The woman's beautiful eyes shimmered, and with a faint smile, she looked as ethereal as a fairy in the moonlight.
"Just follow me. Don't ask so many questions."
Zhao Dong gave a wry smile. "If I say no, will you shoot me?"
"Of course not. You're too interesting a man. How could I bear to let you die?"
"Why did you save me? We don't know each other."
"My name is Jiang Nianyu. Do we know each other now?"
Zhao Dong was speechless. After a moment of silence, he climbed to his feet, threw the corpse of the man in black into the river, and then said to Jiang Nianyu, "Alright, let's go. Where to?"
"We'll talk in the car."
Jiang Nianyu turned and walked into the distance. Zhao Dong followed.
A black Mercedes sports coupe was parked on the road outside the alley. Jiang Nianyu went straight to the back seat, and Zhao Dong, touching his nose, got in as well.
It was nighttime in the suburbs, so the streets were empty and quiet. The privacy curtains on the car windows closed automatically, instantly making the car feel like a world cut off from the outside.
Zhao Dong felt a bit uneasy. Alone with a woman in the middle of the night... His mind began to wander.
In the next second, Jiang Nianyu slipped off her high-heeled boots. Her legs, clad in black stockings, came to rest on his lap as she lay back on the seat.
Zhao Dong was stunned. "What are you doing...?"
Jiang Nianyu gave a teasing smile. "Shy? Were you this shy when you slept with Lin Qingyun?"
Zhao Dong's expression hardened. "Who are you?" he asked coldly.
"Don't be so tense. Lin Qingyun and I have a... special relationship."
Zhao Dong was puzzled. "What kind of special relationship?"
Jiang Nianyu didn't answer. Instead, she took a bottle of chilled red wine from the rear armrest and took a light sip. Licking her red lips, she chuckled. "I was just curious who on earth managed to sleep with Lin Qingyun. Today, I finally saw for myself!"
Zhao Dong remained silent, still unable to figure out her intentions. "What was your real reason for saving me?"
Jiang Nianyu smiled faintly. "No reason. I just find you interesting and didn't want you to die so soon."
However, after saying that, she sighed softly. "But after sleeping with Lin Qingyun, I'm afraid you don't have many days left. Do you have any idea who she really is?"
Zhao Dong was bewildered. "The CEO of Lin Corporation?"
Jiang Nianyu's smile widened. "Far more than that. Lin Qingyun is the daughter of the Lin Family—a family from Provincial City. You hadn't heard of them?"
Zhao Dong shook his head.
Jiang Nianyu chuckled, and Zhao Dong frowned. "Even if she is the daughter of the Lin Family, do I have to die just for sleeping with her?"
Jiang Nianyu spoke in a meaningful tone. "The Lin Family probably wouldn't bother with a small fry like you. But... 'that man' is a different story."
Confusion crossed Zhao Dong's face. Her words clearly had a hidden meaning. "Which man?"
Jiang Nianyu wrinkled her delicate nose. "Don't you think it's impolite to keep asking questions? To save you, I had to squat by the river until my legs went numb and my feet ached. You don't even care enough to ask how I am!"
Zhao Dong felt a pang of guilt. After all, this woman had saved his life.
A sly look flashed across Jiang Nianyu's face. "Massage my feet and rub my legs. If you put me in a good mood, I'll naturally tell you everything."
"Huh?"
Jiang Nianyu smiled seductively, bending her lovely leg as she spoke in a tempting voice, "What, you refuse? In that case, I'll have to reconsider telling you."
Zhao Dong coughed, his face flushing red. "It's late, and we're alone... It's not appropriate. How about next time?"
"No way! I want it now, or I'm not telling you!"
Zhao Dong's mouth twitched. He gave her a long look before reaching out and beginning to massage her leg. Jiang Nianyu closed her eyes, lightly biting her lip with a look of pure enjoyment.
Zhao Dong felt a little awkward. He coughed, trying to suppress a certain physical reaction.
So warm, soft, and silky... yet firm and elastic...
Suddenly, Jiang Nianyu opened her beautiful eyes, her gaze intoxicating. "Feel good?"
"It feels good," Zhao Dong said honestly.
"Do you want me?"
What?!
Jiang Nianyu burst into giggles. "Just teasing. You don't actually have feelings for me, do you?"
Zhao Dong frowned. "Alright, I've done the massage. Now, who is the man you were talking about?"
Jiang Nianyu's expression turned serious. "The Lin Family is a major family in Provincial City, and Lin Qingyun is their daughter. Her marriage was arranged long ago; she already has a fiancé. You slept with her. What do you think her fiancé is going to do to you?"
Zhao Dong frowned. "Lin Qingyun has a fiancé?"
"That's right. And for your information, her fiancé is Xiao Hongtian, the eldest son of the Xiao Family. The Xiao Family happens to be one of Provincial City's four great families!"
Zhao Dong's pupils constricted. The four great families of Provincial City?
He felt a wave of confusion and suddenly regretted sleeping with Lin Qingyun. My love rival is from one of the four great families of Provincial City!
"So, do you regret sleeping with Lin Qingyun now?" Jiang Nianyu asked with a sly smile.
Zhao Dong sighed helplessly. "What's done is done. There's no point in regrets. I just want to know how powerful the Xiao Family is and what my chances are."
Jiang Nianyu said, "Let me put it this way: when the Xiao Family makes a move, no power or individual in East Sea—not even the Mayor—would dare to interfere. In other words, no one in East Sea can protect you."
"However, if you flee the four surrounding provinces tonight and go into hiding, you might have a chance to live."
Zhao Dong chuckled sardonically. Run away? Abandon my home? It wasn't in his nature, and even if he did, what would happen to his parents?
"What's your decision?" Jiang Nianyu asked, her gaze burning.
Zhao Dong was silent for a moment before answering, "I won't run. Life and death are determined by fate. Running away would be even more disgraceful."
Jiang Nianyu raised an eyebrow and gave him another look, a strange emotion flickering in her eyes. "Actually, there is another way you can protect yourself."
"What is it?"
Jiang Nianyu smiled seductively, her eyes dancing. "I can't tell you just yet."
"Alright, I'm done teasing you. You should go. I have to leave too." Jiang Nianyu's flirtatiousness faded, replaced by a touch of cold elegance.
Zhao Dong's mouth twitched. "You can't just leave me hanging. Can't you tell me now?"
Jiang Nianyu batted her large eyes. "I really can't. You should hurry back. I need to get some rest, too."
Left with no choice, Zhao Dong got out of the car. Just as he stepped out, Jiang Nianyu's voice came from behind him.
"I forgot to tell you, Xiao Hongtian is arriving in East Sea tomorrow night to host a city-wide banquet. He plans to propose to Lin Qingyun there. If you don't want to die, don't show up, no matter what."
Without looking back, Zhao Dong walked straight into the alley. Jiang Nianyu watched him go, momentarily lost in thought.
A moment later, her phone rang. Jiang Nianyu answered, and a woman's voice came through the line.
"Nianyu, did you see him?"