What is Going on with Her?

Just when she thought the cold, heartless man was going to toss her out of the car, she heard the husky hum of his voice. 

"Drive," he said. 

Xia Yanxi was stumped. Even after several moments, she could not bring herself to say anything. 

Why would he agree to take her with him?

While she was still dwelling in her thoughts, the man's husky voice was heard again. 

"Woman, let go!" 

It was at that moment when she realized she was still wrapping herself around the man's leg. It was a defensive move to prevent, or at least, delay the man from tossing her out of the car. Now that she had time to think about her actions, she realized that she was plastering her entire body to his leg. 

Blood rushed to her cheek and she released her vice-like grip, removing herself from the man before having a good look at him. 

She noted how the man was leaning only slightly against the leather seat. Due to his oversize height, coupled with the poor illumination from street lights coming and going, she could only catch a glimpse of the man's face. Even so, she could only see the man's well-defined, chiseled jawline. Additionally, a long stick of cigar was clamped in between the man's lips. 

Even though she could not get a proper look at the man's face, she could feel the overwhelming regal demeanor exuding from him. 

"Excuse me, sir? If you're going to help me, and you should, please allow me to sit by your side…" 

The man remained stoic, ignoring her words, as he took out a lighter. 

Xia Yanxi's eyes were locked onto the man, and when he lowered his head and flicked the lighter, the hallowed-greenish flames flickered a little, illuminating the surroundings, and his face. 

The man took a deep breath and when he released a puff of smoke, his eyes met hers. The atmosphere, however unexplainable, only intensified his gaze, somehow, making her feel immensely petite. 

A few heartbeats later, Xia Yanxi forced a chuckle and said, "Very well, I shall remain squatting here."

The car drove on as the girl "sat" in the car. Be it north or south, she cared not but the distance travelled. The further she was from where she got on, the lower the chances of being captured by the group of men. 

Amidst the thick puffs of smoke that were not dissipating inside the car, Qiao Yanli lowered his head, observing the girl that was clearly trying to endure the putrid smell of the smoke from the cigar. A while later, after he saw that the girl was fanning herself amidst the smoke, he said, slowly, with the faintest of warmth, "come, sit." 

A smile arched from the corner of her lips. Her eyes glinted like a pair of shimmering bubbles, further emphasizing the beauty of her smile. Happily, she thanked the man, "thank you!" 

The driver would have never believed what had happened unless he had seen it with his own eyes. Qiao Yanli had not only allowed the unknown girl to stay in the car, but had even gone as far as allowing the girl to sit by his side. With his jaw dropped, the man could not believe that the rumored Qiao Yanli, a man who would never get close to a woman, was sitting next to a girl…

***

Not long after, Xia Yanxi felt shaky, and her consciousness was drifting. 

Xia Yanxi had unknowingly drunk a cup of laced red wine. 

"The medicine will start working in one hour. After the banquet, we will take her to Mr. Gu's room."

Today was her father's fiftieth birthday dinner and during this auspicious day, her stepmother and stepsister had plotted to gift her to another man. Fortunately, luck was on her side when she heard the most vile part of the conversation. That was why she was running. That was why she was trying to hide. If she had not, her precious status as a maiden would have been destroyed. 

Xia Yanxi did not know what kind of medicine her stepmother had slipped into her drink. All she knew and felt was that her body was being devoured, figuratively, by a swarm of locusts… biting and nibbling their way through… It was hot… Very hot… 

As she tried to stay awake, she pinched her supple cheeks, trying to inflict pain to keep herself conscious. However, as she felt the puffs of smoke come her way, and the faint sense of the man's breath on her face, she unconsciously slid across the leather seat, closer and closer to the man. 

As she gazed at the man's scarless, porcelain-smooth complexion, she raised her fair hands and placed them on the man's face. 

"Wenxuan, is that you…" 

A luscious demeanor… an unrelenting yet rhythmic breathing…

The man's expression changed instantly. He glared back at Xia Yanxi's yearning eyes, with the eyes of a huntsman in the dark.