Zhang Fan:
The doctor emerged from the obstetrics operating room, and the man anxiously stepped forward to ask, "How is it!"
The doctor said, "The mother is saved, alas, what a pity about the child..."
Hearing the news, the man choked up with sobs.
The doctor continued, "It's April Fool's Day today, I was kidding you, haha."
The man's face instantly lit up with joy, and the doctor added, "Your wife is also dead."
...
The cherished classic jokes still had some use.
"Pfft." Zhao Qingqing didn't laugh, but Ling Yanxue beside her did, her charming smile drawing many eyes in the private room.
Zhang Fan glanced at Zhao Qingqing and found her even sadder.
"What's wrong?" Zhang Fan asked.
"That man is so pitiful." Zhao Qingqing began to cry, tears streaming down her face, leaving Zhang Fan even more at a loss.
This girl, so sentimental even listening to a joke, truly left Zhang Fan speechless.
...
"Ding ding ding." Qiang Ge's phone rang; the timer had gone off.
"Kid, time's up. Unfortunately, your friend didn't show up," Qiang Ge said with a look of regret. In truth, he regretted not being able to beat up Zhang Fan's helper as well.
"Yes, it's a pity she won't get to see such a spectacular scene," Zhang Fan echoed.
Zhang Fan stood up, ready to indulge Qiang Ge. After all, Qiang Ge's strength was decent, about on par with Ah Biao, the bodyguard from the Qin family. If he only used a tenth of his strength, he could fight a bit longer.
At that moment, the door to the private room was pushed open.
"Mr. Zhang, I'm not late, am I?" Lin Yueru hurried in, still out of breath. Seeing that the fight hadn't started yet, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"You're right on time," Zhang Fan said with a smile.
"Junior Sister Yueru, why are you here?" Bald Qiang Ge looked surprised to see the woman enter.
"Senior Brother Hu, why are you here?" Lin Yueru was also a little puzzled. Her gaze quickly swept across the room, and seeing the confrontation, she drew a conclusion that almost made her faint.
"Are you the one who's about to fight Mr. Zhang?" Lin Yueru was speechless. She had expected to spar with a legendary figure like Zhang Fan, a Grandmaster of Innate Realm, and at least a master of the Postnatal Realm. She never imagined that this person would be her senior brother.
"Is this kid's helper the junior sister you?" Rough Qiang Ge seemed somewhat helpless. If that were the case, he really wouldn't dare to beat up Zhang Fan.
"What helper?" Lin Yueru was still bewildered, in a state of confusion.
"Aren't you here to help him fight?" Rough Qiang Ge asked, confused.
"No," Lin Yueru shook her head and said, "I'm here to watch him beat people up."
"Hahaha, little junior sister, you underestimate me too much," Qiang Ge laughed loudly. "Although I haven't received the full teachings of our master, I can still handle this brat."
It turned out that Yan Qianghu had been a disciple of Lin Dahai, whom Zhang Fan had recently saved.
Lin Yueru was anxious. How could one lightly offend a Grandmaster of Innate Realm, especially one who was her father's savior?
She quickly pulled the bald Qiang aside and whispered something in his ear. Bald Qiang initially listened casually, thinking Lin Yueru was pleading for Zhang Fan. However, as she spoke, his expression grew serious, and his fleshy face began to tremble.
"Really?" Bald Qiang Ge still found it hard to believe that this young man before him was actually a Grandmaster of Innate Realm?
"Why would I lie to you? Uncle Xu sent me here specifically to invite Mr. Zhang. If you still don't believe me, you can call my father."
"Xu Tianlei?" Bald Qiang Ge stammered a little. While he was quite influential in the northern district, Xu Tianlei was a major figure throughout Donghai City, and in a sense, Xu Tianlei was his senior.
Yet, even Xu Tianlei treated Zhang Fan with respect. What was he, Bald Qiang, in comparison?
Bald Qiang Ge looked up at Zhang Fan again. His gaze had changed. The playful expression from before was now replaced with immense solemnity.
"Mr. Zhang, it is I, Yan Qianghu, who was blind and did not recognize your status. I beg your forgiveness," Bald Qiang Ge said, bringing his enormous palm down on his own face with a resounding slap. Zhang Fan winced, feeling a pang of pain just watching.
Everyone else in the private room, besides Zhang Fan, stared back and forth between Bald Qiang Ge and Zhang Fan with incredulous expressions, filled with shock.
Who was Yan Qianghu? There were few in the northern district who dared to disregard him. Even someone as well-connected as Sister Liu had to appease him. Yet, what was he doing now?
Apologizing?
Self-mutilating?
"Holy crap, am I seeing things right?" Gao Duyang, whose eardrum had been ruptured by Qiang Ge's wine bottle, was now filled with disbelief.
The previously arrogant Bald Qiang Ge was now fiercely slapping himself, and while mutilating himself, he was still apologizing!
Who had ever seen a big boss from the underworld apologize?
His subordinates couldn't believe it either. Was this still their "tough as nails" Bald Qiang, their boss?
Sister Liu, who had been calm until now, couldn't help but change her expression. Who was Bald Qiang? He was a "tough as nails" character in the northern district of Donghai, fearless and resilient, someone no one wanted to mess with.
But now, what was happening?
Thinking of this, Sister Liu looked at the young man who had been calm from the beginning. She had initially thought he was a reckless youngster who thought he could fearlessly take on anyone after practicing martial arts for a few years. But now, it seemed that this young man was far from simple.
It was said that people in the underworld valued face the most. In the past, they believed that even if Qiang Ge lost a hand, he wouldn't apologize in such a manner.
But today, they had witnessed it.
"Mr. Zhang, Senior Brother didn't know your identity, so please don't hold it against him," Lin Yueru also pleaded, unable to bear seeing her senior brother in such a state.
Each of those large palms struck his own face with full force, leaving it swollen. The already unattractive Bald Qiang Ge now looked even uglier, almost unbearable to look at.
"You don't need me to forgive you; go and ask her for forgiveness," Zhang Fan said. Seeing the sincerity of Bald Qiang's apology, he chose to forgive him, but whether Zhao Qingqing would forgive him was another matter.
"Sister-in-law, it was my fault. Please..." Bald Qiang nodded repeatedly and walked over. Before he could finish speaking, he was kicked away by Zhang Fan.
"What sister-in-law? She's my cousin," Zhang Fan said angrily.
Zhao Qingqing's face was flushed red, and she dared not look at Zhang Fan.
"Oh, oh." Bald Qiang felt the immense power of Zhang Fan's kick and couldn't help but tremble. He also felt a sense of relief. "As expected of a martial arts legend of Innate Realm. A casual kick almost shattered my bones. Fortunately, I didn't attack just now, or I might have been crawling out of here today."
Furthermore, he had heard that Zhang Fan was his master's savior. If his master found out about what happened today, Lin Dahai might not hesitate to severely discipline him.