In the banquet hall, Xu Fan stayed by Xia Xiaodie's side, chatting idly with Gelangqiao and actively accommodating his requests so that he could bring his inspired jewelry designs to life.

Logically speaking, products born from the inspiration of an international master like this, if released to the market, would certainly be bestsellers, but Xia Xiaodie had changed her mind.

The products designed by Gelangqiao this time, she did not plan to release them for market sale but instead wanted them as a private collection, unwilling to let them be tainted by the smell of money.

At this, Xu Fan didn't know whether to laugh or to cry, women, sometimes they really are quite strange.

It seemed that they had already confirmed the rough blueprint of the jewelry they planned to design next. Seeing Gelangqiao stop his pen, Xu Fan glanced at him and asked, "Qiao, besides these drawings, I hope you can provide some more jewelry drawings for me."

"Yes, in a collaborative way."

"This?"

Before Gelangqiao could react to Xu Fan's sudden request, it had already surprised Xia Xiaodie enough to look over at him.

"Xu Fan, you this..."

Collaborating with Gelangqiao to venture into the jewelry industry was, for business or for himself, something Xia Xiaodie understood better than anyone.

Xu Fan smiled and said, "Since I've come, I can't just come for nothing, right?"

Indeed, the request he made to Gelangqiao at the moment was mostly for Xia Xiaodie's sake.

She rarely planned to seriously undertake something, how could he not support her?

"So Mr. Xu Fan, you're also in the jewelry industry?"

Gelangqiao looked at Xu Fan with some surprise, but after thinking it over, he felt it made sense.

Since Xu Fan had come to this banquet, it all made sense.

"To be honest, Mr. Xu Fan, our conversation just now has given me quite a bit of inspiration. If you say you want to have a contract with me, I, Gelangqiao, wouldn't refuse."

"If you need, in the next few days, I can design a batch of Eastern-themed jewelry for you."

For Gelangqiao, a foreigner, Huaxia was full of mystery, and his designs had never tried to incorporate Eastern elements before.

If Xu Fan were to collaborate with him, he was indeed interested in giving it a try.

"Qiao is really straightforward. Since that's the case, I'll have someone send over the contract to you in the next few days, I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

"I wish us a pleasant collaboration in advance."

Xu Fan now stood up with a smile and shook hands with Gelangqiao.

With everything now settled, Gelangqiao seemed in a hurry to perfect the design he had on hand, and hurriedly excused himself from the two.

Xia Xiaodie was still thinking about the jewelry business Xu Fan had just mentioned, and now, left alone with Xu Fan, she no longer kept silent.

"Xu Fan, why are you doing this..."

Even though she knew the reason, Xia Xiaodie still couldn't help but ask.

Perhaps, she just wanted to hear Xu Fan say it out loud.

"Well, why?"

Upon hearing this question, Xu Fan stroked his chin reflectively and answered, "The Zhou Family is pretty unpleasant to look at, I wanted to play with them a bit. Of course, the most important thing is, someone wants to make a big impact, how could I not help her?"

"Humph, big silly."

After this conversation, Xu Fan's gaze still hadn't moved off her, Xia Xiaodie's cheeks reddened slightly and, pouting her lips, she quickly headed toward the banquet hall's exit.

Now that they had negotiated everything, the relationship with Xiaodie seemed not so rigid anymore.

"It looks like I owe Sister Lan a big favor again."

Xu Fan sighed and murmured to himself with a bitter smile, then quickly stood up and followed her out.

…

Trailing slowly, Xu Fan soon left the hotel.

"Damn..."

Now standing at the hotel entrance, he looked around, hoping to spot Xia Xiaodie.

His gaze shifted to the alley next to them, seeing Xia Xiaodie being held and forced into it by more than ten people. Xu Fan cursed under his breath and hurriedly followed.

It was still not dark, yet this group dared to carry out such an act. Even if Xu Fan were to think with his toes, he would understand who had sent these men.

Zhou Zidong, you are really asking for death.

"Tsk tsk, this kid, really brainless. He actually led us right in."

Moving quickly into the deep alley, he could see that the more than ten people who had previously abducted Xia Xiaodie were now relaxed and waiting inside.

Xia Xiaodie was held by a few of the men, unable to move.

But when she saw Xu Fan chasing in, she didn't panic at all.

Instead, her face carried a trace of pity for these men.

The moment the target bit, these ten or so people promptly came over.

One by one, their robust arms twirling a metal chain, they flashed Xu Fan a sinister smile.

Clearly, that chain was going to be used on Xu Fan shortly.

"Ten seconds, clear out."

Careful with his words, Xu Fan really didn't want to waste time with these petty thugs.

As for Zhou Zidong, who had harbored ill intentions this time, he would naturally learn his lesson later on.

"What, what?"

As Xu Fan's words fell, the leader burst out laughing.

"Kid…"

He disdainfully sized up Xu Fan, about to speak, but before he could finish, Xu Fan started counting on his own.

"Nine."

"Eight."

...

The indifferent attitude, like a big slap, brutally struck all the thugs present.

Their expressions gradually darkened, and no longer did they conceal the murderous intent in their eyes.

The leader coldly stared at Xu Fan and snorted, "Kid, stop counting, how about I count for you?"

He looked at Xu Fan defiantly, his lips twisted to one side, and snorted, "One."

Immediately, the people around could not hold back and burst into loud laughter. What is the saddest scenario in this world?

It's nothing but being embarrassed the moment one tries to show off!

This guy, really thinks he's capable? Could one person really turn the world upside down? Going around counting ten seconds?

Fine! Now that the counting is over, what can you do?

It was already dusk, the sunlight was sparse, and this alley was even more gloomy.

As the laughter continued unabated, suddenly, a highly incongruent moan sounded.

Following the sound, the thugs looked ahead to see that what they had labeled as a clown, Xu Fan, had already transformed into a shadow surging towards them!

Faster than the wind! Faster than their reactions!

Before surprise could even surface on their faces, Xu Fan had already closed in on the leader.

With an unmerciful palm, he directly grabbed the other's throat, lifting him up against the wall as if holding up a toy.

With a crackling sound, the thugs widened their eyes, shifting their gaze from their leader—who was now struggling to breathe and turning pale—to the cracks splintering behind him.

All this resulted merely from him raising his hand...

The laughter had completely stopped, leaving only the sound of everyone swallowing nervously.

At this point, they realized that they had probably messed with the wrong person...

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