One of the bodyguards, driven by lust, leered at her with a filthy grin. "Such a beauty, it'd be a shame to kill her. How about we..."
At his suggestion, the other bodyguards eyed An Ruo with lecherous stares, their true natures laid bare!
An Ruo tried to get up and flee, but trapped in the car, a bodyguard easily pinned her down. The rest got out to wait their turn, one by one.
"Let me go!"
This place was desolate, not a single car passing by—there was no hope of anyone coming to save her!
The bodyguard smirked wickedly, roughly tearing at her clothes. An Ruo's eyes widened as she took deep breaths, telling herself to stay calm and find a way to stall them.
A black car sped toward them, its accelerator floored as if targeting them precisely. The bodyguards, peeking to watch the two inside, spun around at the piercing screech of tires and nearly jumped out of their skin!
The bodyguards scattered in a panic. The black car, with some force, crashed into the roadside vehicle, the violent jolt shaking both people inside.
An Ruo froze, a surge of relief washing over her at surviving the ordeal.
Enraged at having their fun interrupted by some clueless car, the bodyguards cursed and charged over, blocking the black car to drag the driver out for a beating.
But they'd underestimated the situation.
A dozen burly men emerged from the black car, towering a head taller than them, radiating menace and armed with weapons. The bodyguards stood dumbfounded.
Who the hell thought they'd need weapons to kill some girl? Now facing this crew, they were like chicks being grabbed and beaten.
Hearing the scuffle outside, An Ruo tried to escape, but a bodyguard grabbed her from behind, clamping a hand over her mouth to stifle her cries for help.
She pried his hand away and bit down hard. The bodyguard howled in pain and flung her off roughly.
An Ruo slammed into the window without warning, her head spinning. The bodyguard, still furious, grabbed her hair and smashed her head against the glass again.
She struggled in agony as he did it repeatedly until the window shattered, thick, warm liquid trickling from her forehead down to the corner of her eye...
Han Chong finished off the bodyguards, signaling his men to kill them all—no survivors allowed!
Looking up, he saw the girl stumble out of the car and rushed over to catch her, but the bodyguard shoved her away. An Ruo collapsed onto the asphalt, covered in blood.
Han Chong hurried over and scooped her up. "Young Madam?"
Her head was severely injured, and she was barely conscious, slipping into a coma.
Han Chong had someone carry her into the car, then personally chased down the bodyguard trying to flee in his vehicle. He pulled a sharp dagger from his belt, viciously grabbed the man by the throat, and slashed across with his other hand—fast, precise, ruthless. Blood sprayed across the windshield!
...
The man's deep, brooding eyes fixed on the pale, paper-like girl in the bed. Her forehead was wrapped in thick gauze, faint traces of blood still seeping through. Her delicate features made her look like a porcelain doll, as if the slightest pressure could shatter her.
If he hadn't sent Han Chong after her in time, the consequences would have been unthinkable...
Shen Xiaoxing gently held her soft, boneless hand, a chill of fear creeping into his heart. If Han Chong had been a second late, she'd have been killed in the wilderness, with no one even to tip him off.
He lifted her cold hand and breathed warm air onto it...
Old Master Shen sat on the sofa, his deep eyes taking in the scene.
He said calmly, "As for whether this girl stays or goes, think it through before you discuss it with me."
Lin Zhao stood nearby, watching the old man rise and be helped out of the room by the butler, while the man remained by the bedside without a word.
As evening fell, though the girl was out of danger, her injuries were severe, and she lingered in a moderate coma, unwilling to wake.
Lin Zhao stayed at the villa to oversee the kitchen preparing dinner, playing the role of a caring mother as she urged the man to eat.
"Xiaoxing, you can't just stay by her side forever. You need to eat too," she said softly, approaching. "I've made a few of your favorite dishes. Why not come down for a bite?"
The bedroom was dim; the man hadn't let the servants turn on the lights.
Lin Zhao couldn't see his expression, only heard a low, cold voice.
"You're quite thoughtful. After all these years, you still remember what I like to eat."
"Though I'm not your birth mother, I've cared for you for over a decade. I've long seen you as my own..."
The man cut her off coldly. "Did you speak up for her today?"
Lin Zhao froze slightly.
"You watched her get bullied, even taken away by Shen Yu's men, nearly losing her life. Did you say a single word to me?"
"Xiaoxing, I..."
In the darkness, a cold laugh escaped his lips. "I remember the good you've done for me. And today's failure to help—I'll remember that too."
"..."
"There's nothing for you here. I don't need your care. Leave now."
Lin Zhao bit her lip. She had no children of her own, and though Shen Xiaoxing was an illegitimate son, at least she had him as a support.
Their relationship was purely transactional—he only called her "Mother" in public, cold and devoid of emotion. In private, he despised her, even looking at her with hatred in his eyes.
Her kindness to Shen Xiaoxing was simply because he had the ability to fight for the inheritance, promising to give her half of the Shen Group's shares if he became the family head, thus maintaining this mother-son facade in everyone's eyes.