Chapter 118: Wound

Chapter 118: Wound

Lu Yan and Tang Rufeng had barely left the bar when she wriggled out of his embrace. Her force was so strong that she stumbled back several steps, appearing somewhat disheveled.

Lu Yan's car was conveniently parked right at the entrance. The sleek black sports car, always spotless and gleaming, seemed more mysterious than a ghost in the night. Seeing Tang Rufeng break free from his arms, he smiled, unperturbed. The evening breeze tousled his hair, partially concealing his languid eyes:

"Lucky coincidence, we meet again."

It wasn't really a coincidence, though. One was a regular at the bar, the other a bartender; their encounters were as natural as fate would have it.

Tang Rufeng's face was as pale as paper, making his eyes appear even darker. He stared motionlessly at Lu Yan, his hoarse voice dripping with sarcasm: "Did you save me so I could thank you?"

Lu Yan was simply bored.

In the outcome revealed by the system, Tang Rufeng almost died alongside him in a manner akin to a lover's suicide—

Lu Yan had never met someone like this. After all, to him, emotions were dispensable—how could they compare to the value of life?

He couldn't help but appraise Tang Rufeng, sensing her like a wild bamboo shoot growing fiercely. She appeared slender yet concealed resilience, her brows etched with stubbornness—she didn't seem like one to die for love.

To others, frivolity was skin-deep, but Lu Yan's frivolity seemed to seep into his bones. He lifted his eyelids, his smile ambiguous: "What's gratitude worth? You should repay me with your body, shouldn't you?"

Strictly speaking, they had already slept together, which could be considered another form of "repaying with one's body."

Tang Rufeng found this joke anything but funny. His gaze fell on Lu Yan like a venomous snake slowly slithering over skin, unsettling. He whispered each word: "Then you should watch out. The next person getting hit on the head with a bottle might just be you."

With that, he cast a cold glance at Lu Yan and turned to leave. Darkness engulfed him from all sides, quickly swallowing his thin silhouette.

Lu Yan thought she was quite spicy. He opened the car door, sat in the driver's seat, and leisurely followed after her. Four wheels soon caught up with two legs walking.

Lu Yan rolled down the window, matching Tang Rufeng's pace. His handsome profile became more distinct in the interplay of light and shadow. Lazily, he asked: "How about it, want a ride home? Consider it sending Buddha all the way to Nirvana."

Tang Rufeng wanted no further entanglement with Lu Yan, nor did he wish to delve into her intentions. Frowning, he declined: "No need."

After his words, he briskly crossed the street corner, running toward the bus stop across the road. Lu Yan's car couldn't make the turn, only continuing straight ahead, diverging from Tang Rufeng until she vanished from sight.

Lu Yan aimlessly drove along the road, summoning the system: "My crisis should be over now, right?"

The system's black figure floated in the air, thinking Lu Yan was dreaming: "Do you think it's that easy?"

Lu Yan felt it was, and listed reliable evidence: "Tang Rufeng doesn't even want to look at me now. She wouldn't drag me to my death, would she?"

The system coolly responded: "It's not just dying together that can drag you down. Eliminating a public menace could also drag you down with them."

Lu Yan: "…"

Quite the poisonous tongue.

Lu Yan leaned back into the chair, a sense of resignation in his tone: "So tell me, how do I consider the crisis resolved?"

"Sorry, this task is judged by the program itself. The system cannot inform you."

After saying this, the system disappeared. The tasks in this world were peculiar, without any hard rules about survival time. It truly didn't know how to resolve the crisis, except perhaps reviving the other party with points when Lu Yan accidentally got his kidneys removed or was accidentally stabbed to death.

"…"

Lu Yan slowly exhaled, wondering why he was arguing with a heartless demon. He changed direction, heading towards his residence, ready to go home and sleep. But the world's affairs were so coincidental—the path underfoot was like a giant loop, eventually returning to the same spot.

