061 Unusual

The shrill, agonizing screams echoed through the villa’s great hall as the baton struck Liu Bighead’s skull, arms, and back. In no time, his entire body was covered in blood, streaming from countless wounds. He lay sprawled on the floor, barely clinging to life, pleading incessantly, “President Song, I was wrong, I was wrong...”

In truth, he had no idea what he’d done wrong, nor did he know how he had offended Song Qingzhu—but admitting fault was always the safest bet.

Song Qingzhu said nothing at all, for she feared Hongyu might suffer retribution from Liu Bighead afterwards. From beginning to end, her expression remained cold and detached. “Hit him hard!” she ordered.

Liu Bighead was beaten until he was barely recognizable.

Up on the second floor, Hongyu, though she bore deep hatred for Liu Bighead, trembled in fright at this sight. After all, she was only a woman.

“It’s alright...” Lin Qi whispered to comfort her, motioning for her to close her eyes and not to look.

At the same time, Lin Qi kept his gaze fixed, but not on Liu Bighead—his eyes were on Song Qingzhu. There was nothing remarkable about the battered man, but Song Qingzhu intrigued him.

This woman was ruthless.

Liu Bighead had been reduced to a bloody mess, and while most women would have been terrified by such a scene, Song Qingzhu remained utterly unfazed. Clearly, she was no stranger to such matters.

She was only in her twenties—how had she become the president of Jinyang Group? Was she truly connected to those people in the capital?

Lin Qi frowned slightly.

Only when Liu Bighead lay half-dead and motionless on the floor did Song Qingzhu call for a stop. She walked over, looked down at his bloodied form with open disgust and contempt, and nudged his head with the toe of her shoe.

“Still conscious?” she asked.

“Y-yes... I’m conscious...” Liu Bighead replied weakly.

“Do you know why you were beaten?”

“N-no... I don’t...”

“I’ll tell you,” Song Qingzhu said. “Because I find you unpleasant. Just the sight of your face disgusts me. From today on, get out of Haitong City and never come back! If I see you again, I’ll beat you again!”

“Y-yes...” Liu Bighead shivered violently.

“Get lost!” Song Qingzhu spat.

Several burly men in black immediately carried him out, while Manager Gao and Secretary Zhou took the bloodstained carpet away to be cleaned.

Song Qingzhu then ascended to the second floor.

“Thank you,” Lin Qi said with a playful grin. “You were a huge help. I’ll treat you to a feast some day—can’t afford anything fancy, but a food stall is doable. As long as you don’t mind, you can pick anything you like at the night market.”

Song Qingzhu frowned slightly. Most men were too intimidated to even breathe in her presence, but Lin Qi spoke as he pleased. Was he simply thick-skinned, or truly courageous?

“Thank you...” Hongyu said cautiously, “President Song, if you ever need anything from me, just ask!”

Hongyu’s response was much more appropriate.

Song Qingzhu nodded. “It was nothing, a trivial effort. Since I happened to run into him, I couldn’t just let a man like that off.”

She then turned to look inside the room. “How is Xiaorui?”

“She’s still sleeping,” Hongyu replied, suddenly recalling something. “President Song, we’ll leave right away!”

Song Qingzhu was about to say it wasn’t necessary and to let Xiaorui continue sleeping, but Hongyu had already rushed inside and gently picked up the little girl.

She was genuinely afraid of causing trouble for Song Qingzhu.

Xiaorui murmured but did not wake, her head resting on Hongyu’s shoulder.

After all, she had hit her head, so it was natural to be a bit dazed.

A seven-year-old child was not heavy, but not exactly light either, so Lin Qi took her from Hongyu without a second thought.

“President Song, we’ll be going then!” Lin Qi grinned, carrying Xiaorui as they made their way out.

“Thank you, President Song...” Hongyu said properly, bowing before she left.

“Wait,” Song Qingzhu said suddenly.

Lin Qi turned, looking at her with puzzlement.

“There are no taxis out here,” Song Qingzhu said as she tossed him a set of car keys.

Lin Qi caught them, and the gleaming “Mercedes” logo flashed in his hand.

“Bring it back to me tomorrow,” Song Qingzhu said coolly.

“You trust me that much?” Lin Qi chuckled.

“Do you really think you could run?” Song Qingzhu sneered.

Indeed, in Haitong City, Song Qingzhu and Tang Long were both figures who could rule with a single hand.

“Thanks,” Lin Qi said once more, then turned to leave with Hongyu.

In the garage, they found an impressive fleet—Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover, Porsche, everything one could imagine.

Lin Qi found the Mercedes that matched the keys, loaded Hongyu and Xiaorui in, and drove them home.

On the villa’s second floor, by the window, Song Qingzhu watched the Mercedes disappear into the distance, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

Earlier at the hospital, she had noticed the ignition button on the Porsche was on the left. Now, the gear shift in that Mercedes was column-mounted.

These details were unknown to most people—anyone inexperienced would have fumbled at first. But Lin Qi handled everything with practiced ease, clearly accustomed to driving luxury cars.

This deliveryman was anything but ordinary.