Extra six

Tang Jianye was still not satisfied and kicked the man a few more times before running over to help Lai Xiang up. "Xiangxiang, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?"

At this moment, Lai Xiang was trembling all over. She shook her head and said, "I'm fine, it's just that my legs are weak."

Tang Jianye simply picked the person up horizontally, carried him to the person, put Lai Xiang down, tied him up with the rope he had just used to bind Lai Xiang, and then carried Lai Xiang home quickly.

Nestled in Tang Jianye's arms, listening to his heartbeat, Lai Xiang gradually came back to her senses. For some reason, she felt much more at ease.

Liu Ting was still waiting at the door, her heart pounding with anxiety. She was afraid of missing Lai Xiang again if she went out, so she didn't dare to leave. After waiting for an unknown amount of time, she saw Tang Jianye return carrying Lai Xiang.

Liu Ting was terrified. She quickly opened the door to greet them, asking, "What happened?"

"Grandma, let's go inside and talk." Tang Jianye carried Lai Xiang into the house first.

By the light of the kerosene lamp in the room, Tang Jianye could finally see Lai Xiang clearly. Her hair was disheveled, her face had many bruises, and blood was flowing from the corner of her mouth. Tang Jianye felt his blood rush to his head, and he turned to leave, but Lai Xiang grabbed his arm.

"Tang Jianye, don't go!"

Liu Ting stood at the door, unsure whether to go in or back. She turned and went to the outer room to boil water.

Inside the room, Lai Xiang looked up at Tang Jianye, her eyes filled with a suppressed pleading. Tang Jianye felt as if his heart was being gripped, a sharp, throbbing pain shooting through him. He couldn't help but step forward and pull Lai Xiang into his arms, holding her tightly.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Lai Xiang nestled in Tang Jianye's arms, tears streaming down her face. She was terrified; she had never imagined that Er Laizi would stop her on the road.

He must have known her identity for a while and had been scouting the area. Lai Xiang delivered the flatbread to the cowshed and headed straight back.

"Mom and Dad, it's too cold tonight, so I won't stay any longer. Grandma is still waiting for me at home."

"Hey, be careful, Xiangxiang," Wu Jinghua warned.

Lai Xiang smiled at her parents, "Don't worry, Mom, I can walk back this way with my eyes closed."

Lai Xiang hurried back, the cold wind blowing on her face no gentler than in the dead of winter. She wanted to get back quickly, eat her meal, and get into bed; it had been so cold these past few days.

Because she was familiar with this route, she didn't look around, so she didn't see a dark figure dart out from the side. The person was quick, grabbing Lai Xiang from behind and covering her mouth with their other hand. Then they dragged her into a snowdrift.

Lai Xiang was terrified. She struggled desperately, but the difference in strength between men and women made it impossible for her to escape the man's grasp. When the man pushed her into the snowdrift and tried to strip her clothes off, Lai Xiang finally found an opportunity to knee him hard between the man's legs.

The man wanted to scream, but fearing he would attract attention, he kept his mouth shut and slapped Lai Xiang twice. Lai Xiang tried to open her mouth for help, but the man had already prepared a rag, which he used to gag her by choking her.

Lai Xiang scratched the man's face with both hands, leaving several stinging, bloody welts. Enraged, he hit her even harder. Lai Xiang felt her head buzzing, but she didn't give up fighting back.

She can't let anything happen to her, she absolutely can't. She still has to take care of her parents, and she still wants a future with that person. She can't give in, she absolutely can't.

So, despite being extremely dizzy, she instinctively resisted with her hands and feet. The man tried several times to take off her pants but failed, which angered him, and he continued to grope Lai Xiang.

In winter, they all wear many layers of clothing. Lai Xiang's cotton-padded coat is thick, and although the man is applying pressure, Lai Xiang can still endure it. The man seems to have noticed this, and he focuses more on Lai Xiang's head and face.

"Damn, you little bitch, you've got guts. Heh, I love that kind of spirit. Come on, fight back. It's pitch black here, and this place is secluded. I'll get you sooner or later."

Lai Xiang knew who the man was the moment he opened his mouth. He was Er Laizi, the notorious scoundrel of the village. Lai Xiang hadn't expected to be targeted by him. But accepting it was absolutely out of the question.

"Let me tell you, you better behave and let me sleep with you. If I'm in a good mood, I'll marry you. From now on, you'd better live a good life with me and give me a lot of kids. Otherwise, I'll beat you every day!"

Lai Xiang slapped the man haphazardly. Perhaps annoyed by her struggles, the man took out a rope from his pocket and tied Lai Xiang's hands behind her back. If Tang Jianye had arrived any later, Lai Xiang's pants might have really been pulled down.

Tang Jianye gently patted Lai Xiang's back. The little girl in his arms was sobbing; he knew she must be terrified. Tang Jianye's eyes were filled with coldness. That man deserved to die!

After crying her fill, Lai Xiang stepped out of Tang Jianye's arms. Meeting Tang Jianye's concerned gaze, Lai Xiang belatedly felt a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry."

"Don't say sorry. If anyone should say it, it should be me. I'm the one who's late," Tang Jianye said solemnly.

Lai Xiang shook her head, "No, you've come at the perfect time. If it weren't for you tonight, I might..."

Tang Jianye interrupted, "No, it's alright, it definitely won't happen."

Tang Jianye was filled with lingering fear. He knew that if he hadn't come today, Grandma Liu might have also rushed out to look for her, but he dared not think about what would have happened then.

Tang Jianye pulled Lai Xianglou into his arms again. "Lai Xiang, I'm sorry, I should have come sooner."

Lai Xiang shook her head, her voice muffled, "He must have been secretly watching me for a while, and only made his move after he knew when I went to the cowshed and figured out the route."

Tang Jianye's gaze grew even colder. Sensing the girl was no longer so cold, Tang Jianye half-squatted down to meet Lai Xiang's gaze. "Still afraid?"

Lai Xiang's face flushed slightly, though one should ignore the bruises on her face. "I'm not afraid anymore."

Tang Jianye nodded. "Grandma is boiling water. Drink some hot water to warm yourself up. I'm going out for a bit."

Lai Xiang grabbed Tang Jianye's arm, "Tang Jianye, don't break the law."

Tang Jianye's body stiffened for a moment, and Lai Xiang knew she had guessed correctly. But Lai Xiang didn't want that to happen. She insisted, "Tang Jianye, let's take him to the police station tomorrow. If he tries to rape me, he'll be shot."

Tang Jianye couldn't bear it. The girl was so good. Even though the mistakes were all made by that man, there would still be many people saying all sorts of nonsense. He didn't want the girl to be criticized.

Lai Xiang seemed to know what Tang Jianye was thinking. She looked directly at Tang Jianye and asked, "Tang Jianye, do you... dislike me?"

Tang Jianye's face turned cold. "What nonsense are you talking about? I would never look down on you."

Lai Xiang smiled. "Tang Jianye, I had already thought it through. Even if he succeeded, I wouldn't give in. I would report him to the police. Even if I never got married, I wouldn't kill myself."

Because I still have my parents, they love me, and I love them too. If I died, they would be devastated. So, I'm not afraid.

Tang Jianye was heartbroken; how could this young girl be so strong?