C2 Saving a Life

This was a remote spot on the outskirts of a small town, nestled in the mountains, and at this hour, it was deserted. There wasn't a soul in sight.

"Haha, Qingqing, go ahead and scream. Even if you scream yourself hoarse, no one will come to save you. I've invited you time and again, and you've snubbed me each time. Bet you didn't expect to end up in my clutches today, did you?" The Ruffian Leader, in the midst of disrobing, let out a lecherous chuckle.

"Boss, make it quick. After you've had your fun, it's my turn. Tsk tsk, the school's beauty queen. I've never had the pleasure of tasting a beauty queen before. I'm going to enjoy myself later," the second-in-command, who was holding Qingqing's hands, said with an excited laugh.

"Hold your horses. This wench always acts so pure and chaste. Just wait and see how I bring out her true colors, so you can all see just how wanton she really is," the leader boasted triumphantly.

The second and third ruffians grew even more agitated upon hearing this.

Meanwhile, Qingqing was in tears, her eyes reflecting utter hopelessness.

However, just as Qingqing was about to bite her tongue in a desperate act of suicide, a languid voice reached her ears.

"Wow, you guys are into some late-night outdoor action. Pretty thrilling, huh?"

Xiaodong, carrying a camouflage military bag and a cigarette dangling from his lips, strode over confidently.

The sudden arrival of Xiaodong startled the three thugs.

"Kid, this doesn't concern you. Scram, or I'll teach you a lesson in no time," the leader growled menacingly.

He pulled a switchblade from his pocket and waved it threateningly at Xiaodong.

Xiaodong just smiled and beckoned the Ruffian Leader with a crooked finger, saying nonchalantly, "Come on then, I'm curious to see how you plan to 'educate' me."

In response to Xiaodong's challenge, the Ruffian Leader sneered and, seizing a moment when Xiaodong was off guard, lunged at him with the knife aimed at his abdomen. He was certain the blade wouldn't be fatal, but it would surely draw blood and intimidate.

Regrettably, the assailant's knife work was painfully slow in Zhang Xiaodong's eyes.

In a flash, the cigarette butt in Zhang Xiaodong's hand shot into the man's mouth with the precision of a shooting star, eliciting a howl of pain from the Ruffian Leader.

Zhang Xiaodong then sprang into action. Like a tiger pouncing from the mountains, he delivered a punch to the Ruffian Leader's abdomen, unleashing a force that sent the man screaming and flying several meters before slamming into a large tree. He rolled his eyes and struggled to catch his breath for quite some time.

Watching their boss get floored by a single punch, Ruffian Third was enraged.

But as he charged at Zhang Xiaodong, he was met with a slap as wide as a fan.

Smack!

Ruffian Third hit the ground with a thud, crying out in agony.

"Do you want a piece of this too?" Zhang Xiaodong asked, a faint smile on his face as he regarded the eager Ruffian Third.

"I..." Ruffian Second was no fool. Anyone could see that the seemingly nonchalant man before them was skilled, given how easily he had taken down two companions.

"Bro, brother, I was wrong. I was wrong. I'll get out of here, right away!" he stammered, terror-stricken and ready to flee.

"Aren't you going to take your brother with you?" Zhang Xiaodong inquired, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Ruffian Third bolted, yelling as he ran, "Who are they? I don't know them..."

"Really?" Zhang Xiaodong chuckled at Ruffian Second's antics.

He had not expected to return after many years to find such a lack of integrity in his hometown. It was truly disheartening.

"Are you okay?" Zhang Xiaodong asked, his voice gentle and eyes filled with compassion as he looked at the girl quivering in the bushes. "They've been chased off. You're safe now."

Initially skeptical, Ning Qingqing slowly lifted her delicate face, and even Zhang Xiaodong, a man well-acquainted with the fairer sex, found himself momentarily enchanted by her innocent beauty.

The girl was slender and poised, her youthful features radiating purity and allure. Had she not been so shaken, her visage would have been even more captivating.

If given a few more years, this young girl's innocent features would surely become captivating.

"Thank you so much, big brother." Once Ning Qingqing got a clear look at the man before her, she realized that the terrifying ordeal was over. Standing before her was a man with a tall stature and a handsome, refined face.

Zhang Xiaodong might not be considered a heartthrob, but with his delicate features, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, he exuded a warm and approachable charm.

Sensing that Ning Qingqing's fear had not fully subsided, Zhang Xiaodong removed his jacket and gently placed it over her slender frame. After the assault she had endured, such a trauma was not only a blight on her youth but also a potential shadow over her future, given her mental and physical immaturity.

"You're welcome. It's the least I could do," Zhang Xiaodong said, smiling.

Through their brief conversation, Zhang Xiaodong learned that she had been drugged and deceived by a group of thugs. It was a relief that he had intervened when he did, as the thought of what might have happened was too dreadful to contemplate.

Before parting ways, Zhang Xiaodong made sure to escort her out of the woods and hailed a taxi for her. He had considered taking her home himself, but given their brief acquaintance, he didn't want to overstep and add to her discomfort.

After a half-hour stroll along the town's quaint roads, Zhang Xiaodong finally reached the home he had longed to return to—a place that haunted his dreams with memories of joy from his youth. Regrettably, while the house remained, his family did not. This absence was his deepest sorrow.

"Hmm?" As Zhang Xiaodong approached the two-story house, he noticed it was brightly lit, suggesting someone was living there. "What's going on?" he wondered, his thick eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

When he had left five years earlier, he had entrusted the house to relatives and sent money each month for its upkeep. He had made it clear that the house was not to be rented out without his permission. The house, which he and his father had built brick by brick, held an immeasurable sentimental value.

As Zhang Xiaodong strode through the front door, his heart brimmed with anger and resentment. Just as he was about to knock, he paused, overcome with curiosity about who might be living in his home.

Zhang Xiaodong stealthily made his way to a corner of the yard, where he effortlessly vaulted over the wall with a graceful leap, barely touching it with his toes.

Inside the courtyard, he found it immaculately clean, adorned with an array of exquisite bonsais. The house's exterior walls had been freshly painted, giving off a clean and refreshing vibe.

To Zhang Xiaodong's astonishment, the interior decor was exactly as he had left it, but the once unkempt and neglected home was now spotless and inviting. A delicate jasmine scent wafted through the air, complementing the tasteful wall paintings. The floors gleamed, the furniture was meticulously arranged, and an intricate lamp dangled from the ceiling.

But what truly set Zhang Xiaodong's pulse racing was the sight of seven or eight colorful and stylish pieces of women's lingerie neatly arrayed on the sofa!