Chapter 51: Then I'll Cripple You

When Su Wan awoke, the person who had been beside her was already gone.

She rose from the bed, her gaze lingering on the dried bloodstain on the sheet, lost in thought, when Mu Yunshen entered the room. “Aren’t you going to work?”

Su Wan ran a hand through her hair. “I’m having lunch with my father at noon, so I’m not going to the office.”

As she said this, she studied Mu Yunshen’s expression, finding it as ordinary as ever, nothing out of the ordinary.

“Well, you ought to get up anyway. I’ve already bought breakfast, so come and eat.” With that, he turned and left the room. Su Wan took a deep breath and climbed out of bed.

After tossing the sheets into the washing machine, she finally stepped out.

While eating, she suggested, “How about… you come with me?”

“I’d better not.” Mu Yunshen’s voice was devoid of emotion. “After what happened last time, your father surely dislikes me. If I show up uninvited, he certainly won’t be pleased.”

Su Wan bit into a bun, lowering her gaze. “By the way, what exactly happened to you last time?”

“I ran into a bit of trouble, but it’s nothing—I’ll take care of it.”

For reasons she couldn’t explain, when she heard him say “take care of it,” Su Wan’s hand froze midsentence, and then she began coughing.

Mu Yunshen patted her back. “Why are you in such a rush?”

Su Wan drew a deep breath, shaking her head. “I’m fine. I’ve had enough.”

“I’ll drive you.”

“No need,” Su Wan replied quickly, slipping on her shoes. “I’ll be back tonight.”

“Alright.” He walked over and kissed her forehead gently. “If I’m not back when you get home, just wash up and go to bed.”

“Okay.”

—

Su Wan drove along the road.

She couldn’t tell if Mu Yunshen was simply adept at hiding things, or if, from the very beginning, she’d already been ensnared in a trap.

Su Yichuan didn’t seem like the type to take drastic action himself. Especially not in the hospital parking lot, such a public place—it was simply impossible.

The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

So who was the one who orchestrated this to drive a wedge between them?

Su Wan immediately recalled the person who had first told her about it—Li Man.

Was it her?

As Su Wan pondered this, her phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number.

“Hello, Miss Su.”

“Hello. Who is this?”

“I’m the private detective you hired.”

Su Wan immediately remembered. “Hello, about the matter I commissioned—”

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t able to help. I’ll return your deposit. Please seek someone else with greater skill.”

With that, the caller hung up, and moments later, Su Wan received a notice of the refund.

She stared at the message.

Was it truly impossible to find anything, or… did the detective not dare to investigate further?

When Su Wan arrived, Su Yichuan was already at home. When he saw her, his face was still tense. “So you do remember to come home?”

Su Wan was momentarily at a loss.

“Are you living together with Mu Yunshen?”

Su Wan hesitated, then nodded.

Su Yichuan was so furious he trembled all over. “You… Do you want to drive me to my grave? How could you…”

Before he could finish, his hand clutched at his chest, pointing at Su Wan. “Get out. Get out of my sight!”

“Dad, I know you’re angry about what happened last time. But I only learned the truth today—he was in danger that day.”

Su Yichuan’s brow furrowed. “What could possibly be more important than you?”

“He was almost killed.”

Su Wan looked him in the eye, enunciating each word.

Su Yichuan’s expression changed instantly.

But Su Wan couldn’t tell if the shock was because Mu Yunshen had nearly been killed, or for another reason.

After a long pause, Su Yichuan said, “See? This is why I said you two shouldn’t be together! Fighting and killing every day—what kind of life is that?”

“It wasn’t his doing—someone tried to kill him!” Su Wan sat beside him. “Don’t you think it’s odd? Why did they choose that specific moment?”

“What are you implying?” Su Yichuan looked at her.

“Nothing. It just seems like too much of a coincidence. Maybe someone knew something… I just wanted to ask.”

Su Wan’s face was calm, but her hands, resting on her skirt, were tightly clenched.

Su Yichuan said nothing more.

Su Wan looked at him. “Dad, what do you think?”

“I don’t know. No matter what I say, you’ve made up your mind to be with that boy. So what’s the point in talking?”

Before Su Wan could reply, the butler’s voice called out, “Sir, Mr. Bo is here.”

