pinned down on the operating table, having your kidneys ripped out. You wouldn't understand, the feeling of being fully aware as part of your body is taken from you, that process is more terrifying th...The fat man's blow ultimately didn't land on Jian Tong.

But it landed solidly on a broad back.

The fat man was so frightened that his hands trembled. The leader of the thugs was also stunned, staring at the person who seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Just now, he had been thrown against the wall by a powerful force. He didn't think much about how the other party had suddenly thrown him against the wall, but just stared in astonishment at the person who had suddenly appeared. "You, you, who are you"

Where did this person come from

He was still thinking, then suddenly realized that there were things left to do. He snorted coldly and shouted, "Fatty, attack!"

But...

"No need to worry. Once we're done with this, my brothers and I will leave this city immediately. We won't be coming back."

But this person, what if...

"There's no turning back. Think about it, think about all that money. It'd be enough for us brothers to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. After pulling this off, we could eat, drink, and just lie around for the rest of our days."

The fat man was startled by the sudden appearance of the man and hesitated for a moment. Seeing the fat man hesitate, the leader of the thugs became furious and shouted:

"It's not like you committed murder or arson, what are you afraid of!"

Even if we get caught afterward, the worst that could happen is a charge of assault. We'd do a few years in prison, and then we'd be clean, with all that money, we could go anywhere.

"This..."

The fat man was thrown off balance by the sudden appearance of Cheng Yaojin, and then he lost his composure after being scolded by the leader of the hooligans. Behind the fat man, a burly figure, with a thick body, bumped into him without hesitation:

"This fart!"

"You fat lump, if you don't move, I will!"

Zhuang Dazhe, clutching a baseball bat in his hand, swung it with all his might and smashed it towards the person ahead.

"Look, that's how it's done, you fat bastard. We agreed back then, whoever throws the punch gets a bigger share of the money."

You guys think he's so carefree, still a young lad. Afraid he won't find a wife, big brother gave him this good job. So he can earn more and find himself a wife.

Since you're unwilling, and you're being such a fussbudget, then get out of my way. I want all the extra money that comes with it.

He swung a stick and smashed it down hard.

"Uh!"

A muffled groan reached Jian Tong's ear. She dazedly lifted her head, and in the darkness, someone was holding her, tightly enveloping her in safety. A pained groan echoed beside her ear. Faintly, she felt like she was back in the prison, where a girl once shielded her from harm.

As if, the deer from back then…

"Ah Lu..." Her eyes welled up in an instant, unable to suppress the moisture, a bitter and aching pain, "Ah Lu..."

Only then did she realize that she had missed this person named "Ah Lu" for far too long.

It lasted so long that she dared not admit it, it lasted so long that she could only commemorate him with a memorial tablet named Ah Lu.

and felt guilty.

"Don't be afraid, Tongtong..."

A low voice sounded in her ear.

Jian Tong shivered, suddenly becoming more alert. In the darkness, she looked at the face of the person sprawled on top of her... a face so familiar that even if it turned to ashes, she wouldn't forget it.

The ringleader of the hooligans keenly sensed something: "Miss Jian, do you know him Who is he"

Jian Tong said coldly:

"We don't know each other, aren't you just taking people's money to help them avoid disaster"

You want me to give you one hand, right Release the innocent ones. I'll disable myself and give you what you want, no need for your intervention. You get your task done, and I won't owe anyone a favor.

The one in the lead chuckled and said:

"You think I'm stupid"

Don't know

"Who are you trying to deceive"

Unfamiliar, could I call this woman by her nickname

"Are you going to speak or not" The biggest one among them said, "Forget it, don't bother with this guy. Anyway, we're leaving S city tonight and will never come back."

Big guy, hurry up and break her one hand.

He really went for it, kicking at Shen Xiuqin's body and yelling, "This has nothing to do with you, get out of my way!"

"No, I won't let you bully Tongtong."

"Fatty, pull this guy apart." The hoodlum at the front lit a cigarette and took a puff: "Hurry up, once we finish this job we can run away."

The fat man was famous for his strength. He went up and tried to pull the person off of Jian Tong's body: "Brother, don't make things difficult for us."

But he tried every possible way to pull him away, but in vain.

The leader of the hoodlums lost his patience: "Since we can't pull it apart, just forget about it. Big guy, let's smash it together. This is all his fault. Just don't kill anyone. I don't believe that if we beat him up, he'll still protect Miss Jian."

Jian Tong's face instantly turned pale.

"Get out of here! This isn't your business!" she shouted at the person in front of her. "I said get lost, can't you hear me"

"No, Ashu won't let others bully Tongtong."

"Aren't you listening" Necessity sometimes demands resorting to the ultimate weapon: "If you don't listen, get lost at Xi Chen's place tomorrow."

Her face was fierce, but her heart was already in turmoil. Every thud of the bat against her back echoed with a muffled grunt of pain from the man.

At this moment, I clearly remembered the past Shen Xiujin.

If he were sober, how could he allow himself to engage in such petty displays of power

If he were sober, he would have already dealt with these hooligans harshly and suppressed them.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Every dull thud of the truncheon hitting her back sent a jarring pain through her chest, inexplicable yet sharp.

Before her eyes, in his embrace, she looked up, and what she saw was this man with sweat dripping from his brow, his brows furrowed in pain. One hand suddenly covered the back of her head, pushing her back into his arms:

"Tongtong, bear with it a little longer, don't be afraid, Axiu will protect Tongtong."

Jian Tong's breath slowed by half a beat, a long-forgotten sourness gradually spreading across her chest... She endured it

What is she enduring

He said he would protect her.

Shen Xiujin, has always been as solitary and proud as a wolf, as domineering and fierce as a tiger, an uncompromising man. Such a man, saying he would protect a woman, could naturally use iron-fisted methods to shelter that woman in a safe haven.

But at this moment, the one who wanted to protect her was still a child mentally, and he didn't have Shen Xiuqin's formidable means. What could he possibly use to protect her

She was in his arms, her eyes wide open, what did he have to protect her with

He took the beating for her.

This man, with his own body, protected her, not letting her suffer even the slightest harm.

She was in his arms, her eyes wide open, refusing to close them, filled with tears.

She didn't know why she was crying, all she could hear was this man's pained groans in her ear.

The former Shen Xiujin would have knocked down anyone who posed a threat to him. Now, the current Shen Xiujin uses his shoulders and back, using himself to shield her from harm.

Jian Tong's nose felt sour.ou guys eat first, I want to rest. At noon, don't bother me."Jian Tong went upstairs, but Wang, the housekeeper, took out his phone and called the new master to report: "Madam seems very tired and did...