The man's imposing voice inexplicably made Song Xi feel a sense of security.
Her limbs went numb, and she nearly lost her balance.
Lou Yuming stepped forward, becoming her firm and powerful support.
The warmth and aura emanating from him enveloped her tightly.
At that moment, a rift seemed to tear open in Song Xi's chest, a touching sensation that brought tears to her eyes.
Lou Yuming's professional bodyguards had beaten Song Lei and his gang until they were bruised and battered, utterly routed.
They were just a bunch of ruffians, bullies who preyed on the weak. Seeing they couldn't win, they grabbed Qian Xiaoyu and fled.
Before running, Song Lei shot Song Xi a venomous glare, indicating that this matter was far from over.
Blood still dripped from Song Xi's hand onto Lou Yuming's custom-made leather shoes, yet he didn't even flinch. He merely looked down at the woman in his arms.
She was trembling.
A flicker of heartache crossed Lou Yuming's eyes. As he raised his hand, she suddenly stepped forward, creating distance between them.
"...Thank you."
She tried desperately to control her emotions, but the obvious tremor in her voice betrayed her grievance and helplessness.
Lou Yuming suppressed the emotions in his eyes and put his hands in his pockets. "Do you need any help?"
"No."
While grateful, Song Xi also felt deeply humiliated!
She didn't know how to face him, so she squatted down, pretending to be busy.
In reality, there was nothing left to tidy. Clothes, bedding, furniture – it had all been destroyed.
Even Yangyang's favorite toy had been stomped on!
Why! Why was fate treating her like this!
Her nose tingled, and large tears began to fall uncontrollably, plop by plop.
Clutching the dinosaur in her arms, Song Xi tried to hold back her sobs, preventing herself from making any noise.
She didn't want to be a spectacle.
Just then, a force pulled her limp body up.
Song Xi's vision was blurry, and she lacked the strength to resist, allowing the person to lead her forward.
As a man and a woman exited the residential complex, the video feed suddenly froze.
Zhang Qi cursed and hung up the video call. He grabbed his car keys and rushed out of the house.
Yi Xiaoling never imagined that the one coming to her rescue would be Zhang Qi's uncle, Lou Yuming!
Zhang Qi and Song Xi had already broken up. Even if he was looking out for a junior, he wouldn't go this far. Could it be... there was something going on between them?
...
Meanwhile, inside the Porsche.
Zhang Qi, for some unknown reason, was making one phone call after another.
Lou Yuming didn't answer. Annoyed by the constant interruptions, he eventually turned off his phone.
The car was quiet. Song Xi had stopped crying, but her eyes were red and swollen.
When she cried intensely, the tip of her nose and her cheeks turned rosy, as if she had applied blush.
Lou Yuming found it peculiar and reached out to touch it.
Song Xi snapped back to attention at his touch, and in a hoarse voice, asked, "What are you doing?"
Lou Yuming's expression was placid. "It's dirty."
"Oh, thank you."
Two minutes later, Yao Yifan returned with bandages and antiseptic.
Lou Yuming was about to take them when Song Xi beat him to it. "Thank you."
Lou Yuming: "..."
She was certainly resilient, but she overestimated her ability to manage with one hand.
Lou Yuming watched anxiously, wanting her to ask for his help. Finally, when the antiseptic was splattered everywhere, he couldn't stand it any longer and stopped her. "That's enough. If this continues, the wound will heal before we're done."
Since when had he learned to joke?
Song Xi glanced at him.
Lou Yuming removed the loosely tied bandage and, frowning at the gruesome wound, asked, "You really don't need to go to the hospital?"
"No."
Blood was still oozing from the wound. Lou Yuming wiped it with a tissue and then began to disinfect it slowly.
He wasn't accustomed to such meticulous work, yet he managed it with surprising competence, even blowing on it midway, as if coaxing a child.
Yao Yifan looked as if he had seen a ghost, not daring to turn his head.
Song Xi, however, watched him, lost in thought. Her eyes suddenly welled up, and the tears she had managed to hold back seemed poised to cascade anew.
"When you're being bullied, doesn't your boyfriend come to help?" he asked abruptly, his tone somewhat casual.
Song Xi choked back a sob. "Where would I get a boyfriend?"
Lou Yuming's movements paused, and his voice softened. "Really, no?"
"No!"
"Alright, alright."
A faint smile touched his lips, as if he were comforting her.
"Done."
Seeing the lopsided bow, Song Xi couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Lou Yuming asked with mock seriousness, "Is there a problem?"
Song Xi shook her head, her eyes and brows radiating with a smile.
"Today... thank you."
Lou Yuming remained silent.
Song Xi licked her dry lips, a hint of curiosity in her voice. "Why did you help me?"
He uttered two simple words, his tone indifferent: "It was convenient."
He, a dignified CEO, busy with countless affairs, had never habitually carried bodyguards in the past. How could it have been convenient? Besides, he wasn't exactly a soft-hearted person.
Could it be... he had come specifically to save her?
A certain spot in her heart felt as if it had caved in.
Song Xi nervously twisted her fingers, feeling her blood begin to boil. She glanced at Lou Yuming and impulsively blurted out, "I heard you're getting married. Congratulations!"