Hearing Xiao Zhan’s words, Ye Qiu immediately sat up straight.
He glanced in the rearview mirror and spotted a black Honda sedan trailing them about a hundred meters back.
“Boss, should I call someone to intercept that car?” Xiao Zhan asked.
“No need, it might just be paparazzi,” Tang Tang said. “When we’re out, it’s common to get tailed and photographed by them.”
“Keep an eye on it, don’t act rashly for now,” Ye Qiu instructed.
“Yes, sir!” Xiao Zhan nodded.
Forty minutes later, they reached the hotel.
Ye Qiu escorted Tang Tang to the presidential suite and said, “Big star, the press conference starts at five this afternoon, we’ve got nearly five hours, I’ll arrange lunch for you.”
“What do you want to eat?”
“Or rather, what do you like?”
Tang Tang’s voice was soft as she smiled, “No need to fuss, the hotel buffet’s fine.”
“No way, Jiangzhou’s my turf, I’ve got to treat you right, I’ll handle it, we’ll eat in the room later.”
“Your three assistants are set up in the next room.”
“Also, my people are guarding the door, if you need anything, just tell them.”
He added, “Of course, if you don’t want to bother them, you can call me directly, I’m off work today, at your service all day.”
Tang Tang blinked with a grin, “So, you’re mine for the day?”
That sounded a bit odd.
Ye Qiu nodded with a smile, “Naturally.”
“Alright then, go arrange lunch, and eat with me later,” Tang Tang said.
“OK!” Ye Qiu flashed a gesture and left with a grin.
As he stepped out, Tang Tang muttered under her breath, “He’s mine today, does that mean I can do whatever I want with him?”
…
Outside the room, Han Long and Xiao Zhan approached.
“Where’s the guy?” Ye Qiu asked.
Xiao Zhan replied, “Outside the hotel, boss, should I send someone to grab him?”
“No, I’ll handle it myself.”
Ye Qiu turned to Han Long and Xiao Zhan, “You two stay here, don’t leave her side.”
“Don’t let any strangers near.”
“If anything’s off, or you spot Poison Scorpion, call me immediately, I’ll be right back.”
“Oh, and have the staff send up lunch.”
With that, Ye Qiu headed downstairs.
As he exited the hotel, he saw the Honda that had followed them.
From a distance, his gaze pierced the window, landing on a 200-pound fatty in the driver’s seat, a round blob snapping photos of him furiously.
Ye Qiu walked over.
“Perfect, come closer, closer, I’ll get a clearer shot,” the fatty muttered, oblivious that Ye Qiu had already clocked him, still cheering himself on.
Sure enough, Ye Qiu drew nearer.
The fatty’s heart leapt with glee, snapping away while griping, “No idea what’s wrong with the client, not letting me shoot the star but some random guy, nuts!”
“If it weren’t for the cash, I wouldn’t bother.”
“He’s not even famous, if someone saw me snapping him, they’d think I’m into dudes or something.”
As he rambled, Ye Qiu was just five meters from the car and closing.
“Great, yes, this angle’s perfect,” the fatty said.
“Why so stone-faced?”
“Smile, man, smiles make better pics!”
Right as he spoke, he caught Ye Qiu’s brilliant grin through the lens.
Click!
He nailed the shot, then looked down to admire it, “Nice, this one’s flawless, could win a contest easy.”
“Gotta say, this guy’s handsome, killer vibe, total model material, what a waste.”
He looked up to snap more.
“Huh? Where’d he go?” The fatty blinked, startled.
Knock, knock!
A tap on the window.
He turned to see Ye Qiu beaming outside, waving.
Caught?
The fatty reached to start the car and bolt, but too late.
Boom—
Ye Qiu smashed the glass with a punch, his hand darting in like lightning, aiming for the fatty’s throat.
But he missed.
The guy’s neck was so thick, it was like grabbing a bouncy ball.
“Damn, fatty’s got natural armor, miscalculated,” Ye Qiu muttered, switching to seize his shoulder, wrenching with a twist, bam, the door flew open, and he yanked the 200-plus-pound man out like he was a feather.
“Dare to stalk me? You wanna die?”
Holding the fatty single-handedly, Ye Qiu radiated menace, effortless as lifting a chick.
Terrified, the fatty’s face turned ashen, pleading, “Big bro, don’t kill me, please…”
Before he finished, his crotch went wet.
Scared pissless.
“Goddamn, bad luck,” Ye Qiu cursed, tossing him to the ground, barking, “Why were you snapping me?”
“Someone paid me to,” the fatty answered honestly.
“Who?”
“Dunno, young guy in a black robe.”
Poison Scorpion!
Ye Qiu’s eyes narrowed, “Where is he?”
“No clue…” Seeing Ye Qiu’s fist clench, he rushed, “I swear, I don’t know, he just told me to shoot you alone.”
“Said to wait here after, he’d find me.”
“Big bro, I messed up, let me off, please!”
Ye Qiu snatched the camera, flipping through, all shots of him, some so sharp they rivaled celeb portraits.
He chuckled, “Hey, you made me look pretty good.”
“Bro, with your looks, vibe, build, not being a star’s a crime, I’m not kidding, you’d outshine all those pretty boys in showbiz—”
“Shut it!”
Chatty bastard.
Ye Qiu cursed inwardly, gripped the camera with both hands, and with a gentle knead, crack, crack, it turned to dust.
He opened his palms, blew lightly.
Whoosh—
Powder dusted the fatty’s face.
He gulped, petrified.
“Try this again, and I’ll send you to Yama himself.”
Ye Qiu glared, then slipped a hand behind his back, tracing a tracking talisman.
