Bad Blood - Chapter 7

pared by the baker, bidding farewell, “I’m off, see you tomorrow.”

The baker handed her a bucket of cookies, “These didn’t sell in the blind box area yesterday or today, probably because they don’t look appealing, but they’re really tasty.”

Bread has a short shelf life, and unsold goods within the date are often wasted, so leftover bread that hasn’t expired would be packed in kraft bags and placed in the promotional blind box section, where customers could choose any five bags for twenty yuan.

Sometimes even the blind boxes didn’t sell out, and the boss would let the employees take them home.

“Okay,” Ding Ke accepted.

As her colleague finished washing up and was applying hand cream, she insisted on rubbing some onto Ding Ke’s hands, playfully asking while massaging her hands, “Who was that handsome guy just now?”

“I don’t know him.”

Imitating Li Mujin’s earlier actions, the colleague held Ding Ke’s fingers, spreading her palm while mockingly saying, “He looks like the tough kind of handsome, but his moves were quite gentle.”

Seeing the fun, the baker chimed in, “Boyfriend?”

Ding Ke knew the internet was well-developed, but it was only after such incidents that she realized, no matter how severe the online criticism, in real life, people still saw him as a handsome, well-built, and wealthy desirable man.

The world had too many people, and information was incredibly uneven.

“I can’t stand him, I’d rather become a nun than be with him,” Ding Ke ended their gossip, “I’m leaving first.”

May was already quite hot. As Ding Ke pushed the door open, she felt as if a heat wave was about to knock her over. She sped up her pace, passing a narrow alley only accessible on foot, when suddenly a hand yanked her inside. Before she could scream, the hand covered her mouth. Startled, she looked up to see Li Mujin, whose face seemed different from just a short while ago.

Could the broken demeanor in the bakery and the malicious intent he displayed now really be from the same face?

She struggled, stomping on his foot, her voice muffled in his palm, “Let go! Or I’ll call the police!”

“How can you convince me, with the same face, voice, everything, appearing before me, yet you’re not her?” Li Mujin spoke in a lowered tone, each word filled with anger.

He had come here, entered the bakery inexplicably…

It should have been him controlling the pace of the game, but now it was clearly her leading him by the nose.

The more he guessed about her identity, the more time, energy, and emotion he spent on her, the deeper he walked into her logic.

Through her, he kept seeing the person from two years ago, forcing him to recall the time, energy, and emotion spent on that person.

There was the her from his memories, and the her that he could see and touch now, taking turns attacking his heart, gradually infiltrating his mind.

This was a tactic to deepen his feelings for her, without exception.

Ding Ke, her mouth and nose covered by him, involuntarily dropped the bag of bread, which rolled towards a drain. Under continued constriction, she could barely breathe, her neck swelling and turning red, veins bulging, and her face becoming grotesque. Initially resisting strongly, she now could barely make a sound and was losing strength.

Li Mujin continued to press her, tilting his head, his gaze fierce and expression terrifying, “Familiar with this feeling of suffocation?”

Ding Ke desperately clung to his wrist, her nails digging into his veins, leaving deep purple bruise marks that seemed to bleed, but he seemed unfazed by the pain.

Li Mujin hated being pulled and preferred to look down from above at the beautiful, pure-white Ding Ke, whom he could break with a twist of his hand, scatter with a blow of wind…

“Scum…”

Ding Ke had been suffocating for too long, dragged along by him, her feet stiffening; she wasn’t even aware how those two sounds came out.

Surprisingly, it worked, and Li Mujin let go.

The moment he released her, Ding Ke collapsed on the ground, her hands pressing against the wet, mossy ground, coughing uncontrollably, her limbs trembling uncontrollably.

Li Mujin’s gaze dropped, the slight unease dissipated, and it seemed he had regained his rhythm.

Ding Ke’s head hung low, facing the muddy brick ground, only able to see Li Mujin’s shadow. She wanted to leave his shadow, but she couldn’t even stand up.

