Chapter Eighteen: Two Against Three?

Inside the Gourmet Street, Luo Tianyi hurriedly dragged her two meal tickets along as they strolled through the bustling avenue. The street lived up to its reputation—hundreds of shops lined both sides, each offering delicacies from every province and region. From skewers sizzling at roadside stalls to grand specialty restaurants, everything imaginable was here, though the prices were noticeably higher than elsewhere.

“Boss, all kinds of buns, pack them all up, please!”
“Lamb skewers, beef skewers, fish balls, one order each, thank you!”
“Luo Chen, hurry up, over here, over here!” Luo Tianyi called out, her mouth stuffed with a skewer, hands full of assorted buns, beckoning to Luo Chen.

“Yes, yes, I’m coming,” Luo Chen replied with a wry smile, standing at the counter of a shop, ready to pay.

“That’ll be 197 yuan. Card or cash?” The shop owner grinned at him.

“I’ll use my card, if there’s any money left.” Luo Chen helplessly took out his tightly gripped bank card, which was promptly snatched away by the sly shopkeeper and swiped in a flash.

With the high spending levels on Gourmet Street—sometimes reaching thousands—the card payment option extended even to ordinary roadside stalls.

“Hm? Still got money?” Luo Chen took back his card, puzzled. This was the third swipe today, with total spending already over five hundred. He’d been ready to swallow his pride and borrow from Yanhe, but somehow there was still balance left. He certainly hadn’t applied for a credit card.

“Luo Chen, hurry up!”
In front of a newly opened specialty restaurant, Luo Tianyi waved her arms, calling out.

“Tianyi, is this really okay? Look at Luo Chen—he’s nearly in tears,” Yanhe glanced at Luo Chen.

“There’s nothing wrong. We’re gathering material!”
“Besides, how can I sing about the flavors if I don’t know them myself?” Luo Tianyi muttered, biting into her skewer.

Last night, she spent hours composing lyrics, listing every food she could think of. Yet no matter how she sang, something felt off. Clearly, food needed to be tasted firsthand.

“To put it simply, you just wanted to eat, didn’t you?” Yanhe remarked.

“Well, Luo Chen has more money than he can spend. I’ll help him out by eating some.”
Just a little bit.

By the end of the day, Luo Chen was numb from swiping his card, seriously wondering if his video earnings could really support his little sister. His bargain father hadn’t gone bankrupt after so many years, and still managed to save enough to buy a house—it must have been tough.

“Should I eat this?” Luo Tianyi, wandering with her meal tickets, stared at the last fish ball skewer in her hand, conflicted.

“If you’re full, let it go. Don’t overeat.” After touring the entire street, not only Tianyi but even Luo Chen and Yanhe were stuffed.

Tianyi gazed at the last fish ball, reluctant, took a fierce bite, then raised her hand to Yanhe’s lips.

Yanhe glanced at it disdainfully, then bit off a third.

Seeing only a small piece left, Tianyi couldn’t bear to toss it away, so she stuffed it into Luo Chen’s mouth.

“Cough, cough,” Luo Chen nearly choked, sneaking a look at the unconcerned Yanhe, chewed, and swallowed.

Can’t you stop tormenting your own brother, Tianyi?

After feeding Tianyi, the three prepared to head home. At that moment, Yanhe nudged Luo Chen, signaling behind them. Luo Chen understood and started moving toward a quieter area.

“You two, you’ve been following us long enough. Isn’t it time you showed yourselves?” Yanhe called toward a shadowy alley.

“So, we’ve been discovered early on?”
From a small corner, two flamboyantly dressed young men emerged, their faces full of mocking amusement.

“Being tailed for hours by amateurs—it’s not hard to notice if you pay attention.” Luo Chen wasn’t surprised by their sudden appearance; these two were hopelessly unprofessional.

“Oh? Interesting. But we never intended to hide anyway,” Luo Shen said carelessly, toying with a small knife.

“Yeah, the ones who should be hiding are you, Luo Chen!” Luo Yuan sneered, pulling out an iron rod from behind.

“Looks like you’re sent by Luo Song,” Luo Chen mused. Only his cheap uncle, Luo Song, had any motive. As for Li Fei, though angry, he wasn’t foolish enough to send two lackeys.

“That’s right. You look pretty loaded these days. It’s time you paid up the interest on those debts.”

“Otherwise, don’t blame us for taking matters into our own hands.” Luo Shen fixed Luo Chen with a vicious glare, silently scoffing at his father’s words—this kid had no backing, just a regular high schooler.

His parents were gone, and no one cared about him. Threatening and beating someone like this usually made them behave, though it had cost him two wasted days.

“Hey, Luo Chen, are they stupid? We have more people on our side.” Tianyi eyed the situation carefully—it was two against three, unless there was an ambush.

“My dear little cousin, fighting strength isn’t just about numbers,” Luo Shen snorted. His side had weapons and were grown men. As for the others, only Luo Chen had any real strength; the rest—a girlish Yanhe and a cutesy Tianyi—were hardly a threat.

But, well, it was his first time seeing such a beautiful cross-dresser. That face and those legs—could it really be a girl? Luo Shen glanced at Yanhe’s chest, seeing nothing, and dismissed the thought.

“Just the two of you?” Luo Chen stepped forward, blocking Luo Shen’s view of Yanhe. With a sister who might drag them down, caution was necessary.

“Of course. What did you expect? Enough chatter—hand over your bank cards and phones. If I have to take them myself…” Luo Shen’s gaze lingered on Tianyi, implying a search if needed.

Once he confirmed there were no others, Luo Chen signaled Yanhe, then charged straight ahead.

“You—” Luo Shen was caught off guard, hastily raising his arm to defend.

Luo Chen swiftly grabbed the wrist holding the knife, pulled and twisted, sending Luo Shen sprawling to the ground.

Bang!

Almost simultaneously, Yanhe finished his own fight. The burly Luo Yuan lay on the ground, clutching his stomach in pain, next to a bent steel pipe.

Luo Chen’s parents had always prioritized their children’s education, sending them to classes from a young age. Tianyi studied music, Luo Chen studied martial arts.

And he trained at Yanhe’s family’s dojo!

“This… this can’t be…” Luo Shen, defeated before he could react, clutched his wrist, his face twisted in fury. Suddenly, his expression hardened; his uninjured right hand snatched up the fallen knife and slashed at Luo Chen once more.