Xiao Wan stared at the man in front of her for two seconds, and immediately guessed his identity. She slightly clenched her fists and asked, "You're Leng Qing's half-brother, An Zhou?"
The man, with a mischievous look on his face, sneered coldly after hearing this, taking a step forward to lift Xiao Wan's chin. "Tsk tsk, little girl, you're quite clever and know a lot. Apart from that, has Leng Qing ever told you anything about my family?"
"He didn't tell me anything, but I know that you, An Zhou, are good at drinking, gambling, and womanizing. Sooner or later, you'll squander away all the wealth your father worked for all these years. Calling you a prodigal son would be flattering." Xiao Wan raised her hand and brushed away his hand on her chin, coldly saying, "If there's nothing else, please leave. Leng Qing doesn't welcome you."
An Zhou, who had been smiling wickedly, suddenly changed his expression. He forcefully pushed Xiao Wan into the wall, pressing down on her shoulder and said, "He doesn't welcome me? What qualifies this little bastard to not welcome me? If I hadn't been tolerant these years, I'd have killed this bastard already. Do you really think you, a shameless woman, can challenge me like this? Where's Leng Qing? Tell him to come out and return my 40 million!"
Xiao Wan's back slammed into the wall with a painful impact, but she gritted her teeth and said, "I don't know. He hasn't lived here for a long time."
"You don't know?" An Zhou snorted coldly, releasing her and shrugging. "Fine, it doesn't matter. I have ways to make this bastard come out on his own."
Saying that, he turned and gave a signal to the two black bodyguards. They immediately walked toward the stone sculptures carved by Leng Qing. Without saying a word, they kicked the sculptures over.
The carefully crafted sculptures crashed to the ground with a loud bang, shattering into pieces! These were works Leng Qing had spent countless hours on, and although he never said it, Xiao Wan knew how much those sculptures meant to him! Xiao Wan quickly rushed forward to stop the bodyguards, but An Zhou grabbed her arm.
As the sculptures were shattered one after another, Xiao Wan glared at An Zhou in anger and said, "What exactly do you want? Leng Qing hasn't returned to the country for years, and he never once thought about your father's fortune. He's been living abroad alone for so long, and yet you're still not satisfied. You want to push him to the brink of death?"
"He's not lonely at all!" An Zhou said coldly. "This little bastard quietly took a car from my father, a 40 million Pagani! And he's still pretending not to want my father's wealth? Leng Qing and his cheap mother are cut from the same cloth, always acting pitiful to gain sympathy and swindle money from my family!"
Xiao Wan was momentarily stunned. "Pagani?"
Could it be… the one he used to race against Chen Xin? At that time, Leng Qing told her the car was borrowed, and she didn't think much of it, just urging him to return it quickly. So it turned out the car was something he asked his father for? But according to her impression, didn't he always say he never asked his father for anything?
Was it for himself?
Xiao Wan's heart ached, but she didn't want to show any weakness in front of An Zhou. She coldly said, "As you said, the car was something he asked from his father. What does that have to do with you? No matter what, Leng Qing is also your father's son. This is a matter between father and son, it's none of your business!"
"None of my business?" An Zhou laughed in anger. He suddenly grabbed Xiao Wan's clothes and pulled her in front of him, looking down at her viciously. "Let me tell you, I am my father's son. Leng Qing is just the illegitimate child from my father and some cheap woman! My father's money is all mine from now on, and I won't give him a single cent! If he doesn't return that 40 million to me today, I'll make him regret it!"
Xiao Wan gritted her teeth and said, "If you dare call him an illegitimate child again, I'll make you regret it first."
An Zhou raised an eyebrow and sneered. "I'll keep calling him an illegitimate child. What can you, a shameless prostitute, do about it—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Xiao Wan suddenly raised her hand and slapped him across the face. Her slap was unusually heavy, and An Zhou's cheek was scratched by her nails, drawing blood.
The man in front of her widened his eyes in shock. He stood frozen for two seconds, then slowly fixed his gaze on her and said, "You shameless prostitute, how dare you slap me?"
Xiao Wan raised her hand again, intending to leave a slap mark on the other side of his face. However, this time An Zhou grabbed her wrist and yanked her hair, throwing Xiao Wan to the ground. He immediately pounced on her, pinning her down, and gripped her neck. "Dare to hit me… In my dictionary, there's no rule about not hitting women!"
Saying that, he raised his hand and slapped her across the face.
