My Ares Son-in-Law

Wang Lili twisted the hem of her clothes with both hands, her fingers turning white from the force, and muttered to herself:

"You...please stop making fun of me."

Xiao Chen stood aside, taking in this amusing scene.

He calmly accepted the elegant business card that Wang Lili handed him. The moment his fingertips touched the card, he felt a slight coolness, like a refreshing breeze in summer.

He slightly raised his head, looking at Wang Lili's shy appearance, and a rare, genuine smile appeared on his lips. His smile was like the warm and gentle sunshine in spring.

"Xiao Chen,"

He softly gave his name, his voice deep and magnetic.
"Thanks."

A strange thought crossed her mind: the expensive dark gray custom-made cloth outfit she had specially worn today was originally just to appear proper and composed in business settings, but she never expected it to have a hidden property of attracting romance.
It seems that next time I buy clothes, I need to seriously consider the cost-effectiveness. I shouldn't just focus on whether they look good, but also see if they have any other unexpected "benefits".

As soon as I stepped out of the building's imposing revolving door, a hot summer breeze carrying the smell of car exhaust wafted towards me like an invisible hand.

The hot wind carried the city's hustle and bustle, making Xiao Chen frown.

He raised his hand to hail a taxi, intending to confront the Black Phoenix Society, which haunted him like a ghost.

However, just as he raised his hand and before he could even make a move to stop the car, a fair, slender hand with distinct knuckles suddenly reached out from behind him with undeniable force.

The hand moved with lightning speed, slapping him hard on the shoulder with a loud "smack".

"Xiao Chen!"

A clear and somewhat urgent shout, like a sharp arrow, pierced straight through the slightly noisy air of late summer.

Xiao Chen was engrossed in figuring out how to deal with the persistent Black Phoenix Society when the sudden shout made his body react faster than his mind.

His eyes flashed sharply, like lightning streaking across the night sky, sharp and cold.

Almost reflexively, he grabbed the wrist that was slapping his shoulder with lightning speed and precision, as if he had rehearsed it countless times in his mind.

Immediately afterwards, he lowered his waist, like an ancient pine tree rooted in the earth, and stood firmly on his feet.

At the same time, a swift and unstoppable force of an over-the-shoulder throw was already gathering momentum within him, ready to be unleashed with just a little effort, and his opponent would be slammed to the ground.

However, at that very moment, time seemed to freeze.

At that critical moment, Xiao Chen forcefully froze the impending force in mid-air.

His body trembled slightly, not from excessive exertion, but from the shock he felt.

He recognized the person who had come.

The person before him was not the Black Phoenix Society assassin he had been worried about, but Zhou Hongyan, the female warrior from the Yama Palace of the ancient city, renowned for her cold and capable demeanor.

On ordinary days, Zhou Hongyan always wears that dark blue uniform that symbolizes order and authority, looking heroic and awe-inspiring.

But today, she took off her signature uniform and put on a simple outfit.

A snow-white shirt tucked into light blue jeans accentuated her graceful yet powerful figure.

Her ponytail was tied high, neat and refreshing, showing a rare air of dashing ease, as if she had detached herself from that cold and aloof martial artist image and gained a touch of human warmth.

"How come it's you?" Xiao Chen slowly released his grip on Zhou Hongyan's wrist, his brows furrowing slightly, his eyes full of confusion.

His voice was deep and steady, yet it couldn't hide a hint of surprise in his heart.

Zhou Hongyan shook her wrist, which had almost dislocated. A red blush had appeared on her wrist, showing how strong Xiao Chen's grip had been.

She glared at Xiao Chen, her eyes filled with both reproach and a hint of barely perceptible concern.

"That's what I should be asking you!"

She put her hands on her hips and said aggressively.
"I'm staking out a mission nearby; this financial center is my mission area."

But you, Xiao, the idle fellow, who's usually elusive, what brings you to this financial center today, all dressed up in a suit and tie?
"Could it be that the sun rose in the west?"

As she spoke, her gaze swept over Xiao Chen's well-tailored clothes without any attempt to conceal it, like a searchlight.

The cloth garment appeared to be made of superior material, with exquisite workmanship and every line perfectly placed, showcasing exceptional quality.

Her eyes held undisguised surprise and scrutiny, as if she were getting to know the man before her all over again.

"Wow, clothes really do make the man. I almost didn't recognize him."

What, you're applying for a job at Nanlai Group?

With your skills, you're a well-known figure in the martial arts world. Why would you need to work a nine-to-five job in a place like this, bound by those rules?

Her tone was somewhat teasing, yet it also subtly revealed her bewilderment at Xiao Chen's actions.

"Commander Zhou!"

Xiao Chen paused slightly, his tone flat and emotionless, like a calm lake without a ripple. Without even turning his head, he turned to leave, his resolute back seemingly declaring: I have no obligation to report my whereabouts to you, and you have no right to interfere with my departure.

Doubts suddenly arose in Zhou Hongyan's mind, like heavy dark clouds quickly shrouding her once clear mind.

Years of professional experience and keen intuition sounded an alarm in her mind, telling her that this was no coincidence. Xiao Chen's sudden appearance in this financial center must be hiding a secret.

She didn't care about anything else and was about to chase after him, determined to get to the bottom of things.

However, at this critical moment, a deafening, terrifying roar that seemed to tear the sky apart suddenly exploded from the sky above without warning!

The sound was like a million bombs exploding at the same time, or like the roar of an ancient beast, making people's eardrums ache and their hearts tremble violently.

"boom!!!"

The sudden loud noise made Zhou Hongyan shudder, as if she had been struck by an electric current, and the hairs on her body stood on end.

She suddenly looked up, her gaze urgently fixed on the source of the sound.

On the top floor of the Nanlai Building, the once sturdy structure now resembled a toy torn apart by a giant, with thick smoke billowing out like a black beast breaking free of its cage, spreading wildly across the sky.

The thick smoke blotted out the sky, as if it would swallow the entire world.

At the same time, crimson flames, like greedy demons, frantically licked at the glass curtain wall, shattering glass wherever they went, with shards falling like raindrops.

The next second, Zhou Hongyan's pupils contracted sharply due to extreme fear, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand! (End of Chapter)