After Ding Xiaoyou escaped, she was so frightened she became like a startled bird. Seeing the black-clad man suddenly blocking her way, she was so terrified she stepped back, “I beg you, don’t catch me, I won’t run anymore.”

Ding Xiaoyou was panicked and helpless. Thinking of how Ji Chi had been surrounded and beaten by them, she worried that that Young Master Lu would treat her the same way.

She sniffled aggrievedly, “I can agree to be Young Master Lu’s girlfriend.”

The bodyguard couldn’t understand what she was saying at all. “Our young lady has something to discuss with you. Please come with us.”

Ding Xiaoyou froze in confusion. Wasn’t it that Young Master Lu who sent people to get her?

She followed the black-clothed man doubtfully and unwillingly. It was only when she saw, sitting in the booth—bright-eyed and white-toothed, stunning even under flashing lights and in the noisy environment, beautiful to the point she couldn’t look away—that Ding Xiaoyou finally realized.

It was that pampered girl.

Ding Xiaoyou bit her lip. Looking down at her own wrinkled dress, her disheveled, miserable appearance, then looking at the other party—delicate, refined, surrounded by bodyguards, sitting high above—she felt a wave of sourness and resentment.

Was this the difference between the poor and a wealthy heiress?

She was toyed with by rich people, terrified and anxious, while this pampered girl could sit here comfortably, with so many people protecting her.

Meeting Su Ci’s gaze, she felt that the milk tea shop employee was looking at her with clear hostility?

Why?

Su Ci narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing her. “Why were you running in such a panic just now?”

Ding Xiaoyou bit her lip. Thinking of her humiliation earlier, she didn’t want to tell her at all, didn’t want to let her laugh at her.

Su Ci continued asking, “Did you see Ji Chi just now?”

Ding Xiaoyou froze.

Su Ci stared at her, her tone certain. “You saw him. Where is he?”

Ding Xiaoyou opened her mouth. She saw that there were several bodyguards beside the pampered girl—this person could send people to save Ji Chi.

But if the pampered girl rescued Ji Chi, she was sure Ji Chi would definitely be moved by her.

The next second, when she thought of how Ji Chi might still be getting beaten by Young Master Lu’s men, she couldn’t bear it anymore.

Ding Xiaoyou took a deep breath. Just as she was about to tell her where Ji Chi was, a tall bodyguard hurried over.

“Young lady, I asked the bar manager. Young Master Ji Chi just delivered wine to Private Room 108,” the bodyguard reported to Su Ci.

Beside them, Ding Xiaoyou couldn’t help speaking up, her voice tinged with sobs. “Ji Chi tried to save me. He’s being surrounded and beaten by a group of people right now. He’s in Private Room 108.”

Su Ci immediately stood up. Her gaze turned sharp as she looked coldly at Ding Xiaoyou. “Why didn’t you say it earlier!”

Ding Xiaoyou’s breath halted. Her voice dropped low, as if frightened by Su Ci. “I… I thought he might be able to escape.”

Su Ci shot her a fierce glare, then said to the bodyguards, “Lead the way.”

“Yes, young lady.”

Su Ci didn’t look at Ding Xiaoyou again and left directly.

Looking at the time on her phone—six minutes left—she hoped Ji Chi could hold on.

Inside the private room.

Several men were surrounding Ji Chi, punching and kicking him.

At the start, Ji Chi did not fight back. But when he realized these people were going for the kill, he began resisting, striking back.

But the other side had numbers, and Ji Chi was not good at fighting. One man directly grabbed a glass bottle and smashed it against his head.

Blood immediately flowed down from his forehead.

Ji Chi was forced down on one knee.

Five people beating one, and with a head injury, Ji Chi could hardly resist.

“Dare to threaten me? You’ve got guts, kid.” Lu Wudi hiccupped again. He looked mockingly at Ji Chi. “A little waiter, actually learning from others to play the hero saving the beauty? Don’t you see what your status is? Aren’t you being beaten like a dead dog right now?”

Lu Wudi opened a bottle of red wine, one foot stepping on the coffee table. He beckoned toward Ji Chi as if summoning a dog. “Come, crawl under my crotch, and I’ll let them spare you.”

