Chapter 111: The Safest Place Beside Him

"Do you know me?" Li Mingye pulled Zhang Xiluo back, shielding her in his arms. His gaze was sharp, his voice icy. "State your purpose. Don't waste my time."

Li Mingye remained unflustered, his imposing presence only intensifying. Even knowing the men wanted his life, he showed no trace of fear.

Listening to the steady rhythm of Li Mingye's heartbeat, Zhang Xiluo felt her panic subside. Every time she had been in danger, Li Mingye had been the one to save her. She trusted that this time, too, he would lead her to safety.

"Who in Dragon City doesn't know you?" the kidnapper snarled, brandishing his knife. "You're a profiteer, an evildoer who crushes the weak. You're a scoundrel who deserves to be torn to pieces."

"For your own gain, you've ruined countless families! And yet, here you are, with the leisure to take a woman for a drive on the mountain. I want ten million. If it's not here in an hour, I'll kill her first."

The kidnapper yanked hard on Zhang Xiluo. Fearing she would be hurt, Li Mingye let her go.

As Zhang Xiluo was dragged from the car, Li Mingye followed. He pulled out his phone and called Zhao Chengyi. "Ten million. Deliver it to the mountain restaurant in one hour."

Zhao Chengyi hesitated for a moment, but Li Mingye continued, "From the company safe. The combination is in the notebook in my desk drawer."

He hung up the moment he finished speaking.

The kidnapper holding Zhang Xiluo kept his eyes fixed on her face, his expression lecherous. Zhang Xiluo glared at him, struggling, "Let me go!"

Li Mingye tried to move toward her but was blocked by the other kidnappers. He glanced at the blade held inches from his face, sneered, and continued to step forward regardless.

"Are you tired of living?"

"If you can take it, then go ahead." Li Mingye walked forward as he spoke, forcing the man to retreat step by step.

Reaching Zhang Xiluo, Li Mingye pulled her to his side. The man who loathed him struck out, landing a punch. Li Mingye’s expression remained grim as he struck back. He had decent combat skills and was well-equipped to handle the few men in front of him.

*Even when he’s fighting, he’s so captivating,* she thought. *Fate is truly unfair.*

"Grab the woman!"

Someone shouted, and a kidnapper lunged for Zhang Xiluo. She thrashed her arms, dodging his reach. She hid behind Li Mingye, moving in sync with him—only by his side was she safe.

Li Mingye’s movements slowed as he grew distracted by her presence, and he was nearly struck by a weapon. As he dodged, Zhang Xiluo was left exposed. The man who hated him seized the opportunity and threw a punch at her face.

"Watch out!" Li Mingye cried out, choosing to shield her with his own body. He took the blow to his chest. A blade concealed in the man’s ring pierced through his clothes.

"I never imagined, President Li, that you were such a sentimental man. Caring so much for your ex-wife." The man recognized Zhang Xiluo and offered a mocking, sarcastic smirk. "Was the divorce a sham, too?"

"If you want to talk, show your face. Otherwise, shut up. The money will be here soon." Li Mingye shielded Zhang Xiluo, his cold eyes fixed on them, still devoid of fear.

Zhang Xiluo looked at his bleeding chest and reached out to press against the wound, but he stopped her. She looked closely; it wasn't bleeding heavily, and she knew better than to interfere in such a situation. Still, the sight of blood made her uneasy.

"President Li, you certainly have character." The man hated him but didn't dare move against him again. "I wonder if you’ll still have so much character when you’re dead."

"If you dared to kill me, you would have done it already. Why all this empty chatter?" Li Mingye glanced at Zhang Xiluo and took off his coat, draping it over her shoulders.

The scent of blood was overwhelming, and Zhang Xiluo couldn't help but stifle a gag.

"I'm sorry. I've been hemophobic since three years ago. It’s not about you," she whispered, unable to escape the shadow of that trauma.

Li Mingye frowned, a flicker of concern crossing his eyes, though his words remained biting. "Just make do. It’s better than freezing to death."

"It would be better if you didn't speak at all," she retorted, pulling the coat tighter. It smelled of him, though the scent of tobacco was stronger than usual.

"How long do we have to wait?" someone asked impatiently.

"Ask and find out," Li Mingye said, pulling out his phone. He dialed Zhao Chengyi’s number and put it on speaker. "Where is the money?"

"Brother Li, almost there. Twenty more minutes."

"Understood."

Li Mingye hung up and scanned the men around him. Zhang Xiluo wondered what he was thinking. Ten million in cash was nothing to him—did he really intend to pay them?

Judging by the man’s words, he held a deep grudge against Li Mingye. Even if they got the money, they wouldn't let him go easily. She knew Li Mingye wasn't a bad man; he didn't do anything illegal in his pursuit of profit. There must be a misunderstanding, or perhaps someone contracted by the Li Group had done something unlawful, and the blame was being pinned on him.

The night grew late, and the mountain wind picked up. It was early spring, and the air was biting; the wind made them shiver.

"Brother Li." Zhao Chengyi arrived, carrying a large briefcase. "The ten million is here. Let her go."

At the mention of the money, the greed in the men's eyes behind their sunglasses became palpable. One of them demanded Zhao Chengyi open the case.

Zhao Chengyi complied, pulled out a stack of bills, and flipped through a few. "It's real. Release her now."

"Release the woman." The man who hated Li Mingye shoved Zhang Xiluo away. "This money is only worth this woman."

The price was far lower than what Li Mingye had valued her at. *Women are becoming less and less valuable.*

As Zhang Xiluo stood dazed, Zhao Chengyi pulled her behind him. "Get in the car. Don't come out."

"Okay."

As soon as she was in the car, Zhao Chengyi scattered the case of money onto the ground, forcing them to scramble for it. Li Mingye moved to leave, but the man lunged at him with a weapon. Before he could reach him, the sound of police sirens echoed from all sides.

"Li Mingye, you won't get away with this!"

"I curse you to the eighteenth level of hell!"

As they were dragged into police cars, the man continued to scream curses at Li Mingye. Li Mingye remained expressionless, offering no response.

His tires had been slashed, so he was left behind at the scene. Zhao Chengyi drove Zhang Xiluo back to Qinyuan first.

"He's injured. Take him to the hospital," Zhang Xiluo said, taking off Li Mingye’s coat and handing it to Zhao Chengyi. She looked at Li Mingye one last time before closing the car door and leaving.

With all the commotion, it was already eleven o'clock when she reached home. Seeing that her parents hadn't returned yet, she let out a sigh of relief.

She plugged in her phone and went to wash up and change. When she finished, she saw a text from Xu Xinyi. Xu Xinyi had a blind date and wanted Zhang Xiluo to accompany her, mostly to find a way to make the man lose interest.

Knowing her friend's intentions, Zhang Xiluo readily agreed. She had wanted to ask about Li Mingye’s condition, but she held back. It was better to focus on tomorrow’s plans.