Volume One, Chapter Two: If They Elope Again, Break His Legs

Whether or not it was real, to see Ninth Master once more was enough for her. All she wanted was to hold him tightly. It didn’t matter if she herself met a miserable end, but she could not bear the thought that she had caused Ninth Master’s hair to turn white overnight, that her actions had driven him to cough up blood in his fury.

He was, after all, the most esteemed and noble man in all of the capital—the head of the first family, the Qin clan, the ninth son, Qin Zhan.

With such a status, he had no ties to her, yet he risked his life to protect her. How could she have been so blind, failing to see the goodness in him? Instead, she had chosen to elope with that heartless wretch, dragging Ninth Master into a car accident.

Li Qiuning, sobbing, threw herself into Ninth Master’s arms, her hands clinging tightly around his neck as her tears slipped down her cheeks and fell upon his skin.

“Ninth Master, I’m so glad you’re all right... ugh...” The moment she opened her mouth, she couldn’t help but retch a couple of times, her eyes even redder with tears, looking as pitiful as a frightened little rabbit.

Qin Zhan, worried she might fall, had already wrapped his arm around her slender waist. He hadn’t expected her to climb right onto his lap. His cold, lowered gaze fell on her face—her pregnancy had brought such severe reactions that she was nearly always nauseous.

The girl was extraordinarily beautiful, like a Barbie doll shaped by the most delicate hands. Her soft, innocent features possessed a breathtaking allure.

“Ning’er, I didn’t die in that crash. You must be terribly disappointed. What a pity—you won’t be able to attend your own engagement party tomorrow.” The man’s voice was startlingly low and indifferent, and the hand around her waist tightened with increasing force.

Secretary Zhang, waiting at the door with his head lowered, didn’t know what to make of all this. Moments ago, when they’d given chase, they’d nearly fallen into Shang Lu’s trap. If the driver hadn’t reacted quickly, Ninth Master might truly have been lost.

Li Qiuning’s frail body shuddered, her tearful eyes fixed on him as she shook her head desperately. “Ninth Master, I don’t want to be engaged to Shang Lu anymore... ugh... I know I was wrong. From now on, I’ll always listen to you!”

Forcing herself to speak despite her nausea, she resolved that no matter what, she would never again do anything foolish or trust those wolves in human clothing.

Only Ninth Master was truly good to her. She couldn’t let him down a second time.

Qin Zhan watched her tear-stained face on the verge of collapse, her lashes wet with sorrow. She had been crying ever since he’d brought her back three hours ago.

His gaze lingered on her bloodless lips, and he reached out to pinch her cheek. “Is that so?”

Li Qiuning, desperate to survive, nodded vigorously. She truly knew she was wrong and clutched at his clothes with all her strength.

“I was thoughtless before, foolishly believing Shang Lu’s sweet words... Besides, a child needs a father, and he seemed the most likely. That’s why I... made a desperate mistake. But I’ve discovered their scheme—Shang Lu never intended to marry me or acknowledge my child...”

“He... sob... he only toyed with me to please Li Qingran. He’s known all along that nothing happened between us that night. He’s not the child’s father...” The more she spoke, the more wronged she felt, a mountain of hatred gathering in her eyes. If this wasn’t a dream, if she truly had been reborn, she would make them pay dearly.

She knew her sudden change would not easily earn his trust, but all she could do was shift all the blame onto others—she was merely young and naïve, deceived by their malicious intent.

At the door, Secretary Zhang was stupefied. This Miss Li changed sides faster than flipping a page—had she forgotten how she’d rather die than yield moments ago, how she’d even threatened Ninth Master with a knife to her own throat?

Women, truly fickle. No doubt this was just another act to lower Ninth Master’s guard.

Qin Zhan didn’t care about such things. All he wanted was for Li Qiuning to stay quietly by his side, never again to think of running away with anyone else.

“Not nauseous anymore?” he suddenly asked.

Li Qiuning, confused, nodded blankly, licking her dry lips, parched with thirst.

Qin Zhan was attentive—he noticed her need and ordered someone to bring her a glass of water.

It was only after drinking a full glass that Li Qiuning felt alive again. She shifted uncomfortably on his lap, her bare feet twisting as she tried to find a better position.

“If you’re uncomfortable sitting, then stand.” Qin Zhan put her shoes on for her, then seized her wrist and pulled her outside.

At some point, it had begun to rain.

Li Qiuning shivered in the chill breeze.

Qin Zhan took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, his arm sliding around her waist in a possessive embrace, giving her no chance to escape.

A year ago, Li Qiuning’s true origins had been revealed—she was not the real eldest daughter of the Li family; someone else was the true heiress. When Li Qingran returned, she faced a choice between returning to her birth parents or staying with the Li family.

But because of Qin Zhan, she had no choice at all. This man, seven or eight years her senior, had forcibly taken her to the Qin estate.

Whenever she resisted or tried to escape, she was confined, cut off from everyone.

What she never understood was why Ninth Master, so feared and rumored to be indifferent to women, would treat her this way.

Perhaps, at the moment of her death, she had a vague inkling, but could not be sure, for everyone said Qin Zhan had made a seven-year vow to another woman.

“Bring him here.”

In the cold wind, the man’s voice was especially merciless.

In Qin Zhan’s arms, Li Qiuning saw two men dragging the half-dead Shang Lu over, the scene especially grim in the rainy night.

Shang Lu, catching sight of her, immediately struggled to rise. “Ningning, did he hurt you? Don’t worry about me, I’m fine... I’ll get you out of here, I promise.”

Li Qiuning could only feel revulsion at his feigned sincerity, and indeed, she was sick enough to actually retch.

“If you try to elope with him again, I’ll break his legs.”

Qin Zhan stood facing the wind, shielding her from the biting cold. Their clothes overlapped in the gusts, and his gaze toward Shang Lu was icy and unfeeling.

Li Qiuning’s hair whipped wildly in the wind. “If I don’t run away with him, will you still break his legs?”

Her words were shocking, as if she cared nothing for the other’s fate.

A strange, sinister expression flickered across Qin Zhan’s face, and he ordered the bodyguards to act without hesitation.

“As you wish.”

Shang Lu stared at her in disbelief. Li Qiuning—did she really allow someone to break his legs?

“Ningning, what’s gotten into you? Has Qin Zhan threatened you? I’ll fight him, I swear I’ll get you out! I promise we’ll be engaged!”

He made his vows with deep emotion, but was pressed into the foul mud, crying out in desperate humiliation.

The bodyguards did not hold back as they carried out their orders.

Li Qiuning listened to his howls with pleasure. “Ninth Master... ugh...”

Perhaps she was too excited, for she accidentally retched onto Qin Zhan’s bespoke suit.

Startled, she tried to retreat a step.

Qin Zhan thought she was trying to run again, revealing her true colors so soon after putting on an act. He grabbed her wrist in an iron grip, his gaze chilling.

“Where do you think you’re going?”