“Teacher.”

When Bo Yezhou entered, Su Yichuan’s expression improved noticeably. “You’re here?”

“Yes,” Bo Yezhou glanced at Su Wan. “Su Wan is here too?”

It was she who had invited him.

Su Wan smiled at him. “Officer Bo.”

“These days, Beicheng has been anything but peaceful,” Su Yichuan remarked. “Yezhou, you must be busy.”

“It’s manageable. No major issues.”

“Really? I heard that Spiky’s gang has started making trouble again?”

Su Wan was peeling an apple when she heard this, and her hand trembled. The knife slipped, slicing her hand open.

She immediately stood and walked toward the bathroom.

The cut was deep, blood welling up. Su Wan frowned, about to go find the first aid kit, when someone entered carrying it.

He took her hand. “Still as careless as ever, I see.”

Su Wan said nothing.

Bo Yezhou quickly tended to the wound, covering it with a bandaid.

“You know about what happened in the parking lot, don’t you?”

Bo Yezhou didn’t answer.

Su Wan grabbed his hand. “Is it true?”

Her voice trembled.

Bo Yezhou glanced at her. “Don’t tell me you think it was your father who arranged it?”

Su Wan was stunned, lips pressed tight, silent.

Bo Yezhou sneered. “You must be out of your mind. Suspect anyone you want—but never your own father!”

Su Wan said nothing.

He released her hand. “You’re really blinded by him. If you don’t want to hear what I have to say, then forget it.” With that, he turned to leave.

“If you all knew about the parking lot, why didn’t you ever mention it? Is it because, in your eyes, his life is worthless? Or do you all secretly wish he were dead?”

Su Wan’s voice called out behind him.

Bo Yezhou didn’t respond.

Su Wan stepped forward, breathing deeply. “Am I right?”

“That’s right. In his line of work, even if we reported it, we wouldn’t intervene. It’s not the first time this has happened. For people like them, prison is as familiar as home. In Beicheng, there are at least ten cases like this every day. Besides, they never report it themselves. As long as public safety and property aren’t threatened, we don’t get involved.”

Su Wan gave a bitter laugh and nodded. “I see. I understand now.”

She turned and walked away.

Bo Yezhou watched her back, brow deeply furrowed.

That meal was hardly pleasant. After a few bites, Su Wan set her chopsticks down. Su Yichuan, noticing, said bluntly, “If you don’t want to come home, then don’t! Who are you making that face at?”

Su Wan drew a deep breath. “I’ll be going now.”

“I’m telling you, if you insist on staying with that boy, don’t ever come back! If you end up dead in the street one day, I won’t acknowledge you as my daughter!”

Su Wan’s steps faltered for a moment, but she didn’t look back, only walked steadily forward.

Su Yichuan slammed his chopsticks on the table. “Look at what she’s become! It’s my fault for spoiling her! Isn’t that Mu Yunshen involved in the Spiky affair? Hand him over to the anti-narcotics team and have him locked up!”

“Teacher, that’s a childish thing to say.” Bo Yezhou smiled. “You know very well, that’s not my department.”

Su Yichuan frowned deeply. After a long while, he asked, “Did you find anything else last time?”

Bo Yezhou shook his head. “After being expelled from the police academy, Mu Yunshen’s been drifting around Beicheng. But I heard lately he’s been in close contact with someone…”

…

Su Wan drove home alone.

She still trusted Bo Yezhou’s words—no matter how Su Yichuan wished to drive Mu Yunshen away, he wouldn’t resort to such methods.

So who was it?

When Su Wan entered the apartment, the place was pitch dark.

She flipped the light switch, but nothing happened.

Frowning, she called out, “Mu Yunshen?”

No reply, but a strange smell hung in the air, reminding Su Wan of the night before. “Doing this trick again is pointless, Mu Yunshen.”

She turned on her phone’s flashlight and was about to move further inside when a shadow suddenly blocked her path!

Su Wan’s head jerked up, meeting a pair of eyes. Before she could scream, a hand clamped over her mouth.

…

Bo Yezhou, having had a drink, called for a driver to take him home.

Passing by the Golden Flow Club, he frowned. “Stop here.”

He went inside.

The staff greeted him warmly. “Hello, welcome!”

