Han Shen exhaled smoke, his gaze towards the nightclub exceptionally cold.
He touched the marks still visible on his neck, his eyes growing even colder, and his heart filled with despair.
After following Cui Hong for so long, he had helped him resolve many issues and had made significant contributions.
But what had he gained in return?
He received only abuse and dissatisfaction from Cui Hong, and now he had been publicly pressed to the ground by Cui Hong, nearly choked to death.
Even an ordinary person would feel resentful, let alone someone as skilled as him?
"Working with a madman is impossible."
Han Shen finished his cigarette, threw the butt on the ground, and quickly left.
At Zhao Family Village, Wang Chao carried Lan Ruyu out of the car.
As he was about to head towards Pei Donghu's villa, Lan Ruyu suddenly woke up.
She let out a scream and quickly jumped out of Wang Chao's arms, her eyes filled with fear as she looked around. "Where is this? Why did you bring me here?"
Wang Chao looked at her and explained, "Miss Lan, please calm down. This is Zhao Family Village, a very safe place."
"Pei Donghu also lives here. I will take you to see him now."
But as soon as that name was mentioned, Lan Ruyu immediately screamed in horror, "No, I can't leave the nightclub without Yang Ao's orders, or Pei Donghu will die."
"I want to go back to the nightclub. I must go back."
She seemed possessed, immediately rushing towards the outskirts of Zhao Family Village as if she were insane.
Wang Chao blocked her path and said in a deep voice, "You don't need to be afraid. Yang Ao can no longer influence you. Pei Donghu is really here."
When he had left earlier, he had left his true energy on Yang Ao. As soon as the time was up, Yang Ao was undoubtedly dead.
This person had been so ruthless towards his two brothers, so he naturally wouldn't spare Yang Ao's life.
"No, you're lying. Yang Ao can't possibly die. I want to go back, I beg you, please let me go back."
Lan Ruyu's eyes were filled with fear and urgency. She knelt before Wang Chao with a trembling voice, pleading, "Wang Chao, even though I don't know who you are, please, I beg you, please let me go."
"If I leave the nightclub, Yang Ao will send someone to kill Pei Donghu."
"Brother, I beg you."
After saying that, she even kowtowed to Wang Chao, impossible to stop.
"Ruyu?"
As Lan Ruyu was pleading in agony, suddenly a voice reached her ears.
Lan Ruyu heard that haunting voice and stood frozen in place, as if struck by lightning.
After a moment, she trembled and turned her head to look towards the source of the voice.
Under the streetlight, Song Henian approached, pushing a wheelchair.
Pei Donghu sat in the wheelchair, looking at Lan Ruyu with joy on his face. "Ruyu, is it really you?"
"Brother Nian, please, push me over quickly."
"Pei, Pei Donghu?"
Lan Ruyu saw Pei Donghu, her pupils dilated, and tears streamed down her face as she murmured, "This is wonderful, he's alive. Hahaha, he's alive, it's truly wonderful."
She laughed and cried, appearing crazed.
Wang Chao crouched down, helping Lan Ruyu up from the ground, and said, "I told you, he's alive. Yang Ao can no longer harm you."
"Now, you can go and embrace Donghu."
As soon as he spoke, Lan Ruyu seemed to remember something and murmured, "No, I can't see him now. I can't see him yet."
After saying that, she stood up and rushed outside as if she had gone mad.
"Ruyu!!!"
Pei Donghu panicked on the spot and anxiously said, "Brother Nian, please, push me over quickly."
"I'm already pushing as fast as I can!"
"Do it even faster!"
"Do it faster, do you want me to lose my legs?"
"But she's about to leave, I must meet her. Brother Nian, please, hurry."
Before Song Henian could rush over, Wang Chao had already blocked Lan Ruyu's path. "Miss Lan, Pei Donghu really cares about you. Just meet each other once."
"No, I'm in this state, covered in injuries. How can I face him looking like this?" Lan Ruyu sobbed, her eyes filled with fear and guilt.
Over the years, she had dreamt of the day when she would meet Pei Donghu.
It was this beautiful aspiration that kept her going day after day, allowing her to look up to heaven in the midst of hell.
But now, the moment of their meeting had arrived.
Yet she felt that despite still having her looks, her body was covered in wounds, dressed so scantily, heavily made up. She believed that meeting Pei Donghu in such a state would only embarrass him.
"You don't have to feel guilty, actually. Donghu's situation isn't much better than yours. His legs were broken and he can't walk now. He's still undergoing treatment. It's already his honor that you don't mind him," Wang Chao said.
Lan Ruyu trembled at his words. "What... what are you saying?"
She turned around and looked closely.
Sure enough, Pei Donghu sat in the wheelchair, his legs looking unnatural.
Watching Pei Donghu rush towards them with excitement on his face, Wang Chao sighed and said, "All these years, Yang Ao has been tormenting Pei Donghu. He never allowed him to eat enough, leaving him malnourished. And he broke his legs, turning him into a cripple."
"If I hadn't come back in time, his legs would have been lost."
"Like you, he has never forgotten about you all these years."
"Now is the time for you to meet each other. I hope you won't despise him."
While he was speaking, Song Henian had already pushed Pei Donghu in front of Lan Ruyu.
They were moving too fast, unable to stop in time.
If it weren't for Wang Chao stepping in to stop them, Lan Ruyu would have been knocked away.
"Ruyu!"
As Pei Donghu approached, he immediately released the wheelchair's safety belt and rushed towards her.
His legs hadn't fully healed yet, making it impossible for him to walk. The wheelchair nearly tipped over, but he disregarded it and embraced Lan Ruyu tightly, tears streaming down his face. "This is wonderful, Ruyu, being able to see you. It's truly wonderful."
"Wuwuwu~~~"
Pei Donghu trembled with excitement, refusing to let go of Lan Ruyu.
"Donghu~" Lan Ruyu was embraced, her body trembling, and then she realized the situation and tightly held onto Pei Donghu.
After being separated for so long, they reunited, tears streaming down their faces, unwilling to release each other from their embrace.
Song Henian panted heavily, watching the two embracing on the ground, then looking at Wang Chao with a puzzled expression. "How did you bring her back?"
As far as he knew, that cabaret was Yang Ao's territory, and it was almost impossible to take Lan Ruyu out from there.
He had only told Wang Chao to go and see Lan Ruyu, not expecting that Wang Chao would act so quickly and bring her back directly.
"I knew the address, so I brought her back," Wang Chao said casually.
"Are you sure she..." Song Henian frowned.
Wang Chao pulled Song Henian to the side and whispered, "She's also a pitiful person. They're truly a couple of unfortunate lovers."
Then he detailed Lan Ruyu's experiences over the years to Song Henian.
"Is it true?" Song Henian's eyes widened in astonishment, finding it somewhat unbelievable.
"It's true. You can tell from the burn scars on her arms," Wang Chao said.
Song Henian looked over and indeed saw many cigarette burn scars on Lan Ruyu's hands. He was stunned and remained speechless for a long time.
He never imagined that Lan Ruyu endured such suffering to protect Pei Donghu.
He had misunderstood Lan Ruyu, thinking she was a promiscuous woman, and recalling the words he had said, he felt a wave of guilt.
Wang Chao patted Song Henian's shoulder and said solemnly, "Tell them that after tomorrow, I will find a way to help Miss Lan get rid of the scars."
"Don't you stay a little longer?" Song Henian was puzzled.
Wang Chao's face turned serious, and he uttered in a deep voice, "No, for some reason, I have a feeling that something bad might happen today. That's why I must go back home."