Chapter 75

Inside the room, Zhu Yeqing was kneeling on the floor while Chen Fan slowly took off his coat, looking at her with a serious expression.

“Please, don’t do this,” Zhu Yeqing muttered nervously, her voice filled with apprehension. “Maybe you should have some fruit to calm down?”

Chen Fan walked closer and closer, step by step. Zhu Yeqing nervously stammered, “Young Master, I’m sorry. I’m not ready yet.”

“Ready for what? I’m injured; I need you to apply the medicine.”

Seeing the bruises on Chen Fan’s body, Zhu Yeqing was taken aback. Is he really hurt?

In reality, the bruises were Chen Fan’s own doing. Without any visible injuries, it’d be hard to act the part. To everyone else, his wounds might look serious, but for Chen Fan, it was no more painful than breaking a fingernail.

Zhu Yeqing picked up the ointment and carefully applied it to Chen Fan’s injuries.

“So, what exactly were you not ready for?” Chen Fan asked.

“I … I just said it without thinking. Please, don’t mind me, Young Master.”

“You did well today. If you need a reward, just say it. I’ll grant you whatever you want.”

Zhu Yeqing thought for a moment and then said, “Forget it, Young Master. I failed to protect you properly, so I don’t deserve any reward. I should be punished instead.”

“Tomorrow is your birthday, right? Let me celebrate it for you.”

Zhu Yeqing was stunned for a long while, looking at Chen Fan with disbelief. How could this be? How did he know my birthday?

“Young Master … how did you remember my birthday?”

“I saw it on your resume and made a note of it. What? Don’t you like the idea? If you don’t want me to celebrate, then forget it.”

Blushing, Zhu Yeqing whispered, “I like it. Of course, I like it very much. Thank you, Young Master; you’re the best.”

Then she planted a small kiss on his cheek.

Why are you so excited? It’s not even your turn in the story tomorrow, Chen Fan thought. Really, always finding ways to steal the spotlight.

“By the way, what happened with the dagger in Ye Aotian? Who stabbed him?”

“Maybe it was some mysterious person protecting you, Young Master.”

***

Of all the people, Chen Fan was the most shocked. He’d completely made up the idea of a mysterious protector, so what did Zhu Yeqing mean by going along with it?

“I have a question for you. Since you practice ancient martial arts, is there such a thing as ghosts in this world?”

“Ah, Young Master, you’re joking again. How could there be ghosts in this world? It’s impossible; please don’t joke about it.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

No joke? Damn it, I seriously think something’s off. How could the main character be on the verge of death so suddenly?

…

At that moment, Ye Aotian had been taken to the Ling family, covered in wounds and stabbed multiple times.

“Judging by the knife wounds, it doesn’t seem like a professional job. Looks like it was Lin Qingyue.”

“Well, with the Chen family’s pressure and being kidnapped, it’s a wonder she hasn’t lost her mind.”

“Poor girl, truly. Let’s save him first. These injuries are severe, but somehow, his internal energy is circulating on its own. Looks like he really did master the Earth Core Technique.”

Ye Aotian was barely conscious, but his internal Earth Core Technique was spurred on by the trauma, breaking through to another level unconsciously.

Blessing in disguise? Or what? Hard to say.

In the original storyline, this scene was straightforward: the protagonist broke into Chen Fan’s home alone, battled the butler and Zhu Yeqing, and forced them back before leaving under Chen Fan’s furious gaze. Upon returning, Ye Aotian experienced an epiphany, and his Earth Core Technique broke through, enhancing his strength.

At this point, Ye Aotian reached the 7th rank, giving him the real power to fight.

Meanwhile, Chen Fan was furious at home, taking his anger out on Zhu Yeqing. When Chen Tianqiang learned that his son’s life had been threatened, he was livid, planning to take matters into his own hands. But Chen Fan stopped him, insisting on handling it himself.

Seated at her desk and reviewing documents, Jin Lan leaned back and glanced around. Chen Fan wasn’t there, but she found herself missing him a little.

Jin Lan had watched everything that happened in Chen Fan’s villa, fully aware that Ye Aotian was severely injured, though it wasn’t Chen Fan who hurt him. Boldly, she guessed it must have been Lin Qingyue. Only Lin Qingyue would dare to do such a thing.

So ruthless, every move deadly. If only she knew martial arts, wouldn’t the protagonist have been dead in minutes?

Yet, unexpectedly, the kidnapping scene had played out in this way. She was actually looking forward to the next part of the story.

As night fell, raindrops pattered against the window. Anna was quietly flipping through a diary in her room. When she had free time, she no longer practiced boxing but earnestly read through the entries. Maybe she’d find something interesting here.

There was a knock at her door.

“What is it?”

“Sister, I think we should leave. Staying here isn’t safe. Both Chen Fan and Ye Aotian have gone mad. Big Bear and Second Bear are dead.”

“Oh, I understand. Prepare the plane. How’s the butler?”

“He’s fine. He’s already moving around. The doctor said he won’t have any aftereffects. Ye Aotian is quite skilled.”

Stop mentioning that name; it annoys me every time I hear it.

“Little brother, tell me—if I told the Duke I didn’t like him, do you think he’d be mad?”

William was dumbfounded, looking at his sister. “Sister, don’t joke around. This is serious.”

“But I don’t like the Duke. Why should I marry a man I don’t like?”

“Are you serious?”

“Forget it. Talking to you is pointless. You can’t solve anything anyway. Just go back. I’ll return a bit later. Don’t worry; I won’t put the family in a difficult position.”

William nodded and left.

He boarded the plane, while Anna stood in the rain, unsure of where to go next. Perhaps Ye Aotian was the only one who could answer her questions. With a heavy heart, she slowly made her way toward the Chen residence.

At the same time, Lin Qingyue had returned home, where her parents greeted her with worried looks.

“That Chen Fan, he’s a complete lunatic. Really insane. Are you alright, my dear?”

“I’m fine … I’m just a little tired.”

Lin Guofu’s wife looked at her daughter’s torn stockings and said, “Guofu, don’t ask anymore.”

Lin Guofu roared, “I’m her father! My daughter was bullied, and you expect me to sit back and do nothing?”

“Dad, it’s really nothing. I wasn’t forced. I went to see Chen Fan on my own.”

“What?” Lin Guofu asked, “Are you out of your mind, girl?”

“I’m not out of my mind. I know very well what I want. I like Chen Fan. It’s just that meddling Ye Aotian, always assuming I was forced. Uncle Chen never once threatened me.”

How could this be?

Lin Qingyue’s mother looked at her and said, “Alright, dear, tell us exactly what happened. Speak openly; your mom trusts you.”

“I took a knife and stabbed Ye Aotian. I did it myself. I don’t like him, and I like Chen Fan.”

Seeing the determination in her daughter’s eyes, her mother said, “Alright, I understand. Go back to your room.”

Lin Qingyue nodded and went upstairs.

Lin Guofu asked, “Is our daughter scared?”

“No, I believe what she said is true. Though I don’t know why, when she talks about Chen Fan, there’s a softness in her eyes, and when she mentions Ye Aotian, there’s only disgust.”

Could she really like him?

“What should we do then?”

“Move closer to the Chen family. If she likes him, we, as her parents, can’t stand in her way. Didn’t you always say Chen Fan had potential?”

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