As Lu Yan drove past the bus stop, his gaze inadvertently swept over the window, suddenly noticing a group of shadows huddled around the corner, their activities unknown. His car had already moved several meters away, but he slowly reversed back.

"F*ck your mother! Don't you dare mess with Brother Long without knowing who he is!"

"Brat, I'll show you some color today. How dare you provoke the boss!"

"What's the point in talking? Just cripple his hand for me!"

Tang Rufeng had just reached the bus stop when she was cornered by Brother Long's tailing subordinates. She stood alone in the encirclement, facing three thugs oozing with malevolence, their eyes vicious, closing in step by step.

Clearly, Tang Rufeng wasn't one to sit idly by. Seeing the situation, she subtly retreated, picking up a palm-sized rock from the shadows and hiding it behind her back. When the three thugs rushed forward, she kicked over the man in the middle who threatened to cripple her, then gripped the stone tightly and smashed it fiercely against him,

"Bam—!"

Blood splattered, directly onto her chin.

Tang Rufeng didn't aim for lethal spots, focusing instead on fingers and shoulder bones, each strike powerful and precise. Her gaze was fierce and icy as she locked onto the thug before her, ignoring the kicks and curses from the other two—they couldn't pull her away. In the end, the thug's hand was reduced to a bloody pulp, his screams growing weaker and weaker, while Tang Rufeng was also beaten until she was covered in blood.

"F*ck! She's a madwoman!"

One of the thugs saw that Tang Rufeng refused to let go of their leader, gritted his teeth, and picked up a rubble mixed with rebar from the nearby construction pile, smashing it towards her head. However, at that moment, a gust of wind suddenly assaulted him from behind. His lower back ached, and he flew out two meters instantly.

"Bam—!"

Lu Yan's sudden appearance disrupted the battle. The thug clutched his waist, struggling to get up from the ground, cursing: "Where did this little punk come from, meddling in other people's business?!"

Lu Yan stood under the streetlight, slowly rolling up his sleeves. His eyes slightly lowered, concealing the terrifying emotions within: "Aren't you guys fighting? Come at me together."

This nonchalant attitude clearly infuriated the thugs. They immediately charged at Lu Yan, but unexpectedly, he sidestepped, grabbed their shoulders, and a crack echoed as their arms were forcibly broken.

"Aaaaaahhhhhh—!!!"

Lu Yan was even more ruthless than Tang Rufeng, and because he didn't fear trouble, he held no reservations. Of the three thugs, aside from the one crippled by Tang Rufeng, the remaining two had their arms dislocated by him, writhing on the ground in excruciating pain.

Lu Yan walked to one of the thugs, squatted down, and pulled out a wad of cash from his wallet. Expressionlessly, he slapped the money against the thug's face, throwing it onto his chest. Red bills scattered everywhere: "Take this to the hospital. Then find that guy surnamed Long for reimbursement. Have him personally come to pay me back in a couple of days. Got it?"

The thug looked at him with difficulty, having never seen such a shameless person. He asked in trepidation: "Who…who are you? If you've got guts, leave a name!"

Lu Yan curled his lips slightly: "I'm surnamed Duan, named Jiyang. If you want revenge, come find me. I'm always waiting!"

After his words, he got up from the ground, kicked the thug, signaling the three of them to scram. Only then did he turn to look at Tang Rufeng—

No matter how ruthless his opponent was, he was still just a college student who hadn't yet stepped into society. His fighting relied solely on his willingness to risk everything. Now, curled up on the ground, his back was marred by filthy footprints and bloodstains. Blood splattered his chin, making his skin appear even paler and his eyes darker, burning with a hatred that could consume everything. It made him look like a demon born from mud and shadow.

His body trembled slightly from the pain,

his fingertips clenched tightly from the hate,

and finally, when the man slowly leaned down and squatted, he lowered his head in humiliation and embarrassment.

