Chapter 11: Boundless Spring Splendor

Lu Ming recognized the voice immediately and shook his head as he stepped outside. In front of the grocery store, he saw Huo Yufeng leading over twenty young men, all with dragon tattoos and tiger patterns, standing at the entrance with sticks in hand, brimming with aggression.

Today, Huo Yufeng wore a pale yellow tracksuit, though its loose fit did little to conceal her impressive figure. Lu Ming squinted, his gaze lingering on her chest, and a sly smile crept across his face. This girl was young, but her assets were astonishingly prominent, he mused inwardly.

"Scoundrel! Fraud! Incorrigible!" Huo Yufeng unleashed a torrent of curses at Lu Ming. "If you don’t hand over my family’s treasure today, I’ll break your legs!"

Lu Ming finally swept his eyes over the group behind her. They seemed about her age, seventeen or eighteen, their hair dyed in parrot hues—clearly delinquents.

At that moment, a youth with two large earrings, clutching a baseball bat, stepped forward to stand beside Huo Yufeng and addressed Lu Ming, "Kid, how dare you offend our Sister Huo? Tired of living, are you?"

He punctuated his words by swinging the bat menacingly, a clear threat. Lu Ming shook his head at the scene. If a fight broke out, these youths wouldn’t even be worth his attention. After all, he was a mercenary king, a world-class assassin, a cultivator—if word got out that he was brawling with a bunch of street punks, the international elites would laugh themselves silly.

But judging by the look in her eyes, the girl was determined to teach him a lesson; he feared a confrontation was inevitable.

Just as Lu Ming felt a headache coming on, a clear voice rang out. "Yufeng, what are you doing?" He looked and saw Huo Yutong had arrived.

Today, Huo Yutong wore a tailored blazer with an open collar, revealing a low-cut round-neck T-shirt underneath, which accentuated her curves—though not as pronounced as her sister’s, still enough to draw attention. Her skirt fell straight, exposing two snowy long legs, dazzling with every step.

Seeing her sister, Huo Yufeng blushed, her expression turning awkward. After leaving the Triumph Hotel, she hadn’t returned home but spent two days venting in bars, where she met these street youths. When she shared her troubles, they clamored to help her regain face. Seeing their numbers, she brought them here, determined to reclaim her dignity.

Yet she knew if her family learned of her associations, she’d be scolded. So, seeing her sister now, her heart fluttered with anxiety.

Huo Yutong, face stern, stepped before her sister and glanced at the ragtag group. "Yufeng, your phone’s been off for two days and you’ve disappeared—where have you been?"

Her harsh tone irked Huo Yufeng, especially in front of her newfound underlings and her adversary, Lu Ming. Her pent-up resentment erupted. "It’s none of your business! I’m already eighteen, an adult—I have my freedom!"

Huo Yutong restrained her anger and said in a low voice, "Go home at once. Mom, Dad, and Grandpa are worried sick. Stop this nonsense."

"I won’t go! Today I’m going to teach this liar a lesson!" Huo Yufeng retorted, clenching her teeth and puffing out her chest.

Suddenly, Huo Yutong could no longer hold back and slapped her sister across the face.

Lu Ming had helped the family and company through their most difficult times. Moreover, President Yeqi had personally negotiated several lucrative deals, all highly favorable to the Huo family. Because of Lu Ming, the Huo family was about to enter a new era. Huo Yutong had come specifically to thank him.

But her sister’s unreasonable behavior—repeatedly offending Mr. Lu—was intolerable, no matter how much she spoiled her. This time, Huo Yutong had reached her limit.

The slap left Huo Yufeng stunned; the delinquents beside her were equally dumbstruck.

"You actually hit me?" Huo Yufeng stared in disbelief. Then, tears began to fall like broken pearls, scattering on the ground.

Though Huo Yutong felt a pang of guilt, her face remained icy. "Go home now, or you’ll never leave the house again," she said forcefully.

She knew their branch of the Huo family had no sons, only the two sisters. Their father had raised her as a boy, imposing strict discipline, but her younger sister was doted on from birth, spoiled into a willful princess. Now, mingling with delinquents, if she wasn't reined in, the consequences would be dire.

Huo Yutong resolved to tell their father to confine her sister for a few months when she returned home.

Wiping her tears, Huo Yufeng declared, "Fine! If you can’t tolerate me, I’ll leave. I can live just fine without you!" She turned and left, casting a resentful glare at Lu Ming as she went.

Lu Ming responded with an innocent look.

Watching her sister storm off, Huo Yutong quickly pulled out her phone and called the driver waiting at the corner. "Uncle Zhao, have someone keep an eye on Yufeng—she just left from the Forget-Worry Grocery. Don’t let anything happen to her."

The group of delinquents stood awkwardly, unsure what to do. After all, Huo Yutong was the CEO of a company worth billions and exuded an imposing presence. Moreover, they could see the close relationship between the sisters, so none dared speak.

Lu Ming stepped forward, lightly placing his right foot on a fist-sized stone by the roadside and said, "Get lost."

With a slight twist, the stone crumbled to dust under his foot.

The earring-clad youth’s eyes widened in shock, swallowing hard. "Big brother, we’re sorry! We’ll leave right away!"

Lu Ming’s casual stomp nearly scared him to death—imagine if that foot landed on a person!

He and his followers fled in panic. Lu Ming turned to Huo Yutong. "Miss Huo, is there something you need?"

Huo Yutong composed herself and offered a gentle smile. "I came specifically to thank you, Mr. Lu, and to apologize on my sister’s behalf."

"No need. Our dealings were fair; you owe me nothing. As for apologies—there’s no need. I won’t quarrel with a child."

With that, Lu Ming turned and went inside, sprawling on the sofa.

Without hesitation, Huo Yutong followed him in. Watching him recline, she said, "What may seem trivial to you is monumental for the Huo family. Both sentiment and propriety demand I thank you."

"Suit yourself. I’m a bit sleepy now—make yourself at home."

Lu Ming closed his eyes and, within moments, was sound asleep.

Watching him drift off so quickly, Huo Yutong felt lost. Her gaze lingered on his face—sharp features, brows like swords, a prominent nose, healthy bronze skin, and a faint scar on his left cheek. Rather than detract from his looks, it lent him a heroic air, far more compelling than any actor’s superficial charm.

Suddenly, Huo Yutong blushed and looked away, her heart pounding wildly. What’s happening to me? She’d never studied a man so closely, nor felt so deeply drawn.

Feeling an unfamiliar flutter, she hurriedly cast her eyes around to distract herself, only to realize how disordered the place was. Cigarette butts, scraps of paper, and miscellaneous items littered the floor—there was barely a spot to stand. The only clean area was where Lu Ming lay.

Last time she’d come, she was too preoccupied to notice. Now, seeing it clearly, she was shocked.

After a moment’s thought, she bit her lip, found a broom in the corner, and began to tidy up.

Half an hour later, the grocery store was transformed. Wiping sweat from her brow, Huo Yutong smiled in satisfaction.

Sitting on the sofa beside the sleeping Lu Ming, she was filled with an inexplicable sense of security. Before long, lost in her thoughts, she drifted off to sleep on the adjacent sofa.

When Lu Ming awoke, dusk had fallen. He looked at Huo Yutong sprawled across the sofa, a gentle snore escaping her, delicate nose twitching, her refined face wearing a smile. Her curves, though not extravagant, were revealed by the posture, her long legs crossed, the skirt barely concealing the allure beneath.

Lu Ming took in the captivating scene, swallowed hard, and a wicked smile appeared on his face.