The next second, Li Mujin crouched down, lifted her arm onto his shoulder, effortlessly picked her up, carried her out of the alley, into the car, and drove to the nearest hospital.

Yu Tai arrived at the bakery just in time to pick up Ding Ke from work, but he was a step too late, and the bakery staff teasingly told him a piece of news-

Ding Ke had gone on a date.

He asked who it was, and they said they didn’t know, only that he was handsome and cool. All he could think of was Li Mujin. His mood instantly plummeted.

He left the bakery dejectedly, and, just his luck, he saw Li Mujin carrying a very weak-looking Ding Ke into a car. “Damn it,” he cursed, his neck veins bulging as he immediately hailed a taxi to follow them.

Shu Rui had just parked his car in the parking lot of his apartment complex in Zhan City when Zhao Jing suddenly appeared by the roadside. He slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching against the pavement, startling the hidden birds into a flurry of squawks and fluttering wings.

He took a deep breath to calm his heartbeat before parking in his spot.

Unable to wait, Zhao Jing walked up to the car window and knocked.

Shu Rui ignored her, unbuckled his seatbelt, got out of the car, and walked ahead without waiting for her.

Zhao Jing was used to being treated this way by him and didn’t mind. She caught up to him, looking up at him from beside his left arm, “Shu Rui, how about we eat dinner together later? I still don’t know what’s good to eat in Zhan City!”

“Don’t you have classes?”

“I only had classes this morning, and I have more tonight, but I took the day off,” Zhao Jing said, scrolling through her phone, “Let’s go for Japanese BBQ! It’s the top-rated spot!”

They reached the elevator, and Shu Rui pressed the button, replying, “I’m busy tonight.”

“What are you busy with?” Zhao Jing’s voice already betrayed her disappointment.

Shu Rui didn’t answer.

They entered the elevator, exited at their floor, and approached his door. Shu Rui paused at the sight of a box at the doorstep.

Zhao Jing stepped past him to pick it up, “Is this the graphics card you were talking about?”

Shu Rui still didn’t respond, opened the door, placed his car keys on the table, and took two cans from the fridge, placing one in front of her on the table.

Zhao Jing grabbed it and drank, forgetting her menstrual cramps and asking with a smile, “What about that jerk Li Mujin?”

Shu Rui leaned against the counter, one hand holding a can, the other on his phone, casually saying, “There’s also a high-speed train ticket, I’ll take you to the station later.”

Zhao Jing clenched her teeth, crumpling the can with a crunch, “You said you wanted this, I got it for you, why aren’t you happy?”

“I think you’re spending too much time on me, I found something for you to do.”

Zhao Jing had long noticed that when he said Jiuzhou City didn’t have what he wanted, she had a vague feeling he was just trying to get rid of her.

After all, what developed city like Jiuzhou wouldn’t have it?

“It’s okay…” she suppressed the quiver in her voice, “I have plenty of time…”

“But I don’t have that much time.”

Zhao Jing clenched her fist.

Shu Rui insisted on booking her ticket and transferred money, “I’ve sent you the money for the graphics card, don’t spend it on men.”

Zhao Jing pursed her lips, remaining silent.

Shu Rui finished his drink, walked over, picked up her backpack, “Let’s go.”

Zhao Jing grabbed his wrist, looking up at him, tears swirling in her eyes, “You said you didn’t dislike me.”

Shu Rui turned to look at her, his expression devoid of feeling, “But I also don’t like you.”

“Then who do you like!” Zhao Jing was frantic, “Have you ever liked anyone? We’ve known each other since we were kids, have you ever liked anyone?!”

Silence.

After a moment, Shu Rui said, “Yes.”

Zhao Jing’s heart thundered, but something felt off. There had never been a girl around Shu Rui, her eyes widening in surprise, “Don’t tell me it’s Li Mujin!”

