Chapter 25: A Hasty Escape
Nan Zhi clenched her teeth hard, her innate fierceness and stubbornness flaring up; she simply refused to beg him for mercy. She was the kind of person who grew stronger when faced with force—one who would rather die than ever yield.
Mu Sihan watched her coldly, seeing defiance etched across Nan Zhi’s face. Even as she hovered on the brink of death beneath his overwhelming strength, she didn’t cry, didn’t panic. Instead, she met his gaze with proud, unyielding eyes.
A cruel, almost sadistic smile curled on his lips. Far from letting go, his powerful hand only tightened around Nan Zhi’s delicate neck.
Agony tore through her throat, her breaths growing shallower by the second. Her fair little face flushed a harsh red as consciousness began to slip away. This man’s cruelty and ruthlessness were not just skin deep—they came from his very bones. If she didn’t beg, if she didn’t submit, he truly would strangle her to death.
A fleeting image of Xiaokai’s porcelain, cherubic face flashed in Nan Zhi’s mind. If she died like this, what would become of her precious child?
Finally, when he saw terror and panic flicker in her eyes, the man slowly loosened his grip on her neck.
The instant he released her, Nan Zhi collapsed weakly to the floor, her whole body drained of strength.
Monster.
This man was truly a monster.
She had almost died at his hands.
Her bloodless lips parted, and she coughed and gasped for air, struggling to breathe.
Earlier that morning, sitting in his car, she had actually wondered if he might have been the man from that night four years ago. But now, regardless of who he was, she never wanted anything to do with him again. He was far too dangerous, far too terrifying.
The man hauled her up from the ground, silencing her with a brutal kiss. His rough fingertips roved over her body. Nan Zhi no longer had the strength to resist. A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye, tracing down and disappearing into her hair.
He kissed away that tear, lowered his head, and took her earlobe between his lips, hot tongue tracing a line as he whispered hoarsely into her ear, “Are you a virgin?”
His heavy breath poured into her ear, chilling her to the bone; goosebumps rose all over Nan Zhi’s skin.
She shook her head. “I’m not. Let me go.”
Her face still burned with an unnatural flush, her voice was hoarse, her long lashes trembled, and her lips were pale. Yet the look in her eyes was earnest, not a hint of retreat or fear.
His strong fingers gripped her jaw. His cold lips hovered just above hers—not quite touching, but close enough that only the thinnest paper could slip between. His breath, searing and dangerous, fell upon her as he uttered, “Since that’s the case, don’t ever try to seduce me again. And never appear before me. Get out!”
He released her and strode into the bathroom with a cold, forbidding air.
Nan Zhi didn’t even have time to process the meaning behind his words. Clutching her aching, almost broken neck, she fled in a panic.
...
Lan Yanzhi had barely finished smoking half a cigarette in the living room when he saw a woman stumble down the stairs.
“Oh? Isn’t this the little girl who worshipped at Fourth Brother’s feet in the private room earlier?”
Nan Zhi ignored Lan Yanzhi. All she wanted now was to get away from this place as quickly as possible.
Butler Yi came over. “Miss, you’ll have to wear a blindfold when you leave. I’ll arrange a driver to take you.”
Nan Zhi nodded silently.
This was that maniac’s domain; if she didn’t do as she was told, he might really feed her to his Tibetan mastiffs.
Butler Yi tied a black silk ribbon over her eyes and prepared to escort her to the car.
Lan Yanzhi rose from the sofa and came over. “Butler Yi, let me take this young lady home.”
...
Seated in Lan Yanzhi’s sports car, Nan Zhi turned her head toward the window, even though she could see nothing at all.
“Young lady, did you get your neck grabbed because you slapped Fourth Brother?”
...
That’s all for today’s update. Thank you to everyone who voted—see you tomorrow!