Chapter 9: Rivals Meet
878 Words
Long Xuyao’s blazing eyes locked onto Ling Tianchen, who stood by the stretched limo cradling Su Xiaoxiao. Shoving through the crowd, he charged straight in, unstoppable—until a handful of bodyguards blocked his path.
“Kid, I’d stop right there if I were you,” one growled, voice thick with menace.
A hulking, nearly two-meter-tall muscleman loomed front and center.
“Put her down, and I won’t have to fight you,” Long Xuyao shot back, unfazed, edging closer. Between his fingers gleamed a razor-sharp blade—his ace. One flick to the throat, and he knew he could drop this meathead in seconds.
“Xuyao-ge, don’t do anything stupid!” Su Xiaoxiao thrashed in Ling Tianchen’s arms, panic rising.
Long Xuyao was a legend among pickpockets for his quick hands, but she had zero doubt these sunglassed goons packed serious heat.
And the saying goes: even a tiger can’t beat a pack of wolves! She and him were done—how could she let him risk himself or get hurt for her again?
“Xiaoxiao, you’re not going with them willingly, right? Just say the word, and I swear they won’t take you!”
Long Xuyao parried a beefy arm swinging his way, the bodyguard letting out a surprised grunt. This scrawny kid had some freakish strength—yet even against this crew, the young man radiated a chilling intent to kill.
“Got a plan?” Ling Tianchen ignored Long Xuyao’s obvious hostility, his cold eyes meeting Su Xiaoxiao’s anxious ones.
“I’ll go with you—just don’t hurt him.” The odds were stacked against Xuyao-ge!
“Want him safe? Tell him I’m your boyfriend.” Ling Tianchen dipped his head, brushing a kiss against her cheek.
Long Xuyao—he hadn’t forgotten whose name this wildcat moaned under him last night! Perfect. Now that she’d clocked his elite status, she’d ditch her old flame for this new prize, huh?
“Xuyao-ge, he’s my boyfriend. I’m going with him willingly—don’t worry.” For the first time, Su Xiaoxiao lied to the brother who’d guarded her for over a decade, her words hollow.
Long Xuyao’s lanky frame shuddered, stumbling back a step. His gaze, sharp as an arrow, pierced Ling Tianchen’s flawless face again. He hated to admit it, but this kingpin who ruled C City outclassed him in every way!
“Xiaoxiao, last night—it was him?” He couldn’t believe his girl might’ve fallen for someone else, so he’d circled back to ask her straight—despite everything!
“Yeah, it was him.” Su Xiaoxiao buried her face in Ling Tianchen’s chest, her forced whisper barely audible, almost like a shy murmur.
“Fine, I get it!” Long Xuyao sucked in a breath, his lips twisting as he turned and shoved through the crowd without looking back. No one saw the blood dripping from his clenched fist, the blade now cutting only him.
Su Xiaoxiao was carried into the stretch limo, head low, brooding over how she’d ended up in this mess.
“Sending those dirty pics was my bad—I’m sorry! Name your price for compensation, and I’ll pay it back, every cent.”
It wasn’t her idea to apologize, but she was meat on his chopping block now. To get out of this quick, she had to play nice.
“Pay me back?” Ling Tianchen’s lips curled. “Fine, I won’t make it hard. One billion RMB—cough it up, and we’re square.” Worthy of Chen Manyun’s daughter—such a convincing act!
Hiss… Su Xiaoxiao sucked in air, staring up at that calm, breezy face.
A billion? He had the gall to say it! She’d slave her whole life and still not steal that much!
“My net worth—you’ve probably heard of it. This face isn’t worth that much?” Ling Tianchen patiently broke down his “face value” to the wide-eyed woman itching to bore holes through him.
Since she loved playing games, let’s see whose acting topped out.
“So I should thank you?” Su Xiaoxiao laughed in spite of herself. Good thing he didn’t charge by his full body square footage—would she owe half his fortune then?!
Ling Tianchen—top ten on Asia’s rich list, the youngest, most enigmatic figure. No one knew his full story; his public assets alone topped a hundred billion.
Word was, he’d risen as C City’s new power player in recent years, the tabloid’s weekly scandal kingpin… rumored to pull strings in both the underworld and the law!
By that math, his face was a bargain here!
“No need to thank me. I thought it over—some things I didn’t do to your liking, sparking all this resentment. I owe you some amends.” Since she was dead-set on clinging to him, he’d give her a shot.
Su Xiaoxiao’s face flashed green, then white. Truth be told, she’d never dreamed this guy’s attention would end well—but she hadn’t expected this sanctimonious jerk to be this shameless!
After all his blabber, she got the gist—inside and out. He’d forced her once yesterday and wasn’t done yet—he wanted more!
- Writer
