As Xu Qingyan walked out of the warehouse, the cool night breeze tousled her hair, and she finally felt a sense of escaping the brink of disaster.

Liang Jiankong kept his pace ahead of her without uttering a word. His men surrounded them as they walked towards the car. Her heart still raced at an elevated pace.

Ah Bao had already opened the car door for Liang Jiankong. As they approached the car, Liang Jiankong suddenly turned around, prompting those around him to halt as well.

Liang Jiankong casually instructed, “Qin Tai, Bai Yu, take the brothers back for now. Ah Bao can stay here.”

Meanwhile, most of the gang members couldn’t help but sneak glances at Xu Qingyan, their curiosity piqued. They whispered among themselves, “Is she really with the Japanese? Did she switch sides at the last minute? Why is this so hard to figure out?” “You think she’s helping the Second Young Master trap the Japanese? She must know something, or else how could she cooperate so seamlessly?” “But she didn’t seem that way when they first tied her up, did she?” “Her acting is impressive.”

In reality, Xu Qingyan was none of those things. Fortunately, tonight she used her wits to align with the Second Young Master’s plan.

Qin Tai and Bai Yu exchanged wary glances but ultimately accepted the order.

In a matter of moments, more than a dozen people dispersed, leaving only Liang Jiankong to fix his gaze upon Xu Qingyan.

The moonlight, cool and soothing, bathed the surroundings in a gentle silvery glow.

Xu Qingyan’s face was fully exposed in the moonlight. She appeared rather disheveled. Her short hair was in disarray, tousled by the wind, with strands clinging to her face. Her visage bore traces of exhaustion and faint signs of weakness. However, she maintained a calm expression, her gaze wary as she observed him. Her white blouse was rumpled, with two buttons missing from the collar, revealing a beautiful pair of collarbones. Liang Jiankong’s eyebrows arched involuntarily before shifting his gaze elsewhere. Yet, what troubled him most were her feet. It seemed she had been taken from her home in haste, without even the time to put on her shoes. Along the way, she had traversed stony paths and chilly concrete ground. Her fair and slender feet were now stained with mud and dirt from this place, along with several abrasions on the soles.

As Xu Qingyan felt Liang Jiankong’s gaze upon her, she instinctively tensed. Her mind flashed back to the image of his blade poised to strike, his lips curved in a chilling smile. Her complexion grew noticeably paler.

Liang Jiankong snapped back to reality and sensed her fear. He softened his imposing presence and asked, “Are you injured?”

Apart from her bruised wrists, she felt pain in two other spots on her body, but overall, she was fine. Xu Qingyan shook her head. Liang Jiankong nodded before saying, “Get in the car.”

Xu Qingyan hesitated. Her eyes locked onto Liang Jiankong waiting by the car door. His demeanour had shifted from cold and ruthless to something warmer and gentler. Xu Qingyan had mentally prepared herself before getting into the car, but at this moment, with Liang Jiankong’s piercing gaze upon her, she had no other option. With careful movements, she settled into her seat. Liang Jiankong then joined her from the opposite side of the car.

As the car door closed, it created an insulating barrier between the world outside and the one within. Ah Bao occupied the passenger seat, while Mark, the tall, mixed-race man, who had once been an underground boxer, remained behind the wheel. His life had hung in the balance during a match when an opponent played dirty, but Liang Jiankong had intervened just in time, saving him. Since then, Mark had become one of Liang Jiankong’s trusted bodyguards. He turned and asked, “Boss, where are we heading now?”

Liang Jiankong lowered the car window and replied, “Let’s go for a little drive.”

It was now midnight, and the road lay mostly deserted. The car wasn’t speeding, allowing them to leisurely take in the view outside. To be honest, there wasn’t much of a view, but at least the cool breeze seeping in through the window provided some relief from the tension. Liang Jiankong leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to relax, while Xu Qingyan lowered her gaze, trying to press herself against the door as much as possible. She stared silently at her own feet.

Liang Jiankong undoubtedly had something to tell her, but she wasn’t in the mood for conversation. She felt exhausted. The thought of grasping a slim chance of survival weighed heavily on her, and the idea of earning the trust of the person before her seemed draining. Moreover, the realization that she was innocent, yet continuously manipulated by others, left her feeling weary.

“You’re quite clever,” Liang Jiankong finally broke the silence, as if he had been brewing this question. “Turning the tables on Ryuzaki was a brilliant move. You must be the least informed person in this whole matter. How did you come up with the idea to help me?”

