Chapter 18

Shao ChengZe pinned down the person secretly taking photos with one hand, and snatched the camera from him with the other hand, passing it to Cheng Jinlan behind him.

Cheng Jinlan took the camera and flipped through the photos inside. The paparazzo became anxious. These were photos he had finally managed to sneak today after much difficulty. He had originally been completely immobilized by Shao ChengZe, but in his anxiety, he suddenly erupted with strength, freeing his hand from Shao ChengZe's grip. His hand formed a fist and swung towards Shao ChengZe.

Shao ChengZe could have easily avoided it, but he suppressed his instinctive reaction and did not move or dodge. The fist collided with his cheekbone with a loud "slap", making everyone who heard it wince.

At least the paparazzo thought it should hurt a lot. He looked at his own fist, then at the red swelling on the corner of Shao ChengZe's eye, somewhat dumbfounded. Since when did he become so fierce that, based on his many years of fighting experience, he could tell that Shao ChengZe's initial move to subdue him had left him no chance to counterattack whatsoever. He didn't even know how he had broken free and landed a punch on his face.

Why did he feel like Shao ChengZe had gone easy on him? Why would he go easy on him? The paparazzo looked at Shao ChengZe, his eyes filled with grief and indignation. He wouldn't be trying to scam him right? Where's the justice in this, when he's the one doing something illegal like sneaking photos, yet he doesn't even have money to be scammed out of!

Shao ChengZe looked at Cheng Jinlan with his swollen eye corner and asked her, "Did you get anything?"

There were some photos of Shi Ran hugging Cheng LiQi from behind. Cheng Jinlan removed the memory card from the camera, glanced over him without pausing on his face, and just asked the paparazzo, "Do you have any other photos?"

The paparazzo wilted. "No, I only started following today." How unlucky, to get caught right on his first job.

Cheng Jinchuan had noticed the situation here as soon as he got out of the car. He slammed the car door shut and strode over in three quick steps.

"Why are you everywhere?" Cheng Jinchuan's tone towards Shao ChengZe was very unfriendly.

The paparazzo panicked, thinking he was talking to him. This paparazzo, known in the circle as Brother K, had followed and photographed Cheng Jinchuan for a period of time before, trying to substantiate a scandal between Cheng Jinchuan and a female celebrity. But he didn't get the photos he wanted and had been caught red-handed by Cheng Jinchuan at the time. Cheng Jinchuan had warned him then not to appear in front of him a second time.

He didn't recognize Shao ChengZe, since Shao ChengZe had never appeared in public before. He assumed him to be a new bodyguard hired by the Cheng family, so he didn't take him seriously. But he was familiar with Cheng Jinchuan's methods, and knew that the eldest Cheng son was all smiles on the surface but ruthless underneath. He hadn't wanted to take this job, but the price offered was too high while he was desperate for money. He never expected to be so unlucky as to get caught again so quickly. Cheng Jinchuan probably wouldn't let him off easy this time. Should he give up the camera and run? At least he had to get away from Cheng Jinchuan.

His mind raced to assess the situation, then he took a deep breath and mustered all his strength to charge recklessly at Shao ChengZe. Brother K was half a head shorter than Shao ChengZe, so his head rammed right into Shao ChengZe's nose bridge. Shao ChengZe only felt his nose go sour as a stream of warmth flowed from his nose. He had to lift his head up to prevent the nosebleed from continuing downward.

This was the moment Brother K had been waiting for. He wanted to break free while Shao ChengZe was distracted, but Cheng Jinlan stuck out her foot and tripped him up before he could escape. Shao ChengZe easily grabbed hold of him with one hand again.

Seeing this, Cheng Jinchuan couldn't help but mutter inwardly that they coordinated quite seamlessly, though they were useless for letting a single person break free and injuring themselves in the process, requiring his own sister to step in to assist.

He felt it was pathetic. He nudged Shao ChengZe with his shoulder, taking Brother K from his hand. "That's enough, let go. Don't get involved with our family affairs in the future. You're useless in helping yet liable to scam us instead."

Men understand men best. Cheng Jinchuan had witnessed Shao ChengZe's skills before. Even if two more Brother K's came at him, they probably wouldn't get near his body. For him to get a swollen face and bloody nose now, Cheng Jinchuan knew he must be plotting something.

At this time, Brother K finally cleared his muddled head and realized - he was trying to scam the Cheng family, not scam me! The Chengs are loaded!

Shao ChengZe had to turn aside to stop his bleeding nose. He had anticipated Brother K's actions but didn't expect his head to be so hard. The blood was flowing heavily so he lifted his head higher. The sunlight was glaring. He peered at the people around him through half-closed eyes.

"Lower your head."

The cold voice rang out beside him. Shao ChengZe glanced over, a barely noticeable gleam in his dark pupils.

Cheng Jinlan was impatient. "Lower your head and pinch your nose."

"Alright." Shao ChengZe did as she instructed.

Cheng Jinlan took out a pack of tissues from her bag and threw it to him. "Go to the hospital in ten minutes if it doesn't stop bleeding."

Her voice held not an ounce of warmth or excess words.

Shao ChengZe gripped the pack of tissues. "Okay," he responded gently.

Cheng Jinchuan couldn't stand watching this anymore. He said to Cheng Jinlan, "You go on ahead first. I'll handle the rest here."

"Mm," Cheng Jinlan had no worries with Cheng Jinchuan present. She handed him the camera and walked towards the restaurant entrance.

