Shen Qinglan’s pupils contracted, and her heart tightened.
Someone was hiding nearby?!
She immediately became alert, her gaze sweeping quickly across the surroundings.
But in that brief moment of distraction, the fat man let out a furious roar and hurled the dagger at her.
Whoosh—!
The cold blade tore through the air.
Shen Qinglan quickly turned aside, but she was still half a step too slow.
The blade sliced through her sleeve and left a bloody cut across her left arm.
Blood immediately stained the fabric red.
“Damn it!” Shen Qinglan growled under her breath, clamping her right hand over the wound.
Blood slipped between her fingers and dripped onto the stone pavement.
The injury only made her gaze more frightening.
Her other hand had already closed around a hidden weapon, ready to strike back at any moment.
Like a small beast forced into a corner, her presence became even sharper as killing intent surged around her.
But before she could make another move, a man appeared from nowhere.
Dressed in fitted white clothes, with his hair tied in a high ponytail, he stood tall and straight at around six feet two.
He stepped directly in front of Shen Qinglan with his back toward her and threw a punch without hesitation.
Bang—!
The fat man took the heavy punch straight to the face.
His body flew sideways and slammed hard into the wall before bouncing back.
Half of his face immediately swelled up, one of his front teeth went flying, and blood dripped onto the stone pavement.
Shen Qinglan stared at the scene in stunned silence, but one thought still popped into her mind.
If she could rewind time, she would gladly watch that a few more times.
That was satisfying!
Bai Yanzhou withdrew his fist and stood upright, his expression cold.
His voice was deep and clear.
“How outrageous.
I already stepped in to protect you, yet you still tried to hurt her?” The fat man staggered to his feet and was just about to curse.
“Who the hell dares hit your grandfa—” But halfway through his words, he finally saw the face of the man standing before him.
His voice instantly died in his throat.
His entire body began trembling like a sieve.
“I…
I was only…
trying to play with this…
this young l-lady…” “Play?” Bai Yanzhou raised an eyebrow.
His voice was not loud, yet there was an icy chill behind it.
That single word made the fat man feel as though he had fallen into an ice cellar.
His knees nearly gave way.
“Sp-Spare me!” The fat man completely panicked.
Bai Yanzhou thought for a moment before speaking calmly.
“Bai Manor is holding a wedding banquet today.
I don’t want bloodshed on such an occasion.
Get lost!
If I ever see you again…” He paused and gave a cold laugh.
“Even if you crawl on your knees, don’t expect to leave this street.” The fat man hurriedly agreed again and again before stumbling away.
He did not even dare to turn back for the unconscious thin man lying on the ground.
Shen Qinglan watched coldly from the side.
She raised her injured left arm slightly and asked in a sharp voice, “Why did you let him go?
Why not let me cripple him?” In Shen Qinglan’s eyes, letting the man go was no different from leaving him a way out.
The good first impression she had formed of Bai Yanzhou’s tall and handsome appearance immediately dropped by several points.
Bai Yanzhou slowly turned his head.
He had a high nose bridge, his lips pressed into a sharp line, and a firm, well-defined face that seemed naturally stubborn.
“You’re from another province, aren’t you?” Bai Yanzhou asked steadily, his tone carrying a hint of reassurance.
“I spared his life not for his sake, but because he isn’t worth it.
Since I happened to witness what happened today, this is already the end of the road for him.
You don’t need to concern yourself with what happens next.” Shen Qinglan stared at him without saying anything, but inwardly, she rolled her eyes.
Hmph.
He’s certainly good with words.
But as far as I’m concerned, fists are what really matter.
Smashing someone’s face in with one punch—that’s satisfying.
As for all those nice-sounding words?
I don’t believe a single one of them!
Shen Qinglan gave a cold snort and stopped looking at him.
She walked straight to the end of the alley, sat down against the wall, and carefully examined the wound on her arm.
Bai Yanzhou noticed from a distance and immediately frowned.
He quickly followed her.
The moment his gaze fell on her arm, his expression darkened.
The edges of the wound had begun to turn slightly dark.
“Not good.
You’ve been poisoned.” Bai Yanzhou’s voice grew serious.
With no time to worry about the usual boundaries between men and women, he grabbed her arm.
The strength in his fingers was carefully controlled, yet his manner left no room for refusal.
“Mm.
Looks like it.” Shen Qinglan had also noticed something wrong with the wound.
Without hesitation, she pulled a small bottle of medicine from her shoulder bag and poured it directly over the cut.
“Hiss—!” A burning pain instantly spread through her arm.
Shen Qinglan trembled, her face turning pale as cold sweat broke out across her skin.
Her body instinctively leaned toward Bai Yanzhou.
Bai Yanzhou caught her by the shoulder without thinking.
His heart tightened as he scolded her in a low voice, “Are you crazy?
You don’t even know what kind of poison it is, and you dare pour medicine on the wound like that!” Shen Qinglan gritted her teeth.
Her face was pale, but she still stubbornly replied, “It’s fine.
I made this medicine myself.
It won’t kill me.” She tried to push him away and sit upright again, unwilling to lean against him.
Unfortunately, the pain in her arm had grown worse, and she could barely summon any strength.
Bai Yanzhou glanced at her with a complicated expression, then rolled his eyes in exasperation.
“Stubborn as hell.” Before he had even finished speaking, he slipped his other arm beneath her knees and lifted her into his arms.
Shen Qinglan’s eyes widened.
She struggled once, only to suck in a sharp breath from the pain.
“You—put me down!” “Don’t move!” Bai Yanzhou scolded her in a low voice, though his steps remained steady.
“You’re young, but you’re certainly cautious enough.
Don’t worry.
I’m Bai Yanzhou, the eldest young master of Bai Manor.
I have no interest in taking advantage of you.” His voice was firm and certain.
“You came to today’s banquet with your family, yet something like this happened.
That was Bai Manor’s negligence.
Since I’ve come across you, it’s my responsibility to bring you back safely.” Forced to remain in his arms, Shen Qinglan pressed her lips together for a long moment before finally saying coldly, “Thanks.
My name is Shen Qinglan.
I’m the daughter of Shen Yuxing, the head of…
Green Bamboo Hall.”