Chapter 22 Deadly Rampage

Chapter 22 Deadly Rampage

Before Lin Mianmian could react, two burly men grabbed her arms and dragged her toward a van outside the alley.

Xie Lin's pupils suddenly contracted!

"Let her go!"

Like an enraged beast, he suddenly broke free from his restraints, suppressing the excruciating pain in his knees with overwhelming rage. But he had only taken two steps when the person behind him grabbed him by the back of his collar, and the bald man kicked him in the chest with a sinister grin: "Young Master Xie, want to save people? Win our car first."

The bald man pointed to the modified black sports car outside the alley, its engine roaring so loudly it hurt your eardrums. "West of the city, the mountain road. If you win, the girl is yours. If you lose... you can imagine what will happen to this little girl."

Xie Lin's gaze was fixed on the rear of the van as it sped away, his knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white, and the taste of blood filled his mouth.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, ripped off his mud-stained black t-shirt, revealing well-defined, muscular muscles, and his eyes swirled with a reckless madness.

"lead the way."

The winding mountain road west of the city is a notorious "death track" in the racing world, with steep bends, rusty guardrails, and no streetlights at night. Xie Lin sat in the race car, his fingertips tracing the steering wheel. This time, he had to win!

The engine roared to life, the screeching of tires shattering the silence. The race car shot forward like an arrow, drifting through the first corner, its tires billowing blue smoke, the rear of the car almost scraping the guardrail as it flew past.

In the rearview mirror, the black modified car was right behind him. The bald man's laughter came through the phone, laced with malicious mockery: "Young Master Xie, how does it feel to risk your life? Be careful you don't fall off a cliff and your body won't even be found!"

Xie Lin ignored him and slammed on the gas pedal, causing the speedometer needle to soar.

On the steering wheel, he held Lin Mianmian's life in his hands.

At a sharp bend, a black modified car attempted to overtake. Xie Lin reacted quickly, swerving the steering wheel sharply, narrowly avoiding a collision with the other car. Caught off guard, the other car's tires slipped, and it crashed into the guardrail with a loud bang.

"You're asking for death!" The bald man's angry roar was distorted and deformed.

Xie Lin didn't stop for a moment; the race car was like a silver lightning bolt, cleaving through the darkness. On the last corner, he drifted almost along the edge of a cliff, the angle of the car's tilt sending chills down one's spine.

The moment he crossed the finish line, he slammed on the brakes, leaving long black marks on the ground with his tires.

He kicked the car door open and Xie Lin staggered out, his knee wound reopening and blood soaking through his pants.

He saw the van parked not far away, with Lin Mianmian tied to the door. She was all alone and her face was pale.

The bald man got out of the car, brandishing an iron rod, and charged at Xie Lin. Xie Lin dodged to the side and punched him in the face, his movements as ruthless as a wounded wolf.

Taking advantage of the moment, Xie Lin ran to Lin Mianmian, broke the ropes binding her, and held her tightly in his arms. His voice was hoarse, but it carried a reassuring strength: "Mianmian, don't be afraid, I'm here."

The night wind whipped his blood-stained silver hair, and the moonlight fell on his sharply defined face, giving him a breathtakingly handsome appearance.

Suddenly, Xie Lin was struck hard on the back, his bones seeming to scream in pain.

He groaned, but stubbornly refused to let go of Lin Mianmian's arms, instead pulling her closer into his embrace.

He turned to look at the bald man who had caught up with him, his eyes surging with a terrifying ferocity: "Get lost."

The single word, as if frozen in ice, made the bald man pause in his movements.

Xie Lin didn't linger in the fight. He knew his body couldn't withstand a prolonged battle, and the person in his arms was the most important thing.

He practically dragged his injured leg, pulling Lin Mianmian along as they ran to the roadside, their rapid breathing mingling with the smell of blood filling the air.

The passing taxi driver was startled by the creepy appearance and was about to wave him away when he saw the man raise his face.

Those usually nonchalant peach blossom eyes were now bloodshot, her jawline taut, and her blood-stained silver hair plastered to her neck, exuding a ruthless madness.

“Go to the nearest hospital,” Xie Lin’s voice trembled uncontrollably, yet carried an undeniable authority. “Money is not a problem.”

The driver dared not ask any more questions and hurriedly opened the car door. Xie Lin carefully helped Lin Mianmian into the car, and then staggered in himself. As soon as he leaned against the seat, a sharp pain in his ribs struck him. He bit his lower lip hard, forcing back the groan in his throat, but his eyes remained fixed on the pale-faced girl beside him.

The taxi sped along, the wind whistling in through the window, making his bangs fly wildly.

Lin Mianmian watched the blood seeping from his trouser leg, and tears finally streamed down her face. She reached out to touch it, but was afraid of hurting him.

