Chapter 41: Sing a Song of Conquest!

“You want us to help you propose marriage?” Zhang Ze’s eyes lit up at Qian Qian’s suggestion.

He’d made trouble for the detective bureau before, but never for a mother-in-law.

“It’s easy to arrange, but it all depends on whether you can persuade the few of us,” he replied readily, not missing this perfect chance to take advantage of Qian Qian.

Qian Qian simply gave a sly chuckle.

Qingxue, who had been listening nearby, smiled sweetly. She nudged Qian Qian’s chest and said gently, “You all talk it over. There’s no need to hurry things with my mother.”

“I’ve got to get back to work—I can’t have someone covering for me all night.”

With a few final words, Qingxue pushed open the door and left.

Qian Qian glanced at Zhang Ze and Peng Fei but didn’t pursue the previous topic.

Soon, the off-key singing resumed in the private room, filling it once more with laughter and music.

...

“Hey, hey, hey!”

“You kids sing like you’ve never heard a proper tune in your life!” The raucous singing finally stopped when the two bald men pushed open the door and entered.

Everyone looked around and quickly realized that nobody recognized these two.

“What do you two want?” Qian Qian, finally finding his bravado, grabbed the microphone and shouted at the two bald men.

Meanwhile, Zhang Ze, keeping an eye on them through the system, noticed both had a cell strength rating above 170S—clearly first-class martial artists.

“Look how worked up our little friend is!” The bald one grinned at his buzz-cut companion and tiptoed over to stand beside the Jinlong brothers.

“We’re just here,” he drawled, “to join in and sing a few songs with you.”

His words were laced with sarcasm, making Jinlong and Jinyu frown, but sensing these two were martial artists, they refrained from acting rashly.

“Heh.” Jinlong scoffed, “So, what do you want to sing?”

“This one here looks pretty tender—ever been in love?” the bald man teased, causing Jinlong’s face to darken.

He and Jinyu were both first-class martial artists, and with Cai Hu and Zhang Ze on their side, there was nothing to fear from these two.

“If you won’t say, I’ll choose for you,” Jinlong said coldly, then turned to Zhang Ze, “Let’s have them sing ‘Conquer’ for us.”

Zhang Ze raised his brows in mild surprise. “Didn’t expect Jinlong to have such a fiery temper,” he thought.

But he had no objection. Two first-class martial artists were nothing—they had plenty more on their side, and even Zhang Ze alone wouldn’t be intimidated.

Soon, the familiar intro to the song played.

The bald man seemed eager, scooting closer to Jinlong as if genuinely ready to sing.

But his buzz-cut brother was having none of it.

“I’ve got nothing against anyone’s preferences, I just came to have a bit of fun. Now you want me to sing ‘Conquer’ for a bunch of kids who probably haven’t even grown all their hair?”

“Are you kidding me?” He scowled, “Get lost, I’m not singing.”

“Oh, really?” Jinyu, less patient than his brother, bristled at the refusal. “You came in through our door, said you wanted to sing, and now you’re backing out?”

They too were first-class martial artists at a young age, which spoke volumes—and naturally, they were proud.

The buzz-cut man’s expression chilled in response to Jinyu’s attitude.

“Wait, wait, wait,” the bald man hurriedly interjected, seeing things escalate. “We’re just here for a bit of fun, don’t fight.”

Neither he nor his brother expected Jinlong and Jinyu, who looked so young and delicate, to be so hot-blooded.

“Hey!” Jinlong shot to his feet, seizing the bald man’s wrist in a vice-like grip, “It’s one thing to talk, but why are you grabbing me?”

On the side, Zhang Ze watched the scene with a faint smile. “Jinlong’s picked up a thing or two—he’s managed to get the basics of a fist technique in a single day.”

...

The sudden grip left the bald man’s arm numb and powerless.

“What’s all this about?” he stammered, forcing a smile as he pleaded for mercy from the brothers.

The buzz-cut man, realizing they were not to be trifled with, immediately changed his tune.

“Alright, alright, I’ll sing! Both of us will sing ‘Conquer’—that’s what you want, right?”

...

In the end, amid Zhang Ze and the others’ laughter, the two interlopers sang “Conquer” with forced grins and then quietly departed.

“You’re an idiot,” the buzz-cut man grumbled as they left. “Those brothers were martial artists, and the other two didn’t look easy to handle, either. You wanted to get them in bed? Who’s to say which of you is bent?”

The bald man just chuckled, “I wouldn’t mind being the one on the bottom.”

Catching the lingering look in his eyes, the buzz-cut man cursed and left without another word.

The bald man didn’t follow. Instead, he headed for the stairwell.

“Hey, Sister Ping,” he cooed into his phone, his voice syrupy sweet.

...

Zhang Ze and his friends sang until one in the morning before leaving the KTV.

“We’ll head home from here,” the Jinlong brothers said, nodding to Zhang Ze and the others, with Cai Hu joining them.

“Are you really willing to help me sound out Qingxue’s family?” Qian Qian nudged Zhang Ze with his elbow, asking quietly.

“Hey,” Peng Fei jumped in, “If Brother Ze’s not free, I can go!”

“You?” Qian Qian laughed, recalling the way Peng Fei looked at Qingxue. “Go propose for yourself, why don’t you?”

“Come on,” Peng Fei replied cheerfully, “I may be a farmer, but I know enough not to covet a friend’s wife.”

“I don’t mind going, but all this running around does wear your cell strength down, you know,” Zhang Ze said pointedly.

Qian Qian instantly understood his meaning. “Alright, take this,” he said, handing over a first-class strength-enhancing pill.

“Heh, deal,” Zhang Ze replied. “I’ll go run the errand for you. But what should I say? That I want to marry her myself?”

“Get lost!” Laughter erupted, and soon everyone went their separate ways.

Peng Fei, whose home was in Bangqing City, stayed at the Yongsheng Martial Arts Hall.

Zhang Ze, returning to his dormitory, fell instantly into a deep sleep.

...

Meanwhile, on the streets of Heyue City—

“You two be careful,” Cai Hu called as he disappeared from sight, leaving the Jinlong brothers just a couple blocks from home.

Both were martial artists and paid little heed to his warning.

“Those two kids, right?” Behind them, a woman in leather, her figure boldly outlined, strolled arm-in-arm with the bald man from the KTV.

“Sister Ping, don’t you think those brothers are just adorable?” he simpered.

She laughed lightly, patting his shiny head, “Not bad at all.”