Shi Ning cried out in alarm and reached for Mu Tiantian, who had just stepped forward, trying to yank her back.
But Qin Heye was faster. He pulled Shi Ning straight into his arms and held her tightly against his chest.
“Be careful.”
Screech—! Bang!
The shrill, teeth-grating sound of brakes tore through the air, followed immediately by the violent crash of metal.
And then—
Mu Tiantian’s scream.
“Ah—!”
Shi Ning’s heart leapt into her throat. She shoved Qin Heye away and ran toward the other side of the car.
“Tiantian—!”
Mu Tiantian was already caught.
She was held firmly in the arms of a young man—handsome, athletic, dressed in sportswear, full of youthful vitality.
The two of them had fallen to the ground together.
They lay there, bodies close, arms still wrapped around each other, their gazes locked.
Mu Tiantian stared straight at the man’s face, eyes wide and unblinking—like someone struck by lightning, as though she had just fallen in love at first sight.
It felt as if romantic background music was about to start playing at any second, as though time itself had slowed, freezing this moment into something fate-defining.
Shi Ning, however, saw more than just the scene.
She saw the bullet screen comments flooding in.
[It’s him! It’s him, it’s him! The female lead’s devoted second male lead—our loyal second male lead, He Zelin, has appeared!]
(Second male lead: a popular Chinese web-novel trope—handsome, gentle, deeply devoted to the female lead, but never chosen.)
[Mu Tiantian, stay away from our devoted second male lead! The male lead belongs to the female lead, the second male lead belongs to the readers!]
(A common joke in danmu culture: readers “claim” the second male lead emotionally.)
[He Zelin is the classic hero who saves the damsel—handsome and sweet-talking. Mu Tiantian must have fallen in love at first sight.]
[The vicious female supporting character is blind and heartless. What does she have to do with He Zelin? He did all this for the female lead. First, he sent the vicious female supporting character to northern Myanmar, then tricked Mu Tiantian with false hope, sending her there too. She disappeared and was tortured for ten years. When she returned, she was already insane.]
(Northern Myanmar: often referenced in Chinese web novels as a lawless region associated with scams, trafficking, and extreme danger.)
[Wait—Mu Tiantian’s first kiss is about to be given to He Zelin. A kiss that seals their love!]
Shi Ning: !!!
Mu Tiantian’s life’s biggest scumbag—
he actually appeared like this?!
And he was one of the people responsible for sending her to northern Myanmar!
Shi Ning’s heart burned with anxiety. But seeing both Mu Tiantian and He Zelin sprawled on the ground, their calves scraped and bleeding, she didn’t dare rush in recklessly, afraid she might worsen their injuries.
She asked urgently, “Tiantian, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere else?”
Mu Tiantian finally snapped out of her daze, reluctantly pulling her eyes away from the man’s face.
“I’m fine.”
He Zelin’s face flushed red.
“Miss… can you get up? You’re pressing on me.”
Only then did Mu Tiantian realize—
Her elbow had accidentally landed on the man’s… unmentionable spot.
“I—I’m sorry!”
Her face turned bright red as she hurried to get up.
But the moment she moved, a sharp pain shot through her calf. She lost her balance and fell back down—
Straight into him.
Face to face.
Lips to lips.
Defending Mu Tiantian’s first kiss: !!!
Smack!
Shi Ning reacted instantly, hurling her bag at He Zelin’s face.
“Ouch!”
His face stung from the impact.
Smack!
Mu Tiantian’s “first kiss” landed squarely on Shi Ning’s bag instead.
Shi Ning immediately pulled Mu Tiantian up and dragged her aside, anxiously checking her over.
“Are you hurt anywhere else?”
Mu Tiantian shook her head, but her gaze drifted back to He Zelin, who was still lying on the ground.
“That handsome guy seems more seriously injured than me. He got grazed by the car. I should go check on him.”
Shi Ning grabbed her arm and whispered firmly,
“Don’t go. He’s the ‘bad guy’ I told you about. He’s not a good person.”
Mu Tiantian looked at her in disbelief.
“That can’t be true, right?”
This was someone she didn’t even know—and yet, when she was in danger, he risked his life to save her.
How could he be a bad person?
Shi Ning nodded solemnly.
“It’s him.”
Mu Tiantian still looked unconvinced.
