Bai Ling whirled around to see Li Nanfang striding toward them, his face etched with helplessness and guilt. He quickly helped Sun Daming to his feet, apologizing profusely: "Daming, I'm so sorry. She's just temperamental like that. She's actually a good person, though. Did she hurt you? You should go to the hospital and get checked out."Was he implying she was his girlfriend? How dare that despicable man! Bai Ling clenched her teeth, ready to lash out, when Li Nanfang preemptively demanded, "Bai Ling, why did you come looking for me today?"Bai Ling blurted out, "I came to apologize to you, but—""Accepted. I forgive you," Li Nanfang interrupted, frowning as he continued, "But I have to say, your temper is going to drive any man away. You really need to change that."What was he talking about? Before Bai Ling could retort, Li Nanfang added, "Are you unwilling to accept it, or just unwilling to apologize? Do you want me to air our grievances in front of everyone here?"Li Nanfang's boldness stunned Bai Ling. If he didn't speak up, everyone would assume they were a couple. But should he speak up or stay silent? As Bai Ling hesitated, Li Nanfang pulled out a stack of cash—about two thousand yuan—and stuffed it into Sun Daming's pocket. "Daming, consider this compensation from her. Get yourself checked at the hospital. If there's any serious injury, I'll take full responsibility. But please, no more 'Pants-Pissing Hero' remarks. I may be easygoing, but she's not thrilled about it.""It's my loose tongue that caused this. I'm sorry, buddy," Sun Daming slapped his own face. "I really deserved that beating for using such a derogatory nickname in front of your girlfriend."At least the beating wasn't for nothing; he walked away with two thousand yuan. "No harm done, guys are guys," Sun Daming shrugged it off.Li Nanfang, ever the peacemaker, clasped his hands and smiled apologetically at the group: "Guys, could you head to the restaurant early and save us some private space?"Even without Bai Ling's outburst, the colleagues would have given them space—nobody likes to be a third wheel. With Li Nanfang's thanks echoing in their ears, Zhang Wei and the others hurried out of the duty room."Scum! You'd better explain to me right now who your girlfriend is!" No sooner had the door closed than Bai Ling, barely containing her rage, lunged at Li Nanfang. She grabbed his shoulder, ready to throw him against the wall just as she had Sun Daming.Li Nanfang nimbly sidestepped, grabbed her neck, and pinned her against the wall with a few quick steps. His fingers tightened slightly as he sneered, "Bai Ling, if you dare to act out again, don't think I won't take you right here, right now."Chapter 55: Help Me Put My Pants OnIn Bai Ling's eyes, Li Nanfang was but a mere ant, and she fancied herself the anteater, needing but a flick of her tongue to swiftly suck him right into her mouth.The last time in the interrogation room at the Municipal Bureau when he had molested her was purely due to her momentary carelessness and his sheer slyness. Now, she would never grant him the slightest opportunity again. Even at the cost of being expelled from the police force, she was determined to castrate him!Yet, she never anticipated that as she resolved to act, Li Nanfang would effortlessly grab her by the neck, hastily retreat, pin her against the wall, and threaten to—right there on the spot—if she dared to raise a fuss again.She simply couldn't believe this was real. The despicable scoundrel actually had the nerve to choke her. Instinctively, she raised her leg and fiercely kicked toward his groin, without the slightest mercy.If she had connected solidly, Li Nanfang would likely have ended up walking the streets of Thailand in the future.Of course, Li Nanfang had no intention of engaging in such a demeaning occupation. As soon as her right leg shot upward, he spread his legs with a snap and clamped down on her ankle like a pair of pliers, immovable no matter how she struggled desperately."Scum, let me go!" Bai Ling panicked, screeching and reaching out to claw at his face.Clawing his face was out of the question; Li Nanfang still needed it to charm women. He swatted her hand away and growled again in a low voice, "Calm down, or I won't hold back!"Grabbing Bai Officer by the neck and clamping her leg—this was his idea of "being polite"?"Go to hell!" Bai Ling