Xia He comforted Xiao Xiao for a long time before the little girl's emotions finally stabilized.
"Auntie, I miss my mommy and daddy. Can you call them to come pick me up?" Xiao Xiao said with teary eyes fixed on Xia He.
Xia He looked at Xiao Xiao with a complicated expression. Though she didn't know why the little girl had been brought here, she remembered the person who delivered Xiao Xiao saying she would live with her for a while.
"You can do whatever you want with me, but you must send Xiao Xiao home," Xia He suddenly said.
Guan Xuefeng narrowed his eyes slightly. "I've had you here for over a month without touching you. Did you really think it was because I was afraid you'd die here?"
Xia He bit her red lip tightly, her eyes filled with silent pleading.
"Since I brought this little girl here, I have my reasons. Don't push your luck, or I won't mind killing her first before doing whatever I want with you," Guan Xuefeng said with a sinister smile.
Xia He knew begging him to release Xiao Xiao was futile, so she gave up.
"Xiao Xiao, Auntie is a little tired and wants to sleep for a while. Can you play by yourself here? When Auntie wakes up, I'll play with you again, okay?" Xia He gently held Xiao Xiao's shoulders, speaking softly.
Tears welled up in Xiao Xiao's eyes. She was terrified of Guan Xuefeng and didn't want to be left alone.
"Auntie, can you hold me while we sleep?" Xiao Xiao asked with watery eyes.
Xia He patiently replied, "If we both sleep, what if your mommy and daddy come to pick you up and can't find us?"
"Are Mommy and Daddy coming?" A glimmer of hope flashed in Xiao Xiao's eyes.
Though it pained her to lie, Xia He nodded for the child's sake. "Auntie will put on a cartoon for you first. Can you wait here nicely for Mommy and Daddy?"
"Okay!" Xiao Xiao said happily.
After turning on the TV, Xia He followed Guan Xuefeng into the bedroom.
The moment they entered, Guan Xuefeng eagerly began groping her, but Xia He suddenly pushed him away.
"What? You're still refusing?" Guan Xuefeng's eyes flashed with menace.
Tears pooled in Xia He's eyes as she bit her lip, staring at him defiantly. "Weren't you so confident that you could make me fall for you? If you do this, I'd rather die than ever love you."
"Women like you are a dime a dozen. Do you really think you're special? I'm having you tonight whether you like it or not. If you refuse, I'll kill that little girl," Guan Xuefeng said viciously.
*Knock! Knock! Knock!*
Just then, the bedroom door was suddenly knocked on.
Guan Xuefeng frowned. "That brat is asking for death."
He stormed toward the door in a rage.
"Guan Xuefeng, don't lose your temper! I'll give you what you want, just don't take it out on Xiao Xiao," Xia He pleaded, rushing after him, afraid he would hurt the child.
But before she could stop him, Guan Xuefeng had already yanked the door open.
*Boom!*
The moment the door opened, Guan Xuefeng was met with a familiar face. His expression twisted in shock.
Before he could make a sound, the man kicked him squarely in the chest, sending him flying backward. His body crashed onto the coffee table, shattering a bottle of red wine and several glasses.
"H-How did you find this place?" Guan Xuefeng gasped in pain and terror, clutching his ribs.
But his fear outweighed the physical agony. He knew that if Xiao Xiao was rescued, he was as good as dead.
Xia He stood frozen, watching as Ma Chao strode forward and planted a foot on Guan Xuefeng's chest. "The moment you took his daughter, you signed your own death warrant."
"You can't kill me! The Guan family will never let you go!" Guan Xuefeng trembled uncontrollably, recalling how Ma Chao had effortlessly blinded his four men at Moonlight Bar.
He had no doubt Ma Chao would kill him without hesitation.
"Knock him out and take him away," a cold voice ordered from the living room.
"Yes, Brother Chen!" Ma Chao replied respectfully.
Only then did Xia He realize someone else was outside.
With a swift kick, Ma Chao rendered Guan Xuefeng unconscious. Then, to Xia He's astonishment, he effortlessly hoisted the 150-pound man over his shoulder, strode to the window, and leaped out into the night.