Ji Chi’s lips had lost their color. He looked at him coldly, kneeling on one knee, his back straight, refusing to submit.

“Brother Lu told you to crawl over. Are you deaf?” A lackey beside him shoved Ji Chi, but Ji Chi did not move at all.

“Crawl over.”

“Brother Lu, he probably hasn’t been beaten enough.”

“Crawl like a dog.” One of them kicked Ji Chi’s straightened back.

Ji Chi’s brows tightened in pain. He let out a muffled grunt, but still did not move.

“Brother Lu, this kid’s bones are hard. Let us train him a bit more for you. Once he’s beaten soft, he’ll be obedient.” Someone snickered.

Lu Wudi looked down at Ji Chi from above. “Alright, continue beating. Beat him until he listens.”

Hearing Lu Wudi’s words, they started a new round of punches and kicks on Ji Chi.

Outside, Su Ci followed the bodyguards toward Private Room 108.

At this moment, her phone suddenly rang.

It was a call from Lu Zhe.

Su Ci hesitated.

“Young lady, 108 is just ahead,” a bodyguard reminded her.

Su Ci pressed her lips together and directly rejected Lu Zhe’s call.

She walked forward, her voice cold. “Open the door. If it won’t open, break it.”

“Yes, young lady.”

The bodyguard followed her instruction. He turned the handle of the private room door— it wasn’t locked.

He pushed the door open.

Standing at the door, Su Ci looked inside.

Ji Chi was on one knee, held down by someone pressing on his back. A man in a suit stood in front of him, raising a wine bottle high, about to smash it down onto Ji Chi.

Just as the bottle was about to fall, one of the bodyguards rushed forward and caught it in time.

“Who are you?” Lu Wudi looked in shock at the man who suddenly appeared. “Don’t meddle in my business.”

Su Ci’s gaze swept around the private room.

The air was thick and dirty. The coffee table was covered in wine bottles and glasses, a chaotic mess. From their clothes, it was clear these men were all rich second-generation brats.

Su Ci’s pleasant voice carried a layer of coldness. “However they hit Ji Chi, you hit them back the same way.”

Everyone stared in shock at the door, at the girl so beautiful she looked like a Yaojing, wondering if they were imagining things.

Ji Chi heard Su Ci’s voice and jerked his head up. Blood was flowing from his forehead, one side of his face swollen, blood staining the corner of his mouth.

He looked at the girl standing at the doorway. His split lips twitched, and the hardness in his brows softened. Ji Chi looked at her without blinking.

He never expected that the person who came to save him… would be Su Ci.

After being kicked several times, his chest was throbbing with pain, but the heart inside pounded even more fiercely.

Several bodyguards moved at the same time. They were professionally trained; they could beat those rich brats until they screamed in pain, but without leaving obvious injuries.

Ji Chi placed his hand on the ground and slowly stood up.

At some point, Ding Xiaoyou had slipped in from behind the door. “Ji Chi.”

She rushed forward and supported the staggering Ji Chi.

Ji Chi avoided her hand, his voice cold. “I’m fine.”

Ding Xiaoyou awkwardly withdrew her hand.

Seeing Ji Chi’s gaze fixed on Su Ci, she bit her lip. “When I ran out earlier, I ran into your friend. I told her you were in danger.”

Her implication was that Su Ci came to save Ji Chi because of her plea for help.

Ji Chi didn’t look at her even once. Holding his painful chest, he slowly walked toward Su Ci. His voice was low and hoarse as he looked at her. “Thank you.”

She had saved his life.

Su Ci’s gaze fell on the hand Ji Chi was pressing against his chest. She saw that the life value at his wrist had changed from the red thin line to a green grid.

Since Ji Chi had not died, his lifespan would exceed a hundred years.

Su Ci looked for an extra moment. “You’re injured. I’ll have someone take you to the hospital.”

Ji Chi couldn’t tell whether the pain in his chest came from being kicked or from his violently beating heart.

“Thank you.”

Ding Xiaoyou cast a resentful glance at Su Ci. She walked to Ji Chi’s side, saw the wound on his forehead, and with red eyes, reached out to touch it. “Ji Chi, you’re bleeding.”

