Su Zhiyuan watched his sister come in and out of his room five or six times all morning, borrowing a charger, then tissues, then even a hairdryer—any excuse she could think of.

“Xiao Ci, what are you worried about?” He felt something was particularly off about her today.

“I’m worried you won’t listen to me and go outside. The rain is heavy—I don’t want you going out.” After lunch, Su Ci wasn’t in a rush to leave. She stared at the life bar on her brother’s wrist—just over an hour left.

Su Zhiyuan lightly tapped her head with his fingers. “Am I someone who goes back on his word?”

Su Ci instantly turned sycophantic. “Brother, you’re the most trustworthy.”

Su Zhiyuan stood up and called the staff to clear the dishes. “Alright, go back to your room. I’m going to nap.”

Being stared at like this, he felt helpless and uncomfortable.

“Then you sleep for thirty minutes. I’ll come check on you later.” Su Ci stood as well, she had to keep an eye on him at all times.

“Okay.” Today, Su Zhiyuan was dressed casually, looking every bit like an elegant young master. Barefoot on the thick carpet, he walked his sister to the door. “You rest too.”

His sister was unusually clingy today, and for the first time, Su Zhiyuan felt a little annoyed.

Sent out of the room with barely concealed dislike, Su Ci could only return to her room helplessly.

Thirty minutes later, she ran back to her brother’s door and pressed the doorbell.

Seeing his sister at the door, Su Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. “What are you borrowing this time?”

“I just wanted to see if Brother woke up. Are you still sleepy? You can keep sleeping. I’ll come back later.” Once she confirmed her brother was still in the room, safe and sound, Su Ci slipped away like smoke.

Even though she had ordered the bodyguards to guard the hallway and not let any strangers near his door, she still couldn’t relax. With less than an hour left, she had to stay vigilant.

Another thirty minutes passed. Just as Su Ci pressed the doorbell, Su Zhiyuan opened the door immediately.

Su Ci smiled at her brother—who looked helpless and exasperated—standing at the door, then turned and left again.

Almost, almost—only twenty minutes left.

Su Zhiyuan felt his sister was acting far too strangely today. Why was she guarding against him going out?

He glanced at the torrential rain outside the window and dispelled the doubt.

Just then, his phone rang. It was his assistant calling.

“President Su, something’s happened.”

After hanging up, Su Zhiyuan’s brows tightened. He strode out immediately.

He had already instructed the car to wait at the entrance.

Taking the elevator down to the lobby, he happened to pass Lu Zhe, who was coming in from outside. Seeing Su Zhiyuan hurrying out with a tense expression, Lu Zhe was startled.

Meanwhile, with only ten minutes left, Su Ci once again ran to her brother’s door and pressed the doorbell.

For a long moment, no one opened the door.

The smile on Su Ci’s face froze. She pressed the doorbell frantically. “Brother! Brother, open the door!”

There was still no response inside.

Su Ci’s heart sank further and further. With trembling fingers, she pulled out her phone and dialed her brother.

“Brother, where are you?” Even her own voice sounded shaky. Fortunately, her brother answered.

“There’s a problem at the construction site. I need to go handle it. I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry—I brought an umbrella, I won’t get soaked.” Su Zhiyuan explained.

“Brother, you can’t go!” Su Ci gripped her phone tightly, her throat dry. “You’re in danger. Brother, come back immediately!”

The construction site wasn’t far from the hotel. Seeing it just ahead, he said to his sister, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of myself. I’ll be back soon. Alright, I’m here. We’ll talk when I get back.”

The call ended.

Su Ci panicked and immediately looked for the bodyguards. “My brother went out—why didn’t you tell me?”

“Miss…”

“Forget it, I don’t want to hear excuses.” Su Ci’s expression was anxious. “Take me to the construction site immediately.”

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

Su Zhiyuan arrived at the site. His assistant was already waiting at the entrance. “President Su, the injured worker’s family came to cause trouble. They’ve taken the contractor hostage and are demanding to see you.”

The rain was too heavy—even with an umbrella, Su Zhiyuan’s trousers were soaked through.

“Where are they?”

“Over there.” The assistant hesitated. “President Su, should we call the police?”

Su Zhiyuan’s low, calm voice carried the chill of the rain-filled air. “Call them.”

The assistant quickly dialed the number.

Su Zhiyuan walked toward the half-completed building. Several workers were already gathered in a circle, and the others, afraid of being dragged into the conflict, hid inside the sheds, only daring to peek out at the scene through the downpour.

