Chapter 55

"Bu Chen, what exactly are you saying?!"

"If I dared to say it today, I'm not afraid of the consequences. Since everyone's here, let's get it all out in the open. From now on, we go our separate ways—never to meet again!"

Bu Chen's absurd words roared in Ruan Ning's mind. She trembled with anger, her fingers spasming. Before Jiang Yihao could protest, she shouted at Bu Chen to stop his madness.

Even in the wildest two-dimensional world, Bu Chen's ideas would be shocking enough to break all moral bottom lines. She had come with the determination to sever ties with the young lord, but Bu Chen was ignoring her wishes, using such a vile and despicable excuse to trap her, refusing to let her go.

A madman.

Completely a madman!

Ruan Ning struggled to control her emotions, each word scraping her throat raw.

"What do you take me for?! I'm not your plaything. I'm a person, a living, breathing person!"

She bit her lip until it turned white and blood seeped out. Tears uncontrollably streamed down her face. The strength she had built over three consecutive nights of preparation crumbled in an instant.

"What will it take for you to let me go? I've made myself clear—there can never be anything between us."

"Never?" Bu Chen stepped closer, grabbing Ruan Ning's wrist and pulling her into his embrace. The flame burning in his eyes threatened to consume her. "Or do you think we're so innocent that you can come and go as you please?"

Ruan Ning's lashes trembled violently, her mouth slightly open. Tears blurred her eyes but refused to fall.

"Bu Chen, let her go!"

Jiang Yihao, who had rushed over, saw Bu Chen forcibly holding Ruan Ning. Jealousy flared, and he lunged to pry them apart. But Bu Chen's arms were like iron chains around Ruan Ning, squeezing the air from her lungs.

Ruan Ning's face turned purple as she coughed repeatedly: "Let me go, cough, cough..."

"I said let her go!" Jiang Yihao roared.

Bu Chen's eyes narrowed, his fingers pressing against the artery in Ruan Ning's neck. A cold, sinister aura radiated from him, a mad energy that seemed ready to drag them all to hell, intimidating Jiang Yihao.

Jiang Yihao knew his brother well—normally a gentleman, but inwardly devoid of moral limits, capable of anything. If pushed too far and he hurt Ruan Ning, the consequences would be dire.

"Are you insane? Try touching a single hair on her head and see what happens!"

Jiang Yihao shouted, planting his feet wide in an offensive stance. The man before him was no longer a childhood friend but a vicious criminal.

"No! Don't!"

One of Ruan Ning's goals was to prevent the two brothers from turning against each other. Seeing the conflict escalate because of her, she cried out in panic. Forced to tilt her head back, a crystalline tear slid down her cheek.

"You've been friends since childhood, haven't you? Why fight over me..."

"I don't have a brother like him!" Jiang Yihao cut her off harshly.

Bu Chen narrowed his eyes, silently watching his childhood friend on the verge of losing control.

Ruan Ning pleaded with a sobbing voice: "Please, make up. Don't harm your friendship over someone ordinary like me. I'm not worth it."

"Save your breath. Why waste words on an idiot?" Bu Chen said coolly and leisurely.

He had been observing Ruan Ning's expression the whole time, not missing a single change. His dark gaze, like a ghost, savored her struggle and pain as he murmured in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"You'll never get rid of me..."

When Ruan Ning had called him, Bu Chen had already sensed something was off. She never initiated contact with him, always indifferent to his smiles and joy. Her sudden proactive call must have had a reason.

The first time she called, Bu Chen was in Country B, engaged in a street gunfight with enemies. The ringtone nearly exposed his position.

His subordinates' faces turned white with fear, cursing whoever had called at such an inopportune moment, almost getting their leader killed. They vowed to capture the culprit, but Bu Chen calmly said it was nothing and continued the mission, gun in hand.

Now, the rebel forces in Country B were expanding rapidly, spreading from the south to the central region. People everywhere were rising up, and Country A's influence was under fire across Country B—an urgent military crisis.

Yet Bu Chen had abandoned his father's orders and secretly returned home, just to hear what Ruan Ning wanted to say on her first proactive call.

"Don't say such boring things next time."

Bu Chen sneered in her ear. Ruan Ning glared at him, tears in her eyes, a storm of bitterness, resentment, and disgust surging through her heart, threatening to overwhelm her.

"Bu Chen! If you don't let go now, you'll face the consequences!" Jiang Yihao's gaze turned icy hot as he issued an ultimatum.

He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. "I've always considered you a brother, holding onto a shred of hope. But your actions have crossed my line. Today, we settle this."

Ruan Ning's tearful eyes widened. A mocking glint flickered in Bu Chen's mysterious, seductive amber eyes as his fingers deliberately brushed her porcelain cheek. "Good brother, you don't even know what your goddess is really like behind closed doors."

Ruan Ning instinctively turned her head to look at Bu Chen, a chill spreading through her limbs, freezing her whole body.

Slowly and deliberately, Bu Chen began to tear away the disguise she had painstakingly hidden.

"Your pure, innocent goddess occasionally goes to nightclubs to drown her loneliness."

"What did you say?"

Jiang Yihao's crimson eyes paused for a moment, a trace of disbelief flickering within the blazing fire. His sharp gaze immediately shifted to Ruan Ning.

