Chapter 25 : "Hero vs. Thugs: Saving the Girl"

"Autian, the light's green. Autian..."

"Hmm?"

Li Meiyun helplessly shook her head and pointed ahead. "The light's green, Autian. You rarely space out like this..." Before she could finish, Yu Autian glanced at the rearview mirror again.

Seeing this, Li Meiyun followed his gaze and couldn't help but smile. "What is it? Our mighty CEO feeling soft-hearted, ready to play hero? You know I'll get jealous."

"Meiyun."

"What?"

"Get out."

She almost thought she misheard. "Autian, I rushed to see you the moment I finished filming, and you're just going to ditch me to save some girl? Besides..." She glanced out the window. "If I get out now, the reporters will definitely spot me."

"Heh, weren't you the one who said you don't care about reporters? Get out. I won't repeat myself a third time." His face suddenly turned cold.

Knowing his temper, Li Meiyun could only get out reluctantly.

Once she left, Yu Autian stepped out of the car and quickly ran toward Yaoyao.

"Stop screaming, girl. Save that energy for later when you'll really need it."

"Let me go! Let me go!" Struggling, Yaoyao suddenly bit down hard on one guy's hand.

"Ah—damn it!" He cried out, yanking his hand back. Furious, he raised his hand to slap her again.

But before the hit landed, a shadow flashed past and grabbed his wrist, twisting it sharply.

"Ah!" Another cry of pain. The guy felt like his arm was about to snap.

Everyone froze, turning toward the shadow. Under the moonlight, the man's eyes were dark as hell, his presence like death itself. A chilling aura wrapped around him.

"Who... who the hell are you?" The gangsters, clearly shaken, didn't dare move.

But Yu Autian ignored them, hands in his pockets, lips curling into a cold, mocking smile as he turned to the trembling Yaoyao. "You really have a talent for attracting trouble, huh?"

He had the nerve to say that? He was no different from these thugs! "Like it's my fault!"

"Oh? A girl walking alone this late on a deserted path? Isn't that basically inviting danger?"

"If you hadn't kept me so late, I would've taken the bus home and avoided all this!"

"Heh, you could've just called a taxi."

"Taxi?" Yaoyao was even more annoyed, pulling out the change from her pocket. "I've only got three bucks. You try getting a taxi with that!"

Looking at the coins in her hand, Yu Autian nearly laughed. A girl almost twenty, carrying just a few coins? He was starting to suspect she was hiding her real age — her flawless skin didn't look like any twenty-year-old's he'd seen.

"Hah, so you two know each other?" The thugs, hearing their conversation, instantly relaxed. So the scary vibe had just been an act, huh?

"Hey, pretty boy. Best stay out of this. Once we're done, you can have your turn. Sound fair?"

Yaoyao's heart sank. This wasn't just a den of wolves — it was a whole damn pack.

Desperate, she tugged Yu Autian's arm, her eyes pleading. "We're... co-workers, right? Help me."

Yu Autian smirked, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "So, you still prefer being played by me alone, huh?"

"Of course not!"

"Then why should I help you? Just because we're co-workers?"

Looking at his teasing face, Yaoyao realized this jerk was trying to bargain even now. "You—"

"Didn't you call me a pervert and a scumbag before? When have you ever seen a scumbag help anyone?"

So he was still holding that grudge. Seriously, how petty could one man be? "Well, you could be a helpful scumbag, you know."

At this point, Yu Autian wanted nothing more than to strangle her. She really was sharp-tongued.

"Yo, so you two are co-workers?" The thugs, hearing this, grew even bolder. "Listen, buddy. Judging from your look, you're probably just some office guy. Be smart — walk away. Let us finish, and afterward, you can have her all to yourself."

"Hmm?" Yu Autian's eyes flicked coldly.

Yaoyao's heart shot to her throat. Was he... actually going to agree?

"Your offer's tempting. But... I'm not one for sharing." As he spoke, he wrapped his arm around Yaoyao, leaning in with a teasing smile. "Happy now, sweetheart?"

"Not at all," she muttered. She wasn't anyone's prize — but compared to the thugs, she'd rather stick with him.

"Oh? So you wanna play hero, huh? Hope you know what you're doing. We're from the Dragon Society, and our boss... is Yu Autian! Messing with us is suicide!" As he spoke, the thugs pulled out glinting knives.

Yaoyao froze. "Wh-what do we do? They... they're Autian's guys..."

"Why panic? Aren't you his sister? Just tell them."

She'd made that up! Sure, she met Yu Autian once two years ago, but she could barely remember what he looked like now.

Should she tell him the truth? No — if she did, he'd only use it to tease and bully her later.

"I'm... I'm his sister, but my brother's been in Japan. He's got too many people to recognize all of them. I just got back and barely know anyone here. There are only six of them — why don't you call some friends to scare them off?"

"Me? My friends are all freeloaders."

"I know. But still, it's better than nothing. Hurry!" She gave him a quick wink, then turned back to the thugs with all the fierceness she could muster. "Hey! Don't judge a book by its cover. This guy isn't just some pretty face — people call him the Grim Reaper. He's vicious as hell!"