Savage Kiss - Chapter 27

Xu Qingyi found the whole thing utterly absurd.

She didn’t believe such things could happen. Even when her classmates or colleagues had ostracized her in the past, no one had ever considered causing her physical harm, after all, that would be breaking the law.

She pushed Shen Yanzhou out the door, changed her clothes, and left. This time, he didn’t stop her, only followed her for a short distance.

“Call me if anything happens,” he said.

He probably didn’t know she had blocked him.

Xu Qingyi had a simple meal with Shi Qing and, as usual, made sure to send him off first, refusing to let him walk her back to her apartment.

Having woken up too early that day, she took a nap as soon as she got home, then retreated to her small workspace. By the time she finished, it was already dark outside.

Shi Qing had work the next day but insisted on playing a couple of rounds of games with her that night.

Xu Qingyi was always intensely focused when gaming, tuning out all surrounding noise.

Close to midnight, she urged Shi Qing to go to bed and was about to log off when she got up to use the bathroom.

After a few steps, she paused, suspicion creeping in as she glanced toward the front door.

By the time she reached her bedroom door, the sound from outside became unmistakable, soft, metallic clicks, like someone was picking the lock.

Shen Yanzhou?

She thought he wouldn’t stoop that low.

Her breathing quickened as she recalled Shen Yanzhou’s warning earlier that day. Could it actually be true?

She turned back to grab her phone and immediately dialed the police, then cautiously peered through the peephole.

A man in a black baseball cap was hunched over, fiddling with the lock.

Unsure if the police would arrive before the intruder succeeded, she kicked the door once, hoping to scare him off by signaling that someone was home.

Instead, the man looked up, his eyes locking onto the peephole before grinning at her, a chilling, sinister smile.

A shiver ran down her spine.

She knew better than to try barricading the door with her body. If the man got in, she wouldn’t stand a chance, it would only get her killed faster.

She turned and hurried back to her bedroom, locking the door for an extra layer of protection.

Struggling to stay calm, the first person she thought of was Shen Yanzhou. Then came the restaurant owner and Liang Fanglin, people she at least knew by face.

Shi Qing crossed her mind too, but he was too far away to help in time.

By the time she unblocked Shen Yanzhou’s number, she could already hear the front door being forced open.

A loud, violent crash like a heavy kick made her grip on the phone tremble.

The call went through.

The monotonous dial tone droned on: “Beep… beep…”

Shen Yanzhou didn’t pick up. The tone continued.

Xu Qingyi knew he often missed WeChat messages and calls, but the realization didn’t ease the creeping despair.

Then, the noises outside grew louder, clattering, banging, as if someone was ransacking the place.

But if she listened closely, there were also low, pained groans.

The next few minutes or maybe just two or three, she couldn’t tell, felt like an eternity. Her palms were slick with sweat.

Shen Yanzhou’s call still hadn’t been answered.

The police had told her to stay on the line. “Describe the situation as it unfolds. We’re on our way.”

Just then, her phone buzzed with an incoming call.

Xu Qingyi saw Shen Yanzhou’s number flash on the screen.

The police urged her not to hang up, but before she could decide, a text from Shen Yanzhou came through:

[Open the door.]

The moment she switched to answer his call, a knock sounded at her bedroom door.

“It’s me.”

Shen Yanzhou’s voice was deep, steady. Reassuring.

Xu Qingyi stepped out of the wardrobe and took a step forward, only to realize her legs had gone weak. Before she knew it, she had stumbled and fallen hard to the ground.

Her phone clattered onto the floor, but thankfully the screen didn’t go black.

Shen Yanzhou must have heard the sound of her fall through the phone because he called out, “Xu Qingyi.”

She grabbed her phone, pushed herself up with her arms, and hurried over to open the door.

Shen Yanzhou stood at the entrance, phone pressed to his ear. The moment he saw her, the worry in his eyes seemed to fade instantly, replaced by a deep, inscrutable darkness.

He casually ended the call and quickly scanned her from head to toe. “As long as you’re fine. The guy’s knocked out, I’ll take him to the police station later. It’s got nothing to do with you.”

“Go ahead and rest.”

As he spoke, Shen Yanzhou had already turned to leave, his demeanor calm throughout the entire exchange.

His footsteps paused briefly in the living room.

He glanced back at her. “A lot of things got broken. Tally them up, and I’ll compensate you later.”

Xu Qingyi felt cold from head to toe, her fingertips trembling slightly. His words irritated her.

He had saved her, and now he was offering to pay for the damages? Did he really think she was that kind of person?

When she looked up, she noticed blood on his face and one arm held stiffly, clearly injured.

She didn’t dare imagine what would have happened if that level of violence had been directed at her. Would she have been left for dead?

The sound of police sirens was already approaching the building.

Shen Yanzhou looked at her. “You called the police?”

Xu Qingyi was still a bit slow to react and only nodded.

It wasn’t until he reached the door that she finally found her voice. “Wait… your injuries…”

Shen Yanzhou stopped and casually kicked the unconscious man on the floor. “He might wake up soon.”

Meaning if there was nothing else, he’d take the guy down to the police as quickly as possible.

Besides, this man wasn’t Zhang Jinsi. Shen Yanzhou needed to figure out the situation as soon as possible.

Xu Qingyi stayed silent for the moment. While Shen Yanzhou hauled the man up, she rummaged through the chaotic living room and found iodine and cotton swabs.

The police arrived and took the unconscious man from Shen Yanzhou at the door. “Mr. Shen? You’ll need to come with us for a statement.”

Shen Yanzhou nodded. “Sure.”

Xu Qingyi interjected, “Can you wait a second?”

She walked over, intending to wipe the blood from his face and hands, but he dodged her touch almost petulantly. “I’m fine.”

She pressed her lips together but still handed him the bottle. “Then take this with you and clean up on the way.”

The officer glanced between them and couldn’t help asking, “You two live together? A couple?”

Xu Qingyi replied, “I’m the tenant. I live alone. He just happened to help me.”

The officer studied them before turning to Xu Qingyi. “Then you’ll need to come with us too.”

Xu Qingyi had already seen the face of the man on the floor and was certain she didn’t recognize him.

So, when giving her statement, she really had nothing substantial to say. She just recounted every detail from the moment she noticed someone trying to pick the lock.

The police told her they’d contact her again once they had identified the man and determined his motives.

Shen Yanzhou took longer than her. She waited for him outside the station until he finally emerged.

The Haibin District police station wasn’t far from his repair shop, so he could walk back.

Xu Qingyi walked alongside him for a few steps before he asked, “Something else?”

She said, “Thank you.”

He replied, “No need. I’d have done the same for anyone else.”

Xu Qingyi smiled faintly. “I know. I’m nothing special to you, I won’t read into it.”

Shen Yanzhou frowned slightly.

Xu Qingyi hailed a ride on her phone while walking as she waited.

“Why were you at the apartment just now?” she asked.

Shen Yanzhou looked at her with a deep gaze. “Wasn’t waiting for you. Like I told you last time, I keep some things in the unit next door. I drop by occasionally to pick them up.”