The night was still, too still, as Su Nian stared out of the window. The faint lights of the city shimmered like distant stars, but inside the penthouse, the air was thick with a sense of impending danger. She felt trapped, as if the walls were slowly closing in on her.
Behind her, Lu Cheng paced, his mind working at full speed. Every phone call he made, every document he went through, was all part of a much bigger strategy. The stakes were too high now. He couldn't afford to make any mistakes.
The confrontation with Jin Tao had shaken Su Nian, and although she tried to mask her fear, Lu Cheng could feel the tension radiating from her. He wasn't about to let anything happen to her. No matter what it took.
"Cheng…" Su Nian's voice broke through his thoughts, soft but filled with uncertainty. "What if we can't stop him? What if this… this storm just doesn't end?"
Lu Cheng stopped in his tracks, turning to face her. His eyes softened when he saw the vulnerability in her gaze, and for a moment, the fierce businessman he had become disappeared, replaced by the man who loved her with all his heart.
He walked over to her and took her hands in his. "NianNian," he said gently, using the nickname he had grown to love saying, "No matter what happens, we will get through this. Together. You're not facing this alone. I'm right here with you, and I'll protect you with everything I have."
Su Nian's heart swelled at his words, but the lingering fear from the encounter with Jin Tao still gnawed at her. She could feel the past closing in, threatening to swallow her whole.
Before she could speak again, the shrill sound of her phone ringing sliced through the air, making her jump. The caller ID showed a number she didn't recognize, but something in her gut told her it wasn't good.
She hesitated, then answered the call. "Hello?"
A cold voice responded. "It's me. Jin Tao. You've been a very bad girl, haven't you?"
Su Nian's blood ran cold as her grip on the phone tightened. She could hear the smirk in his voice, the malicious glee that made her want to throw the phone across the room.
"What do you want now, Jin Tao?" she said, trying to keep her voice steady, but failing.
"You think this is over? Oh, no, sweetheart. I'm just getting started," Jin Tao's voice was low and menacing. "I want you to meet me. Tomorrow. Noon. You'll be alone, no one else. And if you don't, well, let's just say your life won't be as easy as it has been."
Her heart raced as the implications of his words sank in.
"Don't listen to him, NianNian," Lu Cheng said firmly from behind her. His voice was full of steel, and it gave her the strength she needed to push back against her fear.
But Jin Tao wasn't finished. "Oh, and just so you know, Lu Cheng will be left in the dark. He won't even know what hit him."
Lu Cheng's face hardened at the mention of his name. He moved closer to Su Nian, standing by her side, ready to take control of the situation. "You'll never touch her," he growled into the phone. "Do you hear me, Jin Tao? You're making a huge mistake."
Jin Tao let out a low chuckle. "We'll see about that. Tomorrow at noon, NianNian. Don't keep me waiting."
The line went dead, and Su Nian's heart pounded in her chest. Her hands shook as she lowered the phone, unable to process the depth of the threat Jin Tao had just laid out for her.
"Cheng…" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don't want you to get hurt because of me."
Lu Cheng's gaze never wavered, and his voice was filled with a fierce, unwavering determination. "Nothing is going to happen to you. Not while I'm here. We'll take care of this, and I'll make sure Jin Tao pays for even thinking he could threaten you."
The following morning, Lu Cheng took charge, already making the necessary arrangements to deal with Jin Tao's threats. His business empire was vast, and his influence stretched far and wide, but this was personal. The thought of losing Su Nian—the woman he loved, the woman who had come to mean everything to him—was not something he could allow.
The plan was set. He would shadow Su Nian's every move, ensuring she was never alone while still making it look like she was meeting Jin Tao on her own. It was a delicate balance, but Lu Cheng was nothing if not precise.
The clock on the wall ticked down to noon. Su Nian paced nervously, glancing at the door every few seconds. She had agreed to meet Jin Tao, but only because she knew it was the only way to put an end to this once and for all. She couldn't let him control her life any longer.
Lu Cheng had made sure to brief her on every possible scenario. "If he tries anything, just text me, and I'll be there," he had told her before she left the penthouse.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. Today, it ended. One way or another.
Su Nian arrived at the designated meeting place, an old warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The place was eerily quiet, the kind of spot where the world felt miles away. It was the perfect location for someone like Jin Tao—where the shadows could hide secrets, and where no one would dare to interfere.
She walked into the building with her head held high, despite the fear gnawing at her insides. She spotted Jin Tao immediately, standing by an old crate, his arms crossed and a wicked grin on his face.
"You actually came," Jin Tao said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I wasn't sure if you'd have the guts."
Su Nian stood tall, trying to ignore the chill running down her spine. "I'm here. Now, let's get this over with."
Jin Tao's smile widened, and he took a step forward, his eyes glinting with dark amusement. "You think this is over? You really think Lu Cheng can protect you from all the people you've wronged?"
Before she could respond, a familiar voice cut through the tension.
"That's where you're wrong."
Lu Cheng stepped out from the shadows, his expression as cold as the steel that ran through his veins. "You'll never hurt her again, Jin Tao."
Su Nian's heart skipped a beat, seeing the calm fury in Lu Cheng's eyes. He had been right behind her the whole time, his presence a silent but powerful reassurance. Now, it was clear. The real battle had begun.
"You—" Jin Tao's eyes widened in shock, his arrogance faltering for the first time. "You can't just barge in like this. This doesn't concern you."
"It does now," Lu Cheng said with finality, stepping closer to Su Nian, his hand resting possessively on her shoulder. "This is my wife. And you will leave her alone."
Jin Tao took a step back, his smirk faltering as he realized the tables were turning. "You think you can intimidate me with your money and power?" he sneered. "You've made a mistake, Lu Cheng. This is bigger than you think."
But Lu Cheng didn't flinch. "You're finished, Jin Tao. You've crossed the line, and I'm done letting you threaten the people I care about."
The tension in the room reached its peak as Jin Tao realized he was no longer in control. Lu Cheng had already taken steps to neutralize the threat, leveraging his influence to dismantle the criminal networks Jin Tao was tied to. No one could stand against him when he was this resolute.
In a final, desperate move, Jin Tao lunged toward Su Nian, but before he could even make contact, Lu Cheng was there, grabbing his arm and twisting it with brutal force. Jin Tao let out a strangled cry of pain as he fell to the ground, his attempts to fight back futile.
"You're done," Lu Cheng growled, his voice icy with determination.
The authorities were already on their way, and with one phone call, Jin Tao's criminal network was about to be crushed. His reign of terror was over.