Jiang Chen walked up to Lan Huanxi, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Where do you live? I'll take you home."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a quiet authority that made it impossible to refuse.
Lan Huanxi lowered her head, her cheeks turning red with embarrassment. She couldn't bring herself to look into Jiang Chen's deep, piercing eyes.
When she didn't respond, Jiang Chen turned to Mu Xi. "You came by car, right? Drive her back for me."
Mu Xi felt like exploding. A lowly hair-wash girl, and he was actually asking her to chauffeur her home?
"Why should I?" she snapped.
Jiang Chen's smile didn't falter. "Because you need me."
Mu Xi opened her mouth to retort, but Lian Ruifeng gently held her back. "Miss, don't be impulsive."
Mu Xi's eyes blazed with suppressed fury. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, a storm brewing behind her clenched jaw.
To break the tension, Lan Huanxi quickly said, "It's fine, really. I can walk back."
But Jiang Chen's tone turned firm, brooking no argument. "No trouble. I said I'd take you back, and that's what we'll do."
Mu Xi rolled her eyes in disbelief. "Hmph, shameless. If you're so adamant, why not use your own car? Why use our Mu family's?"
Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow, amused. "So you're saying you won't?"
Mu Xi found herself tongue-tied, sputtering with nothing to say. Her glare was her only protest.
Unbothered, Jiang Chen reached out and gently took Lan Huanxi's small hand. "Let's go."
Lan Huanxi trembled. Her face turned beet red, ears burning. No man had touched her like this since that awful night with the fat, greasy boss. Back then, she'd scrubbed her hands raw, trying to wash away the feeling.
But Jiang Chen's touch was different. It didn't make her recoil. It made her heart race.
Seeing this, Mu Xi's jealousy erupted into silent fury. She slammed her foot against the car door, the loud metallic clang echoing in the night.
Lian Ruifeng glanced at her warily. He didn't understand what had upset her, but wisely chose to keep quiet. It was never wise to intervene when immortals quarreled.
Lan Huanxi's home was far from the city, in a quiet village. The drive took nearly an hour.
When the village came into view, she timidly pointed. "That's Lan Village. Just drop me at the entrance."
Ruifeng brought the car to a gentle stop.
Seeing her fumble with the door, Jiang Chen got out and opened it for her.
Lan Huanxi gave him a soft, grateful smile.
"Huanxi," Jiang Chen said, holding out a bank card, "Take this. The PIN is 123456. There's fifty thousand yuan inside. It should help you get by."
Lan Huanxi froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the card.
"I can't take this," she whispered. "You've already done too much."
"I said take it."
His tone startled her.
Realizing he'd been too harsh, Jiang Chen sighed and softened. "You need it more than I do. And don't ever go back to that place again."
Lan Huanxi nodded, eyes full of tears.
"Alright," Jiang Chen said gently. "Go home now."
He turned and got back in the car.
Lan Huanxi stood there, watching the car disappear down the road. Her fingers clutched the card tightly.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Brother Jiang Chen... thank you. I'll repay you someday. I promise."
Even if it meant offering herself to him—she wouldn't hesitate.
—
In the car, Ruifeng asked, "Mr. Jiang, where to now?"
Jiang Chen looked out the window at the distant mountains. "Cloud Mist Mountain."
Mu Xi stared. "It's nearly four in the morning! What are you going to do out there?"
"Watch the sunrise."
He leaned back, uninterested in explaining further. "Wake me when we get there."
Mu Xi clenched her fists. That guy—so infuriating!
Half an hour later, the car stopped halfway up the mountain.
"We're here, Mr. Jiang."
Jiang Chen opened his eyes and stepped out.
The cold moon hung high, stars scattered across the sky. Moonlight poured down like silver, coating the mountains in a soft mist.
It looked like something out of a dream.
Jiang Chen took a deep breath and murmured, "Not bad. The spiritual energy here is dense."
Dew clung to the leaves like tiny pearls. Everything shimmered.
He began collecting dew carefully, his expression calm and focused.
Mu Xi had followed him out. She blinked, puzzled. "Why are you collecting dewdrops?"
Jiang Chen didn't turn around. "If you know, then why ask?"
Mu Xi pouted. "Why are you always so prickly?"
Bored of sitting in the car alone, she wandered a bit.
But as she stepped closer, a multicolored snake, thin as a finger and shaped like a flat triangle, slithered silently toward her pale leg, its tongue flickering menacingly...