feeling they were talking about him.

He cleared his throat. "Hey, it's not very nice to be gossiping about someone who's sitting right in front of you."

Lin Qingyun pouted. "It's none of your business! Just focus on driving!"

Yang Sixue chimed in with a smile, "That's right, no eavesdropping! We'll beat you up if you listen in."

Zhao Dong gave a wry smile and shook his head helplessly.

Soon, the car arrived outside the villa complex where Yang Sixue lived. "Okay, you can stop here," she said.

The car stopped and Yang Sixue got out. She leaned toward the open window and smiled at Lin Qingyun. "Qingyun, I'm heading in. I've been so busy with filming lately. Let's hang out soon!"

"Alright! I'll wait for your call!" Lin Qingyun replied with a smile.

Yang Sixue then looked at Zhao Dong. Their eyes met, and a hint of awkwardness passed between them. Neither had forgotten the passionate scene in the villa, where they had come so close to crossing a line.

Zhao Dong cleared his throat. "You should get some rest. We're heading out."

"I know. Take good care of Qingyun. If you dare to bully her, I won't let you off the hook," Yang Sixue said, pouting her pretty lips and raising a small fist.

Zhao Dong chuckled and glanced at her casually, only for his eyes to widen and his brow to furrow. "What happened to your arm? Is that an injury?"

On Yang Sixue's fair arm, there were faint bruises! Zhao Dong knew injuries like that all too well. Those were from being beaten!

In an instant, Zhao Dong's expression hardened. In the back seat, Lin Qingyun's face changed, as did Yang Sixue's. The atmosphere was silent for three seconds before Yang Sixue quickly pulled down her sleeve to cover the marks, forcing a cheerful smile. "You're seeing things. How could I be hurt? Who would dare hit me? Anyway, I'm going now. Drive safely."

With that, she turned and walked away without a backward glance, her receding figure looking somewhat lonely and desolate.

Zhao Dong watched her intently before starting the car. He said to Lin Qingyun in the back seat, "I'm sure of it. Those were bruises on your friend's arm. Marks from being beaten."

Lin Qingyun's face paled. She immediately picked up her phone to call Yang Sixue, but Zhao Dong stopped her. "Don't bother calling. She won't tell you the truth."

Lin Qingyun froze, then slowly lowered her phone, her face filled with deep worry and sadness. "What's going on? How could Sixue... how could she be injured?"

Zhao Dong rolled down his window, lit a cigarette, and took a drag. "How well do you really know your best friend?"

Lin Qingyun was taken aback, then let out a soft sigh. "Sixue and I met at an event two years ago... To be honest, I don't know her that well. I know her family is from the neighboring Yinchuan City, but that's about it."

Zhao Dong raised his eyebrows, surprised that Yang Sixue wasn't a local either. He said nothing, just smoked his cigarette in silence.

Lin Qingyun sighed again. "I'll find a chance to ask her and see what's really happening."

"Mm," Zhao Dong grunted in reply.

Suddenly, Lin Qingyun stared at him intently. "Zhao Dong, the way Sixue looks at you... it's not right."