In truth, it wasn’t about helping him, but Xu Qingyan refrained from voicing this thought in front of Liang Jiankong.

 “It was quite a coincidence,” Xu Qingyan replied, her voice steady despite the tension in the car. “I returned home and found something extra in my bag. Before I could make sense of it, they showed up at my door. That’s when they apprehended me. Throughout the journey here, I pondered it many times. When I saw you with your boys, I ultimately deduced that their intention was to use me as a threat against you. But why me? Probably because they couldn’t infiltrate your inner circle, yet my situation was somewhat unique, so using me was a more straightforward approach. Judging by your reaction, I can fairly assume you were already aware of their plan. Had I denied it or sought your help, I would have fallen right into their trap. They needed me to put up a fight, and that’s precisely what I did. My fate rests in your hands, not the Japanese. In this way, I retained some value, potentially serving as a witness. In that situation, it would become far more challenging for them to defend their actions.”

She furrowed her brows slightly, her voice strained due to her sore throat. Nevertheless, she spoke intermittently yet with remarkable clarity and coherence. It was quite a lengthy explanation. Ah Bao was quietly astonished. Despite being completely unaware of the situation, Xu Qingyan had managed to deduce certain details and find a way to secure her own survival. Xu Qingyan might appear unassuming, but her thinking was remarkably meticulous, her insight keen. Most importantly, she possessed unwavering mental fortitude. Viewing it from another perspective, Ah Bao doubted he could handle the situation as adeptly as she had, and he was a man. From start to finish, she had not displayed any weakness, wavering, or pleas for mercy. She relied solely on her calmness and intelligence, enduring until the end.

After she finished speaking, Liang Jiankong remained silent for a while. His gaze, which initially held curiosity, then shifted to contemplation, and eventually settled into silence. He observed this woman who didn’t even glance at him. His thoughts strayed into a realm entirely different from Ah Bao’s.

Calm and clever? No, that wouldn’t quite capture it. Undeniably intelligent, yes, but her demeanor didn’t exude the inherent strength of a strong person. He had studied her eyes. At first glance, they resembled a clear lake, but upon closer inspection, one would find an indescribable depth, so subtle that discerning the true color of that lake became impossible. Your thoughts would freeze in this colorless lake, undisturbed by any ripples, devoid of sorrow or joy, and free from desires.

But could anyone truly achieve such a state of desirelessness?

Liang Jiankong continued to gaze at her, a faint smile gracing his lips. “Impressive, a top medical student indeed. I should have our young, unruly members from the gang listen to you, maybe they’d learn a thing or two. But aren’t you afraid I might actually consider you one of them and end it all right now? Or do you think that sparing you once means I’ll spare you a second time?”

Xu Qingyan hesitated for a moment, then finally turned her head to the side, her lips pursed. The curve of her lips formed a small dimple, catching Liang Jiankong’s fleeting attention.

She didn’t know. She truly didn’t know. In his presence, she felt utterly powerless. If he wanted her dead, why wait until now? Every encounter before this had been an opportunity. But if he didn’t want her dead, she also wanted to ask why. Was it because she had saved his life? It sounded like there were doctors who had tried to save him before and seemingly none of them had survived.

The car smoothly merged onto the highway, gradually picking up speed. It took a moment for Xu Qingyan to regain her voice. “I don’t know.”

Her honesty elicited a subtle smile from Liang Jiankong, though its meaning remained a mystery to her.

Without further explanation, Liang Jiankong commanded, “Take us to the residence by the park.”

After some time, Xu Qingyan finally realized that he had brought her to the “residence by the park” as well.

“Can you drop me off up ahead?”

Liang Jiankong responded without hesitation, “No.”

With a note of caution, Xu Qingyan asked, “Why are you taking me there?”

Liang Jiankong, however, leaned back lazily in his seat and said, “Rest for a while and speak less.”

The journey continued in silence. Liang Jiankong’s residence was exceptionally remote, situated near the border of Z City and W City. However, this estate was vast, with its own entrance and driveway. The car came to a steady halt at the front gate.

“Wait here,” Liang Jiankong instructed.

He halted Xu Qingyan’s attempt to open the door and exited the car himself. After a brief exchange with someone at the entrance, the person disappeared into the house and returned shortly with a pair of slippers.