Lu Yan said nothing. He stared at Tang Rufeng for a moment before finally reaching out to pull him up. He carried him horizontally and headed straight for the car parked by the roadside. The commotion from the fight had been too loud; it would be bad if they attracted the police. The young man in his arms stiffened momentarily but, for once, didn't struggle. He lowered his eyes and remained eerily quiet.

The streets were sparse with cars late at night. The car window was halfway down, and the night wind blew against them, finally dispersing the stench of blood.

Lu Yan looked up at the rearview mirror, his slender fingers lightly tapping the steering wheel as he asked, "Do you want to go to the hospital or go straight home?"

Tang Rufeng was silent. He sat quietly in the back seat and after a moment, he croaked out, "No need to go to the hospital."

Lu Yan had originally intended to take him to the hospital, but at this time, there might not be any doctors on duty. He turned the steering wheel and changed course. "Then let's go home."

"…"

In that instant, Tang Rufeng moved his lips as if to say something, but then said nothing. Silence filled the air, an uncomfortable stillness.

The old residential building stood at the very edge of the city, its walls faded and peeling, silently revealing poverty. Lu Yan drove through narrow alleys and finally stopped at the bottom of Tang Rufeng's building. "We're here. Do you want me to escort you upstairs?"

Tang Rufeng predictably refused. "No need."

After speaking, he suddenly realized that those two words sounded rather harsh. He paused and added, "My house is on the second floor, it's close, no need to send me."

Lu Yan only heard the dull sound of the car door closing. Tang Rufeng had already gotten out and was heading towards his home. He lowered the car window a bit and watched him enter the stairwell before slowly reversing and leaving.

There was a 24-hour pharmacy nearby. When Lu Yan passed by, he went straight in and bought some common medicines for bruises and injuries, planning to deliver them to Tang Rufeng. After all, unattended wounds could still be troublesome.

Lu Yan parked the car by the roadside and went upstairs carrying a bag of medicine. This old building didn't even have an elevator. The corridor walls were stained as if smoked, covered in grime and plastered with countless small advertisements, a sign of its age.

Lu Yan was considering whether to leave the medicine at the door and leave or knock and hand it to Tang Rufeng when his gaze inadvertently caught sight of a familiar figure at the corner of the stairs. He subconsciously stopped.

Tang Rufeng hadn't gone home. Instead, he found a step at the stairwell to sit on. He looked utterly exhausted, hugging his knees and burying his face in them. The dim light bulb above illuminated him, exposing the bloodstains and footprints on his clothes. Even the slim-fitting shirt from the bar seemed loose on him.

He couldn't explain to his mother where his injuries came from, nor did he dare to return home. He could only spend this somewhat unbearable night in the stairwell. The chill of the early morning crept silently over his entire body, numbing even the pain of his wounds.

Lu Yan watched quietly. With a little thought, he understood the reason. He had lived a life of comfort since birth and couldn't understand why Tang Rufeng dared not return home, even injured. Shouldn't parents see their child's injuries? After all, crying children get candy.

This thought unintentionally exposed Lu Yan's inherent flaw—a lack of understanding for others' hardships. But no matter how vile his thoughts were, he appeared to be a great benefactor, at least to Tang Rufeng.

"Why aren't you going home?"

A deep voice suddenly broke the silence of the night.

The motion-sensor lights in the corridor lit up sluggishly. Lu Yan stood under the only source of light, the old movie-like yellowish hue giving him an illusory warmth. His dark eyes always seemed scattered with emotions, and his whole being exuded a sense of laziness.

Tang Rufeng hadn't expected Lu Yan to return. When he looked up, he froze for a moment. "…Why are you here?"

His throat was dry and hoarse, like a dried-up spring.

Lu Yan shook the bag of medicine in his hand. "I'm delivering medicine to you."

"…"

Tang Rufeng was silent. For a long time afterward, when he recalled that night, he didn't understand why he hadn't rejected Lu Yan but instead allowed him to take him to the car parked by the roadside. In the dim light, he took off his clothes and applied medicine to his wounds.