Ruan Ning lowered her head, tears like shattered crystals sliding down her pale cheeks, like a fragile green lotus swaying in a storm.

"I've known her just as long as you have, perhaps even deeper. Isn't that right?" Bu Chen turned to Ruan Ning with a malicious grin, deliberately seeking her confirmation.

Jiang Yihao felt his blood run cold. His eyes locked onto Ruan Ning, burning with anger and a flicker of hope.

His voice trembled: "Is what he said true?"

Ruan Ning turned away, tears in her eyes, neither admitting nor denying: "Jiang Yihao, I'm not the person you think I am. Please forget me, as if you never met me."

Bu Chen's gaze darkened, a seductive smirk curling at the corner of his lips. His magnetic voice brushed past Ruan Ning's ear like a demon's whisper.

"You have no idea what's in her heart. I'm the one truly meant to protect Ruan Ning."

Ruan Ning trembled but dared not raise her head. Jiang Yihao's heavy, burning gaze was crushing her. She couldn't face someone who loved and trusted her without reservation.

"So it's true?!"

Jiang Yihao suddenly roared in fury, his heart-wrenching cries echoing through the rest area.

He had always considered Ruan Ning the purest, most innocent girl in the world. To think she had been secretly contacting his own brother behind his back, while he remained in the dark!

Jiang Yihao could not tolerate deceit. He looked at Ruan Ning in disbelief, then at Bu Chen, recalling how he had worried about Bu Chen bullying her, protecting her, preventing their contact—only to find they had been familiar behind his back. He was a fool. The fire in his eyes was extinguished in an instant.

Suddenly, realization struck him, and he shouted angrily: "Bu Chen, this is all your doing! You beast, stealing your brother's girlfriend!"

"Let's get this straight—was Ruan Ning ever your girlfriend?" Bu Chen's brow furrowed.

Jiang Yihao didn't wait for him to finish. He swung his fist, striking Bu Chen square in the face. "Without your seduction, would she have agreed to meet you? Ruan Ning wouldn't even take revenge on those who wronged her. She would never deliberately hurt me. It must be you forcing her to leave me!"

"Come on, it's been a while since we fought." Bu Chen released Ruan Ning and dodged nimbly, a sneer on his lips as he taunted Jiang Yihao. "She was willing to meet me, which means you're not that important to her anyway."

Those words hit Jiang Yihao's fragile nerve precisely, channeling all his fury into a punch.

Ruan Ning turned and rushed between them, pulling them apart: "Stop it! Don't fight!"

"Move aside, Ruan Ning. This doesn't concern you."

"Yeah, step back. This is between us."

Both had lost all reason, maneuvering around Ruan Ning and brawling relentlessly. Both were trained in martial arts, skilled in combat techniques, but now they discarded all skill and form, fighting like impulsive, childish schoolboys, using primitive fists to knock the other down.

Jiang Yihao's athlete's long leg swung through the air, kicking Bu Chen in the shoulder. The noble heir of the Duke of Banting staggered back, stumbled into a nearby trash can, and crashed onto it with a clatter. Jiang Yihao laughed triumphantly, but Bu Chen, enraged, grabbed the trash can and hurled it at Jiang Yihao, who, caught up in the thrill, took the hit squarely on the shoulder.

The two strong, trained fighters clashed like wild beasts, sending loud thuds echoing through the empty rest area. The air was thick with hatred, and the ground seemed to shake. Soon, security guards arrived but still couldn't separate the bloodthirsty pair.

The surrounding area was left a mess, trash scattered everywhere. The two most noble young masters in the country, fighting over a woman like common thugs in public—it would be laughable if it got out. But Bu Chen and Jiang Yihao didn't care; all they wanted was to make the other disappear from the world.

Ruan Ning's head throbbed. In desperation, she called the police.

Finally, the two calmed down at the police station.

Given the special status of the two young lords, the incident was quietly hushed up.

When Bu Chen and Jiang Yihao entered the police station, both had bruises on their faces. They turned their heads in opposite directions, ignoring each other. Ruan Ning followed, her face streaked with tears. The seasoned police officer immediately understood the situation.

The officer took down their statements, shaking his head: "Ah, you young people."

Fortunately, the fight had occurred in a secluded area, causing minimal damage. Both only needed to sign a settlement agreement to be released.

From the moment they entered the police station, Jiang Yihao and Bu Chen refused to be in the same room. The officer had to go to each of them for signatures.

When the officer gave one of them the form to sign, the other complained: "Why does he sign before me?"

Ruan Ning was exasperated. She forcibly dragged them into the same room and made them sign simultaneously. As they entered, the air crackled with hostility. They exchanged disgusted glances and turned away at the same time.

"Enough! Stop this nonsense."

Ruan Ning yelled with all her might. She usually spoke gently, rarely losing her temper, and even the guards were startled.

"Just sign, and don't you think you've caused enough embarrassment?" Ruan Ning's patience was exhausted as she commanded.

Jiang Yihao licked his cheek, bent over the table, and scribbled his name in large strokes, the pen scratching loudly, almost tearing the paper.

Bu Chen stood straight, hastily scrawled a few strokes. The waiting officer immediately collected the forms with utmost deference, bowing and gesturing for the two lords: "You're all set now. You're free to leave whenever you wish."

Jiang Yihao and Bu Chen simultaneously turned their gaze to Ruan Ning.