When Huo Rou’s arm was cut again, Wang Haozhuo’s voice rang out, "Stop!"
Of course, these people wouldn’t listen. Their attack didn’t lessen, but it was clear they were keeping more distance from Huo Rou. The few who had engaged in close combat were still lying on the ground, not having gotten back up.
This woman’s weapon was strange; it caused immense pain when it hit someone.
Seeing that they still hadn’t stopped, Wang Haozhuo called out to his brothers in the car and got out with their weapons.
They were more ruthless than these people. Having all been through battles, they quickly gained control of the situation.
“Brother, we don’t intercept people alone. Do you understand the rules of the street?” the leader, clutching his swollen face, questioned Wang Haozhuo about the rules.
Wang Haozhuo’s scarred face broke into a ferocious grin. “Rules? We, the Jiang family of Taichuan, are the rules.”
Taichuan City, the Jiang family?
The leader had clearly heard of this name. His expression shifted. “This is a personal vendetta. Brother, we have no intention of offending the Jiang family.”
Wang Haozhuo swung the baseball bat in his hand forward. “Sister Huo is someone Elder Jiang wants to protect. Anyone who harms her is against our Taichuan Jiang family!”
The leader wanted to argue further. He truly hadn’t expected that a lone woman with no background or family would have the Jiang family of Taichuan as her backer.
Wang Haozhuo bent down to help Huo Rou into the car, then turned back with a sinister smile. “Fend for yourselves.”
It was a later matter that Wang Wanrou’s brother never contacted these brothers again.
After Huo Rou got into the car, Wang Haozhuo quickly took a first-aid kit from the car and handed it to her.
Although he had arrived late, Wang Haozhuo had heard of Huo Rou’s ways; she always handled her own injuries.
Wang Haozhuo watched her nonchalantly take out an alcohol swab from the first-aid kit and treat her wounds without a word, feeling admiration.
She looked delicate, but she was ruthless to others and herself. If Elder Jiang hadn’t strictly forbidden it, he would have really liked to persuade Sister Huo to join them.
This was the first time he had seen Huo Rou’s cold, ruthless side up close; she was completely different from her usual gentle and kind demeanor.
“Sister Huo, who were they?” Wang Haozhuo asked Huo Rou while sending a message to report the situation.
“Logically speaking, you don’t have any enemies either. We haven’t even been sought for revenge yet,” Wang Haozhuo teased with a grin.
“Hard to say.” Huo Rou’s lips twitched. She glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror. The wounds on her face weren’t deep, but they were quite noticeable. An’an would worry again when she saw them back home.
“Give me your phone.” She decided to warn An’an first.
However, the call didn’t go through.
Sensing that something was wrong, and knowing An’an wouldn’t be asleep yet if she hadn’t seen her this late, she urged, “Quick, let’s go to Meicheng Yunfu!”
This place was too far from the city. No matter how anxious Huo Rou was, she didn’t get home until late at night. Her usually brightly lit home was now empty, with only Shen Feng coming out excitedly.
“Where’s An’an?” Huo Rou searched the room but couldn’t find An’an. Shen Feng whimpered twice upon hearing Huo Rou’s question.
“Sister Huo, how is it? Is An’an at home?” Wang Haozhuo asked anxiously from the doorway.
“Help me search the whole city. I’ll check his location.” Huo Rou forced herself to calm down, her face darkening as she found a computer to search for An’an’s watch location.
“The Ren family.” Seeing the displayed location, she immediately pulled up an interface on the computer and called Ren Zhen.
“Hello? Who is this?” Ren Zhen’s flippant voice answered.
“Is An’an at your place?”
“Boss? Why are you looking for me in such a strange way? Have you gotten addicted to showing off again?” Ren Zhen was speechless. He knew this woman was strong, but she always exceeded expectations.
“Answer me.” Huo Rou didn’t waste time with pleasantries.
Ren Zhen also realized something was amiss. “I’m not at the old house. I’ll call back and ask. Don’t worry, An’an is smart; he won’t get lost.”
Huo Rou couldn’t help but worry. Without her phone, An’an couldn’t find her.
Soon, Ren Zhen’s message came through the software: An’an wasn’t there. His watch was left at the classroom and was with Wang Qian.
“Don’t worry, I’ll send someone to look,” Ren Zhen comforted her. Xia Qingxue’s voice came from beside him, “Arou, please don’t worry. Tell me where you are, and I’ll come to be with you.”
She knew what An’an meant to Huo Rou. If An’an were missing, Huo Rou wouldn’t be able to bear it.
“No need.” After replying to the message, Huo Rou, carrying her laptop, quickly went out with Wang Haozhuo.
Meanwhile, as Huo Rou anxiously searched for An’an, Qin Ningyi and Wang Wanrou were being led into the city by Old Zhang.
The neon lights, the endless traffic, the air filled with a palpable heat. Qin Ningyi’s vision swam from the glare. He shook his head, finding the feeling strangely familiar.
The drug Qian Yi had given him that year…
Wang Wanrou sat quietly in the car, her eyes fixed on Qin Ningyi’s car, not missing a single expression on his face.
When Qin Ningyi’s eyes narrowed from dizziness, she flashed a smug smile and leaned closer.
Qin Ningyi suddenly turned his head, his dark eyes fixed on her. He reached out and shoved her away as she leaned in.
“You did this?” Qin Ningyi clenched his fists, suppressing the changes in his body, his voice hoarse.
Wang Wanrou looked at him with a smile. “Brother Qin…”
Her voice, in this state, sounded a bit like Huo Rou’s. However, while Huo Rou’s voice was soft and sweet, her words were always clear and refreshing.
“Speak!” Qin Ningyi rubbed his head and shouted sternly.
Wang Wanrou lost her pitiful act and looked at Qin Ningyi with interest. “If you’re feeling uncomfortable, Brother Qin, why don’t I rub you?”
She reached out. Qin Ningyi’s veins bulged as he grabbed her wrist, as if he would break it without hesitation if she provoked him further.
“It hurts!” Wang Wanrou whined, pinching her throat and acting like a spoiled child.
He seemed to recall someone saying that in his memory…
In a daze, the strength in Qin Ningyi’s hand lessened considerably. Wang Wanrou broke free, gently blowing on her wrist, and looked at Qin Ningyi with a hint of complaint. “Why aren’t you more gentle with me? I said it hurts.”
A thin sheen of cold sweat broke out on Qin Ningyi’s forehead. His eyes, bloodshot, watched as Wang Wanrou slowly unbuttoned her shirt. He slammed his fist heavily onto the middle of the seat, the force so great that the car trembled.
“Get out.” Qin Ningyi’s voice was as if quenched in ice, instantly dropping the temperature inside the car to below freezing.
Wang Wanrou looked down, then smiled.
“Stop the car.” Qin Ningyi felt a fire burning in his chest, making him hallucinate, the image of Huo Rou’s pair of cold, indifferent eyes appearing before him from time to time.
Old Zhang, in the front, looked worried and conflicted, but the car didn’t stop.
He continued to drive forward. Qin Ningyi clenched his fists. “I said, stop the car!”
Old Zhang’s eyes held guilt as he pulled the car over in front of a hotel.
“I’m sorry, Young Master.” He lowered his eyes, not looking in the rearview mirror. “Old Zhou said Madam asked me to bring you two here.”
He didn’t understand why Madam, who always respected the Young Master, would give such a crazy order. But Old Zhou was Madam’s confidant, so how could his message be wrong?
Wang Wanrou pulled at her clothes, her smile blooming like a flower, her face flushed. She placed her hand on Qin Ningyi’s arm. “Brother Qin, Aunt Su means well…”