“You know me?”
Qiao Shuran had already guessed his identity.
“Yes.” Zhou Bingchen wore a smile on his face and quickly stepped toward her. “I’ve seen your photo in the family group chat.”
“Oh, your Fourth Uncle…”
“Fourth Aunt!”
Before she could finish speaking, her wrist was suddenly grabbed by the young man in front of her.
“Since you’re here, I’d like to ask you for a favor.”
He pulled her forward as if grasping a lifeline.
“My uncle made a mistake. Could you please go to Fourth Uncle and help plead for him?”
“Plead?”
What a coincidence—she had also come here to plead for someone.
It seemed this Zhou Yannan really was a villain, doing ruthless things and punishing people everywhere.
Instantly, Qiao Shuran felt righteous indignation surge within her.
“Where is he? Take me there!”
“Alright.”
Zhou Bingchen clearly looked slightly flattered. He had not expected her to agree so easily to such a difficult matter.
“They’re in the basement. I’ll take you.”
They took the elevator down to the second basement level. Zhou Bingchen pulled her along quickly.
“Fourth Aunt, if we’re any later, it might be too late.”
“What exactly is going on?”
She was not an unreasonable person. Even if she was going to plead, she needed to know the reason.
But Zhou Bingchen did not have time to explain.
“Please just stop them first. I’ll explain afterward.”
As he spoke, they had already reached a gilded bronze door.
He released her and pressed the control button.
The heavy door slowly opened.
The interior was dimly lit. Before Qiao Shuran could adjust her vision, a bloodied severed hand flew straight toward her and landed at her feet.
“Aah!”
She screamed in terror, instinctively stepping backward. But her legs gave out, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.
When she opened her eyes again, she was already lying in an extravagantly decorated room.
Fragrant scents filled the air. The large bed beneath her was soft.
In her line of sight was a handsome, upright man.
The blood on his body had already been cleaned away, and the viciousness in his eyes had also disappeared.
It was as if everything that had just happened had been nothing more than a nightmare.
But the nausea churning in her stomach told her otherwise.
She pushed the man in front of her away and ran barefoot into the bathroom.
“Ugh… ugh…”
She bent over the sink, retching several times, but nothing came out.
When she lifted her head again, the man’s face appeared in the mirror—calm, but not gentle.
“How did you find your way here?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her and trapping her against the sink.
“Sorry, I didn’t hear your call.”
“Where is my aunt? Where did you take her?”
Qiao Shuran’s eyes were red. Like a frightened small animal—afraid, yet still forcing herself to be brave.
“I’ve already married you. She has nothing to do with you anymore.”
“I didn’t touch her. The kidnapping was a misunderstanding.”
Zhou Yannan’s lips brushed near her ear.
“She’s already safe now. You don’t need to worry.”
“A misunderstanding?”
Tears slid down her cheeks. She forced herself to suppress both fear and nausea.
“Then what about that hand just now? Was that also a misunderstanding?”
“He committed a mistake. Those who make mistakes must be punished.”
Zhou Yannan did not explain further.
He turned and walked out, returning shortly with a pair of slippers in his hand. He placed them beside her feet.
“I still have matters to handle. Rest here first. I’ll be back later.”
His footsteps gradually faded away.
Only then did Qiao Shuran slowly recover from the physical discomfort.
Despite everything, she had not forgotten the reason she came.
Zhou Yannan had said her aunt was safe now—but where was she? Had she contacted her?
She subconsciously reached into her pocket for her phone, only to realize her clothes had already been changed.
Yes—when that severed hand flew over, blood had splattered all over her.
She must have been cleaned up after fainting.
She hurried out to the bed and found her phone still there, lying neatly beside the pillow.
She picked it up. There were no missed calls.
But there were a few messages from an unknown number.
【Girl, don’t worry about me anymore. I’m fine now. That ponytail guy came to apologize and said he was just joking… so I joked back too, haha】
Below the message was a photo—Qiao Chu’s hand gripping a tuft of “ponytail.”
She had pulled out someone’s hair?
Qiao Shuran let out a speechless laugh and continued reading.
Qiao Chu did not know she was also in Hong Kong. She said she was heading back now and would go to Yuelan Bay to find her after landing.
Qiao Shuran did not reply further. As long as she was safe, that was enough.
She exhaled in relief and walked to the window.
Outside, the rain had stopped. The sky remained overcast, but the scenery was beautiful.
In the early autumn valley, red, orange, yellow, and green blended together in layered mountains.
Her discomfort eased slightly. Her stomach finally felt better.
Sitting in a rattan chair on the balcony, Qiao Shuran suddenly understood why her aunt had refused marriage.
What she had heard about Zhou Yannan being ruthless had always just been hearsay.
Seeing it with her own eyes was entirely different.
Deep in her heart, she felt a little more fear toward him.
If she ever offended him in the future… would she end up like that too?
Just thinking about it gave her goosebumps.
After sitting on the balcony for a while, a maid knocked and came in with a dining cart.
After placing several light dishes on the table, she kindly reminded her that she could take a walk in the garden after lunch.
But Qiao Shuran had no desire to move and even less appetite.
She ate a few bites of vegetables at random before putting down her chopsticks.
Everything in this unfamiliar place felt dull and lifeless. She simply lay back down on the bed again.
Over the past few days, she had given her employees a holiday, and her makeup studio was temporarily closed.
But news of the Zhou–Qiao marriage had already spread across major media in Hancheng.
Especially the scandal of the aunt fleeing the marriage and the niece replacing her—it was exactly the kind of headline reporters loved.
Some of her clients had even messaged her privately to congratulate her.
To maintain relationships, she had no choice but to reply one by one, offering insincere thanks for their blessings.
Rain began falling again outside at some point, and she slowly drifted back into sleep.
When she woke again, it was already dusk.
The room was dimly lit by warm yellow light.
And there was a figure inside.