Mr. Sun's lips curved unpleasantly.
"Don't be so quick to refuse," he said, his fingers sliding over Gu Anran's wrist. "I guarantee you'll enjoy your time with me."
Disgust flared through her instantly.
Before she could think, her palm struck his face.
The slap rang sharp and clear.
Upstairs, Ming Lin raised an eyebrow. "Seems like Miss Gu is in trouble."
Lu Zhenyu's gaze darkened.
Below, Mr. Sun touched his cheek slowly, disbelief turning into fury.
"You dare hit me?" he spat. "Everyone knows how cheap your sister is. Who do you think you are?"
Gu Anran wiped her hand against her dress as if she had touched something filthy.
"Like you said," she replied coldly, "that's my sister. Do we look like we share the same name?"
His expression twisted.
"Since I've set my eyes on you, you don't get to refuse."
He grabbed her arm roughly.
"Let her go!" An Rulan shouted, clutching Anran's other hand despite the fear trembling in her fingers.
"Bring her too," Mr. Sun ordered lazily to his bodyguard.
Within seconds, both women were being dragged toward the exit.
Upstairs, Lu Zhenyu was already on his feet.
"Where are you going?" Ming Lin asked.
There was no answer.
He was gone.
Song Qingshen followed immediately. "This looks interesting."
"Hey — wait!" Xie Niangli called, hurrying after them.
Outside the bar, the night air felt colder.
Mr. Sun shoved Anran against the car.
"Let go of me," she demanded, struggling despite the alcohol clouding her strength.
"Shut up," he snarled.
As he reached to unlock the car, she used the last of her clarity.
Her knee drove upward.
He groaned, instinctively loosening his grip.
She stumbled back, trying to run — but dizziness betrayed her.
A harsh slap sent her to the ground.
Pain exploded across her cheek. Blood filled her mouth.
Mr. Sun grabbed her hair viciously.
"You little bitch—"
Before he could finish—
A fist crashed into his face.
He staggered back.
When he looked up, the color drained from his expression.
Lu Zhenyu stood there, silent, eyes colder than the night.
"Mr… Mr. Lu?" Mr. Sun stammered, immediately releasing her.
Lu Zhenyu didn't respond.
He crouched down beside Gu Anran.
Blood at the corner of her lips.
Bruising already forming on her cheek.
His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
He lifted her carefully into his arms.
Mr. Sun felt dread rising in his chest.
Lu Zhenyu took a few steps — then stopped.
Without turning fully, he said calmly:
"Lin Feng."
"Yes, Sir."
"Break his hands."
A pause.
"And return the injuries threefold."
No emotion.
Just instruction.
"Sir, please—" Mr. Sun began.
His plea was cut short.
Lu Zhenyu didn't look back.
In his arms, Gu Anran stirred weakly.
"Lu Zhenyu…" she murmured. "Rulan… save her…"
For some reason, that irritated him.
Even now, she was worrying about someone else.
"She's fine," he replied curtly. "Someone's already with her."
Only then did her body go limp.
He swore under his breath and moved faster toward his car.
Moments later, Ming Lin and the others reached the scene.
An Rulan, shaken but unharmed, saw Lu Zhenyu driving away with Anran in his arms.
"What happened? Where is he taking her?" she asked anxiously.
"She'll be safe with him," Ming Lin said.
"Please follow them," she begged, tears forming. "If something happens to her—"
"Get in," Ming Lin said finally.
Within minutes, several cars were speeding toward the hospital.
At the hospital.
Lu Zhenyu handed her to the doctors without hesitation.
Now he stood outside the ward, expression unreadable.
Ming Lin, An Rulan, Song Qingshen, and Xie Niangli arrived shortly after.
No one spoke.
The corridor felt tense.
Controlled.
Waiting.
After what felt like an endless wait, the doctor finally stepped out of the ward.
Lu Zhenyu was the first to move.
"How is she?"
"The injuries are superficial," the doctor replied professionally. "We've treated the bruising and minor lacerations."
A quiet breath passed through the group.
However—
"There was a high level of alcohol in her system," the doctor continued. "That is dangerous during early pregnancy."
Silence.
"We've flushed her system in time. The foetus is stable."
No one spoke.
Lu Zhenyu's voice lowered. "What did you say?"
"The young lady is approximately one month pregnant," the doctor clarified, glancing at their stunned expressions. "You weren't aware?"
The corridor seemed to grow colder.
"That will be all. She'll regain consciousness soon."
The doctor left.
No one moved.
Even the usually talkative Xie Niangli had nothing to say.
Lin Feng arrived just then, having finished dealing with Mr. Sun. He immediately sensed something was wrong.
"What happened?" he asked quietly.
Xie Niangli exhaled slowly. "Miss Gu is pregnant. One month."
Lin Feng's eyes widened slightly.
One month.
The timeline aligned too perfectly.
An Rulan's face turned pale. "She didn't know… If she knew, she wouldn't have drunk with me."
Her voice carried guilt.
Lin Feng opened his mouth.
"One month means-"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Lu Zhenyu's gaze cut toward him — sharp and final.
The unspoken warning was clear.
Not here.
Not now.
Lin Feng fell silent immediately.
The corridor returned to stillness.
After a long pause, Lu Zhenyu finally spoke.
"When she wakes up," he said calmly, "tell her I'll visit tomorrow."
His eyes briefly met An Rulan's.
Then he turned and walked away.
Lin Feng followed without another word.
Behind them, the others remained frozen in thought.
One month.
And she didn't know.
"Miss take care and send our regards to Miss Gu" Song Qingshen said to An Rulan then he left with Xie Niangli and Ming Lin.
An Rulan looked at them as they walked away before she went into the ward Gu Anran was staying to accompany her.
Downstairs outside the hospital, Lu Zhenyu stood beside his car holding a cigarette. He brought out a lighter then he lit it up and took a smoke.
The others had arrived outside and they had an intuition that Lu Zhenyu was somehow involved, they watched him smoke in silence for a while before Ming Lin broke the silence.