Chapter 581: Chapter 581: Thugs

They were led to a large round table with a hot pot already built into the center. The waiter handed them menus.

Jake grabbed his right away. “Oh man, look at all this! Beef, lamb, pork, seafood, mushrooms, dumplings, tofu, noodles… I want everything!”

Su Jiyai looked at the menu calmly. “We’ll take beef slices, lamb slices, shrimp, tofu, mushrooms, spinach, lotus root, and noodles. That should be enough.”

The waiter had just left their table, promising to bring out the beef slices and vegetables soon, when the loud clatter of chairs echoed from the far side of the restaurant.

A group of men had swaggered in, laughing in crude voices as they dropped themselves around a table. They ordered loudly, slapping the table and shouting for more beer.

At first, Su Jiyai and her group paid them no attention. But soon, she noticed the men staring at her.

She was used to gazes like that, but this time it was different. Her real appearance was uncovered: blue hair falling like silk, skin pale like snow, and calm eyes that glowed under the warm restaurant light.

She knew the moment their eyes stayed too long.

Xi Ping muttered under her breath, “Great. Here we go again.”

Jake noticed too. He leaned toward Qin Feng. “They look like trouble. You see the bald one with the gut? His eyes are practically falling out of his head.”

Qin Feng’s gaze hardened but he said nothing. His hand rested lazily on the table, but his knuckles were tight.

At the other table, the bald man smirked, his belly shaking as he laughed. His voice was greasy, like oil poured over rotten meat.

“Brothers, do you see her? That blue-haired beauty? Hah, I swear I want her under me tonight. A woman like that should serve me, not waste time with nobodies.”

The men around him burst out laughing, their voices carrying across the room.

“Boss, you’re right. She’s a rare flower.”

“Go on, Boss. Don’t waste time. Get her number now.”

“Yeah, if you don’t, someone else will snatch her.”

The bald man chuckled, stood up slowly, and smoothed his cheap leather jacket. “You don’t need to push me. I was going anyway.”

He swaggered over, belly bouncing, and planted himself in front of Su Jiyai’s table. The sudden shadow he cast made the group go silent.

“Beauty,” the man said with a grin that showed yellow teeth. “Give me your contact number.”

For a moment, nobody answered. Then Jake broke the silence, his tone flat. “She doesn’t have a number.”

Qin Feng’s voice followed, colder. “She can’t give what she doesn’t have. Leave.”

But the man ignored them, his greedy eyes never leaving Su Jiyai.

Su Jiyai blinked, tilting her head slightly. “I don’t have a phone number.” Her voice was calm, almost too calm, like she was speaking to a child.

The man chuckled like he didn’t hear. “What age is this? Everyone has a phone. Don’t act shy with me. I already made the first move. You just need to say yes.”

Xi Ping’s eyes narrowed. “Shy? Are you stupid?”

Su Jiyai, still polite, repeated herself. “I don’t have a number.” She even lifted her hands and signed it in simple gestures, wondering if he was deaf.

The bald man laughed again, louder this time. “Beauty, no need for acting. If you’re shy, I’ll just ask your friends here. They’ll give me your number.”

The entire table frowned at once. The air grew tight, like a string pulled too far.

Nearby diners had already gone quiet, watching nervously. One older man leaned toward Su Jiyai’s table and whispered urgently. “Miss, don’t mess with him. That’s Black Lotus. They own this area. He’s their boss. If you don’t give him your number, you’ll cause big trouble.”

Another diner added quickly, “He’s dangerous. Best just give in. Otherwise, you won’t be able to eat in peace here.”

Su Jiyai’s eyebrow arched slightly. She understood now. This was no ordinary thug but the leader of a local gang. She looked at him calmly, unbothered by his reputation.

“I’m not interested,” she said evenly. Then she reached out and took Qin Feng’s hand. “I already have a boyfriend.”

The man’s grin faltered for a second, then twisted into something uglier. “A relationship like that can break easily. Once I want someone, I don’t let go. Don’t waste time with him. Come to me.”

His cronies at the back snickered and banged their chopsticks against bowls, cheering him on.

