Chapter 42: Who Is Truly More Arrogant?

Lin Yimo and Dou Jun hurried over to help Lin Dehai up from the ground. Lin Dehai’s head was bleeding, and his right ankle was badly twisted, swollen to an alarming size. He kept groaning in pain.

Dou Jun had been pursuing Lin Yimo for some time. Her parents and grandfather approved of him, but Lin Yimo had yet to accept his advances. Today, Dou Jun had deliberately invited Lin Yimo and Lin Dehai to Purple Mist Mountain to watch the sunrise.

When they reached the second viewing platform, Lin Dehai said he couldn’t walk any further and stopped climbing. After watching the sunrise, he encouraged Lin Yimo and Dou Jun to continue upwards, suggesting a stroll—clearly intent on giving the young people some time alone.

“Why did you hit my grandfather?” Lin Yimo demanded in fury.

“That old fool was asking for it. So what if I hit him?” Qi Tianyong replied arrogantly.

“You’re pretty cocky, aren’t you? Do you even know who I am?” Dou Jun seized the opportunity to show off, stepping forward at once.

“I don’t care who you are! Do you know who I am?” Qi Tianyong retorted.

Two self-assured men squared off, each confident in their identity, waiting to see who would be more audacious.

“Grandpa, what happened?” Lin Yimo asked.

“I was taking photos with my phone. He claimed I was blocking his way and pushed me down the steps. When I wouldn’t let him pass, he started hitting me. It’s outrageous. Little Jun, you must help Grandpa get justice,” Lin Dehai explained.

“Grandpa, don’t worry. Leave it to me—he won’t get away,” Dou Jun replied confidently.

“You old fool, you were taking photos for five minutes and blocked the path. I hit you because you deserved it. It’s your luck you didn’t die from the fall!” Qi Tianyong continued his insolent tirade.

“Even if my grandfather was blocking the way, you shouldn’t have resorted to violence. And your attitude is appalling!” Lin Yimo guessed that her grandfather might have been at fault, perhaps acting entitled, focusing only on his own photos and ignoring others.

“This is just how I am, little girl. What can you do about it?” Qi Tianyong sneered.

Dou Jun patted Lin Yimo’s hand to comfort her, then straightened up and stepped forward again.

“I warn you, I’m a resident of Imperial Mansion. You can’t afford to mess with me!” he declared.

“You’d better kneel and apologize to Grandpa Lin, and pay two million in compensation. I’ll let you go then. Otherwise, you won’t leave this place,” Dou Jun threatened.

Qi Tianyong erupted in laughter at his words.

“What a coincidence—I live in Imperial Mansion too. Kid, if you want to show off in front of a woman, you’d better check if you’re up to it first.”

Dou Jun was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Qi Tianyong to be a resident there as well. But he couldn’t back down now.

“So what if you live there? Residents come in all ranks. My father is Dou Guangqiang—who are you compared to him?” Dou Jun revealed his father’s identity.

It didn’t intimidate Qi Tianyong at all; instead, he burst out laughing.

“Dou Guangqiang? When he sees me, he’s all respectful and calls me President Qi. And you, you little nobody, dare to act tough in front of me?”

With that, Qi Tianyong slapped Dou Jun hard across the face, making stars dance before his eyes.

“Listen up, I am Qi Tianyong!” he declared.

People nearby heard the name and were instantly shocked.

“He’s the CEO of Tianshin Pharmaceuticals!”

“Not only that, he’s the nephew of Doctor Qi. In Luocheng, even the four grandmasters treat Doctor Qi with great respect. This kid’s in real trouble.”

Lin Yimo’s face turned pale when she heard the name. Clearly, she knew this was someone they couldn’t afford to provoke.

Dou Jun’s face burned with pain, and he was inwardly desperate. He had hoped to impress Lin Yimo, but ended up tangling with Qi Tianyong. Worse still, he saw Lin Yang coming down from the mountain at that moment—how humiliating!

Dou Jun wished the ground would swallow him up.

“Take out your phone and call Dou Guangqiang. Tell him I beat you up, and let’s see what he says,” Qi Tianyong ordered, full of swagger.

Dou Jun dared not make the call. He knew even his father wouldn’t dare protest and would probably commend President Qi for teaching him a lesson.

Seeing Dou Jun hesitate, Qi Tianyong slapped him again, leaving vivid red handprints on both cheeks.

“I told you to call—are you deaf?”

Blood trickled from Dou Jun’s mouth. Anger boiled within him, but he didn’t dare retaliate. He hung his head in silence.

Behind him, Lin Yimo’s face twitched in distress, unsure what to do.

Lin Dehai saw Dou Jun slapped in public and not daring to utter a word. He realized this was someone they truly couldn’t provoke and hid behind Lin Yimo, terrified.

“Can’t make the call? Earlier, you said I should kneel and apologize. Now, you kneel to me, or I’ll call Dou Guangqiang myself,” Qi Tianyong sneered.

Dou Jun’s legs trembled. He struggled to kneel—it was too humiliating. Qi Tianyong kicked him in the stomach, sending him rolling on the ground, clutching his belly and crying out in pain.

“You’re bullying us too much! Is there no justice? I’m calling the police!” Lin Yimo couldn’t stand it any longer and protested, though nervously.

“Call them if you want!” Qi Tianyong was utterly unafraid.

Dou Jun clutched his stomach in agony. “Yimo, don’t call the police!”

Then, he knelt in front of Qi Tianyong. “President Qi, I’m sorry!”

Qi Tianyong laughed triumphantly, crouching to pat Dou Jun’s swollen face.

“Kid, next time, open your eyes and don’t act so arrogant. You don’t have the right.”

Dou Jun’s teeth ground together. He’d lost all dignity today—especially in front of Lin Yimo and Lin Yang.

Lin Yimo might understand his predicament, since he stood up for her. But Lin Yang, that useless coward, would surely spread word of his humiliation to all their classmates.

Unable to retaliate against Qi Tianyong, Dou Jun could only plan to warn Lin Yang later and take out his frustration on him.

“Little girl, now it’s your turn. Will you kneel and beg for mercy, or take two slaps like this little fool and then kneel?”

Qi Tianyong’s domineering presence made it clear he had no intention of letting this go.

“I… I won’t kneel,” Lin Yimo said resolutely.

“Yimo, don’t be stubborn. Kneel and beg for mercy—we can’t afford to provoke him,” Lin Dehai urged, tugging at her arm.

“I won’t! I did nothing wrong. Why should I kneel and apologize?” Lin Yimo stood her ground, unwilling to surrender.

“Girl, you’ve got guts. Don’t blame me for being harsh, then.” Qi Tianyong raised his hand to strike Lin Yimo. She instinctively closed her eyes and clenched her teeth.

But the slap never landed. Lin Yimo opened her eyes to see Qi Tianyong’s hand caught in someone else’s grasp.