Chapter 249 What did he promise?
He was breathing rapidly, like a stranded fish.
"I just... just..."
Lu Yiran stared at Wang Tiezhu quietly, his eyes analyzing every change in the man's expression as precisely as a scalpel.
Lu Yiran's voice was low and dangerous:
"If you care so much about your family, why would you risk your life for others? Shouldn't someone like you value life more?"
Wang Tiezhu forced a bleak smile, the chains rattling as he moved.
"Who doesn't want to live? What a pity..."
He coughed violently, with a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth:
"It's a pity that I'm going to die soon anyway. It's worth it to exchange this miserable life for their peace and security in the rest of their lives."
Lu Yiran's eyes flashed:
"What did he promise?"
Wang Tiezhu swallowed hard:
"At first...the other party only said that he wanted to scare Miss Mu. Even if you hadn't shown up that night, I wouldn't have really bumped into you."
Lu Yiran's knuckles turned white, and the scalpel reflected a cold light in his palm.
Spending a large sum of money to hire a killer just to intimidate people? That doesn't make sense.
"After completing the mission, he suddenly called me and said someone was investigating me. He promised that if I kept my mouth shut, he would arrange for my wife to become a formal teacher in a public school, send my daughter to Haicheng International College, and find the best specialists to treat my mother..."
An Jiajun suddenly sneered: "Idiot!"
He stepped forward and grabbed Wang Tiezhu by the collar:
"Do you think that if you die, your wife will remain a widow for you? Your daughter is only three years old and she will soon forget you! By then, other men will sleep with your wife, beat your daughter, and spend the money you bought with your life—"
“That’s enough!”
Wang Tiezhu suddenly jumped up, the iron chain stretched straight. His eyes were red and his voice was hoarse:
"You think I don't know?!"
A mouthful of blood sprayed on An Jiajun's face.
"But what the hell can I do?! I have advanced stomach cancer! The doctor said there's no chance of surgery!"
The basement fell into silence.
Lu Yiran raised his hand to signal An Jiajun to step back, then slowly walked forward to look Wang Tiezhu in the eye.
He didn't say anything, but just stared at the dying man quietly, his eyes as unfathomable as the abyss.
Wang Tiezhu panted heavily, then gradually calmed down:
"I don't ask for wealth or fame... I just ask you... don't hurt them... they are innocent."
"As long as you promise to help me protect my family, I can tell you who that person is."
Lu Yiran looked down at Wang Tiezhu, his eyes sharper than a scalpel:
"Listen, your only option now is to trust that I will be more trustworthy than your employer."
Qi Fengyao took a step forward at the right time and slapped a document on Wang Tiezhu's chest:
"This is proof that your mother has been transferred to a private hospital. Your daughter will also be taken to a safe place. Of course, this is subject to your cooperation."
Wang Tiezhu's pupils contracted violently, and the last line of defense finally collapsed.
He lowered his head dejectedly, his voice so low that it was almost inaudible:
"It's...Song Yajun...the wife of the Shangguan family..."
Lu Yiran's figure suddenly froze, a terrifying storm surging in his eyes:
"Are you sure?"
Wang Tiezhu swallowed hard:
"It's absolutely true... The first time, it was a middleman who contacted me, and I didn't know her identity at the time... Later, she called me personally to reveal her identity, so I believed her..."
Before he could finish his words, Wang Tiezhu started coughing violently, with blood oozing from the corners of his mouth.
Lu Yiran's knuckles turned white from pinching, and the expensive cufflinks left deep indentations on his palms:
"It seems that she turned a deaf ear to my warning."
He turned around and strode away. An Jiajun and Qi Fengyao looked at each other and quickly followed him.
The crystal chandelier in the living room stretched the shadows of the three people very long.
An Jiajun loosened his tie irritably:
"Yiran, what do you want to do? Her father is the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and Shangguan is standing behind her..."
If it were anyone else, Lu Yiran could just deal with it casually, and he and Qi Fengyao could help him deal with it, but Song Yajun's identity was there, and she couldn't be touched easily.
How could he not understand An Jiajun's concerns? But just let Song Yajun go? He couldn't do it!
Lu Yiran stood in front of the French window, his back as straight as a pine tree, but he exuded a chilling aura of hostility.
"Call the police."
His voice was soft, but it caused the room temperature to drop sharply.
"I want to see who dares to interfere."
Qi Fengyao frowned and advised:
"Are you sure? Nan Yan wasn't seriously injured after all. If we offend two families over this matter...what about the Haicheng New District project? You've been preparing for that for three years."
