The man's hand closed around Song Yue's arm with unshakable force, lifting her as easily as if she weighed nothing at all. His grip wasn't gentle—he was furious—but beneath the anger was something else. Is it fear? worry? or panic? Perhaps, all three...
Song Yue, however, slapped his shoulder hard. "Nie Rougang! You're the one who chased me away. Even if you saved me just now, I'm not going back with you!"
She kicked and twisted like a wild cat, flailing her arms.
She wasn't going to make this easy for him.
He should beg her. Apologize. Plead.
But Nie Rougang wasn't in any mood to care about her mood.
Without a word, he threw her straight into the back seat of the black sedan that had screeched to a stop beside them. Then he got in after her.
The doors slammed. The engine roared. And the car shot forward like a launched arrow.
Song Yue's heart lurched along with it. Through the open window, faint gunshots echoed behind them. She jerked her head back toward the nightclub.
"Oh no—Lan Xia…! I hope she's alright—"
"If you have time to worry about someone else," Nie Rougang snapped, "worry about yourself first."
She whipped around and glared. "Why would I worry about myself? I didn't say I'd go back with you! You're forcing me! You don't get to drag me home after you threw me out!"
Her voice trembled even though she tried to hold it steady. The adrenaline was wearing off. Fear and anger tangled up inside her chest.
Nie Rougang pressed a button; a soundproof panel slid up between them and the driver, sealing them off in a private space. His anger still simmered, dark and heavy. Without warning, he yanked Li Meiran's blazer off her shoulders, rolled down the window, and tossed it out into the wind.
"You shouldn't be wearing another man's clothes," he growled.
Song Yue blinked. Something small had fallen from the blazer during the struggle—a wallet. She clenched it secretly, her stomach sinking when she realized what it was. Li Meiran's wallet.
Nie Rougang had almost thrown away the money she and Lan Xia desperately needed.
"Can't you see my clothes are torn?" she retorted, hugging her body. The thin nightclub outfit offered no warmth now. The cold seeped through her skin, making her shiver uncontrollably.
Nie Rougang grunted and shrugged off his own blazer, tossing it over her like a shield. "You call that thing clothes?"
His anger—still burning—wavered for a second. She looked too small. Too cold. Too breakable.
But Song Yue rolled her eyes. "Why isn't it clothes? It's my work uniform! I had to wear it!"
"You might as well be wearing nothing!" His voice exploded like thunder. The control he usually carried snapped entirely.
He grabbed the flimsy fabric and tore it with one pull. The shredded piece fluttered uselessly. "Wearing this should be illegal!"
His gaze dropped to her bag—and the condoms spilling inside. His face darkened to something terrifying.
"You even agreed to sell that kind of thing?" His voice vibrated with fury. "Didn't I give you enough money? You think I can't support you? And you—selling those things with your face? Do you understand what kind of danger—"
His chest heaved. His fists tightened. Rage and fear blended into one explosive force.
If Xu Feng hadn't been following her…
If he hadn't arrived when he did…
If Li Meiran had gotten another minute…
He raised his hand as he used to when she was a stubborn child refusing to listen.
"Hit me then!" Song Yue shouted, lifting her face defiantly. "Go ahead! If you hadn't thrown me out, I wouldn't be wearing these clothes! I wouldn't need to sell anything! I wouldn't have met that Boss! And if something did happen—somehow you'd still blame me! All because you don't want me anymore!"
Her voice cracked.
Her eyes burned.
She didn't protect herself. She just sat there, small and tired, hands in her lap.
Nie Rougang's hand swung.
Air brushed past her forehead—soft as a sigh. A strand of her hair fluttered.
He couldn't do it.
He couldn't hit her.
He couldn't even pretend to.
His hand fell uselessly to his side.
Anger drained from him in a rush, leaving a hollow ache in its place. She was right. Even if he was trying to protect her, he'd pushed her straight into danger.
Meanwhile, back at the nightclub…
Li Meiran's bodyguards combed the street littered with shattered glass and debris. One of them spotted the blazer tossed aside on the ground and hurried over.
"Boss, we found your blazer."
Li Meiran looked at the dirt-stained fabric with pure contempt. "Get the wallet from the pocket."
The bodyguard obeyed—turned it inside out, shook it, checked three times.
"Boss… the wallet is gone."
Li Meiran's expression chilled to an arctic freeze.
He didn't care about the cash.
He didn't care about the cards.
But the photo… the photo inside…
It was stolen.
"Have you found out who the girl is?" he asked, voice razor-sharp.
Sikong Jue stepped forward. "Yes. The friend tried to call the police before we intercepted her. Before she hung up, we overheard the name. The girl is from the Song family—Nie Rougang's niece."
Li Meiran blinked slowly, purple eyes darkening. "Nie Rougang's niece is poor enough to sell those things?"
"I didn't believe it at first either," Sikong Jue admitted. "But the way he fought with you—risking his life—she must be important. That bullet grazed your scalp, Boss. If either of you had lost focus, someone would be dead."
Li Meiran snorted. "Where is the girl's friend?"
"I saw Nie Rougang's men arriving, so I let her go. She wasn't involved."
"You're too soft, Sikong Jue." Li Meiran waved a dismissive hand and turned to the men behind him. "Find out which school the Song girl attends. I'm not done with her."
The bodyguards nodded and scattered.
Li Meiran looked at his bitten arm, the jagged indentation and dried blood forming an ugly wound.
Sikong Jue winced. "You look like a stray cat bit you. Need medicine?"
Li Meiran's gaze sharpened. "Remember this—when we settle the score. And yes. Bring medicine. Price doesn't matter."
Sikong Jue's smile darkened. "No problem. She'll pay for that bite."
He strode off into the night.
Minutes later, Li Meiran's men returned with the school address. Li Meiran glided his thumb over the slip of paper, and a slow, sinister smile curved across his lips.
Then he vanished into the darkness like a ghost hunting its prey.
*
Back home…
Song Yue's pride held until the moment they arrived at the villa. Her legs wobbled. Exhaustion dragged at her bones. Before she could protest, Nie Rougang wrapped his blazer tightly around her and carried her straight into the bedroom.
"Shower. Change clothes," he said, voice hard but trembling at the edges. "If you ever do that kind of work again—I will deal with you personally."
He slammed the door behind him.
Song Yue pressed her hand to her chest.
So… she was allowed to stay?
Her heart fluttered just a little.
Then she felt something in her grip.
She opened her palm and stared. It was Li Meiran's wallet.
Inside: A few crumpled bills—barely a thousand yuan, but enough for the deposit. Several cards like—Black Diamond, Gold Diamond, cards so luxurious they made her dizzy.
Rich. He is beyond rich.
Then something else slipped out.
A small photo—edges worn, colors fading.
A tiny girl, three or four years old, smiling at the camera.
Song Yue frowned, blinking.
"Who is she?" she whispered.
And why would a man like Li Meiran carry this photo with him?