Chapter 189: Shameless Scoundrel

“What do I want? Don’t tell me you don’t know.”

Si Yina dropped her facade entirely. Over the phone, she stated her demands with chilling directness. “In a moment, come see me alone. If I find out someone is accompanying you, or if you don’t follow my instructions to the letter, I will keep my eyes on you and yours forever.”

“You are an absolute bastard!”

Jiang Lai cursed, completely disregarding his usual refined image. His brows knit together and his long eyelashes trembled, each one weighted with an overflowing sense of displeasure.

Those eyes, which usually shimmered with a gentle light, were now clouded by a thick mist. He knew all too well that this situation existed because of him. Not only had he failed to protect his daughter, but his mere presence had led her into the crosshairs of this monster’s threats.

Jiang Lai fell silent. He knew there was no time for deliberation. Since she had sent a photo of his daughter playing outside, she must have sent people to shadow her. If he refused, he could easily guess what would happen next.

A massive trap was laid out before him. Si Yina was the hunter, simply waiting for him to walk into the web.

Jiang Lai had no choice; his daughter’s safety was infinitely more important than his own. He pressed his lips into a firm line, his usually soft and full lips now looking exceptionally resolute. “Tell me the location. I’m coming now.”

“No need for a location. My car is waiting for you downstairs. Just get in.”

“……”

Jiang Lai bit his lip hard, his chest heaving as he fought to suppress the rage boiling within him. The faint flush of anger on his cheeks combined with his distress only made him look more vividly beautiful and pitiable—a sight that stirred both heartache and a fear of approaching.

Chi Yingyu, worried that her brother-in-law would literally make himself sick with rage, stepped forward and gently wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing him into a soothing embrace.

“Don’t go. This is clearly a trap. Who knows what else she’ll do? Let’s go find Le Yi (the daughter) right now. I don’t believe she actually dares to kidnap someone in broad daylight.”

Jiang Lai raised a slender hand and gently patted Chi Yingyu’s shoulder. “You go find Le Yi right now. I’ll go buy some time.”

It would take too long to rush to the daughter’s location. If he didn’t go downstairs and get in that car, his daughter would be in immediate danger.

Jiang Lai’s gaze hardened. He used his fingertips to brush away the tears at the corners of Chi Yingyu’s eyes and whispered his instructions. “I’m going down. I’ll share my live location with you on my phone. Yingyu, you must hurry and link up with Le Yi. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. I’ll do my best to stall her. She hasn’t gone completely insane yet; there should still be room for mediation.”

After saying this, he urged Chi Yingyu to move. Jiang Lai had a few preparations of his own; after dressing, he grabbed a spare backup phone from his room before heading out.

Was there really room for mediation?

How could there be? Si Yina had begun to threaten him so brazenly; Jiang Lai had only said those words to put Chi Yingyu’s mind at ease. He knew exactly what Si Yina wanted, and he knew that nothing he did could truly end her threats.

A villain isn’t the most terrifying thing; what’s terrifying is a villain who is completely irrational—one who acts like a spoiled, psychopathic child throwing a tantrum, leaving you with no leverage at all.

The power disparity between them was too great. Jiang Lai knew that even if he fought with all his might, he couldn’t even scratch her. If he had any real power to resist, he would never have let things escalate to the point where his family was threatened.

Despite his intense loathing, Jiang Lai followed Si Yina’s instructions. He walked downstairs and headed toward the car she described. Before getting in, he sent the license plate number to Chi Yingyu; at the very least, his whereabouts had to be known.

As he approached the vehicle, the rear door opened. Stepping out was the very person who made Jiang Lai’s teeth itch with hatred: Si Yina. The bastard had been parked right under his building the whole time.

“You scoundrel!”

Jiang Lai’s face, usually as gentle as autumn water, was now covered in a layer of frost. His bright eyes were like deep, dark pools. If looks could kill, Si Yina would have been pierced through a thousand times over.

His brow was furrowed like a volcano on the verge of eruption. Every inch of his skin was taut, betraying his inner turmoil. He had always believed that violence solved nothing, but seeing Si Yina now, he couldn’t hold back. His hands balled into fists, his knuckles turning white with the force. Catching her while her guard was down, he threw a direct punch.

Si Yina (Note: The text here confusingly says “Chi Yingyu’s body,” likely a typo in the original text for Si Yina) staggered back. Under the force of Jiang Lai’s punch, she slammed into the car window. The next second, Jiang Lai grabbed her by the collar, leaving her looking like a lamb led to slaughter. To an onlooker, she might have even looked like the victim.

“I’ll go with you. But if you dare touch a single person around me, I’ll fight you to the death. If anyone I care about gets hurt, I’ll drag you down to the grave with me even if it costs me my life.”

Jiang Lai feared death and cherished his life immensely. His life was finally getting better—his rocky relationship with his daughter had softened, and he had met his best friend, Xu Ruobing. Everything was looking up. So why did Si Yina have to come and destroy it all?

“The way you look today reminds me of our first meeting on the subway,” Si Yina said, her voice unbothered despite the hit. “Back then, you also had that look of righteous indignation. Is it really worth sacrificing yourself for others?”

Even in his fury, Jiang Lai’s beauty was vivid and striking, possessing an irresistible charm and grace.

“But it’s exactly this heroic, self-sacrificing look that attracts me the most. If you want to vent your anger, hit me a few more times. I don’t mind at all.”

Jiang Lai felt nothing but disgust. That punch had physically contorted Si Yina’s face, yet she remained calm. In fact, she looked almost intoxicated by his violence.

“Finished venting? Now, are you willing to come with me?”