Xiaohan? Xia Yan's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the small figure, blinking rapidly. Her back was still pressed tightly against the wall, and she glanced sideways at Yang Jinkuan, who stood frozen in shock.
"Sister Yan, don't be afraid. I'll protect you."
The moment Xiaohan finished speaking, before Xia Yan could even process what was happening, she saw Xiaohan raise his hand with an air of authority. The tall men who had burst in suddenly charged at Yang Jinkuan, grabbing him and beating him mercilessly.
As Xia Yan stood stunned, she felt a small yet warm hand take hers. Amid Yang Jinkuan's sharp cries for mercy, Xiaohan's childish voice rang out, "Sister Yan, your palm is really sweaty."
"Huh?" Xia Yan looked down at Xiaohan in confusion, then glanced at the man still being pummeled. Realizing they were in Yang Jinkuan's territory, she thought, if his men showed up, wouldn't all hell break loose?
After a moment's thought, Xia Yan crouched down and looked at Xiaohan. "Xiaohan, tell them to stop now. Let's get out of here before his people come."
Hearing this, Xiaohan rolled his eyes and said in a soft, sticky voice, "I'd like to see what he dares to do to me." Less than a second later, he grinned and shouted to the crowd, "Hit him hard. If he's crippled, I'll take the blame."
Xia Yan stared in shock at the fiercely confident Xiaohan. Was it really okay for a kid to be this violent? Then, for some reason, Lu Zhengting's cold, unapproachable face flashed in her mind, and she let out a soft sigh.
"Who are you people? Daring to start a fight on my turf?"
The dim lighting in the private room had been deliberately set by Yang Jinkuan to create a hazy, romantic atmosphere, but now it only blinded him. As his attackers stopped, he gasped heavily, one hand on the coffee table, staggering to his feet. With light suddenly streaming in from outside, Xia Yan saw that Yang Jinkuan's already pudgy face was now even puffier, dark bruises under both eyes, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth, and not a clean spot on his entire body.
Yang Jinkuan squinted, knowing his men had arrived, which boosted his confidence. He squeezed his eyes shut, his face twisting into a grimace of pain, and gritted his teeth. Realizing the kid beside Xia Yan had ordered the attack, he seethed with anger, not bothering to think clearly. Shrinking into the shadows, he roared at the people outside the door, "Teach them a good lesson!"
Xiaohan raised an eyebrow, glancing disdainfully at the figures appearing behind him. "A bunch of losers, still daring to show their faces. Hmph, all of you, go and beat them up."
Xia Yan tugged at Xiaohan, but suddenly a figure charged at them. Instinctively, she turned to shield Xiaohan behind her. Yet the weapon in the man's hand never landed on her. Slowly opening her tightly shut eyes, she saw the man already kicked flying by Xiaohan's people, now lying on the ground barely able to breathe.
"Sister Yan, are you okay?" Xiaohan shook Xia Yan anxiously, quickly asking.
The commotion in the private room had already alerted the other side. Xia Siyue couldn't wait to see Xia Yan humiliated and tormented by Yang Jinkuan, so she was the first to notice the noise and the first to arrive.
"This, this... what's going on?" Xia Siyue stared at the chaos before her. Not only did she not see Xia Yan in a miserable state, but she saw Yang Jinkuan being held up like a lamb to the slaughter, utterly powerless. In contrast, Xia Yan stood unharmed nearby, and her gaze instantly turned unreadable.
That Yang Jinkuan was truly useless, letting the prey slip away even in this situation.
Xia Yan now fully understood. She knew Xia Siyue had never given up on the Yang Jinkuan scheme, so no one else would dare to orchestrate this. With that thought, fury blazed in her eyes. She strode quickly to Xia Siyue and said in a cold, sharp voice, "You really won't give up! Still daring to pull this trick? If I told the old lady about this, do you think she'd praise you for being right or call you an idiot?"
Xia Yan's voice was neither loud nor soft, barely audible to those farther away, but Xia Siyue caught every word clearly.
"You, Xia Yan, I don't believe you'll always be this lucky!"
"Believe what you want. But I advise you, don't keep pulling this stunt."
Xiaohan still had Yang Jinkuan held by his men. Now standing before him, he wore a sweet, innocent smile, his bright, clear eyes sparkling like stars. He pursed his lips and pointed at the pile of people stacked on top of each other in the corner. "Did you tell them to beat me up?"
When the little devil steps in, does he ever lose?
