Quan Jiu finished filming at midnight and left the set. As she exited the studio gate, she saw a familiar car waiting for her by the roadside.
Her heart warmed. To always have someone willing to wait for her, she truly was a lucky person.
She trotted to the car and was about to buckle her seatbelt when a hand warmer was handed to her. Her cold hands were instantly enveloped in warmth, and all her pores relaxed in comfort.
Chu Rong fastened Quan Jiu's seatbelt, adjusted the seat for her to lie down and rest, and finally covered her with a blanket before starting the car.
Having filmed all day, Quan Jiu was already tired and sleepy. Before long, she drifted off into a daze.
After an unknown amount of time, she was suddenly awakened by a loud crashing sound and a violent impact. The moment she opened her eyes, she heard the piercing screech of tires against the ground.
It was a car accident.
Quan Jiu's mind instantly cleared. She tightly gripped the door handle and looked at Chu Rong, who was driving.
"Hold on tight," Chu Rong's voice was cold. Then, without further ado, he sharply turned the steering wheel, crashing into a car on the left.
Quan Jiu then saw the situation clearly. This was a secluded stretch of road, and because it was late at night, the road appeared desolate. Yet, on this very road, there were black cars positioned to attack from both sides, clearly intentional and deadly.
She observed the vehicles on her left and right, a total of four. However, Chu Rong's car was built with the most advanced domestic technology, specifically for his use, ensuring excellent safety. Even when attacked from four sides, the car body remained largely undamaged. Coupled with Chu Rong's driving skills, he was holding his own against four opponents, so Quan Jiu wasn't too worried.
As long as they could get past this stretch of road, these arrogant individuals would surely back down.
But before the car could leave this section of the road, Quan Jiu saw the situation behind them in the rearview mirror. Her brows furrowed. "ARong, four more cars are coming from behind."
Chu Rong glanced back and indeed saw four more vehicles. His expression turned grim and terrifying. With one hand on the steering wheel, he quickly retrieved a gun from under the seat.
Quan Jiu quickly adjusted the seat, leaned to the side to briefly steady the steering wheel, while Chu Rong swiftly loaded the gun.
The couple cooperated seamlessly. As soon as one finished loading, the other released the wheel, and then quickly gripped it again, opening a sliver of the window and firing a surprise shot at the tire of an approaching car.
The vehicle attacking from the left immediately lost control and swerved to one side. At the same time, Chu Rong slammed on the accelerator, avoiding the uncontrolled collision, and the out-of-control car crashed into the vehicle on the right.
The two cars collided, dragging the car on the far right with them. In an instant, three cars crashed into each other and were forced to stop.
"Damn it, hit them from behind, I don't believe we can't smash them," Zhuang Minghao said, sitting in the leftmost car. He gritted his teeth in anger as he looked at the three cars that had lost their fighting capability.
The driver quickly floored the accelerator and gave chase. But just as they were about to catch up, a violent impact came from behind, causing the car's tires to slip, the steering wheel to become uncontrollable, and the car to veer diagonally towards the curb.
"Dong..." A loud bang made both Quan Jiu and Chu Rong pause.
Quan Jiu quickly climbed to the back seat and took a closer look. Then, she said with confusion, "The last four cars seem to be helping us; they hit the car in front."
Although Chu Rong wanted to rush out and see who dared to intercept him, he was more concerned about Quan Jiu's safety. Thus, the car did not stop and quickly drove out of the desolate stretch of road.
Zhuang Minghao and the five bodyguards who were with him, forced to stop by the collision, had to get out of their vehicles as they faced a four-sided encirclement.
"Young Master Zhuang, at this late hour, you're not at home sleeping soundly but out here enjoying yourself. This doesn't comply with the rules of the New District."
The leader of the four vehicles, a capable-looking man in his forties, walked out. He appeared calm and his emotions were difficult to gauge.
It was Quan He, the head steward of the Quan family.
Zhuang Minghao was extremely surprised. His actions today were very secretive; even his own father didn't know what he was doing. How did Quan He know to intercept him here?
While thinking this, Zhuang Minghao put on a show of arrogance, his face filled with anger. "Quan He, you're just a dog of the Quan family, and our Zhuang family is one of the four major families, just like the Quan family. You crashed into my car, the young master of the Zhuang family, and almost killed me. How do you propose we settle this debt?"
Quan He smiled faintly. "A prince who breaks the law is punished the same as a commoner. The New District has its rules, and the Quan family manages the official seals and has the authority to enforce the law. Young Master Zhuang, do you think I have the right to detain you right now?"
Although the Zhuang family was one of the four major families, they were ranked last. Zhuang Minghao felt a bit worried, but he stubbornly retorted, "On what grounds? What crime have I committed? I just couldn't sleep in the middle of the night and wanted to take a drive in the outer city. Is that a crime? I never knew the New District had a rule against driving around the outer city?"
Quan He looked at Zhuang Minghao with a half-smile.
Zhuang Minghao's heart pounded. Unable to keep his composure, he chuckled again. "Oh, you mean those three cars behind me? Those are indeed my subordinates. After all, I am the eldest son of the Zhuang family, a person of noble status. It's not unusual for me to have bodyguards when I go out.
It's just that I didn't expect the roads in the outer city to be so narrow. I accidentally scraped against a strange car a few times just now, but that car has already left. Clearly, they didn't care about that little scrape. Look at me, my car has been turned into a pile of scrap metal by you. It's a miracle I'm alive. What, are you going to blame me for my car not having eyes?"
Quan He said calmly, "Whether you hit someone first, we can find out by bringing back the owner of that car. However... I don't think it's necessary. The owner will naturally find you. You know who you hit, right?"
Could that woman named Quan Jiu find him? Besides, a woman from the outer city with no parents, no power, and no influence, even if she found him, what could she do to him? It was utterly ridiculous.
"Although I don't know if the person who gave you the information told you the true owner of that car, I'll kindly remind you that it was Chu Rong's car."
Chu Rong? Quan He was startled. How could he not know that name? He immediately thought, no, how could he have hit Chu Rong?
"You're bluffing. Although I did accidentally scrape that car, how could Chu Rong possibly be in that car..."
Quan He chuckled. "They say Young Master Zhuang is simple, and seeing you today, you are indeed innocent and naive. Haven't you ever wondered why your informant told you to hit that car but didn't tell you who the owner was, Chu Rong?"
Zhuang Minghao thought about it carefully. This made sense. If Xi Xi asked him to do something, she would definitely tell him the identity. Why didn't she? Was it because she was afraid he wouldn't do it if she told him?
Or was this all a trap set for him? Otherwise, how would Quan He know about Xi Xi complaining to him? And how would he be waiting here like a hunter?
The more he thought, the clearer it became to Zhuang Minghao. He looked at Quan He with anger. "You colluded, deliberately waited for me here, and want to use this matter to control our Zhuang family, right? You used my feelings for Liu Zhi Xi to trick her into instigating me to act. What a clever scheme."
Quan He's eyelids twitched slightly as he pushed up his glasses. "Young Master Zhuang, you are much smarter than outsiders say."
Zhuang Minghao let out a bitter laugh. "No wonder. I always thought Liu Zhi Xi ignored me before, but suddenly she said she liked me and wanted to marry me. So that's how it is. She lied to me. You people are shameless. I will not let this matter go. I want to convene a Four Families Tribunal."
Quan He's gaze was distant. He turned, got into his car, and made a phone call: "Master, we've found out. It seems to be... Miss Xi."