The morning air of the capital carried a rare chill as Su Ning's car sped through the brightly lit streets. The glow of neon signs rippled across the tinted glass, painting the interior in alternating hues of crimson and gold. She sat quietly in the backseat, her eyes half-lidded, mind drifting between exhaustion and calm satisfaction after the chaos of the past days.
She had already booked her flight back to City F. All she wanted now was silence, a long bath, and the comfort of distance between herself and this chaotic city.
But fate had a way of toying with her plans.
Halfway through an intersection, the cab screeched to a stop. A black van swerved violently in front of them, blocking the road. Su Ning's senses sharpened immediately.
Before the driver could utter a word, the van's doors burst open and several masked men poured out. Their movements were too coordinated, too sharp — this wasn't a random robbery.
The driver panicked, fumbling for his phone, but Su Ning's calm voice halted him.
"Stay still. Don't make a sound."
The next second, her door was yanked open.
"Miss Su Ning," one of the masked men growled, his tone low and mocking. "Our boss wants to have a little chat. Come quietly and you won't get hurt."
Su Ning's lips curved into a cold, taunting smile. "Your boss should've known better than to send garbage to fetch me."
The man snarled and reached for her. Su Ning moved like a shadow, her figure flickered, and the man's wrist twisted at an unnatural angle before he even realized she had moved. A sharp kick sent him sprawling backward into another attacker.
The others cursed and charged.
She fought fluidly, each strike efficient and precise despite holding back her strength. Her fists were soundless blurs, her steps lighter than wind. She weaved between the attackers, striking pressure points, sending one man after another crumpling.
But just as she dodged another strike, a faint hiss sliced through the air.
Her eyes widened slightly — too late.
A tranquilizer dart lodged in her shoulder. The toxin spread fast, clouding her senses. She staggered, vision blurring as her body betrayed her.
"Tch…" she cursed under her breath, forcing her body to resist the drug's pull. "Cowards…"
The last thing she saw was the outline of one masked man stepping forward, reaching for her limp body.
A black car screeched to a halt at the end of the alley.
Qi Xiyue stepped out, his face as cold as nightfall. The men froze, instinctively sensing the danger that radiated from him. His dark coat fluttered lightly in the wind, his gaze sharp enough to slice through bone.
The glimpse of a slender silhouette collapsing under a dart had sent a flicker of recognition through his mind — that poised figure, the faint defiance in her stance.
A shadow crossed his eyes.
"Who gave you the courage to touch her?" His voice was low, calm — but deadly.
The men barely had time to react before his subordinates leapt out from the car. The night filled with the sound of flesh meeting fists, bones cracking, and choked grunts.
Qi Xiyue himself moved, precise and terrifying. He struck one man across the neck, sending him sprawling unconscious. Another lunged at him with a knife; Qi Xiyue caught his wrist, twisted, and slammed him into the van door with enough force to dent the metal.
Within minutes, silence reigned.
Qi Xiyue turned toward the unconscious woman lying on the pavement. He knelt beside her, his sharp gaze softening just slightly. Her long lashes trembled against pale cheeks, her breathing shallow.
He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, a strange heaviness settled in his chest.
"…Su Ning," he murmured.
When his subordinate approached, Qi Xiyue's voice turned cold again. "Bring them. Every single one. I want to know who sent them and make sure they wish they hadn't."
"Yes, sir."
Qi Xiyue lifted Su Ning into his arms. Her light weight against him stirred something foreign in his chest. He carried her into the car, his jaw clenched as the convoy sped off into the night.
At a Penthouse, in the bedroom belonging to Qi Xiyue, illuminated by soft amber light. The suite was a masterpiece of modern elegance, deep mahogany panels, polished black stone flooring that reflected the glow of gold-edged lamps, and abstract paintings that whispered of power and wealth.
Su Ning stirred.
Her eyelids fluttered open, and for a brief second, she thought she was dreaming. The bed beneath her was vast, wrapped in silk sheets cool to the touch. Her body felt heavy but rested.
Then the memory of the attack hit her like a blade.
She shot up, instincts on alert, only to realize someone else was in the room.
He stood by the towering window, hands in pockets, the moonlight spilling across his broad shoulders. His profile was calm, unreadable, yet magnetic.
Her heart skipped.
In a flash, she vanished from the bed, materializing silently behind him. Her fist shot forward — only for her wrist to be caught mid-air with terrifying ease.
Qi Xiyue turned slightly, his cold eyes meeting hers.
For a heartbeat, both froze.
Then Su Ning's brows furrowed. "…Qi Xiyue?"