Han Xue was unsure how to react.
Taking a deep breath, Han Xue decided to play her part and stood up. She softened her gaze, and with a delicate, almost demure tone, she spoke. "Hello."
Listening to her voice, which seemed almost angelic to him, Liam's desire for Han Xue only deepened. Her beauty, combined with the softness in her tone, had fully captured his attention. But inside, Han Xue was barely holding herself together. The fear of what might be happening to Haoran gnawed at her, and the terrifying thought that he might already be dead sent chills through her.
Liam moved closer, his curiosity and desire evident. "If you come to me, I'll give you the love and power that Zi Haoran never could," he said, his voice low as he studied her, eagerly awaiting her response.
Han Xue gave him a sad, melancholic look, carefully playing the part. "After being with Haoran, I don't even know what love means anymore," she said, forcing a broken laugh. "I must be a fool for ever liking someone like him."
Her words seemed to trigger something in Liam. Unable to bear the sight of such a beautiful woman looking so sad, he pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. Disgust welled up inside her, but she suppressed it, forcing her emotions into submission for Haoran's sake. Every moment counted, and she had to maintain control.
Sensing that her words had tugged at Liam's heartstrings, Han Xue took it a step further. Instead of pulling away, she clutched his shirt tightly, letting her voice tremble as she whispered, "You won't hit me, will you?"
Liam's eyes widened in shock. "He hits you?" His voice was incredulous, mixed with a sharp edge of anger.
Taking the opportunity, Han Xue moved slightly within his embrace and raised her right arm. She tugged at the sleeve of her dress, exposing the burn on her forearm—a burn that looked irritated, as though it had been caused intentionally. The moment Liam saw the ugly mark, his entire demeanor shifted. His heart froze at the sight, and rage replaced his lustful thoughts. The idea that Zi Haoran had tortured her like this sickened him. He couldn't imagine the depth of pain she had endured.
His hand gently caressed her face, his touch surprisingly tender. "I promise you," he said with cold determination. "I'll make sure Haoran dies a painful death."
Even Kang Manchu, who had been watching the exchange closely, also seemed quite surprised by the burn which triggered Liam's emotions. It was a prominent 3 inch lengthy mark which clearly showed how poorly it was treated, it had signs of skin being burst open intentionally which made it look very pitiful.
For the first time, Kang Manchu began to believe that Han Xue might truly want revenge against Haoran. After all, she was a spoiled daughter of the powerful Han family. It wouldn't be far-fetched for her to seek revenge for the torment she'd suffered.
At this point, Han Xue didn't know whether to cry or laugh at how easily Liam was falling for her act. She had no choice but to press forward.
She gazed into Liam's eyes for a few seconds before speaking softly, "If you don't mind... could I witness him dying?"
Liam hesitated, clearly conflicted. "No, what if he does something to you?" His voice was laced with genuine concern, as if he was already picturing himself as her protector.
Kang Manchu interrupted, his voice calm but authoritative. "It's okay, son. I don't plan to give Haoran a single chance to escape." He stepped forward and continued, "We'll send the old man to the hospital. It will lure Zi Haoran out. He'll rush to his grandfather without thinking, without preparation."
Still holding Han Xue, Liam turned toward his father. "So that's why you wanted me to block all entrances to Zi Hospital from the city?" he asked, realization dawned on him.
Kang Manchu placed a hand on Liam's shoulder, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. "Exactly. Haoran will have no choice but to take the abandoned road through the outskirts, past Area Mesny. There's an eight-crossroad junction there, leading to City T. He'll face his torturous death there."
Though the realization that Zi Haoran was still alive and well brought her immense relief, it only fueled her determination further, igniting a fierce resolve within her to do everything in her power to save him.
Area Mesny was a part of the city known only to those involved in underground dealings. It was a route used by hidden transportation vehicles, avoiding government detection. The slums surrounding the area made it a perfect place for an untraceable ambush. No police officer or ambulance would dare enter that part of town.
Kang Manchu signaled to his men, and within moments, they were carrying Grandpa Zi's lifeless body to be sent to Zi Hospital. Han Xue, still in Liam's arms, watched helplessly, her heart breaking as she thought, He's probably already dead...
