Long Yejue Strikes Back

"You…" Tang Mianmian was stunned by how vulgar this man was. For a moment, she couldn't even find the words to curse him.

Mr. Wang lunged at her again. As Tang Mianmian tried to flee, she tripped over a chair and fell hard to the floor.

That gave Mr. Wang the perfect opportunity. He leaped onto her, leering. "This time, you won't get away. You're mine now!"

"Let go…"

Tang Mianmian raised her hand to push him off, eyes shut tight in fear.

But the expected weight never came. Instead, there was a loud thud and a blood-curdling scream from Mr. Wang.

Tang Mianmian opened her eyes to see Long Yejue, face as cold as ice, throwing Mr. Wang against the wall like a rag doll.

She let out a breath of relief and was just about to say she was okay when Long Yejue stormed over and began mercilessly beating the man.

There was no contest—Mr. Wang was no match for him. In just a few blows, only the man's shrieks and the sickening sound of bones cracking filled the air.

Tang Mianmian winced at the violence, but remembering what Mr. Wang had said, she rushed forward to stop the raging Long Yejue. "Stop, stop! You'll kill him if you keep going!"

But Long Yejue was aiming to kill. He showed no mercy.

At first, Mr. Wang could still scream, but soon he went completely limp, unable to utter a sound as the brutal assault continued.

His already pig-like face was now swollen beyond recognition. He lay on the ground barely breathing.

Tang Mianmian was terrified by Long Yejue's ferocity. After several tries, she finally managed to throw her arms around him and cried, "Please, stop!"

Only then did Long Yejue relent. His face was still frighteningly dark as he asked in a low voice, "Are you hurt?"

"No, no," she quickly shook her head.

She figured if she said yes, he'd probably keep beating Mr. Wang until there was nothing left of him. Compared to what that man had suffered, her own discomfort didn't even count.

Long Yejue's expression softened just a little. His usually charming eyes were now filled with menace. He kicked Mr. Wang one more time. "Touch my woman, and you think you'll get away with it?"

Mr. Wang, barely conscious, twitched on the ground and whimpered, "We were just having some fun… how could you… go this far…"

Long Yejue let out a bone-chilling laugh. "If it weren't for Mr. Li, I would've ended you. Don't believe me?"

Hearing Li Muhao's name and realizing that even he hadn't intervened, Mr. Wang was completely dumbfounded.

He'd thought Li Muhao would be on his side.

But now, with no support, he could only clutch his bruises and groan, struggling to even sit up.

Long Yejue crouched down, eyes cold and sharp. His words were like knives. "Listen carefully. I didn't want to cause a scene. But you crossed me—touched my woman. I won't let it go. This beating is just an appetizer. The real punishment… is coming."

Mr. Wang shivered with fear.

Though he had been in Jiang City longer than Li Muhao, he'd heard all the stories about Long Yejue—ruthless and unforgiving.

If Long Yejue meant what he said… his life might really be over.

"Young Master Jue, why take it so far? It's just a woman," he muttered, still clueless about the situation.

Long Yejue's cold smile sent chills down everyone's spine. "If it were anyone else, you want money, I'll give you money. You want women, I'll give you women. But Tang Mianmian is my woman. You messed with the wrong person!"

Only then did Mr. Wang finally realize the gravity of what he'd done, panic rising in his chest. "I-I didn't know… please, let me go. You want that land, right? I can help you get it! You know those resources have to go through me!"

He was still making a desperate last-ditch plea.

The chill radiating from Long Yejue made even Tang Mianmian shiver. She had never seen this side of him—so vicious, so dangerous.

And yet, somewhere in her heart, she hoped he could use this opportunity to secure the deal.

Still, she hesitated… something inside her didn't feel quite right.

But thinking of him, she still spoke up, tugging on his arm. "Since Mr. Wang is willing to cooperate, let it go. He didn't really hurt me."

Long Yejue turned and gave her a long, cold look—one filled with complexity.

It held pain, and perhaps even disappointment.

Tang Mianmian's heart trembled. Her grip on his arm tightened, and her palms began to sweat.

Mr. Wang immediately chimed in, begging for mercy. "Yes, yes, Young Master Jue. Let's pretend this never happened. I can give you insider information. Li Muhao isn't just considering you. The Mo family is also in the running for the project."

"Exactly, I'm fine, so let's not make this worse," Tang Mianmian added.