His strength was much greater than hers, and the slap made Xiao Wan's scalp tingle. But she clenched her teeth and didn't make a sound, glaring at him with hatred in her eyes.
An Zhou originally wanted to slap her a few more times for relief, but when he saw the defiant and resentful look in her eyes, something inside him ignited with a mischievous fire. He raised his hand to slap her again but instead gently cupped Xiao Wan's chin, rubbing it and then examining her necklace. He murmured, "You really are quite beautiful… And your clothes aren't bad either. That fool Leng Qing must have spent a lot of money on you, huh? All of that is my money. So, since you've spent my money, don't you think you owe me something in return?"
Xiao Wan immediately guessed what he intended to do. A chill ran down her spine, and she instinctively grabbed his hand, trying to push him away. "Let go of me."
An Zhou chuckled and, instead of backing off, pressed forward, one hand reaching inside her clothes. "I won't let go. I want to see what it's like to be with a woman who's been with that bastard."
As his hand brushed against her skin, Xiao Wan involuntarily shuddered. Memories flashed before her eyes: the dark forest, the terrifying shadows, and the traces left on the ground as hands dug into the earth…
Out of the corner of her eye, Xiao Wan spotted Leng Qing's toolbox not far away, containing his carving knives. Just as she was about to reach for it, a noise suddenly came from the door.
After two muffled grunts, the two bodyguards who had been smashing the sculptures collapsed to the ground with a loud thud, unconscious. Leng Qing stood coldly in the doorway, his eyes filled with a demonic fierceness, fists clenched. He addressed the man holding Xiao Wan down, saying, "Let her go. I'll only say this once."
An Zhou glared at him with equal ferocity, sneering, "I won't let go. What are you going to do about it?"
He then deliberately leaned down and kissed Xiao Wan on the cheek.
Xiao Wan tensed up and, on instinct, grabbed a carving knife, intending to stab him in the neck. At that moment, Leng Qing quickly dashed forward, seized the knife from her, and shoved An Zhou against the wall. He kneed him in the stomach, and as An Zhou doubled over in pain, Leng Qing held the carving knife against his throat.
"You asked what I can do to you?" Leng Qing said coldly, the knife pressing deeper against An Zhou's neck. "I can kill you."
An Zhou scoffed, raising his head to look at him with a mocking sneer. "Kill me? Do you dare? If you kill me, you'll never get a penny from my father!"
"I've never wanted anything from your father," Leng Qing replied.
An Zhou spat at him, sneering, "Stop acting all high and mighty. Is it a lie that you asked my father for a 40 million Pagani? I spared your life before because you didn't covet my family's wealth, but now that you think you're strong enough, you've started plotting? Do you really think someone like you deserves my family's wealth?"
"I only asked for a car, and it was borrowed. I'll return it to him later," Leng Qing said. "Don't worry, I have no interest in being his son, and I'm not interested in your family's fortune."
"Ha! Bullshit! You're a poor student who'll never pay back 40 million in your lifetime!" An Zhou shouted angrily. "I don't need that 40 million, but the thought of it ending up in your hands disgusts me. Leng Qing, listen carefully—your maternal grandfather is still alive. If you want him to live a long life, and not die as young as your cheap mother, then never ask my father for money again. He's my father!"
These words immediately touched Leng Qing's sore spot. He quickly pressed the carving knife against An Zhou's neck, and blood began to drip. Through clenched teeth, Leng Qing hissed, "Don't call me that, or I'll let you die right here."
An Zhou seemed shocked that this "wild" brother would actually dare to threaten him. The intense pain in his neck made him panic. Leng Qing, with an expression that seemed possessed, glared at him coldly, as though he were a demon, his hand tightening on the carving knife, pushing it closer to An Zhou's throat.
An Zhou finally realized the danger and struggled to speak, "Let go of me! Damn it, let go of me!"
The curse words again hit Leng Qing's breaking point. His eyes narrowed, and with a sudden twist of his hand, An Zhou tasted blood in his mouth. He tried to call for help, but the two bodyguards who had been smashed to the ground earlier were still half-conscious and unable to get up. An Zhou was fully panicked.
Just then, Xiao Wan, regaining her senses, quickly stepped forward and grabbed Leng Qing's hand, shouting at him, "Leng Qing! Leng Qing! Don't do this! Please, wake up!"
Leng Qing's eyes slightly shifted, and he turned to look at Xiao Wan. Finally, he loosened his grip on the carving knife, and An Zhou, clutching his neck, began coughing loudly as blood dripped between his fingers.
