"Master Zhou, Li usually doesn't need to make a move," Zhao Ba explained.
Master Zhou frowned slightly at this, his displeasure seemingly growing, as if Li Se were some trump card.
However, given Zhao Ba's status, he couldn't openly express too much. Besides, Zhao Ba was right; with him present, why would anyone else need to act? So, he merely let out a barely audible hum and said nothing more.
Qingyun City was about a hundred kilometers from Tiancheng. At a faster pace, it could be reached in an hour, but the driver wasn't going fast. After all, they had important figures in the car, and it took them over two hours to arrive in Tiancheng.
"Brother Zhao, when do the gang battles begin?" Li Se inquired.
"Tonight at eight o'clock. It will last for three days," Zhao Ba replied.
"Then I'll come over tonight. I have some other matters to attend to." Li Se had come to Tiancheng City, and of course, he had to visit Jiang Ranran. He hadn't seen her for many days.
"Just give me an address, and I'll send someone to pick you up tonight," Zhao Ba said, still quite respectful towards Li Se. While he addressed Li Se as "Little Li," it was a term used to foster closeness.
"No need, I can go myself," Li Se shook his head.
After Li Se left, Master Zhou expressed some displeasure, "Brother Ba, where did you find this kid? He's completely unnecessary."
Zhao Ba smiled, "Master Zhou, this Li's strength might be average, but his medical skills are extremely high. If you get injured later, he can treat you immediately."
"Brother Ba worries too much," Master Zhou scoffed dismissively. *Would I get injured? With my strength, can I still get injured? It's just a conflict between a few small gangs. If I stand there, no one can touch me.*
After parting ways with Zhao Ba and the others, Li Se called Jiang Ranran.
"Se, you miss me?" Jiang Ranran's sweet voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Yes, I miss you. I haven't seen you for several days," Li Se said, already hailing a taxi towards Jiang Ranran's maternal grandparents' home.
This was his first time in Tiancheng City, but he knew Jiang Ranran's maternal grandparents' address.
"I miss you too," Jiang Ranran sighed softly. "It's so difficult without you by my side."
"In what way is it difficult?" Li Se asked with a half-smile.
Jiang Ranran's pretty face flushed. "Difficult in all ways, okay?"
After a bit of sweet talk, Jiang Ranran said, "I really want to go back. My maternal grandparents keep trying to marry me off, it's so annoying."
"Oh, are they introducing you to boyfriends?" Li Se had spoken to Jiang Ranran on the phone quite a bit, and it seemed they were indeed trying to introduce Jiang Ranran to local wealthy young men.
Jiang Ranran's maternal grandparents' family was actually quite well-off. They likely wanted to leverage Jiang Ranran to form marriage alliances with those prominent families.
"Yes, that person is still here. It would be great if you could come," Jiang Ranran said helplessly.
As they were talking, Li Se had already gotten out of the car. He happened to see a figure making a phone call, and he smiled slightly, "Look behind you."
"Look at what?" Jiang Ranran asked, looking puzzled.
"Turn around, look behind you, and you'll know?" Li Se slowly walked towards Jiang Ranran.
Curious, Jiang Ranran turned around. At that moment, she was stunned, almost dropping her phone. The next second, she lunged into Li Se's arms, and they shared a kiss before separating.
"Why are you here?" Jiang Ranran was overjoyed.
"I missed you, so I came," Li Se shrugged. "Besides, your maternal grandparents keep trying to introduce you to boyfriends. I can't feel at ease. What if you get snatched away by another man?"
Jiang Ranran gently patted Li Se's chest with a blush, saying playfully, "You know I won't."
"I'm just not at ease," Li Se chuckled.
"Ranran, you're still on the phone, hurry up..."
At this moment, a voice rang out. It was Jiang Ranran's cousin, Guo Caijun. He was stunned when he saw Li Se, and then his brow furrowed, "Why are you here?"
"I'm here to see my girlfriend. Is there a problem?" Li Se said calmly.
Guo Caijun truly hadn't expected Li Se to appear in Tiancheng City, let alone be intimately with his cousin. This made him very displeased, as the entire Guo family wanted to marry Jiang Ranran to someone else, which would bring considerable benefits to their family.
"No problem. Alright, you've met, you should leave. Ranran, come inside with me quickly, Young Master Tian is still waiting." Guo Caijun urged.
Jiang Ranran clearly seemed reluctant.
Li Se took Jiang Ranran's hand, "Ranran, I'll go in with you."
"Okay!" Jiang Ranran nodded, primarily worried that Li Se might misunderstand.
But Guo Caijun beside them was displeased, "Did I say you could go in?"
"What, does the Guo family, as grand as it is, lack such basic courtesy?" Li Se taunted.
Guo Caijun angrily retorted, "How the Guo family is has nothing to do with a pauper like you to dictate!"
"Cousin, your words are a bit excessive!" Jiang Ranran said coldly.
"What's happening here?"
Guo Caijun was about to say more when another male voice sounded. A very tall, handsome man wearing glasses, looking rather refined, walked out.
"Young Master Tian!" Guo Caijun showed great respect towards this tall and handsome man.
Young Master Tian noticed Li Se holding hands with Jiang Ranran, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes. However, he still extended his hand with a smile, "Bai Shaotian, a pleasure to meet you?"
"Li Se!"
Li Se shook his hand.
"Caijun, since he's a guest, let him in," Bai Shaotian said, though a shadow of displeasure crossed his eyes, his words were all smiles.
"Go in!" Guo Caijun said with a cold face, clearly very unhappy with Li Se.
Li Se paid no mind to Guo Caijun, holding Jiang Ranran's hand as they entered the Guo family villa.
When the people inside the Guo family villa saw Jiang Ranran bring in a man, everyone's expression changed.
Their Guo family was hoping to facilitate a marriage alliance with the Bai family. Yet, now Jiang Ranran had brought back a strange man, and what's more, Bai Shaotian was present!
If Bai Shaotian were to reject this marriage proposal, the Guo family would suffer heavy losses.
"What's going on?"
The Guo family's old matriarch, holding a dragon-headed cane, looked domineering despite her age, "Who allowed you to come in?"
"Grandma, he is my..." Jiang Ranran tried to explain Li Se's identity to her grandmother.
"I'm not asking you!"
The old matriarch cut off Jiang Ranran, her eyes fixed on Li Se like a venomous snake, "Speak, who allowed you to come in?"
Bai Shaotian, who had allowed Li Se to enter, stood to the side, watching with a half-smile.