X
Join our Discord server and get release updates for every novel you follow.
Join the ServerHe Ting walked to the window, letting the wind rush past the phone as he asked, “Where are you now?”
Meng Ling named a private club.
He Ting knew the place, Gu Qiuhang went there sometimes. It was close to Zhang Xiaojing’s café, a high-end club well beyond Meng Ling’s usual spending level.
“I’m heading out now,” He Ting said. “It’s quite far, so it’ll take me a while. Can you let that ‘mistress’ say something to me? I want to ask him a few questions.”
There was a pause on Meng Ling’s end. After a moment, he replied, “He’s already been knocked unconscious.”
He Ting hung up and immediately called Zhang Xiaojing, his phone was off.
Then he called Su Bei. Su Bei picked up, but his grandfather had dragged him to H City because he’d been in low spirits lately. He wouldn’t be back for another day or two.
Not wanting him to worry, He Ting quickly ended the call. Uncle Chen had been sent out by Tong Yuemei and hadn’t returned yet.
Everything felt too coincidental, too unnatural.
He Ting replayed Meng Ling’s recording several times, then dialed Gu Qiuhang.
The moment he heard his voice, the composure He Ting had been holding onto shattered.
“Sir-!” His voice trembled.
Gu Qiuhang’s voice came through, calm and steady, like a sedative. “What happened? Don’t panic. Tell me slowly.”
He Ting’s mind raced. He wasn’t sure if this was the same incident from his previous life.
‘What if he was wrong? What if it wasn’t?’
That wasn’t a small matter, how would he explain himself then?
He took a deep breath and chose the safest lie, “Su Bei cheated.”
Once he started, the rest came easier. “Something’s happened over there. I need to go. Can you send some people to help me?”
Gu Qiuhang seemed to pause for a moment, but his voice remained even. “Don’t worry. I’m already on my way back home.”
He Ting froze, then felt a sudden wave of relief. “You’re back? Why today?”
“The issue’s been handled, so I came back early.”
He Ting gave him the club’s address while rushing toward the gate. He hailed a taxi and headed straight for Zhang Xiaojing’s café.
In the car, he went over everything again, the more he thought, the more wrong it felt.
‘What if Zhang Xiaojing got dragged into this?’
Anxiety burned through him.
He called Gu Qiuhang again. “Sir, if I call you and don’t say anything, don’t hang up. That means something’s wrong on my end. Just listen and act accordingly.”
Gu Qiuhang’s tone sharpened, carrying an unmistakable command. “Don’t go alone. Wait for me.”
But He Ting had already hung up.
He quickly instructed, “System, if I can’t make the call later, call Gu Qiuhang for me, and record everything.”
The system replied seriously, “No problem.”
He Ting got out of the taxi in front of the café. It was peak summer, brightly lit, packed with customers.
He hurried toward the entrance to check if Zhang Xiaojing was inside.
But suddenly, someone grabbed his shoulder from the side.
Another person came up behind him, covering his mouth. They held him like a drunk and dragged him into a dark alley, then through the club’s back entrance.
He Ting signaled the system to call Gu Qiuhang.
When he was pushed into a private room, he deliberately read out the room name, drawing a sneer from one of them. “Still got the mood for that, huh?”
He Ting was shoved inside.
At first glance, he saw Meng Ling.
Disheveled, lifeless, like a discarded rag doll sprawled on the floor.
He Ting closed his eyes briefly in pain.
Everything was the same as before. Nothing had changed.
The only difference, this time, he had come.
In the original timeline, Tang Qi had been held up and never made it here.
He quickly scanned the room. Zhang Xiaojing wasn’t there.
Only then did he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
Gu Donghang. Zhou Zhaoqi. And another guy he vaguely recognized.
The rest looked like street thugs.
The moment Meng Ling saw him, he crawled over, clutching his leg, crying out “Brother!”
He Ting shook him off and was forced onto the sofa by two men.
The system had already called Gu Qiuhang, and alerted the police and an ambulance.
Meng Ling’s body was stained, red and white, blood and something else. Even his lips were split.
Seeing He Ting gave him a flicker of hope.
He Ting forced himself to stay calm. “Do you even know what you’re doing?”
Zhou Zhaoqi spoke first, patting his face mockingly. “We just know that without Su Bei, you’ve lost your backing.”
He turned to Gu Donghang. “Can I go first? I’ve been waiting for this day.”
Gu Donghang pushed him aside and handed He Ting a cigarette. “Smoke.”
He Ting’s lashes trembled. “What did you put in it?”
Gu Donghang smiled. “Something that’ll make you feel good. It won’t hurt as much later.”
He Ting refused. The cigarette was forced between his lips.
“What, scared now? Weren’t you so bold at home?”
His head was forced down. Someone lit the cigarette, bringing the flame close.
He Ting struggled. His mind blurred.
Somewhere in the haze, he heard Meng Ling crying, and the others laughing.
Their eyes were wild, feverish, something deeply wrong about them.
The cigarette tip glowed, smoke curling upward.
Then a dull thud.
Someone was pounding on the door outside.
The sound grew louder, clearer.
Click.
The lock snapped open.
Everything slowed.
He saw Gu Qiuhang burst in.
Sweat ran down the sharp line of his jaw. Like a lone knight, he had charged into a den of demons to save him.
He Ting forgot to breathe.
Only when his chest tightened painfully did he gasp for air.
Forgetting the cigarette still between his lips, he inhaled the smoke straight into his lungs and broke into violent coughing.
The excitement doesn't stop here! If you enjoyed this, you’ll adore Did Mr. Villain Cross Into the Wrong Book?. Start reading now!
Read : Did Mr. Villain Cross Into the Wrong Book?
If You Notice any translation issues or inconsistency in names, genders, or POV etc? Let us know here in the comments or on our Discord server, and we’ll fix it in current and future chapters. Thanks for helping us to improve! 🙂