Once the dangerous man Jianglai had taken down was tied up, everyone finally let out a sigh of relief and turned their eyes toward the woman in the baseball cap who’d just stood there like a hero.

Even though it was over now and they were just waiting for the police to arrive, fear still lingered in their hearts. People kept thinking how they might’ve gotten hurt just now if they’d taken one wrong step. Before the police even showed up, many of them were already cursing out the culprit who’d caused all this chaos.

Some people even demanded that the culprit pay compensation. In the mess just now, a lot of cameras had been smashed on the ground. They’d only come to chase their idol—how did it turn into something like this?

The one who had actually been in mortal danger, Xu Ruobing, was the only one who didn’t spare that man a second thought. Because to her, something far more important was right in front of her—the person who had just pulled her out of the attacker’s hands: Jianglai.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Xu Ruobing’s jewel-like eyes, so refined and elegant, were misted over as she checked Jianglai from head to toe, inside and out. Only when she confirmed there were no wounds did she finally relax.

“Why did you rush in front of me when it was that dangerous? He had a knife in his hand. What if you got hurt?”

“But I’m fine, aren’t I? I saw him sneaking around. The moment I saw him pull the knife, I knew if no one did anything, a lot of people were going to get hurt.

“And he was clearly coming for you. You didn’t have any bodyguards around. Someone was bound to get hurt.”

In that moment, Jianglai hadn’t had time to think at all. She’d just moved according to what her heart told her to do. Only now, thinking back on it, did a chill run down her spine. Right now she was just an ordinary girl, her strength only average even among women.

Facing an opponent who outweighed her and was clearly stronger, the best choice should’ve been to run. If she couldn’t escape, then she’d have to resort to some underhanded moves.

Those two kicks she’d landed had used up every last ounce of her strength. The foot she’d used to kick him was still throbbing with pain. If she hadn’t gone that hard, there was no way she could’ve taken him down in the first instant.

“From now on, can you please put yourself first, okay?”

Tears shimmered even more in Xu Ruobing’s eyes, full of distress for Jianglai. The moment she’d seen Jianglai’s slender figure standing in front of her, she had already been about to move forward and push Jianglai away.

Under normal circumstances, Jianglai should’ve had no chance of subduing that guy. Going small against big like that was insanely dangerous. How could Jianglai not have thought about whether she might get hurt?

This time, Xu Ruobing couldn’t care less about cameras or recording devices. Right now, her world held only Jianglai. Even if she couldn’t see any external wounds, she still had to take her to the hospital for a proper checkup—not for anything else, just to calm her own heart.

Because the incident happened in the central city square, and it involved a top trending actress, the police response was extremely fast. Only a few minutes after someone called, the sound of sirens came from outside the mall.

It was only to take away a suspect who’d already been subdued, yet eight officers showed up.

Four officers first took away the attacker who’d just tried to stab someone. Two others went around questioning scattered fans about what had just happened. The last two, both policewomen, stayed by Jianglai and Xu Ruobing to check on their condition.

“We’ve got solid evidence now. The mall’s security cameras recorded everything. Next we might need you two to come make a brief statement.”

“Can we do it tomorrow? I want to take her to the hospital first…”

Xu Ruobing was gripping Jianglai’s hand tightly. Right now all she wanted was to get Jianglai to a hospital as soon as possible for a thorough exam.

The policewoman had no reason to refuse. The whole situation was already clear, and all that was left were the details. So she agreed to Xu Ruobing’s request.

As for the hospital, the policewoman kindly offered to escort them there. After all, these two girls had just gone through something like this. Even if they weren’t physically injured, the thought alone was enough to shake them.

Jianglai herself didn’t feel particularly shaken. In her mind, everything had been resolved perfectly. If not for Xu Ruobing’s insistence, she would’ve loved to be a nameless good Samaritan, slip away quietly, and head home early—otherwise her little sister-in-law would start to worry.

Xu Ruobing, on the other hand, stayed pressed close to Jianglai’s side, refusing to move even half a step away. Even in the police car, the two of them sat tightly leaned against each other. She had almost had her face ruined, her life possibly endangered, but all her thoughts were on Jianglai alone.

The ones who were truly terrified were the fans who had just been squeezing and shoving like zombies.

“I’m sorry…”

In the police car, the corners of Xu Ruobing’s eyes were even redder, making her look achingly fragile, on the verge of tears.

“This isn’t your fault. You don’t need to apologize.”

Jianglai couldn’t handle that expression on her face. She turned her gaze away, a little uncomfortable. But that tiny evasion was what finally made Xu Ruobing cry. It wasn’t a loud, heartbroken sobbing—she just silently let tears fall. If a teardrop hadn’t fallen onto the back of her hand, Jianglai might not have even noticed.

In that moment, Jianglai pulled Xu Ruobing into a tight hug, her slender fingers gently stroking up and down her back. Seeing Xu Ruobing so fragile made something in Jianglai’s chest go soft; she couldn’t help feeling sorry for her.

Back in the mall, Xu Ruobing had been acting calm the whole time, but she had never once let go of Jianglai’s hand. The fear in her palm had been trembling there the entire time. If Jianglai hadn’t once been a man, her own performance under that kind of pressure wouldn’t have been much better.

Jianglai took a pack of tissues out of her pocket and carefully wiped the tears from the corners of Xu Ruobing’s eyes, then the streaks on her cheeks. Her head was bowed, so close that their breaths mingled, their body heat blending together.

Feeling that warm little hand moving across her skin, Xu Ruobing raised her own hand and wrapped it around Jianglai’s wrist. Then she lowered her head and pressed a kiss to the back of Jianglai’s hand. She didn’t lift her lips until her lipstick print was fully stamped there.

Xu Ruobing knew very well there had to be someone behind this. Normally, she looked down on using such dirty tricks. All her reputation and resources were earned with her own strength. Even if she accidentally took something others wanted, they would still have to admit defeat.

But this world isn’t short on people with something wrong in their heads. She just didn’t have any evidence yet, only her gut telling her what was going on.

Her location leaking, fans gathering in such numbers—most likely that was all to help the attacker blend in. As for the one pulling strings behind the scenes, she was determined to drag that person into the light.

But before she dealt with all that, Xu Ruobing wanted to properly repay Jianglai. To be able to act on instinct and shield her without thinking—that made Xu Ruobing realize that, besides her initial lust-at-first-sight, there was something else growing in her heart.

“Jianglai, if you don’t mind…I’m willing to be the other woman…”