Chapter 8 – I Won’t Let You Off So Easily

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost in broad daylight. Why’s your face so pale?”

Hearing his voice, Song Kexia gradually came back to her senses.

“I… Why are you here?”

Qin Muye’s gaze swept discreetly toward Zhao Yinqiu. Ever since she walked in, Zhao Yinqiu’s eyes had never left her. That greedy, lustful look was downright unpleasant. Even now, sitting across from her, his eyes were still fixed on her as if he wanted to burn a hole right through her.

As a man himself, Qin Muye knew exactly what that kind of gaze meant. But wasn’t this man shameless? At his age, he still dared to covet such a young girl.

“If you can come here, why can’t I?”

Song Kexia was momentarily speechless. She could tell his mood wasn’t good, and it was best not to provoke him.

Qin Muye’s sudden appearance made Zhao Yinqiu feel a sense of danger—like his prey had been marked by someone else. He kept his expression taut, forcing a smile as he looked at Song Kexia.

“Xiaxia, is he your friend?”

He deliberately called her that to make their relationship sound intimate, so this stranger would know to get lost.

But Qin Muye acted as if he hadn’t noticed the provocation, his brows slightly raised as he looked at Zhao Yinqiu.

“If I’m not mistaken, you two are on a blind date, right? Calling a young lady by such a familiar name the moment you meet—don’t you think that’s inappropriate?”

“We may have just met, but we have a good impression of each other and are already considering marriage. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.”

Qin Muye let out a short, disdainful laugh. “That’s just your wishful thinking. Can’t you see how scared she looks?”

He pulled out a chair and sat down right beside Song Kexia. “You don’t mind me sitting here, do you?”

Song Kexia pressed her lips together. He had already sat down before asking.

Before she could answer, he said, “You don’t look too well. I’ll take you to the hospital first.”

She nodded immediately—of course she wanted to leave. Even if she didn’t go to the hospital, getting away from Zhao Yinqiu was good enough.

Zhao Yinqiu gritted his teeth. “Comrade, Xiaxia is my blind date. Taking her away like this seems… inappropriate.”

“As her friend, why can’t I take her to the hospital?” Qin Muye gave him a slow once-over and sneered. “You’re just a blind date. Whether this works out is still uncertain—don’t overstep.”

Song Kexia had already stood up, eager to leave. Zhao Yinqiu’s hand tightened around his teacup, veins bulging as his gaze followed her figure.

Did she think she could get rid of him that easily? Too naive.

Song Kexia could still feel a cold, snake-like stare coiling around her, making her quicken her steps. Only after leaving the teahouse did that suffocating feeling fade, and she finally felt like she could breathe again.

“Thanks for just now. I’m fine now—I can go back on my own.”

Qin Muye gave a short snort. “You’re something else—use me and toss me aside.”

How could he say something like that in the middle of the street? Use him? She hadn’t… And even if she had, that was when she’d been drugged and not thinking clearly.

Her cheeks warmed, and she avoided his eyes. “I… I just didn’t want to waste your time.”

“I’ve got nothing better to do.”

But she was headed to the hospital, and she really didn’t dare let him accompany her.

“Really, no need. I’ll just take the bus back.”

Qin Muye pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek. She was something else—rejecting him twice in a row.

“Do you know what I hate most?”

Song Kexia didn’t answer.

“I hate being rejected. Wait here, I’ll get my bike.”

Without giving her a chance to refuse, he walked off.

She sighed silently at his retreating figure. Looks like she had no choice but to let him take her.

She had already wasted so much time—if she delayed any longer, what if she ended up pregnant? Better to get the medicine now and set her mind at ease. When they got there, she could make him wait outside so he wouldn’t know what she was there for.

Qin Muye pedaled up beside her, one foot on the ground. “Get on.”

“I’m going to the hospital.”

He looked up at her, as if asking why.

She pressed her lips together and didn’t explain, just repeated, “I’m going to the hospital.”

“Get on.”

She climbed onto the back seat. The hot wind rushed against her face, carrying with it a clean, soapy scent from him. She hadn’t expected Qin Muye to smell like that.

She lifted her gaze slightly and saw him leaning forward, his floral shirt tracing the lines of his well-built upper body. He must have trained—no wonder he’d handled Lin Siming so easily yesterday.

“You rushing to a blind date like this… was it because of last night?”

His words jolted her back to the present, a faint blush creeping over her cheeks. Why bring that up again?

“No. I wasn’t in a rush.”

“Not in a rush? Then why pick such an old man?”

“My family introduced him. He can help my second brother.”

Qin Muye gave a low hum, his tone unreadable. “You’re something else—willing to look twice at a man like that for your family’s sake.”

“I didn’t look twice at him.”

Just thinking about the way Zhao Yinqiu looked at her made her shiver. There was no way she could like someone like him. And why was Qin Muye even bringing this up, making her recall unpleasant memories?

“You’re right not to. One glance at him and I can tell he’s no good.”

She had to admit—men could be very accurate at judging other men.

“I know.”

“I doubt he’ll let you off easily.”

Was he warning her? She already knew Zhao Yinqiu wouldn’t give up. With his obsessive personality and local influence in Feng County, escaping him would be nearly impossible.

She glanced at Qin Muye’s broad back. With his background, maybe it wouldn’t be so hard. But would he help her? She’d have to find a way to make him willing. She wasn’t going to die the same miserable death she’d had in her dream.

“I’ll be careful.”

Qin Muye didn’t like her casual tone. Being careful wouldn’t help—if that man could use her family to force her into a meeting, he could use them to force her into other things. But since he and Song Kexia weren’t that close, saying more would just make him seem suspicious.

The bicycle jolted into a shallow pit, making the whole thing bounce. Startled, Song Kexia instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist.

He froze at her touch, and she quickly let go. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s fine.”

She glanced up and noticed the tips of his ears turning red. Surprised, she wondered—was he actually shy?

Running a dance hall in these times was considered improper by many. But thanks to her memories of the future, she didn’t judge him for it. Still, she had assumed a man like him, surrounded by women all the time, would be experienced.

Who would have thought he’d blush just because she hugged his waist?