The sunlight was bright and warm, gently sprinkling hope on her face. She took a deep breath of fresh morning air, feeling relaxed.
The small garden’s green grass sparkled in the sunlight. This house was found by Owen, knowing she liked peace. He found her a home in the New Territories, somewhat distant from the Di family’s residence, but the garden made her fall in love at first sight. This small patch of grass brought her immense comfort.
Stepping lightly on the grass, she carefully closed the wooden gate. At the moment of turning, the perfect smile on her face instantly froze.
The man leaning against the black Mercedes had cigarette butts scattered at his feet. He wore the same clothes as yesterday, his tie long gone, but the black crystal tie clip still in place.
Two unbuttoned shirt buttons revealed a slightly open black shirt, his sleeves rolled up, giving him a wild and uninhibited look. His bloodshot eyes couldn’t hide the tenderness and joy of seeing her.
Had he been standing here all night? Ou Xue Man stared in shock as he casually brushed back his glossy hair and strode towards her.
“You…” Ou Xue Man was momentarily speechless. This disheveled appearance was something she’d never seen before; he always appeared neat and refined.
As he approached, the light stubble on his jaw caught her attention. Unconsciously, she reached out to touch it, feeling the slightly prickly sensation, which drew a light laugh from him.
His long arm embraced her, burying his handsome face in her hair, inhaling her fragrance, just as she had breathed the morning air.
“Did you stand here all night?” She pushed him away, deliberately creating distance, her small face cold.
A hint of disappointment seeped into his eyes. He didn’t answer and instead pulled her hand towards his car. Suddenly turning back with a soft smile, he asked seriously, “Isn’t this when I should bring flowers?”
Ou Xue Man was stunned, asking foolishly, “Flowers? What flowers?”
“Isn’t bringing flowers part of courting a girl?” he asked, looking puzzled.
Ou Xue Man withdrew her hand, half-closing her eyes and raising an eyebrow in silence.
He looked uncomfortable, shifting his gaze as he said, “I… have never… given flowers to anyone, and I don’t know when… to give them.”
An SUV sped down the narrow street, causing pedestrians to scatter and drawing curses. Residents knew the area was pedestrian-heavy, so cars usually slowed. This vehicle, however, accelerated like an uncontrolled wild horse.
By the time Ou Xue Man and Di Xi Huang noticed the car’s speed, it was nearly upon them. With Di Xi Huang’s Mercedes parked roadside, the narrow path left them nowhere to escape.
In a critical moment, Di Xi Huang lifted Ou Xue Man and leaped onto his car’s hood, narrowly avoiding disaster.
Di Xi Huang turned back to catch the license plate, only to find the car had no plates. His thick eyebrows furrowed, sharp cold light filling his eyes with a faint murderous intent.
Ou Xue Man emerged from his embrace, watching the car disappear into the dust.
She wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but as she passed by, she saw the driver wearing a blood-thirsty smile that enveloped her in a chilling sensation. She wanted to wrap her arms around herself but was assaulted by a bloody smell.
She felt as if her hands were stained with warm liquid, panic rising in her heart. After hesitating, she withdrew her hands from around his back. A drop of deep red slid along her palm towards her wrist, leaving a terrifying blood trail with an eerie scent.
In disarray, she sensed the breath of death again. Faces that once smiled gently at her reappeared like phantoms. Though they had long left, they remained vivid in her vision.
Suddenly, she seemed possessed by the crimson, her eyes blank and hollow. She trembled violently, clutching his clothing tightly like a child who had lost her way.
Looking at the blood stains on her hand, Di Xihuang was shocked. He hadn’t expected the wound to be so serious, but her helplessness troubled him even more. He embraced her again, whispering softly in her ear, pulling her back from the abyss of fear.
“Don’t be afraid, it’s okay, it’s all over, Xueman, do you hear me? It’s all over. I’ll protect you.” He thought she was still frightened by the previous scene.
Lifting her head from his embrace, she raised her hands helplessly, her voice trembling, “Blood… blood… blood…”
He gently pressed his forehead against hers, softly gazing at her, “Don’t be afraid, it’s just a minor scratch, just a surface wound.”
“Really?” She was still worried.
“Really, I’m truly fine,” he assured her.
Their foreheads pressed together, an intimate distance, intertwining gazes and soft breaths. A warm feeling bound them together until their lips met, a gentle and sweet connection.
In this moment, they were seamless—without memories, pain, or reservations—only pure love spreading…
The kiss deepened, their hearts melting, intimately entangling, caressing each other until the air grew thin and their hearts could barely contain the passion.
— Dividing Line —
Guiltily touching her lips, she could still feel the softness of his kiss. Thinking about it now still seemed incredible, and self-reproach welled up within her.
Hadn’t she known she couldn’t continue entangling with him?
Why couldn’t she control her intimacy with him? Hadn’t being hurt once been enough to wake her up?
She violently shook her head, trying to dismiss the answer poised to emerge.
Carrying the medical kit out of the living room, he was on the phone with his back to her. The black shirt clung to his back, the color making the crimson less noticeable.
Feeling her gaze, he slightly turned and offered her a gentle smile, signaling her to wait as he lowered his voice. From his words, she discerned he was on the phone with Owen. His brow furrowed and his lips pursed, the coldness on his handsome face grew increasingly intimidating. Suddenly, he punched the wall, aggravating his wound and inhaling sharply.
She heard him gritting his teeth, “I’ve already had Li Minji investigate. There won’t be more than fifty such cars even in Hong Kong. It won’t be hard to trace, but I’m worried about people from that side.” After a few more responses, he hung up.
Adjusting his emotions, he took several deep breaths with his back to her. When he turned around, a gentle smile had returned.
But she avoided his gentleness, taking out medicine and bandages from the medical kit. “Take off your shirt,” she said in a deliberately cold tone.
Knowing she misunderstood his meaning, he held her tightly despite her resistance, his voice gentle yet steady, “Xueman, listen to me. Today’s matter is definitely not simple. Before we clarify the reason, I cannot let you take risks. The Yamaguchi-gumi are desperate criminals.”
“Yamaguchi-gumi?” Ou Xueman was shocked, realizing the gravity of the situation. What she knew seemed to be just one side of the entire incident.
“Although it’s just my speculation now, such incidents have occurred before, and the Yamaguchi-gumi was behind them. Regardless, I cannot let you take risks,” Di Xihuang said with dominance, worry faintly seeping from his eyes.
“How could this be?” Seeing his concern, Ou Xueman also became anxious. She was an ordinary woman entwined with a violent gang; how could she not be afraid?
The Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan’s mafia, was known for its extensive involvement in unscrupulous fields, secretly colluding with political and business circles for large funds, supported by Japanese political figures and consortiums.
Moreover, the Yamaguchi-gumi were supporters of Japan’s right-wing forces and hostile to China.
Holding her on his knee, he brushed aside the loose hair from her forehead and gently kissed her, comforting her, “Xueman, you should have heard of the Yamaguchi-gumi, right?”
