Long Shan paced his lavish living room, his jaw tight and fists clenched. His cold, calculating eyes darted to the silent phone on the table. He had called Meilian—Xiao Yu—multiple times. No answer. Her silence echoed louder than a scream. His thoughts raced.
Then it hit him—Lu Yiren. The bastard's smug face and cryptic warning from days ago clawed its way back to the forefront of Shan's mind.
"Damn it," he hissed, grabbing his coat and gun, already shouting commands to his men before the door slammed behind him.
---
Meanwhile, in a cold, dimly lit bedroom within Lu Yiren's secluded mansion, Xiao Yu sat tied to the bedpost. Her wrists throbbed from the coarse ropes that bound them. Her face was pale, yet her eyes burned with a fire of defiance.
Lu Yiren stood before her with a towel slung low around his waist, water dripping down the inked dragon tattoo curling along his hip bone. He was a vision of menace and confidence.
"What are you doing? Let me go!" Xiao Yu barked, her voice trembling with fear but laced with fury.
Lu Yiren smiled, stepping closer. "Relax, I'm not going to hurt you… unless you make me," he said silkily.
"Then why tie me like an animal?!" she demanded.
"To stop you from running," he replied with a shrug, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"You're a monster!" she spat.
He laughed. "If that makes me a monster, what does that make Long Shan?" he asked mockingly, eyes gleaming.
Xiao Yu's gaze sharpened. "He might be cold and possessive, but he would never force himself on a woman! Never."
Lu Yiren's expression twisted, something dangerous flickering in his eyes. "You really think you know him? You don't know how much blood stains that man's hands."
He moved forward, reaching for her face, but she turned her head away with disgust. "Stay away from me!" she yelled.
Lu Yiren smirked and walked away. "Fine. I'll give you a few minutes to adjust. Let me take a cold shower. Then we'll finish what we started—wife."
Xiao Yu watched him disappear into the bathroom and immediately began struggling. Her wrists were sore, but she fought like her life depended on it—because it did. Tears slipped silently down her cheek as she prayed for a miracle.
Just then, a loud bang! echoed through the mansion. A gunshot. Her heart stopped.
Lu Yiren froze in the bathroom. "What the hell…?" he muttered, grabbing a pistol from under the sink and storming out.
Outside the bedroom, one of Lu Yiren's men burst through the hallway. "Boss! Trouble! Long Shan and his men—they're here!"
"What?! How did that bastard get past the gates?" Lu Yiren's voice rose in panic.
"He's in the living room already," the guard answered with trembling lips.
Lu Yiren struck him across the face, enraged. "You fool! You're all useless!"
With no time to lose, he yanked open his closet and dressed hastily, shoving a gun into his waistband. His jaw clenched as he stormed toward the fray.
---
Downstairs, Long Shan stood in the center of the grand hall, surrounded by his elite men. Each of them was armed, their weapons aimed directly at Lu Yiren's confused and scrambling guards.
Xiao Yu's family huddled together in a corner, Ai's lips trembling as she clutched Hong Yue's hand.
"You," Shan growled, his eyes narrowing at the older woman. "I should've known this all leads back to you."
Hong Yue averted her gaze, shame creasing her features. "Yes... I sold her to you."
"What?!" Ai gasped, stepping back. "Sister… how could you?"
Before Hong Yue could answer, Lu Yiren's angry voice boomed from the top of the stairs. "What the hell are you doing in my house?!"
Long Shan's eyes snapped upward, and in two strides, he reached Lu Yiren, grabbing his shirt collar and yanking him down two steps. The two men locked eyes, the tension between them thick and explosive.
"Where is she?" Shan demanded, voice low and dangerous.
Lu Yiren smirked. "You mean your ex-property? She's my wife now."
"You'll wish she wasn't," Shan hissed, shoving him backward.
Instantly, guns were drawn from both sides. For a moment, it seemed the room would erupt in bloodshed. But then—
"Let me out!" Xiao Yu's muffled scream echoed from upstairs.
Long Shan didn't hesitate. He shoved Lu Yiren aside and bolted toward the voice. Lu Yiren tried to block his path, but Shan delivered a crushing elbow to his ribs, sending him tumbling.
Shan kicked open the locked bedroom door and found Xiao Yu trembling, trying to open the window with her bound hands. "Shan!" she gasped.
"Meilian," he breathed, rushing to her and untangling the ropes. She flung herself into his arms. "You came," she whispered, tears streaking her cheeks.
"I'll always come," he said gruffly, holding her close.
Just then, Lu Yiren appeared in the doorway, blood trailing from his lip and fury in his eyes. He raised a gun.
"Step away from my wife!" he snarled.
Shan didn't even flinch. "Try it," he said coldly.
Behind Lu Yiren, Shan's men had already entered, pointing their weapons at the would-be groom. Outnumbered, Lu Yiren lowered his gun with a growl.
"You'll regret this, Long Shan," he warned.
"No," Shan replied. "You will."
He took Xiao Yu's hand and led her past her shocked and speechless family. Lu Yiren stood frozen, powerless for the first time in years.
---
Back at Long Shan's mansion, the air was heavy with silence. Xiao Yu sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor. Her face was pale, eyes red-rimmed from crying.
Long Shan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching her.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly.
"No," she whispered. "I'm not okay. My own family… they've used me like currency. Why do they hate me so much? Why am I always sold, always betrayed?"
"Xiao Yu…" Shan started.
"I mean, is my family cursed with only old men?" she snapped bitterly. "First you, then Lu Yiren—can't they at least pick someone my age?!"
Long Shan's brow rose. "Are you calling me old?"
She glanced at him sideways. "Maybe a little."
He stepped forward. "The least you can do is thank me."
She stood. "You came late. What if I had five seconds to call for help? I'd be dead by now."
"I'm not in the mood for your drama," he said with a tired sigh.
"Well, I'm not in the mood for your half-hearted rescue!" she snapped.
"Meilian," he warned.
"What if Lifen was in my position—"
He silenced her with a sudden, possessive kiss. Her words died in her throat. Her eyes fluttered wide as he pulled away, breathless.
Before she could respond, a loud thud drew their attention. They turned—only to see Jiang Lifen standing at the doorway, her mouth agape, her bag dropped to the floor.
Xiao Yu's lips parted, her eyes wide.
Jiang Lifen's face twisted with shock—and fury.
"Shan?" she whispered.
And the storm was just beginning.