Shen Qieyi heard an unfamiliar sound out her door. She quickly clung to her door curiously and looked out through the peephole.
She worried about what would come next. She noticed the family staying across her was coming to her rescue.
When Shen Qieyi first moved into the neighborhood, she greeted and befriended her neighbors who lived around this area.
Living across from Shen Qieyi was a small-scaled family with an adorable two-year-old daughter. They had always been a harmonious family.
The couple was both middle school teachers and had always been friendly.
They knew Shen Qieyi was living alone, and they always took good care of her. Even their little girl, Chen Ying, was affixed to her.
Shen Qieyi had always been grateful for their kindness.
Shen Qieyi bit her lip tightly as she worried that these irrational men might harm Mr. Chen.
She couldn’t wait any longer and forcefully pushed open the door. The door’s edge slammed heavily against the wall behind, making a loud bang.
The cunning old man grinned and said, “Well, well, well. Here you are, Doctor Shen.”
Shen Qieyi glared straight at him and pretended to be calm. “Just come at me for anything. Do not involve them.”
“Oh? How straightforward Doctor Shen. It just so happens that I’m only interested in you.”
That man creepily grinned at her while rubbing the rod in his hand. He then grabbed Shen Qieyi in his arms and entered her house.
She racked her brain on how she could escape this situation. At that moment, she saw someone trying to touch the pictures on the wall. She rushed to stop him despite everything.
She shrieked hysterically at him, “Don’t you dare touch these photos!”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and surrounded her.
Shen Qieyi ignored the chaos around her and held on tightly to the photo of her and her parents.
They had gone too far.
A few men threw down their weapons and stretched out their hands toward her. Some pulled her shoulder while some tried to peel her hands away from the picture in her hand.
Shen Qieyi did not budge an inch. She protected it with her life, but this enraged the men even more. They lost their mind and acted more aggressively. They kept pushing, cursing, and berating her.
In despair, Shen Qieyi yielded and let loose her hands.
They couldn’t care less about the picture. When Shen Qieyi let go, the frame fell freely to the floor and broke into pieces.
Shen Qieyi saw the ruined frame on the floor and got furious. She pulled the guy nearest to her and gave him a hard slap.
The slap was so hard it turned his head to the side, and he was stunned for a few seconds.
When he came to his senses, he grabbed her hair and pulled her closer. He then raised his other hand to her.
Everyone around was laughing at the commotion.
Shen Qieyi held her breath, closed her eyes, and stood without moving a muscle waiting for the incoming slap.
She waited a moment, yet nothing happened. Shen Qieyi then slowly opened her eyes.
Someone was there grabbing his raised hand and squeezing his fingers to bruise.
“It’s Fu Yao! Why is he here?”
Shen Qieyi motionlessly stared at Fu Yao. Seeing him here, her fears and suffering dissipated.
Fu Yao shook off his hand, and the man staggered backward.
He grabbed Shen Qieyi’s hand and pulled her behind him to shield her.
The leader had witnessed the chaos comfortably from his seat. When he noticed the commotion was not in his favor, he clapped his hand to sign his men.
“Aww… how adorable. I didn’t know you still cared for each other after the divorce.”
Fu Yao frowned at him. They both glared fiercely at each other in a staring battle.
The young man suppressed by Fu Yao earlier saw an opening for his revenge. He picked up a rod on the floor and walked around them to get to Shen Qieyi and Fu Yao.
Sounds from the debris he stepped on didn’t bother him slightly. He stopped behind Shen Qieyi and raised his rod, ready to strike.
When Fu Yao saw the leader’s pupil shift, he figured out what was will happen and grabbed Shen Qieyi toward him. He covered her head and bent his body to shield her from the attack.
It happened too fast for her to react. She heard Fu Yao’s deep groan from the pain. She could do nothing but hold on tightly to his hand.
The situation became chaotic. The rest of the men took the opportunity and rushed in to take part. They got closer and continuously struck Fu Yao with their rods.
“Fu Yao!” Shen Qieyi tearfully screamed his name.
The leader applauded and said sarcastically, “My people are rather assertive, aren’t they? I like that about them. I pitied what happened to you.”
Ever since the medical incident in the hospital, he investigated Shen Qieyi’s background. He right away recognized Fu Yao as her ex-husband.
Fu Yao suppressed his anger because he was at the shorter end of the stick. If he provoked him further, he wouldn’t be able to protect Shen Qieyi anymore.
He put up with what was happening while still trying to calm her. “Don’t be afraid.”
Hearing this, Shen Qieyi trembled and burst into tears.
Why was he here? He even got hurt because of her.
Fu Yao stood in front of her, making sure that nobody could touch her.
Amid the chaos, he looked straight at the smoking man who seemed to enjoy all this. “You are Xie Ran, aren’t you?”
That man lowered his head to flick off some dust, then raised his head to stare at Fu Yao.
Fu Yao sneered and said, “It seems like the previous punishment wasn’t enough for you.”
Shen Qieyi, who was still tugging him, paused with the statement. She didn’t expect Fu Yao to have something to do with this man.
It turned out that Fu Yao had checked out this man’s background. He decided that after watching the video of the medical incident involving Shen Qieyi.
During that, Fu Yao pressured the hospital in any way he could to keep Shen Qieyi’s job. However, he thought of the possibility that someone might still hold grudges and come for revenge.
Fu Yao had studied every detail of the investigation from the private detective. He had memorized the information just in case he might need them one day, but wouldn’t think that it will be of use now.
This man was Xie Ran. He was a member of the Xie family from the west of this city. He was the illegitimate son of Xie Zhongyi, the head of the Xie family.
The Fu family had very little acquaintance with the Xie family. The Xie family couldn’t level up to the Fu family. They always minded their own business.
Fu Yao never paid much attention to irrelevant people. Especially to a family that was regressing, he couldn’t even be bothered.
Fu Yao disdained and ridiculed him. “Is there no one else in the Xie family? How could they let an illegitimate son run riot?”
Everyone around stared at Xie Ran in shock. Reckoning if he really was an illegitimate son.
Xie Ran stood up angrily and kicked away the chair. He motioned for his men to pull them apart.
“Don’t you dare touch us!” Fu Yao roared as he scanned the surrounding.
Shen Qieyi tugged his shirt even more tightly. She was worried Fu Yao’s warning would provoke them further.
Fu Yao felt her subtle movement. He empathized yet maintained a cold expression toward Xie Ran. “What? This little fact could already agitate you?”
Xie Ran flew into a rage. “It’s not up to you, an outsider, to point fingers at my family affairs!”
Fu Yao remained calm and uttered, “Then lay your hand off from my family.”
Shen Qieyi was stunned by his words.
Without waiting for Xie Ran to refute, Fu Yao warned, “Xie Ran has the protection of the Xie family, but you don’t. If you still want to live, get lost!”
Those men who surrounded Fu Yao and Shen Qieyi looked at each other in utter confusion.
Xie Ran came closer to Fu Yao, suppressed his anger, and warned. “Don’t f*cking think about hurting my men.”
“Then behave yourself. I can help you to appease my dad for you,” Fu Yao said while glancing at the men around. “Xie Ran has the power to do whatever he wants. But think for yourself, can you face my rage?”
The men knew of Fu Yao’s strong background. They trembled at his threat.