Inside the villa, Deng Yihan stared out the window, somewhat dazed.
The entrance of the villa was now almost entirely filled with vehicles from the Security Bureau, their police cars practically blocking the road in front.
“Why are so many people here?” she wondered aloud.
These individuals were, of course, sent by the Deng family, who had been alerted and dispatched to protect her.
A moment later, the villa's main door was pushed open.
“Miss Deng, we are here under orders from the Deng family to ensure your safety.”
The man leading the group was He Qian, the Deputy Minister of the Security Bureau.
He was nearly six feet three inches tall, exuding a rugged aura. He seemed to have a military background, carrying an imposing presence that intimidated ordinary people.
“Miss Deng, please come with us immediately.”
He Qian was known for his forceful methods. After barging through the door, he made to escort the woman away without consulting anyone else.
Deng Yihan frowned slightly at his attitude, a hint of reproach in her voice.
“Why are you only arriving now?”
“I called you earlier. By now, everything that was going to happen has already happened. Tao Fan was driven off, and that car exploded.”
What angered her wasn’t the delay itself; it was normal for the Deng family to take time to react to such a sudden event.
What truly irked Deng Yihan was He Qian’s demeanor.
He was treating her as if she were a criminal, and the Mr. Song who had rescued her was already being closely watched by several people.
This made her completely lose any desire to leave with them.
At this moment, Deng Yihan only trusted Song Qiao to protect her.
“You arrived so late. The only reason I’m still alive is because Mr. Song protected me all the way here. Without him, I would have died long ago.”
He Qian, however, paid no heed. He nodded slightly, then turned his gaze towards Song Qiao, offering a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“So, I suppose I should thank Mr. Song.”
His tone was mild, but his expression quickly turned serious.
“However, I am here under superior orders, so Miss Deng must leave with me immediately. Even if you trust this Mr. Song immensely, it’s still not acceptable. Who knows if he might be one of the masterminds?”
His words were laced with forcefulness and a subtle belittling of Song Qiao.
“How can you be like this!” Deng Yihan gritted her teeth in anger.
“My apologies, Miss Deng, this is just how I speak. Please come with me now.”
Saying this, He Qian waved for his subordinates to step forward and escort Deng Yihan away.
But Deng Yihan was not one to be easily manipulated. She took a step back, her expression resolute.
“No! I won’t go with you. You weren’t here when we were in danger, and it took you this long to arrive after I called. How am I supposed to trust you?”
He Qian merely smiled slightly.
“If this is unsatisfactory to Miss Deng, then I apologize. We were delayed due to some unforeseen circumstances on the road.”
“However, whether Miss Deng trusts me or not is irrelevant. It was your father who sent us.”
With that, He Qian took a step forward, reaching out to grab Deng Yihan’s arm and forcibly escort her away.
Seeing this, however, Song Qiao stepped forward, positioning himself directly in their path.
“Hey, I must say, you don’t seem to notice she’s already refused you?”
This single sentence immediately put the police officers behind He Qian on high alert. A dozen officers moved to surround them, but He Qian raised a hand to stop them.
“Mr. Song, we are here to protect Miss Deng. What exactly is your intention?”
“Tch.” Xia Xueqing couldn’t help but scoff. She watched from the side, growing increasingly indignant.
“Protect Miss? You’re clearly here to steal the credit! Song Qiao saved Miss Deng just now. Now that the danger has passed, what use are you here for?”
“I think you’re just here to claim credit.”
Her disdainful words left He Qian with no face, and his brow furrowed.
He turned and glared at the seemingly delicate Xia Xueqing, making her flinch back half a step. He then turned his cold gaze back to Song Qiao.
“Mr. Song, seeing how nice this villa of yours is, I know you must have some money.”
“But I am obligated to inform you that your wealth is worth nothing in the face of true power.”
His indifferent words carried an innate air of arrogance.
“If you continue to obstruct official duties, and I decide to press the issue, you’ll regret your ignorance today.”
“Are you threatening me?” Song Qiao’s expression also turned cold.
“So what?” He Qian replied indifferently.
Song Qiao suddenly smiled. The way the man had glared at Xia Xueqing earlier had displeased him greatly.
“Nothing much.”
“However, Miss Deng clearly doesn’t need your protection. Can you disappear immediately and stop being so presumptuous here?”
“I will be responsible for Miss Deng’s safety today. We don’t need you.”
His attitude was unyielding, showing no intention of backing down.
In fact, if He Qian had approached them politely and discussed the matter with Deng Yihan, Song Qiao would have likely helped persuade her to return.
After all, official protection could, at times, be safer.
Moreover, Song Qiao was actually too lazy to get involved in this mess, as long as Deng Yihan was safe. They had, after all, known each other for less than a day.
But this man not only threatened him but dared to threaten Xia Xueqing?
He Qian’s attitude, however, became even more forceful.
“Heh, who do you think you are?” he sneered, curling his lip.
“Let me tell you, whether Miss Deng agrees or not, and whether you are happy or not, I am taking her with me today. You have no right to negotiate with me, nor the means to stop me.”
This cold pronouncement plunged the atmosphere in the villa to freezing point.
He Qian was accustomed to being forceful. Most people, even those with some standing, would adopt a more humble posture when facing him.
The next moment, he waved his hand, intending to have his subordinates forcibly restrain Song Qiao.
But Song Qiao showed no fear, pushing aside the leading officer with a direct shove.
He Qian let out a cold laugh and, without another word, drew a pistol from his person, aiming it at Song Qiao’s forehead.
“Mr. Song, I’ve been quite lenient. If you dare to obstruct official duties again, believe me, I’ll shoot you dead right now. You’ll die for nothing.”
The villa was instantly filled with tension. Xia Xueqing’s face paled at the sight.
“You… what are you doing?”
“Song Qiao, forget it. Let’s just ignore this lunatic.”
Seeing the gun, she suddenly panicked. She stepped forward, attempting to grab Song Qiao and dissuade him.
The other side was so aggressive; in her opinion, it was better to just give up if things escalated. What if they suffered a disadvantage if a real conflict broke out?
But before she could act, Song Qiao’s body flickered. He dodged the muzzle of the gun and, in the same instant, snatched it away.
As the pistol entered his hand, he swiftly pressed it against He Qian’s forehead.