Chapter 3 – I Don’t Need You to Take Responsibility

Qin Muye pulled her into a room, sat lazily on the sofa with his legs crossed, and looked at her.
“Speak.”

Song Kexia’s hands twisted together tightly.
“Speak about what?”

“About what you people were planning. Why did you suddenly back out at the last minute?”

Song Kexia’s head felt dizzy and her body was unwell. Supporting her head, she said,
“Can I sit down before we talk?”

“Sit.”

She pulled over a chair and had just sat down when he said,
“Now you can tell the truth. Why did you try to set me up?”

“I really wasn’t trying to frame you. No woman would use her own reputation to harm someone like this. I was drugged by them, too. But I overheard them say they were doing it because of your father. Your father is a strong contender for county chief. If you got charged with hooliganism, it would definitely hurt him, so…”

Seeing Qin Muye’s expression turn grim, Song Kexia didn’t dare finish her sentence.

Qin Muye sneered.
“To scheme against me in my own place—you’ve got guts.”

“I was schemed against too,” she corrected.

“More likely you were part of it, and just got stabbed in the back for some reason. Don’t play the innocent with me.”

Song Kexia widened her eyes. Was this man a demon? How did he even know that?

“Stop looking at me like that. Don’t think those eyes will make me go soft.”

She blinked. She was just surprised—she wasn’t trying to beg for mercy. Still, she lowered her gaze.

Qin Muye stood up.
“I’ll take you to the hospital.”

Song Kexia didn’t understand.
“What for?”

For a rare moment, Qin Muye looked slightly unnatural, but it vanished too quickly to catch.
“Weren’t you crying in pain just now?”

Her face flushed red in an instant, her voice barely above a mosquito’s buzz.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

At first it had been unbearable, but it gradually subsided. She still felt uncomfortable, but not enough to need a hospital. Besides, going to the hospital for this? She still wanted her dignity.

But… she did need to go to a hospital quietly—there had been no contraception just now, and though it hadn’t lasted long, he hadn’t withdrawn at the end. She had to confirm whether she might get pregnant. Just not in front of him.

“If not the hospital, then go home. It’s late, and if something happens to you, you’ll blame me. I don’t want that kind of trouble.”

She looked up at him. For someone who clearly disliked her, he was still worried about her safety?
“I can go back on my own.”

“I don’t repeat myself.”

Seeing him already at the door, she thought for a few seconds and followed.

Qin Muye took a bicycle and stopped beside her. She didn’t act coy—she just got on the back seat. She leaned back slightly so as not to get too close, gripping the back rack.

“I’m ready.”

“Where do you live?”

She gave an address. Qin Muye glanced sideways, saw her holding the rack, then looked ahead and pedaled off—fast, maybe to make it clear he wanted nothing to do with her.

Song Kexia clutched the seat tightly, her whole body tense to keep balance, afraid to touch him and annoy him further. But staying tense was tiring, and her mind wandered to the dream she’d had earlier—because of tonight’s incident, everyone had shunned her, her reputation ruined. Her family had hastily married her off to a divorced man. When she went to Lin Siming for help, he told her she should be grateful someone was still willing to marry her, and to accept her fate.

Ten minutes later, they arrived. Qin Muye braked and said nothing.

Coming back to herself, Song Kexia got off and thanked him.
“Thank you for taking me home.”

He raised an eyebrow. Thank him? Was she out of her mind?
“I’ll give you an explanation for what happened tonight.”

She blinked.
“An explanation? No need. I was partly at fault too. It’s not all on you. Let’s just pretend it never happened.”

Seeing how eager she was to draw a line between them left him strangely annoyed. He was good-looking, from a decent family—plenty of girls at the dance hall had shown interest in him. Was she saying she wasn’t interested?

His gaze suddenly turned fierce.

Startled, Song Kexia took a step back.
“What are you going to do?”

Before he could answer, a voice came from behind.

“Song Kexia, how can you let a shady guy like this take you home? If your parents find out, they’ll be worried sick.”

Qin Muye gave Lin Siming a half-smile, parked the bike, and pulled Song Kexia aside. She didn’t realize what he was about to do until he rolled his neck and punched Lin Siming square in the nose.

Lin Siming felt a sharp pain shoot through his bridge, followed by warm liquid flowing out. When he wiped it, his hand came away red.
“You son of a—”

Qin Muye’s eyes flashed cold, and he drove a punch into Lin Siming’s stomach without a word. Lin doubled over, groaning.

As a man, being provoked repeatedly like this was intolerable—Lin swung at him, but Qin Muye kicked him hard in the abdomen, sending him staggering back several steps.

The sheer force of Qin Muye’s movements startled Song Kexia, but she quickly realized—good! Tonight’s mess had been Lin Siming’s plan. Beating him up was justice. She glanced around, wary of anyone seeing and calling the police, ready to warn Qin Muye if needed.

Lin Siming felt like his organs had been smashed. He looked around desperately for help, but the street was deserted except for them—and Song Kexia.

“Xiaxia…”

Qin Muye grabbed him by the throat.
“I didn’t want to settle scores with you, but you’re too much of a bastard.”

Lin Siming gasped for air, clawing at Qin Muye’s iron grip, panic flooding him.

“If you want to keep messing with me, go ahead—but next time, I’ll take one of your legs.”

He let go, and Lin collapsed to the ground, gulping air, shaken at how close he’d come to dying.

“You bastard! I won’t let this go! I’m calling the cops—you’ll regret this!”

Song Kexia stepped forward and kicked him twice.
“Have you no shame? After all the vile things you’ve done, you still want to involve the police?”

Lin Siming looked at her in disbelief.
“Are you crazy? You’re siding with him?”

She kicked him again, finally feeling relieved.
“None of your business. From now on, we’re done. Don’t come looking for me.”

She turned to Qin Muye.
“Thanks for tonight. I’m home now, you can go.”

Qin Muye gave her a sidelong glance, said nothing, and rode off.

Watching him disappear into the night, Song Kexia turned toward her home—only to see Lin Siming glaring at her viciously.