Shu Rui frowned, “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Zhao Jing suddenly regretted speaking impulsively, preferring to believe he was gay rather than think there was a girl he liked.

She wanted to know who it was, but she didn’t want to ask anymore.

She’d say it when she had the courage.

Shu Rui carried her bag to the glass cabinet, put a box of hazelnut chocolate inside it, and said as they walked out, “Don’t keep mentioning me in front of Aunt Gui. If you want me to live a bit longer.”

“Okay.”

Aunt Gui was Zhao Jing’s mother, who was constantly complaining about Zhao Jing talking about Shu Rui, making her think her daughter was being raised for someone else. Shu Rui was exhausted from daily life, hardly getting enough sleep, let alone having to answer his mother’s calls about matchmaking, which annoyed him.

After getting into the car, Zhao Jing sat with her head down, unusually quiet.

“Fasten your seatbelt.”

“Okay.” She agreed but didn’t move.

Shu Rui didn’t say anything further, reaching over to fasten it for her.

Zhao Jing, a Gemini, was usually very lively. As the car left the parking lot, her attention was grabbed by something else, “Is that Ding Ke really Ding Ke?”

“I don’t know.”

Zhao Jing suddenly realized a critical issue, “Didn’t Ding Ke die at Li Mujin’s hands? Now that someone identical to Ding Ke has appeared, shouldn’t the first reaction be that someone created a clone to cause trouble? But it seems like you guys are more focused on whether she’s the real Ding Ke…”

Shu Rui remained silent.

Indeed, Li Mujin’s current focus was to figure out whether this Ding Ke was his Ding Ke.

“Moving to Zhan City, starting school anew, it’s like he’s washing his hands of his old life,” Zhao Jing huffed, “Men never cherish what they have until they lose it, then they start to show deep affection and regret. I think he just wants to make this Ding Ke his person again, even if this Ding Ke was created to threaten his father, he doesn’t care.”

“Don’t speculate wildly.”

“Then why do you think he’s doing this? The previous one is dead, this one, no matter how similar, isn’t the same. He’s so concerned because he’s walking into someone else’s trap. Can’t that clever brain of his figure out this simple thing?”

Emergency hall.

Ding Ke was unharmed, but there’s no such thing as a hospital visit without prescriptions, so Li Mujin went to the pharmacy to pick up medication. Ding Ke sat alone in the waiting area.

Yu Tai arrived late, sweaty and searching desperately in the hall, finally spotting Ding Ke. He rushed over, crouching in front of her, examining her arms from left to right, “I saw you fainting, being carried by some bastard, what happened! Did he… did he do something to you?”

He cared most about this point, asking it out of instinct.

Ding Ke naturally withdrew her arm.

Yu Tai didn’t touch her again, his rough, silly demeanor not knowing how to care for someone, but he knew to respect her wishes when she didn’t want something.

“Did you get any tests done? Are you waiting for results? Where do I go to get them for you?” Yu Tai looked around, asking.

Before he could finish, Li Mujin returned from the pharmacy.

Li Mujin naturally ignored Yu Tai, and as if picking up his own belonging, he expertly took Ding Ke’s hand, intending to lead her out.

Ding Ke pulled her hand back, only taking the medicine from him.

Li Mujin wasn’t annoyed, but unwilling to let her go, he grabbed her hand again, this time more firmly. Ding Ke couldn’t shake him off or break free.

Yu Tai watched dumbfounded as Li Mujin maneuvered, Ding Ke’s resistance snapping him back to reality, his anger flaring as he tilted his head, straightened his bones, licked his back teeth, and spoke aggressively, “Who said you could take her?”

Li Mujin didn’t hear.

Yu Tai grew even angrier, catching up, “Are you deaf? I’m talking to you!”

His voice was loud, drawing the attention of everyone in the hall.

Li Mujin stopped, released Ding Ke’s hand, turned around, and took her hand with his other hand, his expression calm, his smile flat, his eyes leisurely opening and closing, his voice lazy, “Talking to me?”

