Lawless Gangster

Chapter Two: A PLAY of WORDS

Qi Xiu Yuan remained silent, not saying anything; those pattern on the floor were instead rather captivating.

"Qi Laoshi, Xiao Yang has mentioned about you to me before. I also have a deep respect for you. I, myself, have chosen this path, but I will never let my own younger brother follow the same path. He's very determined and have worked hard toward his goals. Attending school, studying abroad, and even working, he has always relied on his own abilities ---"

"That's impossible," said Qi Xiu Yuan.

"Qi Laoshi........."

"There's no need to say anything else. Where did he get the money to go abroad?" Qi Xiu Yuan lifted his gaze and stared squarely at Xiao Li with unwavering eyes, "At that time, he was just a student, where would he get that kind of money from? He'd just returned home and he already found a really high paying job. Are you really telling me, that this has completely nothing to do with you at all?" there was a contemptuous smile on his face, "Even if there were no economic relations, he has to have called you 'brother' right?"

Xiao Li's brows knitted together, creating several creases between them. Whatever he had wanted to say, he was not able to as Qi Xiu Yuan had already stood up and walked toward him.

Qi Xiu Yuan stood in front of him. With his waist bent forward in Xiao Li's direction, he stared at him right in the eye and asked: "It hurts doesn't it?"

"It's okay."

Xiao Li's shoulder and chest slightly shifted back, leaning into the sofa.

Qi Xiu Yuan took one step forward and leaned in a bit closer: "Mr. Xiao, I may not know your gang's rules or practices, but I believe that the person who gave you this wound, is most likely in even more pain than you are right now. You definitely made him pay back a hundredfold for the pain he inflicted on you. Perhaps his arm was chop off or perhaps it was his leg that was chop off. I don't really care about these things. What I care about is, when he wants you to repay him back a hundredfold of the pain you had caused him, how can you guarantee that the one closest to you won't be implicated?" Qi Xiu Yuan lets out a cold sneer full of dissatisfaction, "When the time comes, if something bad were to happen to Xiao Yang, what will happen to Susu?"

Xiao Li narrowed his eyes, his own gaze fixated on the person whose face was in a rather close proximity to his own. His pursed lips tightened, evident of the anger he suppressed, yet he still didn't say anything.

Qi Xiu Yuan straightened his body up and took two steps backward before letting out a sigh, "Mr. Xiao, we're just an ordinary family. We don't want to provoke any unnecessary troubles. You only have one younger brother, but I also only have one younger sister."

Xiao Li frowned, his vision shifted. The expression in his eyes reminded Qi Xiu Yuan of his students that were left speechless, dumbstruck and unable to reply back, after he had lectured them.

Such a tall and intimidating gang leader remained seated on this sofa, yet his appearance was cloaked by an air of distress.

For no apparent reason at all, Qi Xiu Yuan's heart suddenly softened; the words that were even more harsh and more offensive to hear refused to come out of his lips.

A lingering, silent atmosphere transmitted between the two, unknowingly weighing down on them.

Then, a moment later, Qi Xiu Yuan let out a deep breath and said: "Mr. Xiao, if there's nothing else, I would like go home. I still have to teach tomorrow."

From hearing those words, Xiao Li promptly stood, "Qi Laoshi, I'll let someone take you back."

Thinking back to the vehicle.... that Lincoln, that took him from the school gate and 'transported' him to this place, the color on Qi Xiu Yuan changed. "There's no need to, I don't want to attract any attention."

Upon hearing that point, playing it by ear by adjusting to the circumstances, Xiao Li said, "Qi Laoshi doesn't want to be seen in such an extravagant manner, I will tell them to change the car. Please don't refuse. This way, I can be at ease a bit more."

Qi Xiu Yuan followed the 'younger brother'*1 out of the door. Once outside, there was already a low-key black sedan at the front gate waiting for him. 

Qi Xiu Yuan reluctantly entered.

Just as the car was about to leave, Xiao Li came out and knocked on the side of the window where Qi Xiu Yuan was seated.

Qi Xiu Yuan was still hesitant, but the chauffer had already rolled the window down.

"Qi Laoshi, take this," said Xiao Li before he handed him a case, "I'm very sorry for making you lose your appetite. Take this midnight snack with you."

Qi Xiu Yuan thought about it for a moment then took the case. As he looked at Xiao Li's sincere eyes, he couldn't help but to say thank you.

On the way back, the chauffer's face was expressionless, and not a single word was heard from him. By this point, Qi Xiu Yuan was beyond nervous.

It seems, what Susu said were all true, he doesn't really resemble a lawless gangster, thought Qi Xiu Yuan. No, that's wrong, he firmly told himself. If you were one of those people that had your arm and leg chopped off, you wouldn't think like this.

---

Translator's Note"

*1 younger brother – younger or new member of the gang