"Screech—"
The harsh sound of brakes echoed. Even though the Ferrari stopped in time, Xia Yan was thrown off balance by the inertia and fell.
The lunchbox dropped, spilling hot soup that splashed onto her hand, leaving the fair skin instantly red and raw.
Ignoring the burning pain on her hand, Xia Yan tried to push herself up from the floor, but a sharp sting shot through her leg.
"Huh? It's you?" Mu Chengfeng got out of the car and was surprised to see Xia Yan.
She glanced up at him, then lowered her head to stand up carefully.
Mu Chengfeng was Xia Siyue's boyfriend, a typical rich second-generation playboy. Xia Yan had no fondness for him.
Seeing the bloody scrape on her slender calf, Mu Chengfeng's eyes flickered. "Let me help you to the hospital," he said, reaching out to support her.
Just then, the other door of the Ferrari opened, and Xia Siyue stepped out in high heels.
"Mu Chengfeng, what do you think you're doing!" Seeing his move, Xia Siyue's eyes turned red with anger.
But Mu Chengfeng didn't pull back. Instead, he boldly grabbed Xia Yan's shoulder, his other hand reaching for her waist.
Xia Siyue gritted her teeth in fury, glancing sideways at her. "Oh, it's you? Why are you alone? Aren't you with Mr. Lu? Why didn't you bring him to see Mom?"
"You and Lu Zhengting?" Mu Chengfeng's expression shifted, a hint of disbelief and regret in his tone.
Xia Yan gave her a light glance, then looked away. To stop the old lady from pushing her into an arranged marriage, she had to let them misunderstand her relationship with Lu Zhengting. But since she'd already fallen out with the old lady, there was no need to keep swallowing her pride.
"My foot's hurt. Help me to the hospital." Xia Yan smiled, taking the initiative to loop her arm through Mu Chengfeng's.
Before Mu Chengfeng could respond, Xia Yan was suddenly yanked back by a strong force, stumbling out of his grasp.
Xia Siyue looked down at Xia Yan on the ground, shrieking like a bristling hedgehog, "You're already with Mr. Lu, and you still want to seduce Chengfeng?"
Mu Chengfeng felt his arm empty, didn't mind, and leaned against the car, watching with a smirk. He loved seeing women fight over him.
The pain in her leg was unbearable. Xia Yan's face was pale, one hand clutching her ankle, too hurt to stand, looking utterly pathetic. She looked up coldly at Xia Siyue. "Didn't your grandmother teach you that Mr. Lu's woman is off-limits?"
"Hah." Xia Siyue crossed her arms with a dismissive snort. "A piece of trash like you—how long do you think Mr. Lu will keep you around? I bet even if you were sent to Yang Jinkuan's bed, he wouldn't care."
At the name Yang Jinkuan, Xia Yan's expression darkened. Was the old lady still planning to hand her over to him?
"Who wants to touch my woman?" A cold voice suddenly rang out from behind.
Xia Siyue's expression froze, her arrogance turning stiff.
Xia Yan recognized the voice instantly, her whole body tensing. She'd just claimed to be Mr. Lu's woman—had he heard all of that?
Just as she was about to turn around, warmth enveloped her as she was lifted off the ground in someone's arms.
"Lu... what are you doing here?" Xia Yan clutched his clothes tightly, not daring to look up.
Lu Zhengting glanced at the woman shrinking in his arms, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't we agree to visit your mother together?"
At those words, Xia Siyue gasped sharply. "Mr. Lu, you're... coming to see my mother?"
Lu Zhengting shot her a cold glance, then carried Xia Yan toward the hospital.
Xia Siyue's heart trembled, but seeing Lu Zhengting's back as he held Xia Yan, she perked up and moved to follow.
Mu Chengfeng, sensing trouble from the moment Lu Zhengting appeared, wanted an excuse to leave. Seeing Xia Siyue recklessly heading for the hospital, he grabbed her arm. "If you don't want Lu Zhengting to come after you, don't follow."
Xia Siyue disagreed, shaking off his hand dismissively. "I'm going to see my mom."
Mu Chengfeng had only offered a warning. Since she wouldn't listen, he didn't bother arguing. Watching her rush into the hospital, he turned back to his car.
Seeing her eagerness, he sneered and drove off.
In the hospital corridor.
Xia Yan looked up from Lu Zhengting's arms, feeling the stares of passersby. She gently tugged his clothes. "Mr. Lu, I can walk on my own."
Lu Zhengting kept carrying her, his demeanor icy, as if he hadn't heard her.
Xia Yan tugged again, troubled. "Mr. Lu, please put me down."