Originally, Jiang Hao had planned a welcome banquet that night, hoping to apologize properly to Qin Qinghan and make amends. But she refused outright, claiming she had to pick up her daughter from school.
So Ye Fengwu and Jiang Hao agreed to attend the dinner the following evening instead. Ye Fengwu needed to gather more inside information on Haihua City—Lin Qiang and his men could only provide so much. Before executing his mission, he had to erase the Qin family and the West Tiger Black Wind from the city. This, he told himself, was the compensation owed to Qin Qinghan after eight long years.
The low-end Chevrolet crept through the wide city streets. Ye Fengwu could hear the engine protesting its age.
Qin Qinghan, still visibly shaken, sat silently. Ye Fengwu took the wheel. "You really should've accepted Xiao Hao's Ferrari," he said casually. "That car's worth at least five hundred thousand."
Qin Qinghan's face remained pale as she stared out the window. Her mind was elsewhere, trapped in the nightmare of the day, replaying the near-death scene of seven people.
"Thank you… for today," she said softly.
That simple "thank you" made Ye Fengwu grin, but his expression quickly hardened. "If you're only thanking me because I saved you, I hope I never hear that from you again."
Qin Qinghan turned to him, puzzled. Was he saying he didn't want to save her under those circumstances?
"I mean it," Ye Fengwu continued seriously. "Never let yourself fall into danger like that again. If even a scratch comes to you… I couldn't bear it."
Qin Qinghan's eyes widened. She could feel the weight of his concern, his care, and it stirred something inside her. For a man like him—dangerous, reckless, a criminal—the fact that he protected her so fiercely… perhaps, under different circumstances, she might have felt more than gratitude.
"Promise me, okay?" Ye Fengwu suddenly reached for her hand resting on her lap.
At that moment, Qin Qinghan instinctively lifted a hand to brush her hair aside, and his large hand landed squarely on her thigh. Though separated by fabric, Ye Fengwu could feel its softness and warmth.
Qin Qinghan panicked and slapped at him instinctively.
Smack!
"Ah!"
But her slap missed his hand entirely, hitting her own thigh instead. The pain made her wince, eyebrows knitting tightly. Ye Fengwu, faster than she could react, had already pulled his hand away instinctively.
He chuckled, gripping the steering wheel with one hand while raising the other apologetically. "Sorry, sorry—reflex. Try again. I won't dodge this time."
Shamelessly, he rested his hand back on her thigh. Qin Qinghan's eyes shimmered with tears—pain, embarrassment, perhaps both—but she didn't push him away this time. She simply turned back to the window.
"Do what you want. I give up," she muttered softly.
Today, she had seen the East Dragon Overlord of Haihua City—the terrifying figure who wielded half the city's power—and he had been one of Ye Fengwu's subordinates. What chance did she have? All she could do was hope that after he had his fun, he wouldn't hurt her family.
Ye Fengwu lightly pinched her thigh once, then withdrew his hand. That small touch was merely instinct—a fleeting reminder of his human side amidst the chaos.
"You don't want to know about Jiang Hao and me?" Ye Fengwu asked suddenly.
Qin Qinghan's response was flat. "Not interested."
Ye Fengwu's face turned awkward. He had been ready to brag, expecting her to be the kind of girl who loved confident, dominant men—but she was truly an exception.
As for Jiang Hao, Ye Fengwu had grown up with him. After middle school, the two dropped out, brawled, collected protection money, and carved out their place in Haihua's underworld. By eighteen, Ye Fengwu had already made a name for himself, earning enemies along the way. He had saved Jiang Hao's life more than once, forging the younger man's complete loyalty.
Then Ye Fengwu had been framed by the West Tiger Black Wind's son, imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit.
Meanwhile, Qin Qinghan checked the time frequently, her brow furrowed. School let out at 5:30, and it was already 5:25. She wouldn't make it on time.
"Drive faster," she urged for the third time.
Ye Fengwu grimaced at the long line of traffic. "Honey… traffic."
Her grip on the edge of her clothes turned pale. Ye Fengwu's brow furrowed. Why was she so worried? Could Jing Si be in trouble?
He slammed the horn as he maneuvered through the streets. Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the elementary school. Some parents had already picked up their kids.
Qin Qinghan leapt from the car and ran toward the school gates. Ye Fengwu followed quickly.
From a distance, he saw a crowd gathered—children of eight or nine, and their parents.
Then he heard the cruel laughter:
"Qin Jing Si, your dad's a rapist, your mom's a dirty woman!"
"Qin Jing Si, your dad's a rapist, your mom's a dirty woman!"
Ye Fengwu's face darkened like a storm. He strode forward, long legs eating up the distance.
In the crowd, Jing Si stood with her backpack, school uniform smeared and wet in places. Her porcelain doll-like face was set with stubborn grief. Tears glimmered in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. Dozens of cruel kids mocked her openly, their parents smiling approvingly—or at least indifferent.
A young boy whispered to his mother, "Mom, that's Qin Jing Si. Her mom was raped… she doesn't even know who her dad is."
The woman's face, heavily powdered, twisted with disdain. "Don't play with children like her at school. How filthy."
"Jing Si…"
Qin Qinghan ran to her daughter, holding her close. She refused to let them continue shaming her.
Her professional attire accentuated her flawless figure, and her stunning beauty drew astonished stares from fathers and jealous glares from mothers alike.