Seeing that the man lying on the ground had completely stopped reacting, Wen Zhi was terrified that things might turn fatal. She hurried forward and grabbed Mo Tingyan's hand with all her strength.
But Mo Tingyan thought someone was getting up to attack him again.
He turned sharply and threw a punch—his bloodstained fist rushing straight toward Wen Zhi's forehead—
The instant he saw who it was, his pupils shrank, and he forcefully stopped himself.
Thinking of how Wen Zhi had just witnessed him losing control, turning savage and reckless, his gaze tightened. His voice dropped, carrying a trace of rare caution.
"Did I… scare you?"
Wen Zhi saw the hesitation and unease hidden deep in his eyes. She took the initiative to hold his hand, her grip gentle but firm.
"No," she said softly. "Thank you for showing up in time and helping me."
Although those men were clearly at fault, Mo Tingyan had beaten them so badly that if this went to the police, it would inevitably cause trouble.
She couldn't allow Mo Tingyan to be stained by something that might affect his career.
Gritting her teeth, Wen Zhi pulled Mo Tingyan behind her and stepped forward, shielding him with her body. Her eyes swept coldly across the men groaning on the ground.
"You're loan sharks, right?" she said icily. "Debts have their owners. Whoever owes the money, go collect it from them. If you dare come after me again, I'll personally send every last one of you to prison."
She raised her hand and pointed toward the surveillance camera down the street.
"See that? I'll retrieve the footage and keep it as evidence of you kidnapping and robbing people in public. If anything happens to me in the future, not a single one of you will get away. Now—take your people and get the hell out."
The men might not have been afraid of Wen Zhi alone, but the man standing behind her—Mo Tingyan—was simply too terrifying.
None of them dared to linger. Supporting one another, they hauled their boss up and fled as if their lives depended on it.
Only after they disappeared did Wen Zhi finally lower her head and let out a heavy breath. She turned back to Mo Tingyan, took his hand, and examined it carefully.
"Are you hurt?"
Mo Tingyan didn't want the blood on his hands to stain her. He moved his hand behind his back and said in a low voice, "It's not my blood."
Wen Zhi nodded. "That's good. Let's go home—it's too hot out here."
Mo Tingyan agreed, but as his adrenaline faded, regret surged up fiercely.
He'd been far too impulsive.
He should have sent her away first.
He really regretted it.
Back home, Wen Zhi sat down on the sofa, needing a moment to calm herself.
After washing the blood from his hands, Mo Tingyan quickly returned with a first-aid kit. He sat sideways on the coffee table, lifted her right leg, and gently rested it across his own thigh as he treated the injury on her knee.
He didn't dare meet her eyes. His voice was heavy with guilt.
"I'm sorry. I never thought Xu Wan could do something so despicable… so utterly shameless."
"But you didn't make her do it," Wen Zhi replied calmly. "Why are you apologizing? You are you, she is she. I'm not so unreasonable as to put her debts on your head."
Mo Tingyan hesitated for a moment, then finally looked up at her.
"Just now…" he asked carefully, "I must've looked terrifying. You really weren't afraid?"
Wen Zhi shook her head. "Honestly? I thought you looked pretty handsome—going crazy just to protect me. It made me feel incredibly safe."
Mo Tingyan's heart finally loosened.
So she truly didn't mind that savage, frightening side of him.
Wen Zhi suddenly thought of something and continued, "You were so anxious earlier—was it because you were worried about me? If I could've beaten them myself, would you still have chased after me?"
"Of course I would!"
"Why?" Wen Zhi looked at him intently, her eyes bright and burning.
She had already decided.
If Mo Tingyan dared to say it was because he liked her, because he couldn't bear to see her suffer even the slightest injustice—
She would confess to him immediately.
She would risk everything to love him fiercely and openly.
As long as he said the word, she would follow without hesitation.
But Mo Tingyan only smiled as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He lifted his hand and gently ruffled her hair.
"Why else?" he said casually. "No matter how capable you are in front of others, you're still my woman. I, Mo Tingyan, will never stand by and watch my woman be in danger."
Wen Zhi froze.
So… it was just because she was his woman?
Her racing heart slowly sank.
Maybe… she had overthought everything.
A man like Mo Tingyan probably treated every woman he'd ever been with the same way.
Still, that was fine.
As long as her feelings remained unspoken, they wouldn't burden him.
If, one day, he truly fell for her—
She could confess then.
Seeing Wen Zhi staring at him in silence, Mo Tingyan finished treating her wound and put the cotton swabs back into the kit.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" he asked.
Wen Zhi shook her head, just about to respond—
When hurried knocking suddenly echoed from the door.
She and Mo Tingyan exchanged a glance. He stood and walked over, peering through the peephole.
It was Xu Wan.
He hadn't even sent anyone to look for her yet—and she dared to show up herself?
Mo Tingyan opened the door. Xu Wan rushed in in panic, immediately turning back to slam it shut as if afraid debt collectors might follow.
But before she could even catch her breath, Mo Tingyan seized her by the throat and slammed her against the wall.
His eyes were colder than black ice.
"You despicable, shameless woman," he snarled. "You still dare to come to my house? Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!"
Xu Wan's breathing was instantly cut off. Bone-deep terror surged from her feet to her spine. Her face twisted in agony as she desperately beat at his arm, unable to cry for help or make a sound.
Seeing Mo Tingyan once again swallowed by that terrifying rage, Wen Zhi rushed over and grabbed his arm, shaking her head at him.
It wasn't worth turning himself into a murderer for someone like Xu Wan.
She forcibly pried his hand away.
Xu Wan collapsed onto the floor, gasping desperately for air. Realizing Mo Tingyan hadn't actually killed her, she immediately began shrieking,
"You damned bastard! How dare you treat me like this? I should've strangled you to death when you were still in swaddling clothes—"
"Shut up!" Wen Zhi shouted, pointing straight at her.
Xu Wan froze, then sneered as she stood up, hands on her hips, glaring at Wen Zhi.
"I haven't even settled the score with you yet, and you dare yell at your future mother-in-law? If you'd obediently gone with them today, would there have been so much trouble? I'm being hunted down by them now, all because of you! You should take responsibility!"
Mo Tingyan's eyes darkened dangerously.
How could she still twist right and wrong like this?
He took a step forward. Xu Wan immediately shrank back, fear flashing across her face—she hadn't forgotten how terrifying he'd been just moments ago.
Wen Zhi didn't want him to lose control again. She stepped sideways and placed herself firmly in front of him.
She lifted her gaze to Xu Wan, the corner of her lips curling into a cold, sharp, and cunning smile—