screamed again, ferociously lowering her head to slam into Li Nanfang's face.Enough was enough. If he didn't teach her a real lesson, she'd never behave. Li Nanfang had had enough. He quickly lowered his head, using the back of it to press against her chin, forcing her face upward. She let out muffled screams as he grabbed the hem of her tee and pushed it upward with force—her black lace bra was shoved up to her neck, revealing her firm, full, and proudly upright breasts trembling in the air.Especially those two rosy peaks delivered a staggering visual impact on any man, like a pair of hooks that, through Li Nanfang's eyes, summoned the demon within him, roaring excitedly: Bite, bite, bite now!Bai Ling, lying on her back, couldn't see Li Nanfang's bloodshot eyes, but she immediately sensed what was happening from the chill on her chest. Instinctively, she screamed in a hoarse voice, "You wretch, let me go, or I'll kill you—"Before she could finish, she felt a sharp pain in her left breast, her body convulsing as if electrocuted, her strength drained in an instant, and her scream cut short.As the seasoned veteran of the lecherous world wisely said, young wives fear being held, and maiden ladies fear being kissed.A young wife, having tasted the pleasures of a man, would instantly turn into a limp puddle upon being held, her eyes brimming with tears as she passively endures whatever comes her way. A maiden, however, who has never experienced such things, if suddenly kissed or bitten by a man on sensitive parts, would be left utterly bewildered.Bai Ling was precisely in this state. Despite the searing pain, it was intermingled with an inexplicable sensation she couldn't resist. After emitting a pained whimper, her body began to shudder uncontrollably."Let... let go of me!" Bai Ling struggled weakly, pushing against Li Nanfang's head when she felt a chill below and her sapphire shorts were pulled down. A demonic hand pinched her there, eliciting a scream of agony.The girl's screams were like gasoline poured on a raging fire, driving Li Nanfang to lose all reason. The demon within him cheered in delight, urging him to lift Bai Ling into his arms, turn, and press her onto the sofa. Impatiently removing her shorts, he hoisted her legs over his shoulders and began to unbuckle his belt.White-faced with terror, Bai Ling knew full well what was about to happen. She wanted to resist but was utterly powerless; she wanted to scream, yet her open mouth could only emit silent whimpers. All she could do was desperately raise her head, her eyes pleading pitifully with Li Nanfang.Upon raising her head, Bai Ling saw a grotesque, hideous thing and noticed Li Nanfang's eyes had turned crimson, like a blood demon from hell, grinning cruelly."Mom!"Just as Li Nanfang, now possessed by the demon, was about to thrust forward, Bai Ling finally managed to cry out, her voice shrill, clear, and choked with despair.When faced with utter, desperate fear, one instinctively calls out for their mother—a primal instinct that reaffirms the mother as the ultimate protector of all children.Li Nanfang's movements froze mid-action, his bloodshot eyes momentarily glazed over.Li Nanfang had no mother, but his stepmother had provided him with complete maternal love. The desperate "Mom!" that Bai Ling shouted struck him like a bucket of ice water dumped on his head, dousing the roaring demon within.What am I doing?Li Nanfang, his face contorted and eyes bloodshot, could distinctly hear a voice from the depths of the icy abyss asking.You're going to have her!Do it, do it now!Having her will make us stronger—The demon within him howled wildly, agitated."Mom—wah wah."Bai Ling's helpless sobs reached Li Nanfang's ears, and before his eyes emerged the image of his stepmother's kind face and gentle voice: "Nanfang.""Get out!"Li Nanfang released Bai Ling, stumbled backward, fell onto the sofa backward, and clawed at his own throat, hoarsely roaring, "Get out—I won't listen to you, I won't!"Am I even a man? Useless, scum!The demon roared again.Before Li Nanfang's eyes appeared the image of his stepmother, her gaze warm as she tenderly stroked his hair, just as she had a decade ago, her tone utterly peaceful: "In this life, having Nanfang is enough for me."Bai Ling, on the brink of being violated, had no idea why Li Nanfang suddenly let her go. Naturally, she wasn't about to