The cold wind howled outside, and Tang Wan just snorted with a cold laugh, "Stay with you for a night? Why would I?"
"You should know, I have nothing left now and nothing to lose, but you’re different... Miss Tang, you have your own studio, and it’s thriving. You’re even about to get engaged soon."
The two were very close, and the man’s breath fell precisely on her face.
It was nauseating.
"If you get into a scandal now, you’re finished." Xie Jing was obviously preparing to do something.
"Whatever."
Tang Wan, who had never been threatened by anyone, rose and prepared to walk out.
"Tang Wan, you damn well stop right there!" Xie Jing suddenly jumped up, "Even if I get caught and my reputation is destroyed, you don’t care!"
This woman, how could she be unaffected by threats and bribes!
Tang Wan turned her head to look at him. The box’s lighting was soft and warm, highlighting her flawless complexion. She had rushed out of the house, wearing only a touch of lipstick with no other makeup, yet that hint of color made her exceedingly beautiful.
Hearing him talk about ruining her reputation, she found it laughable, her lips curling into a scornful cold smile.
"Ruin my reputation? If you’re capable, go ahead and try."
She looked gentle, but her spirit was as strong as liquor, knowing the danger yet carrying a fatal allure. Moreover, some men are driven wild by what they cannot have.
Xie Jing brooded over her, wearing a simple belted coat, her waist trim, his glance filled with intense aggression.
Tang Wan ignored him, turned, and walked towards the door.
But just as she opened it, a burly man with a rough face suddenly appeared, blocking the doorway. She had only learned a few self-defense moves from Shen Shuci; facing a real fighter, she was obviously no match.
"Miss Tang, do you really think you can walk out tonight?" Xie Jing poured himself a glass of red wine, swirling the liquid in a stemmed glass, "Why don’t you sit down and have a drink with me?"
"Is it because of last time at Xie Family, when I twisted your finger?" Tang Wan turned to look at him, "What, a big man like you is scared of me? You specifically hired a bodyguard?"
"Scared of you?" Xie Jing sneered.
"No wonder Old Xie kicked you out. Even dealing with a woman requires help; what skills do you have to manage a company? You deserve to be nothing more than a stepping stone."
That jab hit a nerve!
"Shut your damn mouth!" The words ’stepping stone’ were both humiliating and piercing.
"Isn’t that the truth? Women usually like men stronger than themselves. If you could overpower me, tonight..." Tang Wan chuckled lightly, "I’ll stay with you!"
Her tone was jealous and contemptuous, further provoked by the issues with Xie family, Xie Jing sneered, "Tang Wan, don’t you regret it!"
Knowing she stood no chance against the bodyguard, Tang Wan could only infuriate Xie Jing, looking for a chance to escape.
"Mr. Xie..." the bodyguard frowned. Was he really expected to use force?
"Close the door, and don’t intervene! I’ll handle this myself. I don’t believe I can’t deal with you. Last time at Xie Family, that was my oversight..."
Xie Jing said as he set down his wine glass and lunged at her.
The bodyguard, just paid to do the job, obeyed Xie Jing’s command to step out. Just as he was about to close the door, he witnessed a shocking scene.
This seemingly gentle and delicate Miss of the Tang Family suddenly lifted her foot and kicked toward Xie Jing’s groin.
Xie Jing was prepared and dodged, but the very next second, as he was regaining his bearings, she had already lifted her hand and picked up a fork from the table.
She pressed it directly against his throat...
The fork, sharp and pointed for stabbing food, was now at his throat. A slight forward move would definitely pierce his skin.
Xie Jing was dumbfounded!
Was this over before it even started?
He stood still, not daring to move, the cold and sharp object at his throat, and he began breathing very cautiously.
Everything had happened so quickly that even the bodyguard was stunned. He had been told she was just a frail woman and that he was only needed to intimidate her.
"Go ahead, try moving forward!" Tang Wan glared at him, applying a slight pressure on her wrist.
"Tang Wan, you... calm down!" Xie Jing nervously swallowed, not daring to make a move.
"Tell the guy at the door to scram, I want out."
"Alright, alright—"
Cursing internally, Xie Jing knew from her twisting his finger earlier that she was truly willing to be ruthless, and immediately waved for the person at the door to leave.
Tang Wan glanced at the man for a brief moment.
Seizing the opportunity, Xie Jing suddenly grabbed her wrist, "Come and help!"
But before the bodyguard could rush in, Tang Wan grabbed a wine bottle from the edge of the table and smashed it against him!
"Crash––" The sound of shattering.
...
The bodyguard was again dumbfounded, just paid to do the job, and with it escalating to potential manslaughter, he didn’t want to get involved.
"What the hell are you dazed for!"
Following Xie Jing’s shout...
The door was kicked open!
Jiang Jinsang stood at the door, his expression dark, looking at the broken wine bottle on the floor, Tang Wan still holding the neck of the bottle, her sleeve soaked in red liquid contrasting against her skin, strikingly vivid.
Just that one look, his heart clenched tightly, as if someone had fiercely gripped it.
Xie Jing didn’t expect Jiang Jinsang to appear, and in his moment of shock, Jiang had already stride into the house, pulled someone into his arms, and Tang Wan’s fingers loosened, finally dropping the wine bottle.
