The Duke’s Affair -Part One

This translation maintains the original narrative, dialogue, and cultural nuances while ensuring that the story’s coherence and character interactions are preserved in English. “Get to it! Unless you knock me down, this girl is mine!” Bikui waved his hand, and instantly, about 30 armed men rushed in. Students and patrons immediately screamed and huddled in the corners, the scene spiraling out of control… Uncle Xiong’s men and Ximen Xu’s men, undisturbed by the scattering crowd, drew their guns, standing in a tense standoff with Bikui’s crew, the atmosphere thick with imminent conflict… Qiu Yu walked over to Ye Ye, the two girls standing there fearlessly, observing the confrontation with cool and sharp eyes… “Bang—!” Someone fired a shot into the air, shattering a light, and the crowd fell silent. From the side, another group approached, “You dare to covet my woman? Bikui, have you had too many good days?” Long Yu strode through the crowd, followed by SKY and his brothers. “Yu—” Ye Ye smiled, calling out softly to Long Yu. Long Yu walked over casually and possessively wrapped his arm around Ye Ye’s waist: “Bikui, do you really need to be beaten down to give up?” His tone was light, his face full of wild, arrogant laughter, his eyes piercing into Bikui’s astonished face. Bikui was perplexed; he was merely interested in a student, how did it provoke so many gang leaders? Looking at Long Yu, whom he had lost to in a Sanda match before, another fight would still end in defeat! He immediately retracted his earlier arrogance: “So she’s your girl, why didn’t you say so earlier! Since she’s taken, I won’t try to steal her. Brothers, let’s go!” “Don’t you owe an apology for scaring my woman?” Long Yu said coldly to Bikui. A smile played at the corner of Ye Ye’s mouth; who scared whom here? Probably only Bikui was shocked by the scene! Bikui hesitated, assessing his situation: “Sorry, it was a misunderstanding!” With that, he turned and left with his men without looking back. [From Paris to Rome: Thirty-Four, Ye Ye and the Nightclub 4] Ximen Xu glanced at Long Yu; they knew each other but weren’t friends, exchanging polite smiles before Ximen Xu led his men upstairs. Uncle Xiong, to avoid revealing Ye Ye’s identity, smiled reassuringly seeing Long Yu’s arrival, then returned to his office… Long Yu looked down at Ye Ye, slightly annoyed but with a hint of indulgence: “What should I do with you? You’ve attracted so many bees and butterflies in just a moment! Now I understand why your brothers are always glued to you… You’re too good at causing trouble!” He gently patted Ye Ye’s head as if talking to a kitten. Ye Ye pulled his hand away, looked around, and whispered to Long Yu: “Don’t lecture me here, let’s go to Uncle Xiong’s office!” Because everyone around was looking at her with curious eyes, while SKY had taken Qiu Yu to some hidden corner… Long Yu smiled, took Ye Ye’s hand, and they took the elevator upstairs. The dance floor returned to normal… They arrived at Uncle Xiong’s office on the top floor. Ye Ye and Long Yu greeted him and sat down opposite him. Uncle Xiong, sipping the kung fu tea served by a female attendant, said with a chuckle, “Girl, I visit you every year when I’m back in the country, why don’t you ever come to see your Uncle Xiong?” “I am here now, aren’t I?” Ye Ye smiled back. “You are here, but not to see this old man, rather with Long Yu’s boy… Hmm?” Uncle Xiong glanced at Long Yu with a knowing look. “Uncle Xiong, please don’t tell my five brothers. I and Yu… uh, just met, hehe… friends… friends!” Ye Ye didn’t want her five brothers to come rushing over, potentially ruining her budding relationship… Long Yu leaned back nonchalantly, his large hand spread over the back of the chair. He watched Ye Ye’s nervous expression with amusement; although he had never met her before, he was well-acquainted with her brothers and father, knowing how precious this only daughter was to them… For his own happiness, he didn’t want the fragile relationship to be crushed by those five, so he chose to remain silent! He’d settle the ‘friend’ account with Ye Ye later. “Uncle Xiong might be old, but not senile! Hehe, since Ye Ye doesn’t want to talk about it, I won’t mention it for now, hehe, as long as Ye Ye visits me more often, your aunt has been missing you!” Uncle Xiong took a sip of tea. “Ah, Uncle Xiong, I was actually planning to come over for dinner after class tomorrow! I hope Aunt Xiong won’t find me annoying!” Ye Ye quickly flattered him, but she was sincere. “It’s settled then, tomorrow night, I’ll have your aunt prepare a feast, hehe, Young Master Long, if you’re free, join us, since you and Ye Ye are friends, hehe!” Uncle Xiong deliberately emphasized the word ‘friends’ and watched Long Yu with a smile, who responded with a nonchalant attitude, “Sure, I’ll have the restaurant send over some top-grade shark fin, and trouble Aunt Xiong to make us some soup!” “Good, it’s settled! By the way, Ye Ye, what’s your relationship with Ximen Xu? I don’t think he stepped in for the sake of the Thousand Night Gate.” Uncle Xiong said seriously. Long Yu also looked at Ye Ye, curious about the same thing. Ye Ye looked puzzled, then remembered the ‘hero’ who stood next to her earlier, “I don’t know him! Who is he?” Ye Ye recalled the commotion caused by Ximen Xu in the crowd. “You don’t know him? That’s strange; he never meddles in others’ affairs!” Long Yu raised an eyebrow. “Is he very powerful?” Ye Ye asked. “He’s the arms king of Europe, serving under Duke Vulcan of France!” Uncle Xiong said. “Uh… Really? I had no idea! Can a duke deal in arms?” Ye Ye asked. “This is something only those in the know are aware of, no one talks about it openly!” Long Yu patted her head, explaining. “Oh, but I still don’t know him!” Ye Ye thought the surname Vulcan seemed familiar, but she couldn’t place it, concluding she must have heard of someone with the same last name. She certainly didn’t remember knowing any duke or arms king! “If you don’t know him, then forget it! Maybe he just thought Ye Ye was pretty and wanted to play the hero!” Uncle Xiong laughed, noting that Ximen Xu didn’t seem to have any ill intentions. Everyone laughed off the idea. “By the way, Young Master Long, what about the dock deal we discussed before?” Uncle Xiong remembered a business transaction with Long Yu.