ponder the matter. She scrambled off the sofa in terror, hastily pulled up her shorts, covered herself, hugged her chest with both hands, curled up in the corner, and stared at the man, tears streaming down her face.She watched as Li Nanfang, lying on the sofa, suddenly leaped up and slammed his head against the wall with a resounding thud.Was he having an epileptic seizure?Bai Ling, still in shock, completely forgot that she possessed considerable physical strength. Instead of seizing a chair to smash over the scoundrel's head upon escaping, she simply cowered in the corner, trembling like any ordinary girl. That was because her subconscious keenly sensed that if she truly did so, the wretch would undoubtedly take her right there on the spot.Another loud thud echoed as Li Nanfang's body stiffened, then collapsed limply onto the sofa. He panted heavily, his mouth agape like a fish out of water, his lifeless eyes fixed on the ceiling.That grotesque member also withered away.For a while, neither spoke. The only sounds were their ragged breathing and the chattering of teeth, a bizarre yet oddly harmonious symphony.Finally, Bai Ling's chattering teeth stilled, and Li Nanfang's breathing gradually normalized.She slowly rose to her feet, her eyes—wide with lingering fear—fixed on Li Nanfang on the sofa. With her left hand on the wall, she inched toward the door, as cautious as a mouse.She vowed that once outside, she would run as fast as she could and never lay eyes on him again in her life!This time, she was utterly terrified."Wait... wait."As Bai Ling struggled to reach the door, Li Nanfang, eyes still closed, suddenly spoke. His voice was low, weary, and enervated. To Bai Ling, it thundered like a clap, making her shudder. With a quivering voice, she asked, "What... what do you want?""Help me... put on my pants."Li Nanfang slowly opened his eyes and looked at her."Help... help you put on your pants?"Bai Ling was taken aback, blurting out, "Can't you do it yourself?""I have no strength."Li Nanfang closed his eyes again, his voice hoarse and weak: "Forget it. Don't trouble yourself. Just close the door when you leave. If someone sees, it would damage your reputation."He had no strength to put on pants?He didn't even have the energy to dress himself now?Bai Ling's eyes brightened as if she had suddenly realized something. She bit her lip hard and slowly approached. "You... you're sick."She had witnessed Li Nanfang's frenzied self-harm moments ago and could hear the exhaustion in his hoarse voice. Likely, he was extremely tired now, perhaps just a kick away from being rendered helpless. The only explanation was illness. At her most desperate moment, he had an episode—something like epilepsy—exhausting all his strength and leaving him in a weakened state."Yep, I'm sick. You could stomp me to death with one foot right now," Li Nanfang said, his eyes still closed, his voice hoarse. "If you want to kill me, do it. If not, help me put on my pants so I don't embarrass myself in front of others."Bai Ling truly wished to stomp him to death with one foot. After her eyebrows twitched violently for a moment, she meekly began to help him dress. She didn't dare look at his grotesque member, so she turned her head away, and she certainly didn't want to touch it—her hand trembled violently, and the moment she made contact, it was as if she'd been burned by a branding iron, emitting a pained whimper."Hey, helping me put on pants isn't such a big deal. No need to act like it's the freaking climax," Li Nanfang's tongue was as sharp as ever, despite his frail state.Bai Ling dared not retort. Later, she would be surprised at her own timidity. Yet, she merely bit her lip tightly, lifted Li Nanfang's leg, and pulled up his pants.After working up a sweat, she even inquired solicitously, "Is there anything else I can assist you with?""Close the door and let me sleep," Li Nanfang muttered before snoring evenly. The struggle with the demon had drained him completely; it would take three to five hours to recover."Oh, rest well. I'm leaving," Bai Ling said, staring at him blankly for a long while before slowly retreating toward the door, her heart pounding with fear that the scoundrel might pounce from behind.With a bang, the back of her head hit the door panel—a sign she had safely reached the exit. She immediately reached for the doorknob, ready to bolt