Kang Manchu's gaze flickered toward the old man, his eyes filled with disdain. "Dad, you're gone so easily?" he muttered, then laughed coldly. "See you at the funeral—if we even bother to keep one."
Han Xue's hands clenched tightly in frustration. Her nails dug into her palms as she watched the entire scene unfold in front of her. Everything had happened too fast, and she hadn't been able to do anything to save Grandpa Zi. The realization crushed her, but it only solidified her resolve. Haoran had once saved her life, and now, no matter the cost, she had to save his.
But as she stood there, feeling the weight of Liam's arms still around her, the question burned in her mind: Will I even be able to save him in time?
She swallowed the rising panic, knowing that her every move now had to be calculated and precise. If she made a mistake, not only would Haoran die, but so would any chance she had of escaping this nightmare.
At Zi Softech
Zi Haoran's anger filled the room, palpable as his temper reached its boiling point. His body tensed, veins bulging in his neck and arms. By now, the coffee mug in his hand had been crushed, its broken pieces cutting into his skin, and blood oozed from his palm. He hadn't even noticed the injury until Shen Mu entered the office at that exact moment.
"Sir, your hand—you're bleeding!" Shen Mu exclaimed, rushing over to grab the first aid kit from a nearby cabinet.
Zi Haoran wasn't in the mood for anything. His mind was still clouded with rage, but when he glanced down at the blood dripping onto his desk and saw the mess he'd made, he begrudgingly allowed Shen Mu to tend to the wound.
As Shen Mu carefully bandaged his hand, his eyes drifted to the shattered phone lying in a corner of the room. "Sir, your phone?" he asked cautiously, realizing it was likely the result of Haoran's outburst.
Without waiting for a response, Shen Mu fetched a spare phone from the cabinet. He bent down, retrieved the SIM card from the broken phone, and inserted it into the new device. As soon as the SIM card connected, the phone buzzed with a notification—a missed call from Han Xue.
"Sir, you have a missed call from Madam," Shen Mu said, handing the phone to him.
Zi Haoran's eyes narrowed as he stared at the screen. Han Xue had called him again. Something about this felt wrong, and a tightness began to form in his chest. Did something happen to her?
He stood up abruptly, his body stiff with tension. "To Zi Mansion," he ordered Shen Mu without a second thought.
But before he could take more than two steps, his phone rang again. This time, it was from the mansion. Zi Haoran snatched the phone up, answering without hesitation.
"Sir... sir..." a panicked servant's voice came through the line. "Grandpa is being taken to Zi Hospital. He collapsed suddenly!"
[===o===o===]
WDD Mini Series: "Help, I'm in a Novel!"
( A hilariously chaotic series of banter where the characters double as their own story's spectators, breaking the fourth wall with mischievous humor, exaggerated emotions, and side-splitting commentary about their tangled, dramatic lives.)
Title: "Wait, He Fell for That?"
ZH (Zi Haoran):
"Wifey, you let him hug you?! That's betrayal! (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻"
HX (Han Xue):
"It's called strategy, Haoran. You wouldn't understand. ¯_(ツ)_/¯"
ZH:
"I'm literally bleeding over here, and you're out there… cozying up to HIM?! (눈_눈)"
HX:
"Hmph, you bleed; I suffer. Seems fair to me. (¬_¬)"
ZH:
"And that burn—you told him I did that?! Wasn't that from Chapter 2?! (⊙_☉)"
HX:
"Oh, you mean the tea burn? The one from the night you called me disgusting and accused me of having a lover? Yeah, that one. (¬‿¬)"
ZH:
"You spilled the tea yourself! Literally! What did I even do?! (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻"
HX:
"You exist. That's enough. (￣‿￣)"
ZH:
"Unbelievable. I'm the villain now because YOU can't hold a teacup? (ಠ_ಠ)"
HX:
"Hmph. Let's not forget the insults. They stung worse than the tea. (ಥ﹏ಥ)"
ZH:
"..." (╥_╥)
[===o===o===]