CHAPTER 852: CHAPTER 852: SEEKING REFUGE

He looked at Xu Ke as if a mouse had seen a cat.

"Why are you staring at me? Get to work." Xu Ke said.

As soon as Xu Ke spoke, the man flinched as if startled, and under Xu Ke’s gaze, he slowly moved his broken finger.

"How, how is this possible? I clearly remember this finger was broken." The boss’s brother said in surprise, while trying to explain: "I didn’t lie to you, it was indeed broken just now, but I don’t know why it’s fine now."

Afraid that Xu Ke might misunderstand him, the boss’s brother nervously explained. Several times he nearly bit his own tongue while speaking.

"It really was broken just a moment ago, I clearly remember it was broken, I even fainted from the pain."

"Alright, no need to explain, I know it was broken, I’m the one who broke it, and I know it’s fine now because I fixed it." Xu Ke interrupted him.

He had reason to believe that if he didn’t interrupt, the boss’s brother would keep explaining until Xu Ke believed him.

As soon as Xu Ke finished speaking, the boss’s brother looked like a chicken with its neck broken, his eyes wide open, unable to utter a single word, his gaze darting between his finger and Xue Ke.

He wore a look of wanting to say something but couldn’t, and if it were anyone else, they might ask what he wanted to say, but he encountered Xu Ke, which meant he wasn’t going to get a break.

"Why did I break your finger, I think you should know, but seeing how stupid you look now, even if the answer was handed to you, you wouldn’t take it. So let me be clear, I’m warning you, don’t reach for things that aren’t yours, or next time it won’t be as simple as a broken finger, I’ll make sure you permanently become someone without hands, and that way, you probably won’t reach for things that don’t belong to you, right?" Xu Ke asked innocently, making the boss’s brother break into a cold sweat, desperately thinking of excuses to exonerate himself.

But words once spoken are like water spilled; it’s impossible to take them back unchanged.

"What are you still doing here?" Xu Ke tilted his head and asked the boss’s brother standing in front of him: "Do you want me to ask you to leave?"

"No, no, I’ll go, I’ll leave right away." The boss’s brother couldn’t hide the relief on his face when he realized Xu Ke was letting him go.

He pushed past his boss brother and started to leave, only to be stopped by Xu Ke again, "Don’t forget to take your men with you, and next time if you come to trouble him again, I’ll trouble your whole family, he’s under my protection, and you can’t touch him, got it?"

"Got it, got it, I’ll manage myself and never cause trouble again." All the boss’s brother could think about was finally being able to leave this place, he was so excited he wanted to set off firecrackers to celebrate.

The boss’s brother left with his men in a panic, and the surrounding crowd slowly dispersed once there was no more excitement to watch, leaving only Xu Ke and the boss in the inn.

"Do you need to go to the hospital?" Xu Ke pointed at the boss’s face which looked like a color palette.

"No need, it’s just minor injuries, I’ll apply some medicine, thank you so much for today, I don’t know what would have happened without you." The boss said with an embarrassed expression, "I initially wanted to provide you a comforting stay, but it ended up involving you in our family matters instead."

"We’re all friends here. It’s what friends do for each other." Xu Ke said nonchalantly, waving his hand.

"The inn is in such a mess now, it’s not suitable to stay here. I’ll contact a renovation team to fix it up. You go pack your things, I’ll take you to a friend’s place for a few days until the place is ready." The boss hurried to add, fearing Xu Ke might be reluctant to leave with him, "My friend is a great person, hospitable, and I’m sure you’ll have lots to talk about. We will be good friends too. Don’t stand on ceremony with me, my friend is your friend."

"Okay, wait for me a moment." Xu Ke said and headed upstairs to his room. However, the smile on his face vanished as soon as he turned around, his expression becoming cold, and his gaze as icy as a block of ice.

With his luggage, Xu Ke left with the boss to seek refuge with the boss’s friend.

The boss’s friend didn’t live far from the inn, and after walking for half an hour, they arrived at a residential building.

They rang the doorbell and were allowed to enter.

The boss’s friend lived on the third floor. As he opened the door, glimpses of the interior revealed a traditionally styled home, like a time portal.

"I heard about what happened at the inn and figured you’d come over, I prepared a room for you, what do you think? Am I a good friend or what?" A buzz-cut young man answered the door, his smugness apparent, but like the boss said, he was indeed hospitable.

Xu Ke entered and was handed a large fruit platter, and his luggage was taken to a side room.

"My place may be small and not as big as the inn, but you’ll be comfortable and feel at ease. Here, treat it like home, don’t be shy. If you need anything, just tell me, I’ll get it for you. Whether you acknowledge me or not, you helped my brother today, so you’re my brother too. No need for formalities." The young man said, playfully punching Xu Ke’s shoulder.

"Okay, I won’t stand on ceremony." Xu Ke smiled in agreement, although his heart remained unperturbed.

The young man originally wanted to have a drink with Xu Ke, but Xu Ke politely declined.

"Another day perhaps, I’m pretty tired today and just want to rest early." Xu Ke said, holding his head.

"Alright then, some other time for drinks, but at least have a glass of water today. Here’s a toast to you with water, then I’ll be off drinking with the boss, I’ll let you rest at home." The young man said, handing Xu Ke a cup of water.