“Don’t touch his wound with your hands. There are bacteria on your fingers; it will cause infection and inflammation.” Su Ci spoke coldly, stopping her movement.

Ding Xiaoyou bit her lip aggrievedly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. Ji Chi got hurt because he saved me. I was too worried about him.”

“Not only are you ignorant, you’re also stupid and selfish.”

Su Ci showed no mercy as she directly slapped down Ding Xiaoyou’s words. “You knew Ji Chi was beaten up because of you, so why didn’t you call for help? When I had someone stop you, you still stammered and tried to hide it. If my bodyguard didn’t find out where Ji Chi was, were you planning to let him give up his life for you?”

If she hadn’t saved Ji Chi, he would already have been beaten to death.

Not only because he tried to save this woman, but also because this woman was selfish and ran away out of fear.

If this woman had sought help in time, Ji Chi might not have been beaten to death.

Su Ci shot Ding Xiaoyou a look of disgust, then turned to Ji Chi. “You saved a white-eyed wolf.”

Ji Chi nodded. “Indeed.”

Hearing this, Ding Xiaoyou’s face turned pale, all color draining away, yet the base of her neck flushed scarlet from humiliation. “No, that’s not it, I was just too scared. Ji Chi, I also wanted to find someone to save you…”

Su Ci did not look at Ding Xiaoyou crying aggrievedly, disgusting and fake.

Without her intervention, this woman’s selfishness would have killed Ji Chi.

“Young lady, how should we handle these people?” The bodyguards had easily beaten the rich young men to the floor, all of them wailing in pain.

Su Ci looked at the group and said coldly, “Call the police. These people attempted murder.”

“Calling the police is useless. Do you know who I am?” Lu Wudi clutched his stomach, shouting through the pain.

Su Ci was speechless. Tonight, more than one man had asked her if she knew who they were. “No matter who you are, if you break the law, you must face legal consequences.”

“Pah, you think you can scare me with the law? Let me tell you, I’m from the Lu family.” Lu Wudi feared neither heaven nor earth.

Su Ci’s red lips curved. She picked up the wine cooler on the side trolley—inside was a bucket of ice used for chilling wine. Many ice cubes had melted, but more than half remained solid.

Su Ci lifted the bucket, walked over to Lu Wudi, and looked down at him. In her dark eyes was nothing but contempt and overwhelming arrogance.

Lu Wudi swallowed unconsciously. The girl before him was stunning.

But just as his mind began to wander, Su Ci raised the bucket and directly poured the ice cubes and icy water over Lu Wudi’s head and body.

“Ahhh! You crazy woman!” The ice crashed onto his head and slipped into his clothes, cold to the bone.

Lu Wudi, a complete mess, tried to get up but was firmly stepped down upon by the bodyguard.

Su Ci tossed the now-empty bucket onto him. “Awake now?”

Lu Wudi glared at Su Ci with hatred.

“I have no interest in knowing who you are. And from what I know, Uncle Lu has only one son. With your idiotic appearance, you still dream of being Lu Zhe’s brother?” From Su Ci’s beautiful small mouth came words sharp enough to stab straight into the heart. “Don’t use the Lu family to scare me. Uncle Lu won’t cause trouble for the Su family over an idiot like you.”

The Su family?

One second ago, Lu Wudi and the other rich youths had been glaring in fury. Now they all stared at Su Ci in disbelief. She was from the Su family?

After being beaten up, they were already fully sober. Hearing Su Ci’s words, it took them a moment to react—could this girl be the little princess of the Su family?

At that moment, the police had already arrived rapidly.

The ones who had been arrogant moments earlier immediately realized they had kicked a steel plate—Su family steel. How could they still dare to shout?

Lu Wudi being from the Lu family was useless. Everyone in City B knew the Su family did not fear the Lu family. Moreover, the Lu family would never cause trouble for the Su family’s little princess over a side-branch nephew like Lu Wudi.

Watching those self-important, condescending rich brats being taken away, Ding Xiaoyou felt shocked and secretly sour.

This pampered girl was actually the Su family’s daughter?

She had been terrified to death just moments ago, yet the people who bullied her were effortlessly subdued by the pampered girl, leaving them unable to fight back. Was this the sorrow of being poor?