“Cut the crap! Can’t you see she’s unwilling? Are you blind?” Yu Tai glared, spitting out saliva, jutting his chin forward with a curse, “With so many people watching, don’t make it hard on yourself, let go of her, and get lost gracefully!”

Li Mujin raised the hand holding Ding Ke’s, switching their positions to intertwine their fingers, his actions speaking louder than words.

Yu Tai was furious, one of the three things that most infuriate a man being when someone else touches, holds, kisses, or invades the person they love. He even forgot about Li Mujin’s immense wealth and influential father, swinging his fist.

Li Mujin held Ding Ke tight, unyielding, kicking out swiftly, his movements too quick, the power too great, the closest, Ding Ke and Yu Tai, hearing the whoosh of air.

But while Ding Ke had time to react, Yu Tai, standing at six foot five, taller than Li Mujin, was still forced back two steps by Li Mujin’s kick.

Yu Tai exhaled forcefully, clearly the kick was not light. His fighting spirit was provoked, he cracked his knuckles, no longer caring for technique, just brawling, lunging forward to fight, “Screw you! Think you’re something special because you’re rich!”

Li Mujin, with one hand holding Ding Ke, was effectively fighting one-handed but still managed to avoid all of Yu Tai’s deadly moves.

Relying on brute strength, Li Mujin likely wouldn’t stand a chance against Yu Tai, so he used his brain.

It was foolish to fight strength with weakness; he despised stupid people and was determined not to be one.

It didn’t take long for Yu Tai to be out of breath.

Bystanders began to intervene, but Yu Tai’s competitive spirit took over, ignoring everything else, even pushing one man back a few steps, too late to apologize. He picked up an old man’s cane from a nearby seat and swung it at Li Mujin’s head.

Li Mujin had already anticipated his next move when he reached for the cane. As Yu Tai swung it, Li Mujin had preemptively grabbed a fire extinguisher from under a nearby hydrant, swinging it halfway around to strike Yu Tai’s temple with a clang.

Yu Tai blacked out, collapsing onto the row of seats, blood flowing down, quickly staining half his face red.

Ding Ke hadn’t expected things to get so out of hand. She bit Li Mujin’s hand, forcing him to let go, then ran to Yu Tai to check on him, wiping his blood with tissue while calling for help, helping Yu Tai to the nearby trauma care area.

Even though the waiting area was patient-free, the security department was alert. Once a commotion started and a crowd gathered, the uniformed team appeared. But it was too late. Fights were rarely stopped by merely intervening.

Li Mujin watched Ding Ke caring for Yu Tai, running back and forth, her frailty in front of him making her seem like a different person. His expression darkened, anger building in his eyes.

Why did women always pay extra attention to the weak?

Lying on the ground, bleeding non-stop and howling like a waste, yet he received her care-what was the logic in that?

His rage ignited, and he strode over, appearing calm and collected, but without a word, he took Ding Ke’s hand more forcefully than before.

Ding Ke naturally refused to go, “Let go, security has already called the police, they’ll be here any minute!”

Yu Tai, seriously injured, weakly said, “Let go of your filthy paws… unless you kill me… you won’t take her away…”

Li Mujin’s gaze remained on Ding Ke, the more she showed hatred towards him, the less he was willing to let her go, stepping forward, leaning close to whisper in her ear, audible only to them, “Which room is your second-degree burn patient brother in at the First Surgical Hospital of Zhan City?”

Ding Ke froze.

Yu Tai’s eyes blurred, sensing danger, forcefully calling out to Ding Ke, “Ke…”

“Oh, burns repair and reconstruction ward 2…”

Before he could finish, Ding Ke had made up her mind to go with him, turning to Yu Tai, she said, “I’ve told Miaomiao, she’ll contact your classmate. Thank you. Get well soon.”

She numbly finished speaking, letting Li Mujin take her hand again and leave the hall.