Qi Fengyao had the same idea as An Jiajun. If Song Yajun was sent to jail, his cooperative relationship with the Shangguan family for so many years would be ruined. It was really not worth it.
The window glass reflected Lu Yiran's cold smile:
"Project? If I can't even protect my own woman, what's the point of this project?"
He turned around, a terrifying undercurrent surging in his eyes.
An Jiajun stood up suddenly:
"Are you crazy? That's a multi-billion dollar investment!"
Lu Yiran sneered:
"I, Lu Yiran, need these billions? Besides, the project can be discussed. The Shangguan family isn't the only one in Haicheng. If they dare to try to save me, I will uproot these two families..."
Qi Fengyao and An Jiajun looked at each other and showed helpless expressions at the same time.
They really couldn't understand when Lu Yiran, who had always been calm and self-controlled, became so love-brained?
The two looked at each other, confusion in their eyes.
As brothers, they have already given all the advice they need to give. Since Lu Yiran insists on doing so, what else can they do except support him with all their strength?
"What are you arguing about?"
Mu Nanyan's voice came from the stairwell.
The three men turned their heads at the same time and saw her slowly walking down the stairs.
She had actually not fallen asleep yet. When she heard the arguing downstairs, she was worried that something had happened, so she came down to check.
When Lu Yiran saw Mu Nanyan coming downstairs, his brows unconsciously frowned.
He walked forward quickly, naturally reaching out to hold her arm, his tone unconsciously softened:
"Why are you awake? Did we wake you up?"
Mu Nanyan smiled slightly awkwardly:
"No, I'm not very sleepy today, so a short sleep will be enough."
An Jiajun and Qi Fengyao couldn't help but smack their lips and shake their heads when they saw this.
This scene is simply unbearable to watch. If Lu Yiran doesn't look like this, what else could he be but a love-sick person?
Lu Yiran carefully helped Mu Nanyan sit down on the sofa.
Mu Nanyan looked around at the three of them and continued to ask:
"What were you discussing just now? Did you find the real culprit?"
An Jiajun immediately responded:
"Yes, it was Madam Shangguan who wanted to kill you. We were discussing this matter. Yiran wanted to call the police to arrest her. Because of you, he even abandoned the project he had prepared for three years..."
"An Jiajun!"
Lu Yiran interrupted harshly, his eyes as sharp as a knife.
An Jiajun suddenly fell silent, looking confused. Did he say something wrong again?
He didn't understand why Lu Yiran had given so much to Mu Nanyan, but he refused to let her know? If he didn't let her know, how could she understand Lu Yiran's feelings?
Qi Fengyao shook his head helplessly, stood up and pulled An Jiajun up:
"Let's go out for a cigarette while you guys chat."
As he was speaking, An Jiajun was picked up by Qi Fengyao, and the two of them walked towards the back of the villa.
Suddenly, only Lu Yiran and Mu Nanyan were left in the living room, and the atmosphere suddenly became quiet.
Mu Nanyan looked at Lu Yiran with inquiry in her eyes.
She is not a fool. Although An Jiajun's words were interrupted, the meaning was already very clear. Lu Yiran sacrificed something very important for her.
She hesitated for a moment, then spoke:
"Are you...hiding something from me?"
Lu Yiran's expression paused for a moment, then returned to normal, his tone calm:
"Nothing, don't think too much."
Mu Nanyan pursed her lips and didn't ask any more questions, but her heart was already in turmoil.
She is not the kind of person who can accept other people's efforts with a clear conscience. What's more, she already owes Lu Yiran enough.
There was a brief silence for a few seconds. Lu Yiran seemed to sense her emotions and took the initiative to change the subject:
"I will handle the Shangguan family's affairs, you don't have to worry."
"How are you going to deal with this?"
Mu Nanyan raised her eyes to look at him.
Lu Yiran's eyes suddenly turned cold, and his knuckles tightened unconsciously.
He stared at Mu Nanyan, his voice filled with anger:
"Call the police. If she dares to touch you, she should bear the consequences."
Mu Nanyan frowned slightly.
Mu Nanyan's slender fingers twisted together unconsciously.
She knew better than anyone that with the Shangguan family's stronghold in both the political and business circles, even calling the police might not be able to shake Song Yajun in the slightest.
What's more... she quietly raised her eyes to look at Lu Yiran's tense profile. The project he gave up was probably far more important than he showed.
What made her even more hesitant was that Song Yajun was the mother of Shangguan Jiuze and Shangguan Fuling after all.
