CHAPTER 173: CHAPTER 173: DEAL

Song Yun remained in his position even after Huo Feng left as he listened to the faint echo of his footsteps fading down the hallway.

He exhaled slowly, trying to steady his heartbeat. His hands were clenched tightly at his sides, not because he was afraid but because he was frustrated.

He understood Huo Feng’s overprotectiveness. He really did. If he were in his shoes, maybe he’d act the same way.

But still, it stung to be seen as the enemy just because of his surname. It was at this point he hated having any relationship with the Songs.

"Song Yun," he muttered under his breath, his lips curling bitterly. "Always the shadow of Song Kai."

His phone buzzed, cutting through his thoughts.

He glanced at the screen and froze. A message from his brother.

Song Kai: "Heard you were at the clinic with Huo Feng’s sister. Care to explain?"

Song Yun’s grip tightened around the phone. His throat went dry. How did he even find out so quickly? Damien! Of course. It’d be that big dude who tattled to his brother.

He sighed then typed a response, deleted it, then typed again.

Song Yun: "She was hurt. I only helped her. Nothing more."

He sent it before he could second-guess himself.

The reply came almost instantly.

Song Kai: "Be careful who you get involved with. You don’t want to be caught in a storm you can’t handle."

Song Yun stared at the screen for a long moment. He pocketed the phone and laughed under his breath, though there was no humor in it.

"Too late for that, brother. I’m already involved with her"

------------

Meanwhile, on the other side of Shenghua University, Huo Fei sat on a bench near the garden, her hand trembling slightly as she scrolled through her phone.

News of Huo Yan’s injury had already spread across campus. Everyone was whispering about the "beautiful girl carried by Song Yun."

Each word she overheard felt like salt in a wound.

"She’s always the center of attention," Huo Fei murmured bitterly, tightening her grip on her phone until her knuckles turned white. "Always the one everyone protects."

Her lips twisted into a cold smile.

"Let’s see who protects you next time, cousin."

She opened her contacts and scrolled until she stopped at a name—Zhao Liang, a shady upperclassman who owed her a favor. Her thumb hovered over the call button for a moment before pressing it.

"Hello?" came a lazy male voice from the other end.

"Zhao Liang," she said softly, almost sweetly. "I have a little job for you."

The pause that followed was thick with unspoken tension and understanding.

"Who’s the target?" he asked finally, his voice laced with unmistakable interest.

Huo Fei’s lips curved. "Huo Yan."

There was a laugh at the other end of the line before a swift reply came in. "It will be done."

The call disconnected abruptly. Huo Fei’s lips curved into a smirk. "Let’s see who would save you now, dear cousin."

Huo Fei stayed on the bench after she hung up. Around her, the campus noise came and went, but she only heard one thing: Huo Yan being carried by Song Yun.

Her hand tightened around the bandage. Her mother was in jail. Her family had been shoved aside. People sympathised with the first branch, but never with her family.

Zhao Liang had already said he would get it done. He owed her a favor and he knew how to do unpleasant things when needed.

She didn’t want blood or a headline about a murder. She wanted a message. Perhaps, a bruise, a scare, of a public loss of face for Huo Yan.

She wanted something that was enough to make people look, and to make them feel uneasy. She wanted to ruin Huo Yan.

She typed another short message to Zhao Liang

[Tonight. I need two men. The job must be quick and clean. Don’t worry, I’ve already paid up front.]

He replied almost at once. [Understood lady. It’d be done tonight. Perhaps, after we take care of her, I can have fun with you. It has been quite long]

A sense of disgust spread in Huo Fei’s chest but she didn’t have any option. She’d do anything to make Huo Yan suffer.

[Deal, the normal place.] She quickly typed a response.

[Deal.]

Huo Fei folded the phone and stood. She’d neither show mercy or pity. She didn’t regret her actions.

This was about balance, she comforted herself. She wanted to make the people who’d always had power notice what it felt like to be small.

