Using his position as an embassy staff member, Counselor Zhao temporarily dismissed the Miami police guarding the ward door. He pushed the door open and stepped inside. The sharp smell of disinfectant hit his nostrils immediately.
"Uncle Zhao, you must avenge me!" Qin Feng, lying sulkily on the hospital bed, heard the door creak open. The moment he saw who had entered, his eyes lit up, and he shouted loudly.
"Revenge? What revenge? Have you forgotten why your father sent you to the United States? This is Miami, not the imperial capital. You can't act as you please here!" Counselor Zhao glared at him, his tone dripping with exasperation.
Hearing this, Qin Feng froze, momentarily at a loss for words. He often forgot he was no longer in China. No matter how influential his family was back home, their reach couldn't extend into the United States.
"Consider this a lesson. Getting beaten up isn't the worst thing that could happen. If you file a complaint, at most, the other party will spend a few days in jail or do some community service. After all, you were the one who started it. Honestly, it's embarrassing. You didn't even manage to land a hit." Zhao's tone grew harsher as he approached Qin Feng's bedside, looking down at him with a flicker of disdain. If not for the favor owed to Qin Feng's father back in China, Zhao wouldn't have wanted to deal with this entitled second-generation rich kid at all.
"Uncle Zhao, no! I've never suffered such humiliation in my life. There's no way I can just let this go!" Qin Feng's indignation boiled over at the mere suggestion of swallowing his pride.
"Like it or not, you'll have to swallow it. Otherwise, you'll be sent back to China! The video footage from the beach is crystal clear—it shows your people throwing the first punch. If they didn't beat you to death, you should count yourself lucky. Back in China, your actions might have already cost you everything," Zhao snapped, his voice cold and unforgiving.
Qin Feng's face twisted as he processed the harsh reality. Desperate, he muttered, "What if… what if we buy the video? Then we can turn the tables and sue them!"
Zhao's expression darkened further. "Do you have any idea how serious it is to tamper with evidence or bribe witnesses in the United States? If you want to dig your own grave, don't drag me into it. I've said all I needed to say. You're on your own now. Focus on recovering, and once you're well enough, head to Panama—and don't come back." With that, Counselor Zhao cast one final glare at Qin Feng and stormed out of the ward, leaving the young man seething with resentment.
As Qin Feng schemed in silence, Jiang Hai and his team spent a quiet night resting. Early the next morning, they drove to the medical research institute recommended by Cindy Clive—the primary reason for their trip to Miami. However, as they traveled, Jiang Hai couldn't shake the feeling that yesterday's altercation wouldn't be resolved so easily.
"Are you still worried about that guy from yesterday?" Marian, seated in the passenger seat, noticed Jiang Hai's pensive expression and asked gently. Everyone in the car was still feeling unsettled after the previous day's events.
"That guy took a big hit. Based on what I know about these second-generation Chinese kids, he's unlikely to let it go," Jiang Hai replied with a wry smile, his hands steady on the wheel.
"This is America," Marian countered. "It's not a place where they can do whatever they want. Maybe you're overthinking it." Her voice was calm, but Afra, sitting in the back, leaned forward and draped her slender arms around Jiang Hai's neck. Resting her head close to his, she murmured softly, "You're worrying too much, Jiang."
"Maybe. But I'm afraid these types won't play by the rules," Jiang Hai said, rubbing his temples.
Darlene, sitting in the backseat, chimed in, "Why not ask your wife about this guy? Didn't she say she's pretty connected back in China? Like you always say, 'Know your enemy as well as yourself, and you'll always be victorious.'" Her words made Jiang Hai pause. She was right—he wasn't alone in this.
Despite his preference for handling problems on his own, Darlene's suggestion reminded him that consulting Qi Li wasn't exactly asking for help. Picking up the car's Bluetooth headset, Jiang Hai dialed Qi Li's number.
There was a thirteen-hour time difference between Miami and China. While it was past eight in the morning in Miami, it was already after nine in the evening in Beijing. Qi Li had just returned home after a long, fulfilling day.
Her life had been busy lately, but she found it rewarding. She'd temporarily resolved her issues with Jiang Hai, made progress in her business endeavors, and was close to launching her new Western restaurant. Yet, as she sat in her luxury apartment in the second ring of Beijing, the quiet space felt hollow—a stark contrast to the warmth of Jiang Hai's estate.
"Maybe I should get a pet," she mused, before dismissing the idea. "I'd be too busy to take care of it, and it'd probably turn into a mummy while I'm away." She chuckled softly at her own joke, but her thoughts drifted back to Jiang Hai and the carefree lifestyle he represented. She remembered the night he carried her away from the mountain lion, and her heart skipped a beat. A faint blush crept up her cheeks—until her phone's ringtone jolted her back to reality.
Seeing Jiang Hai's name flash on the screen, she smiled and picked up the call. "Jiang Hai? It's so late. What made you think of calling me?"
Hearing the uncharacteristic softness in her voice, Jiang Hai paused. "Are you feeling okay? You sound different."
"I'm fine, just a little tired from managing the restaurant renovations," Qi Li replied, quickly regaining her usual composure.
"I'll keep this brief, then. Do you know a second-generation rich kid named Qin Feng?" Jiang Hai asked.
"Qin Feng? Why do you ask about him?" Qi Li's tone sharpened, her mind immediately conjuring the image of an arrogant playboy she despised.
Jiang Hai quickly recounted the incident at the beach, carefully omitting any mention of sunscreen. Qi Li listened intently, her mood lifting when she heard that Jiang Hai had stood up to Qin Feng—a man whose antics she detested.
She explained Qin Feng's background, detailing his family's connection to the An family and their long-standing rivalry with the Qi family. Although Qin Feng had never dared to cross serious lines with her, his persistent arrogance had always grated on her.
Hearing Qi Li's account, Jiang Hai felt a sense of relief. It seemed Qin Feng wasn't someone who could cause him serious trouble, at least not officially.