Nowhere Left to Run
1069 Words
Su Nian’en took a sip of her coffee and shook her head lightly.
“What else can I do?” she said with a faint, self-mocking smile. “I’ll just take it one day at a time. Don’t worry—as long as Mu Jian Chen refuses to marry me, my aunt can’t force anything. Besides…”
She paused, then added calmly, “Even if I stripped naked and crawled into his bed, he wouldn’t spare me a second glance. You really don’t need to worry.”
“That’s exactly why I am worried!” Qin Su frowned deeply.
“…”
Su Nian’en’s hand froze mid-air.
She understood what Qin Su meant.
Song Wan Zhi had never taken her in out of kindness or familial affection.
No.
From the very beginning, Song Wan Zhi had looked at her and seen value. She was young, pretty, and obedient—easy to sell at a good price. If Mu Jian Chen continued to ignore her completely, treating her like she didn’t exist…
Then Song Wan Zhi would simply find another buyer.
And when that happened—
There would be no escape.
Su Nian’en lowered her gaze.
She couldn’t run.
Her father was still in prison. How could she abandon him? The only reason she had endured the Jiang family all these years was never food or shelter—it was him. She had always believed he was innocent. That he had been framed.
After a long silence, she let out a quiet, weary sigh.
“I’ll just take things one step at a time.”
What other choice did she have?
All she could hope for was that Han Xi Cheng and Mu Jian Chen wouldn’t drag her into their twisted power games over Jiang Qing Wan’s betrayal.
One was arrogant, powerful, and ruthless.
The other was a spoiled heir who had never been denied anything.
Both were far beyond her reach.
And far too dangerous.
She only chatted with Qin Su for about twenty minutes before rushing back to the Jiang residence. If she came home late, Song Wan Zhi would definitely make a scene.
What she didn’t expect was this—
The moment she stepped through the gates of the Jiang villa, a Bentley Continental glided silently toward the entrance.
Su Nian’en was nearsighted. In her rush that morning, she had forgotten to put in her contacts. She squinted instinctively.
Jiang Yun Fei drove a flashy Mercedes. Song Wan Zhi and Jiang Qing Wan wouldn’t own something like this—and it didn’t look like a woman’s car anyway.
As the Bentley drew closer, the license plate came into focus.
Her blood turned cold.
She spun around, ready to retreat back inside—but it was already too late.
The man in the back seat didn’t wait for the driver. He pushed the door open himself and stepped out with an unhurried, commanding grace.
Su Nian’en lifted her head—
And met that devastatingly handsome, cold, aristocratic face.
Today, he wore a custom-tailored black Italian suit. The clean lines clung to his tall, powerful frame with lethal precision. A burgundy tie rested against a crisp white shirt, adding a dangerous elegance that made her breath hitch.
This man…
He really was unfairly beautiful.
She stood frozen on the steps—
Until Song Wan Zhi’s shrill voice cut through the air behind her.
“You useless girl! I sent you to pick up one piece of jewelry and you took half the day!”
Su Nian’en snapped back to reality. She turned just in time to see Song Wan Zhi storming toward her, face twisted with irritation. She opened her mouth to explain—
“Oh! Xi Cheng!”
The moment Song Wan Zhi spotted Han Xi Cheng, her entire expression transformed. Her voice turned syrupy as she hurried forward with a flattering smile.
“What a surprise! Why didn’t you tell us you were coming? Your uncle and Qing Wan aren’t home right now.”
She completely forgot about scolding Su Nian’en.
But Su Nian’en didn’t miss it.
She could still feel his gaze on her—steady, scorching, impossible to ignore.
Her heart skipped violently.
She turned and bolted into the house.
Watching her flee like a startled animal, Han Xi Cheng narrowed his eyes. A slow, predatory smile curved at the corner of his lips.
Little thing.
Where do you think you’re running?
The moment Su Nian’en rushed inside, she shoved the jewelry into a servant’s hands without explanation and hurried upstairs. She slipped into her small bedroom and slammed the door shut.
Leaning back against it, she pressed a hand to her chest.
So.
Han Xi Cheng really must be deeply obsessed with Jiang Qing Wan.
Otherwise—
Even after catching her checking into a hotel with Mu Jian Chen…
Even after being humiliated like that…
He had still buried the scandal and continued showing up at the Jiang house as if nothing had happened.
If that wasn’t obsession, what was?
Still.
His feelings were none of her business.
She just hoped he wouldn’t redirect his anger onto the wrong person. If he took out Jiang Qing Wan’s betrayal on her instead—
That would be unforgivable.
And cowardly.
Suppressing her irritation, Su Nian’en grabbed a change of clothes. She desperately needed a shower. The heat outside had left her sticky and uncomfortable.
Her bedroom didn’t have an attached bathroom. She usually used the one in the guest room next door. If there were visitors, she’d have to go downstairs and use the servants’ bathroom.
She pushed open the guest room door.
The lock was broken. It wouldn’t latch.
But she didn’t think much of it. No one ever came in here. And Han Xi Cheng certainly wouldn’t wander into a random guest room.
She hung her clothes inside the bathroom and was about to undress when—
Click.
The sound of the door opening made her heart jolt violently.
Su Nian’en spun around and rushed out of the bathroom—
Only to find Han Xi Cheng standing there.
Tall. Calm. Uninvited.
Their eyes met.
His dark, unreadable gaze pinned her in place.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. Instinctively, she hissed in a low, furious whisper, “What are you doing here?! Who said you could come in?”
Without waiting for an answer, she strode toward him, fully intending to shove him out.
- Writer