"Daddy, Auntie is still inside. She played with me earlier. I want to say goodbye before we leave," Xiao Xiao said sweetly, clinging to Yang Chen's neck.
Yang Chen had heard everything Guan Xuefeng had tried to do to Xia He. If not for fear of scaring Xiao Xiao, he would have intervened sooner.
He felt genuine gratitude toward this woman.
"Auntie, you're awake! Daddy's here to take me home. I'm leaving now!" Xiao Xiao waved excitedly with one hand while holding onto Yang Chen with the other.
Yang Chen had only heard Xia He's voice earlier, but now, seeing her in person, he was struck by her beauty.
She wore faded jeans and a simple white T-shirt, her long black hair cascading down her back. Despite being imprisoned here for so long, she still exuded youthful vitality, though she had clearly lost weight—her jeans hung loosely on her slender frame.
"Thank you for protecting my daughter," Yang Chen said sincerely.
This woman had threatened suicide to avoid Guan Xuefeng's advances, yet she had been willing to surrender herself for a child she barely knew.
To Yang Chen, that was an immeasurable debt.
Xia He shook her head. "Don't thank me. Guan Xuefeng only used Xiao Xiao to threaten me. If anything, I'm the reason she was in danger. Your daughter is adorable. I really liked her."
"Regardless, I owe you for tonight."
Yang Chen handed her a business card. "I'm Yang Chen. This is my number. If you ever need help, call me."
Xia He glanced at the plain card—just a phone number—and tucked it away with a small smile. "I'm Xia He."
Yang Chen nodded. "From today onward, you're free. Guan Xuefeng will never trouble you again."
With that, he carried Xiao Xiao out.
Ma Chao drove while Yang Chen and Xiao Xiao sat in the back. The car sped toward the Qin family mansion.
To Yang Chen's relief, Xiao Xiao chattered happily the whole way, recounting stories Xia He had told her and the games they'd played.
As long as the child wasn't traumatized, that was all that mattered.
When they arrived, Qin Xi had just returned from work.
"Where have you been wandering so late?" she asked irritably, unaware of the kidnapping.
"Xi, I'm sorry. It won't happen again," Yang Chen said gently.
Qin Yi, who knew the truth, finally relaxed upon seeing Xiao Xiao safe.
"Mommy, don't blame Daddy! Auntie Xia played with me all night!"
"She told me stories and played games! I love Auntie Xia!"
"Her house was so big and pretty! We had so much fun!"
Unaware of Qin Xi's darkening expression, Xiao Xiao babbled on excitedly before turning to Yang Chen. "Daddy, can we visit Auntie Xia again tomorrow?"
Yang Chen inwardly winced. This was a disaster.
He hadn't told Qin Xi about the kidnapping to avoid worrying her. Now, thanks to Xiao Xiao's innocent chatter, she'd jumped to the worst conclusion.
"You useless trash! Cheating on my daughter when she's been nothing but good to you!" Zhou Yucui seized the opportunity to fan the flames.
Qin Yi, knowing the truth, quickly intervened. "Mom, stop making things worse!"
She turned to Qin Xi. "Sis, it's not what you think! Yang Chen asked me to pick up Xiao Xiao, but I was busy. He had an emergency, so he left her with a friend."
"If you were both busy, why not bring her home? Face it—this loser has been planning to divorce you and take Xiao Xiao away. Tonight, he even introduced her to that woman!"
Zhou Yucui sneered. "Look how attached the kid is to her after just a few hours!"
Qin Xi's eyes burned with fury as she glared at Yang Chen. "Explain yourself."
Yang Chen hadn't anticipated this misunderstanding. With Xiao Xiao's words and Zhou Yucui's meddling, the situation was beyond salvage.
"Xi, it's like Qin Yi said. I had an emergency and left Xiao Xiao with a friend briefly," Yang Chen said, though he knew it sounded weak.
Qin Xi let out a cold laugh. Without another word, she scooped up Xiao Xiao and stormed off to her room.
"Go after her and explain!" Qin Yi urged.
Yang Chen shook his head. "There are things I still need to handle. I'll explain when I get back."
With that, he left.
Ma Chao was waiting outside with Guan Xuefeng. The Guan family awaited his visit.