CHAPTER 41: 41. THE GLASS SHATTERS AT THE SOUND.

In a cramped space, she was forcibly held by the man... The unbearable memories crashed down like a giant wave, submerging Shi Nian. She struggled with all her might but found herself unable to breathe. Helpless and confused, she resisted in vain, but the force was too overwhelming to overcome. She choked in despair and began to sob hoarsely.

"Dad, save me. Dad, help me..."

Her struggling arms grew heavier and heavier, like those of someone drowning, gradually losing the strength to resist.

Yet Xiang Yuan did not loosen his grip; instead, the flames in his eyes burned even hotter, his scorching breath seeping into Shi Nian’s torn collar.

His actions became more frantic: "Oh, my dear, you’re back again. Do you know, I love you best like this? The first time I saw you, you were so fragile and helpless, your face stained with broken tears, clinging tightly to my hand. You asked, ’Can you save me from here? Can you take me away?’... Oh, my dear, I truly loved you at that moment."

What was he saying? It was as if Shi Nian, submerged in water, couldn’t make out anything clearly, hearing only the muffled bubbles rising and bursting.

It was then—

A sudden, loud, shattering sound broke Xiang Yuan’s trance, mercilessly pulling Shi Nian from the "deep water."

Escaping the "deep water," Shi Nian could finally breathe. She clutched her chest, gasping heavily for air.

As her vision refocused and her scattered senses returned, both of them realized that the windshield had been smashed to pieces!

The wind and voices rushed in through the now-open front window, snapping Shi Nian fully awake. She gasped softly and hurriedly used her coat to cover herself.

Huddled in her coat, she despairingly saw the man standing in front of the car—a police uniform that was once impeccably crisp, now clutching a baseball bat. The glass had shattered, slipping down sorrowfully, yet the tautness in his body hadn’t relaxed. Behind the Ray-Bans, his thin red lips curled into an almost cruel arc.

Xiang Yuan clumsily straightened himself up, realizing before Shi Nian the imposing officer standing by the car. Xiang Yuan blinked, incredulous, and asked, "Yanqing?"

.

Tang Yanqing ignored Xiang Yuan, tossing the baseball bat through the car window, aiming straight at Xiang Yuan’s face. Xiang Yuan hurriedly raised his hands to shield himself.

Tang Yanqing then unbuttoned his shirt, shrugged off his uniform, and walked over to drape it over Shi Nian.

He shielded Shi Nian’s head and face with his elbow and turned to the onlookers, coldly commanding, "Disperse!"

The outside gradually quieted, and Shi Nian clutched the uniform tightly, tears of humiliation streaming down.

Thankfully, this wasn’t China, otherwise, the crowd of onlookers would be several layers deep, and they wouldn’t be easily deterred by an officer’s command.

As the surrounding quieted, Xiang Yuan regained his composure and asked again, "Yanqing, what on earth is going on?"

Tang Yanqing lifted his chin arrogantly, coldly glaring at Xiang Yuan through his sunglasses: "Do I know you? Call me Sir, now!"

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[Two more Chapters coming~]