“Tell your boss to come out!” Zhou Hao pressed a knife against Li Gui’s neck, the sharp blade already cutting a red line into his skin.

Li Gui’s legs were trembling uncontrollably. He begged, “They’ve already sent someone to notify President Su. Zhou Hao, I’m just a small contractor—it really has nothing to do with me. If you have something to say, go to President Su!”

“It’s all of you—heartless, cold-blooded!” Zhou Hao’s voice trembled with fury. “My brother worked for you. He fell from high up, and you even withheld his compensation. My brother woke up today and learned he’ll never recover, that he still needs a huge amount of medical fees. He was so devastated he killed himself. You people drove him to his death!” Zhou Hao pushed the knife even deeper against Li Gui’s neck.

The sharp sting made Li Gui’s face turn as pale as paper. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Brother Zhou Hao, this really has nothing to do with me—I didn’t know Zhou Ming was so fragile… ah, ah, help, the knife—watch the knife!”

“Ah Hao, don’t be impulsive…” Zhou Hao’s mother had rushed over when she heard her son was going to seek revenge. She had already lost one son—she could not bear losing another.

Zhou Hao did not look at his mother. His thick arm tightened around the knife. “Is your boss coming or not?”

“You’re looking for me?”

Under a black umbrella, Su Zhiyuan stood in the pouring rain dressed in casual clothes, yet still carried a calm, refined elegance.

As he lifted the umbrella slightly, everyone finally got a clear look at his face.

The Su family’s genes were excellent. Except for Li Gui, none of the workers had seen him before. Only now did they realize that the famous President Su everyone talked about was actually a strikingly handsome young man.

Holding the umbrella, Su Zhiyuan walked over. “You are the injured worker’s family? Why are you looking for me?”

“You’re the boss here?” Zhou Hao’s expression twisted with fury, the veins on his arm bulging as he gripped the knife.

“President Su, save me!” Li Gui’s legs trembled violently, his face contorted in fear.

Zhou Hao glared fiercely at Su Zhiyuan. “Because people like you—cold-hearted, ruthless capitalists—drove my brother to suicide! I’m here today to settle the score.”

“The injured worker is your brother? Why did he commit suicide?” He had already instructed finance to release the compensation to Li Gui and told him to follow up with the family, also indicating that if the family had further needs, they could approach the Su Group.

“You still dare ask why?”

Zhou Hao roared, voice cracking. “My brother was half paralyzed, and you only compensated ten thousand. You even took advantage of my mother’s bad eyesight to trick her into signing a settlement! Ten thousand isn’t even enough for surgery. My brother knew our family’s situation—he didn’t want to be a burden. That’s why he killed himself!”

Su Zhiyuan’s brows knit tightly. He glanced at the hostage, Li Gui. “The compensation we released was one hundred eighty thousand, not ten thousand.”

Clearly, the compensation had never reached the family. It had all been swallowed by Li Gui.

But Zhou Hao could no longer listen. He only thought the man was lying. His mouth twisted into a cold smile. “If you want to save him, then come exchange yourself for him.”

“Why would I exchange myself for him?” Su Zhiyuan found the demand absurd. He looked at Zhou Hao. “Release him. I will investigate the compensation issue and give you an explanation.”

“My brother is dead, what explanation do I need?” Zhou Hao pressed the blade deeper into Li Gui’s neck. Blood spilled more heavily, and Li Gui nearly fainted from fear. “I just want your lives now.”

“Ah Hao!” Zhou Hao’s mother shouted at him.

As everyone’s gaze remained fixed on Zhou Hao, no one noticed that Mother Zhou had taken out a knife from who-knows-where. In that moment of distraction, she lunged straight toward Su Zhiyuan. “Give me back my son!”

The blade came rushing at him. Su Zhiyuan instinctively stepped back.

“Mom!” Zhou Hao shoved Li Gui aside and ran toward her.

Mother Zhou looked completely deranged, stabbing wildly at Su Zhiyuan. He dodged, but still had his arm slashed.

Zhou Hao moved to help, his strength immense. With one strike, he knocked down the assistant trying to block him.

Su Zhiyuan kicked the knife out of Mother Zhou’s hand, but just as he turned, Zhou Hao’s blade came stabbing toward him.

Using his umbrella, he blocked in front of him—but the knife pierced straight through it.

Lowering his gaze to the sharp tip protruding through the fabric, Su Zhiyuan kicked Zhou Hao hard.

Zhou Hao had trained in boxing before and was tall and strong. Even with decent fighting skills, Su Zhiyuan quickly fell into disadvantage against Zhou Hao, who was fighting like a madman with nothing to lose.

