C6 Who Did She Hate??

Soong Yiren's chest heaved as she clenched her fists tightly, only releasing the pent-up emotions when a sharp pain reminded her to let go.

As she was about to leave, she noticed a tall silhouette on the villa's staircase. Gong Lingye had donned a black suit, left casually open to reveal a deep blue shirt that accentuated the contours of his chest. With the top two buttons undone, his slightly bronzed skin and well-defined pectorals were exposed, lending an aggressive, sensual edge to his otherwise austere attire.

He nonchalantly carried a tie, descending the stairs with a piercing, cold gaze that fixed upon Soong Yiren at the living room entrance. His eyes were dark and inscrutable.

The memory of their recent awkward encounter by the bathroom made Soong Yiren's cheeks flush. As she pondered how to greet him, she was taken aback by his penetrating stare, as if he could peer into her very soul. Had he noticed something just now?

Soong Yiren racked her brain, recalling that Yu Ruonuan, despite her frequent visits to the Gong Family over the past six months, had only encountered Gong Lingye once. His handsome features outshone even Gong Mochen's, but Yu Ruonuan was genuinely intimidated by him, always steering clear and foregoing any pleasantries.

Unsure of what to make of Gong Lingye's expression, Soong Yiren gave a slight nod in greeting before turning to leave.

Once she was gone, Gong Lingye descended the rest of the stairs and poured himself a cup of tea, his eyes reflecting a contemplative air. What was the source of the intense animosity he had sensed from the girl? She had been looking at the screen—whom did she despise?

The television now showed a report on pollution in Ning Country's oil fields, Chu Mingyao's image long gone from the screen.

Meanwhile, Soong Yiren had departed from the Gong Family villa. Outside, the sky was overcast, heavy with the threat of rain, creating an atmosphere as stifling as it was somber.

The villa district was secluded, with private roads that saw neither buses nor taxis. Soong Yiren had only been walking for a few minutes when the sound of a dog barking echoed from behind her.

Startled, she spun around and was met with the sight of a Tibetan Mastiff charging toward her, its eyes cold and menacing.

Panic washed over Soong Yiren's face. Weaponless and alone, she was at a loss for how to fend off the imposing creature.

As she instinctively stepped back, her mind raced—could she make it up the nearby tree before the Mastiff reached her?

But she had sorely misjudged the beast's speed. In the mere blink of an eye, the Mastiff sprang forward, lunging at her with ferocious velocity.

With her heart in her throat and no time to flee, Soong Yiren remembered the lighter in her bag. She snatched it out and sparked it to life.

But as she held the lighter aloft, a piercing screech of tires skidding on pavement filled her ears. This was followed by a loud thud and then a pained animalistic yelp.

Soong Yiren slowly shifted her gaze and saw, to her astonishment, a black off-road vehicle had come to a halt just inches from her, its bumper dented from the impact. To the side of the car, the black Tibetan Mastiff lay motionless on the ground.

A dark pool of blood spread beneath it; the Mastiff was no longer breathing.

The wind from the vehicle snuffed out the lighter in Soong Yiren's hand. She lifted her eyes and locked gazes with the man behind the wheel.