"Don't go too hard~"
Lin Han pouted, feigning distress, and slowly descended the stairs from the rooftop edge. I watched her feet, and as expected, she missed a step. Ready, I caught her as she fell, or rather, jumped, off the stairs. She snuggled into my embrace, looking wronged.
Honestly, Lin Han had many admirable qualities. Her daily meticulous makeup made everyone see her as a woman of refined living. Coupled with her unparalleled knowledge of antiques, many men eyed our marital relationship with covetous intent, ready to strike when an opportunity arose.
However, what they saw was Lin Han's "seller's showcase." Her real life was nothing like what people imagined. In others' eyes, she might have romantic dinners every night, and in her leisure time, she’d be basking in the romantic starlight on the other side of the ocean. In reality, Lin Han's life was extremely simple. Aside from social engagements, she had no true friends. Her life could be divided into three parts: the 'six' represented her passion for antiques; the 'three' was her dedication to peculiar role-playing, not mimicking anime characters, but more like an actor employing the Stanislavski system, striving to understand others' lives. The final 'one' was her peculiar self-care ability.
It wasn't strange for a pampered young lady like Lin Han to have zero self-care ability. Yet, Lin Han's self-care wasn't calculated; it was more like the dopamine secretion index in love, driven by feeling.
"Dinner's ready." Someone inside called out, likely Boss Xie.
Lin Han joyfully leaped from my embrace and ran inside like a child. Her recklessness, her disregard for her own life, truly angered me. But seeing Lin Han safe, I couldn't utter a single word of reproach.
I could only sigh and call out, "Slow down. You're not wearing shoes. Don't hurt your feet."
"In this simple place, one must naturally feel the most rustic atmosphere, skin included, and the soles of the feet as well."
Lu Yao hadn't even gotten out of the car. Helplessly, I entered the house and found Boss Xie had prepared quite a feast, full of color, aroma, and taste.
"Let's eat," Lin Han said to me.
"How could I impose?"
"It's nothing. I paid for it."
Looking at Boss Xie, who seemed like a doting father, I said gratefully, "Thank you for taking care of Lin Han during this time."
Boss Xie gave a dry smile, "As Ms. Lin said, don't be so polite. It's all paid for."
"What do you mean, paid for?"
"Ms. Lin has been taking refuge here and promised me five million."
Hearing Boss Xie say this, I felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. I had even thought, just moments before, to do good deeds without expecting anything in return.
Boss Xie's protection of Lin Han during this period was all about karma. But hearing them speak, I realized it wasn't as I'd imagined. Everything was still within the scope of a transaction.
Since that was the case, I sat down to eat with a clear conscience and earnestly asked Lin Han, "Why did you think of coming to Boss Xie's place?"
"I know your relationship with Boss Xie. He's your enemy, so it's safe to hide here."
"Then, when Ning Caishen asked Boss Xie to help find someone, was that you who refused?"
Lin Han chuckled, "I don't know. I'm just responsible for paying. Boss Xie arranges everything else."
"That's nonsense! You know he's my enemy and beyond my control. Wouldn't it be better to have Lu Yao protect you? What if Boss Xie had malicious intentions?"
Hearing my words, Lin Han hesitated, then looked at Boss Xie. "I don't think he would."
"Let's leave after we finish eating," I told Lin Han. Boss Xie impassively picked up the conversation, "Settle the bill before you go."
"You didn't pay him?"
"Where would I get the money? Cash would be too heavy, I couldn't carry it. Transferring it would mean telling others I'm hiding at Boss Xie's place."
Helplessly, I had to call Ke Yingying and get Boss Xie's account number. Ke Yingying then transferred the money to Boss Xie's account. Just then, I heard a loud bang outside, like a firecracker. This was followed by the roar of an engine. I saw from the window that Lu Yao was speeding away in his car, kicking up a dust cloud.
"What's going on?"
I walked to the window, bewildered. This scene gave me a bad premonition. For a moment, I saw Lu Yao's panicked expression. Based on my recent understanding of him, he had fled. Something dangerous must have happened, but I still needed to understand the situation. Just then, with a crash, the window shattered. My left shoulder tightened, and instinctively, I recoiled. Reaching out, I felt blood.
A gun?
"Shotgun! Quick, hide!"
Boss Xie shouted. I quickly pulled Lin Han towards the kitchen, grabbed a cleaver, and hid behind the door.
"You're hurt."
"It's nothing."