Because she had no family background, she could only be pitifully bullied, while the pampered girl had good fortune, born into the Su family—not even the powerful could scare her, and others had to treat her with respect.

Ding Xiaoyou’s eyes reddened with sour envy. She bit her lip. Why was this world so unfair to the poor?

Having successfully rescued Ji Chi, Su Ci received a golden cotton candy. The heart she had been tightly holding finally settled.

“Let’s go. I’ll have someone take you to the hospital to get your wounds treated.” Su Ci said to Ji Chi.

Ji Chi nodded, not refusing. “Sorry to trouble you.”

Just as they stepped out of the bar’s main hall, Su Ci’s phone rang again.

It was still Lu Zhe calling.

The situation wasn’t right; the surroundings were noisy and chaotic, unsuitable for answering, and also difficult to explain.

Su Ci hardened her resolve and rejected the call again, planning to call Lu Zhe back after she returned home.

Inside the car.

Boss Fang looked at Lu Zhe, whose call had been rejected once more. “What’s this? Xiao Ci’s not answering your call?”

Lu Zhe set his phone down. He had just finished accompanying guests and had drunk a little, his eyes carrying a faint trace of drunkenness. “She’s probably busy with something.”

Boss Fang didn’t say much. “I could’ve taken that drink for you just now. Your alcohol tolerance is poor, no need for you to drink personally.”

Given Lu Zhe’s current status, even if he didn’t drink, the other party wouldn’t dare say anything.

“Uncle Fang, it’s fine. My alcohol tolerance is bad, but consider it practice.” There would be many occasions in the future where he needed to drink, and Lu Zhe wasn’t someone who liked avoiding things.

Boss Fang laughed. “Alright, I won’t persuade you anymore.”

Lu Zhe was young, yet he always had his own opinions.

Boss Fang loosened his tie. Even after wearing suits for so many years, he still wasn’t used to them—nothing was as comfortable as a shirt.

He let out a tired sigh and looked out the window, only to see a girl walking out of the brightly lit bar entrance.

Boss Fang thought he was seeing things and rubbed his eyes hard.

He nudged Lu Zhe with his elbow and exclaimed, shocked, “Xiao Zhe, isn’t that… Xiao Ci?”

Lu Zhe followed Boss Fang’s line of sight. Not far away, at the bar entrance, stood a girl. That delicate, stunning face—who else could it be but Su Ci?

“Stop the car.”

Lu Zhe’s voice was low.

The car pulled over to the side.

Boss Fang looked at Lu Zhe, then at Su Ci in the distance, and noticed… that boy was there too?

Oh no. Could his earlier worries really be coming true? If Su Ci had really fallen for someone else, what would happen to Lu Zhe?

Watching Lu Zhe get out of the car and close the door, Boss Fang sighed.

Young people’s romance was truly exhausting.

Su Ci instructed the bodyguards to take Ji Chi to the hospital for a full check-up, to bandage his wounds, and to obtain an injury report.

Ji Chi slowly walked toward Su Ci. It was the first time he had stood this close to her, and he felt as though the intense pounding of his heart made his chest hurt even more.

He lowered his eyes to look at her, and once again sincerely thanked her. “Thank you for saving my life.”

He owed her his life.

Not far away, Ding Xiaoyou clenched her hands tightly, her heart sour to the point of agony.

Was Ji Chi angry at her?

But he should understand—people like them, poor and powerless, could never fight against those rich young masters. She was weak and couldn’t beat them. The only thing she could do was escape, preserve herself, and not let his effort be wasted.

If she had the pampered girl’s background and family, she would have saved Ji Chi too, instead of running away in a panic.

Su Ci had received the golden cotton candy, and her mood had improved. She said to Ji Chi, “Your mother and my mother are good friends. I wouldn’t just watch and ignore you.”

Ji Chi’s injured lips pressed together slightly, his voice grateful. “No matter what, you were the one who saved me.”

Su Ci smiled. “Alright, go to the hospital first.”

If she really thought about it, he was just her tool to earn golden cotton candy.

Ji Chi could only respond quietly.

The two were preparing to get into the car, and as they turned around, they instantly saw a tall boy in a white shirt.

His dark eyes were fixed on them.