Chapter 21: Pulling Strings at the Police Station

The messages he sent vanished without a trace, leaving Jiang Yu furious and irritable. Xu An’an had never behaved this way before, but ever since their argument over Ning Xiyue, she seemed to have become a different person altogether! The feeling of losing control made Jiang Yu deeply uncomfortable. Most importantly, he couldn’t afford to do anything at this critical juncture that would make his grandfather dislike him. Otherwise, how could he help Yue’er?

The memory of Yue’er’s tear-swollen eyes tugged at his heartstrings, spurring his plans for tonight—he intended to persuade his grandfather through Xu An’an. He could see clearly that his grandfather was very pleased with Xu An’an. Perhaps elders always favored women who appeared so gentle and obedient.

Ding-dong!

Believing it was Xu An’an, Jiang Yu hurried to open the door. Before he could see who it was, he was knocked unconscious.

Several people stood at the door. They dragged the unconscious Jiang Yu inside. The leading man said coldly, “You three are Red Moon House’s best. Take good care of Young Master Jiang, and send me the video afterward. And here’s the medicine—make sure he takes a few pills before you start.”

…

When Xu An’an woke up again in Jiang Li’s bed, the surroundings felt all too familiar. Only the pain from her cramps left her weak and forced her to take sick leave.

The department head’s angry shouting nearly pierced through the phone. “Xu An’an, what’s the meaning of this? You ask for leave every month—do you not want this job anymore? If you want to quit, just say so! There are plenty fighting to get into our magazine! Or is it that you never want to go back to being a host?”

Originally, Xu An’an had applied for a host position, but due to some company maneuvering, she’d been temporarily assigned to the magazine, supposedly because they were short-staffed. As a newcomer, she was like a brick—moved wherever needed.

Xu An’an felt utterly miserable. If only President Xue were around, things might be better, but he’d been away on business for months and wouldn’t return until next month.

“Director, I really don’t feel well,” she pleaded.

“Fine, then don’t bother coming in again!”

Left with no choice, Xu An’an struggled to sit up, thinking she’d take some painkillers and head in, but after searching her bag, she couldn’t find the bottle anywhere!

Where had her medicine gone?

“Jiang Li? Jiang Li!” Xu An’an called out repeatedly, but there was no answer.

“Bastard!” she ground out, her voice trembling with fury. She was certain Jiang Li had taken her medication—how else would it have disappeared?

With no other option, Xu An’an gritted her teeth, rushed through her morning routine, and hurried off to the magazine despite the pain. After successfully clocking in, she let out a sigh of relief.

“An’an, you look so pale!” her colleague Xiaomei said, worry etched on her face as she helped Xu An’an to her desk. “Why don’t you take a leave and see a doctor? I’m afraid you’ll faint.”

Xu An’an shook her head. “Where’s the department head?”

“I think she went to the storeroom with An Li,” Xiaomei replied.

Xu An’an took a few deep breaths, but the cramps continued to torment her, leaving her drenched in sweat and with lips drained of color. She asked Xiaomei if she had any painkillers.

Xiaomei understood instantly and rummaged through her drawer. “This is version 2.0—not as good as yours, but it should help a bit.”

“Thank you,” Xu An’an said, swallowing the pill dry, then gulping down water when Xiaomei brought it. A fierce gleam flashed in her eyes. “I’m going to find the director.”

Xu An’an’s resolve startled Xiaomei. She watched her leave, murmuring, “Quiet rivers run deep, indeed.”

Another colleague leaned over. “Exactly. When someone’s been bullied for so long, there’s bound to be an eruption. I hope An’an puts the director in her place—maybe she’ll do us all a favor. As long as that director’s here, none of us will have a good time.”

After taking the painkiller, Xu An’an felt a bit better, but her mind was still hazy. As she neared the storeroom, she heard some unmistakable sounds that instantly sobered her. Instinctively, she pulled out her phone to record.

By some twist of fate, the two people involved—acting like animals—were right at the storeroom door! Xu An’an was spotted as soon as she appeared.

Unexpectedly, the two showed no panic, as if they’d anticipated this. The department head leered at her. “What do you say? Why not join us? You could do whatever you want here at the magazine.”

“But you’d have to come after me,” An Li added pointedly.

Xu An’an’s worldview was shattered. She hadn’t expected the magazine’s waters to be so filthy!

Expressionless, she raised her phone to photograph the head and An Li in disarray, but An Li, clearly prepared, knocked it to the ground.

“If you won’t drink the toast, you’ll drink the forfeit!” The director cracked her knuckles and advanced on Xu An’an. “I advise you to behave, or you’ll suffer for it!”

Xu An’an endured her physical discomfort, a cold glint in her eyes.

“Fine, come at me if you dare,” she answered. “Even if I die, you’ll go down with me.”

…

After running an errand, Jiang Li returned to find no sign of Xu An’an. He couldn’t reach her by phone, so he told his assistant to investigate.

In the end, Jiang Li had to go to the police station to bail her out.

When he arrived, expecting to find Xu An’an wronged, he was instead greeted by a pair of battered, tearful figures loudly vowing to sue her. The alleged attacker lay slumped over a table, seemingly asleep.

Only Jiang Li noticed her fingers twitch slightly.

“Second Master, you’re here,” the assistant hurried over to brief him. “The situation looks bad for Miss Xu unless there’s new evidence.”

Hearing “Second Master,” Xu An’an froze. She hadn’t imagined it would be Jiang Li coming to bail her out! Of course, had it not been for him, she would have had to spend the night at the station—she certainly wouldn’t have called Shen Ying. Nor any member of the Xu family.

“Are you dead yet?” Jiang Li walked over and stuffed a hand warmer into her arms.

Tormented by cramps, Xu An’an clung to it as though it was a lifeline, quickly tucking it inside her clothes and hugging it close.

Not far away, the director and An Li, seeing Jiang Li there for Xu An’an, immediately assumed he was her boyfriend and shouted, “Pay our medical bills, emotional damages, and work compensation!”

Jiang Li, tall with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, stood by Xu An’an’s side. His phoenix-shaped eyes narrowed, their depths glinting with a dangerous light—like a panther in the night: swift, perilous, and keen. Every word he spoke carried the natural authority of a king.

“And who do you think you are to demand compensation from me?”

Instantly, the entire station fell silent.

The assistant approached cautiously, “Second Master, all the paperwork is done. You may take Miss Xu home.”

“Handle the rest,” Jiang Li instructed.

Once Jiang Li led Xu An’an away, the station seemed to come back to life, as if someone had pressed play after a pause. The director and An Li clamored to leave as well.

But the evidence the assistant had uncovered soon slapped them in the face.