Ye Wenxi spun around, ready to run—but the thug, Number Three, lunged at her with a cruel grin.
Her courage surged. She swung the heavy stacks of books in her arms and smashed them at him!
The thug instinctively dodged, and in that split second, she seized the opportunity and bolted forward, ignoring everything else.
Behind her were chaotic shouts and the pounding of approaching footsteps.
Meanwhile, Lu Weidong drove the borrowed jeep toward the bookstore, keeping a careful eye on pedestrians.
It was getting late; he worried they might take different routes.
Rounding a corner, he suddenly caught sight of a chaotic scene ahead.
Ye Wenxi was sprinting down the street with her bundles, chased by several obviously dangerous men!
A surge of heat rushed through his chest.
His gaze sharpened instantly, and he slammed the accelerator to the floor.
The jeep roared angrily, charging straight toward the group!
Ye Wenxi had only one thought: run! Get to where there are people!
She could hear the breath and footsteps behind her growing closer, her heart hammering in her throat.
Just as despair threatened to overwhelm her, a screech of brakes pierced the air.
A jeep skidded to a stop across her path.
The door slammed open, and a tall, imposing figure leapt out like a black lightning bolt.
Before she could react, iron-strong arms wrapped tightly around her, shielding her in his embrace.
“Ah—!” The shock made her scream, struggling instinctively.
“Wenxi!”
A familiar voice, full of anger and urgency, thundered in her ears.
She looked up and met Lu Weidong’s eyes, blazing with a terrifying fury.
“Lu Weidong…”
Her voice trembled with the aftershock of survival.
She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, burying her face in his solid chest.
Her whole body trembled uncontrollably.
The thugs, seeing a uniformed officer storm down with a face ashen and fierce, knew they were in deep trouble and tried to flee.
Lu Weidong gently released Ye Wenxi’s arms, keeping her behind him.
In the next instant, like an enraged leopard, he bounded forward in a few swift strides.
His boot slammed down on the leg of the last thug, who screamed and collapsed to the ground.
Without pause, Lu Weidong intercepted the remaining thugs.
Seeing no escape, they exchanged glances and grabbed bricks from the roadside, hurling them at him.
Lu Weidong’s eyes turned icy. He sidestepped, blocked, and disarmed them with movements so fast they were dizzying.
In no time, all were thrown to the ground, curling up in pain.
Seeing the danger cleared, Ye Wenxi’s tension snapped.
Anger and fear surged through her. She charged forward, kicking the thugs fiercely!
“You bastards! Scum! How dare you bully me! Step on you all, you sons of—!”
She kicked and cursed mercilessly.
The thugs, already flattened by Lu Weidong, now writhed on the ground, screaming and pleading.
Lu Weidong, watching Ye Wenxi kick and curse, felt a small relief—her fierce spirit eased the tension in him.
He stepped forward, gently enveloping her from behind, leading her away from the thugs.
“All right… it’s over…”
Holding her, his palm stroked her hair again and again.
Ye Wenxi, panting, was enveloped in his familiar scent.
The tide of anger and vengeance ebbed, leaving a wave of fear and frustration.
Her chest tightened, and tears slipped down uncontrollably.
Feeling her trembling, Lu Weidong tightened his hold, gently patting her back.
He lifted her chin, brushing away her tears with his fingertips.
Then, he bent down and pressed a light kiss on the crown of her head.
Ye Wenxi’s tense body slowly relaxed, her breathing steadying.
She sniffled and, a little embarrassed, shifted slightly from his embrace.
Lu Weidong turned his face, his gentle expression vanishing in an instant.
In a few strides, he yanked the tall lead thug off the ground like a ragdoll, pressing him against the wall.
His voice was low, cold, and dangerous:
“Speak! What were you trying to do just now?”
Ye Wenxi stepped forward, voice icy: “Xu Miao sent them.”
Lu Weidong’s face darkened instantly.
He glanced at the groaning thugs and said sharply:
“You lot, I’ve remembered every one of you. Now go to the police station and confess. Explain who sent you.”
Each word landed like a hammer in the thug’s ears.
“If I find out you didn’t turn yourselves in, the consequences won’t be so simple.”
He hoisted the tall thug and started walking back.
“Big brother! Officer! Spare me!” The thug trembled in terror, legs weak.
“I was just paid to scare her! I swear to God, I didn’t do anything else!”
Lu Weidong ignored him, shoved him into the jeep’s passenger seat, and motioned Ye Wenxi to the back.
The jeep spun sharply, engine growling, racing toward the family compound.
At the gate, he didn’t slow down—he barreled in without warning.
Two guards were startled and hurried after him.
The jeep screeched to a halt at Xu Miao’s house, tires screeching against the ground.
Lu Weidong slammed the door, circled to the passenger side, and dragged the shaking tall thug out, slamming him to the ground.
The guards arrived, saluted sharply.
“Captain Lu! What’s—?”
Lu Weidong frowned, pointing at the thug.
“Harassing a military family in public, with ill intent. Keep him secure. Don’t let him run.”
The guards held the thug firmly.
Lu Weidong strode up to the Xu house, aura radiating pure authority, and hammered on the door.
It was after five, the hour everyone returned home.
Xu Miao’s family was there; hearing the unusual pounding, Xu Miao frowned and went to open the door.
She first felt relief—Lu Weidong!
But then, she saw his face, radiating an icy, terrifying anger she had never seen before.
Her gaze shifted backward, and her face went pale.
A bruised, beaten tall thug was held by the guards, and Ye Wenxi stood a little distance away, coldly watching her.
“Brother Weidong… what’s going on?” Xu Miao’s voice wavered.
Lu Weidong’s voice was frigid:
“I’m not here to talk to you. I’m here for your father.”
Hearing the commotion, Xu Miao’s father hurried out.
Seeing the scene, he immediately sensed something was wrong.
“Wei Dong? What’s happening?”
Lu Weidong didn’t answer, his gaze freezing on Xu Miao.
“Ask her.”
His voice was deadly serious: “If she doesn’t speak…”
He dragged the crouching tall thug before Xu Miao and her father.
“Let this man, who harassed a military family in public with ill intent, speak for himself.”
Xu Miao turned pale, lips trembling, unable to utter a word.
Her father’s blood boiled with a mix of anger and shame:
“Speak! What exactly is going on?!”