Chen Jing turned her head and saw the basement door being kicked open with such force that the door panel nearly hit her nose. Startled, Chen Jing dropped her phone. Her eyes widened even further when she recognized the person. "Mr. Xing, Mr. Xing..."
Chen Jing stammered out Xing Zheng's name. How could he be here? Was he here to save Lin Mei? Did he and Lin Mei...?
"Xing Zheng!" Lin Mei cried out his name in her despair. She didn't care about anything else, pulling at her throat to call him, her voice cracking with tears, "Hurry and take me away..."
Xing Zheng strode forward and punched the man pinning Lin Mei away. The bodyguards who followed quickly subdued the man and also tied up Chen Jing.
Seeing Lin Mei's condition, Xing Zheng's eyes instantly welled with murderous intent.
Her face was covered in blood. Her once beautiful features were now horribly swollen, with the marks of slaps still visible. Her hair and clothes were soaked through. Her eyes were red, clearly indicating she had cried from pain. The man who had taken drugs had torn her clothes, exposing her shoulder... and her hands and feet were bound with chains!
Xing Zheng suppressed the urge to kill and knelt down to unlock her handcuffs and shackles. Lin Mei sobbed softly. Once her hands and feet were free, she threw her arms around Xing Zheng's waist, resting her head on his chest. At first, she just sobbed quietly, but then her shoulders began to tremble more violently. She couldn't stop crying and could only keep calling his name.
Xing Zheng held Lin Mei in his arms, his large hand resting on her back, gently comforting her. "I'm here, don't be afraid."
Chen Jing watched from across the room as Xing Zheng so tenderly comforted Lin Mei. She felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Xing Zheng, a man like him, could be so patient with Lin Mei? He had seen so many beautiful women; how could he be so captivated by this vixen?
No wonder he had so unceremoniously refused her when she sought his help for Chen Qi's matter, and even deleted her contact information afterward. It must have been Lin Mei causing trouble.
Chen Jing's face contorted further with jealousy, but she was utterly helpless, forced to watch Xing Zheng patiently coax Lin Mei.
Lin Mei was indeed terrified. This was her first time experiencing such an event. The dual torment, both mental and physical, had shattered her composure. She nestled in Xing Zheng's arms as if she had found her anchor, unwilling to let go for a moment. After holding and comforting Lin Mei for a few minutes, Xing Zheng scooped her up in his arms and carried her away. As he passed Chen Jing, Xing Zheng instructed the bodyguards beside him, "Take her away."
Those four cold words reached Chen Jing like a messenger from hell. Xing Zheng was so obedient to Lin Mei; if Lin Mei whispered in his ear, he wouldn't let her off. Chen Jing refused to leave, struggling. "No, I'm not going! This is kidnapping, I'm calling the police!"
Xing Zheng ignored her. He had already left with Lin Mei. Gu Song heard Chen Jing's words and let out a short laugh. He stopped in front of Chen Jing, looking her up and down. "Don't worry, calling the police will happen sooner or later. If you're so eager to go in, you'll have plenty of opportunities later."
After mocking Chen Jing, Gu Song coldly ordered the bodyguards, "Take her away!"
No matter how much Chen Jing struggled, it was futile. Her meager strength was like showing off in front of a master when faced with several burly bodyguards.
Xing Zheng carried Lin Mei into the back seat of the car. He wanted to let go and get in with her, but Lin Mei clutched his arm, refusing to release him. She couldn't say a word, her fingers trembling like a frightened little rabbit. Xing Zheng held her hand. "Good girl, I'm not leaving. I'll go up with you, but you have to let go of me first so I can get in."
With his promise, Lin Mei finally let go of him. Xing Zheng got into the car and said to Zhuang Wan in the front, "To the hospital."
Zhuang Wan immediately started the car and drove towards Ruixi Private Hospital. Ruixi Private Hospital was a hospital Xing Zheng had invested in. It was astonishingly expensive, but it offered excellent service and strong patient privacy.
Xing Zheng had already arranged for doctors for Lin Mei on the way. Zhuang Wan, seeing Xing Zheng holding Lin Mei tightly without pause, was somewhat astonished. Although he had known about the special attention the manager Lin received from Xing Zheng, he had never expected it to be to this extent. Zhuang Wan had followed Xing Zheng for many years and had never seen him care so much about anyone or anything.
Lin Mei fainted on the way to the hospital. Xing Zheng flew into a rage, losing his composure and ordering Zhuang Wan to speed up. Zhuang Wan did not dare to delay and quickly accelerated, driving on the verge of speeding to the hospital. Xing Zheng carried Lin Mei to the examination room, where several doctors were already waiting.
While Lin Mei was being examined, Xing Zheng stood by with a grim expression. He watched the doctors examine Lin Mei, his gaze fixed on her swollen and red face. A nurse cleaned the bloodstains from Lin Mei's face and applied medicine to her wounds. Even from a distance of one meter, Xing Zheng could clearly see the slap marks on her face, indicating how hard Chen Jing had hit her.
The doctors conducted a thorough examination of Lin Mei. Afterward, they reported to Xing Zheng, "Mr. Xing, apart from the external injuries on her face, there are no signs of injury elsewhere, nor have any bones been broken. She is simply frightened and needs to rest and relax."
Xing Zheng: "Arrange for her admission."
The doctors understood and immediately instructed their assistants to handle Lin Mei's hospitalization procedures. Soon, Lin Mei was transferred to the highest-level single room. The medical staff changed her into a clean hospital gown, but she had not yet woken up.
Zhuang Wan followed Xing Zheng to the ward. Seeing Lin Mei's condition, Zhuang Wan asked Xing Zheng, "Mr. Xing, should we hire a caregiver for Manager Lin?"
"No need," Xing Zheng said, his gaze fixed on Lin Mei's injured face, his words becoming increasingly resolute. "Notify Gu Song and have Chen Jing's face slapped until it's swollen."
The murderous intent in Xing Zheng's words made Zhuang Wan's hair stand on end. "Yes, Mr. Xing. I'll go do it now."
When Gu Song received Zhuang Wan's call, he was not surprised at all. Lin Mei was someone Xing Zheng wanted desperately. For Chen Jing to harm Lin Mei was no different from seeking her own demise. After taking the call, Gu Song immediately found someone to deal with Chen Jing.
Chen Jing cried out in pain as she was slapped. She cried and cursed Lin Mei. "Lin Mei! You bitch! I should have let that madman defile you earlier!"
Gu Song told her, "You should be grateful that your plan didn't succeed, otherwise it wouldn't have been just a few slaps."
If the person Chen Jing had found had actually done something to Lin Mei, Xing Zheng would have retaliated a thousandfold. "Don't provoke people you shouldn't."
Lin Mei woke up in a state of shock. She dreamt again of that deranged man tearing her clothes. She sat up with a scream, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Xing Zheng immediately stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. Lin Mei, smelling his familiar scent, gradually calmed down. Her memories returned, and she recalled many scenes.
She sniffled and spoke softly, "How did you know I was there?"