The workers had long since run far away. Who would dare go near?

Just as the knife was about to stab into his heart, Su Zhiyuan’s gaze tightened.

In the next second, Zhou Hao’s knife was suddenly gripped by a large hand.

Both Su Zhiyuan and Zhou Hao froze.

Outside, the wailing sound of police sirens echoed.

Zhou Hao yanked the knife back, tearing open fresh blood from the palm that held it, but he was immediately kicked backward with brutal force.

Lu Zhe’s palm went numb, blood flowing continuously from the center of his hand.

His dark eyes stared coldly at Zhou Hao. When Zhou Hao lunged again, Lu Zhe sidestepped the blade and punched him hard in the side of the waist.

Zhou Hao’s body seized up in pain.

“Don’t move! Everyone, don’t move!”

The police had arrived.

Su Zhiyuan had fallen to the ground earlier. He stood up now, his clothing smeared with cement, but even in such disarray, his distinguished aura still drew the eyes of many.

He glanced at Zhou Hao, who had been pinned down by the police, then walked toward Lu Zhe, who had appeared out of nowhere. “Thank you for saving my life. Your hand is bleeding.”

“Brother.”

Su Ci ran toward him, soaked through by the rain. The bodyguards holding umbrellas behind her were completely useless.

“Lu Zhe?”

As she ran up, she immediately saw him too.

Her gaze unconsciously fell on the boy’s hand and she gasped. “Your hand is bleeding!”

In Su Ci’s eyes, her brother didn’t exist anymore. All she could see was the blood on Lu Zhe’s hand.

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

At the hospital.

Su Zhiyuan had been slashed once. The cut wasn’t deep, and the wound had already been bandaged.

His clothes were still dirty with cement stains, but his outstanding presence, despite being disheveled, still drew plenty of attention.

Looking to the side, he saw Lu Zhe getting his wound wrapped. His sister hovered around him, circling like a little bee that had found nectar.

Unable to help himself, Su Zhiyuan walked over. His beautiful sister frowned deeply, eyes full of distress as she looked at Lu Zhe’s hand.

Su Zhiyuan tugged gently on the ponytail tied behind her head. “Your brother’s hand is injured too. Why aren’t you asking about mine?”

Was his sister too concerned about Lu Zhe?

Su Ci glanced at the life bar on her brother’s wrist—it had already turned into a green grid. She snapped, “Serves you right. I told you not to go out, and you didn’t listen.”

And he even dragged Lu Zhe into getting hurt. Her heart ached so badly she could hardly stand it.

“Brother, go take care of your own matters. Don’t disturb the nurse.” Su Ci turned back to Lu Zhe. “Does it hurt?”

For no reason at all, Su Zhiyuan suddenly felt deeply disliked by his own sister.

Awkwardly, he touched his nose.

He hadn’t expected his sister’s warning to come true so precisely. It really had been the right choice to stay in the hotel room.

Looking at the quiet boy getting his wound treated, Su Zhiyuan expressed his gratitude. “Lu Zhe, thank you for saving me. You’ve once again become our Su family’s savior.”

If Lu Zhe hadn’t grabbed Zhou Hao’s knife in time, the blade would likely have pierced straight into his chest.

One couldn’t help but marvel, Lu Zhe and their Su family truly seemed fated. He had practically saved every one of them.

Su Zhiyuan still needed to assist the police with giving his statement. Seeing that Lu Zhe’s wound had already been bandaged, he arranged a car for them before leaving early.

Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe’s hand, wrapped in a thick layer of white gauze. Heart aching, she lowered her head and kissed it lightly. “Why didn’t you tell me you followed my brother to the construction site?”

Lu Zhe’s lips were a bit pale. “Telling you wouldn’t have changed anything. And at the time, I didn’t know your brother would really be in danger.”

He only remembered her words—she had been worried all morning that her brother would get into trouble today.

He hadn’t thought much about it then; he had simply followed on instinct.

And he was grateful he had.

“Lu Zhe, you saved my brother. You’ve once again become our family’s lifesaver. With so many life-saving debts, I don’t think our family could ever repay you.”

Lu Zhe let out a soft laugh. “There’s no need to repay anything.”

“There is.”

The nurse had already left. No one else was around. Su Ci leaned closer and took the initiative to kiss his cool lips.

Her dark eyes curved with a bright smile as she looked at him. “A life-saving grace should be repaid with a lifetime. On behalf of my family, I’m giving myself to you.”