Chapter 32: Good Citizen

“Brother Nan, I told you the East Bank land was in the bag!” Tao An said smugly as he drove. Having secured the bid earlier that day, he was practically glowing with relief—especially now that he didn’t have to worry about being shipped off to Africa. He’d been chattering nonstop since they got in the car. “Did you see Jun Fengjin’s face? That alone made everything worth it!”

“Let him strut around,” Jun Nanye said flatly. “Even with Uncle Jun’s favoritism, he’s still a useless fool.”

“Brother Nan, he’s not even worthy of licking your boots.”

Tao An’s disdain for Jun Fengjin ran deep. It wasn’t just because Jun Fengjin’s mother had driven Brother Nan’s mother to her death in a desperate bid to marry Uncle Jun. It was also because the man never stopped scheming, constantly trying to trip Brother Nan up despite lacking the brains or talent to actually compete. He was a parasite living off the Jun family name.

Brother Nan, on the other hand, had built Jun’s Jewelry from scratch with his own hands. The company was flourishing, and now, with the East Bank deal secured, it was poised for even greater success. One day, the empire Jun Nanye built would force Uncle Jun to see the truth—that he had backed the wrong son all along.

“Be careful with Jun Fengjin,” Jun Nanye said, closing his eyes. “He won’t take this loss lightly.”

“Don’t worry, Brother Nan. I’ve already made the necessary arrangements,” Tao An said, eager to share the details. But after a few words, he noticed Jun Nanye’s closed eyes and fell silent, mindful of his chronic insomnia.

He quietly signaled the driver to slow down.

“Is Grandfather’s birthday gift ready?” Jun Nanye asked after a long pause.

“It’s been ready for a while. It’s a piece by his favorite calligrapher.”

Jun Nanye didn’t respond, lost in thought. Five days had passed, and sleep continued to elude him.

Would she really never return to that dark room?

No—she would come back.

He remembered how she used to wake him up each time before leaving, like it was part of a routine. Maybe she suffered from insomnia too… and waking him helped her sleep?

It sounded crazy, but strangely, it made the most sense.

“It’s 11:30,” Tao An said, glancing at the dashboard clock.

Jun Nanye looked at his watch, then out the window. They were already approaching the outskirts of Hai City.

An oncoming car suddenly sped toward them, high beams glaring.

Jun Nanye narrowed his eyes against the harsh light. “Watch out—”

Before he could finish, the other car slammed into them with a deafening crash, sending their vehicle tumbling off the road into a nearby field.

“Aaah—” Tao An barely had time to scream before flinging himself protectively toward Jun Nanye.

“Brother Nan! Are you alright?” he yelled, panic lacing his voice.

“I’m fine.” Jun Nanye’s tone was calm. “Wu Jin, what about you?”

“My leg’s stuck… I think it’s injured.” Wu Jin tried moving but found his leg pinned, completely immobilized.

Once Jun Nanye confirmed Tao An was unharmed, he moved quickly to help Wu Jin—but froze when he heard the screech of another vehicle braking.

A van had pulled up.

Seven men spilled out, all exuding menace.

Half an hour later, Jun Nanye and Tao An were being chased through a dead-end alley in a remote village. The attackers had clearly planned this ambush, choosing a secluded area to ensure no witnesses or rescue.

“That bastard Jun Fengjin!” Tao An spat. “He actually made a move before we even got back to Hai City!”

“He wants you dead,” he added bitterly. His loathing ran bone-deep.

Tao An had taken every precaution, setting up multiple alternate routes to throw off potential pursuers. He never expected Jun Fengjin to move so soon—after all, the East Bank results hadn’t even been officially announced yet.

But Jun Fengjin had already laid the trap.

And it was thorough. Not only had he arranged for the collision, but even the surrounding village seemed to be crawling with hired thugs.

If Brother Nan hadn’t shielded him earlier, Tao An might already be dead.

“Brother Nan, we’re not going to die here, right?” Tao An asked, panting as they ran. He looked over, guilt etched on his face. “I’m sorry. I thought I had everything under control… but I still fell for it.”

“We’re not dying today,” Jun Nanye said coolly, glancing at his watch. His eyes landed on a patch of wasteland nearby. At its edge sat a mud-covered outhouse.

Without hesitation, he shoved Tao An toward it. “Hide. Now.”

Then he took off down a narrow alley alone.

Tao An barely had time to object before the door shut behind him. Two of their pursuers arrived moments later.

“There’s an outhouse over there,” one of them pointed out.

“Jun Nanye would never hide in a place like that. He’s too proud. Forget it—it stinks here.”

They turned and continued down the path Jun Nanye had taken.

Tao An exhaled in relief and fumbled for his phone. No time to waste—he had to call for help.

Dead end.

Jun Nanye glanced around. No escape.

He didn’t hesitate. Spotting a tall tree, he climbed swiftly. A wave of drowsiness hit him, almost like a spell. He checked his watch—12:05 AM.

“Where did he go?”

“He was right here! Did he just vanish?”

The men stood beneath the tree, confused and disoriented.

Cheng Yuan never expected to see her Sleeping Beauty again—especially not in such a sorry state.

“Are you shooting a drama?” she muttered, stunned at the sight of blood staining the Ice Bed.

She rushed over and ripped open his black jacket, revealing a once-white shirt now soaked in crimson.

“Still breathing?” she asked aloud, leaning in to check. A faint breath tickled her fingertips. Relieved, she assessed his wounds.

I know basic first aid, but I’m no miracle worker.

With no medical supplies on hand, she tore his shirt into strips and began bandaging the wounds as best she could.

When she was finally done, she looked at her bloodstained hands and grimaced.

“Tao An, wake up!” she called, giving him a gentle shove.

“…”

“We live in a law-abiding society, you know,” she muttered.

“I’m a good citizen,” Jun Nanye rasped weakly, his voice hoarse. “Got into a car accident.”

He had only relaxed once he heard her voice.

Cheng Yuan frowned. These are stab wounds, not crash injuries.

She rolled her eyes. “Do you think I’m an idiot? These are obviously stab wounds.”