Jiang’s mother was completely enraged.
She widened her eyes and shouted furiously, “A-Si, hit her back!”
As soon as her words fell, a figure flashed past like a ghost.
Then came a loud, resounding slap.
Shen Nanzhi didn’t even have time to dodge. Her whole body was knocked to the side, her face burning with pain.
She snapped back to her senses, remembering that Jiang’s mother had a shadow-like ninja bodyguard named A-Si by her side.
Everyone in the compound knew about this.
Jiang’s mother had once been kidnapped, and for her safety, Jiang’s father had spent a fortune hiring this bodyguard.
Seeing Shen Nanzhi’s swollen face, Jiang’s mother was still not satisfied.
“Hit her again—hit her hard!”
Hearing this, everyone felt a chill for Shen Nanzhi.
“When A-Si makes a move, it’s fast and ruthless. No one escapes.”
“Shen Nanzhi brought this on herself. That pretty face of hers is about to be ruined.”
“Serves her right—she won’t be able to seduce other men anymore.”
Listening to the murmurs, Jiang’s mother glanced at Shen Nanzhi’s half-swollen face, the cruelty in her eyes deepening. “A-Si, hit her!”
Shen Nanzhi quickly stepped back again, but A-Si was even faster.
She only saw a blur before his hand was already swinging toward her face.
Despair filled her as she shut her eyes tightly, waiting for the harsher slap to fall.
At the same time, at the gate, Lu Xiangyang was being pushed in his wheelchair. He happened to hear Jiang’s mother ordering A-Si to strike.
Knowing A-Si’s abilities, his gaze sharpened. He quickly pulled out a slingshot from his waist and fired at A-Si’s raised hand.
Time seemed to freeze.
Shen Nanzhi didn’t feel the expected pain but instead heard a muffled groan.
She opened her eyes in confusion.
A-Si stood in front of her, his face twisted in pain. The hand meant to strike her was frozen midair, trembling uncontrollably.
Not far away, Jiang’s mother roared, “Lu Xiangyang, what right do you have to injure my bodyguard?”
Following her gaze, Shen Nanzhi saw Lu Xiangyang sitting in his wheelchair, his handsome face now exuding a chilling aura.
His deep eyes swept coldly over A-Si, as if looking at a dead man.
Under that gaze, A-Si shivered and involuntarily stepped back, nearly losing his balance.
Seeing this, Jiang’s mother stomped her foot in anger and pointed at Lu Xiangyang, shouting sharply, “Lu Xiangyang, apologize to my bodyguard immediately!”
Lu Xiangyang acted as if he hadn’t heard her. His clear, deep eyes remained fixed on Shen Nanzhi, his tone gentle.
“Nanzhi, come here.”
Like someone who had found a savior, Shen Nanzhi immediately ran over.
Her cheek was badly swollen, looking alarming.
Seeing this, the coldness around Lu Xiangyang intensified, as if the air itself had frozen.
Everyone held their breath, afraid of angering him.
A-Si trembled in fear.
“Who did this?”
Lu Xiangyang’s voice was soft, but it carried a biting chill that made people shudder.
Shen Nanzhi could clearly feel the anger radiating from him and knew Jiang’s mother wouldn’t let this go easily.
She didn’t act tough.
She pointed at A-Si in the distance, her eyes filled with hatred. “It was him!”
If he dared to hit her and ruin her face, then he shouldn’t blame her for being ruthless.
“Xiangyang, my face hurts so much—it’s definitely disfigured. You have to avenge me!”
She crouched down, crying pitifully, though there was a stubborn glint in her eyes. Combined with her swollen face, it made her look especially pitiful.
Lu Xiangyang looked at her swollen face, the coldness in his eyes deepening.
He glanced at A-Si as if looking at a corpse.
Terrified, A-Si quickly stepped back, preparing to flee.
But Lu Xiangyang was faster.
A small stone shot out and struck A-Si’s left leg precisely.
A-Si lost his balance and crashed heavily to the ground.
“Dashan, grab him!” he ordered coldly.
Like an eagle catching a chick, Wang Dashan lifted A-Si off the ground and threw him in front of Lu Xiangyang.
Lu Xiangyang didn’t even look at him, only saying coldly, “Return it tenfold.”
Hearing this, Shen Nanzhi frowned.
She had no intention of doing it herself.
Slapping A-Si ten times would hurt her hands too.
Before she could speak, she heard a series of slaps.
Wang Dashan delivered ten heavy slaps to A-Si, knocking out two front teeth. Blood filled his mouth, and his face swelled like a pig’s head—an unbearable sight.
Jiang’s mother finally reacted.
Seeing her bodyguard beaten half to death, she was furious. “Lu Xiangyang, what right do you have to hit my man?”
Lu Xiangyang lifted his gaze, his eyes cold. “What right? Don’t you know, Madam Jiang?”
His tone was mocking, as if looking at a clown.
Jiang’s mother froze, disbelief in her eyes.
As an actress, she quickly concealed her emotions. “How would I know? Shen Nanzhi is my son’s fiancée. She injured him—I’m just disciplining her. What’s wrong with that?”
“She’s Jiang Feng’s fiancée? Have they registered their marriage or held a wedding?” Lu Xiangyang sneered. “Then what was my wedding the day before yesterday?”
Jiang’s mother was left speechless.
Lu Xiangyang didn’t give her a chance to recover.
“Madam Jiang, for the sake of your family taking care of Nanzhi all these years, we’ll call this even. But if you dare trouble or harm her again, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
With that warning, he withdrew his gaze.
When he looked at Shen Nanzhi again, his expression softened.
“Nanzhi, let’s go home.”
Shen Nanzhi immediately stood and pushed his wheelchair inside.
Aunt Wang came over carrying a tray with ice and gauze.
“Nanzhi, quickly put this on your face.”
“I’ll do it,” Lu Xiangyang said expressionlessly.
Aunt Wang had already handed the tray to Shen Nanzhi. Hearing her young master’s words, she frowned slightly but didn’t dare disobey.
Shen Nanzhi was stunned.
She had expected criticism—expected to be scolded for being useless enough to get hurt like that.
In her previous life, whenever she suffered, Jiang Feng would only blame and scold her, never standing up for her or offering a single word of concern.
“Nanzhi, go back to the room.”
As Lu Xiangyang spoke, he wheeled himself forward.
Shen Nanzhi hurried over. “I’ll push you.”
After entering the room, she clutched the corner of her clothes, suddenly feeling at a loss.
This was only the second time she and Lu Xiangyang were alone in a room.
The first time had been their wedding night.
Back then, after Jiang Feng’s interruption, her mind had been filled with teasing Lu Xiangyang, and she hadn’t noticed anything else.
But now, she felt strangely nervous and awkward.
“Why are you standing there? Sit down.”
Though Lu Xiangyang’s tone sounded like an order, to Shen Nanzhi it carried a hint of gentleness.
Her face reddened slightly as she quickly walked to the bed and sat down.
Lu Xiangyang took the ice wrapped in gauze and gently pressed it against her swollen cheek.
The cold touch made her gasp, “Hiss!”
His hand paused, and he looked at her nervously. “Does it hurt a lot?”
She shook her head, then nodded, too pained to speak.
Seeing her like that, he felt both angry and distressed. “You’re afraid of pain, yet you still stir up trouble.”
His words were stern, but his movements grew even gentler.
He carefully applied the ice, afraid of hurting her.
A cool sensation spread across her cheek, and the burning pain quickly subsided.