Shi Xinxin turned her gaze away, unwilling to meet his eyes. "Let go!"
Lu Mingyu raised an eyebrow. "Shi Xinxin, he's Sheng Chenjin, isn't he?"
Shi Xinxin pursed her thin lips, remaining silent.
"So you and Sheng Chenjin knew each other long ago." Lu Mingyu chuckled softly. "Shi Xinxin, you've kept everything from me."
"Lu Mingyu, let go. I don't want to deal with you right now."
"Heh~" Lu Mingyu scoffed. "You don't want to deal with me?"
Lu Mingyu tightened his grip on Shi Xinxin's chin. "Then let me tell you, I want you to be my girlfriend right now!"
"Are you crazy?" Shi Xinxin snarled through gritted teeth. "There's no way I'll agree to that."
"Shi Xinxin, as long as you agree to be my girlfriend, I promise I'll never pester you again, nor will I force you to marry me," Lu Mingyu said, enunciating each word. "If you refuse, I'll call my parents back to A City."
Shi Xinxin laughed in anger. "You're threatening me? You think this kind of threat will work?"
Lu Mingyu curled his lips in disdain. "I'm just stating the facts. Your parents are in my father's hands. If you don't agree, I'll kill them."
"Lu Mingyu, you're a pervert!" Shi Xinxin cursed. "You're not worthy of me at all!"
"Shi Xinxin, you're wrong," Lu Mingyu raised his eyebrows, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. "I love you more than you can imagine. I want to marry you. You can only be mine!"
"Crazy! You insane pervert!" Shi Xinxin screamed in frustration. "I hate you! Lu Mingyu, I detest you!"
"Since you hate me, then I want you even more!" Lu Mingyu said, then suddenly leaned in and kissed Shi Xinxin's lips.
Shi Xinxin's eyes widened. "Mmph—"
Lu Mingyu pried open Shi Xinxin's teeth, possessively ravaging her beauty.
"Wuwu... let go... mmph... Lu Mingyu... help... woo... mmph..." Shi Xinxin struggled violently.
Feeling Lu Mingyu's domineering and fervent kiss, Shi Xinxin's heart pounded erratically.
He actually kissed her!
Lu Mingyu released her lips, looking at her flushed cheeks with a wicked smile.
"Shi Xinxin, you'll be my woman sooner or later." Lu Mingyu licked his lips suggestively and leaned down to kiss her earlobe.
Shi Xinxin trembled and pushed Lu Mingyu away with all her might. "Get lost!"
As she shoved him, Lu Mingyu unluckily crashed into the steering wheel, groaning in pain as he fumbled to release his seatbelt.
With a loud "bang," the car tire exploded.
Lu Mingyu clutched his stomach, drenched in sweat from the pain.
Seeing Lu Mingyu in agony, Shi Xinxin's heart softened, but she said coldly, "Lu Mingyu, you deserve this!"
Lu Mingyu gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand up and lean on the car door.
Shi Xinxin glanced at him, then immediately turned away. "Lu Mingyu, I warn you, don't harass me again, or I'll call the police to arrest you."
Lu Mingyu's brows furrowed, enduring the waves of pain in his abdomen, he opened the car door and got in.
With a "vroom," the accelerator was pressed to the floor.
"Hey! Are you crazy!" Shi Xinxin exclaimed in shock. "Stop the car, quickly!"
Lu Mingyu let out a sinister laugh. "You'd better pray you don't provoke me, or I'll make sure you have nowhere to die!"
**
"Bang!"
The door of the Shi family's house was slammed shut heavily.
Shi Xinxin, trembling all over, crouched by the sofa, hugging her knees and sobbing.
Since childhood, even when she bled or got injured, her parents had never been willing to scold her.
And this time, because of her, her parents almost lost their lives.
She would remember this debt!
"Xinxin, why are you home?" Aunt Li came out with a cup to pour water and exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Shi Xinxin huddled by the sofa.
Shi Xinxin raised her tear-filled eyes. Seeing Aunt Li, she seemed to have found an anchor and threw herself into her arms, crying uncontrollably. "Aunt Li, I've doomed my parents, wu wu... what should I do!"
"Silly child, what are you talking about!" Aunt Li stroked her cheek. "Don't overthink things. Your parents are blessed and strong, they'll be fine."
Hearing the words "blessed and strong," Shi Xinxin's heart tightened.
"Aunt Li, what happened to my parents?"
"They were in a car accident last night and are now in the hospital for emergency treatment!"
"Car accident?" Shi Xinxin raised her head in horror.
Aunt Li wiped away Shi Xinxin's tears. "Be good, Xinxin. Eat something to line your stomach first. When your parents wake up, Auntie will notify you. You should rest first."
Shi Xinxin nodded blankly.
...
Half a month later.
The Shi family's old house, in the hospital room.
"Dad, Mom, I've come to see you," Shi Xinxin entered the ward and called out excitedly upon seeing Shi Jinsong and Shen Manrong receiving IV drips on the bed.
Shi Jinsong and Shen Manrong managed weak smiles. "Xinxin, you're back?"
"Dad, Mom, how did you end up like this? Are you okay?"
"Xinxin, it's not your fault. It was an accident," Shi Jinsong sighed. "It was our lack of foresight that led to this tragedy. You don't need to blame yourself too much."
Shi Xinxin's nose felt sore, and she choked out, "Dad, Mom, it's all my fault."
"It's not your fault, Xinxin," Shen Manrong weakly held Shi Xinxin's hand. "We don't blame anyone for this. It's fate playing tricks on us. Xinxin, don't blame yourself anymore. Mom and Dad don't blame you, really."
Shi Xinxin shook her head tearfully. "It's all my fault. I've dragged you down."
"Don't say that, Xinxin," Shen Manrong patted Shi Xinxin's hand. "I believe your brother will find a way to cure me and your father. Xinxin, don't blame yourself anymore. Mom and Dad don't blame you, really."
"Dad..." Shi Xinxin lay on the edge of the bed, crying even harder. "You've been sleeping for three days and three nights, when will you wake up?"
"Xinxin, don't worry. Your brother will definitely find a way," Shen Manrong comforted Shi Xinxin. "I believe your brother will find a way."
"Dad, Mom, you must wake up quickly, or I really don't know what to do."
Shi Xinxin held Shi Jinsong's hand and said to him again and again, "Dad, you must get well!"
Shi Jinsong frowned slightly and slowly opened his eyes.
"Xinxin?" Shi Jinsong called out in a low, weak voice.
"Dad!" Shi Xinxin cried out in ecstatic joy. "Dad, you're finally awake!"
Just as Shi Xinxin was about to take out her phone to call Lu Mingyu, she suddenly realized that Shi Jinsong's gaze was a little off.
"Dad, what's wrong?" Shi Xinxin asked anxiously. "Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
"Xinxin..." Shi Jinsong stared into Shi Xinxin's eyes. "Father is sorry for you."
"Dad, what are you saying?" Shi Xinxin blinked. "I don't understand what you're saying?"
"Xinxin, we are sorry for you..."