“Is your boss here?” Bo Yezhou glanced around.

“And you are…?”

“I’m a friend of his. My name is Bo Yezhou. Please let him know I’d like to see him if he has a moment.”

“Of course. Please wait.”

Bo Yezhou sat in the back office.

He hadn’t set foot here in years, but he was still familiar with the businesses in this district. Such establishments skimmed the edge of legality—never quite aboveboard, but impossible to pin anything on. And besides, he knew plenty of people, not just himself, who frequented places like this. If it ever vanished, others would surely complain.

As Bo Yezhou was musing, a voice called out, “Oh, Officer Bo. What a pleasure.”

Bo Yezhou looked up to see Mu Yunshen entering.

He extended his hand. “Hello.”

Mu Yunshen glanced at it and gave a perfunctory shake. “This kind of meeting isn’t really my style. What do you want?”

“What do you think?” Bo Yezhou countered.

Mu Yunshen sat across from him. “How would I know? I’m just a rough man. I don’t understand your official lingo. Say what you mean.”

“Did you tell Su Wan about the incident in the hospital parking lot?”

Mu Yunshen’s brows knitted. “What do you mean?”

“She knows now. She believes her father tried to break you up by orchestrating the whole thing.”

“Isn’t that so?” Mu Yunshen gave a slight smile.

Bo Yezhou’s gaze sharpened. “So you really are the one stirring things up?”

“I wouldn’t call it stirring. I don’t even know how she found out. But there weren’t many people who knew where I was going or what I was doing that day. It’s no wonder she suspects him—I do too.”

“Precisely because so few knew, Teacher would never pick that moment to act!”

“True enough. So? Did you come here just to tell me this?”

“Don’t you see the problem in what I’m saying?” Bo Yezhou narrowed his eyes. “You and Su Wan are not a good match.”

“Then who is? You?”

Truth be told, Bo Yezhou had dealt with all sorts of people over the years, in every kind of setting, but he’d never met anyone quite like Mu Yunshen. When Mu Yunshen said that last line, Bo Yezhou was caught completely off guard.

Mu Yunshen looked at him. “Officer Bo?”

Bo Yezhou regained his composure. “Whether it’s me or anyone else, anyone would be a better match for her than you!”

Mu Yunshen burst out laughing.

He looked at him. “You’re confident, Officer Bo. But in your eyes, am I really so worthless?”

“It’s not that you’re worthless. You’re just from entirely different worlds!”

“How so? I’m from Earth, she’s from Earth.”

Bo Yezhou was left speechless.

Mu Yunshen stood, looking down at him. “Don’t bother trying to persuade me. Even if Su Yichuan pointed a gun at my head and told me to leave his daughter, I’d tell him to pull the trigger instead.”

“If you have nothing else, Officer Bo, please leave.” With that, Mu Yunshen turned to go. He’d barely taken two steps when his phone rang.

He answered. “Hello?”

“Brother Shen, something’s happened—sister-in-law… something’s happened to her!”

…

Roaring flames lit up half the sky.

Several fire engines were already parked downstairs, but the blaze was still out of control, growing fiercer by the minute.

When Mu Yunshen arrived, he stared at the fire for a long time, then turned and rushed straight inside.

“Sir, you can’t go in!” Security tried to stop him.

Mu Yunshen didn’t even look at them, only tried harder to force his way in. Bo Yezhou soon arrived as well and asked, “Is anyone still inside?”

“We’re not sure. The fire is too intense—our people can’t get in.”

“What do you mean, can’t get in? If you wait until it’s safe, everyone inside will already be dead! Let me in! If you won’t go, then let me!”

Mu Yunshen’s eyes were bloodshot, but the firefighters still blocked him with all their strength.

Mu Yunshen turned to Bo Yezhou. “Make them move! Aren’t you a police officer? Do you want her to burn alive in there?!”

Bo Yezhou pressed his lips together. “I trust them.”

Mu Yunshen gave a cold laugh, strode forward, and punched one of the men in the face. Before the others could react, he rushed inside.

“Stop! Are you crazy? Do you have a death wish?!”

Bo Yezhou stood there, fists clenched at his sides, but in the end, he let his hands fall.

