Chapter 97
As Li Chu sat in the back of the car, a wave of fear washed over her. Ning Yuxi was truly a vile and foolish person, devoid of morals and legal boundaries, wielding his capital as a weapon. His so-called "gifts" were not mere threats; Li Chu had even seen the video camera set up in the living room. If help hadn't arrived in time, she would have had her legs broken and been gang-raped. That's how disgusting this scum was.
“I'm sorry, Boss. I failed to protect you.” Yuanzi's face was filled with remorse. She hadn't expected someone to be snatched right in front of her, so quickly she couldn't even give chase.
“It was so sudden. I wasn't on guard. I'll be more careful next time.” Li Chu patted Yuanzi's arm, reassuring her. After all, no one could have predicted this.
“Does it hurt? Are you injured anywhere else? Should we go to the hospital?” Yuanzi looked at Li Chu's swollen face, her heart filled with anger, cursing Ning Yuxi inwardly and hoping their boss would make him pay.
“I'm fine. Just get me some anti-inflammatory ointment.” Li Chu shook her head, touching the inside of her cheek with her tongue. Even a slight movement sent jolts of pain through her face. She cursed internally.
Yuanzi nodded. “Okay.”
A Yao, who was sitting in the front, passed a phone back. “Miss Ning's calling.”
“Manqing… Mm, I'm fine, really. Ning Yuxi is such an idiot. I stalled him. I'm okay.” Li Chu's voice was filled with a deeper sense of grievance when she heard Ning Manqing's voice, but she hid it, wanting to reassure her first. She knew Ning Manqing must be just as worried.
“No need for a hospital check-up. He just slapped my face…” Li Chu paused. “What happened on your end?” she asked, startled by a sudden crash.
“Nothing. I accidentally dropped a glass.” Ning Manqing's voice was soothing. Bai Wu, sitting beside her, watched the shattered glass and gulped.
“Go get a check-up. I'll feel better. I'll tell A Yao where to take you. It's a private hospital run by a friend. Very discreet.”
Li Chu obediently agreed. “Okay.”
“Wait for me to come home.” Ning Manqing's voice was gentle as she checked her flight information.
“Okay, I'll wait for you.”
After hanging up, the gentleness on Ning Manqing's face vanished, replaced by a grim expression. Bai Wu sat quietly, knowing her friend was like a volcano about to erupt, and wisely chose not to provoke her.
“I'm leaving the follow-up here to you. We're shifting our focus back to China.”
“So soon?”
“I can't wait any longer.” Ning Manqing was rarely this impatient, but the rage inside her was threatening to consume her. She was furious that Ning Yuxi dared to do such a thing, and even more frustrated that she couldn't be there in person, having to manage everything remotely. The flight back would take several hours, and she couldn't bring herself to board and be out of contact until she knew Li Chu was safe.
So she could only wait. She hated this feeling of helplessness. She had to go back.
“Some trash needs to be dealt with immediately.” Ning Manqing coldly swept the shards of glass into the trash can. The sound of the falling glass was like a foreboding omen.
Ning Manqing knew Ning Yuxi was foolish, so her main concern wasn't him, but Ning Haoyuan and Ning Yunzhi, or rather, her parents. They would use more subtle and insidious methods against her, but Ning Yuxi, in his clumsy attempt at revenge, had acted first and incurred her wrath.
“Alright, go back without worry. I'll handle things here.” Bai Wu nodded, fully supporting her friend. After all, this was a direct attack, her partner had been kidnapped. How could anyone tolerate this?
Li Chu received Ning Manqing's flight information while undergoing a full-body examination at the hospital. It was a bit excessive, to be honest. Aside from the slap and the kick from Ning Yuxi, she hadn't suffered any other injuries. Still, she cooperated with the CT scan, blood tests, and urine tests, wanting to reassure Ning Manqing upon her return.
Li Chu had asked Yuanzi to keep this incident quiet. Yuanzi had already kept Qian Duoduo in the dark, telling her that Li Chu had some personal matters to attend to, which Qian Duoduo hadn't questioned. The location Zheng Ming chose was quite secluded. A Yao checked the surveillance footage, only to find the camera was broken. Min Yiyuan was clearly more cunning than Ning Yuxi. Li Chu was grateful that not everyone was like Ning Yuxi; if Min Yiyuan had given in to his base desires, she might have been in real trouble.
It was late at night when Ning Manqing arrived. Li Chu wasn't at the hospital, nor had she returned to the set. She was at a hotel. After the day's ordeal and the medical examinations, despite wanting to wait for Ning Manqing, sleep had overtaken her.
