The floor where she lived was not high. After waiting for several minutes, the elevator seemed stuck on the upper levels, so she decided to take the stairs home instead.
Just as she passed the corner of the third floor, a shadow seemed to flash behind her. Alarmed, she turned around.
There was no one there. She thought she had misseen it—but before she could even exhale, a sharp pain struck the back of her neck.
“Mm…”
Her vision went black, and her body went limp as she collapsed to the ground.
A tall, strong man stepped out from the shadows and forcibly dragged the dazed girl downstairs.
She still retained a sliver of consciousness, but her eyelids felt glued shut. Half-conscious, half-dragged, she was carried toward the exit. Vaguely, she heard the man explaining to passersby:
“She’s my girlfriend. She drank too much. I’m taking her back with me.”
The moment she was placed into the car, she completely lost consciousness.
She also failed to see the man who was following closely behind—Shang Shenyan.
Shang Shenyan saw a stranger taking her out of the residential area and immediately drove after them.
One hand gripping the steering wheel tightly, the other holding his phone, he said coldly:
“Jiang Wen, Qingshan Road northbound. License plate xxxx, black SUV. Block it.”
Jiang Wen didn’t understand, but immediately executed the order.
The black SUV sped toward the suburban expressway. Shang Shenyan followed closely behind and soon caught up. With a sharp bang, he deliberately rammed the SUV’s rear.
There were few vehicles on the elevated road at night. Other cars quickly avoided the collision. The people inside the SUV barely managed to steady the wheel.
“Is the car behind us doing this on purpose?” the driver with a buzz cut glanced in the rearview mirror. “He’s been following us all along.”
In the back seat, the man in black holding her hostage hit his head hard. He spat on the ground and looked at the unconscious girl.
“So we’ve been discovered this quickly?”
“Keep driving. Faster.”
Instead of slowing down, the SUV accelerated, weaving into heavier traffic lanes. Shang Shenyan’s eyes turned cold as he pressed the accelerator harder.
When they entered a tunnel, he seized the opportunity, overtook from the side, and slammed directly into the SUV’s front, forcing it to a stop.
Both men inside were dazed from the impact. Even she regained a sliver of consciousness.
Without hesitation, Shang Shenyan got out, strode over, pulled open the door, and dragged the driver out, throwing him to the ground. He kicked him hard in the head, sending him crashing into the tire.
The other man tried to escape. Enraged, Shang Shenyan grabbed him by the collar, threw him down, and kicked him in the abdomen. The man slammed into the tunnel edge and coughed up blood.
Seeing both men incapacitated, Shang Shenyan returned to the car and carried her out.
She struggled faintly to open her eyes, catching only a thin slit of vision. A familiar woody scent surrounded her, bringing an inexplicable sense of safety.
She vaguely heard sirens and a gentle voice by her ear:
“It’s okay. Don’t be afraid.”
Jiang Wen arrived with reinforcements and stayed behind to handle the criminals. Shang Shenyan took her to another car.
“Bring the doctor to the villa.”
When she woke again, it was already broad daylight.
The blanket was warm, the bed soft, and a faint floral scent filled the air.
She opened her eyes, confused by the unfamiliar yet slightly familiar room.
A small head peeked through the door.
“Shang Nian?”
Her voice was hoarse.
Shang Nian ran in holding a small porcelain bowl and placed it beside the bed, blinking at her.
Inside was warm rice porridge.
She sat up slowly, looking around. This was Shang Shenyan’s home—the same room she had stayed in before.
She took the bowl. “Thank you, Nian Nian. Where’s your dad?”
Shang Nian pointed outside the window.
“Downstairs garden?”
She followed the direction.
Outside, in the garden, Shang Shenyan stood in loungewear, talking on the phone with his back to her.
She drank the porridge, then went downstairs.
He turned and noticed her immediately.
“You’re awake?”
His hand naturally rested on her head.
“Do you feel unwell anywhere?”
She shook her head, still confused.
“What happened yesterday… I was knocked unconscious on the stairwell, and then I woke up here…”
She looked down—and noticed she was wearing sleepwear.
Her eyes flicked toward him in suspicion.
At that moment, a maid came out and said, “Sir, lunch is ready.”
For the first time, she realized there was a housekeeper here. Embarrassment and guilt surged in her—she had actually suspected him.
He simply pulled out a chair for her.
“Someone tried to kidnap you last night. I saw it when they took you out and followed them in time,” Shang Shenyan said.
Her body went cold.
“Who would want to hurt me?”
“Xia Qian.”
“…Who?”
The name was unfamiliar to her.
“The person who hit you in the car last time,” he explained. “Because of that incident, I dealt with her family’s company. She retaliated and targeted you.”
She finally remembered.
The arrogant woman in the car.
“It… can’t be blamed on you…” she said softly.
“Anyway, thank you for saving me.”
He tightened his grip slightly on his chopsticks.
“Move in here.”