She rose from the bench, walking away calmly and slowly. Tonight would start the change. If this didn’t make them listen, she had more plans to force them to listen.

-------------------

The evening sky had deepened by the time Huo Yan finally drifted off to sleep in the clinic. The faint hum of the air conditioner filled the quiet room.

Yue Ning had stepped out to take a call while Huo Feng returned to the office to complete some papwork.

Song Yun lingered near the doorway. His arms were folded as he watched Huo Yan sleep. Her breathing was shallow but steady, and the corners of his mouth softened unconsciously.

He checked the time. It was past eight. He had to head back to the dorms before the gates locked. He had also sent Damien home, practically begging him.

He ought to leave but somehow his feet wouldn’t move. Every time he thought of leaving, the image of her collapsing against the wall earlier that day flashed before him again.

The door creaked open quietly. Yue Ning returned, her expression filled with tiredness.

"You should go back, Song Yun. I’ll stay here with her."

He nodded, though reluctantly. "If she wakes up, tell her I’ll check on her tomorrow."

Yue Ning gave a faint smile. "I will. And... thank you, for saving her today."

He gave a short, almost shy nod before walking out into the corridor.

Outside, the campus paths were mostly empty. A few lights glimmered in the distance, and the fountain near the main square bubbled faintly. He slid his hands into his pockets and walked toward the dorms.

Unbeknownst to him, two figures had been waiting near the faculty building. They moved like shadows with their faces hidden beneath their caps.

One of them lit a cigarette, the brief spark revealing a familiar smirk—Zhao Liang.

"She’s still at the clinic," said the other man beside him.

Zhao Liang exhaled a slow puff of smoke. "Good. We’ll wait until the girl in charge gives the word. She said she wanted it quiet, remember? Just a scare."

The second man snorted. "Quiet doesn’t pay as much."

Zhao Liang turned his gaze to him and instructed harshly. "Focus on doing your job, and maybe we’ll make it loud later. For now, follow the plan."

He crushed the cigarette beneath his shoe and flicked his phone open. A message lit up the screen:

[She’s alone now. Make it fast.]

Zhao Liang’s grin widened. "Perfect timing.

----------

Back in the clinic, Yue Ning sat on the chair beside Huo Yan’s bed, rubbing her temples. The day had drained her. The system’s voice hummed faintly in her head.

[’Host, the energy around this place feels strange. Danger might be approaching.’

Her eyes snapped open. "What do you mean?"

’Two unfamiliar signatures detected. I suggest you stay alert.’

Yue Ning straightened immediately, every sense sharpening. She rose from her seat and peeked through the window blinds.

Outside, the hallway was empty. But deep down, her instincts whispered otherwise coupled with the system’s words.

She reached for her phone, intending to call Huo Feng, but before she could, she heard footsteps approaching from the end of the corridor.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Three knocks echoed against the door.

Yue Ning froze, her pulse spiking.

"Who is it?" she called out cautiously.

Silence. Then came another knock, harder this time.

She turned toward Huo Yan, who stirred faintly in her sleep, oblivious to the tension that had thickened the room.

’Host, I advise you to prepare for combat.’

"Yeah," Yue Ning whispered, flexing her fingers as a faint glow shimmered beneath her skin. "I was just about to."

-------------

Outside the door, Zhao Liang exchanged a glance with his companion.

"She’s inside," the second man said, tilting his chin toward the clinic window. "You sure we should hit her here?"

"Orders are orders," Zhao Liang replied with a grin. "And besides, who’s going to know? It’ll look like a break-in."

He raised his hand and signaled to his subordinate. The other man gripped the doorknob.

"On three," Zhao Liang said. "One... two—"

The door swung open from the inside.

Both men froze.

Yue Ning stood there, calm and expressionless, her phone still in her hand. "Looking for someone?"

For the first time, Zhao Liang hesitated. Something about her cool sharp eyes which were faintly glowing under the clinic light made his instincts scream at him to run.

But it was already too late. He had nowhere to run.