*Ugh*
Li Meiran jerked as pain shot through him. His grip loosened instinctively, just for a moment.
Song Yue seized the chance. She lunged sideways, reaching for a vase on the table. She planned to smash it over his skull if she had to. But her fingers brushed the edge and slipped—the vase was too far.
Li Meiran recovered instantly. His hands snapped around her wrists again, stronger this time, colder.
"You deceitful little thing," he hissed. "Do you know what price you'll pay today?"
Song Yue's eyes darted around frantically. She couldn't escape. She had to fight.
She jerked her head up—
And smashed her forehead into his.
Crack!
Stars exploded behind her eyes, but she didn't stop. She clawed at the sofa, trying to wrench one hand free. For a second, she succeeded—but the vase she reached for slipped again and shattered on the floor, pieces scattering like sharp glitter.
Li Meiran lost his patience. With a swift, vicious motion, he pushed his body into hers, pinning her completely. His hand dug into her shoulder, hard enough to bruise.
Song Yue felt panic twist inside her like a blade.
She opened her mouth—
And bit down on his arm.
Hard.
Her teeth sank into his skin. She tasted flesh. Then blood.
"ARGH—!"
Li Meiran let out a snarl, grabbing her jaw. "Are you a dog?! Let go!"
She didn't. She bit harder. Blood streamed down her lips. Her jaw trembled with the effort, but she refused to release him. If she let go—he'd overpower her again.
The bite left a jagged, bloody mark across his arm. His chest heaved with fury.
"No one," he growled, "no one has ever dared hurt me. Blood for blood. You will pay."
Song Yue struggled, fear beating through her chest in painful waves. She wasn't going down without a fight—but she was losing. She could feel it. His grip tightened, his body pressed heavier, trapping her.
She braced herself. Maybe this was it.
Then—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of running footsteps echoed down the corridor.
A shadow burst through the door, the frame slamming against the wall.
A tall man with broad shoulders and cold eyes stormed inside—power radiating from him like a shockwave.
His voice was ice. Every syllable a threat.
"You bastard," he said, "let her go."
And even Li Meiran—furious, bleeding, wild—froze.
Because that voice…
That strength…
That presence…
It could only belong to one man.
Nei Rougang.
*
Li Meiran's rage was so hot it seemed to distort the air around him. His eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flickering in the deep-purple irises. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to tear the entire room apart piece by piece.
But when he pushed himself to his feet, the cold metal circle of a gun muzzle greeted him.
Nei Rougang stood there—expression carved from stone, eyes sharp enough to slice through steel. His arm was steady, his posture lethal. "Li Meiran," he warned, "lower your weapon."
Li Meiran's laugh was cold. "Nei Rougang… I planned to hunt you down tomorrow," he said, reaching inside his jacket with unhurried calm. "But it seems you've saved me the trouble."
He pulled out his own gun and aimed it right between Nei Rougang's brows.
The air grew heavy. A single exhale felt like it could trigger the shot.
"Our matter has nothing to do with her," Nei Rougang said evenly. "Let her go, and we'll settle the rest outside."
Li Meiran's lip curled. "Our matter may not involve her," he agreed, "but she insulted me. She bit me. She dared to make a fool out of me. I'll deal with her first—then I'll deal with you."
"If you don't let her go," Nei Rougang said, voice like ice cracking, "I'll pull this trigger."
Neither man blinked.
Neither man lowered his arm.
Outside, the sound of fists slamming into flesh echoed through the corridor. Both sets of subordinates had clashed—shouts, curses, and impacts bouncing off the walls in a chaotic storm.
Song Yue, trembling slightly, pushed herself upright. She grabbed Li Meiran's abandoned blazer and wrapped it around herself. Its fabric was warm but heavy with the man's scent, which made her skin crawl.
But when she finally looked up, she met Nei Rougang's gaze.
Fury simmered in the hard lines of his face. Her heart squeezed—but not from fear.
He came.
She didn't know how he arrived so fast.
She didn't know if Lan Xia called him.
But he was here.
And the relief washed through her like warmth after a long winter.
Her lips curled into that familiar fox-like smile. No matter how much she infuriated him, no matter how much he tried to send her away—he still came for her. He still protected her. He always did.
But Li Meiran's gun was pointed straight at him.
And the room felt seconds away from exploding.
Nei Rougang's eyes shifted—not at Li Meiran, but past him.
Song Yue followed his gaze and noticed the opened windows behind her.
It was a signal.
A silent order.
Her pulse raced. Slowly, carefully, she edged toward the window, keeping the men in her peripheral vision. Nei Rougang didn't flinch, didn't let his gaze flicker—he needed Li Meiran's attention locked on him.
Song Yue reached the windowsill, turned around—
And dove.
Cold night air slapped her face as she fell through the opening and landed roughly on the street below, the shock jolting through her bones. But she pushed herself up immediately.
Behind her, the nightclub exploded with noise—shouts, guns cocking, fists slamming, voices rising in anger. She didn't dare look back.
She ran.
Hard and fast down the long street, her breath burning in her throat. Only when she cleared the alleyway and reached the main road did she finally stop and press a hand over her pounding heart.
She was free.
"Lan Xia…" she murmured anxiously, spinning around. Where was her friend? She needed to find her—
She froze.
A tall shadow stepped out of the darkness.
A deep voice, cold as winter steel, echoed across the street.
"Song Yue," the man growled, "you've got guts."
"Ack… Uncle?"