Jiang Jinsang’s Adam’s apple rolled forcefully, his eyes fixed on her hand.
"Fifth Brother?"
"Hey, you..." The bodyguard was about to move, but Jiang Jinsang had already quickly stepped forward, his arm blocking in front of him, "Don’t make a move."
"Jiang... Jiang..." Xie Jing hadn’t expected him to suddenly appear, wasn’t he supposed to arrive at Pingjiang tomorrow, where did he come from?
Jiang Jinsang clenched his jaw, glanced at Xie Jing, "Did you hit her?"
His usually gentle voice was extremely sharp, like a blade aimed at the neck, Xie Jing rarely dealt with him, and the few times he had seen him, Jiang had always been smiling and amiable. This sudden coldness surprised him to the point of trembling in fear.
"I... I..."
Noble and gentle yet a man long plagued with illnesses suddenly burst forth such a terrifying aura, Xie Jing got scared out of his wits, momentarily forgetting to answer.
"Did you touch her?" Jiang Jinsang pressed.
"I... I didn’t!"
Xie Jing really damn near cried, he hadn’t even touched a hair on Tang Wan.
"You didn’t? Then what did you ask her out for?"
"I, I..." Xie Jing hadn’t expected Jiang Jinsang to appear so suddenly, his head somewhat swollen.
"It’s nothing, just wanted me to keep him company for the night," Tang Wan sneered lightly.
Xie Jing’s eyes bulged: "..."
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
By now, Jiang Jinsang had confirmed Tang Wan was unharmed and had her stand aside, "Fifth Brother?"
Tang Wan didn’t know what he was up to, she was about to move when he held her down.
His voice lowered, saying only four words:
"Don’t move — watch."
When Jiang Jinsang approached Xie Jing, he indeed frightened him quite a bit, "I... I... really didn’t touch her."
He was known in Beijing for his frailty but Xie Jing had never faced him directly, yet he knew Jiang, the Fifth Master, was not to be trifled with!
"Second time, right?"
Xie Jing was stunned, Tang Wan also slightly startled.
"That same behavior towards her previously at Xie Family’s place, right?" Jiang Jinsang raised his hand, unhitched the cufflink around the wrist, his movements scholarly and slow.
"I..."
This incident was, in fact, true, Xie Jing couldn’t argue, but he didn’t expect Jiang Jinsang to suddenly bring this up, somewhat flustered, and then, before he knew it, Jiang Jinsang yanked him over.
His movements were swift, Xie Jing was slow to react, and by the time he caught his senses, wanting to struggle, a fierce punch had already smashed onto his nose.
Both ruthless and precise, brisk and efficient!
Xie Jing screamed miserably, blood flowing from his nose, accompanied by his cries of agony, his face smeared with blood.
Feeling oppressed to this extent, his body instinctively fought back, Xie Jing raised his arm to hit him back when his wrist was seized, Tang Wan was already amazed, for she didn’t know...
Jiang Jinsang actually... hit people!
Taken aback, she didn’t even see his hand move, only hearing the sound of a "crack—," dragging her thoughts back, while Xie Jing screamed again, his arm limply dangling, dislocated.
His grip loosened, Xie Jing’s body just slumped to the ground.
Jiang Jinsang pulled a napkin from one side, leisurely wiping the blood from his fingers, looking down at the man on the ground, his actions exaggerated and wicked.
"Fifth... Fifth Master..." Xie Jing was really terrified, his voice trembling!
His body ached, but not as shocking as the reality.
Wasn’t Jiang Jinsang a sickly man? Wasn’t he said to not live past twenty-eight, a man close to death, what the hell was this?
Tang Wan was also shocked, he had just mentioned being unwell due to acclimatization, lying in bed for two days to avoid Tang Yunxian’s difficulty, how could he suddenly...
And how could he...
"Since childhood, Master has been unwell, besides taking medicine, he also learned some fitness skills from that person in Hexi Beijing," Jiang Cuo immediately explained to Tang Wan, seizing the moment to make his presence felt.
Learning from that family in Hexi Beijing must certainly be good.
Having known him for so long, as frail as a gust of wind could break him, who would have thought that Jiang Jinsang also possessed real skills.
Jiang Jinsang was still wiping his fingers, his movements extremely slow.
"Who told you to do this?" Squinting at the man on the ground, his expression was usual, but such intense movements inevitably made his breathing a bit rushed.
Xie Jing now, his face smeared with blood, felt like his nasal bridge was shattered, his teeth broken, a mouth full of the blood’s taste causing even speaking to be extremely difficult.
And Jiang Jinsang’s words made him tremble with fear even more.
"I’m giving you a chance. If you listen well, maybe there’s still a slight chance for you. You have already been disowned by Xie Family, being used by others as a pawn, I’m afraid..."
He raised his hand, tossing the napkin in his hand, the white cloth falling perfectly from the top down onto Xie Jing’s head...
Xie Jing’s vision was blocked, his breathing becoming rapid, as if someone was choking him.
"You’ll die without anyone to claim your body!"
That feeling... as if on the brink of death.