"Cough, you son of a—" An Zhou tried to curse again, but Xiao Wan kicked him fiercely, shouting, "Hurry up and leave! Do you want to die?"
An Zhou shot her a furious glance, then stumbled and ran out, with his bodyguards following him.
Leng Qing remained standing still, his eyes unfocused, staring at the wall, his expression cold like a death god. Xiao Wan had seen him like this before. It had been a long time ago, on the anniversary of Leng Qing's mother's death. He had returned drunk, holding Xiao Wan and trying to force himself on her.
At that time, Xiao Wan had resisted his roughness, but Leng Qing had gone wild, pinning her down on the sofa, kissing her harshly and tearing her clothes off. His eyes at that moment had been the same as now—unrecognizable, like a stranger. It had been terrifying.
Cautiously, Xiao Wan approached him, calling his name gently. She tried to take the knife from his hand, but he gripped it tightly. Realizing she was trying to disarm him, Leng Qing suddenly pushed her against the wall.
"Ah…" Xiao Wan cried out in pain, but she spoke softly to him, touching his face. "Leng Qing, it's me. Wake up. Please, put down the knife."
Leng Qing's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his gaze had finally cleared a bit. He mumbled her name, "Xiao Wan…"
"Yes, it's me," Xiao Wan said, holding his hand. "Please put the knife down. It's over."
Leng Qing looked down at the bloodstained carving knife in his hand. He tossed it aside and pulled Xiao Wan into a tight embrace, as if he wanted to consume her with his body. "I'm sorry, I was too late. Did An Zhou hurt you?"
"No, I'm fine," Xiao Wan quickly reassured him.
"Good, as long as you're safe," Leng Qing murmured, his lips brushing against her ear.
Xiao Wan thought of Chen Xin and carefully turned her face away to avoid his kiss. "That Pagani… did you really ask your… father for it?"
Leng Qing nodded.
"How could you do that? The car is so expensive, and now it's wrecked. How will you ever pay him back?" Xiao Wan said, her voice full of concern. "If I had known, I would have never let you race that day."
"It's okay, don't worry. I'll be able to pay him back," Leng Qing reassured her, gently stroking her hair. "I'm sorry, I didn't expect An Zhou to find us and scare you like that."
"I'm fine." Xiao Wan glanced at the shattered sculptures on the floor. "But I couldn't protect your works…"
Leng Qing cupped her face. "Those don't matter. You're the most important thing in my life."
Xiao Wan, still worried, said, "Stop comforting me. Tell me, where did you get the 40 million to pay your dad back? You didn't rob a bank, did you? If you don't repay him, your wasteful brother will definitely come after you again!"
"I'm not afraid of him," Leng Qing replied. "And don't worry about the money. I'll tell you later. I have my own legitimate way of making money."
Xiao Wan knew that Leng Qing wasn't the type to make empty promises, so she decided to trust him for now. Leng Qing then picked up a wet wipe from the table and began to gently wipe her face.
He focused on one spot on her face, rubbing it repeatedly. Xiao Wan couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing?"
"That guy just kissed you," Leng Qing said, staring coldly at her face. "I don't like him touching you."
After she cleaned herself up, Leng Qing bent down again to kiss the spot where An Zhou had just kissed her, wanting to cover it. But this kiss was gently avoided by her.
Xiao Wan lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eyes, and softly said, "I have Chen Xiaoguai now, I can't… I'm sorry."
Leng Qing was silent for a moment, not forcing her anymore. Instead, he changed the topic, saying, "You can't stay here any longer. I'm not afraid of An Zhou causing trouble, but I'm worried he might hurt you. You… should go back to Chen Xin's side as soon as possible. I've already made an appointment for you with Kerliff, and I'll take you to his office tomorrow morning."
Xiao Wan knew this was the best choice for both of them and nodded.
Leng Qing turned around, picked up the bag with the roast chicken from the floor, and said, "I was so focused on fighting earlier that it fell on the ground. I'll go buy you a new one."
"No need," Xiao Wan quickly said. "It's just the bag that's dirty, there's nothing wrong with the chicken inside, I don't mind."
Leng Qing looked at her, his voice deep. "But I want to give you the best."
Xiao Wan couldn't help but feel a little teary. She touched his face and said, "As long as you're safe and nothing happens to you, that's the best gift for me, you silly little thing."
Leng Qing smiled gently at her. The two of them sat in front of the sofa and shared the roast chicken from the bag.