"How can it be nothing? You're bleeding! The enemy must know I'm here and have ambushed us, waiting for you to come!" Lin Han said, her voice trembling.
"What are you talking about? They must have followed me."
"Then who is it?"
"I don't know. I didn't see anyone. Help me bandage my arm."
As I spoke, I handed the cleaver to Lin Han. She used it to cut open my sleeve, tearing off the sticky fabric. I gritted my teeth as she looked at me.
"It doesn't hurt. It's fine," I said with a smile. Lin Han bit her lip in concern, looking around. "There should be unused cloths here. I'll find some and help you bandage it."
"Tang Nan, stop hiding in the house! Come out like a man and fight to the death!"
I recognized Ning Caishen's voice and shouted back, "Ning Caishen, get me a gun too, and we'll duel like Western cowboys!"
Ning Caishen was cunning. He wasn't calling me out for a duel. He deduced from my voice that I wasn't in the living room, so he pushed the door open with his gun.
"Tang Nan, you didn't expect me to follow you, did you?"
"Ning Caishen, we're both schemers. Real battles are fought with skill, what's with the gun?"
"This is the game. Trapping you in the countryside, alone. We'll settle this hand-to-hand. This is the extreme theory of negotiation; all strategy boils down to the simplest armed confrontation. Tang Nan, aren't you the inheritor of the fifty-sixth generation of schemers? Show me how you break this game."
By then, Lin Han had finished bandaging my arm. I gripped the cleaver in my right hand and listened intently.
"Ning Caishen, I have no quarrel with you. Why do you insist on killing me?"
"You are Cao Qian's biggest obstacle in her career, so you must die."
"That's Cao Qian's business, it has nothing to do with you."
"I like Cao Qian."
Ning Caishen's voice grew clearer; he was already close to the kitchen. I looked at Lin Han and whispered, "Ning Caishen will never guess I'll rush out now. You take the chance to escape."
"I'm not escaping."
"What are you saying? Only when you are safe can I be safe."
Actually, I was lying to Lin Han. I knew Ning Caishen's abilities well. Even without the gun, I wouldn't be a match for him. Yet, even so, I had no intention of surrendering. In close combat, the brave win. Who knew what the outcome would be in a real fight. So, facing a formidable enemy like Ning Caishen, I didn't hesitate. I charged out with the cleaver.
My decision indeed caught Ning Caishen off guard. I swung my cleaver, and he instinctively blocked it. Blood flowed, and the gun flew from his hand. I seized the opportunity, throwing the cleaver at him. While he dodged it, I grabbed his leg, flipped him to the ground, and used my learned grappling techniques to pin him securely. "Wife, run quickly!" I yelled.
Lin Han ran out of the kitchen and without hesitation went to pick up the gun, then aimed it at Ning Caishen.
"Girl, don't kill anyone."
Boss Xie, who had been hiding, also revealed himself and shouted at Lin Han. Lin Han froze. Ning Caishen seized this moment to break free from my hold and lunged at Lin Han. Lin Han gritted her teeth, her lips trembling, but she pulled the trigger.
With a bang, it was a single-barreled hunting shotgun. In her haste, Lin Han missed Ning Caishen and instead sent food scattering everywhere on the dining table. Ning Caishen dodged the shot and suddenly threw a hook punch to Lin Han's jaw. Lin Han's grip loosened, and the gun fell to the ground.
Ning Caishen prepared to pick up the gun. I charged from behind and wrapped my arm around his neck. Ning Caishen was experienced in dealing with such techniques. He blocked my arm with one of his and, with the other hand, grabbed me and threw me over his shoulder. Then Ning Caishen bent down to retrieve the gun. I couldn't let him get it.
I pounced again. Ning Caishen grabbed the barrel and swung it at me like a club. That blow was brutal. My vision spun, and I lost consciousness.
Ning Caishen took a bullet from his pocket and loaded it into the chamber.
"Tang Nan, from ancient times to the present, many brilliant strategists have died by violence. Congratulations, you are one of them." After speaking, Ning Caishen aimed the gun at me and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Bang~ To my surprise, Boss Xie rushed forward and took the shot for me. It was a shotgun, and at close range, his body was riddled with buckshot. He stared at me, his back to Ning Caishen, a smile on his lips, and slowly fell.
"Are you sick!"
Ning Caishen grumbled in annoyance, reloaded the chamber, and aimed at me again.
Bang!
The gun fired!