54: If Not Dead, Then Crippled!

“Luo Tianyao, please stop calling me!” Su Muqing (Sue-moo-ching) snapped, her voice icy as soon as the call connected.

“Ruoxue (Roo-eh-shweh), why do you always speak to your fiancé in such a tone?” A man’s languid voice drifted from the other end of the line.

“Luo Tianyao (Lwoh Tee-an-yow), you are not my fiancé. I will never acknowledge it,” Su Muqing declared, her pretty face an abnormal mask of coldness.

“Ruoxue, whether you acknowledge it or not, you’re destined to be mine sooner or later.” Luo Tianyao chuckled, swirling the red wine in his goblet as he spoke into his phone, a playful smirk twisting his lips.

Luo Tianyao was tall and handsome, lounging casually on a sofa, a subtle arrogance and a hint of cynical abandon radiating from his very being.

“Luo Tianyao, please, just let me go,” Su Muqing pleaded, gritting her teeth, a faint tremor of desperation in her voice.

Luo Tianyao’s expression darkened slightly. “Ruoxue, for your sake, I can arrange for the Luo (Lwoh) family to provide billions in funding to Tianrong (Tee-an-rong) International. You must understand, without that money, Tianrong International will collapse within a month. Lingya (Ling-yah) Fashion Group is also nearing its end. By then, you, the esteemed CEO, might find yourself on the streets. Without me, do you truly believe you can maintain your privileged life? My family background, my talents, my looks, my very upbringing – they are all top-tier. What could you possibly be dissatisfied with?”

A flicker of despair crossed Su Muqing’s beautiful eyes. “As you said, I am merely an ordinary woman and don’t wish to pursue so many things. There are countless beautiful women in this world; please, don’t set your sights on me.”

“Of course, I don’t lack pretty women, but you are the only one I desire,” Luo Tianyao sighed.

Some men from high society are exceptionally particular about the appearance of the women by their side. It wasn’t necessarily about their lust.

These men believed that having a woman of exquisite beauty and exceptional grace by their side would subtly elevate their own status.

Moreover, Su Muqing possessed an undefinable charm that Luo Tianyao found himself utterly obsessed with.

“Oh, and Ruoxue, I heard your grandfather recently found you some sort of fiancé, and you’re even living with him now? What exactly is going on?” Luo Tianyao probed further.

“That is none of your concern,” Su Muqing retorted coldly.

Before Luo Tianyao could respond, Su Muqing hung up the phone.

Back then, for the sake of her grandfather’s safety, Su Muqing had been forced to accept the engagement proposed by the Luo family. She only wanted to buy time, to find a solution by any means necessary.

This matter was inescapable now. What should she do? Was she truly destined to marry that hypocrite?

Su Muqing buried her face in her hands, her heart sinking to rock bottom.

Overseas, in the presidential suite of a hotel’s top floor.

Luo Tianyao’s face was dark as he ended the call, glancing at a file in his hand. A photograph of Shen Yifei (Shen Yee-fay) lay on top of it.

He had already learned from Qiao Lan (Chee-ow Lan), Su Muqing’s stepmother, that Su Muqing had recently become engaged to a man, and was even living with him.

This news felt like a slap in the face!

Luo Tianyao had harbored feelings for Su Muqing for years, and he had already reached an agreement with Qiao Lan; their engagement was supposed to be set in stone.

Initially, Luo Tianyao had planned to simply send men to eliminate Shen Yifei. However, Qiao Lan mentioned that the young man possessed unusual strength, prompting Luo Tianyao to investigate Shen Yifei’s identity.

To his utter surprise, the young man’s background proved to be rather mysterious; his investigators couldn’t find a single trace.

Luo Tianyao vaguely sensed that this young man was out of the ordinary. Regardless, he wouldn’t allow another man to touch what was his.

This Shen Yifei fellow needed to be dealt with, and soon.

***
Shen Yifei exited the villa, sauntering leisurely. The West District wasn’t far, so he couldn’t be bothered to drive, opting for a post-dinner stroll instead.

