“Yes!” The crisp response spread through the night like a net of pursuit.
Lu Ye was about to lift his leg when a sudden tightness gripped his heart, as if something had seized it. Lin Tianxin’s residence was in the old district of the east city, only three streets away. That girl had just been frightened today she was probably home alone at this very moment… A sense of foreboding crawled up his spine. He suddenly quickened his pace, his voice low and deadly serious: “Zhao Qiang, take two people with me. To my house!”
Zhao Qiang froze for a moment, then realized what was happening and hurriedly followed: “Commander, are you worried Xu Su will go after your sister-in-law?”
“She’s desperate; she’s capable of anything!” Lu Ye gritted his teeth, quickening his steps. The wound on his shoulder throbbed painfully, but he didn’t even notice.
Meanwhile, Lin Tianxin had her window slightly open, letting the night breeze in. She had just finished washing up and was folding Lu Ye’s clothes at the edge of the bed when bang! the door was kicked open. A figure stumbled in: it was Xu Su, looking completely disheveled.
Lin Tianxin froze in fear, about to scream, but Xu Su clamped a hand over her mouth and pressed a cold dagger to her neck.
“Don’t make a sound!” Xu Su’s voice was hoarse and urgent, her eyes bloodshot with madness. “One more word and I’ll kill you!”
Lin Tianxin’s body stiffened. The blade on her neck was ice-cold, and any sudden move would cut her skin.
Xu Su dragged Lin Tianxin into a corner, staring intently at the door, tightening her grip on the dagger: “Lu Ye will be here soon. Doesn’t he care about you? Let’s see… will he care about your life, or the intel in my hands?”
Before the words even fell, rapid footsteps approached from outside. Lu Ye’s voice, filled with towering rage, pierced the night: “Xu Su! Get out here!”
A trace of cruelty flashed across Xu Su’s eyes. She yanked Lin Tianxin toward the doorway, pressing the dagger to her throat, and screamed outside: “Lu Ye! Don’t come closer! One step closer and I’ll kill her!”
Lu Ye stopped instantly at the door, seeing this scene. His fury froze, replaced by extreme tension.
He fixed his gaze on the dagger at Lin Tianxin’s neck: “Xu Su, take it out on me. Let her go!”
Lin Tianxin looked at Lu Ye but dared not make a sound, signaling with her eyes for him not to come closer.
Xu Su sneered coldly and dragged Lin Tianxin back into the room: “Let her go? Fine! Prepare a car for me, fill it with gas, and give me a gun. Otherwise, I’ll send her on her way right now!”
Lu Ye’s fists clenched so tightly they cracked, black flames of anger burning in his eyes. But seeing Lin Tianxin’s terrified gaze, he forced the rage down, his voice low and steady: “Okay, I’ll do it. But you must guarantee her safety!”
“Don’t play games with me!” Xu Su warned, eyes sharp. “Pull your men back to the alley. You come alone to give me the car keys and the gun!”
Lu Ye signaled to Zhao Qiang with a glance, indicating him to follow Xu Su’s instructions, then slowly raised his hands and stepped inside: “I’m coming in. Don’t hurt her.”
The room’s lights flickered, illuminating Xu Su’s mad face and Lin Tianxin’s pale one. Lu Ye’s gaze locked on Lin Tianxin; his throat moved as he thought only one thing: no matter what, he would protect his little wife.
Xu Su stared at Lu Ye and slowly released her hand over Lin Tianxin’s mouth, but still kept the dagger at her neck: “Where are the car keys and the gun?”
Lu Ye slowly pulled a gun from his waist and the car keys from his pocket, extending them: “Here. Let her go.”
Xu Su’s eyes shifted between the gun and the keys, reaching out to grab them but Lu Ye moved first! He lunged forward, grabbing Xu Su’s wrist holding the dagger with his left hand and punching her in the face with his right.
“Ah!” Xu Su screamed, and the dagger clattered to the ground. Lin Tianxin took the chance to break free, and Lu Ye pulled her into his arms, the scent of him filling her nose.
Lu Ye was tall and strong, holding her like a child.
The moment the dagger hit the ground, a flash of vicious madness appeared in Xu Su’s eyes. She suddenly pulled a palm-sized handgun from her boot, aiming the dark barrel at the couple.
Lu Ye’s pupils constricted. Instinctively, he pressed Lin Tianxin behind him, twisting half his body to shield her.
Bang! The gunshot tore through the small room, sharp enough to make eardrums ring.
“Ugh…” Lu Ye grunted, his left arm tensing violently as blood instantly soaked his shirt, dripping onto the floor in dark red splatters.
“Lu Ye!” Lin Tianxin held him immediately, alarmed. “Are you okay?”
Looking closely, she saw he had been shot in the arm if untreated, it could leave permanent damage.
Xu Su, after firing, tried to rush out the window while Lu Ye reeled in pain, but Zhao Qiang, waiting outside, pinned her down. Even her empty handgun was confiscated.
“Commander! Are you okay?” Zhao Qiang shouted anxiously, holding Xu Su down.
Lu Ye gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, forcing out a smile and patting Lin Tianxin’s hand: “It’s nothing… doesn’t hurt.”
“Commander, I’m talking to you!” Zhao Qiang pressed.
Lin Tianxin ignored him: “Zhao Qiang, take her away and watch her. I’ll treat Lu Ye’s wound.”
Her voice trembled slightly but was remarkably steady.
Zhao Qiang paused, seeing Lin Tianxin help Lu Ye sit on the bed, and quickly obeyed.
Several soldiers came to take Xu Su away. The moment they saw Lin Tianxin, their breath caught so beautiful!
Everyone in the unit had joked that the sister-in-law was dark-skinned and strong, but who knew she was more beautiful than a goddess?
Who even started that rumor? She had a slim waist, long legs, fair and smooth skin no wonder the commander never cared for the mediocre performers in the entertainment troupe. Compared to her, they were worlds apart.
“Don’t you want your eyes?” Lu Ye was displeased these guys were blatantly ogling his wife as if he were dead.
Frightened, everyone hurriedly dragged Xu Su outside. The room was left with just the three of them. Lin Tianxin fetched the medical kit, unbuttoned Lu Ye’s shirt, revealing his defined muscles. She had no time to admire them, her heart wrenched seeing the bullet lodged in his left arm.
“I’ll take it out for you. The hospital might not do better than me,” she said, moving steadily, cleaning the area with alcohol swabs.
“Hold still. No anesthesia.” Her lips bit down as her surgical instincts from a previous life as a surgeon kicked in: disinfect, stop bleeding, locate the bullet every step precise as if etched in her bones.
Lu Ye watched her, focused and serious, feeling a warmth that eased some of the pain.
“So confident?” he teased. She had just graduated and claimed the hospital might not do as well as her.
“Don’t trust me?”
“I trust you. After all, you’re my wife now. Even if it’s dangerous, I don’t care. Go ahead.”