Chapter 101 – Liang Mu’s Confession

Though Ye Nan stood at a height of 1.8 meters, his slender frame and years spent in an office far from the realm of physical training had left his body weak. In stark contrast, the burly men before him were towering and robust, each exuding an overwhelming presence that dwarfed Ye Nan's.

Xia Kelan trembled as their words struck fear deeper into her heart. Her delicate body shrank instinctively, hiding desperately behind Ye Nan as though he were her last bastion of safety.

"If you don't leave now, I'm calling the police!" Ye Nan warned, his tone laced with menace. He pulled out his phone and began dialing 110.

But before the call could connect, one of the thugs struck him with a heavy slap. The phone spun through the air before crashing to the ground with a thud. A boot followed—crunch. The screen shattered audibly. A sting flared across the back of Ye Nan's hand. Helpless, he could only watch as his phone was destroyed.

A thin sheen of sweat broke across his back. The summer wind, cool and fleeting, brushed past the soaked fabric of his shirt, leaving a chill in its wake that raised goosebumps.

Facing the advancing thugs, Ye Nan had no choice but to shield Xia Kelan while retreating. His instincts screamed at him to abandon her and run. But reason whispered otherwise—if he could save her, perhaps he could win her heart.

"Heh. You'd best get lost while you still can," one of the men sneered. "Or else our fists might just forget to show mercy."

Tears welled in Xia Kelan's eyes. Her petite form trembled, voice laced with fear yet threaded with determination. "Ye Nan, go. Don't worry about me!"

Ye Nan turned to her, eyes meeting her tear-streaked face, and his heart twisted with pain. He spoke with unwavering resolve, full of protective fervor.

"Don't talk nonsense."

"I could never leave you behind."

"I'll hold them off—run when I say. Call the police the moment you're safe, do you hear me?"

Xia Kelan shook her head vehemently, choking on sobs. "No… I can't just stand by while they hurt you…"

Ye Nan assumed the role of a man burning with passion and courage. "There's no time to hesitate. If we don't act now, neither of us will escape."

"As long as you're safe, it doesn't matter if I die here."

Without another word, he charged toward the thugs, shouting with all his might—"Run!"

Caught off guard, the men momentarily froze. Xia Kelan didn't hesitate. She bolted without looking back, swift and decisive—gone was the reluctance she had just displayed.

"Little punk! You asked for it!" the thugs growled, exchanging glances before unleashing a merciless storm of fists and kicks upon Ye Nan.

In the chaos, a vicious kick landed squarely on his stomach. Already weak, Ye Nan collapsed, pale from agony, too battered to resist.

In that decrepit alley, beneath a flickering streetlight that buzzed and sputtered, Ye Nan lay crumpled. A couple more kicks landed before a voice called out.

"Enough. That's enough."

"Miss Xia said not to kill him. Just teach him a lesson."

One of the men spat at Ye Nan in disdain before they finally walked away.

At the alley's mouth, a luxury car waited in silence. Its window rolled down.

Xia Kelan, touching up her makeup in the mirror, turned slightly at the sound. She grabbed a bag from the passenger seat and tossed it out.

"Thank you, Miss Xia."

She beamed sweetly. "Think nothing of it."

Waving goodbye, she started the engine and drove off without a backward glance.

…

The room was shrouded in darkness. Curtains drawn tight, windows sealed—an airless chamber that stifled breath.

Fu Liangmu stepped inside. Frowning, he was about to reach for the light switch when a cold hand gripped his wrist.

The door slammed shut behind him.

Before he could react, he was forcefully pinned against the wall. He didn't struggle—in that moment, he recognized the familiar fragrance of Su Wanwan.

Why was this woman suddenly throwing herself at him?

The silence between them was broken only by the sound of their intertwined breaths.

Pressing a hand against the wall, Su Wanwan's voice was low and restrained. "That night at the hotel… it was you, wasn't it?"

Fu Liangmu's pupils contracted slightly. After several long seconds, he gave a soft, almost inaudible reply. "Mm."

She asked again, "And you… did you know it was me?"

"I did."

Stunned, Su Wanwan was at a loss for words. Her throat tightened with unspoken questions.

Just as her silence stretched, Fu Liangmu spoke first. "I tried to find you."

Su Wanwan murmured, "So on the day I married into your family… you already knew… that we had…"

"Yes."

She continued, "That's why your attitude suddenly changed… why you took me shopping, gave me the black card, protected me..."

Fu Liangmu pondered, then said simply, "Yes."

She had once wondered why, if the marriage had been arranged by his grandmother, there hadn't been any preparations for a woman's arrival. Now she knew—it was because Fu Liangmu had rejected the idea from the start.

But the very next day, his grandmother had persuaded him to take her shopping and even support her in dealing with Ye Nan and Su Nian.

So this was the reason...

"I never meant to hide it from you—I just didn't know how to say it."

His voice came calm and steady as he gripped her chin in the dark.

Su Wanwan gasped, trying to glimpse his face but could see nothing. Yet she could feel his gaze on her.

"I had planned to find that woman… and marry her. To take responsibility."

He paused.

"I'm sorry. If I had known it was you, I would have given you a grand wedding."

"This marriage… it wronged you."

"But don't worry. I'll make it up to you."

The more she heard, the more uneasy Su Wanwan became. She stepped back, slipping from his grasp.

"Wait… wait a minute…"

Why did this feel like it was spiraling out of control?

She had only wanted to uncover the Fu family's secrets and find an excuse to divorce Fu Liangmu. Return to her family with her task complete.

So why… why did his words unsettle her so deeply?

"I don't want to wait anymore."

Fu Liangmu's arm wrapped around her slender waist, pulling her close and pinning her against the wall. His deep, magnetic voice murmured against her ear.

"Mrs. Fu… how long do you intend to keep pretending?"

"Can't you tell? I've already fallen for you."