Xie Lin noticed the little girl's movements, forced a smile, and said in a hoarse voice, "Don't cry, your husband, I'm fine."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the jolting aggravated his wound, causing him to feel dizzy and nearly fall onto Lin Mianmian's shoulder.

Xie Lin only breathed a sigh of relief when the taxi came to a smooth stop in front of the emergency building. He used almost his last bit of strength to pull Lin Mianmian into his arms and get out of the car.

The emergency room lights were stark white. When the doctor cut open his blood-stained pants, Lin Mianmian could finally see the wound on his knee. The wound was deep enough to expose the bone, and there were dark bruises around it.

His old rib injury was aggravated, and with each breath he took, his face paled a little more, but he gritted his teeth and didn't utter a sound.

"You have a slight rib fracture, and your knee needs cleaning and stitches. Avoid strenuous exercise for now," the doctor instructed before turning to get the anesthetic.

Only the two of them remained in the consultation room, the air so quiet they could hear each other's heartbeats.

Lin Mianmian squatted in front of him, looking at the iodine and cotton swabs left by the nurse, her fingertips trembling slightly.

She looked up and met Xie Lin's smiling peach blossom eyes. He was tilting his head to look at her, the fierceness in his eyes completely gone, leaving only gentle teasing: "Scared? This little injury is nothing."

"You're still being stubborn even in this state." Lin Mianmian couldn't hold back her tears, picked up a cotton swab, dipped it in iodine, and carefully touched his wound.

Xie Lin groaned in pain and instinctively grabbed her wrist. His palm was burning hot, calloused, and incredibly strong, but he eased his grip the moment he touched her cool skin.

"Ouch, be gentle, baby, it hurts." He deliberately dragged out the tone, his voice was terribly hoarse, and the end of the tone had a seductive tremor.

Lin Mianmian's face flushed bright red instantly, and her hand trembled, almost dropping the cotton swab. She didn't dare look up at him, and could only stare at the wound on his knee, muttering softly, "Who told you to show off?"

Xie Lin chuckled softly, the vibration in his chest aggravating the injury to his ribs, causing him to gasp in pain.

The smile in his eyes deepened. He leaned closer to her, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe, carrying a hint of blood, yet strangely alluring: "If I don't show off, how can I save my precious princess?"

Lin Mianmian's ear tips instantly burned, and her heart was pounding so fast it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest.

She hurriedly lowered her head, but accidentally caught a glimpse of his collarbone through his hospital gown, and below that, his alluring abdominal muscles, which taut slightly with each breath.

She looked away abruptly, as if burned, her cheeks flushed red.

Xie Lin took in her reaction, and the corner of his mouth curved into an even more roguish smile.

He deliberately leaned forward, his voice extremely low and seductive: "Have you seen enough? Want to get closer and take a better look?"

"Xie Lin!" Lin Mianmian was both embarrassed and annoyed. She raised her hand and pushed him lightly, as if it were a tickle.

Xie Lin took her hand and brought it to his lips, gently kissing her fingertips.

The warm touch made Lin Mianmian's heart skip a beat, and even her ears turned red.

The door to the examination room opened, and the doctor walked in with the anesthetic, saying, "It's so good to be young!"

Lin Mianmian abruptly pulled her hand back, buried her head, and dared not look at anyone. The heat in her ears lingered for a long time.

After Xie Lin finished his surgery, he was sleeping in his hospital room. Lin Mianmian was afraid of disturbing his rest, so she came out to sit. After a while, a man in a suit, whose eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to Xie Lin's, walked towards her with a cold indifference. He was Xie Lin's father, and he had contacted her before.

He looked down at her, his tone calm but his words piercing: "Miss Lin, Xie Lin's two mishaps were because of you. He is the heir of the Xie family, and the path he will take in the future cannot afford the slightest mistake."

The man pushed a check in front of her: "Leave him. If you stay by his side, you will only become his weakness, causing him to endlessly fall into a state of no return."

Lin Mianmian didn't look at the check; she just kept her head down, staring at her pale fingertips.

Those men in black, that reckless car chase, and Xie Lin's father's words about "utter ruin" were like a net, tightly trapping her.

She remembered Xie Lin's body covered in wounds, and the resolute way he protected her. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly by a hand, and she could hardly breathe from the pain.

She can't be so selfish.

She couldn't let her presence repeatedly put him in danger, cause him to turn against his family, or burden him with undue pressure.

Lin Mianmian slowly stood up, forcing back the tears welling up in her eyes.

She didn't take the check, but bowed slightly to Xie Lin's father, her voice soft but carrying an undeniable resolve: "I understand, Uncle, I will leave him."

After saying that, she turned and left, her steps quick, as if she were fleeing something.

At the end of the corridor, the door to Xie Lin's ward was ajar, with dim light shining from inside.

Lin Mianmian stopped in her tracks. Through the crack in the door, she could see him lying on the bed, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he was not sleeping soundly.

She silently said goodbye in her heart, then turned around and disappeared into the shadows of the corridor.