The woman in the red fishtail dress was eventually taken out by Shang Gong.
However, Shang Gong hadn't expected that before he could even escort the woman in the red fishtail dress out of the mansion, the sound of police sirens would erupt ahead.
"Young Master." Shang Gong turned, seeking instructions from Mu Qi.
"Don't mind it..." Mu Qi replied calmly, but before he could finish, Yun Shunnian tugged at his sleeve.
Yun Shunnian: "Wait a moment."
Mu Qi looked at Yun Shunnian with a questioning gaze.
"I called the police."
For a moment, Yun Shunnian felt inexplicably a little guilty.
"So, darling, what do you want?" Mu Qi asked, tilting his head slightly, his gaze gentle.
"Just... just let the police take her away." Yun Shunnian said timidly.
"You want to go to the police station?"
"Ah?"
Yun Shunnian didn't understand why Mu Qi said that.
She clearly wanted to send the person to the police station, so why did he say she wanted to go sit at the police station?
"When you report a case, the person making the report has to go to the police station to give a statement."
Seeing Yun Shunnian's bewildered expression, Mu Qi knew what she was confused about. He reached out and ruffled her hair, a faint smile playing on his lips.
'Am I going to the police station with Nian Nian?'
Mu Qi mused silently, suddenly feeling a little happy.
Going to the police station wasn't a good or bad thing for Mu Qi.
But if he went with Yun Shunnian, Mu Qi felt a certain joy.
It felt as if, no matter where they were from that point on, he and Yun Shunnian would be together.
They would be together for a long time.
This feeling, for Mu Qi, who lacked a sense of security with Yun Shunnian, was like a much-needed rain after a long drought.
"Who called the police?"
Just as Yun Shunnian was mesmerized by Mu Qi's smile, a policeman suddenly appeared in the hall.
Yun Shunnian snapped back to attention and immediately raised her hand like a good child.
"What's going on?"
Yun Shunnian didn't answer immediately but walked towards the policeman first. Mu Qi followed closely behind.
"State the reason for your report."
The policeman, seeing Yun Shunnian remain silent, was about to get angry, but upon seeing her young face, he involuntarily softened his tone.
Yun Shunnian paused for a few seconds, then spoke, politely declining the policeman's inquiry.
"Excuse me, you see, today is my friend's birthday, and I don't want to affect her mood. How about we go to the police station to talk?"
Mu Qi seemed quite eager to visit the police station.
Yun Shunnian thought to herself, it was clear that the excuse about her friend's birthday and not wanting to affect her mood was just a pretense.
"Alright then." The policeman didn't think much of it and walked ahead.
However, before long, he heard the two sets of footsteps following behind and felt something was amiss, so he turned around again.
"And who is this?"
Oh, I mean, it's not a big deal, you can come alone."
The policeman glanced at Mu Qi, who was holding Yun Shunnian's hand tightly, and quickly shifted his gaze back to Yun Shunnian.
Mu Qi's aura was too powerful; the officer instinctively felt that Mu Qi was a dangerous person.
"Oh, this is my husband. My husband has to accompany me."
Yun Shunnian's heart leaped when she heard the policeman say that.
She had asked to go to the police station mainly because of Mu Qi's smile just now, so how could she possibly go without him?
Mu Qi watched Yun Shunnian's profile as she listened intently, not saying a word, as if the person who had just spoken so sharply wasn't him at all.
Shang Gong watched this scene, utterly bewildered.
It was only when he saw Yun Shunnian blurt out the word "husband" and Mu Qi's lips curve into a smile that was as cheap as it was heartfelt, that Shang Gong finally understood.
The policeman, hearing Yun Shunnian's explanation, hesitated and glanced at Mu Qi again before finally agreeing.
Seeing this, Yun Shunnian took Mu Qi's hand and followed behind him.
Everyone thought the incident was over.
However, to everyone's astonishment, the sound of police sirens continued, and the wail of an ambulance could be heard from not far away.
Hearing this, Mu Qi looked at Yun Shunnian anxiously.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Mu Qi, concerned, reached out to check on Yun Shunnian.
Yun Shunnian quickly explained, "I didn't call the ambulance. I'm fine."
Not long after, a group of medical personnel rushed into the pavilion, guided by the Ning family servants, towards the back garden.
Yun Shunnian stopped in her tracks. Before she could react, the medical team emerged from the back garden, carrying someone.
The person was none other than the one who had seemed so familiar with Ning Jing earlier. At the same time, Ning Jing followed closely behind, with Ning Chen also keeping a close eye on Ning Jing.
Only then did Yun Shunnian realize what was happening. Knowing that Ning Jing was out of danger, she felt relieved and got into the police car with Mu Qi.
-------------------------------------
"Brother, why did you hit him?" In the hospital corridor, Ning Jing asked Ning Chen with tears in her eyes.
"I..." Ning Chen's throat bobbed, his face stiff. He avoided Ning Jing's gaze.
When Ning Chen tried to speak, he found himself utterly incapable of defending himself to Ning Jing.
How could he explain?
Was he supposed to tell the person who had treated him as a brother for years that his feelings for her had long since changed?
Was he supposed to tell her that he couldn't accept her being with that man named Wang and that he wanted that man to break up with her?
He dared not.
He feared that Ning Jing would sever all ties with him, and he wouldn't even be a stranger she could pursue.
"Brother..."
Ning Jing could only utter that one word with a trembling voice before she could continue to question Ning Chen.
She admired him so much, and with that single question, it felt as if her heart was being stabbed.
Ten seconds passed, and Ning Chen still hadn't heard Ning Jing continue.
Ning Chen's hands unclenched and then tightened. Then, as if he could no longer control himself, he abruptly pulled Ning Jing into his embrace.
Due to the sudden momentum, Ning Jing was forced backward. Ning Chen shielded the back of her head with one hand, and they both ended up pressed against the wall.
Ning Chen buried his face in Ning Jing's neck, his entire body trembling from excessive tension.
He was panicked.
Ning Chen was a child of the Ning family, subjected to unusually strict upbringing from a young age.
Growing up by imitating and learning from the adults around him, Ning Chen had long forgotten what it felt like to be flustered, afraid, or insecure.
Until Ning Jing entered his world.