Tang Rufeng's figure was very thin, clearly the result of years of malnutrition. Those flesh-tearing wounds spread across his pale, bony back, giving him an appearance of fragility.

Lu Yan disinfected, medicated, and bandaged Tang Rufeng's wounds, his movements particularly skilled. It wasn't hard to tell that he was also a seasoned fighter. Finally, he gently wiped away the dried blood on the other's face with a wet wipe. His lips hovered near Tang Rufeng's ear, whispering teasingly, "You fight pretty fiercely…"

This kind of ferocity frightened some, attracted others,

and Lu Yan happened to be the latter.

Tang Rufeng lay on the back seat, his waiter's uniform shirt completely removed, leaving only crisscrossing wounds. Hearing Lu Yan's words, he couldn't help but close his eyes, unsure whether he felt panic or anger.

Perhaps there was more panic, after all, he didn't have the strength to fight again. If Lu Yan wanted to do something, he wouldn't be able to resist.

But after applying the medicine to Tang Rufeng, Lu Yan merely took off his jacket and draped it over the other's back. "Sleep in the car tonight."

He didn't mention words like "hotel" or "room," to avoid any misunderstandings. He directly lay down in the passenger seat, planning to sleep through the night.

Hearing this, Tang Rufeng slowly opened his eyes in the darkness, looking in the direction of Lu Yan. Unfortunately, he could only see a dark seatback. He had never met someone like Lu Yan in his life—like dark chocolate with a sweet center, bitter yet sweet, making it impossible to distinguish good from bad.

But his taut nerves finally relaxed a bit, drawing a sense of security. Tang Rufeng curled up into the large jacket, and as he drifted off, he only heard Lu Yan ask, "Are you still in college?"

Tang Rufeng hummed in affirmation.

Lu Yan: "Why work as a waiter in a bar?"

Such places were chaotic, everyone knew that.

Tang Rufeng closed his eyes and frowned, spitting out two words: "Good pay."

His family had no workforce. Tuition and living expenses from childhood to adulthood were all earned by Tang Rufeng himself. Unfortunately, his mother had liver cirrhosis and needed to go to the hospital every few days for abdominal fluid drainage and albumin infusions. Medicines costing seven or eight hundred per bottle were akin to astronomical prices, coupled with rent and food expenses. Ordinary jobs simply couldn't cover such expenses.

Lu Yan asked nonchalantly, "Have you worked in the bar for so long without anyone wanting to keep you?"

Such a reckless joke was particularly hurtful. Upon hearing this, Tang Rufeng suddenly opened his eyes. Under his low and calm exterior, he was filled with suppressed anger. "What do you mean?"

Lu Yan adjusted the backrest further back, making it more comfortable to lie down. "No particular meaning, just wanted to remind you that such places are chaotic. You can be forced to drink once, there will be a second and third time."

His words were cold and realistic. Without background or power, Tang Rufeng's dream of preserving his integrity in such a place was akin to a fool's fantasy. If he didn't want to encounter what happened last time again, he should withdraw early.

"…"

The air was deathly silent.

Lu Yan pulled out a gilded business card from his pocket and handed it to Tang Rufeng, his slender fingers distinct and joints clear, exuding an aura of nobility in every gesture: "As I said, feel free to contact me anytime you need anything."

Tang Rufeng didn't move. Just as Lu Yan was starting to tire from holding the pose, his fingertips suddenly felt empty—the thin card had been snatched away.

"Understood," Tang Rufeng said.

Ever since that night, Lu Yan never saw Tang Rufeng again. Not long after, online gossip exploded with the hashtag #Duan Jiayang's Fiancé Cheats on Bartender#. It came with a photo of Lu Yan's back as he left with Tang Rufeng, revealing just enough of his profile.

Predictably, the Duan family was shocked, the Lu family panicked, but the most furious was Duan Jiayang himself—after all, he now wore a metaphorical green hat atop his head.

(Note: In Chinese culture, wearing a green hat is a metaphor for being cuckolded.)