The bald man raised his hand and snapped his fingers. “Brothers, hold down her friends. Let’s show her what happens when someone refuses me.”

Chairs scraped as his cronies began to stand.

But Xi Ping, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke. Her voice cut like ice. “I suggest you stay where you are. If you come closer, you’ll regret it. Dead men can’t eat hot pot.”

The temperature around the table seemed to drop. Her eyes glowed with sharp coldness, and for a moment the gang members froze, their instincts screaming danger. Even the bald boss blinked, thrown off by the killing intent flashing in Xi Ping’s gaze.

But then he recovered, puffing out his chest. He forced a laugh. “What’s this? Feeling jealous, girl? Afraid I only have eyes for your pretty friend? Don’t be so insecure.”

Xi Ping’s lip curled in disgust. “Insecure? You? Please. Have you looked at yourself? Your face is so swollen, you look like a pig that rolled in grease.”

Some diners burst out laughing despite themselves. The sound carried, and soon the restaurant filled with quiet snickers.

The boss’s face turned red, but before he could speak, Su Jiyai tilted her head. She glanced at his large belly and asked softly, “How many months along? You must be due soon.”

The laughter in the restaurant exploded. People covered their mouths, trying not to laugh too loudly, but their shoulders shook.

Xi Ping grinned. “Careful, Boss. With that belly, people might think you’re expecting twins.”

The bald man’s face went from red to nearly purple. His teeth ground so hard it sounded like stone cracking. He glared at Su Jiyai, pointing a shaking finger at her.

“You… don’t test me. Don’t cross my bottom line. If you do, I’ll make sure you learn how to serve me properly. I’ll teach you during the night, beauty.”

The diners fell silent instantly. The laughter vanished, replaced by dread. Everyone could feel the threat in his voice.

Qin Feng finally moved. His chair scraped the floor as he stood up, towering slightly over the bald man. His eyes were calm, too calm, and his voice carried no emotion.

“You’ve said enough.”

The bald man glared at Qin Feng and puffed out his chest. He slapped it with his palm and barked, “You think you can scare me? Don’t act like some hero. Worry about yourself. Stop showing fake bravado.”

Qin Feng’s lips curled into a cold smile. His voice was calm, steady, and sharp. “Fake bravado? You think I’m bluffing? No. But if you keep doing what you’re doing, your ending won’t be good.”

With that, Qin Feng lifted one hand slightly.

The motion looked simple, but the bald man suddenly froze. His eyes widened in shock. His whole body spun half a step, rotated as if a giant invisible hand had grabbed him, and then stopped. He couldn’t move.

Sweat poured down his face. His mouth tried to open, but no sound came. He wanted to scream, but his lips stayed shut tight like they were locked.

Inside his head, he cursed. ‘What is this? Why can’t I move?’ He wanted to shout at his men, to tell them something was wrong, but nothing came out.

At the other table, his cronies were completely unaware.

“Boss is quiet,” one laughed. “He must be planning something big.”

“Yeah, just say the word, Boss! We’ll tear these fools apart!”

“Once Boss gives the signal, we fight. We’ll show them what Black Lotus is made of.”

The bald man blinked rapidly, his eyes rolling wildly, desperate for them to understand. ‘Idiots! Can’t you see I can’t move? Help me, you fools!’ But the cronies only grinned, waiting.

Time passed, but the boss never spoke. Slowly, the smiles on the cronies’ faces faded. One of them frowned. “Boss? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Another stood up and walked closer. His voice was nervous. “Boss… you okay?”

Then the rest crowded around. One by one, their eyes widened.

“Why is he frozen like that?”

“Boss? Can you hear us?”

“Boss, what’s happening?!”

Just as panic spread among them, suddenly, each of them felt their own bodies lock up.

“What…what is this?” one stammered, but his mouth clamped shut before he could finish. His eyes rolled in terror.

Another thug tried to step back, but his legs would not move at all. His hands stiffened midair.

Within seconds, the whole gang stood like statues, frozen in place.

The restaurant fell into stunned silence.