First and foremost, Happy birthday, Meraki! May this site have more stories to tell, and followers to join in the fun.

Hope everyone is ready for this week's posts! Before continuing, I'd like to introduce the newest member to our editing team, @greenapple.  I'm excited and thankful to her for stepping up to the plate so we can continue posting regularly.

Last, but not the least…

TRIGGER WARNING: The next two chapters are violent in nature. It's a side story, so if you want to skip it, do so. You won't miss much. However, it goes to show An Chuxia's compa.s.sion. With that being said, you've been warned.

Happy reading!

Translated by newbienoona

Edited, and proofread by anks

An Chuxia sits restlessly in the car. For the fifteenth time, she asks, "Steward Han, are we almost there?"

"Young madame, do not be anxious. We're almost there. Ding Ning said he threw her here." The car barely stops when An Chuxia jumps out of the car.

She looks around for Lila, but she doesn't even see a glimpse of her shadow. A stream of pedestrians mull around. Frustrated, she pulls a random pedestrian and asks her a question. "Auntie, did you notice an attractive girl cross here not too long ago?"

The forty-year-old woman eyes her from head to toe before replying impatiently. "You're rather vague with your description… Tall, pretty girls fill these streets, right? You interrupted me… which attractive female are you looking for?"

She suppresses the urge to pull away. "I'm sorry. I'm rather impatient. That girl… ."

"I, too, am impatient! Don't you see me hurrying back to my card game?" The middle-aged woman breaks into a sinister smile, spreading the bright red lipstick across her face. She breaks free from An Chuxia's grasp and leaves.

"What kind of a question is that, ah? Who do you think you are? Pretty girls… like I have all day!" The middle-aged woman curses angrily. She sinks lower than low. What is wrong with her? How disgusting!

Steward Han pulls An Chuxia away and says, "Little madame, don't be angry. If you're unhappy, I can immediately… say something to that woman." He traces his thumb across his neck like he is going to behead someone.

She couldn't help but shudder. She hurriedly waves her hands. "No need, no need! Can't you take a joke? I'm kidding, I'm kidding." She suddenly finds it hard to talk. How could someone talk about snuffing a life so easily? Seriously… Lila! d.a.m.n it! She almost forgot the reason why they're here.

If it weren't for her, Lila wouldn't be thrown on the streets.

"Steward Han, help me find… wait, is this blood?" She frowns as she squats down in front of a pool of blood. She takes her index and middle finger and touches the liquid. It's not animal blood. More so, the blood hasn't coagulated. It means it's fresh.

If her guess is right, where did Lila go? Last time they called Ding Ning, he said she was unconscious. d.a.m.n! Her heart is restless.

"Young madame, look… There's another pool of blood here. And another there!" He points to the drops of blood meters away. "I guess, if you want to find Miss Lila, you should follow the blood trail."

She doesn't wait for steward Han to say another word. She looks at the ground and follows the blood. They arrive at a narrow alley in the street. The blood disappears. She looks around the narrow lane. An Chuxia swallows hard, secretly hoping for a happier outcome. However, just as she was about to take a step, steward Han immediately stops her.

Steward Han suspects an untimely death when he sees several men, wearing black suits, looking around. She can't help but think of worst case scenarios. She hides behind steward Han and asks, "What are we going to do?"

Translated by newbienoona

Edited, and proofread by anks

Steward Han tries to rea.s.sure An Chuxia with a smile. "Young madame, don't be afraid. They're our people. Do you know what they're doing? Something we can't look at quickly."

"Yes!" The group of well-trained bodyguards forms two lines. In their hands are guns. Although they look at her respectfully, she can see in the dim light their eyes have seen the blood. Han's people treat their master with respect. They'll never overstep their boundaries. However, they won't have any leniency for their master's foes.

A number of bodyguards leave, while a handful stay next to her. She can't give up. Looking at the steward, she says, "They've gone in, and I'm not in any danger. I want to go in and take a look."

"No, madame!" Steward Han immediately runs to her side, leaving the bodyguards by the entrance. He trails behind her as she walks down the alley.

The alley is narrow, but long, limiting the light pouring in. The bodyguard behind her takes out a flashlight and illuminates the path before them. The ground is wet, and as they walk, the scent of blood gets stronger.

As they go in deeper, a couple of flashlights point their way.

"Who's there?!" Someone shouts out loud.

"It's us!" Steward Han shouts in reply. An Chuxia s.n.a.t.c.hes the flashlight from the bodyguard and takes several steps forward. Steward Han follows her, fearing she'll hurt herself.

She hightails to the end of the alley. Finally, she realizes why the scent of blood is thick. Four beggars lie on the ground, each bearing a gunshot wound to his head. More than likely, silencers were used. Otherwise, she would've heard the sound, right?

"Don't, don't come… ." An Chuxia follows the voice. In the damp corner, she sees Lila, s.h.i.+vering. It looks like the beggars tore her clothes. She can see the wound Han Qilu inflicted on her forehead.

"Miss Xia?" A puzzled bodyguard looks at her. Did she ask him… to take off his clothes?

Trying to suppress the urge to vomit **, An Chuxia clumsily undresses the bodyguard. His b.u.t.tons are secured too tightly! At the end, she wipes her hands on her pants. "Undress yourself!"

The bodyguard automatically looks at the calm steward. Steward Han realizes her intent. He raises his hand, and orders with dignity, "Do what the lady tells you to do."

What can he do? The bodyguard bites the bullet and takes off his coat. He hands it to An Chuxia and watches her take his coat to the corner where a girl is huddled. He awkwardly puts his hands down. It seems like he was over-thinking her intentions at that time.

She drapes the coat over Lila's shoulders. An Chuxia says to her softly, "Lila, you'll be alright. Just relax. You'll be fine."