Xiaohan, like a little adult, reached up to stroke his chin. Seeming to think of something, he turned and walked back to Xia Yan, took her hand, and led her to Yang Jinkuan. Lowering his voice, he asked, "Do you know who she is?"
Yang Jinkuan hung his head, looking less like a boss and more like a prisoner—which he was at the moment. He lifted his head slightly to glance at Xia Yan. "Xia Yan!"
Hearing this, Xiaohan nodded, then whispered in his ear, "She's my dad's girlfriend. Do you know who my dad is? If I told you, you'd be scared to death, so I won't say."
"Who's your dad?" Yang Jinkuan panted slowly.
Xia Yan only saw Xiaohan's sly grin and had no idea what he said to Yang Jinkuan. But when she saw Yang Jinkuan's body go limp, she guessed what the little brat had said.
"Sister Yan, let's go. This place is so smoky, it'll ruin me." Xiaohan smiled sweetly and charmingly, radiating childish innocence and playfulness, a complete contrast to when he'd burst in and ordered everyone around.
Was this a split personality?
"Xia Yan, what's going on? Didn't you go to the bathroom?"
As Xiaohan led Xia Yan out of the private room, they ran into Lin Xujia, who had just arrived. Seeing her confused look, Xia Yan paused to think, but before she could speak, Xiaohan said, "Sister Yan, let's go home. This place isn't fun at all."
Not only was there a pervert like Yang Jinkuan eyeing Sister Yan, but also those men in the other private room. Thinking of their hungry stares, Sister Yan was in too much danger. It was safest to take her away.
No one guessed what was going on in Xiaohan's mind. When Xia Yan's gaze shifted to him, he quickly pretended to yawn.
So tiring—that seemed to be his unspoken line.
Xia Yan hadn't wanted to attend this gathering anyway, and the incident had soured her mood further. Glancing back at the silent Xia Siyue, she felt even worse. Looking at the dazed Yang Jinkuan, she just wanted to leave.
"Xiaojia, Xiaohan's a bit sleepy. I'll take him back first. Sorry for ruining your birthday like this."
"Xia Yan, stay a little longer. Have dinner before you go."
"No need."
Xia Yan's tone left no room for refusal. Lin Xujia hesitated for a moment, glanced at Xiaohan, and thought, since Lu Zhengting's son was with Xia Yan, that notorious little devil, it was best not to offend him.
Xiaohan looked up with a bright smile, directly taking Xia Yan's hand and leading her out of that awful place in front of everyone. The private room fell silent, the atmosphere suddenly so oppressive it was hard to breathe. Yang Jinkuan, supported by his men, walked up to Xia Siyue, viciously pinching her chin and snarling through gritted teeth, "Didn't you say she had nothing to do with Lu Zhengting?"
"I, they really don't have a relationship." Xia Siyue was at a loss for words, because Xiaohan's actions clearly showed that Xia Yan was deeply connected to Lu Zhengting and even won over his son. She stared nervously at Yang Jinkuan, unable to deny that the man before her was truly nauseating at first sight.
Suppressing her disgust, Xia Siyue feared Yang Jinkuan might do something to her, so she quickly added, "Don't worry. Lu Zhengting sees women as playthings. He won't stay with Xia Yan for long. Once he dumps her, you can have her."
Xia Siyue's words didn't improve Yang Jinkuan's mood. He only hoped Lu Zhengting wouldn't come after him over Xia Yan. Even if Lu Zhengting saw women as toys, he wouldn't tolerate another man eyeing his woman.
Yang Jinkuan shoved Xia Siyue away, hating this woman who couldn't accomplish anything but ruin everything.
Xia Yan sat in the car, with Xiaohan beside her, drowsy, his little head resting on her thigh. Deep down, she felt a pang of sympathy for Xiaohan, who had lost his mother at a young age, and unconsciously, a maternal warmth welled up inside her.
Xiaohan seemed to sense Xia Yan's shift. While secretly pleased, he slowly opened his eyes, rubbed them sleepily, and said in a soft, sticky voice, "Sister Yan, can you come home with me? I'm so lonely at home alone."
"Xiaohan, I can't. I need to go back to school. What about your dad? How could he leave you home alone?"
"Dad's on a business trip," Xiaohan said pitifully, blinking at Xia Yan, looking utterly endearing. Seeing her frown, he pressed on, "Sister Yan, can you really bear to leave me alone in that big house?"
"Business trip?" Xia Yan lingered on his earlier words. Was Lu Zhengting too careless, leaving Xiaohan alone in the villa? "What an irresponsible dad!"
Xiaohan caught Xia Yan's muttering and tugged at her hand, shaking it for a while.