TPW – Chapter 17 She Was Kissing Him (Combined for Three Updates) (2)

“That guy? He’s nothing special. I heard he’s just some street vendor? Qiao Lu, you’re really shameless—used me and then tossed me aside. What does he have that I don’t? No—what do I have that he doesn’t?!” He almost messed up his line. Damn!

Qiao Lu laughed so hard she was gasping, “He’s taller, better looking, richer, and has fairer skin than you. Wang Bin, go take a piss and look at yourself in the reflection. What part of you compares to him?”

“Wang Bin! It’s broad daylight—what the hell are you doing, causing a scene like this? Get lost, go home!” Across the hall, Sister Liu put down her bowl and chopsticks and rushed over to pull him away.

She already felt bad enough for introducing Wang Bin to Qiao Lu in the first place. Now that Qiao Lu was married and he was still here causing trouble, Liu Xiaohong was so angry she wanted to slap him on his parents’ behalf.

Wang Bin impatiently shook off Liu Xiaohong and strode into the room.

“This is where you’re living now?” He glanced around with disdain. “What a dump.”

He seemed to forget that he also grew up in this kind of “dump.” But now that his sister had married Director Zheng, he acted like he was above everyone else.

Qiao Lu snapped, “Even if it’s a dump, it’s none of your business. We’ve been over for a long time—stop coming to my house to stir up trouble.”

“Pfft—”

Even when Qiao Lu was angry, her face was flawless. And that face should’ve been his wife’s.

The more Wang Bin looked, the more unwilling he felt to let go. He took two steps forward, startling Qiao An into shrinking into his mother’s arms.

“Get out,” Qiao Lu said as she held her son protectively, glaring at Wang Bin.

Wang Bin ignored her and kept walking toward them.

Xu Haizhou’s expression darkened. He stood up and stepped between the mother and child.

“Leave.”

“Leave your damn mother! I’m not going anywhere!” Qiao Lu’s attitude had completely pissed Wang Bin off. He glared at the two of them, eyes nearly bulging from fury. “Qiao Lu, how good was I to you? I got you a job, gave you so many nice things, and what did you do? You dumped me like trash! And I never even agreed to that! What right do you have to marry him?!”

He just couldn’t swallow it—he’d treated her so well, and she dumped him just like that?

His roar echoed across the courtyard, drawing all the neighbors out of their homes.

Qiao Lu rolled her eyes. “I already gave everything you gave me back. What now, you trying to extort me?”

“Oh my, Wang Bin! What’s gotten into you this time? So embarrassing!” Chen Simei eagerly put down her chopsticks and came out to watch the show.

Liu Xiaohong was fuming. “Wang Bin, you brat! What the hell’s wrong with you? She has nothing to do with you anymore. She’s married now! Why hang yourself on one tree? You think you’re better than Xu Haizhou? Then go find a woman better than Qiao Lu! You think pestering her will make her divorce and marry you?”

Chen Simei burst into laughter. “Wang Bin, aren’t you ashamed? Aren’t you supposed to be rich and awesome? So why are you asking for your gifts back like a loser? You’re pathetic!”

“Shut up! My business is none of yours!”

He turned to Xu Haizhou and snarled, “You’re Xu Haizhou, right? Let me tell you something—this bitch dumped me, and she’ll dump you too. She’s an ungrateful wretch. I’m telling you—”

Before he could finish, Xu Haizhou’s eyes turned ice-cold. He grabbed Wang Bin’s flailing hand and hurled him out into the courtyard. “Out.”

The move came so fast Wang Bin didn’t even see it coming. He lost his balance and nearly fell over.

“You try laying a single finger on me again, I dare you!” Wang Bin stood up and pointed at him, but when his eyes met Xu Haizhou’s deep, unreadable gaze, his bravado faltered.

Still, he refused to show weakness. He bared his teeth and tried to look fierce.

Xu Haizhou’s whole presence darkened, and his voice dropped like ice: “Then try it.”

Those words were a clear provocation. Ever since his sister married the silk factory director, Wang Bin had been strutting around Ziyuan Street like he was untouchable. But today, this guy named Xu Haizhou… he’d clearly run into a wall. Wang Bin couldn’t let it go just like that.

“Argh! Argh!” Wang Bin lunged—but as soon as he raised his hand, Xu Haizhou caught it effortlessly. His attack ended instantly. With a dull thud like a sack dropping, Xu Haizhou shoved and slammed him back into the yard—effortless, like tossing a chick.

The neighbors who had been crowding around the Xu family’s door all scattered in panic, afraid of getting caught in a fight. But once Wang Bin hit the ground, they swarmed back again with bowls in hand to watch the drama unfold.

Qiao Lu had never seen this side of Xu Haizhou before. Gone was the gentle and innocent man she knew. His features were sharp, his body tense like a stone—cold, hard, untouchable.

“Aah! Fk, fk, f**k! Let go! Let go of me, you bastard!” Wang Bin screamed, face twisted in agony. He felt like Xu Haizhou was about to crush his hand to pieces!

Standing next to Xu Haizhou, Wang Bin looked pitiful. Just from their builds alone—Xu Haizhou, tall and solid at 185 cm, and Wang Bin, a scrawny 160 cm—it was no contest.

Embarrassed and humiliated, Wang Bin’s gaze toward Qiao Lu and Xu Haizhou turned venomous. Furious and desperate, he wanted to throw a punch, but reason kicked in—he knew barehanded, he was no match for this towering man.

As his eyes darted around, they landed on something.

He suddenly grabbed a brick and charged forward.

And at that critical moment—

“Don’t hit my dad!” To everyone’s shock, the one who reacted first was little three-year-old Qiao An!