C1 He Saved Someone

In the depths of a late autumn night, the world seemed to have fallen silent after a chilling rain.

Qiao An set her guide staff aside and fished out her keys to unlock the door. The click of the lock echoed distinctly in the stillness of the night.

Suddenly, the scent of blood invaded her senses, followed by the cold touch of a sharp dagger against her throat.

"Don't move!" came a man's low, hoarse voice.

Qiao An's body tensed as her mind raced. Was this a robbery, an assault, or had she stumbled upon a terrifying serial killer?

"I'm injured. I need to use your place to dress my wounds." Sensing her hesitation, the man spoke firmly, pressing the dagger closer. "Quickly!"

With no choice but to comply, Qiao An entered her home, the musical instrument store, which was a three-story building. The ground floor housed the store, the second floor contained living quarters, and the attic served as a training room and parlor.

"The first-aid kit is upstairs. I'll go get it..."

"We'll go together," the man insisted, his dagger still at her neck.

A fine sheen of sweat coated Qiao An's back as she said, "Sir, the nearest police station is just a ten-minute walk from here..."

Worried her words might provoke him, she quickly added, "If you've been attacked, perhaps you should report it to the police..."

The man clearly grasped her implication and responded gravely, "Rest assured, I'm not after your money or anything else, and I don't intend to take a life."

Despite her unrelenting caution, Qiao An had no choice but to obey the man with the dagger. She led him to the second-floor bedroom, retrieved the first-aid kit, and handed it to him.

Finally, the man withdrew the dagger from her neck but issued a stern reminder, "Take out your phone and place it on the coffee table. Sit on the sofa!"

Qiao An complied, setting her phone down as instructed before cautiously seating herself on the sofa, keeping a slight distance from the man.

She listened to the sounds of him shedding his coat, followed by the ripping of gauze and the application of disinfectant. The pungent odor of blood suggested his wounds were severe, yet he uttered not a single sound throughout the ordeal.

Qiao An's grip on her guide staff tightened even more.

The nervousness probably made her feel parched. Groping around on the coffee table, Qiao An found a cup, filled it with water, and gulped it down.

Soon, the scent of blood in the room was gone, replaced by the delicate fragrance of peonies.

If Qiao An could see, she would realize that the man was struggling to control his emotions. His face was flushed, his fists clenched tight – it was more than just the pain of an injury.

Suddenly, a ding sounded. A message had come through on Qiao An's phone, which lay on the coffee table. She instinctively reached for it, but the man beat her to it.

He glanced at the screen and said, "Someone named Qiao Xue sent a voice message."

Without another word, he hit play. The speaker emitted a series of moans from a woman, unmistakably the sounds of an unspeakable activity.

Qiao An tensed up again. What was Qiao Xue thinking, sending her this out of the blue?

Then a man's muffled voice followed: "Baby, I love you. Are you enjoying how hubby does it?"

That voice brought Qiao An's movements to a halt – it was Moo Haoyan! Moo Haoyan himself! The very same Moo Haoyan who professed his love for her time and again!

Next came Qiao Xue's sultry voice: "Haoyan, you're amazing. Tell me, who do you really love – me or my sister?"