The grand hall fell silent. The two men stood frozen, as if someone had pressed pause.

Only Niu Shurui remained composed. She calmly reached out, effortlessly snatched the knife from Qiao Qi’s hand, and flung it away. The small, crimson blade landed silently on the carpet.

As if suddenly released, both men stirred. Qiao Qi reached out to pull Niu Shurui into his arms, but Ye Li was faster.

He gripped her tightly, his legs giving way as he knelt, taking her down with him.

Trembling violently, Ye Li stared at the nick on Niu Shurui’s ear. His voice was broken. “Niuniu… Niuniu… How… Why…? Tissues, tissues… Niuniu, don’t be afraid. You’ll be alright… You have to be alright…”

Watching Ye Li fuss, layering tissues over her ear while ignoring his own gaping wound, Niu Shurui caught his trembling hand and cupped his face. “Look at me, Ye Li.”

His gaze remained fixed on her ear, his mind elsewhere.

Niu Shurui knelt closer, forcing him to meet her eyes. Only when his gaze finally locked with hers did she speak, her voice soft. “Look at me, Ye Li… I’m fine. I’m perfectly alright. You see that, don’t you?”

When he didn't respond, she continued, her voice soothing. “But you’re hurt. You need to go to the hospital. Now.”

Qiao Qi's face was a mask of fury. He stepped forward, intending to pull Niu Shurui away from Ye Li, but she sensed his movement and turned to him, her gaze sharp, brows furrowed. Qiao Qi instinctively stopped, then clenched his fists, his face cold as he composed himself.

Ye Li seemed to have lost the ability to think. He stared at her, unblinking, his eyes vacant and lost, making it impossible for Niu Shurui to tell if he was even listening.

She waited, but he remained unresponsive. This, however, wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. At least his focus had shifted from her ear. She started to rise, intending to tend to his wound, but the puppet-like Ye Li suddenly moved.

He pulled her against him, holding her tight, his voice thick with tears. “No, don’t leave me, Niuniu… I won’t go to the hospital. I won’t. I want to be with you… You can’t leave…”

On the verge of collapse, Ye Li’s grip was surprisingly strong. Trapped and unable to move freely for fear of jostling his injured arm, Niu Shurui could only look to Qiao Qi for help.

But Qiao Qi, who moments before had wanted nothing more than to pull her away, now stood motionless, his gaze cold and distant. He had straightened his clothes, regained his composure, and calmly retrieved his glasses from the floor. He wiped the blood from the lenses, then, with a slight frown at the stubborn stain, tucked them into his pocket. Every movement was deliberate. He made no move to intervene. Ye Li continued to cling to her, smearing blood everywhere. A chill ran down Niu Shurui’s spine. She understood Qiao Qi’s intent.

He planned to wait. Wait for Ye Li to bleed out. Die. Right here.

Having grown up together, they knew each other too well. Qiao Qi saw the understanding in her eyes and a cruel smile touched his lips, confirming her fears.

Niu Shurui felt her blood run cold. She stared at him in disbelief.

Sensing her distraction, Ye Li cupped her face, forcing her to look at him. He leaned in to kiss her, then hesitated, pressing his lips to her chin instead, his kisses desperate, frantic, and messy.

He whispered over and over, “Niuniu… Niuniu… Niuniu…” He nuzzled against her like a newborn puppy, unsteady on its feet.

Qiao Qi's face darkened. Watching Ye Li slowly bleed to death might offer a small measure of satisfaction, but the process was agonizingly slow. He wasn’t magnanimous enough to watch someone defile what he considered his. He changed his mind. He would find the knife. Finish the job himself. With that thought, he turned towards where he’d thrown the blade.

Jolted back to the present by Ye Li's movements, Niu Shurui noticed how pale he had become.

She stared at him, her mind racing. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere… You’ve lost a lot of blood. You have to go to the hospital. I—”

“No! I’m fine. I’m not hurt,” Ye Li insisted, the last vestiges of his reason telling him that if he went to the hospital, she would leave.

He scooped her up and strode towards the stairs.

Niu Shurui’s eyes widened. She struggled fiercely, but Ye Li’s grip tightened. He patted her back, murmuring, “Don’t be afraid, Niuniu. We’ll go upstairs… everything will be alright…”

Suddenly, the sound of a car engine cut through the air. Niu Shurui froze, then blurted out, “Ye Li, I’m cold.”

Ye Li stopped, then quickened his pace. “There are blankets upstairs. You’ll be warm soon. Just a little longer, Niuniu, okay?”