Thinking of Shangguan Fuling's brilliant smile every time she saw her, Mu Nanyan's heart felt like it was being pricked by a needle.
She knew too well what it felt like to lose her mother. How could she push that sunny girl into the abyss with her own hands?
She took a deep breath and said in a voice so soft that it was almost inaudible:
"Lu Yiran, let's just forget about this matter..."
Lu Yiran turned around suddenly, with incredible anger surging in his eyes.
"Why? I told you, you don't need to worry about this matter. I can help you solve it."
Mu Nanyan forced a smile, her fingertips dug deep into her palm.
"You've done enough for me. I'm fine now, right? There's no need..."
"Does it have to wait until something happens to you before it's necessary?"
Yiran suddenly raised his voice and grabbed her wrist. His usual calm and composed mask shattered completely, his eyes bloodshot.
"Mu Nanyan, do you understand? If I had braked a second later that day, if that car had hit me harder, I might have..."
His voice stopped abruptly and his Adam's apple rolled violently.
He gripped her wrist so hard it hurt, but he immediately let go the moment he noticed her trembling.
Mu Nanyan lowered her head, not daring to look into his eyes.
How could she not understand? Song Yajun failed this time, and there would definitely be another time.
But this was her own misfortune. How could she let Lu Yiran ruin the Lu family's future? Just thinking about the project he had given up for her, guilt washed over her like a tide.
He doesn't owe her anything, so how can she have the nerve to keep asking Lu Yiran to help her?
Mu Nanyan clenched the corner of her clothes, and her fingertips turned slightly white.
She lowered her eyes, and her long eyelashes cast a shadow under her eyes.
"This is my own business. Song Yajun targeted me. You shouldn't have to bear the consequences."
Her voice was soft, but it was filled with unquestionable determination.
Lu Yiran frowned and stared at her with a sharp gaze:
"What do you mean?"
Mu Nanyan raised her head and forced herself to look him in the eyes:
"Literally, we are not related at all. You don't have to do this for me..."
Lu Yiran sneered and suddenly took a step closer:
"Neither related nor close? Mu Nanyan, in your eyes, is this the relationship between us?"
Mu Nanyan subconsciously stepped back, her back against the cold wall.
She could clearly feel the anger emanating from Lu Yiran, and those eyes that were always as calm as water were now surging with turbulent waves.
She turned her head away, avoiding his burning gaze:
"I owe you enough, saving my life, crashing the car..."
"Shut up!"
Lu Yiran suddenly punched the wall beside her ear, making a dull "bang" sound.
Mu Nanyan trembled with fear, but saw him slowly withdraw his hand, his knuckles already red.
"Do you think I care about these? A car? A project? Mu Nanyan, are you really stupid or just pretending to be stupid?"
His voice was terribly low and hoarse, and Mu Nanyan's chest was heaving violently. She had never seen Lu Yiran like this before. The man who was always calm and composed, and who was always in control of everything, now looked like a trapped beast out of control.
"I……"
Her voice choked.
Lu Yiran took a deep breath, then suddenly reached out and grabbed the back of her head, forcing her to look at him.
"Look at me. I want you to remember that your business is my business. This is not a transaction. I don't need to pay it back."
His thumb gently brushed the corners of her wet eyes, and his voice finally softened:
"So, stop saying things like that, okay?"
Mu Nanyan's eyes suddenly turned red.
These words were like a key, gently prying open the wall of her heart that she had built up over the years.
Over the years, she has long been accustomed to bearing everything alone. Her mother's death took away not only her loved ones, but also the harbor she could rely on.
Many times in the middle of the night, she wished someone could say to her, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
How many times she tried to be strong, how much she longed to have a shoulder where she could let down her guard temporarily.
But no.
Over time, she learned to bandage her own wounds, swallow her grievances, and even forgot how to ask others for help.
Until now, Lu Yiran told her in such a firm tone: "Your business is my business."
She stared blankly at the man in front of her who had lost control for her. Her heart felt like it was soaked in warm water, sour and swollen.
Is this what it feels like to be cared for? Doesn't she have to go through this alone?
"Lu Yiran...I..."
Her voice was trembling, like a lost child who had finally found her way home.
Before he could finish his words, tears started to fall.
Those days and nights that I endured alone, those forced strength, suddenly collapsed at this moment.
She hurriedly lowered her head to hide it, but Lu Yiran gently held her face.
"Why are you crying? From now on, I'm here and no one can bully you."
He wiped her tears with his thumb, his tone was softer than ever before.
Just a few simple words made Mu Nanyan cry even harder.
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