Chapter 104: Who Dares to Touch My Woman?

Without hesitation, I rushed forward and pushed the blond-haired troublemaker aside, then steadied the staggeringly drunk Xinyu. Her eyes, heavy with intoxication, glanced up at me with a faint smile. “Lin Fan, what are you doing here?”

I chided gently, “Xinyu, why would you come to a place like this? Don’t you know how dangerous it is?”

Her smile faded, replaced by a cold glare. “Why do you care? Don’t tell me you actually like me. It’s better if you stop meddling in my affairs.”

Her words hit me like a bolt from the blue. Xinyu seemed like a different person altogether. I stood there, uncertain whether to hold her hands or let go.

At that moment, the blond-haired thug returned with a few companions. With a harsh punch, he struck my shoulder, sending a nearby counter shaking violently.

Clatter!

Several glasses crashed to the floor, their sharp shattering echoing through the tavern.

“That girl isn’t interested in you at all. You’d better scram and stop spoiling my fun. Guys, take her to the VIP room!” The thugs approached without hesitation, and no one in the tavern interfered. Everyone watched coldly, as if this were a spectacle unrelated to them.

I glanced at Xinyu, who was now barely conscious, her head drooping softly on the counter. The thugs’ hands were already reaching for her waist.

With a sharp breath, I kicked away one of the intruder’s hands and pulled Xinyu into my arms. Her eyes widened in surprise as I landed a fierce punch on another thug’s face, the force sending him crashing into a glass table. The sound of shattering glass followed.

The other thugs froze, stunned—apparently, it had been a long time since anyone dared to fight back.

Seizing the opportunity, I grabbed Xinyu and dashed toward the exit. A waiter quickly blocked our path, but I grabbed a nearby empty bottle and smashed it down without hesitation.

Bang!

Amid the waiter’s cries, a heavy kick landed on my back. Using the momentum, I pushed forward, dragging Xinyu out of the bar.

The gangsters weren’t ready to give up and chased after us. Passersby hurriedly dispersed to avoid the commotion. Because I was carrying Xinyu, I took several brutal punches in the next few seconds. Damn these thugs—they hit hard. When I blocked a kick aimed at Xinyu, I felt as if my chest was splitting apart, and the burning pain on my back made me realize they were wielding baseball bats—no wonder the blows hurt so much.

The cold wind outside sobered Xinyu somewhat. Exhausted from the beating, I had little strength left. This time, it was Xinyu who pulled me along, desperately running toward a nearby police service station beside a flowerbed.

Back in the day, when Ye Qiu and I were known as the “Black Wind Duo,” it wasn’t without reason. While running, I occasionally kicked back at the thugs, but I was struck more often and took several punches to the face, tears stinging my eyes.

As we neared the police booth, the thugs immediately turned and fled. Xinyu helped me sit on the steps in the flowerbed.

By the moonlight, she looked at me with sorrowful eyes. “Lin Fan, are you okay?”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m fine, Xinyu. Please don’t do this again, do you understand? We were so worried about you…”

“Lin Fan, don’t say that. I’m sorry...” A warm tear fell onto my neck as Xinyu quietly sobbed.

I smiled weakly, brushing her soft hair. “Why did you say those things back at the bar?”

“I... I...” Xinyu choked on her words, then collapsed onto me, whispering, “Lin Fan, I’m really sorry...”

I gently stroked her head and smiled faintly. “Xinyu, is there anything you want to tell me?”

She sobbed through tears, “Lin Fan, believe me, I love you. I really do…”

Her tear-streaked, delicate face shone under the pale moonlight, stirring my heart. I reached out to wipe away her tears, smiling, “Don’t be silly. Why cry? I’m not dead.”

“But... but... you look so badly hurt!” she said, her voice trembling.

I shook my head and shifted slightly, suddenly aware of her warm body pressed tightly against mine. A couple passing through the flowerbed hurried away, and I caught the man’s reluctant words: “Annoying. Our usual spot was taken by those two today…”

Hearing the lovers’ departing voices, Xinyu’s cheeks flushed. She rose from me and helped me to my feet, worry etched on her face. “Are you okay? If the injuries are bad, we should go to the hospital.”

I shook my head quickly. “No, just some surface wounds. I’ll rest once we get back. Call Sister Lin quickly—they must be worried sick. By the way, why can’t I reach your phone?”

Xinyu bit her lip. “I already threw that phone away.”

I vaguely remembered that phone—it was a treasured gift from Xinyu’s ex-boyfriend, used for two years. And now she’d discarded it?

I fumbled for my own phone, grateful it hadn’t broken during the fight. I dialed Sister Lin’s number and handed the phone to Xinyu so she could speak for herself. Even talking was difficult for me now.

“Hello, Sister Lin? It’s Xinyu. Lin Fan and I are at the flowerbed on XX Road. Please come get us. Lin Fan’s a bit hurt…”

On the other end, Sister Lin sounded anxious and hung up quickly. Within minutes, she and Xuehan came running from across the street.

“What happened to you, Lin Fan?” Xuehan and Sister Lin spoke almost in unison, blushing awkwardly as they stood aside.

I smiled weakly. “I’ll explain later. Xuehan, help me up. Sister Lin, please support Xinyu—she’s had quite a bit to drink.”

Xinyu glanced at me in confusion but obeyed. Leaning on Xuehan and Xinyu, I felt pain all over. I had already noticed Xuehan’s subtle change in gaze—anyone could see Xinyu had cried, and the tear stains on my collar confirmed it. Of course Xuehan would be suspicious. That was why I let her help me; if I didn’t soothe her properly, our relationship might chill.

Suddenly—

“Ouch!”

My right leg, the one that had been kicked, buckled, and I stumbled downward. Xuehan gasped and quickly caught me. Just as I planned, her soft, warm body leaned into my embrace—it felt wonderful.

Xinyu seemed to have caught on to my intention and shot me a teasing glance but said nothing.