The next morning.
Joanna had been working as Mr. Kerliff's secretary for over five years. As the secretary of this renowned psychologist, Joanna had always been diligent in her work.
So when last night, her usually serious and stern boss suddenly instructed her to decorate his office with fresh pink roses, put lace cushions on the sofa, and even buy a cute Angora long-haired rabbit for the office, Joanna was only slightly surprised but followed the orders.
She accepted her boss's surprising change of mood well, but the other people in the clinic weren't so accepting. Phyllis, the janitor who had only just started working at the clinic, pushed open the door to the office while holding her cleaning tools. Seeing the room decorated with a girly pink theme, she gasped and covered her chest, exclaiming, "Oh my god, what happened here? Is the boss quitting and renting this place out to… uh, I don't know, some cute girls?"
Joanna, who was placing roses on the table, turned around and smiled. "No. But today's patient is indeed a woman."
"Ah?" Phyllis thought quickly and said, "But today is Thursday. Don't we usually have that middle-aged man with the bald spot come in for his appointment every Thursday morning?"
Joanna nodded. "Yes, but last night, the boss called me and asked me to reschedule that gentleman's appointment to noon. This morning, he has to see a very special and important patient."
"Special? In what way?" Phyllis leaned in curiously. "Is it another big star coming to see the boss? Can you get me an autograph?"
Joanna mysteriously shook her head. "No. You'll find out why this patient is so special when she arrives."
As Phyllis cleaned up the office, their boss arrived. Phyllis couldn't help but be surprised when she saw his outfit—her usually simple and elegant boss was dressed in a very formal suit today, and his brown-black hair was carefully styled. As he got closer, she could smell a faint hint of cologne.
"Good morning, boss," Joanna greeted him with a nod.
"Good morning," Kerliff replied gently, looking slightly nervous. "Has the office been arranged the way I asked?"
"Yes."
Kerliff walked into the office, took a look around, and turned to Joanna with a smile. "Thank you, you've worked hard."
"It's nothing, I'm just doing my job."
Kerliff said, "Then I'll go in now. If she arrives, please let her in immediately."
"Okay."
After Kerliff entered the office and closed the door, Phyllis couldn't hold her curiosity anymore and excitedly whispered to Joanna, "Who is this mysterious patient this morning? Please tell me!"
Joanna smiled. "Well, you're new here, so you don't know. She's a patient who was coming to the boss regularly two years ago. She's a very cute girl. After that, she didn't come for a while."
Phyllis sympathetically asked, "Did her condition worsen?"
"No," Joanna sighed. "Two years ago, this girl confessed her feelings to the boss, but he rejected her. Since then, she hasn't come back."
Phyllis wasn't surprised that Kerliff had been confessed to. He was handsome, came from a good family, and had the charisma of a mature man. He was good at comforting people. Many female patients who saw him frequently ended up developing a dependency on him and confessed their feelings. However, Kerliff was always very professional and never accepted any confessions. He would kindly but firmly reject them each time.
But what about now?
Phyllis couldn't help but ask, "Didn't the boss reject her? So why is he decorating the office with roses and buying a rabbit? And he's even wearing cologne! I've never seen him wear cologne before! Do you think he might have fallen for her?"
Joanna smiled, curling her lips. "We'll find out once the girl arrives."
While the two of them were discussing eagerly outside, Leng Qing had just parked his motorcycle at the door.
Xiao Wan let go of his waist, jumped down from the back seat, and turned around to wait for him to park the bike.
"Let's go," Leng Qing gently patted her head.
Xiao Wan took a few steps forward but couldn't help asking, "You'll wait outside for me, right? You won't leave?"
"Of course," Leng Qing smiled. "Don't worry."
Only then did Xiao Wan muster the courage to walk into the clinic. As soon as Joanna saw her, she stood up and said, "Xiao Wan, long time no see."
"Hello, Joanna," Xiao Wan smiled at her and softly asked, "Is the doctor… here?"
"Yes, I'll let him know right away."
Before she could finish her sentence, the door to the office opened, and Kerliff appeared. He nervously adjusted his suit before smiling gently at Xiao Wan. "Xiao Wan, hello. Please come in."
Phyllis, who was watching, couldn't help but smile to herself, thinking, "I bet the boss was hiding behind the door, listening to what was happening outside."
Xiao Wan saw Kerliff and felt a flash of disappointment and embarrassment in her eyes before she forced a smile and walked into the room, greeting him, "Hello, Dr. Kerliff."