“Help!” Lin Xi shouted at the top of her lungs. “I don’t know this man! Help!”

“You are being so disobedient, child,” the middle-aged man said, clutching Lin Xi tightly. “You caused such a scene just because we wouldn’t let you go to that concert. Do you have any idea how much money we’ve spent on tutoring classes over these years? Over five hundred thousand! And now you want to spend a fortune on concert tickets? Are you trying to be the death of your mother and me?”

The man spoke with such raw, convincing emotion that the bystanders began to sigh, sympathizing with him. “Some young people these days really don’t know how to cherish their parents. It’s truly heart-wrenching.”

“Little girl, just go home with your father. It’s not easy being a parent, you know.”

“I really don’t know him! He’s not my father!” Lin Xi fought back, desperate. She clung to the car door for dear life. “Help! He’s a human trafficker!”

“Can someone give me a hand?” the man pleaded to the crowd. “She’s my own daughter; I don’t want to be too rough with her. Could someone help me get her into the car? Her mother is worried sick at home.”

Lin Xi’s face went bloodless and her limbs turned icy. Someone had already stepped forward to pry her fingers off the door one by one, kindly helping to push her into the vehicle.

“Help!” Lin Xi didn’t want to give up. She screamed until her voice grew hoarse, praying someone would see through the ruse and rescue her.

“Lin Xi?” Suddenly, a figure sprinted toward them. Just as the car door was about to slam shut, he grabbed Lin Xi’s wrist and yanked her forcefully from the vehicle.

“Xiao Yang?” Lin Xi didn’t care about anything else—she instinctively hid behind him.

Xiao Yang pointed at the man in the car and demanded, “Who are you people? Lin Xi doesn’t have any parents.”

The car door slammed shut from the inside, and the engine roared to life, speeding away.

The onlookers muttered in shock. “My god, they really were human traffickers? That’s terrifying.”

But those who had just “helped” the man had already vanished into the crowd.

“Lin Xi, are you okay?” Xiao Yang asked with concern.

Lin Xi’s legs felt like jelly, and her entire body was drained of strength. She crouched on the ground, gasping for air as large beads of sweat dripped onto the pavement.

After a long while, some color finally returned to her face. Lin Xi stood up slowly. Her wrist was still in Xiao Yang’s grip, so she gently pulled it away. “Xiao Yang, thank you. I almost got kidnapped.”

“I’m just glad I happened to walk by today,” Xiao Yang said, pulling out a tissue and offering it to her. “Here, wipe your sweat. You must be terrified, right?”

Lin Xi took the tissue and wiped her forehead. She nodded, “I never expected to run into something like this.”

Xiao Yang looked around and pointed to a coffee shop nearby. “Why don’t we go sit in there for a while? Let me buy you a coffee.”

Having just been rescued from traffickers, Lin Xi didn’t refuse. “Alright, but let me treat you.”

The two walked to the cafe and found a table. Lin Xi ordered a latte and a small dessert, while Xiao Yang only requested an iced Americano.

“Lin Xi, where are you going with such a big bag?” Xiao Yang asked, feigning curiosity.

Lin Xi glanced at the backpack beside her. She felt unlucky today; if she hadn’t been carrying such a large bag, the passersby wouldn’t have mistaken her for a runaway teen.

“I’m going to the hospital to see my grandmother. She’s been hospitalized,” Lin Xi explained.

“Is your grandmother’s illness serious?” Xiao Yang’s face was filled with concern.

Lin Xi nodded. “She had surgery for a cerebral hemorrhage.”

“If I remember correctly, it’s just you and your grandmother at home, right?” As the monitor of their high school class, Xiao Yang had a general understanding of his classmates’ family backgrounds. “Then who takes care of her while you’re in class?”

“I hired a caregiver.” Lin Xi didn’t want to say too much. Had Xiao Yang not saved her today, she wouldn’t have wanted to utter a single word to him.

Xiao Yang lowered his eyes, masking the sinister glint beneath them.

“You must be in a rush to get to the hospital,” Xiao Yang said, looking up again with a gentle expression. “Let me go settle the bill.”

“No need,” Lin Xi said, standing up before he could. “I’ll pay.”

As Lin Xi went to the counter, Xiao Yang pulled out a small, white pill and quickly dropped it into her latte, stirring it once with a spoon. The pill dissolved instantly.

Lin Xi returned after paying. “We can go now.”

“Why don’t you finish your snack?” Xiao Yang pointed to her unfinished dessert and latte. “This place isn’t cheap; it’d be a waste to leave it behind.”

Lin Xi didn’t think much of it. She hated wasting food, so she sat back down to finish her dessert.

Xiao Yang drank his entire iced Americano, watching her quietly.

Once finished, Lin Xi stirred her coffee and downed the rest of the latte.

“Let’s go.” Lin Xi put on her backpack. She always felt strange around Xiao Yang and wanted to escape as soon as possible.

Xiao Yang followed her at a leisurely pace. “I’ll walk you to the hospital. You never know if those people are still lurking nearby.”

Lin Xi’s body stiffened. She hadn’t considered that, but now that he mentioned it, she didn’t dare walk alone.

She clutched her phone, debating who she should call for help. She was currently in a cold war with Song Xu, Tian Tian wasn’t around, Jiang Ran was busy, and it wasn’t appropriate to call Song Chen. Did she really have to let Xiao Yang escort her to the hospital?

“Why did you stop?” Xiao Yang asked. “I remember there’s a bus stop just ahead.”

“Actually, I think I won’t go to the hospital today after all,” Lin Xi said, feeling a bit superstitious. Perhaps today wasn’t meant for going out, and she should just stay in her apartment. “I’m heading home.”

“Did you move?” Xiao Yang asked, looking puzzled as she turned in the opposite direction.

Lin Xi glanced at him. Although he saved her today, that didn’t mean she had to “repay him with her body.” “I live with my boyfriend at the apartment just ahead.”

“I’m really grateful for today. I’ll tell my boyfriend about it, and we’ll invite you to dinner another day.”

Xiao Yang’s lips curled, but his eyes remained cold. “Then I’ll at least walk you to the apartment entrance. Otherwise, I won’t be at ease.”

Lin Xi didn’t refuse again; a five-minute walk was tolerable.

On the way back, however, Lin Xi found herself walking slower and slower. A sudden, heavy wave of sleepiness washed over her, and her eyelids felt like they were made of lead. What was happening?

“Lin Xi, what’s wrong?” Xiao Yang reached out to steady her arm. “Are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m… I’m fine,” Lin Xi forced herself to stay awake with sheer willpower. She was almost at the apartment—she just had to hold on. “We’re almost there.”

Lin Xi tried to speed up, but Xiao Yang slowed down, pulling her into a half-embrace. He even helpfully took her backpack and slung it over his own shoulder.

“Lin Xi, which apartment is it?” Xiao Yang asked, his eyes fixated on her reaction.

Lin Xi lifted an arm and pointed toward the apartment gate twenty meters away. “That one… the Cui Can Tian Cheng Apartment.”

“So you live here, huh?” Xiao Yang cast a chilling glance at the gate. “They probably won’t let us in like this. How about I take you to my place first?”

No. Lin Xi could hear him, but she had no strength left to speak. Her entire body slumped against Xiao Yang.