"Kid, put some muscle into it! More force!"
"Right, that's it! Much better now!"
The shop owner wore a smug expression.
An Yi's face darkened.
Under the dim lighting, An Yi held a scraper in one hand and a hot towel in the other, meticulously wiping away the production dates on the plastic containers.
That's right—the female shop owner had summoned him to the warehouse to deal with these expired goods.
"Boss, isn't this illegal?" An Yi tossed the towel aside and spoke up.
Hearing this, the shop owner scoffed. "What's illegal about changing a production date and reprinting the code? Not paying wages and selling unregulated products is illegal too, but I’ve done all that without consequences. So what?"
"These are expired goods. They could kill someone!" An Yi said coolly.
The shop owner glared at him. "Don’t talk nonsense! Don’t screw this up, and keep your mouth shut—or I’ll make you regret it!"
Oh-ho, this shop owner’s got some nerve!
A mischievous grin curled at An Yi’s lips.
"Do a good job, and I’ll pay you properly! Just wipe all the unmarked dates off these unregulated products. I’ll be out front minding the store."
With that, the shop owner waddled out of the warehouse, her hefty frame swaying.
"Proper wages… wow, what a privilege."
An Yi shook his head inwardly and pulled out his phone from his pocket—still recording.
Good thing he’d kept a backup plan.
**Ding! System Mission: [Trash the Place]! Reward: Skill Level +1, Villain Points +10!**
**[Trash the Place]**
**Objective: Cause property damage exceeding 10,000 yuan!**
"Tsk, tsk, boss lady… the system made me do it. Don’t blame me!"
An Yi grabbed a dusty baseball bat from the warehouse, blew off the grime, and eyed the shelves stacked with expired drinks, alcohol, and food. His grin widened.
**Thud!**
The sound of the bat striking echoed.
Justice or no justice—he just wanted to smash things!
---
"Welcome! Today’s special: spend 100, get 20 off!"
Lan Ruoxi handed out flyers with a sweet smile, but her expression froze when she saw who had walked in.
It was Lan Yihe—her father’s younger brother, her own uncle.
"Xi’xi, look at how you’re dressed. If your mother saw you like this, she’d be heartbroken!"
Lan Yihe spoke in a condescending tone, sighing theatrically.
"No need for your concern, Uncle," Lan Ruoxi replied, her usually gentle voice edged with rare sharpness.
Lan Yihe chuckled. "Still mad at your old uncle, huh? I already told you—I’m broke! Still 3 million in debt, see?"
His debt was common knowledge, so he saw no point hiding it.
At his words, Lan Ruoxi’s face turned icy.
Not long after her father’s death, he had kicked her and her mother out of their home.
If she hadn’t been desperate—unable to scrape together her mother’s surgery fees—she would never have lowered herself to borrowing from this monster.
"Don’t look at me like that. You’re still young—you don’t understand my struggles."
Unfazed, Lan Yihe grinned, his expression almost deceptively affectionate.
If Qiu Xu hadn’t taken a liking to his niece and wanted her as his girlfriend, he wouldn’t have bothered trying to mend fences with her.
Orphans and widows were easy targets, after all.
"If you have nothing else to say, don’t disturb my work," Lan Ruoxi said coldly.
"What, you don’t need money anymore? Giving up on your mother’s treatment? Think this measly job will earn you 200,000? Dream on!"
Lan Yihe sneered mercilessly.
"Brother Lan, no need to be so harsh on a girl."
Seizing the moment, Qiu Xu stepped forward, offering Lan Ruoxi a charming smile.
"Ah, Young Master Qiu!"
Lan Yihe straightened up. "Xi’xi, let me introduce you—this is the third son of the Qiu family. Their family owns Grandview Real Estate."
Many men in the supermarket had been drawn to Lan Ruoxi, and seeing their goddess cornered by a sleazy fat man and a young guy, they’d been ready to intervene.
But the mention of Grandview Real Estate made them freeze.
They were just ordinary folks—who’d dare pick a fight with one of Jiangbei City’s biggest tycoons?
Lan Ruoxi paled slightly.
She knew about Grandview Real Estate—she just didn’t understand why Lan Yihe had brought someone like this to her.
"200,000 is nothing. Your mother’s health comes first—I can lend it to you."
Qiu Xu smiled, his tone smooth.
Ordinary girls didn’t get this much effort from him.
But Lan Ruoxi was different. The fear in her eyes only stoked his protective instincts.
A girl with such spirit—he didn’t want to ruin her carelessly.
"N-no, thank you."
Lan Ruoxi lowered her head, uneasy.
She had no idea what he really wanted from her.
Hearing her refusal, Lan Yihe looked stunned. "What, your mother’s cured now? You know how hard it was for me to find someone willing to lend you money?"
"My mother’s fine! We don’t need your help—just leave us alone!" Lan Ruoxi gritted her teeth.
"Damn brat, you’re asking for a beating—"
Enraged, Lan Yihe’s face flushed crimson as he raised a meaty hand to slap her.
Then—
A hand shot out, gripping his wrist and stopping the strike midair.
It was An Yi.
Lan Yihe struggled but couldn’t break free. "Who the hell are you? Mind your own business!"
"Is he your dad?" An Yi asked Lan Ruoxi, raising an eyebrow.
She shook her head.
"Good. Then this won’t be a problem."
Baring his teeth in a grin, An Yi’s eyes turned razor-sharp. His fist lashed out like a hammer, crashing into Lan Yihe’s bloated face.
**Thud!**
Lan Yihe’s face contorted grotesquely as the punch sent him flying.
The force was unreal—his 200-pound body soared through the air like a sack of lard before tumbling across the pavement.
Qiu Xu, witnessing this up close, broke into a cold sweat.
This kid looked younger than him—how was he so strong?
Lan Ruoxi gasped, her beautiful eyes fixed on An Yi’s poised fist, her cheeks flushing pink.