C8 In Name

After three years in prison, Tang Ye's hearing had become far sharper than it once was. He spent those years frequently dealing with QJ offenders at night, always on alert for the warden's unexpected inspections. Over time, his auditory abilities had almost surpassed those of the average person.

Due to the building's impending demolition, most residents of the old apartment block had already moved out. Tang Ye was the only one left on the second floor. The sound was definitely coming from there—it wasn't the noise of someone just passing by, but the deliberate pacing of someone waiting.

Clutching a brick, Tang Ye ascended the stairs quietly. Sure enough, as he reached the top step, a figure lunged at him. Instinctively, he raised the brick and swung it toward the intruder's face.

"Brother Tang, you really do live here?"

What was happening?

The familiar voice and the subtle scent unique to a woman momentarily halted Tang Ye's aggressive intent. Then, a beam of light shone on him. Soong Xianxian's eyes were wide with astonishment as she saw Tang Ye, brick in hand, poised to strike.

"Why is it you?" A bead of sweat trickled down Tang Ye's temple.

Soong Xianxian had changed out of her nurse's uniform into a white T-shirt and jeans, her face lightly made up. She had found the old dean's registered family contact address at the hospital and had come straight here after her shift.

"I've been waiting here for you for quite a while," Soong Xianxian murmured.

"Come in," Tang Ye said, placing the brick back in the corner and unlocking the door.

Soong Xianxian hesitated at the threshold.

"Is this... alright?" She had never had a boyfriend and the thought of being alone with a man in the dead of night made her blush.

"What else would you be doing here in the middle of the night, if not to confirm whether I really live here?" Tang Ye said, looking at Soong Xianxian.

This person...

She didn't mince words!

"Fine, I'll come in. Who's scared? It's not like you're going to eat me," Soong Xianxian said with a blush, her lips pursed in a pout.

In the dead of night, she had a legitimate reason for seeking out Tang Ye.

After Tang Ye had departed from the hospital, someone had located Wang Hao there and whisked him away.

At the end of her shift, Soong Xianxian noticed someone arranging for the elderly hospital director's discharge.

"Do you have something to say?" Tang Ye had taken a moment to assess Soong Xianxian before she entered. She wore minimal makeup and her attire was innocent and pure.

There's an old saying that even a pig can appear beautiful after a stint in prison.

Soong Xianxian was both attractive and well-behaved. When Tang Ye invited her in, he had briefly contemplated whether to take advantage of the situation with this young woman.

At her age, she should be aware of the implications of being alone with a strange man at this hour.

Naturally, Soong Xianxian was oblivious to Tang Ye's darker musings.

"The situation is this: someone has taken Wang Hao away, and... why was there a need to transfer the elderly gentleman to another facility? Our hospital staff are all very caring towards patients. Wang... Wang Hao doesn't represent everyone here." She seemed completely unaware of the imminent danger.

The old director was taken away? By whom?

After a moment of intense contemplation, Tang Ye's furrowed brow relaxed.

"I understand. Is there anything else?" It was probably Lei Ming who had arranged this, though the call hadn't come through yet.

Soong Xianxian shook her head, puzzled.

She had never before encountered someone like Tang Ye. His mysterious aura, composed demeanor, and handsome features combined to exert a deadly allure on a young woman of her age.

The abrupt silence left Soong Xianxian feeling unnerved, her breathing becoming erratic.

"Maybe I should head back now and return another day," she suggested, unable to bear Tang Ye's intense gaze, her cheeks flushed as she rose to leave.

But Tang Ye acted swiftly, seizing Soong Xianxian's wrist and pulling her back. Startled, she let out a shriek as Tang Ye pinned her against the wall behind the door.

Their proximity was undeniably intimate, their bodies nearly touching.

"What are you doing?" Soong Xianxian's eyes were wide with shock, her breaths coming in short, disordered gasps.

For some reason, she harbored a small sense of anticipation and excitement within her heart.

"Leaving so soon?" Tang Ye asked, his smile teasing.

That smile was devastating, and Soong Xianxian nearly swooned.

From the very first moment she met Tang Ye, she felt an attraction to him. Their shared misdeed of tossing Wang Hao into the safety passageway only deepened her feelings. That's why she had come tonight to inform Tang Ye about Wang Hao and the old dean being taken away. These details were trivial, as the hospital would contact Tang Ye tomorrow anyway, but she felt compelled to see him.

It was an inexplicable urge.

Even on her way there, Soong Xianxian questioned whether she was being too impulsive.

Was she coming across as too forward?

Lost in thought, she arrived at her destination.

"What... what do you want me to do?" Soong Xianxian stammered, her face flushed and her voice lacking confidence.

Only when she was up close did she notice how exceptionally beautiful this young woman's skin was.

Her complexion was creamy and lustrous, a natural beauty unlike those who relied on skincare products. Tang Ye had familiarized himself with the Soong family's background during his first year in prison and had seen photos of Soong Xianxian's mother. Genetics didn't lie.

Without warning, Tang Ye decisively planted a kiss on her lips.

Cradling the back of Soong Xianxian's head with one hand and wrapping his other arm around her waist, his movements were practiced and assured.

"Wu..."

Soong Xianxian's eyes went wide as she experienced the intense kiss, feeling almost breathless.

Her mind raced, wondering if things were moving too quickly.

Thankfully, Tang Ye didn't prolong the kiss, releasing Soong Xianxian after a brief moment. It was her first kiss, and a prolonged one might leave her lips swollen, which could cause trouble if the Soong family took notice.

"Come on, I'll take you home." Tang Ye took Soong Xianxian's hand, leading her downstairs to his car.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Soong Xianxian was utterly bewildered.

She didn't snap out of it until she had entered her own neighborhood.

"Do you know where I live?" Soong Xianxian asked, surprised as she gazed at the familiar villas.

"Have you forgotten what I do for a living?"

"Oh, that's right, I forgot you're one of the higher-ups." Soong Xianxian's realization made her smile even more radiant.

The Soong family villa was under 24-hour guard, and the Lamborghini was too ostentatious, so Tang Ye stopped at the corner, casting a glance at the curved road to the right. The house twenty meters away, still lit up, was Soong Xianxian's.

"Here we are. You should head back," Tang Ye said as he opened the car door for her.

"Okay, I'm off then. See you tomorrow." Soong Xianxian was visibly thrilled, even standing on tiptoe to plant a kiss on Tang Ye's cheek before she left.

Watching Soong Xianxian walk into the Soong family mansion, a glaring headlight suddenly shone from behind.

Tang Ye instinctively turned to look.

A Bentley, he noted the license plate.

Could it be Shao Yaodong's car?

Tang Ye narrowed his eyes.

Was this what they called a small world?

The Bentley slowed down, and as it switched from high to low beam, Tang Ye finally got a clear view of the person in the passenger seat.

Shen Chuxue, his wife in name only!