After a pause, Long Yejue finally nodded, voice still ice-cold. "Fine. I'll let you go—for now. You saw the surveillance camera, right? I have everything. If you so much as think of betraying me, I'll destroy you. You'll be drinking tea with the investigators—believe it?"

Mr. Wang stared at him in horror, then frantically nodded. "I believe you! I'll help you! I swear!"

Tang Mianmian let out a silent sigh of relief and glanced toward the nearby surveillance camera—her heart sinking.

So he knew all along…

That unpleasant feeling in her chest grew heavier.

Back outside the room, Long Yejue still needed to return and deal with Li Muhao, but Tang Mianmian felt utterly drained. She also looked disheveled and didn't want to go back in. She told him she wanted to go home.

Long Yejue, though busy, nodded and called a driver.

But she waved it off. "No need."

He frowned deeply but eventually relented.

As he turned back toward the private room, she felt a strange weight settle in her chest.

Tonight might've been the darkest experience of her life.

Not even when she was kidnapped did she feel this way.

She turned to leave, hoping some fresh air would help her calm down.

But after only a few steps, Long Yejue caught up and took her hand. "I know tonight must've scared you. You don't understand how brutal the business world can be. I'm sorry I dragged you into this. If you need space, I'll give it to you. Just… don't make me worry. Get home safely."

She smiled and nodded, knowing that hearing such words from him already meant a lot.

He kissed her cheek before returning to the room.

As soon as he turned away, her smile vanished, replaced by sadness he didn't see.

She stepped out of the restaurant, looking at the endless stream of cars—and for the first time, felt completely lost.

She thought for a long time, then called Fu Ranan.

In this vast city, Fu Ranan was probably the only one she could talk to.

When she arrived at Fu Ranan's apartment, she was stunned by the mess.

Men's clothes were everywhere—shirts, belts, even underwear…

Tang Mianmian blinked. "Did your place get robbed?"

"No," Fu Ranan grumbled. "I got invaded by a pervert."

Clearly furious.

Tang Mianmian knew how much of a neat freak she was—this chaos must've been torture.

Pervert… she could only mean Qi Yunmo.

Tang Mianmian let out a helpless chuckle. "Even if you can't fight him off, you don't have to punish yourself like this."

Fu Ranan looked on the verge of a breakdown, collapsing onto the couch and hiding her face in her hands. "I just feel… so tired."

Hearing that word from her friend made Tang Mianmian's heart tighten. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Fu Ranan's voice choked. Cold tears trickled through her fingers.

Panicked, Tang Mianmian grabbed her hands. "Ranan, what happened? Did something upset you? If Qi Yunmo is truly tormenting you, then… just leave."

Fu Ranan slowly raised her pale face, tears glistening in her eyes. "But… I think I've fallen in love with him."

"…"

Tang Mianmian was speechless.

"When did this happen?"

Fu Ranan gave a bitter smile. "I don't know. Maybe from the beginning. Who can say when love starts? All I know is… I love him."

"Ranan…" Her heart ached for her friend.

Fu Ranan looked devastated, burying her head again. "Do you know? His mom has come to me multiple times, saying horrible things. She even threatened me with the orphanage. She bought the land and said if I don't leave him, she'll evict the children and the director."

"That's awful!" Tang Mianmian said, fuming. "How could she stoop so low?"

"I don't want the kids to lose their home because of me. But I don't know how to get rid of Qi Yunmo."

Compared to her own night, Tang Mianmian thought Fu Ranan's pain ran deeper. "Did you tell him?"

"I don't want to. What's the point? Should I make him turn against his family? Everything he has now came from them. Without them, he'd be like me—powerless."

"You just don't want him to suffer like you have."

Fu Ranan nodded. "Exactly. He's used to having everything. If he gets kicked out and cut off, that could break him. And besides, he won't even promise me marriage—clearly, his family's opinion matters more."

"I've heard," Tang Mianmian said, recalling what the Long family had mentioned, "that Qi Yunmo isn't the only heir. He has an older brother, and their father has two wives. So if things go bad, all the assets could end up with his brother. The two of them are always fighting for dominance."

Fu Ranan sighed. "That's why I'm so torn."

Just as Tang Mianmian was about to comfort her again, the door opened and Qi Yunmo walked in.

He froze at the sight of the mess.

Fu Ranan, moments ago weeping in despair, instantly turned into a spiky porcupine. "Qi Yunmo, you really are shameless! You came again? What now—want me to chase you out with a broom?!"