Shi Ning grew even more serious.
“You two are clearly incompatible. He’s bad for your marriage, bad for your wealth, and bad for you wanting me—your sister—”
Before she could finish—
Whatever faint affection Mu Tiantian had just developed vanished instantly.
“Then I’ll stay away from him,” Mu Tiantian said decisively.
“Nothing is more important than wealth or my sister.”
Shi Ning nodded vigorously.
“Yes! That’s the kind of awareness we need. The farther away from him, the better.”
“But…” Mu Tiantian hesitated, feeling slightly guilty.
“He was injured saving me. Isn’t it kind of immoral to just ignore him?”
Shi Ning replied calmly,
“Qin Heye is here. Let him handle it.”
Either way, she intended to keep her guard up around He Zelin.
Mu Tiantian had always been rebellious and hated listening to others.
But when it came to Shi Ning’s words, they were practically a royal decree—she obeyed without question.
Seeing that Shi Ning was safe, Qin Heye went to photograph the accident scene and the damaged car, then negotiated with the driver responsible.
After that, he checked on He Zelin before returning to Shi Ning’s side.
Shi Ning asked, “How is that man?”
Qin Heye’s expression was dark, his entire presence cold and unapproachable. Even facing Shi Ning, he showed no warmth.
“His name is He Zelin. His right foot was run over by the rear wheel—he can’t stand. We’ve already called 120 (China’s emergency medical number, equivalent to 911). He needs to go to the hospital for further examination.”
Shi Ning glanced at He Zelin, deeply dissatisfied.
“Oh.”
What a pity.
Such a bad man—why didn’t the car just run him over completely?
If that had happened, everything would be over.
The ambulance arrived quickly.
After examination, He Zelin was diagnosed with a minor fracture and soft tissue contusions. His foot was swollen like a cow’s hoof.
He needed to go to the hospital for a full check-up—and someone had to accompany him.
He Zelin looked at Mu Tiantian.
“Miss, I saved you. You should come with me to the hospital, right?”
Mu Tiantian almost nodded.
It was the proper thing to do.
But then—
Shi Ning shot her a look.
Mu Tiantian coughed lightly and refused outright.
“No. I’m ungrateful. I’m treacherous. I’m not going.”
She could live without men—
but not without her sister.
He Zelin froze, clearly not expecting such an answer.
Shi Ning nodded approvingly.
Exactly. A friend of a villainous female supporting character is also a villainous female supporting character.
Since she was already a villain, then being ungrateful and treacherous was perfectly in character.
In the end, the mall manager and the driver responsible for the accident accompanied He Zelin to the hospital.
As for this unexpected turn of events—
[Strange… why didn’t Mu Tiantian kiss He Zelin? That was her first kiss—the one that seals their love. She was supposed to be unable to live without him!]
[Shouldn’t Mu Tiantian have accompanied He Zelin to the hospital, taken care of him for three months, and fallen hopelessly in love?]
[What a pity. This was such a carefully orchestrated hero-saves-the-damsel scene. He Zelin deliberately chose Mu Tiantian—someone who lacked love since childhood is easiest to win over.]
[What a pity? I think it’s great. One less woman hurt by a scumbag in this world.]
[Mu Tiantian listens to the villainous female supporting character the most: “I can live without men, but not without sister! Long live sister!”]
[Our country has a monogamous system. So when will the villainous female supporting character start practicing bigamy? The main villain is the husband, Mu Tiantian is the wife—so sweet, so sweet…]
Shi Ning frowned deeply as she read the comments on the way home.
Was this hero-saves-the-damsel scene really something He Zelin had carefully planned?
And why did he choose Mu Tiantian in the first place?
She turned to Qin Heye.
“Honey, this He Zelin feels suspicious. Help me investigate him.”
“Okay.”
“This coincidence is too much. I’m worried his motives aren’t pure. We have to find out.”
“Okay.”
“And driving so fast in an underground parking garage—with high beams on—this accident doesn’t feel simple either. That needs investigation too.”
“Okay.”
Shi Ning said several things in a row, but Qin Heye only responded with a cold, emotionless “okay.”
Cold.
Distant.
Radiating an aura that kept people far away.
Shi Ning immediately noticed the change.
Shi Ning: !!!
Wait.
Why is this villain suddenly angry?
Why is he angry?! 😭