C17 Chapter 17

Lan Yu stepped out of the hospital building with steady strides. Golden sunlight spilled over him, outlining a loneliness that wouldn’t quite fade.

Ling Xiao walked ahead, all the way to the parking lot.

Lan Yu hesitated before asking, “Weren’t you guys broke? When did you buy a car?”

Ling Xiao didn’t answer. She yanked open the passenger door and shoved Lan Yu inside.

“Hey—hey! You jerk! Don’t yank me around! My hand hurts like hell!”

So dramatic.

Pretty as a girl, sure.

But that attitude? Even more high-maintenance than most girls.

Lan Yu sat there sulking, and Zhu Linger’s threat from earlier flashed through his mind. A bad feeling crept up on him.

That list... who sold him out?

Ling Xiao started the car like it was second nature and shot him a sideways glance.

Lan Yu’s heart jolted. The jerk wasn’t just good-looking—she was scary strong. And those bright eyes held a kind of charm he couldn’t quite put into words.

Like snow piled on flowering branches, like cold jade against a crumbling ridge.

Lan Yu cleared his throat on instinct. “Don’t flirt with me. I’m not in great shape. I can’t handle that.”

Dirty talk?

Ling Xiao didn’t even blink. “What’s your address?”

“Aren’t we moving kind of fast?” Lan Yu said with a half-smile. “You that impatient?”

Ling Xiao really wanted to haul him up and beat some sense into him.

“I’m protecting you,” Ling Xiao said, unusually patient. “And I’m going to make sure you get to be happy.”

Lan Yu was busy checking himself in the mirror. Hearing that, he snorted a laugh.

This jerk actually thought she could tease him?

Wasn’t she worried he’d take advantage and then pretend nothing happened?

As if reading his mind, Ling Xiao gave him a suspicious look. “I thought you couldn’t get it up.”

“Hey, hey! I’m just not feeling great. The little guy still works.”

Ling Xiao thought for a moment, then asked with genuine curiosity, “So... are you especially good at that kind of thing?”

“Yeah! Want me to share some tips?”

Lan Yu suddenly got a little nervous. The Black Stallion Club was one of his businesses—he was basically just the face of the place, a figurehead “top host,” and didn’t actually have to do any of the dirty work himself.

Besides, any rich women who’d dared to set their sights on him had already been dealt with—quietly—by people he’d sent.

For some reason, Lan Yu didn’t want Ling Xiao to get the wrong idea.

After all, that annoying woman had just stood up for him in front of Zhu Linger—the one person he couldn’t stand most!

Ling Xiao didn’t say much. She kept turning over the same fairly serious question in her head.

Where is happiness, where is happiness?

Happiness is in the villain heartthrob’s eyes...

A little while later, Ling Xiao walked Lan Yu home.

Lan Yu didn’t bother hiding his address. Anyway… she’d said she’d protect him, so he might as well treat it like he’d lucked into a free bodyguard.

His place was a luxury apartment in a prime part of town, beautifully finished and tastefully furnished.

Lan Yu kicked off his shoes and padded barefoot across the living room floor.

What was the deal with that list Zhu Linger had?

Should he have someone destroy it behind the scenes?

Ling Xiao followed him in like she owned the place. Ignoring the protest in Lan Yu’s eyes, she carefully checked the entire apartment.

“Hey! What are you doing?”

“Checking security.”

“...You don’t need to! It’s not like I’ve pissed off the mob.”

Ling Xiao’s brows knit slightly as she shot him a cold look.

Honestly, it was just a work habit.

But the kid wouldn’t understand...

Under that icy, intimidating stare, Lan Yu folded embarrassingly fast.

“Want some water? Something to eat?”

The fridge was actually completely empty.

“So when are you leaving?”

Planning to camp out here forever?

“Hey! What are you even thinking? Why are you acting so cold? If you weren’t interested in me, then back at the hospital, why’d you step in for me?”

Don’t tell me you actually like me?

Ling Xiao didn’t respond. She went straight to the living room couch, curled up, and fell asleep.

Lingxiao slept in a carefree sprawl—effortlessly graceful, like she didn’t even mean to be.

Lanyu took the empty spot beside her and sat down. Then, with long, pale fingers, he gently pressed at the corner of her brow and the edge of her eye.

When she was quiet like this, that cool, commanding presence faded away.

All that remained was a calm, water-smooth stillness.

What was he supposed to do? His heart was starting to race.