Chapter Thirty: An Unexpected Blind Date

Su Mian assumed Lin Xiu wanted to see her, so she reluctantly called a taxi and headed to the restaurant.

Upon arriving, she searched the area but could not find Lin Xiu. She even double-checked the table number, fearing she had misremembered the location, as a man was currently seated at the spot Lin Xiu had specified.

"Are you Su Mian?"

Just as Su Mian was about to leave, the man approached her with a smile.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Chen Fang. You’re in the right place, please sit."

With a look of confusion, Su Mian sat down opposite him.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Aren't we on a blind date?" the man asked, interpreting her blank expression.

Su Mian was stunned. She had originally thought Lin Xiu wanted to reconnect, but it seemed the old saying held true: old habits die hard. She should have known that Lin Xiu wouldn't change her ways so easily.

She found the man’s incessant self-introduction incredibly annoying. However, since he appeared respectable and well-mannered, she didn't want to be overly harsh. Still, having no intention of dragging this out, she decided to be direct.

"I apologize. I thought I was meeting my mother for dinner and had no idea this was a blind date. I have no interest in one, so I won't take up any more of your time. I’ll cover the bill."

As Su Mian prepared to leave and pay, Chen Fang followed her.

"Is that so? I apologize for the presumption. But since we’ve met, let me at least drive you home."

Su Mian shook her head. "No thank you, I have work to finish."

Chen Fang feigned distress, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Are you looking down on me? Or am I really that much of a failure?"

Feeling awkward, Su Mian eventually gave in to his request.

"Don't feel bad. It’s my honor to drive a beautiful woman home."

Throughout the journey, Chen Fang tried hard to make conversation, while Su Mian spent the time on her phone, firing off messages to Lin Xiu. Receiving no satisfactory answers, she eventually turned off her phone and stared ahead.

"Right here is fine, thank you."

Su Mian gave an address a short distance from her apartment building. Even though Chen Fang seemed decent enough, her intuition told her not to fully trust him.

"Alright then, until next time."

Su Mian took it as a polite formality, bade him farewell, and pretended to walk toward the building. Only after confirming through the glass that his car had driven away did she emerge and head toward Luming Apartments.

She didn't forget to dial Lin Xiu’s number again. It hadn't been convenient while in Chen Fang's car, but now, she was determined to get an explanation.

The calls went unanswered the entire way. Frustrated, Su Mian unlocked her door. No sooner had she set down her bag than the doorbell rang.

She wondered if it could be Lin Xiu, or perhaps Wen Ke-ning, as the two had previously planned to get together at her place.

Su Mian cracked the door open to peek outside, but upon seeing who it was, her instinct was to slam it shut immediately. However, the man outside anticipated the move and wedged himself in the doorway.

"Why the rush to close the door? Won't you invite me in for a cup of tea?"

It was none other than Chen Fang, who had just left.

"Tea? Haven't I made myself clear enough?" Su Mian had intended to remain polite, but the lecherous look in his eyes made her deeply uncomfortable. "I am home now, please leave."

Dropping his facade, Chen Fang grinned broadly. "Your mother wasn't lying—you really do live alone. Actually, you like me, don't you? That act earlier was just playing hard to get, which is why I followed you."

A chill ran down Su Mian’s spine. She tried to pull the door shut and push him out, but she was no match for the physical strength of an adult male. After a struggle, Su Mian was pushed to the floor.

"I advise you not to struggle and just cooperate. If you become my girlfriend, I promise I’ll treat you well."

As Chen Fang moved toward her, Su Mian scrambled to her feet and kicked him squarely in the groin. He doubled over in pain, clutching himself, and glared at her with a vicious expression.

"You bitch, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. The fact that I was able to get here means your mother approved of this. Why are you putting on this act of purity?"

Su Mian was incensed. "Don't you know I'm an adult? I have my own mind. This is the first time I've seen someone act like a hooligan with such self-righteousness. I suggest you leave, or don't blame me for what happens next."

Despite her words, she was terrified. Chen Fang’s face had turned pale from the pain, but he showed no signs of backing down.

"What happens next? I'd like to see what you could possibly do—unless you mean in bed!"

As he spewed filth and crawled toward her like a madman, Su Mian backed away, trembling, until she felt a vase on the coffee table. She hurled it at him. The vase shattered, leaving Chen Fang covered in blood. As she looked up, the man’s expression grew even more savage.

Su Mian picked up a shard of the broken porcelain, ignoring the sting of the sharp edge cutting her hand. As Chen Fang drew closer, her strength began to fade; her wrist grew weak, and the shard slipped from her fingers onto the floor.

Just as she felt pure despair, she didn't feel the disgusting touch she had feared. Instead, she heard a grunt beside her. Su Mian opened her eyes to see Qin Yunzheng walking over, kicking the man to the ground. He quickly pulled her up, his face full of concern.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

In that moment, seeing Qin Yunzheng, Su Mian felt a sense of disorientation, as if she had returned to the time they were together. Back then, he would also stop at nothing to protect her.

Seeing that Su Mian was too shocked to speak, Qin Yunzheng turned his fury on Chen Fang, beating him relentlessly. Having already been struck by the vase and kicked in the groin, Chen Fang was no match for Qin Yunzheng and was soon begging for mercy. Once he had vented his rage, Qin Yunzheng called the police.

Due to the sensitive nature of the incident, all three were taken to the police station. Fortunately, the hallway had security cameras, and Chen Fang’s actions were captured clearly. Su Mian and Qin Yunzheng were able to leave after providing their statements.

Seeing her in such a state, Qin Yunzheng felt a heavy ache in his heart. To him, Su Mian had always been gentle, optimistic, and sunny. Even when she was down, she had never been this broken—like a poor, frightened little rabbit.

He had come to Luming Apartments on a whim, and just as he was about to leave, he heard the sounds of an argument and shattering glass. He hadn't stopped to think; his instincts had driven him to rush in.

"Thank you for helping me."

Standing in the wind outside the police station, Su Mian squeezed out the words before turning to leave.

"Don't move. I’ll call a car to take you to the hospital."

Su Mian didn't refuse or speak; she simply waited for him to make the arrangements. Soon, she was at the hospital undergoing a full examination, and her cuts were dressed. Qin Yunzheng, however, was pulled aside by the attending physician.

"Beyond the physical injuries, the patient's psychological state cannot be ignored. Please be mindful of her emotions, and if possible, seek professional psychological counseling."

Qin Yunzheng emerged with a complex expression to find Su Mian sitting on a chair, waiting.

"Is there anywhere else you're in pain? Let me take you for a consultation." Seeing her dull, hollow eyes, he added urgently, "Mianmian, this is not the time to be stubborn. I am very worried about you."

His gaze was fixed on her with intense concern. Su Mian’s thoughts drifted, and it took a long time for her to snap back to reality. She looked up at him blankly.

"Thank you for coming to help me today."

Qin Yunzheng didn't want to hear her thanks; it made the distance between them feel insurmountable. "I just never imagined that so soon after you moved out, something like this would happen. Why don't you move back? I’ve fully recovered—let me take care of you from now on."

If he had lacked a reason to convince her to return before, he now had a compelling one. But the answer he received was not what he had hoped for.

Su Mian’s tone was unnervingly calm. "Thank you for today, but that is all. Let’s consider us even. From now on, let’s go our separate ways."