…

Mu Yunshen charged upstairs, avoiding the elevator, taking the stairs two at a time. He kicked open the door, and flames leapt toward him.

“Su Wan! Su Wan!”

No answer. Mu Yunshen stripped off his shirt, wrapped it around himself, and plunged inside.

The room was an inferno, thick smoke and acrid stench forcing his brows together. He searched frantically, then spotted the bathroom door tightly shut.

“Su Wan, are you in there?!”

He began pounding on the door, but there was almost no response inside.

Without hesitation, Mu Yunshen kicked the door open.

Inside, someone was curled up in the bathtub, covered with a blanket.

“Su Wan, Su—”

But when he saw her face, his voice dropped. “Li Man? What are you doing here?”

“Brother Shen? Brother Shen! It’s really you. I… I don’t know—I’m so scared…”

Before she could finish, Li Man burst into tears. Mu Yunshen didn’t have time to explain. He scooped her up and ran.

The sheet she wore was wet, providing some protection. Holding her, Mu Yunshen dashed out.

Li Man, still dazed, clung to him and sobbed, while Su Wan was nowhere to be found.

Mu Yunshen’s heart was in turmoil. “What happened? Why are you in Su Wan’s apartment? Where is she?!”

“I don’t know! I really don’t know!”

He let go, running a hand through his hair in frustration, turning to leave.

Bo Yezhou blocked his path. “Where are you going?”

“None of your business.” Mu Yunshen brushed past him, but before he’d gone far, Bo Yezhou called after him, “I want to find her too. So right now, you have to cooperate with us.”

Cooperate?

Mu Yunshen turned. “How?”

…

Su Wan woke to a splitting headache.

She opened her eyes, only to find darkness. After several attempts, she realized she was blindfolded.

She was tied to a chair, hands and feet bound, with no idea where she was.

“Boss Guang, looks like she’s awake.”

Voices, then footsteps drew near.

Someone removed her blindfold.

The harsh light made Su Wan squint. Once her eyes adjusted, she looked at the faces before her.

She recognized one of them—the man who had fought Mu Yunshen the last time they met.

“What do you want?” Su Wan glanced around, realizing she was in a warehouse, surrounded by piles of junk.

The man patted her cheek lightly. “What do you think we want? Mu Yunshen is one lucky bastard—last time he survived, even a bullet couldn’t kill him.”

Su Wan frowned at him.

“But even heroes fall to a beauty’s charms. I want to see how he escapes this time!”

Su Wan drew a deep breath. “This is between you and him. As a man, you’re stooping pretty low to kidnap a woman and bring her here. If word gets out, how will you show your face?”

He snorted. “Who will know you’re here?”

He jerked his chin toward the door. “See that? I’ve got a boat ready. You’ll be shipped off and sold for porn. I wonder what expression Mu Yunshen will have when he sees his woman in an adult film?”

He and the others laughed. Su Wan’s hands began to tremble. After a long moment, she said, “You know who I am. Do you really think you can get away with this?”

“We’re using black cars, black boats. By the time they find you, you’ll be ruined. My revenge will be complete—what else do I care?”

“Boss Guang, she’s quite the looker. Isn’t it a waste to just sell her? Maybe we should…”

The hungry look from the man beside her made Su Wan shudder. “Don’t you dare! If you touch me, I’ll… I’ll make you pay!”

Her voice trembled, but it only made the men’s eyes grow more dangerous.

“Is that so? Then let’s see how you’ll make us pay.”

They began to unbind her, several men lunging at once, one grabbing her arms, another her legs. She couldn’t even struggle.

“Let me go! Let me go!”

Her screams were sharp, but the men only grew wilder. The stench above her made her stomach heave. Just as one man was about to tear off her clothes, a gunshot rang out—a bullet pierced straight through his hand.

The man screamed in agony.

Boss Guang, who had been watching, turned instantly. Mu Yunshen’s gun was trained on him. “Try moving again.”

“How did you find this place?” Boss Guang quickly regained his composure and sneered, “Mu Yunshen, you can’t touch me! I belong to Master Qi now. If you kill me, you’ll be crossing Master Qi—do you dare?”

“Is that so?” Mu Yunshen smiled, turned his gun, and shot him in the leg.

“I may not kill you, but I’ll make sure you’re crippled.”