I can't stop worrying about you
"Who? Who's there?" she shouted into the darkness, trying to remain calm.
There was no response, only the sound of wind seeping in through the gaps in the warehouse, making a chilling howling noise.
Ning Zhichu's heart pounded faster and faster, and her palms were already sweating. She knew she had truly fallen into a trap. The other party wasn't trying to give her any solid evidence; they just wanted to keep her trapped here, either forcing her to submit or waiting for Wei Ting to walk right into their trap—they were certain Wei Ting wouldn't abandon her.
The thought had barely crossed her mind when a beam of flashlight suddenly shone into her eyes from the warehouse. She instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes, the blinding light making it impossible for her to open them.
"Reporter Ning, you certainly have a lot of nerve." A strange male voice came from the darkness, tinged with sarcasm.
"Who are you? Why did you trick me into coming here?" Ning Zhichu's voice trembled slightly, but she still tried her best to remain calm.
“Who I am is unimportant.” The man’s voice grew closer. “What matters is, Reporter Ning, you now have two choices. Either write an article as we demand, proving Wei Ting’s ‘crimes,’ placing all the blame on him, and we can let you go, even giving you a generous reward to firmly establish you in the media industry. Or…”
The man's words were unfinished, yet they carried a blatant threat. The beam of his flashlight swept across the pile of rusty steel pipes beside him, reflecting a cold, metallic light.
Ning Zhichu's heart sank to the bottom. She finally understood that their target wasn't just Wei Ting, but also her. They wanted to use her identity to create more convincing "evidence" to completely destroy Wei Ting. The alteration of the first interview transcript was merely the first step in their probing and preparation, binding her and Wei Ting tightly together, making it difficult for them to escape.
"I won't write it." Ning Zhichu gritted her teeth, her tone firm. "You're spreading rumors and framing me. I'm a journalist, and I won't do something that violates my professional ethics."
"Professional ethics?" The man scoffed. "What's the value of professional ethics compared to fame and fortune? Reporter Ning, don't forget, you're just a junior reporter who's only been in the industry for a year. You have no connections, no resources, and you got this opportunity entirely through your own hard work. Once you write this article, you'll become famous overnight, a celebrity in the media circle, and you'll never have to be at anyone's beck and call again. As for Wei Ting, he's just using you. Do you really think he cares about you? He hasn't even publicly clarified that his interview transcript was altered; he might just be trying to make you take the blame for him!"
The man's words were like a needle piercing Ning Zhichu's heart. Yes, Wei Ting was just using her. But even so, she couldn't betray her principles, she couldn't do anything like spreading rumors and framing someone. Moreover, she vaguely felt that Wei Ting might have his reasons for not publicly clarifying the interview—with his abilities, if he wanted to clarify, he could have produced evidence long ago, but he didn't, and instead warned her to be careful; there must be a reason behind this.
"I'll say it again, I can't write it." Ning Zhichu clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, the pain keeping her awake.
"If you won't listen to reason, you'll have to suffer the consequences!" The man's tone turned fierce. "Then don't blame us for being impolite!"
The flashlight beam suddenly flickered, and Ning Zhichu saw two dark figures rush out of the darkness and walk towards her. They were tall and seemed to be carrying something in their hands; their footsteps were heavy, like drums pounding on her heart.
Startled, she backed away but tripped over a pebble and fell to the ground. The cold ground chilled her to the bone through her thin trousers, and her knees ached from the impact. She struggled to get up, but the two dark figures were already close, their shadows looming over her, making her feel suffocated.
Just then, the warehouse door was suddenly kicked open, the loud noise shattering the silence. A familiar figure rushed in, holding a steel pipe picked up from the doorway. His movements were as fast as the wind, and before the two dark figures could react, he was already upon them.
"Bang!" The dull thud of the steel pipe hitting the gun was exceptionally clear.
Ning Zhichu stared wide-eyed at the man in front of her—it was Wei Ting.
His shirt was slightly disheveled, with two buttons undone at the collar, and beads of sweat on his forehead, indicating he had traveled a long way, perhaps even running. After taking down the first shadowy figure, he didn't pause for a moment, turning to dodge the attack of the second, and slamming a steel pipe into the man's shoulder with a backhand. The man screamed and fell to the ground.
The whole process took only a dozen seconds; Wei Ting had dealt with the two burly men. He was panting, his bangs damp with sweat and clinging to his skin, but his eyes remained sharp as an eagle's, carrying a chilling intensity.
After dealing with the shadowy figure, he immediately rushed to Ning Zhichu's side, crouched down, and asked with unprecedented tension and worry, "How are you? Are you hurt?"
His hand gently supported her arm, the warmth of his fingertips seeping through her clothes, carrying a reassuring strength. Ning Zhichu looked into his deep eyes, which were filled with anxiety and lingering fear—a look that was definitely not feigned.
"I...I'm fine." Her voice choked with emotion. The fear and grievance she had felt earlier erupted the moment she saw him, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. The pain in her knees, the panic in her heart, and the relief she felt upon seeing him—all these emotions intertwined, making it impossible for her to hold back any longer.
When Wei Ting saw her crying, his heart tightened, and he instinctively reached out to wipe away her tears. His movements were gentle and tender, a stark contrast to his usual calm and composed demeanor as a business tycoon. His fingertips, calloused and slightly rough, were unusually warm. The moment he wiped away her tears, Ning Zhichu's heart skipped a beat.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here." His voice was deep and gentle, like soothing a frightened little animal. "It's alright now, it's all over."
Just then, the sound of police sirens came from outside, growing clearer and clearer as they approached. Wei Ting breathed a sigh of relief: "I called the police, they'll be here soon."
Ning Zhichu looked at him, her heart filled with doubt: "You... how did you get here?"
Wei Ting's gaze fell on her face, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He remained silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking, "Because I received an anonymous email that was exactly the same as yours."
Ning Zhichu was stunned.
“I knew this was a trap,” Wei Ting continued. “Huo Jingyuan wanted to use you, and also to lure me out. They altered the interview transcript to tie you to me, making it impossible for you to escape easily, leaving you only to be used by them. I could have ignored it; after all, it might have been an ‘opportunity’ for you—to write the article as they demanded, expose my ‘crimes,’ and fulfill your ambitions. But I…”
He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing as if searching for the right words. Finally, his gaze became incredibly serious, and he said, word by word, "I can't rest easy about you."
I'm worried about you.
These five words, like a pebble thrown into a still lake, stirred up a thousand ripples in Ning Zhichu's heart. She stared blankly at Wei Ting, her tears flowing even more fiercely. So, he hadn't just used her as a pawn. So, he had known all along that the interview transcript had been altered, yet he hadn't blamed her; instead, he had been worried about her safety. So, his concern for her was genuine.
Looking at the tearful girl before him, Wei Ting finally understood his own feelings. He had always told himself that approaching her was merely to use her and stabilize Tingsheng Capital. But when he received the anonymous email and saw the address "Old Wharf Warehouse No. 3," he couldn't remain calm. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind—would she really go? What if she encountered danger? Huo Jingyuan's men wouldn't let her go.
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