Chapter 72: Fighting Fire with Fire

Not only the tall, skinny guy, but even Chi Naiyun, who had been watching the whole time, blinked in confusion. What just happened? She'd only seen Chao Si standing there, moving just slightly, and yet Qiu Chongwei and his friends had all been knocked to the ground?

While everyone was still dazed, unable to comprehend what had just occurred, Chao Xu looked down at Qiu Chongwei at his feet and gave him a rather disdainful nudge.

"Wake up. It's time to pay your debt."

As the first to be taken down and then trampled underfoot, Qiu Chongwei was the most battered of the group. Now, with another kick aggravating his other wounds, he howled in pain. Only after crying out did he remember: he had indeed made a bet with Chao Si not long ago.

If they couldn't beat Chao Si, as the leader, he would have to kneel and lick his own underlings' shoes...

A wave of nausea hit him, and Qiu Chongwei nearly vomited. Making someone else lick his shoes gave him a perverse sense of domination, but when it came to himself, it was nothing but repulsive. Gritting his teeth, he steeled himself, planning to catch Chao Si off guard and escape in the chaos.

But no sooner had he moved than he was shoved right back down with a foot.

"Are you really thinking you can escape from me?"

Chao Xu looked down at Qiu Chongwei, as if amused by his childish thoughts. With a hint of bewilderment he asked, "Or do you actually believe you can beat me?"

The words sounded laughably arrogant, but coming from the youth, Qiu Chongwei found them not funny at all—in fact, they made a twisted kind of sense.

He must be out of his mind...

While Qiu Chongwei’s mind whirled in confusion, the pressure on his back suddenly lifted. Chao Xu gave him a quick kick on the rear, impatience in his voice: "Hurry up and crawl up. If you're going to lick, do it quickly. My time is valuable."

She said it with perfect seriousness, which made Qiu Chongwei feel so angry he could cough up blood.

He’s busy? If anyone has a right to complain, it's the one who has to lick shoes!

Shaking, he struggled to his feet. Knowing he had no chance against Chao Si, Qiu Chongwei tried to bargain.

"Can I do something else instead of licking shoes?"

Chao Xu nodded easily. "Of course."

Qiu Chongwei’s eyes lit up, hope flickering, but before he could rejoice, the youth pointed expressionlessly at a dog by the roadside. "You can go lick its fur instead."

The dog, busily licking its own paw, blinked at him, making Qiu Chongwei’s face flush with shame.

He was a human being! A dignified, proper human! And now he was supposed to lick a dog’s fur?

Did that dog even deserve it? Qiu Chongwei trembled with rage, but he dared not cross the Chao family, so he could only clench his teeth and squat down humbly in front of his underlings.

Eyes squeezed shut, he stuck out the tip of his tongue, thinking, from this angle Chao Si can’t see clearly anyway—a bit of acting should suffice.

The thought had barely flickered through his mind when a sharp kick landed on his backside. Before he could react, he lost his balance entirely. Instinctively, he opened his mouth to scream, only to have the toe of a muddy shoe shoved inside.

The stench of feet, the taste of dirt, and the cheap tang of rubber flooded his mouth. Realizing what was in his mouth, Qiu Chongwei couldn’t suppress his nausea any longer—he rushed to the wall and vomited until the world spun.

At that moment, an unfamiliar sound suddenly rang out behind him.

Click—

It was the sound of a camera shutter.