One of the men leered with a sleazy grin, “Hey beautiful, had too much to drink? Come on, let me help you rest.”
Liang Yueran took a cautious step back, “No need. Get out of my way.”
Another man suddenly chuckled, “Don’t worry, we’re good guys. Let us take you home.”
Liang Yueran realized she’d encountered street thugs, but she couldn’t break free as they each gripped one of her shoulders and began steering her outside.
She wanted to scream for help, but found the sounds coming from her throat were embarrassingly weak.
They had already exited Di Hao when, just as Liang Yueran thought she was doomed, she suddenly felt herself falling into someone’s embrace.
She looked up at the person holding her. His face seemed unreal – both familiar and strangely unfamiliar.
Screams erupted around them. Qu Bai looked down at Liang Yueran’s dazed expression and coldly ordered his bodyguard, “Cripple them.”
He had chosen not to act inside because he didn’t want Qu Xiao to know about tonight’s incident.
Seeing Liang Yueran’s flushed face, Qu Bai scooped her up into his arms and got into the car. “To the Liang Family,” he instructed.
Wasn’t Liang Yan Qu Xiao’s most trusted man? Tonight he’d make sure the Liang family owed him a favor.
But soon his face darkened.
Qu Bai stiffened as he pushed Liang Yueran away, his expression stormy. “Liang Yueran, stop this madness.”
Liang Yueran gazed at him with hazy eyes, her voice soft as a kitten’s purr. “I know you’re that villain Qu Bai.”
She then snuggled closer to him again. “I’m so thirsty. I want water.”
Qu Bai let out an exasperated laugh, though he was surprised she could still recognize him in this state. He even suspected she might be pretending.
When Qu Bai tried to push her away again, she bit him.
His expression shifted. Pinning her hands down, he narrowed his eyes dangerously at the restless Liang Yueran.
“Liang Yueran, you brought this on yourself. I hope you won’t regret it when you wake up tomorrow.”
“Take us to my private villa.”
As he finished speaking, the driver automatically raised the partition.
………
Rose Garden.
Gu Yan woke up in the middle of the night feeling hungry and noticed Qu Xiao wasn’t beside her.
She sat up and called out, “Uncle Qu.”
When no one answered, she got out of bed and opened the door, noticing the study light was still on.
She approached and, just as she reached the doorway, heard Yu Yang’s voice.
“Sir, the Xu family is completely finished. Xu Tao’s hands are permanently disabled, but Xu Shou wants to see you.Qu Xiao took a drag from his cigarette and let out a cold laugh, “Does he really think I’d agree to see him?””
Yu Yang immediately realized his mistake – of course his boss wouldn’t meet with him. What a pointless question.
Remembering something else, Yu Yang added, “Sir, Yan Shao has returned. The overseas contacts reached out today asking when you’ll ship the next batch.”
Qu Xiao remained with his back turned, silent for a long moment before responding, “Tell them to wait until I’m in the mood. Or if they can’t wait, let them find another supplier. I don’t need that petty cash.”
Yu Yang nodded, reported a few more matters, then went downstairs.
Qu Xiao stubbed out his cigarette, opened the window to air out the smoke scent from his clothes, and finally returned to the bedroom.
Noticing the shoes on the floor, his gaze fell upon Gu Yan pretending to sleep in bed. “If you keep pretending to sleep, I’m going to pull the covers off you.”
Gu Yan opened her eyes somewhat sheepishly, smiled at him, then reached out her hand and said, “Hold me.”
Qu Xiao reached out and picked her up, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Why are you awake? Is your wound hurting again?”
Gu Yan shook her head. “No, I’m just a little hungry.”
Qu Xiao ruffled her hair. “Wait here, I’ll go see what food is left.”
Gu Yan nodded and sat obediently on the bed waiting for him.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, Qu Xiao came over carrying a bowl of noodles.
“I couldn’t find where Aunt Mei put away the dinner dishes, and everyone else is already asleep, so I made you a bowl of noodles.”
Seeing the steaming noodles in his hand, Gu Yan reached out to take the bowl.
But Qu Xiao directly picked up some noodles with chopsticks, blew on them, and fed them to her mouth.
Gu Yan obediently opened her mouth. Only after the entire bowl of noodles had been fed to her did Qu Xiao wipe her mouth.
“Go to sleep now, I’ll take the bowl downstairs.”
Gu Yan grabbed his wrist, looking at him pitifully. “I can’t sleep if you don’t stay with me.”
Qu Xiao’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He cupped the back of her head, his voice hoarse as he looked at her. “Little one, you’re not feeling well right now. Go to sleep.”
Gu Yan wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice sweet and coquettish as she called out, “Uncle Qu, I’m really fine. I’ve missed you. Don’t you miss me too?”
Qu Xiao unconsciously swallowed hard. The next moment, he pushed her away, placed the bowl by the door, then came back in and closed the door again.
Undoing his shirt as he walked toward the bed, he picked up Gu Yan and kissed her lips.
Gu Yan welcomed it willingly. A long time later, when Gu Yan’s voice had grown hoarse, she held onto Qu Xiao and looked at him somewhat surprised.
“Uncle Qu, I’m sleepy.”
Qu Xiao whispered temptingly in her ear, “I promise this is the last time.”
Gu Yan murmured in response, “Okay.”
Qu Xiao carried her to take a bath, then leaned down to kiss her forehead before holding her contentedly as they fell asleep.
……
At the hospital.
Qin Yao looked at Xu Tao’s gloomy expression and asked with concern, “How are you feeling? Does it still hurt?”
Instead of answering, Xu Tao asked, “Where are my parents? I’m in this condition, why haven’t they come to stay with me?”
Qin Yao hesitated before speaking. “The Xu family has been exposed for tax evasion, with evidence. The Xu Corporation has been shut down. Uncle Xu is overwhelmed with dealing with it, and Auntie still hasn’t woken up yet.”
After hearing this, Xu Tao’s already pale face turned deathly white.
He gritted his teeth. “It’s Qu Xiao. He’s the one who targeted the Xu family. It must be him. He’s a madman.”
Seeing Xu Tao’s near-hysterical state, Qin Yao quickly called for a doctor to administer a sedative.
Watching Xu Tao gradually calm down, Qin Yao’s eyes filled with heartache.
She took out her phone and made a call.
……….
The next day.
Qu Bai’s private villa.
Qu Bai had already gotten up and changed into casual home clothes. He looked at Liang Yueran, who was still sound asleep on the bed.
For some reason, he inexplicably took out his phone and took a picture of her sleeping face.
He leaned down and studied Liang Yueran seriously. She was very beautiful, with a sexy figure, and her touch…
Just as he was thinking about these things, Liang Yueran on the bed drowsily opened her eyes, and the two of them locked gazes.
Looking at his face so close to hers, Liang Yueran felt her mind go completely blank.