Chapter 4

Su Ningxi lay sprawled unceremoniously across the back seat.It had all happened so suddenly that Zhang Jian, the driver sitting up front, was left completely dumbfounded. What was going on here?

He looked back at the man still standing outside the car, who hadn't made it in yet. Huo Yuchen's handsome face was clouded with darkness, his eyes icy cold.

Zhang Jian panicked, as if the apocalypse was upon them.

He hurriedly got out and opened the door, saying to Su Ningxi, "Miss, you've gotten into the wrong car."

Right then, all Su Ningxi wanted was to take a nap, blocking out all external noise.

Seeing her lying there motionless, Zhang Jian called out several more times, "Miss, miss..."

"So annoying. Don't disturb my sleep," Su Ningxi said impatiently, tossing slightly to find a more comfortable position before continuing her slumber.

This left Zhang Jian at a bit of a loss. Just as he was wondering what to do, Huo Yuchen's cold, merciless voice rang out.

"Throw her out."

Zhang Jian was conflicted. The woman was clearly drunk out of her mind and had gotten into the wrong car.

If he really threw her out, what if she ran into bad people?

"Young Master Huo, that wouldn't be right..." But before he could even finish speaking, the man's voice rang out again, this time tinged with impatience in addition to its icy chill. "Are you teaching me how to conduct my affairs?"

Zhang Jian instantly felt a cold shiver run down his spine. Not daring to hesitate any longer, he grabbed Su Ningxi's arm and started dragging her out, silently telling himself: I'm sorry, I have no choice, just blame your bad luck for getting into the wrong car.

"What are you doing? Groping and grabbing me in broad daylight - I could accuse you of sexual assault!" Su Ningxi said impatiently.

"Miss, you've gotten into the wrong car," the driver kindly reminded her.

Having been dragged out by Zhang Jian, Su Ningxi could barely stand steadily. Swaying on her feet, she said, "I'm calling the cops on you, just you wait."

She tried to take out her phone from her bag, but her blurred vision made it impossible to locate it even after groping around for a while. All the while, she kept muttering, "Where's my phone? Where did it go?"

With a black look on his face, Huo Yuchen walked around her and headed for the car.

"Stop right there," Su Ningxi said without thinking. She got up and ran over to block Huo Yuchen's path.

"Did you steal my phone?"

Admirable self-restraint kept Huo Yuchen's urge to hit her firmly in check. He uttered a simple cold word: "Scram."

Despite the danger in Huo Yuchen's tone, Su Ningxi didn't react - she was completely captivated by his face. "What a good-looking face. I like it. Are you single? Let me be your sponsor!"

Looking at this drunk, pockmarked woman saying she wanted to sponsor him, Huo Yuchen was filled with murderous intent. He, Huo Yuchen, the king of the capital, needing a woman's sponsorship? It was a tremendous insult.

Then he heard Su Ningxi continue, "I have money, lots and lots of money. Follow me and I guarantee you'll never have to worry about food and shelter again."

"Scram," the man said again, his voice like a monster from the depths of hell, full of menace. Even drunk as she was, Su Ningxi's heart quailed instinctively.

But she was Su Ningxi, who feared nothing. Emboldened by drink, she was even more fearless than usual.

"Oh? Quite the temper. I like men with a bit of an edge - gives them a masculine air," she said arrogantly.

Stormy rage brewed in Huo Yuchen's deep eyes. Letting out a chilling sound, he said, "You're lucky I don't hit women."

"What? You want to hit me? What kind of man are you, hitting women?" Su Ningxi's voice suddenly grew louder.

Naturally, the people around them heard her words. Those who had been attracted by Huo Yuchen's good looks instantly lost their good impression of him.

"Can't believe someone so good-looking would be a scumbag who hits women."

"Right, you really can't judge a book by its cover."

"A gilded exterior hiding rot within."

...

Huo Yuchen heard it all, of course. His face was beyond black at this point.

Seeing the situation deteriorating, Zhang Jian quickly moved to pull Su Ningxi away.

Struggling, Su Ningxi simply threw her arms around Huo Yuchen's waist, all the while muttering nonstop, "You can't escape... sooner or later... I'll make you mine... bleargh!"

Right on cue, she threw up all over Huo Yuchen.

Petrified on the spot, Huo Yuchen felt all his hair stand on end. He already had a mild case of mysophobia. Looking at the filth covering his body now, he didn't even dare to move.

By this point, his patience had reached its limit. His clenched fists creaked from the strain as he looked at the reckless woman before him. He had the sudden urge to strangle her to death.

Seeing the situation unfold, Zhang Jian's forehead was beaded with sweat. Where had this audacious young lady popped out from? He had to make sure he didn't get dragged down with her.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and get her off me," Huo Yuchen said coldly to Zhang Jian.

Coming to his senses, Zhang Jian no longer cared about being chivalrous. Saving his own skin came first.

He grabbed Su Ningxi and yanked her to the side without giving her a chance to struggle.

Already woozy, Su Ningxi felt even more nauseated from Zhang Jian's pull. A painful twisting in her stomach told her she was about to retch again.

Huo Yuchen threw her a look of disgust before withdrawing his gaze.

Furrowing his brows, he took off his soiled coat and flung it at Zhang Jian, along with the merciless announcement: "No bonus for you this quarter."

Zhang Jian felt his heart crumble. What had he done to deserve this? Just like that, his bonus was gone.

When Shen Zhilan found Su Ningxi, she was already passed out on the ground.

The next time she awoke, it was already noon the next day.

She was roused by her ringing phone. Still groggy, she fumbled for her phone and picked up without even checking the caller ID. "Hello?"

A kindly masculine voice came through. "I heard you came to the capital."

Su Ningxi jolted fully awake and sat bolt upright in bed. She checked the contact displayed on her phone - it was her maternal grandfather, Sheng Aotian.

Her heart fluttered nervously and she swallowed hard. Oh no, how did Grandfather find out she had come to the capital? Did her parents know too?

What should she do? What now?

"Speak up."

Ahaha... Su Ningxi let out an awkward laugh. "Morning, Grandfather!"

"It's not early anymore. It's already noon."

Su Ningxi didn't actually know it was noon already.

She coughed awkwardly a couple times.

Carefully, she asked, "Grandfather, how did you know I came to the capital?"

"Come over for dinner tonight."

He didn't answer her question at all, his commanding tone leaving no room for refusal.

"Yes, Grandfather."

After ending the call, Su Ningxi rubbed her still-aching head in vexation.

"You're awake," said Shen Zhilan, entering the room.

Su Ningxi looked at her blankly. "What are you doing here?"

"This is my home. What do you mean, what am I doing here?" Shen Zhilan rolled her eyes at her.

"Your home? How did I end up at your place?" Su Ningxi asked in surprise.

"You tell me," Shen Zhilan said unpleasantly. The events of last night were a permanent stain on her life. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the ɴ0velFɪre.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Seeing Shen Zhilan's odd reaction, Su Ningxi tried to think back on what had happened yesterday to offend her. But her memories were fuzzy.

"I vaguely remember being sexually harassed and trying to call the cops..."