Chapter 24

Chapter 24 You Can Try Relying on Me Too The police officer spoke in an official tone: "We've received your report, and we'll file a case for investigation on charges of rape. However, we'll also file a case regarding your intentional injury. This is after all a public prosecution case—whether it constitutes self-defense will be determined by the court." Ruan Chutang nodded. "Understood." After paying the bail, Chu Tang exited the police station and got into Jiang Shixu's car. "I'll make a call to have the case dropped on this end," Jiang Shixu said. Chu Tang shook her head. "No need. I'm confident I can walk away clean." Night shrouded them. All around was silent. Jiang Shixu's face was indistinguishable in the darkness. His voice was low. "Tangtang, every time something happens, you always bear it alone. You can try relying on me too." Chu Tang was silent for a moment. She let out a sigh. "After Mom left, I was in a slump for a long time," Chu Tang said softly. "Then my father remarried, and it felt like I no longer had anyone close to me in this world." The night was quiet. The two sat side by side in the car. Chu Tang's face was hidden in the darkness, which concealed the sorrow in her eyes. She spoke with feigned lightness: "After that, I got used to bearing everything on my own." "Because... I no longer knew who I could rely on." Jiang Shixu's heart felt as if something had stung it. He looked at Chu Tang with deep concern. "You still have me." Chu Tang didn't respond. Zhou Xueluo's words today had planted a seed in her heart. Xu Jingxuan, Jiang Shixu's nominal sister, might harbor improper feelings for Jiang Shixu. As far as she knew, Jiang Shixu was quite indulgent toward this sister of his. Although Xu Jingxuan had been scolded by Jiang Shixu yesterday for her bad attitude toward Chu Tang, it wasn't hard to see that what made Jiang Shixu angry at that moment was that Xu Jingxuan had been rude and ill-mannered, disgracing the Jiang family's name. It wasn't about standing up for her. Chu Tang knew that her place in Jiang Shixu's heart certainly couldn't compare to that sister who had grown up alongside him. If Xu Jingxuan ever came into conflict with her in the future, Jiang Shixu would definitely side with Xu Jingxuan. To prevent future disappointment, Chu Tang decided not to hold any expectations toward Jiang Shixu. Seeing that Chu Tang wasn't speaking, Jiang Shixu felt somewhat defeated. He sighed and gently ruffled Chu Tang's hair. "Tangtang, remember this—no matter when, I will always be on your side." Chu Tang kept her head lowered and gave a soft "Mm." ... After sending Chu Tang home, Jiang Shixu made a call to have the intentional injury case at the police station dropped. Then he called his assistant. "Find out which hospital those two men who harassed Tangtang are staying at. Go handle it." The tattooed man had already undergone surgery and was lying in bed resting. The yellow-haired man's bed was beside his. A masked man walked into the ward. The yellow-haired man and the tattooed man recognized this man. Earlier at the bar, this was the man who had transferred fifty thousand yuan to each of them, telling them to harass that woman. If it weren't for him, how would he have ended up in this state! Now both of his testicles were shattered—he would never have children. Was that a price fifty thousand yuan could cover? The tattooed man gritted his teeth in fury. "Fuck your grandma! Why didn't you tell us that woman was trained? I got kicked so hard I can never have kids!" "Shut up," the man said impatiently. "I'll transfer another three hundred thousand to each of you. When the police question you, say you were driven by lust. Don't reveal that someone put you up to it. Understand?" The yellow-haired man agreed immediately. "Fine." His arm was just dislocated—after a cast and some time, it would heal. Three hundred thousand was a steal. But the tattooed man wasn't satisfied. "Three hundred thousand? You think you're paying off a beggar? I've lost my manhood! I want a million!" The masked man breathed a sigh of relief. Just a million. His young mistress had said anything within five million was acceptable. As long as they confessed and didn't reveal that someone was behind it. If they exposed the instigator, the Ruan and Jiang families would investigate, and it wouldn't take long to trace it back to the young mistress. He had already planned to offer two million if the tattooed man refused. Who knew this guy could be bought off for a million? "Fine," the masked man said in a low voice. "Give me a bank account number. The money will be transferred to your accounts shortly. But if you leak even half a word, not only will you not get the money, you'll also lose your lives. Think carefully." The masked man threatened, "If you confess, the worst that happens is a few years in prison. But if you let anything slip, I'll make sure you walk in standing and come out horizontal." The tattooed man and the yellow-haired man were scared shitless. Anyone who could casually throw around over a million was clearly not someone to mess with. They believed this man could do it. ... Not long after the masked man left, Jiang Shixu's assistant Lin Sen arrived. "What's wrong, is there something else..." The tattooed man thought it was the man from earlier returning, and instinctively said this. Before he could finish his sentence, he realized the man before him wasn't the same one, and quickly cut himself off. "What?" Lin Sen's eyes were cold. "Someone was here just now?" "No." The tattooed man looked up at Lin Sen. "Who are you? Here for me?" Lin Sen asked, "Why did you harass Miss Ruan tonight?" The tattooed man said, "We were tempted by her looks. That girl's pretty, and seeing her got us brothers feeling restless." The blond-haired man nodded in agreement. "Yeah, yeah, that woman does have some charm." Lin Sen narrowed his eyes. "Watch your mouth. If you say any more filthy words, I'll have someone cut out your tongues!" As he spoke, two bodyguards in black suits stepped out from behind him. The tattooed man and the blond-haired man were stunned into silence. What was going on here? It was only then that they realized they had offended someone they couldn't afford to mess with tonight. Lin Sen asked again, "The truth? Think carefully before you answer." Recalling the threat from the masked man earlier, the tattooed man and the blond-haired man still didn't dare reveal a single word. If they talked, they wouldn't get the money—and they'd lose their lives. They insisted that they had simply been drunk and tempted by her looks. Seeing that he couldn't get anything out of them, Lin Sen left with his bodyguards. ... The next day, not long after Chu Tang had gotten up, she received a call from the police station saying that her intentional injury case had been dropped. Chu Tang wasn't particularly surprised. She knew in her heart that this was Jiang Shixu's doing. Although she was confident that when the case went to court, she could defend herself and have it ruled as self-defense, ending with her acquittal. But since Jiang Shixu had already stepped in, there was no need for her to stop him. Chu Tang politely made a phone call and thanked Jiang Shixu. Jiang Shixu's tone sounded displeased. "Tangtang, you don't need to thank me. And in the future, I don't want to hear the word 'thank you' from your lips." Chu Tang stood by the floor-to-ceiling window in her bedroom, holding her phone as she replied, "Alright, I understand." Jiang Shixu continued, "Those two who bullied you last night—I'll make them pay." Afraid that Jiang Shixu might do something illegal, Chu Tang said, "They already paid the price last night, and the law will punish them as well. You don't need to do anything more. Leave the rest to the judicial authorities." Jiang Shixu's voice was low and heavy, his oppressive aura palpable even through the phone. "Anyone who bullies you—I won't let a single one of them get away." Chu Tang listened quietly without saying a word. She thought to herself, what if Xu Jingxuan bullied her? Would he think the same way?