Ning Manqing arrived late, weary from her journey, carrying the cool night air of spring. The faint scent of Cloud Mist Tea pheromones drifted around her, like a gentle dream. Li Chu stirred in her sleep, murmuring softly. Realizing the touch was real, she opened her eyes.
“Teacher Ning! You're back!” Li Chu's face lit up with surprise as she clung to Ning Manqing, holding her hand.
“Mm.” Ning Manqing's fingertips brushed against the redness on Li Chu's face, her own pheromones turning colder.
“I've already put ointment on it. It should be fine tomorrow. I've taken half a day off. I'll go back to the set tomorrow afternoon.” Li Chu shifted to make room for Ning Manqing on the bed.
“Okay.” Ning Manqing undressed and got into bed, the rustling of fabric echoing the turmoil in her heart. She had so much to say to Li Chu, but looking at her peaceful, smiling face in the dim light, the words felt too heavy, like weighty raindrops that would crush delicate petals. She didn't want to burden the vibrant little flower before her.
Li Chu, now somewhat awake, snuggled into Ning Manqing's embrace. Ning Manqing wrapped her arms around Li Chu's waist, holding her close. A peaceful silence fell between them. It was a silence that invited conversation, yet simultaneously felt complete without it. The warm glow of the lamp cast a gentle halo around the bed.
After a long while, just as Li Chu was drifting back to sleep, she felt the vibrations in Ning Manqing's chest, followed by her voice.
“Tao Tao.”
Li Chu responded sleepily, “Mm?”
“I'm sorry. I didn't protect you.” Ning Manqing's chin rested on Li Chu's head. Her regret and sigh were transmitted through the vibrations of her body, along with her warmth, her heartbeat, her pheromones, her very soul.
“You don't have to apologize,” Li Chu poked Ning Manqing's chest, replying earnestly. “We are two independent individuals who love each other, not conjoined twins. No one could have foreseen that situation. And it was me who trusted the wrong person, underestimated their malice.”
The memory angered Li Chu. No good deed goes unpunished – truly the most disgusting and annoying thing in the world!
“Babe, that Min Yiyuan is an accomplice! He's disgusting too! You have to deal with him!” Li Chu was fully awake now, her nose wrinkled in anger. Min Yiyuan had also been involved in Ming Zhi's incident, and his leering gaze had disgusted her.
Li Chu recounted the entire incident to Ning Manqing, including Zheng Ming's involvement, his relationship with Min Yiyuan, the ideas Min Yiyuan had suggested, and the words he had spoken.
“He will pay for what he has done and said.” Ning Manqing gently stroked Li Chu's hair with one hand, while the other clenched into a fist, her face dark. Her pheromones became aggressive. Li Chu responded by gently entwining her own pheromones with Ning Manqing's, soothing her while changing the subject.
“What about Ning Yuxi? What are you going to do? Yuanzi said they've detained him according to your instructions.”
“I'll arrange for him to go abroad.” Ning Manqing's voice was cold. She didn't want this menace to appear before Li Chu again.
“Will the Ning family be okay with that?”
“This is the best option, considering them.” If it weren't for her family's reaction, Ning Manqing wouldn't simply send him abroad. She could imagine how they would try to smooth things over, perhaps by sending Ning Yuxi to another city or marrying him off for profit. Ning Manqing didn't want to see that. It wouldn't truly harm Ning Yuxi. She wanted to break the wings he thought protected him, shake his foundation. Then, this waste of space wouldn't need much effort from her to self-destruct.
“So, is this a complete falling out? Are you going back to officially join the family struggle?”
“Hm?” Ning Manqing raised an eyebrow, surprised by her girlfriend's insight. “You seem to know quite a bit.”
“Hee hee, just a little. I tricked Ning Yuxi into revealing some things, then used my little brain, combined with context, to figure out the rest.” Li Chu gestured with her fingers, trying to play it off.
“A clever peach. Yes, I plan to make things clear. They've never truly trusted me anyway.” Ning Manqing smiled and tapped Li Chu's head. She hadn't intended to discuss these matters with Li Chu, but since she already knew something, there was no point in hiding it. Moreover, she understood her parents' focus on profit. She had always been the one who met their expectations, so this concession and show of good faith would be enough for them to abandon Ning Yuxi.
“Then you won't be able to act for a long time. Will you have a chance to come back? This is something you love.” Li Chu felt a pang of sadness. This was the industry Ning Manqing loved and dedicated herself to, but now she had to give it up. Li Chu felt heartbroken and frustrated that she couldn't help.
Ning Manqing rubbed Li Chu's head. “Many things in life require sacrifice. I've thought this through since I made the decision. Don't worry, I'll be back. After all, I haven't filmed a real sweet drama with you yet.”
Li Chu bumped fists with her. “That's a promise then.”
It was settled. A drama's promise.
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