After Cheng Jinlan entered the restaurant, Cheng Jinchuan released his hold on Brother K. Brother K didn't expect to be let go. He had just tried to run when Shao ChengZe, who was tending to his nose, blocked him from behind. The two men, who were usually at odds, became perfectly in sync at this moment.

By now, Brother K realized that even without them restraining him, he couldn't escape now. Both men were over six feet tall, one in front and one behind, leaving him boxed in like a trapped chick, only able to gasp for breath against the wall.

Cheng Jinchuan lit a cigarette and held it in his mouth. "Speak. I'm still in a mood to talk nicely now. Who gave you this job?"

Brother K wiped the sweat from his face. "I really don't know. As you know, those of us in this line get jobs and money through middlemen. The price offered was high this time, just to follow and photograph your second sister's daughter.

Hearing this, both men's expressions chilled.

"Who's the middleman?" Shao ChengZe asked sharply.

Nothing left to hide at this point, Brother K told the truth. "I only know his name is Da Meng, definitely not his real name. He always contacts me for jobs via texts from different numbers."

Hearing this name, Shao ChengZe's brow twitched slightly.

Cheng Jinchuan noticed it. Since they couldn't get any more useful information out of Brother K, he waved for his driver to come take the man to the police station.

"You know this Da Meng?" Cheng Jinchuan asked.

"I've dealt with him once."

Cheng Jinchuan's eyebrows twisted into a knot as he gnashed his teeth and said resentfully, "Don't tell me it's your Shao family who got Da Meng to take these photos and you're just pretending to be good now."

"Impossible." Shao ChengZe stated firmly.

"How do you know? What despicable things can your family not do?"

Shao ChengZe replied, "Da Meng is at odds with the Shao family. Even if they needed someone, they wouldn't use Da Meng."

Cheng Jinchuan gave a derisive snort. "The number of people at odds with your family really is substantial."

"I'll look into Da Meng."

"No need for you to handle it."

Shao ChengZe's expression was solemn. "President Cheng, this concerns little LiQi. We shouldn't quarrel over this. The sooner we find the person behind it the better." Cheng Jinchuan gave a cold humph, which counted as acquiescing. "If you can't find out anything by tomorrow morning, don't get involved with this anymore." Having said that, he left.

Shao ChengZe threw the bloodied tissues into the trash can, a ferocious chill lurking in his eyes as he dialed a number.

Cheng LiQi had eaten a large slice of cake after dinner, leaving her tummy a little bloated. It was past nine o'clock but she wasn't sleepy yet. Her mom was taking a bath while she sat on a blanket in the living room, playing with jigsaw puzzles. Her phone on the sofa suddenly vibrated. Cheng LiQi ran over and was about to bring the phone to her mom when she saw the string of numbers on the screen. Her eyes curved into crescent moons as she tapped Answer.

"Daddy, you called Mommy but I picked up! I knew it was you as soon as I saw the number."

To present-day Cheng LiQi, Shao ChengZe was more like an exciting new friend. She had become very curious about him and accepted him readily, but he didn't hold too much significance in her heart yet. She wouldn't miss him terribly if she didn't see him, just feel very happy when she did.

Hearing her clear voice, Shao ChengZe's cold expression softened. "Little LiQi, what are you doing? Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Cheng LiQi patted her small tummy. "I ate too much tonight so my tummy feels bloated. I can't sleep. I'm playing with jigsaw puzzles."

"What picture are you piecing together?"

"A huge castle and a big grassy field. Daddy, do you want to see? I can video call you." Cheng LiQi wanted to share her masterpieces with her dad.

"Daddy would love to see it. I'll hang up first, then video call you, okay?"

"Okay!" Cheng LiQi nodded happily.

As soon as the video connected, Cheng LiQi waved excitedly at the screen, then noticed her dad's red nose bridge. She peered closer at the screen. "Daddy, what happened to your nose?"

The swelling around Shao ChengZe's eye had gone down after icing it, and wasn't very noticeable anymore, but the bridge of his nose had taken a hard hit and would probably remain bruised for a day or two. He told Cheng LiQi, "I bumped it by accident."

Cheng LiQi was very concerned. "Does it hurt, Daddy? Let me blow on it for you, blow on it and it won't hurt anymore."

She then blew softly towards the phone screen twice. "Does it still hurt, Daddy?"

Shao ChengZe's heart melted at her actions. "After little LiQi blew on it, Daddy feels much better already. It doesn't hurt at all now."

Cheng LiQi found it strange. "How did Daddy bump your nose?" She had bumped her legs and head before but never her nose.

Shao ChengZe gave an awkward little cough and abruptly changed the topic. "Where's Mommy? What's Mommy doing? Daddy has something to discuss with her."

"Mommy's taking a bath."

Cheng Liqi suddenly had a flash of inspiration and thought of something. She called Shao Chengze in a very soft voice, "Dad."

"Yeah, what's up? Daddy is here."

She spoke so softly that Shao Chengze thought she was going to tell him some secret.

Cheng Liqi's finger touched the red nose on the screen, "Dad, are you using a bitter trick? Did you deliberately bump your nose, and then want Mom to feel distressed for you?"

When Grandpa wanted to coax Grandma, and Grandma didn't want Grandpa to coax her, Grandpa peeled an apple and cut his hand, bled, and deliberately turned in front of Grandma. After Grandma saw it, she immediately felt extremely distressed.

Big uncle said that Grandpa was using a bitter trick.

So, Dad, are you also using a bitter trick like Grandpa? Otherwise, how could an adult bump his nose like that?

Facing his daughter's sincere eyes, Shao Chengze couldn't say a word.