Hands in his pockets, he quickened his pace to the West District and bought some coffee beans.

As he passed through a dimly lit street.

Suddenly, a BMW X6 sped around the corner. It looked like Liu Xiaoxiao’s (Lee-oh Shee-ow-shee-ow) car.

Shen Yifei stopped in the middle of the road, expecting Liu Xiaoxiao to pull over.

But to his shock, the woman actually drove straight at him…

“Thump!”

Shen Yifei’s expression flickered; his body was thrown violently through the air, crashing against a utility pole by the roadside.

Holy hell! Is this woman trying to murder me? Shen Yifei’s blood boiled. While he and Liu Xiaoxiao had their petty squabbles, he couldn’t believe she’d be so ruthless.

In truth, Liu Xiaoxiao had just fled from her home, still reeling from the forced marriage ordeal. Her mind was distracted and unfocused. When she suddenly saw a figure ahead, in a panic, she hit the accelerator instead of the brake.

The BMW lurched to a halt in the middle of the road.

Seeing the figure sent flying, Liu Xiaoxiao was utterly dumbfounded, her face ashen.

Oh no, oh no! My God, I actually hit someone with my car and sent them flying?

That person was thrown by my car; even if they’re not dead, they’re surely crippled!

Liu Xiaoxiao scrambled out of the BMW like a startled kitten, rushing towards the figure on the roadside.

She wanted to call for an ambulance immediately, but she’d thrown her phone earlier. Liu Xiaoxiao’s delicate body trembled with fright.

What do I do? What do I do? I hit someone!

Liu Xiaoxiao, after all, was the vice president of Lingya International; she had seen her share of the world. She immediately went forward and helped Shen Yifei up, panicking, “Sir… sir, are you alright?”

In her panic, Liu Xiaoxiao didn’t recognize Shen Yifei right away.

Shen Yifei’s face darkened. Bloody hell, you just sent me flying, and you ask if I’m alright? What if I drove into you? Would *you* be alright?

But truth be told, Shen Yifei was fine. His physical resilience was far beyond that of ordinary people; this impact wouldn’t even cause a minor injury.

Shen Yifei had intended to simply stand up, dust himself off, and give Liu Xiaoxiao a piece of his mind.

But then he remembered this woman had actually tried to hit him with her car… he felt utterly wronged. If he didn’t extort a bit of money, he’d be doing himself a disservice.

“I… what’s happening to me?” Shen Yifei feigned being on his deathbed, speaking in a faint, wavering voice as if his last breath was about to escape him.

Hearing that voice, Liu Xiaoxiao froze. Oh my god, isn’t that Shen Yifei?

I actually hit him!

Liu Xiaoxiao’s head was spinning. While she disliked Shen Yifei, she was fundamentally a kind-hearted woman. Guilt immediately flooded her.

Liu Xiaoxiao’s voice was soft as she said, “Shen Yifei, I’m so sorry, truly sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Yifei felt a surge of indignation. He feigned struggling for breath. “Didn’t… didn’t mean to? The way you drove was clearly attempted murder, Liu Xiaoxiao… we… we might have our differences, but… you… you didn’t have to resort to such… ruthless measures, did you?”

Listening to Shen Yifei’s voice, a mere whisper, Liu Xiaoxiao’s eyes welled up, and she instantly burst into tears. “Waaaah! I don’t know either! I… I really didn’t mean to! Wait, where’s your phone? We need to get you to a hospital!”

Seeing Liu Xiaoxiao’s distraught expression, it seemed she was speaking genuinely.

Shen Yifei’s eyes darted. He said weakly, “No… no need. I… I’m afraid I won’t make it! Liu Xiaoxiao, if… if you have any conscience left, please fulfill my last wish.”

Tears streamed down Liu Xiaoxiao’s face. She tightly gripped Shen Yifei’s right hand, urgently saying, “What wish? I’ll fulfill it, whatever it is!”

“Well… I don’t want to be poor even after I die. Can… can you… transfer some money to my bank account… before I pass away?” Shen Yifei said, feigning his misery.