"I never hit women — but you're an exception."
Ye Qiu's words were simple, direct, and overwhelmingly domineering.
Lin Jingzhi looked up at him in surprise and asked, "Do you have any idea who she is?"
"It doesn't matter who she is. No one gets to bully you in front of me."
At those words, something deep inside Lin Jingzhi stirred.
All these years, she had borne everything alone. To the outside world, she was an iron lady. But people forgot that she was still a woman — one who deserved to be protected.
She never imagined the man standing up for her would be Ye Qiu.
Lin Jingzhi said, "The woman you just slapped is the older sister of my dead fiancé. She's from a powerful family in the capital. With a single word, she could make you disappear without a trace."
"So what?" Ye Qiu's face showed not a shred of fear. "Like you said, Sister Lin — the barefooted fear nothing. If she really wants me dead, I'll fight her to the end."
Lin Jingzhi was stunned.
She didn't know what Ye Qiu had been through, but she could clearly sense that he had changed.
At first, he had struck her as a timid newcomer, weak and inexperienced. Now, he stood before her like a real man, tall and unyielding.
Lin Jingzhi sighed. "It's not worth offending her for someone like me, a stranger to you."
"Sister, that's wrong, and I have to correct you." Ye Qiu looked straight at her, his tone deadly serious. "You're not a stranger. You're my sister."
In an instant, warmth flooded Lin Jingzhi's heart.
She hadn't heard words this kind in years. Even her own family had cut her off after what happened, treating her like a stranger.
All these years struggling alone in Jiangzhou, the pain and exhaustion she endured were known only to herself.
"Ye Qiu… thank you." Tears glistened in her eyes.
Ye Qiu smiled gently. "No need to be so polite with me."
Just then, the woman Ye Qiu had sent flying stormed back in, pointing at him furiously and screaming:
"Do you have any idea who I am?! How dare you hit me?! You want to die?!"
"I'm warning you — this is an intensive care unit. No shouting, no disturbance. Or you'll regret it."
As Ye Qiu spoke, a cold, murderous aura radiated from him.
In an instant, the temperature in the ward seemed to plummet to freezing. The woman felt as if she had stepped into an ice cellar.
"You… you…"
Terrified by his imposing presence, she stepped back involuntarily.
"Qian Yanru, stop making a fool of yourself here," Lin Jingzhi said calmly.
The woman suddenly realized something and laughed bitterly in rage.
"No wonder a tiny doctor dares to lay hands on me — you're backing him, aren't you?!"
"Lin Jingzhi, you're actually hooking up with a nobody like him. You're shameless!"
Lin Jingzhi was clearly used to her sharp tongue. She showed no anger at all, replying lightly:
"Honestly? If I'm shameless, then you're downright repulsive."
"You —!"
Lin Jingzhi went on: "Qian Yanru, I suggest you go get treated for whatever's wrong with you. Don't come looking for me. I'm not a vet."
Ye Qiu couldn't help but snort. It was the first time he'd seen Lin Jingzhi talk back, and it was…
brilliant.
The woman trembled with anger. "Lin Jingzhi! How dare you insult me!"
"Insult you? I'm just telling the truth." Lin Jingzhi looked innocently at her. "The Qian family is supposed to be a noble clan in the capital. How did they end up with a daughter like you? For Qian Dong's sake, I'll warn you — don't throw away everything your parents gave you, especially your dignity."
"You… you! I'll kill you!"
The woman lunged at Lin Jingzhi like a feral cat.
But before she could reach the bed, Ye Qiu clamped a hand around her throat.
She immediately began gasping for air.
"W-What are you… doing?" she stared at Ye Qiu in terror.
Ye Qiu turned to Lin Jingzhi and asked, "Sister Lin — kill her, or bury her alive?"
Lin Jingzhi understood his meaning at once. She said thoughtfully:
"Killing her straightaway would be no fun. Burying her alive is too much trouble. Let's see… dump her in the river? Or maybe a slow, torturous death? What do you think?"
"Either works for me," Ye Qiu replied.
The woman nearly passed out from fear. If anyone else had said this, she would have laughed it off. But not Lin Jingzhi. She had poisoned her own fiancé — what wouldn't she do?
"You can't kill me! You can't! My family knows I came to Jiangzhou to see you. If I die, they'll never stop hunting you!" She suddenly screamed at the top of her lungs: "Murder! Help! Someone help me!"
"Shut up!"
Lin Jingzhi snapped sharply.
The woman clamped her mouth shut at once. All her earlier arrogance had vanished without a trace.
"Qian Yanru, I'm not going to kill you today.
But understand this — it's not because I'm afraid of you, or of the Qian family. I just don't want to dirty my hands.
If you ever come looking for trouble again, I won't show mercy."
"Ye Qiu, let her go."
Ye Qiu released his grip and shouted coldly: "Get out!"
Qian Yanru fled the ward as if running for her life.
When they were alone, Lin Jingzhi looked at Ye Qiu gratefully. "Ye Qiu, thank you."
"Sister Lin, why are you being so formal?" Ye Qiu walked over to her, staring at the bright red handprint on her cheek. He asked softly, "Does it hurt?"
"What? Are you worried about me?" Lin Jingzhi's enchanting eyes locked onto his.
Ye Qiu felt flustered and looked away, unable to meet her gaze.
"Look at me." Her voice left no room for refusal.
Ye Qiu quickly lifted his head.
Lin Jingzhi smiled faintly. "Am I pretty?"
Ye Qiu coughed awkwardly. "Sister Lin… let me treat that mark on your face, okay?"
"Alright." She agreed happily.
Ye Qiu let out a quiet sigh of relief and quickly began tending to her cheek.
Lin Jingzhi tilted her head slightly, presenting her left cheek to him to make it easier.
At the same time, she quietly made an "OK" gesture toward the window with her right hand — so subtly that Ye Qiu didn't notice at all.
Two hundred meters from the inpatient building stood a tall hotel.
On its rooftop, a cold woman in black leather jacket and pants saw the gesture. She lowered the sniper rifle mounted on the edge and vanished into the night.