Chapter 055: Do You Still Want Me to Leave?

He Yunqing’s strong hand gripped the other man’s wrist tightly, his expression cold and severe.

“Watch your mouth,” he said sharply.

The man winced at the pain, his lips twisting. “So you like meddling in other people’s business?”

Another man squinted at He Yunqing, then leaned toward the ringleader, a man in his thirties. “Brother, I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before. He looks familiar.”

Jiang Yao tugged gently at He Yunqing’s arm. “Let it go, I’m fine. Let’s leave.”

She was not afraid of trouble, but He Yunqing’s identity was sensitive, and she didn’t want things to get out of hand and draw unwanted attention.

“Step aside,” He Yunqing said coolly, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

The ringleader scoffed, “Trying to play the hero for a woman? You should consider whether you have what it takes. Do you even know who we are? We’re not easy pickings.”

He Yunqing let out a cold laugh. “And who are you to call me ‘brother’?”

“Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. If you know what’s good for you, move out of the way.”

“I don’t want any toast at all,” He Yunqing replied with disdain, his gaze fixed on the man. “But you’re not laying a finger on her.”

“Enough talk! Get him!” The leader, thoroughly enraged, signaled with a wave of his hand, and the group lunged at He Yunqing.

With a swift pull, He Yunqing nearly dragged the man before him to the ground, then turned with effortless grace, kicking another straight in the chest.

Jiang Yao watched anxiously as He Yunqing took on all four men at once, her heart pounding with worry—not just for his safety, but for the potential consequences. If some paparazzi caught this on camera, there was no telling what the gossip accounts would make of it.

Within moments, the four men were defeated.

Two of them clutched their stomachs, glaring at He Yunqing. The leader wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and spat, “Well, looks like we picked the wrong target tonight.”

“I haven’t fought in a long time,” He Yunqing replied calmly.

The leader’s face burned with embarrassment. “Mind telling me which crew you used to run with?”

He Yunqing gave a dismissive snort, his eyes sweeping over them. “Get lost.”

The men exchanged glances, realizing they were outmatched. With one last glare at He Yunqing, they turned and fled.

A few bystanders along the road looked over, some quietly whispering and pointing.

Jiang Yao hurried over and covered He Yunqing’s face with her small hands.

He frowned. “What are you doing?”

“I should be asking you that!” Jiang Yao scanned their surroundings anxiously. “Do you not remember who you are? You’re a public figure—if someone took a photo, wrote a story about this, what would happen to your career?”

He Yunqing couldn’t help but smile at her nervous expression and the way she kept trying to cover his face.

“Smiling? You still have the nerve to smile?” Jiang Yao grew even more exasperated. “We could have just left and avoided all this. Why did you have to fight?”

He Yunqing gently grasped Jiang Yao’s wrist, pulling her hand down. “I can’t just let anyone get away with bullying you.”

Her eyes fell to his knuckles. The skin, usually so fair, was stained with blood—he must have injured himself during the scuffle.

She glanced around and instinctively grabbed his sleeve. “Come with me.”

He looked down at her hand holding his sleeve, a faint smile playing on his lips, then followed her without a word.

Jiang Yao’s new place was fairly close to Spring Breeze Ten Miles—about a ten-minute drive. The apartment complex was old, and few people were out at this hour.

She led He Yunqing up six flights of stairs without stopping, finally halting before a shabby door.

He Yunqing surveyed the surroundings with composure.

Jiang Yao, breathless, fumbled with her keys. “The conditions here aren’t great. If you mind, you can leave now.”

He Yunqing chuckled. “Then I’d have climbed six flights for nothing.”

She shot him a glare and pushed open the door.

Inside, the apartment was even smaller and more worn, the air heavy with the peculiar scent of an old building.

He Yunqing lowered his gaze.

If it weren’t for him, Jiang Yao would never have had to move out of her comfortable little villa for a place like this.

Jiang Yao switched on the light, opened the window for fresh air, and dug out a first aid kit to tend to his wounds.

“Ye Yiyi is on set tonight—she won’t be back,” she said, dipping a cotton swab in medicine and motioning for him to sit.

He Yunqing sat across from her, extending his injured hand with quiet poise.

Jiang Yao held his hand gently, carefully applying the medicine, her cheeks tinged with pink.

She remembered what she’d said earlier. It almost sounded as if she wanted He Yunqing to stay, as if she were reassuring him that no one would disturb them tonight.

A sense of defeat crept in—after all, she had ended up giving him her new address.

“You should move back,” He Yunqing said, taking in the modest surroundings. “If it bothers you, I can find somewhere else.”

Her hand froze midair with the cotton swab. “You’re overthinking it. I just didn’t want to keep living in Cheng Yanchi’s place. This is fine, and it’s close to my work. You saw yourself—it’s ten minutes to Spring Breeze Ten Miles, and only twenty to the wedding company.”

“Really?” He Yunqing asked quietly.

“Why would I lie to you?” Jiang Yao tossed the swab into the trash. “Mr. He, I have no reason to move just because of you. We’re not that close, after all.”

“Then why bring a man you’re not close to home with you in the middle of the night?” He Yunqing’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“You—” She hadn’t expected that retort and was left speechless.

After a moment, she managed, “Once I’m done with your wounds, you’ll leave.”

But after tending to his injuries, he didn’t leave.

A sudden downpour began outside.

Standing by the window, Jiang Yao watched the rain lashing down as if it would wash the world clean, her brows knitted in concern.

“Do you still want me to leave?” His deep, magnetic voice sounded behind her.

With the rain beating against the windows and the small, dim room, his words sounded almost intimate.

Jiang Yao took a steadying breath. “Of course, once the rain lets up, you’ll go.”

But the rain showed no sign of stopping—it poured nearly all night.

Lying in bed, Jiang Yao tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Whenever she rolled over, she could see He Yunqing lying quietly on the floor. His eyes were closed, his face peaceful, though she couldn’t tell if he was really asleep.

Jiang Yao was used to hardship. In the leanest years, she and Ye Yiyi had often shared a room, taking turns on the floor.

But He Yunqing was different. With his family and abilities, he had never needed to put up with such discomfort.

After a while, she couldn’t help calling his name softly. “Hey, He Yunqing, are you asleep?”

He answered quietly, eyes still closed. “Mm.”