"What should we do, Song Qiao? They have so many people, and they're all armed," Gao Meng asked nervously from the side.
"What else can we do? Fight them," Song Qiao replied. "These dozen or so scrawny dogs can't do anything to me, Song Qiao. Stick close to me later and be careful to protect yourself."
As Song Qiao spoke, his eyes narrowed, and his entire body tensed instantly.
"Kid, get lost. This has nothing to do with you," the leader said. "We're only taking this woman."
The leader had a scar on his face and felt a prickle of unease as Song Qiao stared at him with ill intent. Despite his experience, he couldn't shake the feeling.
"If you want to take her from me, it depends on whether you have the ability," Song Qiao said. As soon as he finished speaking, he sprang forward with a knee strike aimed directly at the leader's face. Strike first to gain the upper hand, capture the leader to subdue the rest. With so many opponents, and needing to protect Wu Meng, Song Qiao dared not hold back.
"You're asking for death!"
However, in the next moment, before the scarred man could even swing his cleaver, he was sent flying backward. A single blow shattered his ribs, and he fell unconscious on the spot.
His subordinates, eager to save their leader, surged toward Song Qiao. Seeing this, Song Qiao's heart leaped. With Wu Meng no longer a concern, he dealt with these men as easily as slicing through vegetables. In a flash, he knocked down most of them, leaving them crying and writhing on the ground.
"You, don't come over here."
The men on the periphery were thoroughly terrified by Song Qiao's display of strength. Their hands trembled, barely able to hold their daggers. Suddenly, he noticed the unarmed Wu Meng standing nearby and lunged towards her, intending to use her as a hostage to force Song Qiao to spare him.
"Watch out!"
After taking down most of the attackers, Song Qiao had relaxed his guard. Seeing Wu Meng in danger, he lunged forward like lightning, shielding her. Facing the swinging dagger, he executed a "empty hand catches white blade" move, momentarily grasping the attacker's wrist. Then, with a powerful kick, he sent the man flying away like a tattered sack.
Wu Meng let out a scream, covering her eyes and ducking behind Song Qiao. In the rush, Song Qiao had been unable to fully dodge the dagger, and a long gash opened on his arm. Blood seeped from the wound, staining his shirt red.
"Blood?"
"You're hurt?" Wu Meng screamed and rushed to check Song Qiao's arm.
"It's nothing, just a flesh wound. I won't die," Song Qiao grinned, unconcerned.
"Pah, pah, pah! Don't say such unlucky things," Wu Meng said, looking at him with concern. "You need to get it bandaged and stop the bleeding immediately. Come on, let's go home quickly."
Without waiting for his reply, she pulled on his other arm and hurried him home. Song Qiao couldn't refuse her and let her lead him away.
...
"Hiss!"
As the powder was sprinkled on the wound, Song Qiao couldn't help but gasp. Wu Meng was clearly not skilled in this regard, and her clumsy bandaging took a long time to finish.
"Song Qiao, thank you. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid..." Wu Meng's cheeks flushed slightly as she looked at Song Qiao sitting beside her, feeling an indescribable warmth. She had always judged Song Qiao with prejudice, but recent events had made her cast aside her preconceptions. Song Qiao, she thought, was truly a man worthy of respect!
"Wu Meng, since when did you become so polite? This isn't like you," Song Qiao joked, rubbing his arm.
Just as he finished speaking, before Wu Meng could reply, a knock came from the door.
"Wu Meng, are you home? Open the door."
It was Xia Yuqing's voice. Song Qiao and Wu Meng's expressions instantly changed.
"What a coincidence?" Song Qiao chuckled helplessly.
"Oh no, stop laughing and find a place to hide!" Wu Meng said urgently, pulling Song Qiao up from the sofa and ushering him into the bedroom in a flurry. "There's nothing between us, but with you here so late at night, what if Yuqing misunderstands?" She didn't want her best friend to suspect she was interfering in her marriage.
After hiding Song Qiao, Wu Meng took a deep breath and opened the door for Xia Yuqing.
"What's wrong, Yuqing? Is something the matter so late?" Wu Meng asked, a hint of concern in her eyes as she saw Xia Yuqing's haggard appearance.
"It's nothing. I'm just feeling a bit down and wanted to chat," Xia Yuqing said as she entered the room. Wu Meng's heart immediately leaped into her throat. But there was nothing she could do now but nervously ask Xia Yuqing to sit down.
"Still troubled by the divorce?" Wu Meng asked, handing Xia Yuqing a teacup. If this were in the past, she would have joined Xia Yuqing in scolding Song Qiao. But now, after Song Qiao had helped her resolve several issues, she couldn't find any fault with him.
Xia Yuqing nodded silently. "Sigh, Mengmeng, why did I choose such an irresponsible man back then? Now all the company's problems are on my shoulders, and he's just shirked his responsibilities. He had so many connections before, why didn't he use them?"
Once Xia Yuqing started talking, she couldn't stop. She grew more agitated with each word, eventually listing Song Qiao's "ten major sins." Wu Meng's face grew increasingly awkward, and she prayed silently for Xia Yuqing to stop talking. Song Qiao was still in the room listening.
"Yuqing, do you regret the divorce?" Wu Meng suddenly interrupted, looking directly at Xia Yuqing. "Actually, when Song Qiao was around, he helped you a lot. He contributed a lot to both projects and finances."
Xia Yuqing's expression flickered with panic, and she quickly waved her hand. "No, I don't regret it! Song Qiao isn't like that mysterious CEO. He's never serious. I wouldn't miss someone like him."
Meanwhile, Song Qiao was hiding behind the bedroom door, eavesdropping on their conversation. The more he heard Xia Yuqing criticize him, the more annoyed he became. In his distraction, he didn't notice a raincoat hanging behind the door. It brushed against him, and with a soft thud, it fell directly onto his injured arm. Caught off guard, he clutched his arm and let out a muffled groan.
"Bad!" Song Qiao's mind went blank. That was the only thought he had.
...
"Mengmeng, is there someone in your room?" Xia Yuqing heard the sound and quickly put down her teacup. Her best friend, unmarried for so many years, seemed to be hiding something. Perhaps she was even hiding a man at home.
"No, Yuqing, you must have misheard," Wu Meng lied, her voice strained. She couldn't think of any excuse to stop her. Seeing Wu Meng's flustered expression, Xia Yuqing grinned mischievously.
"Let me take a look inside to see if you're hiding a man," she said, walking directly towards Wu Meng's bedroom. Wu Meng closed her eyes in despair, bracing herself.
However, the next moment, Xia Yuqing pushed the door open, only to find the bedroom completely empty. Apart from the furniture, there was not a soul in sight...