Chapter 127: To Spend a Lifetime Together
The warm morning sun bathed the streets, but the chilly shadows of the narrow alley threatened to extinguish every ounce of hope in Liang Xiaoluo's heart. Her body ached, her strength drained, yet her spirit refused to surrender. She clung to one last shred of belief: Ye Tianlin would come for her.
Moments earlier, Ye Tianlin had received a cryptic call from his grandfather, Ye Lao. The conversation was curt, tense, and riddled with veiled warnings.
"Your reckless actions today have consequences, Tianlin. Come home immediately if you care about her safety," Ye Lao's voice had boomed, laced with both authority and a tinge of desperation.
"What did you do?" Ye Tianlin demanded.
"I didn't," Ye Lao paused, sighing. "But others are watching. Be careful."
For once, Ye Tianlin couldn't ignore the gravity in his grandfather's tone. Though he didn't trust easily, he knew the old man wouldn't fabricate such a warning. Without wasting a moment, he left Liang Xiaoluo at the cafe, vowing to return and complete their plan to marry.
As Liang Xiaoluo crouched on the cold, damp ground of the alley, struggling against the waves of pain radiating through her body, the shadowed figures around her exchanged guttural laughs. They spoke in a foreign tongue, their mocking tones clear even if their words were incomprehensible.
"You think you can run from us?" one sneered, his thick accent coloring his broken Mandarin. "Someone very powerful wants to send a message."
Tears welled in Liang Xiaoluo's eyes, not from the pain but from frustration. Who could harbor such hatred toward her? Her world revolved around Ye Tianlin and their quiet happiness. What could she have done to provoke this nightmare?
One of the men advanced, holding a small device that glinted ominously under the muted sunlight filtering into the alley. "Don't worry," he said with a chilling grin. "This will hurt only a little."
Meanwhile, Ye Tianlin was speeding back toward the cafe, his gut twisting in a way it hadn't in years. Something was wrong; he felt it in every fiber of his being. He didn't care about traffic laws or the blaring horns of other vehicles. All that mattered was reaching Xiaoluo.
Upon arriving at the cafe, his heart dropped when he saw the empty seat she'd occupied. "Xiaoluo!" he bellowed, startling the staff and customers inside.
"She left not long ago," the cashier stammered, pointing toward the direction of the alley.
Ye Tianlin wasted no time. He dashed toward the alley, the dread in his chest growing heavier with each step. As he turned the corner, the sight before him froze him in place.
Liang Xiaoluo was slumped against the wall, her face pale but defiant. Three foreign men loomed over her, one wielding a strange metallic object. Ye Tianlin's eyes blazed with fury.
"Let her go!" His voice echoed, filled with a rage that silenced even the birds in the trees above.
The men turned, startled by his sudden appearance. One sneered. "And who are you, her knight in shining armor?"
Ye Tianlin didn't bother with words. He lunged at the nearest man, his movements precise and deadly. Years of training, born out of a need to protect himself and his loved ones, came to the forefront. Within moments, two of the men were incapacitated, groaning in pain on the ground.
The last man hesitated, weighing his chances against the formidable Ye Tianlin. He glanced at his comrades, then at Liang Xiaoluo, before dropping the device and bolting out of the alley.
"That's right," Ye Tianlin muttered, his voice low and menacing. "Run while you can."
He rushed to Liang Xiaoluo's side, gently cradling her battered frame. "Xiaoluo, it's me. You're safe now," he whispered, his voice breaking.
She blinked up at him, tears spilling over as relief flooded her face. "Tianlin… I was so scared…"
"I'm here," he assured her, his grip tightening. "No one will hurt you again. I promise."
As he carried her out of the alley, his mind raced. Someone had orchestrated this. Someone with resources and a vendetta. And whoever they were, they had made a grave mistake.
Ye Tianlin vowed to uncover the truth and eliminate the threat, for nothing—no power, no scheme—would keep him from protecting the woman he loved.
Later that night, at the Ye family estate
Ye Lao sat in his study, the weight of the day's events pressing heavily on him. When Ye Tianlin burst in, his rage was palpable.
"Who sent those men after Xiaoluo?" he demanded, slamming his fists on the desk.
Ye Lao sighed, his expression grave. "It seems our enemies are closer than we thought. But rest assured, we'll find them. For now, keep her safe."
"Safe?" Ye Tianlin scoffed. "I'll do more than that. Whoever dared to lay a finger on her will regret ever crossing me."
The old man watched his grandson storm out, a flicker of pride mixed with worry in his eyes. The battle had only just begun.