out, but then remembered something. She pulled out an envelope from her pocket and tossed it onto the floor in front of the sofa.Chapter 57: Old Jin's RevengeAs the afternoon work session began, Min Rou entered the president's office after a gentle knock, only to find the meal on the table untouched. Yue Zitong sat in her chair, facing away from the door and gazing out the window in a daze."Boss Yue, shall I order a couple of dishes from a restaurant for you?" Min Rou asked softly after tidying up the lunch box."No need, I'm not hungry," Yue Zitong replied indifferently. With Li Nanfang already having angered her and the Jin District Chief incident on top of that, it was no wonder she had no appetite.Min Rou was curious about what had transpired but dared not inquire. Silently, she placed the documents on the desk and began sorting them one by one. Being a boss wasn't easy—there were always decisions to make and documents to sign. Subordinates who knew of her foul mood avoided bringing trivial matters to her attention, leaving Min Rou to handle the files on her own.Upon seeing a note tucked among the documents, Min Rou's delicate brows furrowed. It was from the finance department, containing crucial information that needed to be reported to Yue Zitong immediately."Ahem, Boss Yue," Min Rou cautiously broke the deathly silence with a light cough. "Director Zhang from the finance department received notice this noon that the district's tax and audit departments will be sending a joint task force to Kai Huang Group next Monday for an account audit. They hope we make the necessary preparations for their reception."Kai Huang Group had a strict rule from its inception: to proactively pay all taxes owed. Over the years, the company had never been embroiled in any scandals regarding tax issues and had even contributed to society by helping resolve unemployment problems. As the president's secretary, Min Rou could confidently assert that Kai Huang was a conscientious private enterprise. However, the district's decision to dispatch a task force for a thorough inspection was puzzling.Director Zhang had also mentioned that according to a certain leader's tone, after the tax and audit checks, the fire department and quality supervision bureau would follow suit, launching indefinite inspections. This was allegedly due to consumer complaints alleging quality issues with some of the company's flagship products, which had purportedly caused losses.Had Min Rou not overheard Yue Zitong's heated phone conversation with District Chief Jin, she would have found it hard to believe the district would target its largest taxpayer in such a manner. Clearly, this was an act of revenge.After a long silence, Yue Zitong spun her chair around with a kick and sneered, "Let them investigate all they want. I've got nothing to hide.""But such actions will inevitably harm our group's reputation," Min Rou murmured. "Especially with the consumer complaints angle, I'm afraid they'll make a big fuss over that.""Let them," Yue Zitong remained nonchalant, picking up the pen and resuming her aimless scribbling on the white paper.With the boss taking this stance, what more could Min Rou say? After organizing the documents meticulously, she placed them on Yue's desk and, as she turned to leave, casually mentioned, "Just before lunch, Li Nanfang's girlfriend came looking for him.""Li Nanfang's girlfriend?" Yue Zitong paused, subconsciously looking up. "He has a girlfriend? Who is she?"Min Rou hesitated for a moment, then lowered her eyelids and softly replied, "I heard from the garage crew. Zhang Wei and the others saw her—a very pretty short-haired beauty. They say the couple is quite affectionate, though the girl seems a bit fiery. Li Nanfang appears to be quite intimidated by her—I went by the garage duty room, but the girl wasn't there. Li Nanfang was fast asleep."Yue Zitong bit her lip hard, then indifferently said, "I see."Min Rou had taken the initiative to report this not only because she knew Yue was Li Nanfang's aunt but also because of the drawing that had hinted at something amiss. However, she dared not delve deeper into the matter. Once her report was done, she exited the office.Had she stayed, she would have seen Yue Zitong grit her teeth and smile bitterly, muttering to herself, "So, Li, you have a girlfriend now. No wonder you treated me that way."
