荣兆南还在怒火中烧.
他不敢相信情况变得如此荒谬.
她实际上让他笑了,纯粹是出于沮丧.
"把它带到床上?你是我唯一带过床的人..."
荣兆南絮絮叨叨,沈明却一言不发.
她的耳朵嗡嗡作响.
她的灵魂感觉就像离开了她的身体.
她以前从未感到如此恐慌.
她的头皮发麻.
苏玉燕怎么在这里呢?
他下车向他们走来.
越来越近了...而且更近...
刹那间,无数的想法在她的脑海中飞驰.
她能看到苏玉燕脸上酝酿的风暴.
而对荣兆南的愤怒,尖锐而无情.
他仍然在斥责她.
然后突然,有什么东西从她的内心深处涌出.
她的手飞了起来.
打!
一声尖锐,响亮的噼啪声.
世界陷入了寂静.
荣兆南盯着她,目瞪口呆,睁大了眼睛,瞳孔放大.他震惊地张大了嘴巴.
就连一直静静站在墙边的小明,也愣住了.
事情怎么会升级得这么快呢?
他们的 CEO——刚刚被打了一巴掌?
荣兆南眼中的不敢置信——沈明看到了一切.
在他反应过来之前,她厉声说.
"你这个混蛋!你敢对荣天齐动手,我就把你那该死的门砸碎!
她一边喊一边把他推了回去.
荣兆南紧紧抓住她的手腕.
不肯放手.
"荣天齐"这个名字就像着火的汽油.
"沈明!"他吼道,怒得浑身发抖.
"放开我!我说放手——"
砰!
一个拳头不知从哪里冒出来.
Su Yuyan had seen the car parked nearby and recognized it.
He rarely came up to the upper villa from his house down the slope—but tonight, he did.
He saw them quarreling at the door.
Saw his sister slap Rong Zhaonan.
Saw him wrap his arms around her, trying to pin her down.
He ran.
And punched Rong Zhaonan hard—so hard he stumbled backward, caught by his assistant.
Then, Su Yuyan pulled Shen Ming behind him, eyes burning with menace.
"Rong Zhaonan, touch her again, and I'll show you just how dangerous my hands can be."
His broad shoulders blocked her from sight, a towering shield.
It should've been comforting.
But Shen Ming—she felt herself unravel.
Soul scattering.
That punch had landed with real force. Rong Zhaonan staggered upright, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
His gaze was murderous.
Just the look they exchanged felt like a fight.
The tension was explosive.
His assistant reached to help him, but Rong Zhaonan shoved him aside.
He rolled up his sleeves.
Shen Ming froze.
Panicked, she threw her arms around Su Yuyan's and tried to drag him away.
"Big brother, please, let's go. Don't engage with him. I don't want to be here another second. Let's just leave, please."
Su Yuyan allowed her to pull him back.
But even as they left, he growled over his shoulder.
"Put it all on me. That slap—and the punch—I'll take full responsibility. If you dare touch her, try me and see what happens."
Shen Ming pulled Su Yuyan away in a rush.
She didn't even dare look back at Rong Zhaonan's expression.
Her heart raced, filled with dread.
She knew full well—her brother and Rong Zhaonan had never gotten along. Years of bad blood.
But never before had they actually thrown punches.
It almost made her cry.
She sat on the carpet at home, burying her head in her hands.
Staring at the tips of her shoes.
Her head was spinning.
She wanted to disappear from reality.
Su Yuyan's hand throbbed, red and sore. Seeing her curled up like that, he assumed she was still shaken.
Clearly, she and Rong Zhaonan had fought—badly enough for her to slap him.
That slap alone would stir up trouble with their grandfather, no doubt.
Her relationship with the old man had been rocky lately too.
He pulled up the hem of his tailored trousers and crouched down beside her, his voice soft and warm.
"Tell me what happened tonight."
Shen Ming slowly looked up.
Her expression was unreadable.
Where could she even begin?
Yes, she had argued with Rong Zhaonan—slapped him in a moment of desperation.
What else could she have done? She had shown up at his door, car parked outside, making a scene.
And then, Su Yuyan saw them. Misunderstood the situation. Thought Rong Zhaonan was assaulting her.
So he punched him.
She wanted to cry but couldn't.
"Big brother… do you think I'm doomed?"
It was a genuine question.
She felt like things between her and Rong Zhaonan were over for good.
And she might even have to pay a hefty settlement.
Su Yuyan looked at her, thinking she'd simply been scared.
"Don't worry. I'm here. But you have to tell me what this is really about. You mentioned Rong Tianqi—what happened?"
"I…"
Where should she even begin?
The more she thought about it, the more absurd the night seemed.
"Big brother, I upset Rong Zhaonan. And now you've hit him. How are we going to explain all this?"
She knew how bad the blood was between them.
And now this? There was no walking it back.
Su Yuyan's eyes narrowed slightly, his usual brightness shadowed.
From his face, it was clear—this wasn't going to blow over.
Shen Ming pulled her hair back in frustration.
Irritated. Tired.
"Big brother, I can't explain everything right now… I need to go. I have work tomorrow."
Su Yuyan wanted to press her. Wanted answers.
But he knew her.
If she didn't want to talk, pressing her wouldn't help.
At the end of the day, he had punched someone.
"I'll drive you home."
She shook her head. She'd already dragged him into too much. If she stayed, she might let something slip.
"No need. It's late. Get some rest. Once I sort things out, I'll explain everything to you. I promise."
Su Yuyan walked her to the door and watched her drive away.
She wasn't talking—but the facts were clear.
With tensions between the Rong brothers running high, she was standing right in the middle.
Sooner or later, she'd get caught in the crossfire.
A whole day passed since the punch.
Shen Ming spent it on edge, worried about Rong Zhaonan's injuries.
And wondering how angry he truly was.
The fight had been between the two of them.
But now, Su Yuyan was in it too.
"Miss Shen, are you okay?"
A colleague asked from across the office.
She snapped out of her daze, rubbing her aching temples.
"I'm fine. Stayed up way too late last night. What's up?"
The colleague smiled, concerned.
"Take care of yourself. We've got a dinner with Director Huang from Yingtian Medical tonight. The Dean's hosting. A few of us teachers are expected to join. Will you come?"