“Who told you to dress so provocatively? You were practically begging to be touched!”
The pervert’s leering gaze and disgusting words sent Ye Jiawen into a rage. She swung her bag at him, pummeling him relentlessly. “You shameless creep! What I wear is none of your business—nothing justifies harassment!”
Ling Hang’s eyes lit up with admiration as he watched her.
“Miss,” he said, checking his watch before gently grasping her wrist.
Ye Jiawen glared at him, furious. “Why are you stopping me? Don’t tell me you’re about to preach about ‘turning the other cheek’!”
“Not at all. I just need to take him to the nearest police station—I’m in a hurry.” He paused. “If you’re still angry, why not come with me? You could help as a witness.”
Ye Jiawen agreed immediately. “Fine!”
Ling Hang asked the other passengers if they’d testify, but those who’d reclaimed their wallets suddenly turned into shrinking violets.
After getting off the bus, Ye Jiawen vented her fury on the harasser until she finally calmed down. Only then did she remember her earlier mistake.
“Um… I’m sorry about before. I got the wrong person,” she mumbled, her face burning with embarrassment.
Ling Hang waved it off, his own cheeks flushed (though his darker skin hid it well). “It’s fine. I… I wasn’t exactly blameless either.”
Both involuntarily recalled the accidental kiss and awkwardly looked away, lips pressed tight.
At the police station, Ling Hang showed his military ID, revealing his status as a soldier.
During the statements, their names struck each other as oddly familiar, though neither could place why.
It wasn’t until they left and went separate ways that Ling Hang suddenly remembered—Ye Jiawen was the name of the woman Shen Zhiqiu had wanted to set him up with!
He turned just in time to see her disappear around a corner and immediately gave chase.
Meanwhile, Ye Jiawen was still puzzling over where she’d heard Ling Hang when a little boy nearly collided with her. She steadied him, but before she could speak, he grabbed her hand and burst into tears.
“Big sister, help me! I can’t find my way home!”
“Do you remember which neighborhood you live in?”
“That alley up ahead,” he said, pointing.
Something felt off, but the boy tugged her forward before she could think. “Please, sister, help me!”
“Alright, I’ll help.”
When Ling Hang reached the alley, he caught only a glimpse of Ye Jiawen’s skirt vanishing around the corner. But by the time he entered, she was gone.
Assuming she’d gone inside a home, he turned to leave—until a muffled cry reached his ears.
“Let me go! Help—!”
“Shut up, bitch!”
The voices were faint, but Ling Hang recognized Ye Jiawen’s.
She’s in trouble!
Pinpointing the sound, he vaulted over a courtyard wall and slipped inside unnoticed.
Four men stood in the main room; a side room was padlocked. Pressing against the wall, Ling Hang peered through the window and saw Ye Jiawen—bound, gagged, and unconscious.
The gate creaked open. He hid just as Shen Liya walked in.
Shen Liya orchestrated this? Why?
He’d missed Ya-Ya’s full-moon celebration but knew what had happened that day. He’d always distrusted Shen Liya—something about her screamed trouble.
Chen Can really has terrible taste, ditching Zhiqiu for her.
A vibration at his waist alerted him to a message on his military communicator. After a quick glance, he made his decision.
Three minutes later, all four men and Shen Liya lay unconscious and tied up in the main room.
Ling Hang unlocked Ye Jiawen’s door, then left swiftly.
En route, he called Yue Mingli with the address. Yue mobilized a team immediately.
…..
Shen Zhiqiu, meanwhile, had rushed to Ye Jiawen’s school only to learn she hadn’t returned. Her stomach dropped.
She contacted Yue Mingli, got the location, and hurried back.
Arriving first, she found Ye Jiawen—now awake—stumbling out of the room.
“Jiawen!” Shen Zhiqiu rushed to inspect her.
Ye Jiawen, recalling everything, trembled with fear. “Zhiqiu, someone kidnapped me!”
“I know. Wang Fengqin and Shen Liya.” Shen Zhiqiu pulled her toward the exit. “Let’s get out. Mingli’s team is coming.”
When Yue Mingli hauled out the five captives, Shen Liya’s face was a mask of disbelief.
How did Ling Hang ruin such a perfect plan?!
“You’ll stoop to anything!”
Shen Zhiqiu slapped Shen Liya hard. “Since you think Shen Daqiang’s life is so hard, why don’t you join him in prison?”
At the thought, Shen Liya turned ghostly pale. “No! Chen Can won’t abandon me—I’m part of the Chen family now!”
“You committed kidnapping! No family name will save you from the law!”
“Be grateful Jiawen’s unharmed, or I’d have buried you myself!”
After a thorough hospital check confirmed only minor bruises, Shen Zhiqiu finally relaxed.
“Jiawen, I’m so sorry. This is my fault,” she sobbed, hugging her tightly.
The horrific scenarios she’d imagined on the way still made her want to kill Wang Fengqin and Shen Liya.
“Zhiqiu, we’re family. Don’t talk like that.” Ye Jiawen patted her back. “No more of this ‘fault’ nonsense, got it?”
She paused. “By the way… the guy you wanted to set me up with—is his name Ling Hang?” It finally clicked where she’d heard it.
Shen Zhiqiu nodded. “Yes.”
“Then… when you visit Mingyuan next, I’ll go with you. I’d like to meet him.”
Shen Zhiqiu brightened, squeezing her hand. “You changed your mind?”
Previously, Ye Jiawen had refused, citing her studies and the awkwardness of meeting a stranger.
